The scenes playing out along the long street naturally drew crowds of townspeople who stopped to watch and whisper.
Right up until this morning, cartload after cartload of remains transported from the outskirts of the capital continued to rumble through the streets without a moment's rest.
Though the murmurs along the way never ceased, the sight of unsheathed sabers glinting close at hand kept the common folk from daring to step forward or provoke the imperial guards.
Only those families whose children had gone missing knelt before the gates of Jingzhao Prefecture, whole households weeping and wailing aloud. It seemed that to appease the ever-rising tide of public anger, the authorities had been forced to stage today's arrests along the main avenue!
Yet along that very street, officials who ordinarily projected an image of austere integrity—virtuous and polished as jade—were now scared out of their wits. Who would believe they had no skeletons in their closet?
"You... what do you think you're doing? I'm telling you, Shen Yanzhi, the person behind this old man is someone you cannot afford to cross! Release me this instant!"
The moment his official black gauze cap toppled from his head, an elderly man with graying hair finally let rage conquer his fear, shouting furiously in the direction of Shen Yanzhi.
At this, Shen Yanzhi dismounted from his horse. Draped in white, he seemed to radiate light in the afternoon sun. With features as exquisite as a painted scroll, he walked…
Chapter 191