Chapter 46 The Butterfly Effect of Rumors
The warmth and comfort of everyday life are what truly soothe the human heart.
Unlike the night markets in the north, which are mostly food stalls, a night market in Jiangnan is characterized by a large number of water stalls, tea stalls, taverns, and various kinds of sweet soups. Add to that food stalls, flower stalls, and handicraft stalls, and you have a typical Jiangnan night market.
Jiang Chen and Shen Yujiao both grew up in Beicheng. Now that they have come to Daxia, and the capital is also located in the north, walking on the streets of Jiangnan Prefecture, they feel that the local customs and culture here contain a unique charm.
Passing by a jewelry stall, Shen Yujiao picked up a bracelet, held it up to her wrist, and turned to ask, "Does it look good?"
"It looks good." Jiang Chen nodded without hesitation.
Shen Yujiao looked at him suspiciously: "What about this?"
"It looks good too."
"Jiang Xiaochen, you weren't even looking carefully!"
Seeing Shen Yu's pouty appearance, Jiang Chen shrank back half a step: "She looks good no matter what she wears, Jiao Jiao."
Although it was meant as a playful plea for forgiveness, Shen Yujiao felt a sweet warmth in her heart upon hearing it. She turned her head, pressed down the corners of her mouth, put down the jewelry in her hand, and turned to look at the mask stall behind her.
The jewelry shop owner thought two big customers had arrived, but to his surprise, the young master didn't buy anything. Seeing that the tall young master next to him was about to leave, he quickly asked, "Young master, you have good taste. Why don't you buy them as a gift for your son?"
Jiang Chen turned to look at Shen Yujiao, worried that she might be in danger alone, so he reached out and pushed Zhu Yu over: "Pay up the money and buy them all for Young Master."
"Cousin! Shall we buy a mask?"
Hearing the voice behind him, Jiang Chen ran towards it and shouted, "Buy it!"
How about this beaded string?
"purchase!"
"I like this one too."
"Buy everything you like."
......
After walking halfway down the street, Zhu Yu was covered in tangle of ...
The two walked from the secluded mountains and rivers into the bustling city. The scenery along the way was truly breathtaking. Shen Yujiao couldn't help but exclaim, "No wonder Jiangnan has been known for its talented scholars since ancient times. Such picturesque scenery is truly intoxicating."
Jiang Chen turned his head to look at the smile on her face, and pointed to the tavern by the roadside: "That's the real intoxicating place."
Shen Yujiao's eyes lit up instantly, and she tugged at Jiang Chen's sleeve, asking, "Are you serious?"
In modern times, Jiang Chen never allowed her to drink alcohol. Firstly, because her elders were worried, and secondly, because Jiang Chen caught her drunk the first time she did so. Although she didn't remember what happened that night, Jiang Chen never allowed her to drink alcohol again after that day.
Jiang Chen nodded slightly: "I'm with you, so you can drink less."
The wine in Jiangnan is not as strong as that in the north. Jiang Chen mistakenly drank a cup of wine instead of water during lunch. He felt that although it was fragrant, the wine was mellow. For Jiang Chen, it was as if he had not drunk any wine at all.
It was rare for Jiang Chen to be willing to drink with her, so Shen Yujiao grabbed his sleeve and headed straight for the nearest tavern.
This tavern is called "Yu Li Fang". The exterior of the store is unremarkable, but once you step inside, you'll find a hidden gem.
Unlike most taverns of this era, this place had no drunkards engaging in loud conversations, nor the smell of meat and alcohol. The warm orange lighting enveloped the entire space in a cozy atmosphere. The tables and chairs in the hall were arranged irregularly, with groups of three to five people at a table, or two people drinking together. Regardless of the number of people, the atmosphere was extremely harmonious.
Jiang Chen glanced around and felt slightly relieved. Before coming in, he had regretted his suggestion. If it weren't for the nice atmosphere, he would have even wanted to take Shen Yujiao back to Qinghuan Tower for drinks.
The two did not avoid sitting in a corner where there were many people, but instead sat next to a table of students. Jiang Chen ordered a pot of osmanthus wine for Shen Yujiao, and a pot of Wutijiang for himself. Finally, they ordered a few side dishes according to local specialties.
After the waiter left, Shen Yujiao asked with a hint of curiosity, "How much did we spend tonight?"
Upon hearing this, Jiang Chen turned to look at Zhu Yu, and then heard him say, "Your Highness, tonight's total cost is probably around eighty taels."
"Over eighty?" Shen Yujiao clicked her tongue in surprise, because they hadn't bought any real valuable items, just some ordinary little trinkets. If they took what they bought back to the capital and scattered them all in the most prosperous area, she estimated that no one would even pick them up.
Originally intended for amusement, Shen Yujiao couldn't help but sigh upon hearing the number.
"Come on, stop thinking about it and try your osmanthus wine."
Jiang Chen poured Shen Yujiao a glass. He watched as she picked up the glass, brought it to her lips, and took small sips. After only a few sips, her face beamed with satisfaction. Her eyes narrowed, and she smiled somewhat foolishly, like a cat that had just stolen some meat.
He asked, somewhat amused, "Is it really that good?"
"Delicious!" Shen Yujiao couldn't help but take a few more sips. She felt the rich fragrance of osmanthus filling every inch of her mouth, mixed with the aroma of rice wine. It was as if she had opened the door to a new world.
Since arriving in Jiangnan, it was rare to see her so happy. Jiang Chen shook his head and chuckled, tilting his head back to drink the wine in his cup. When he looked at the person opposite him, his eyes seemed to be filled with aged wine. Just one glance would make one unconsciously become intoxicated by it. Shen Yujiao looked up and met his gaze, only to find herself already drunk.
"Brother Zhang, have you paid your taxes this year?"
A conversation came from a table behind them, and because it was about taxes, both of them listened attentively.
"Don't even mention it. In previous years, we could say that our family didn't need to worry about taxes, but now it's really... the more property we have, the more taxes we pay. I don't know if those with little property are living a miserable life, or if we, who have to pay taxes every time, are even worse off."
Hearing what he had just said, the man lowered his voice again and said, "Have you heard? I heard that the current method of tax collection was proposed by our Crown Prince. It's called... something like the Two-Tax System. It means that the annual tax revenue will be doubled and collected in the summer and autumn seasons."
Before Jiang Chen could even frown at his words, the man at the table beside him became even more indignant: "How could His Majesty agree to such a tax law that disregards the livelihood of the people? Summer and autumn are the busy season for farming, and collecting double the tax is why life is getting harder and harder!"
“No…” Shen Yujiao looked at Jiang Chen with confusion in her eyes. When did the Two Tax Law become a rumor?
The two people behind him were talking when a student at the next table chimed in, "Brother, this has always been the way of royalty. The Crown Prince has never studied hard or farmed the land himself. How could someone as pampered as him understand our hardships? It's all just to fill the national treasury..."
"What!" The person behind him was somewhat angry: "If the Crown Prince is this kind of person, then what future does our Great Xia have?"
"Hey—don't say that," his tablemate quickly covered his mouth, "That's the Crown Prince! How dare we presume to discuss him?"
"Hey, Brother Liu, you're the one who brought this up, and you're the one who told me not to say it, you..."
"It's fine if I just have a private conversation with you, but how can you go on such a high-sounding discussion about the Crown Prince's rights and wrongs?"
“So what!” Another student stood up and said, “You are afraid, but we are not. To be honest, we are students from Guangdong and Guangxi, and we have traveled all the way to Jiangnan Prefecture in order to go north to the capital.”
"Since these two tax laws were implemented, life has become harder every day. People are suffering, while those in high positions of power are indulging in wealth and comfort. Since the people's will cannot reach the Emperor, we students will take the lead and make sure the Emperor knows how ridiculous these two tax laws are!"
"Young men, what are you doing here?"
"Let's go to the Dali Temple and beat the drum!" another student said. "Let's go and appeal to the emperor, and tell the people in the capital about the hardships of the local people. If the emperor does not listen to our advice, then we, the upright scholars, will surely die to prove our loyalty!"
Jiang Chen's hand, which was holding the wine glass, was suddenly grasped. He looked up and met Shen Yujiao's worried eyes. Both of their faces were filled with solemnity.
What was initially thought to be a case of local officials embezzling money turned out to be the rumor circulating among the people. It was clearly a case of local officials embezzling money, yet they had the audacity to blame it all on the Two-Tax System. What was most frightening was that it took so long for the Censorate to expose the local officials' actions.
Just how corrupt is this officialdom?
"The Two-Tax Law was only passed at the beginning of this year. So far, only one tax has been collected, but how come it has already damaged the economy like this!"
The unspoken words festered in Jiang Chen's chest, and he stopped using his cup, picking up the wine pot and taking a few gulps. He was angry at himself for being detached at the time, and even more angry at himself for not fully participating in the implementation of the Two-Tax Law. No matter who took advantage of the loopholes, it would ultimately affect the millions of people of Great Xia.
"Bang—" The wine pot landed heavily on the table. Shen Yujiao looked in the direction of the sound and saw a boy sitting in the corner.
"Hey, that's enough." The boy's voice sounded clear, but it was laced with mockery. "The documents for the Two-Tax Law were posted on the bulletin board of the government office on the day they were implemented. Doesn't anyone who can read know to go and take a look?"
One of the older students looked up and gave him a cold look: "You brat, don't you know any respect for others?"
"You even know about hierarchy and social order?"
The boy emerged from the corner, and with each step he took forward, the shadow on him receded an inch until he was fully standing under the light. Only then did everyone see that he was an extremely handsome young man.
"Your Majesty is the sovereign, and the Crown Prince is the heir apparent. The proper etiquette between sovereign and subject is something that even the officials of the court must respect. When you slander the Crown Prince, do you even know the difference between superior and inferior?"
The group exchanged glances, hesitant but nonetheless speaking up: "We should indeed respect our ruler, but... but for us, that respect must be reserved for a wise and benevolent ruler—"
"Bullshit!" The young man shoved the student, making him stumble. "You dare call yourself a scholar of the elite? No wonder you mediocre and incompetent people insist on coming to the capital. You probably know you'll never have the chance to take the imperial examinations, right?"
"You!" The student who had just threatened to go to the capital to file a complaint jumped up in anger: "You've gone too far!"
"What have I done to deceive you?" the young man said impatiently. "You call yourself a scholar? Even if we put the worst-case scenario into account, if the Two-Tax System is truly such a foolish bill, even if it was indeed proposed by the Crown Prince, what do you take all those officials for? Just decorative vases?"
"You, too, have studied diligently for decades, hoping to one day stand in the imperial court as a student of the emperor, right? How come you think that so many top scholars and officials are not as insightful as you? Are you even more shrewd than them?"
The boy asked three questions in a row, leaving the student blushing and speechless. The two who had initially discussed the Two-Tax Law also realized that something was wrong.
Although the students' words did indeed anger them, the young master's words were not without reason. Besides, discussing the crown prince was a serious crime no matter what. The two exchanged a glance, got up in perfect unison, and quietly slipped out of the tavern when no one was watching.
"Speak up, why aren't you saying anything?" The young man stepped forward, grabbed one of the boys' hands, and raised it high above his head: "You say you're a student? But the calluses on your hands are so shallow, you don't even have a pen in your hand. What, do you need your page to write your essays for you?"
"What are you doing!" The student abruptly pulled his hand back.
Seeing his reaction, the young man sneered disdainfully: "If there is a next time, as long as I see you, I will definitely send you to the government office."
After saying this, the young man left without looking back. The customers in the shop, having witnessed such a commotion, were also quite alarmed, and the remaining tables gradually left in twos and threes within the time it takes to drink a cup of tea.
"Zhu Yu," Jiang Chen turned his head and instructed, "Have people follow that young master and those students separately, and be sure to find out their true identities."
"yes!"
Seeing Zhu Yu leave, Shen Yujiao reached out and grasped his hand: "Don't blame yourself, it's not your fault. Such rumors must have been deliberately spread by someone to ruin your reputation."
She looked toward the doorway, a sense of relief rising in her heart: "Besides, you see, there are still people speaking up for you."
Although he understood in his heart, Jiang Chen could no longer remain indifferent. Everything that had just happened clearly told him that Da Xia was not a game, and he had witnessed the impact of the butterfly effect firsthand.
"Jiang Xiaochen, cheers!"
Shen Yujiao raised her glass to clink with his, the crisp sound pulling Jiang Chen back from his thoughts. He smiled bitterly and returned Shen Yujiao's toast: "Cheers."
With each glass of wine, Jiang Chen's mind became increasingly clear. What he had witnessed in the past few days had planted a deep thorn in his heart. Whether it was these local officials or those who were pulling the strings behind the scenes, if they wanted to lure him into their trap, then they had succeeded.
Originally, the position of crown prince was neither important to him nor unimportant. He wanted to hold onto the position of heir apparent because of his rivalry with Prince Huan. But now, he has changed his mind.
Since he is the crown prince, no one is allowed to use the common people as bargaining chips in a power struggle.
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Author's Note: Happy Holidays, girls! Sweet treats this weekend~
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