Chapter 54: Premonitions of Poisoning
In the past, the old man would not have been able to go to the city to do business so smoothly.
But things are different now. With a shopping mall managed by the government and with good public security, people not only have a place to do business, but also don’t have to worry about their goods and money being stolen or lost.
What made Han Yuan dazed was that the old man had a smile on his face when he said these words, especially when he mentioned "government", his face showed a trust that he himself did not realize.
There are many vendors like the old man, but in Fengxian Mall, there are not only ordinary people running their own businesses, but also a large number of people from government offices. These people were initially "recruited" by the government through notices posted, and later after "pre-job training" they set up stalls and opened shops in Fengxian Mall. Some of the food they made was brought by the prefect, and the people in Fengxian City had never seen it before.
For example, egg cake, red bean cake, red date glutinous rice cake, pork tenderloin cake, fried skewers and rolls, etc.
At the beginning, it was because they attracted more and more people to come to Fengxian Mall to do business.
These stalls are still very popular now, with long queues every day, but fried foods such as sesame balls and fried skewers are a little more expensive than ordinary food.
...
Lin Fu's frown suddenly relaxed when he saw his teacher chatting with the old man.
After leaving Fengxian Mall, Lin Fu said respectfully, "Teacher, I just learned about a place from a commoner."
Han Yuan nodded.
They sent several guards to follow in secret, and the teacher and student got on a public carriage.
Han Yuan said nothing and just looked around.
He saw several large pieces of paper posted on the wall of the carriage, which he had not noticed yesterday, and a simple protective seal made of oil paper was made on the outside.
These short sentences are catchy and suitable for children's enlightenment.
It was a busy time now, and soon, many more people got on the carriage. Someone also sat next to Han Yuan. Han Yuan took a quick look and saw that the other person looked to be in his teens, wearing the linen shorts of a servant in a wealthy family.
The young man looked up and saw the large characters on the carriage wall. His face lit up with joy as he whispered, "At the beginning of life, human nature is inherent..."
He said "Ben" several times and then scratched his head, obviously forgetting the next sentence.
"Man is inherently good at birth." Han Yuan said.
The young man was stunned after hearing this, then smiled at the seemingly kind old man and said, "Thank you, old man."
Then he stretched out his index finger and drew it on his leg, as if writing the word "goodness".
"It's good that you have a desire to learn," Han Yuan said.
The young man scratched his head shyly, but still answered honestly, "Old man, you're too kind. You're not from Fengxian, are you? I didn't learn calligraphy out of curiosity... The prefect posted a notice at the government office saying that anyone who learned all the characters would receive copper coins every month. My master said I'm smart, so I thought I'd give it a try."
Sure enough, several people sitting in the carriage were reading the big characters.
"I see." Han Yuan was no longer surprised when he heard the words "not from Fengxian" again.
He also understood why Feng Guangwei put these big words on the carriage.
Feng Guangwei wants to do a lot. Judging from the situation, does he want everyone in Fengxian City to be literate?
Most of what Feng Guangwei did was based on Yan Xuanyu's ideas, but the literacy classes have not started yet. At least we have to wait until the people have no worries about their lives before they can learn to read. Feng Guangwei came up with this idea.
The young man was about to get off the bus in front, and a man said enviously, "Is he going to Dongdaozhai?"
"It's the master's birthday today, and I'm here to pick up the cake that I ordered a month ago." Because the young man was neatly dressed and spoke in a way that made people feel good.
The man sighed, "Wow!"
Han Yuan was just wondering what the boy meant by "cake" when he heard a child nearby ask, "Mom, can I have cake for my birthday?"
Han Yuan looked over and found that the mother and son were dressed very ordinary. After all, wealthy families rarely came to ride in public carriages.
"Okay, we'll buy you a cake when it's your birthday," Mother coaxed. "Let's buy the smallest one and try it."
The child was happy.
"I want to taste the clouds!"
The children's words and chatter made the adults around them laugh in a good-natured way.
Han Yuan originally thought that the "cake" in Dongdaozhai was a very expensive pastry, but now it seems that is not the case.
Prices vary and it seems that ordinary people can afford it.
…
"Teacher, we're here." Lin Fu said after an unknown amount of time.
He helped Han Yuan get off the carriage.
The two walked along this road for a long time, and what appeared before them was a long-abandoned execution ground.
This execution ground is far away from the center of Fengxian City. It is just a few steps away from the city center, and few people pass by here.
There were dark, dried bloodstains everywhere, and I couldn't imagine what had happened here!
"This..." Han Yuan's breath was choked.
"Teacher, I heard that it was here, in front of the people of Fengxian City, that Lord Feng executed dozens of corrupt officials and evil gentry who exploited the people and took their lives."
Lu Liang also died here.
Those related to his evil deeds were held accountable, while his family members who were not involved were taken away for labor reform.
"This is the emperor's intention." Han Yuan said softly.
His voice was old and hoarse, but at this moment it sounded infinitely deep.
"It's probably the capital city a few years from now," Han Yuan said. "Those people were too naive. The emperor had no intention of giving them a chance to live."
"No, perhaps I have."
Lin Fu said nothing, just listened quietly.
"Will this place stay here forever?" Han Yuan suddenly asked.
Lin Fu was stunned for a moment, then quickly replied, "I heard someone say that this place will be rebuilt soon."
Those traces of darkness will be completely erased, and the people of Fengxian City will usher in a brand new life, a new life where as long as they are willing to work, they can have enough food and clothing, and live better and better lives.
...
Now Fengxian City is in a new stage of development and construction everywhere. There are perfume shops, clothing factories and other production places, and there are roads being paved. In other words, Fengxian City is not short of work!
In addition, the biggest thing Feng Guangwei did was to redistribute the land around Fengxian City.
The current land system of the Great Zhou has great drawbacks. The Great Zhou has a vast area, but the population has not kept up, so there are large tracts of unowned wasteland that have not been developed.
The same is true for Fengxian City.
In addition, the soil in Fengxian City was originally of poor quality and had experienced floods, so Feng Guangwei gathered a large number of strong men to reclaim the wasteland.
They are all paid daily wages. The more they work, the more they earn. The men are working very hard.
The fertilization method used by Feng Guangwei is an improved one, which is very suitable for improving the soil quality of Fengxian City.
...
Han Yuan settled down in Fengxian City, and Feng Guangwei expressed some pressure more than once in his letters.
Yan Xuanyu naturally comforted him. Han Yuan no longer held an official position and could just be an ordinary person.
Feng Guangwei also mentioned something that made Yan Xuanyu feel extremely strange. Han Yuan actually took the initiative to talk to Feng Guangwei about the defense situation of Fengxian City!
Feng Guangwei was doing all sorts of practical things in Fengxian City with such great fanfare, and the changes that Fengxian City had made were obvious to all. These changes would definitely be noticed by people in the surrounding cities or even the capital.
Yan Xuanyu said it didn't matter, it was better to know it now, anyway the time was almost ripe.
As for the problem of spies in Fengxian City, Yan Xuanyu had already given solutions. One is identity cards, and the other is to strengthen patrols. This is all that can be done now.
It was a pleasant surprise. Yan Xuanyu had not expected Han Yuan to accept everything in Fengxian City so calmly. He heard from Feng Guangwei that Han Yuan was confronted by an aunt on his first day in Fengxian City.
...
Yan Xuanyu was reading the letter sent by Feng Guangwei when Li Zhongxian came in and said, "Your Majesty, Concubine Shen requests an audience."
Yan Xuanyu put the letter away and placed it in the secret compartment before saying to Li Zhongxian, "Announce it."
"Appoint Concubine Chen to come to the audience!" Li Zhongxian stood aside and spoke.
Soon, a graceful figure came over, bringing with her a refreshing fragrance.
"Your Majesty, I pay my respects to you." Chen Lian had become thinner and looked delicate and frail. When she bowed her head to pay her respects, her snow-white neck was revealed, which was extremely charming.
Yan Xuanyu's eyes darkened when Shen Lian couldn't see. It seemed that the person behind Shen Lian was going to take action.
"My beloved, why are you here?" Yan Xuanyu stepped down from the dragon throne and personally helped Shen Lian up. "How many times have I told you that you don't need to greet me?"
"Your Majesty, I'm here to bring you a bowl of nourishing medicinal food." Shen Lian smiled softly.
Yan Xuanyu only smiled and gently supported Chen Lian: "Oh? Since it was sent by my beloved concubine, I must taste it carefully."
The maid behind her couldn't bear to see the Empress brushing it off so lightly, so she lowered her head and said as she presented the medicinal meal, "Your Majesty, this was prepared by the Empress herself for several hours!"
Yan Xuanyu said distressedly: "My beloved concubine, why did you do this?"
He seemed to have just noticed that there were now a few red spots on Chen Lian's originally white fingers, and immediately said to Li Zhongxian: "Li Zhongxian, quickly call the imperial physician!"
"Your Majesty, my hand is fine. Please drink the medicine first." Chen Lian said.
Yan Xuanyu looked at Chen Lian intently for a few times.
“Your Majesty…” Shen Lian was stunned.
"It's nothing, bring it here." Chen Lian wanted to feed the emperor to drink, but unexpectedly Yan Xuanyu reached out and took the bowl and drank it all in one gulp.
bitter!
What did Shen Lian add to this? !
Yan Xuanyu frowned calmly. Before, when he had no sense of taste, he could drink anything without frowning. But now...
It’s so painful!
Li Zhongxian quickly brought the teacup and Yan Xuanyu rinsed his mouth.
"My beloved, I've finished drinking." Yan Xuanyu said softly.
"His Majesty……"
Chen Lian thought of many possibilities, but none of them could be that the emperor drank it so quickly, or that she could do it so easily...
While she was distracted, the emperor had already led her to the bedside, which was one of the few places in Chengtian Palace where sunlight from outside could penetrate.
Yan Xuanyu gave a wink, and Li Zhongxian beside him took out a jade pipe from the sandalwood box and handed it over.
After a while, wisps of smoke rose up. Yan Xuanyu leaned on the soft couch, squinted his eyes and took a few deep puffs of the mint-flavored herbal smoke made by Doctor Xue.
It feels good.
Yan Xuanyu's appearance was naturally excellent, and now, dressed in black, he looked indescribably charming as he squinted his eyes and leaned lazily on the soft couch.
Chen Lian suppressed his expression, but... Yan Xuanyu was not suitable to be the emperor.
He was a foolish monarch.
Only a virtuous and benevolent gentleman is worthy of being the ruler of the world.
Thinking of this, Chen Lian's feeling of being held and unable to breathe eased.
Chen Lian took out a handkerchief and wiped the corners of Yan Xuanyu's lips.
"My beloved, there are countless people in this world who want to be by my side, but I always feel that you are different from them." Yan Xuanyu said slowly.
Of course, Shen Lian wanted to kill him.
Shen Lian's expression changed.
"So I'm willing to give you everything I have." Yan Xuanyu closed his eyes, "Just like what's sung in the Song of Everlasting Regret, 'I wish to be a pair of wings in the sky, and a pair of branches on the ground'..."
As he spoke, the mist between his mouth and nose became lighter under the light coming through.
Even the tyrant emperor is treating you so frivolously, hurry up and do it, Yan Xuanyu thought.
Chen Lian had a smile on her face, but upon closer inspection, it wasn't natural. Even her voice was trembling. "Your Majesty, you are busy with government affairs. I will come to accompany you later."
Chen Lian took the palace servants out of Chengtian Palace. After they left, Yan Xuanyu played with the jade pipe in his hand with an expressionless face.
What does Shen Lian want to do? Kill him with medicine?
But Yan Xuanyu felt that it was far more complicated than that.
The next day, the Imperial Physician came to pay his respects as usual and told Yan Xuanyu in surprise that his pulse was stable, all the remaining toxins in his body had been cleared, and he was already in great shape.
"Your Majesty is protected by a true dragon." The imperial physician sighed!
Yan Xuanyu: "..."
I'm afraid it has something to do with the medicine Shen Lian gave me.
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