Yan Shi explained, "Then naturally, the silver and gold ornaments are very important. I heard that they specially hired a hundred mercenaries and twenty escorts for this gold and silver jewelry."

"Isn't that a big enough show of force?"

It sounds pretty big.

But……

Xiao Tang remained expressionless.

She merely raised her eyes lazily, her gaze not even changing slightly.

"Stop talking nonsense, the important thing is how to get in quickly."

“The princess is right.” Yan Shi also realized this, scratched his head, hurriedly dismounted, and rushed forward.

Ruyi glanced at Yan Shi's somewhat simple-minded back before turning around and saying, "I heard that Young Master Li also brought his fiancée. The flower thief might also come tonight."

After all, with such a beautiful woman right here, many philanderers would be keeping an eye on her.

Xiao Tang removed the lid from the gourd and took a sip of water.

She didn't care much about other people's business; she just wanted to get to the shop as soon as possible.

Judging from Yan Shi's appearance, he probably doesn't even understand the situation himself.

It's likely that even Yan Shi himself doesn't understand these things. He has never paid attention to these gold and silver shops, let alone to Di Jingling, who is such a sucker.

He himself doesn't even know how rich he really is.

Finally, Yan Shi returned.

"Your Majesty... cough, young master, I have inquired and found that the road ahead is blocked because the soldiers are conducting a major inspection."

"Huh? Wasn't it said that the local officials in Youcheng were incompetent?"

Not only are they inactive, but they are also extremely lazy.

From the city lord down to the county magistrate, these people had long since become entangled with the local bandit gangs, forming a network of shared interests.

As for the imperial court, it seems they haven't been interfering much with things here.

It's probably because Youcheng pays extremely high taxes every year, filling the national treasury, and the imperial court turns a blind eye to it.

"Ahem, young master, even though we know this fact, let's not say it out loud." Yan Shi clenched his fist to his lips, coughed softly, and looked around awkwardly.

They were afraid that if any soldiers heard them, they would just chase them away.

You have to admit, what the princess said is absolutely right.

Slackness, laziness, and inaction are typical characteristics of this place.

Xiao Tang shrugged lightly, knowing it was impossible to continue the topic.

The carriage in front finally started moving.

Soldiers shouted from ahead, "No valuables are allowed into the city! Any valuables found will be confiscated."

Ruyi was stunned and said in a low voice, "Your Highness, it seems we brought quite a lot of jewelry and precious stones with us. Would you consider these things to be valuable items?"

These pieces of jewelry were only brought to the store for reference.

But to my utter surprise, the officers and soldiers wouldn't allow me to bring it.

I didn't expect the investigation to be so strict.

Xiao Tang glared at her: "What are you afraid of? Our jewelry is nothing to the people of Youcheng. Why would they care about such a small amount of jewelry?"

and……

If the officers and soldiers dare to confiscate their jewelry, she'll smash their heads in!

Finally, the carriage wheels reached them.

The leading officer pointed his longsword at Xiao Tang and solemnly ordered, "Hand over the items."

"Besides the silver, there's nothing of value left," she replied calmly.

"I don't believe you, let me see!" The soldiers pointed their unsheathed swords at a cloth bag inside her carriage.

The cloth bag used for wrapping looked rather perfunctory and rather unsightly.

Even so, the officers and soldiers spotted one of the silver bracelets at a glance.

Just by looking at the texture, you can tell it's a top-quality product.

Based on this alone, he suspected something was wrong.

Ruyi listened with a tense expression and glanced incredulously at the bag.

Their jewelry was in the cloth bag.

Xiao Tang, however, acted as if nothing had happened and tossed the bag to the soldiers.

Splash!

The jewelry jingled and clanged inside the package.

The officers and soldiers frowned slightly as they looked at the jewelry in their hands.

He weighed it in his hand for a moment.

I finally returned it.

"That doesn't count."

He finished speaking and left.

This undoubtedly allows them to pass.

As if relieved of a great burden.

Xiao Tang remained expressionless.

She remained as calm as a statue.

"Thank goodness, we didn't..."

"Gentlemen, please have mercy!" The carriage had just begun its journey when it was stopped for the second time.

Not only was Ruyi speechless, but even Xiao Tang was speechless.

Xiao Tang pulled back the curtain and looked outside.

They saw a disheveled woman leading a young woman with a red birthmark between her eyebrows, a dirty face, and tattered clothes kneeling in front of their carriage.

[Beep—]

The system issued a warning.

This is a warning sign that something is wrong.

Xiao Tang was relieved that she hadn't been poisoned.

otherwise……

[Beep beep—]

Okay, that's enough!

Xiao Tang looked at the sallow-faced woman and asked, "What do you want?"

The woman was overjoyed to see someone willing to talk to her, and she kowtowed to Xiao Tang repeatedly, saying, "It's like this, gentlemen, our little Jin'er has been sick since she was a child, and now our family is so poor that we can't even afford to eat."

Xiao Tang nodded.

Let her continue talking.

"Not long ago, a notorious womanizer took a fancy to my little Jin'er. I... I had no choice but to sell Jin'er."

She cried and sobbed.

"Please, esteemed officials, help my little Jin'er."

The woman cried and cried until she could no longer speak.

She covered her face, her emotions breaking down.

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