Three Kingdoms: My Strategy Simulator.

This sound, constantly drifting into the distance amidst the wind and snow, made the common people on both sides of the street unconsciously crane their necks.

The Han people have always had a strong desire to explore the unknown.

Gazes were continuously cast in the direction of Liu Ying, with many commoners even more curious about how Lord Guoshi would react.

Among the entourage of the carriage, there were also many representatives of aristocratic families.

It was rare for Lord Guoshi to go out and enjoy the snow, especially with the initial phase of the land survey coming to an end. The powerful aristocratic families, eager to get closer to Lord Guoshi, would naturally not miss this opportunity to ingratiate themselves.

Therefore, behind Li Ji's carriage, there were many carriages of aristocratic families following at a distance. Some family representatives even enthusiastically gathered around Li Ji's carriage, perfectly witnessing this scene.

The vast majority of family representatives were currently watching the show with bated breath.

The identity claimed by Liu Ying was undoubtedly quite sensitive and special: a sixteenth-generation descendant of Prince Jing of Zhongshan.

This identity would not have been significant a few years ago.

Under the effect of the Decree of Grace, many members of the Han imperial clan in the Great Han were already making a living by farming.

Apart from the identity of "Han Imperial Clan," they were no different from ordinary people.

However, Liu Bei's strong rise undoubtedly made this branch of the Han imperial family, the "Prince Jing of Zhongshan" line, prominent again.

If what Liu Ying said was true, then in terms of status, Liu Bei would have to respectfully call Liu Ying "Uncle."

But now, Liu Ying was openly kneeling on the ground, blocking the road, and shouting about injustice, which undoubtedly put Lord Guoshi in a difficult position.

Some busybodies, or even family representatives who had long been dissatisfied and disgusted with Li Ji, couldn't help but feel a bit of anticipation at seeing Li Ji in a dilemma, even thinking that Li Ji must already regret going out at this moment.

Only Xu Chang, the representative of the Xu family of Runan, had a drastic change in expression.

The main force responsible for investigating the land in Pei was the Xu family of Runan.

When he heard Liu Ying claim to be from Pei, Xu Chang couldn't help but feel a sense of foreboding.

Xu Chang might not necessarily agree with some of the family's practices, but he couldn't prevent some decisions that were beneficial to the family as a whole.

Therefore, even if Xu Chang had not participated in some of the Xu family's practices when investigating the land in Pei, it did not mean that Xu Chang had not heard of them.

Now, Liu Ying's appeal in Ruyang at this time made Xu Chang feel a chill down his spine.

Immediately, Xu Chang stepped out from the crowd and reprimanded, bracing himself.

"What are you still standing there for? Quickly help this person up. Even if there is a grievance, send him to the yamen to appeal. What is it like to block the Marquis's carriage like this?"

However, Xu Chang naturally could not command the Tiger Guards. Xu Chu didn't even bother to give Xu Chang a look, walking to the side of the carriage and continuing to report to Li Ji in a low voice.

Seeing this, Xu Chang quickly winked at his trusted servants behind him.

Upon seeing this, the trusted servants immediately stepped forward, wanting to help Liu Ying up.

The reaction of the Xu family of Runan made some aristocratic families feel as if they had just woken up from a dream, feeling that they had reacted too slowly. This was obviously a good opportunity to relieve the Marquis's embarrassment.

After all, it was hard to say what Liu Ying was appealing about. Appearing with the identity of a descendant of Prince Jing of Zhongshan, if Li Ji had to show up, things would only seem more difficult for Li Ji.

Not appearing and handling it coldly was undoubtedly a wise choice that was more in line with officialdom and politics.

After all, who knew to what extent Liu Ying's matter would be involved? If it was not handled well, he would have to bear the stigma of despising the Han imperial family and even incur Liu Bei's displeasure.

This scene, seen by the surrounding common people, made them sigh secretly, but they were not surprised.

This was the norm.

There would always be a lot of connections between local officials and powerful aristocratic families.

The only thing that made many common people hesitate was that Liu Ying, kneeling in the wind and snow, already looked like he was about to collapse. He must have gone through hardships and must have suffered great injustice, otherwise he would not have been like this.

At this time, the carriage, heavily guarded by armored soldiers in the wind and snow, stopped in place, and the servants of the aristocratic families quickly stepped forward to surround Liu Ying, who was kneeling on the ground.

With the wind and snow as the background, Liu Ying seemed so helpless, making the surrounding people inexplicably feel a deep sense of powerlessness.

Just then, a gentle but majestic voice rang out from the carriage.

"Hold on!"

The next moment, a refined gentleman as gentle as jade lifted the curtain and walked out of the carriage. Xu Chu quickly draped a cloak over Li Ji to protect him from the wind and snow.

Also in this order, the movements of the servants who had originally surrounded Liu Ying couldn't help but stop, subconsciously looking back at Xu Chang, whose face was faintly pale.

Li Ji frowned slightly and said in a cold voice.

"What? Are my words no longer effective?"

Almost at the moment when Li Ji's voice fell, the row of Tiger Guards standing at the front drew their knives in unison, the blades pointing directly at the servants.

Suddenly, the servants were so frightened that their livers and gallbladders were torn apart, and they no longer dared to hesitate in the slightest, retreating to the side as if rolling and crawling.

Immediately, under Xu Chu's guard, Li Ji got out of the carriage, walked quickly to Liu Ying, and said gently.

"Old sir, please get up quickly. Tell me what grievances you have after you get up."

Liu Ying raised his head, looked at the young and handsome man in front of him, and asked, steeling himself.

"May I ask who you are? I wonder if you can manage matters in Qiao County?"

"If the grievances you have suffered here occurred within the borders of Yu Province, I can manage some of them," Li Ji explained gently.

Liu Ying's exceptionally old face showed a hint of joy. While one hand trembled as he continued to hold the blood letter, the other hand reached into his arms, groping for something.

This made Xu Chu, who was protecting Li Ji, very vigilant. He subconsciously took a step forward, wanting to block in front of Li Ji, but Li Ji stretched out his hand to stop Xu Chu.

It was true that Li Ji was seeing Liu Ying for the first time, but Li Ji might know Liu Ying's past and what he had experienced even more clearly than Liu Ying himself.

It was impossible for Liu Ying to make an assassination attempt.

The next moment, Liu Ying's hand stretched out, holding a scroll of bamboo slips, and said.

"This is the family tree I carry with me, enough to prove my identity as a descendant of Prince Jing of Zhongshan. Please examine it, noble person."

Li Ji did not take the family tree, but only stepped forward and forcibly helped Liu Ying up. He also took off the cloak on his body and draped it over Liu Ying to shield him from the wind and snow. Then, he looked around and said loudly.

"Old sir, you must have misunderstood something."

"The reason why I will stop here is not because of your self-proclaimed identity as a member of the Han imperial family, but simply because you are a Han Chinese, a subject of the Great Han."

"And I am the Guoshi Marquis of the Great Han, so naturally I cannot turn a blind eye."

As soon as these words came out, Liu Ying was so excited that tears filled his eyes. Feeling the remaining warmth of the cloak, his whole body couldn't stop trembling.

(End of this chapter)