Chapter 2 (2) It’s just White Moonlight PLUS

The next morning, Bai Kang and Chang Yuzhu made an appointment to set off at noon and boarded a carriage to Liangzhou.

Liangzhou, located in the northwestern border region of Daning State, is far from the capital and borders Mobei State. It's a place where the Qiang people gather and is shrouded in mystery. Chang Yuzhu saw that Bai Kang was traveling with a young attendant named Lianzi, who looked a bit like Chen Fenglian, and smirked, "You said you didn't like her, so why did you bring her along?"

"It's just convenient to bring someone along." Bo Kang forced himself to ignore Chang Yuzhu's inquiring gaze and said to Lianzi, "You can go sit in the carriage at the back."

Lianzi responded aggrievedly.

He's quite brave. Yesterday he was acting pitiful in front of them, but today he's being wronged. Chang Yuzhu also thinks this guy is quite interesting.

Are all those who look like the late emperor so interesting?

Early spring brought warmth, melting the ice and snow. Beyond the city walls, the gurgling water echoed with clear, melodious sounds. A horse-drawn carriage weaved through forest paths, trekking across the golden grasslands beyond the Great Wall, finally arriving outside Liangzhou. The scenery was desolate and magnificent, with the sunset glowing, juxtaposed against the distant mountains and the Great Wall.

The ancient border roads were deserted, with only the distant clatter of horse hooves and camel bells echoing from the caravans beyond the Great Wall. Several days had passed, and the spring rain had fallen heavily, turning the ground beneath our feet into a slushy mud. After the carriage circled the city several times, Bai Kang ordered the driver to stop, held up a yellowed, worn umbrella, and opened the carriage door to take in the view outside.

"I'm afraid this rain won't stop for a while." Bai Kang looked up at the setting sun and pointed at the accompanying servant, saying, "Go to that inn and ask if there are any vacancies."

The servant received the order and left immediately. Chang Yuzhu sighed repeatedly: "This place is completely different from what I imagined. I should have known not to wear this dress when I went out. This is the material rewarded by the palace, it is worth a thousand gold!"

Bo Kang took a quick look and couldn't tell the difference between the material of his clothes and his own shorts. The servant came back soon and said that the inn across the street happened to have two upper rooms left. Thinking of the bad weather, he decided to book the two rooms for his master.

"Good boy," Bai Kang praised him, telling the driver to hurry up. They'd been soaked in the rain all the way, and even in a place like Liangzhou, they felt the dampness was unbearable. Unfortunately, there was little water in the northwest. A servant was sent to ask the waiter, but the answer was that it would take a while for water to be delivered.

"How do you do things!" Chang Yuzhu was so angry that she grabbed the waiter's collar and threw several silver ingots at him. "Didn't the shopkeeper say that your inn was the largest and most luxurious here? How come there's not even water for bathing? Are you trying to trick us? Or are you deliberately neglecting us because we're outsiders? Bai Kang, let's go! I don't believe there's not even an inn around here that can boil water!"

Xiao Er hurriedly took the silver, but didn't dare put it in his own purse. He begged for mercy, "Please calm down, my two nobles! It's not that we are neglecting our guests. In fact, it hasn't rained in Liangzhou for more than three months!"

Chang Yuzhu was startled, then let go of the man. Bai Kang also frowned and looked over. The waiter spoke haltingly, "Liangzhou has always been dry and rainless, but this year's drought is bizarrely severe! Our inn is indeed the largest inn in Liangzhou City, but even so, there are few guests these days. It's all because of the drought. Even fewer caravans come to Liangzhou to do business, and life is tough. This year's harvest is poor, business is bad, and countless people have starved to death!"

"That's actually true." Bai Kang and Chang Yuzhu looked at each other, and Bai Kang said, "Have you heard of this?"

Chang Yuzhu worked at the Ministry of Revenue, though he was only a deputy minister. However, he came from an aristocratic family, had many flatterers, and knew a great deal. Furthermore, the Ministry of Revenue was in charge of the important affairs of disaster relief and grain transport. Even if Chang Yuzhu was careless and unfocused, Liangzhou was a key frontier region, and with a drought lasting three months, how could he not have known about it?

"The prefect of Liangzhou took office last year, probably exactly five months ago," said Chang Yuzhu.

In other words, it is very likely that the new prefect was afraid that a major disaster would occur as soon as he took office and that he would be punished by the court, so he concealed the matter.

"Go out and take a look." Bai Kang said.

Although he had already agreed with the waiter's words, as he was just an ordinary citizen and didn't know their identities, there was no need for him to lie about such a thing. However, they still had to go to the city to find out the details.

If the city is really full of starving people due to drought, this matter must be reported to the court as soon as possible.

Chang Yuzhu looked back at the weeping waiter, and with a soft heart, she said, "I'll give you the silver I gave you just now."

The waiter was overjoyed and kowtowed twice before running off with the warm silver ingot in his pocket. Bo Kang took his raincoat and hat, and after going downstairs, he sighed to Chang Yuzhu, "Master, how much money do you have on you?"

Chang Yuzhu shook his bulging purse in confusion.

"If you have money, give me some." Bai Kang tugged at his old clothes. "We're in a strange place, and you dare to show off your wealth? Aren't you afraid that two people will come and rob us?"

"Are you going to rob me for a few pieces of silver?" Chang Yuzhu was shocked.

Bai Kang sighed again.

He didn't argue with Chang Yuzhu anymore, grabbed his sword and hurried out. Chang Yuzhu followed him, and just as they were about to leave the inn, a thin figure appeared behind them. Lianzi, holding an umbrella, hurriedly chased after him: "Sir, it's raining heavily outside, where are you going?"

"Go out and take a look!" Bo Kang waved his hand without looking back, "Don't catch up!"

The city wasn't as starving and homeless as they'd imagined. Many of the shops along the road were closed, their signs tattered and illegible, some even crumbling. There were many pedestrians, all carrying buckets, basins, or other containers for water, not even bothering to use umbrellas. They stood by the roadside, catching the rain.

They stopped an old woman and asked her about it, confirming that the situation outside the city was indeed as the waiter had said. The drought had lasted for several months, and although Liangzhou did not rely entirely on agriculture for its survival, a number of people had indeed starved to death.

"This Liangzhou prefect is in office but not doing his job. I want to meet him!" Chang Yuzhu was furious. Bai Kang grabbed him and said, "How do you want to meet him? We've only asked for leave to come here, and we don't have an imperial decree. Are we going to send him here to make him more vigilant? Write a letter back to the capital and ask your father and grandfather to report this matter and send someone to handle it."

Chang Yuzhu slapped his head and thought it made sense. He then asked his servant to deliver a visiting card to the governor of Liangzhou, saying that they had come from the capital to visit relatives and wanted to take the opportunity to pay a visit to the governor.

"Bana... uh... a miracle. She's blessing us..." The old woman who had just answered their question suddenly spoke, her cloudy eyes filled with awe and reliance. She leaned on a wooden cane, stumbling forward two steps, supporting herself on the wooden barrel. Her voice was soft, but Bo Kang and Chang Yuzhu could still hear it clearly.

"What is that?" Chang Yuzhu asked in a low voice.

Bai Kang shook his head. He didn't know, perhaps it was a unique belief of the people of Liangzhou. They didn't pay much attention to it and prepared to go back. After walking a few more steps, the rain eased a little and there were more people on the road. When they approached the inn, they saw a group of people gathered there, talking about something.

As I approached, I saw a young man kneeling on the ground, his clothes stained with mud and water. Beside him lay a rolled-up straw mat, revealing his dark, decaying feet. On a wooden board beside the mat, inscribed in powerful handwriting were the four characters: "Selling Myself to Bury My Father."

The boy was extremely thin, and it was obvious that he had been starving for a long time. The people around him looked at him and kept talking about him, but no one was willing to step forward to help him.

"My family is in need of a servant, but unfortunately I don't have the money to buy him."

"Alas, in this world, it's hard to even support yourself. Is there anyone who can take pity on this child and buy him?"

Bai Kang heard the man next to him scold: "If you are kind enough, go buy it!"

Chang Yuzhu couldn't help but sigh. Bai Kang patted the people around him, signaling them to make way. The man, knowing he had a hot temper, turned around and wanted to scold him, but when he saw Bai Kang's exceptionally tall and straight figure, he immediately backed down and obediently gave up his seat.

"Chang Yuzhu, it's time for you to accumulate merit." Bai Kang pinched Chang Yuzhu's purse and teased, "Take out the money."

Chang Yuzhu was not annoyed when he heard this. This time, he did not dare to show off his wealth. He took out two pieces of silver, leaned in front of the young man and whispered, "Is this enough?"

The young man took it with trembling hands, raised his head, and revealed his eyes full of gratitude: "Enough, enough! I will never forget your kindness!"

When the people around saw that there was a kind-hearted person, they immediately felt bored. Some people were relieved for the young man and left. Chang Yuzhu looked at the young man's face and took a breath.

They look alike, so alike!

If the three lotuses were only 30% similar, possessing beautiful appearances but lacking spirit, the young man before him bore a 90% resemblance to Emperor Ling Chen Fenglian. Not only was their innocent features similar, but even their somewhat stubborn eyes were alike.

More importantly, the deposed emperor was only eighteen when he died. The young man in front of him looked only seventeen or eighteen years old.

Can’t let Bo Kang see it!

"My benefactor, I am willing to follow you and work like a slave to repay you!" The young man was still kowtowing, thanking Chang Yuzhu for his generosity. But Chang Yuzhu said, "No, no, just go quickly. Going quickly is repaying your kindness!"

juvenile:?

So there are such kind people in the world. He was even more moved and kept saying that he must repay him. With this back and forth, Bo Kang also felt that something was wrong. More importantly, he was a little impatient for the two to argue: "What are you talking about? Why don't you leave? Didn't you say that the mansion was short of a servant?"

He finished speaking and strode over to the two men. Chang Yuzhu tried to stop him, but it was too late. The young man's face, which resembled his old friend, was completely exposed to Bai Kang.

Because they were so similar, Bai Kang was stunned for a moment. Looking at his expression, Chang Yuzhu knew that it was over.

She said she didn't like him and didn't miss him, but when she saw someone who looked like him, she froze.

Bai Kang quickly came back to his senses and grinned: "It seems that Lianzi has gained another brother. Let's go and bring him back to show him."

His tone was casual, but Chang Yuzhu felt he was feigning calmness, and immediately regretted meddling in other people's affairs. But the young man was truly pitiful, and he couldn't send him away, so he called a servant to help the young man bury his father.

"What's your name?" asked Bo Kang.

"My name is Jiang Yong, and I'm from Lingjia Mountain in Liangzhou," Jiang Yong said. He held his neck high, and although he said he wanted to follow Chang Yuzhu to repay him, he didn't seem to be servile at all. Bai Kang thought he was a good guy, and suddenly asked mysteriously, "Are you efficient at work?"

Jiang Yong thought he wanted him to do the work of a servant, so he didn't feel humiliated and said calmly, "Not bad."

"I'll lend you the two lotuses, and you give me this man," Bo Kang said. "I think he's very capable. I'd like to have him help the old man at the Ministry of Rites move the scrolls."

Chang Yuzhu laughed and scolded, "He said he wanted to follow me, shouldn't he go to the Ministry of Revenue to work with me?"

Jiang Yong had never been outside Liangzhou, but he had been educated and was familiar with the Ministry of Revenue and the Ministry of Rites. He was startled to realize that the distinguished guests before him were two important figures. Unable to help but panic, he stepped in a puddle and tripped.

A golden sedan chair was coming from the opposite direction, carried by six bearers and followed by two servants. He stumbled and almost knocked over the bearers, who grabbed him and scolded him, "Don't you have eyes?"

"I'm sorry." Jiang Yong lowered his head.

"He didn't really hit you, why is he so aggressive?" Chang Yuzhu was dissatisfied.

"This is a nobleman's sedan chair. If we hurt him, can you poor ghosts afford it?"

The servant rolled his eyes. Of the three, Jiang Yong had spotted a poor fellow. The tall man in black was plainly dressed. Only the young man was relatively wealthy, but he didn't look fabulously rich.

Hearing this, Bai Kang's forehead throbbed. He wanted to open the sedan door to see which family this playboy belonged to, who was so arrogant. But they were unfamiliar with Liangzhou, so they had to avoid getting involved. Bai Kang swallowed his anger and said, "Let's go."

After saying this, he dragged Chang Yuzhu and Jiang Yong away. The servant snorted and ordered the sedan bearers to move forward. Chang Yuzhu's voice could still be heard from behind: "They are in the wrong. When did you become so tolerant?"

A light laugh suddenly came from the sedan.

"What are you laughing at, sir?" the servant asked in confusion.

"I laughed at that man, and he actually calmed down." The person in the sedan sighed very softly. His voice was as sweet and melodious as the cry of an oriole, but not coquettish. One could tell at once that he was a handsome young man with graceful demeanor.

The servant asked curiously, "Sir, do you know him?"

"I don't know him." The voice of the man in the sedan returned to its coldness. The servant said, "Oh!" Their young master wasn't exactly moody, but his moods were always changing, making it hard to predict. Now, sounding as if he were in a good mood, he continued to flatter, "People like that wouldn't be worthy of meeting you, even if they were to lose everything they had. You don't have to worry about them."

His words made the people in the sedan laugh. A white hand stretched out and threw a few coins to him: "Well said, reward."

The servant, having received the reward, urged the sedan bearers even harder: "Hurry up! It's so cold, why don't you get back to the building? Can you bear to let the young master freeze?"

Lianzhi ignored the servant's constant scolding of the sedan chair bearer. He agreed with what he said. Once, he was above everyone else, revered as a king. Now, living in the tiny city of Liangzhou, with only six people to carry his sedan chair, it was truly an injustice. He hugged the soft gold-thread pillow and lay down in a different position, but he still felt that the sedan chair was too small and the fur was too hard.

This damn Chunfeng Tower can only provide golden pillows. He misses his jade pillow inlaid with jewels.

"You know him." The man dressed in foreign clothes opposite suddenly spoke.

Lianzhi opened her eyes and glanced at the other person.

"You two are very familiar with each other," the other party said. He thought the man was an old acquaintance of Lianzhi's, and was afraid that Lianzhi would be restless and ask his acquaintance to rescue him. He said coldly: "No matter what, you must go to receive the distinguished guest. The master said that the distinguished guest from the capital has come secretly. Even if you don't like those people before, you must go this time."

"I don't want it." Lianzhi said, "Do distinguished guests from the capital city mean they are so powerful? I said, even if you give me ten thousand taels of gold, I will only perform."

He was sent to Chunfeng Tower by his adoptive father, the newly appointed governor of Liangzhou. Before entering the tower, his adoptive father had agreed with the steward that he would only perform and would not do any reception work.

My adoptive father said that he looked very much like someone. With this face, he would definitely become famous in Liangzhou City, and even the entire Daning Kingdom. As for the name Lianzhi, it was also given by my adoptive father.

How could he not know who the Liangzhou prefect was talking about? When he just woke up, he was helpless and wandering on the streets, and he heard many rumors about him and that "person who looked like him."

The news had spread far and wide in Liangzhou City, not to mention the capital, right under the Emperor's feet. How dare those traitors and treasoners slander him in this way?

"I'm serious!" The other party was anxious. Lianzhi's personality was not adding to their strength. It should be said that they brought back an ancestor. If they had known earlier, they should not have brought Lianzhi back! He said, "That distinguished guest is very important to the prefect and the adults. He likes that person very much. The important person who looks like you. As long as you win over the distinguished guest, the prefect and the adults will give you whatever you want. You must make this happen!"

I like him very much.

That's not Bocon.

Lianzhi was initially interested, but upon hearing this, he suddenly looked gloomy again. He thought for a moment and asked, "Are you really going to give me everything?"

"Of course." The other party promised.

He was now powerless and an orphan. To put it nicely, he was highly sought after in Chunfeng Tower, being called a "Young Master." To put it bluntly, it was just a publicity stunt by the prefect to build momentum for him. Lianzhi knew he would inevitably have to meet that noble, so she thought it would be a good idea to get some benefits for herself. She said, "Well... first, swear an oath and sign a document, and I'll agree."

Seeing him give in, the other party immediately breathed a sigh of relief and signed the agreement. Then he looked at him coldly and said, "Tomorrow night, we will send you there. Be prepared."