Chapter 782: Spending Money to Vent Anger

Several of the men started to wail; they were the ones who had incited the others.

Though surprised to hear Old Prince Feng named as the instigator, they latched onto it like a lifeline and demanded he show himself.

The crowd of onlookers erupted into an uproar when they heard Old Prince Feng’s name.

Many people were instantly reminded of the birthday banquet the day before. Old Prince Feng, upset that his celebration had been outshone by Elder Chen’s, had tried to make an issue of Nanyuan’s commerce. Boss Gu had completely ignored him, and the Old Prince had been so enraged he’d coughed up blood on the spot.

"Looks like the lives of hundreds of people in Dayu City are now in Old Prince Feng’s hands."

"I knew the Old Prince wasn’t well-liked, but I didn’t realize his character was this rotten."

"He got humiliated yesterday, so today he flies into a rage and sends people to wreck the port. How can a Prince be so small-minded?"

"The Four Countries Chamber of Commerce event is over, and the ten-year contract is about to expire. Wrecking the port now... Don’t tell me the Old Prince was so furious he lost his mind."

"Who knows? It’s like he’s just begging to give his money away."

"Would someone that petty really be willing to part with that much money?"

"The Phoenix Royal Mansion controls all of Nanyuan’s trade routes. You think they’re short on cash? Maybe he’s just paying to vent his anger!"

The murmurs of discussion gradually grew louder.

Seeing the tide of public opinion turn, Sun Shiming glared at the men. "Stop your nonsense! How could Old Prince Feng possibly incite you to do something like this?"

"It was Old Prince Feng who told us to do it. Sir, we wouldn’t dare lie..."

"We beg you, sir, let us see Old Prince Feng."

The shouts of the hundreds of people kneeling on the ground were thunderous.

After racking his brain, Sun Shiming saw no other way out. He had no choice but to send someone to ask Old Prince Feng to appear.

"Boss Gu, would it be possible to wait for Old Prince Feng’s arrival before we settle this matter?"

"Master Sun, rest assured. As long as the money is paid, whether these people stay or go is up to you." Gu Shuo made his position clear: he only wanted the money.

"Of course, of course."

Sun Shiming nodded repeatedly, his heart heavy with worry. ’So much money... would Old Prince Feng really be willing to part with it?’

Ye Qianning leaned back in her chair, watching with great relish. She had seen that look on the faces of kneeling men far too many times.

’If we didn’t have power, we would be the ones being preyed upon right now.’

Sang Zhi’s gaze swept over the crowd before landing back on her. "They should all be killed."

’Just like the faces of those people back then...’

"Killing isn’t the only solution. Isn’t it better to make them watch helplessly as everything they care about slips through their fingers?"

"The mistakes they’ve made will become the seeds of their ruin."

"Living with that is a far more agonizing punishment."

Sang Zhi considered this and seemed to agree. He smiled. "A pity."

"Hm?"

Ye Qianning raised an eyebrow. ’A pity about what?’

Sang Zhi said nothing, his gaze shifting to a point in the distance.

Ye Qianning followed his gaze and saw Old Prince Feng being carried toward them. "He’s already in that state, and he’s still causing trouble."

Old Prince Feng had been so enraged yesterday that he was still bedridden. When he first heard that the port was being vandalized, he hadn’t paid it much mind; after all, he wanted to teach Gu Shuo a lesson.

But soon after, he heard a report that Gu Shuo had killed two people and was now threatening to take more lives if he wasn’t compensated. At that, he could no longer stay in bed.

He had himself placed in a sedan chair and rushed toward the port. Halfway there, he ran into the man Sun Shiming had sent to fetch him.

From the man, he learned the full details of what had happened: the vandals had implicated the Phoenix Royal Mansion, and Gu Shuo was having the damages assessed.

’Two million taels—?!’

’Gu Shuo actually had the gall to demand that much!’

"Old Prince Feng is here."

The crowd parted to make way. Old Prince Feng hadn’t expected so many people to be gathered at the port. He swept his gaze around; it looked as if almost the entire population of Dayu City had flocked here.