Why are you here?
Dusk gradually deepens on the outskirts of Mingzhou.
In the quietest east wing of Yuelai Inn, the charcoal brazier was burning warm, dispelling the damp and cold air outside the window.
On the exquisitely carved wooden table were several plates of the best snacks the inn could offer: exquisite osmanthus cakes, crispy almond pastries, and a bowl of thick and soft white rice porridge.
Sitting opposite Ning Lingyi was a little girl, about seven or eight years old, surprisingly thin, wrapped in a clean old cotton jacket that was obviously too big for her, and looked very empty.
The little girl, Anan, held the coarse porcelain bowl tightly in both hands, her eyes fixed on the white rice grains in the bowl.
"Eat slowly, be careful not to burn yourself." Ning Lingyi gently stirred the porridge in front of him with a silver spoon. His movements were full of inherent nobility. Even though he was wearing a simple indigo men's suit, he couldn't hide his natural demeanor.
How could Anan listen to such advice? She brought the bowl of porridge to her lips, practically pouring it down her throat. The scalding hot porridge made her grimace, but she couldn't bear to stop. She grabbed another piece of osmanthus cake and stuffed it whole, chewing it vigorously, her cheeks puffed out and crumbs all over her face.
Ning Lingyi watched quietly, without any disgust, and pushed another piece of almond cake to Anan's hand.
The snacks on the table were quickly gone like a whirlwind.
Ah Nan licked her frosted fingers, still not satisfied. As she licked, her small body paused, and a tear fell into the empty bowl of porridge, followed by a second and a third.
She raised her head, tears streaking down her face. "Sister Fairy, this is truly the most delicious thing I've ever eaten... I miss my grandma so much. I wish she could have a bite..."
Ning Lingyi felt sorry and guilty, so she put down the silver spoon, leaned over, and gently wiped away the tears and cake crumbs on Anan's face with a plain white handkerchief.
"Don't cry anymore."
She sighed softly, "It's good to be full. Wipe your face clean, and I'll take you out for a walk."
Anan sobbed and nodded ignorantly when she heard that they were going to the market.
Ning Lingyi stood up and nodded slightly to Luqiao who was standing beside her.
Luqiao understood and stepped forward to help Anan tidy up the oversized clothes.
Ning Lingyi also adjusted the square scarf that bound her hair, hiding her overly outstanding appearance and returning to the slightly aloof appearance of a traveling merchant.
When she stood up, she caught a glimpse of a tear mark on her sleeve from Anan. She brushed it with her fingertips, and the moisture seemed to seep into her heart.
The group walked out of the inn and into the bustling streets of Mingzhou City.
Anan snuggled up to Ning Lingyi, looking around timidly at this strange world. Their destination was the "Wantong" rice shop in the south of the city, one of the largest grain merchants in Mingzhou.
"Boss, how much is the new rice?" Ning Lingyi deliberately lowered her voice and walked to the counter to ask.
The portly shopkeeper with a mustache glanced at her and slowly counted the beads on his abacus. "New rice? It's all gone. Old rice, top quality, one ounce of silver for one dan."
The old man behind Ning Lingyi, carrying an empty rice bag, gasped, his wrinkled face instantly falling: "It's gone up again? Yesterday it was only nine cents..."
The shopkeeper sneered and ignored it.
Ning Lingyi felt a chill in her heart. One tael of silver for one dan! This price, let alone in a year of disaster, would be prohibitive even for ordinary people in a good year.
Her eyes swept over the grain stacks vaguely visible in the backyard of the rice shop. The outlines of them, tightly covered with oilcloth, seemed particularly glaring under the gloomy sky.
"Young Master, you seem to have some complaints about the price of grain?" A deep voice came from the side.
Ning Lingyi's heart tightened. She turned sideways and saw Tuoba Hong, also dressed in dark cloth, leaning against the stone pillar at the entrance of the rice shop. He had an upright posture and a faint smile on the corner of his lips.
Why is he here?
"People's livelihood is declining, food prices are soaring, and anyone with a little compassion will complain." Ning Lingyi spoke calmly, trying her best to hide the turmoil in her heart.
Tuoba Hong chuckled softly, barely audible in the bustling streets, yet piercing Ning Lingyi's ears: "Compassion? In this world, compassion is an ornament for the strong and a shackle for the weak."
He walked over and stood beside Ning Lingyi, his tall figure bringing invisible oppression.
"I came to Mingzhou not to express my dismay at the price of grain, but to discuss business with the man who truly holds the reins in Mingzhou."
Ning Lingyi's pupils shrank slightly. "Oh? I wonder what kind of business has brought you to the rice shop?"
"A deal concerning grain and fodder." Tuoba Hong lowered his voice, with a strange allure, "After those rats that have eaten away the granary are eradicated."
His gaze vaguely swept across the grain stack in the backyard of Wantong Rice Shop, and then fell back on Ning Lingyi's face.
Ning Lingyi's heart sank.
He really knew why she came.
"Food and fodder? I'm afraid you've got the wrong person. These are military treasures, not something an ordinary merchant can easily trade."
"Of course, ordinary merchants can't do that." Tuoba Hong's eyes wandered over her face with undisguised interest, "But someone who can stir up the stagnant waters of Mingzhou might be able to do that."
He paused, his voice lowering. "The people of the Southern Dynasty are human beings, struggling to survive in the cold wind. The people of Beishuo are also human beings. The same wind and snow, and countless people are starving on the grasslands."
Ning Lingyi was silent.
She was not unaware of Beishuo's predicament, but he was the prince of Beishuo, and every word he said could be a trap, so she couldn't believe it.
"I don't ask for much." Tuoba Hong's voice was sincere. "I just need a portion to help the weakest women and children in Beishuo survive the cold winter. For this..."
He offered a bait, "I am willing to offer you a thousand fine horses, all strong and capable of carrying heavy loads and enduring cold weather, and traveling a thousand miles a day. Your Highness knows their value to the Southern Dynasty's border troops."
A thousand fine horses! Ning Lingyi's heartbeat quickened.
These thousand horses are enough to arm an elite cavalry and their value is inestimable.
"Your proposal," Ning Lingyi said in a slightly dry voice, "is truly unexpected."
He had anticipated that she would marry him and these horses would eventually be brought back to Beishuo, but right now, this was indeed an offer that was difficult to refuse.
"But this matter is of great importance. Let me consider it."
Tuoba Hong seemed to have anticipated her reaction, and the smile on his lips deepened: "Okay. Waiting for good news."
He said no more, his gaze lingering on her elegant figure in men's clothing for a moment, then he turned and disappeared into the depths of the street.
Ning Lingyi stood where she was. This deal was like drinking poison to quench thirst. Once it was done, it would be ironclad evidence of treason. But if she didn't do it, there were other people who would be happy to make this deal.
She took a deep breath and suppressed her chaotic thoughts.
The most urgent task is to deal with the rats in Mingzhou.
She must establish a solid foundation as soon as possible before she is qualified to talk about other things.
*
At the same time, in the most luxurious Zuixianlou in Mingzhou City, in the most secret private room Lanyuexuan.
The sounds of stringed instruments were blocked by the thick door curtains. Only two dim glass lamps were lit in the room, stretching and distorting the human figures on the wall, like ghostly shadows.
Mr. Zhou from the capital slowly fiddled with the lid of the green jade teacup, and every slight sound struck the hearts of the two people below.
Mingzhou magistrate Liu Mian's face was as pale as gold paper, cold sweat was dripping from his forehead, and his body was trembling slightly under his official robe.
"That prince is already in the city," Mr. Zhou finally said. "Work-for-relief? Renovating the princess's mansion? What a big pretext."
He put down the teacup with a crisp sound. "The road is open, the channel is built, and people's hearts are united. Then it will be your turn to lose your heads. She wants to use your blood to dye her bright future red!"
Liu Mian's Adam's apple rolled violently, and his voice trembled: "Mr. Zhou, this, this is Her Royal Highness the Princess, and the Crown Prince..."
"The Crown Prince is far away in the capital, out of reach." Mr. Zhou interrupted coldly, "As for Her Royal Highness the Princess..."
He leaned forward, and the dim light cast a shadow on his face, making him look hideous.
"Golden branches and jade leaves are indeed noble. But here in Mingzhou, the mountains are high and the forests are dense. The roads are slippery and the winds are strong in winter. There are hungry wolves, tigers and leopards everywhere. Accidents are always inevitable, aren't they?"
Chen Wanshan, a nobleman, raised his eyes and stopped twirling his prayer beads. "Sir, do you mean to get rid of her?"
Mr. Zhou's lips curled up in a cold arc. "Would you rather sit and wait for her to sharpen her knife, uproot us, confiscate our property, and exterminate our clan? Or would you rather let a clean, untraceable accident solve this serious problem forever?"
Liu Mian's whole body was shaking like a sieve, his face was pale, but Chen Wanshan's eyes were full of murderous intent, his breathing was heavy, and the rosary beads were creaking in his palm.
"Accident... How sure are you, sir? Are your hands and feet clean?"
Mr. Zhou glanced at Chen Wanshan with subtle approval, and then at Liu Mian, who was trembling like a sieve, with cold contempt.
"Man proposes, God disposes. The key lies in whether you have the determination and courage."
He leaned back, disappearing into the shadows again. His voice seemed to come from the depths of the underworld: "Think of your official hats, vast fertile fields, mountains of gold and silver, as well as your heads and the lives of your relatives. Will you continue to call the shots in Mingzhou, or will you be ruined and reduced to dust in an instant?"
"Wealth and glory, or the confiscation of your property and the extermination of your family, all lie between your thoughts."
“Bang!”
A flower burst out from the glass wick, and with a sharp crisp sound, the light instantly illuminated the different expressions on the three people's faces, and was then swallowed up by the darkness.
The private room was as silent as a tomb.
They all knew that the princess was not here to watch the fun. They had exploited the people's wealth and committed countless crimes over the years.
If you stick your head out, you will get a knife; if you keep your head down, you will also get a knife.
Rather than them dying, it would be better for the princess to die.
The embers of the lamp fell after the firecrackers exploded, and the silhouettes of the three people merged into a thick and indissoluble darkness on the wall.
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