The staff explained.

"How dare you! You actually treat the emperor and the common people as equals!"

Upon hearing this, Qiao'er immediately scolded.

"Isn't that so? The emperor is like a boat, and the people are like water. Water can carry a boat, but it can also capsize it. Without the people, where would the emperor come from?"

The staff member continued.

"This is simply... utterly outrageous!"

Qiao'er's face showed excitement.

"Heh? I think you're the strange one. A maid doesn't think about herself, but worries about that old emperor who's thousands of miles away!"

The staff member mocked.

Qiao'er looked at Chen Qingwan with a livid face.

Chen Qingwan was not angry, and said, "Big brother, who taught you these words?"

"I learned this at school. Lord Lu required all clerks in the county government to attend night school training courses, with assessments every six months. Those who failed were eliminated. Lord Lu himself was the lecturer and taught us all of this!"

"That's what the staff member replied."

"Ninety jin!"

On the other side, data is reported.

Qiao'er was already furious, but Chen Qingwan gave her a look, signaling her to be quiet.

After weighing themselves, the two returned to the carriage.

The bell on the front of the cart rang, and the wheels started moving again.

“Your Majesty, I think Wanminshu is right. No matter what kind of bewitching magic Lu Yan used on the people of Shannan County, he still wants to rebel! Otherwise, he wouldn’t have uttered those treasonous words in the school!”

"Should we send troops to take him down?"

Qiao'er said angrily.

Chen Qingwan shook her head and said, "But I think what this man surnamed Lu said actually makes some sense."

Chen Qingwan recalled the art of rulership she had learned in the imperial study when she was a child, and the principles described there were indeed similar to those Lu Yan had spoken of. However, Lu Yan was just a commoner, and even his position as a ninth-rank county magistrate was bought with money. How did he know all this?

The carriage arrived at the city gate amidst the bustling traffic.

Chen Qingwan asked Qiao'er to draw the curtains and looked out the window at Shannan County.

The county town's city walls were tall, almost level with those of the provincial capital. The walls had a bluish-black sheen, were neat and smooth, and looked solid and strong.

Once inside the city, the streets were wide and clean, with long drainage ditches on both sides, lined with rows of willow trees. Under the shade of the trees were shops lining the streets, with vendors calling out their wares and wine flags fluttering in the breeze, creating a bustling scene.

Seeing this scene, Chen Qingwan was inexplicably moved.

National peace and prosperity, and the happiness of the people—isn't that what I've been pursuing since I ascended the throne?

As she was reflecting on this, she saw a surge of people on the street.

"Have you heard? The yamen is holding another trial!"

"This time, it's Liu Juren's nephew who's in trouble!"

"Huh? It's the Liu family again?"

"Hehe, bad deeds always come with consequences. Let's see how Lu Qingtian deals with them!"

The people were talking about it, shouting loudly as they walked.

A court hearing?

Chen Qingwan pondered for a moment.

"Qiao'er, send the coachman to the yamen. I want to see just how much this Lu Yan is worth!"

She gave the order.