The government office.
In the courtyard, Xuanyuan Zhan was intently polishing a Bodhi bead.
Ye Feng led Bai Ying to the courtyard and bowed, saying, "Your Highness, the person has been brought."
Xuanyuan Zhan glanced at Bai Ying and said, "Have a seat."
Bai Ying had expected that even if he wasn't subjected to severe torture, he would at least be greeted by a solemn prince. However, he never expected to meet him in this manner, and the prince seemed to treat him the same as before, without any special treatment.
Although Xuan Yuanzhan invited him to sit, Bai Ying dared not and knelt down before Xuan Yuanzhan, saying, "How dare a sinner like me sit with Your Highness?"
Xuanyuan Zhan glanced at him with amusement: "This is not like you. You, Bai Ying, should be the kind of person who would rather break than bend!"
Xuan Yuanzhan's words stunned Bai Ying.
Who could have imagined that someone he had only known for a few days would understand him so well!
Bai Ying lowered his eyes: "It depends on who you're gay to. As for the prince, Bai Ying would gladly be gay!"
Xuanyuan Zhan smiled and reached out to help Bai Ying up: "Alright, sit down when I tell you to!"
As he spoke, Xuanyuan Zhan pressed Bai Ying onto the stone bench, then looked at Ye Feng and said, "Go and pour some water."
Although the north was suffering from drought, there was still some water in the government office, but the water was not very clear and was of great value.
When Bai Ying saw Xuan Yuanzhan serving him water, he became even more apprehensive: "Your Highness, you don't need to treat Bai Ying like this. Bai Ying can't accept it."
As Bai Ying spoke, Ye Feng had already brought over hot water.
Xuanyuan Zhan picked up the teapot and poured a cup of hot water for Bai Ying: "You know the situation in the North right now, so let's not drink tea, it's too extravagant. Let's just have some water."
Bai Ying looked ashamed: "Water is already a luxury, how could I dare to ask for tea!"
Having lived in the north, he knew all too well how precious this water was. The fact that the prince had offered him water was enough to move him deeply and make him feel ashamed.
Xuanyuan Zhan seemed to know what he was thinking and explained, "This water was transported from the Baichuan River. It is indeed quite precious now, but I have already had them connect the Baichuan River and the Beiliang River. Once the water is connected, the North will no longer be so short of water."
Bai Ying thought of the South-to-North Water Diversion Project he had mentioned before: "Is this part of the South-to-North Water Diversion Project?"
Xuanyuan Zhan raised an eyebrow: "I suppose so, but connecting Baichuan and Beiliang first can solve the urgent problem in the North. Moreover, I have already increased the manpower to dig the canal. Originally, it was planned that the connection between the North and the South would take two years, but now, if there are enough workers to dig the canal, it can be completed in just one and a half years. So the solution to the drought in the North is just around the corner."
"Your Highness is truly talented!" Bai Ying suddenly stood up and bowed deeply to Xuan Yuanzhan: "On behalf of the people of the North, no, on behalf of all the people of the North, Bai Ying thanks Your Highness for your great kindness in planning for the people!"
The prince is not only benevolent and kind-hearted, but also has great talent and ambition. It is truly a blessing for the people of the north to have a ruler like the prince!
Xuanyuan Zhan was amused by his formal demeanor: "Alright, we don't need so much formality. Sit down and have some water."
Xuan Yuanzhan's casual demeanor gradually calmed Bai Ying down, and he silently sat back down.
Xuanyuan Zhan continued polishing the Bodhi beads, his focused expression piquing Bai Ying's curiosity: "Your Highness, what is this...?"
"I picked these from a Bodhi tree beside the Baichuan River when I was digging the riverbed. The people of Baichuan say that these Bodhi beads are very spiritual and can bring peace. My queen is about to give birth, so I picked some and plan to polish them into bracelets to give to my queen when I return." Xuan Yuanzhan replied while continuing to polish them.
Bai Ying nodded knowingly, suddenly becoming even more curious about Xuan Yuanzhan.
"What's wrong?" Bai Ying's gaze aroused Xuan Yuanzhan's curiosity.
Bai Ying explained with a wry smile, "Bai Ying just feels that the prince doesn't act like a prince."
Xuanyuan Zhan was slightly taken aback, then raised an eyebrow and said, "Do I not look like a prince?"
Seeing that Xuan Yuanzhan had misunderstood, Bai Ying quickly shook his head: "No, you are handsome and have a kingly aura. Your temperament is very much like that of a prince, but your way of doing things is not like that of a prince."
What prince would personally go and dig a river channel?
How can a prince share congee and steamed buns with refugees?
What kind of prince would care so much about the people?
And it's clear that he loves his queen very much.
Which member of the royal family doesn't have multiple wives and concubines? He probably only has his queen as his wife.
He's so handsome, yet so devoted; he doesn't act like a prince at all!
Xuanyuan Zhan was amused by him again: "What kind of demeanor should a prince have? Have you met a prince before?"
This question stumped Bai Ying, who shook his head: "No, you are the first prince I have ever met. But I have met many high-ranking officials before, and those officials acted much more like princes than you!"
Xuanyuan Zhan raised an eyebrow and looked at Bai Ying with a leisurely air: "I know you are a man with a story. If you have been wronged, you can appeal to me. I can send people to investigate the truth. If your grievance is true, I can clear your name."
In the past few days, he has also sent people to investigate White Eagle outside the northern border.
As he himself said, Bai Ying did not lead Liu Ying Village in committing any evil deeds. On the contrary, he distributed food to the people of the North on several occasions. Even if he was a thief, he was a chivalrous thief who robbed the rich to help the poor!
He knew White Eagle had a story, so he wanted to investigate other aspects of his life, but he found nothing.
Seeing Xuan Yuanzhan's sincere expression, Bai Ying was once again deeply moved, and his heart swayed wildly.
After a long while, Bai Ying finally stood up and knelt before Xuan Yuanzhan: "Bai Ying knows that Your Highness meant well, but the matter has been over for too long, and Bai Ying does not want to pursue it any further."
Even if we were to investigate, now is not the time.
Xuanyuan Zhan gave Bai Ying a deep look, knowing that he was not yet willing to open his heart to him.
Everyone has their own secrets that they can't tell others, and Xuan Yuanzhan didn't want to force him: "Bai Ying, you should go!"
Bai Ying looked up at Xuan Yuanzhan in shock.
Xuanyuan Zhan continued, "Take your brothers and go back to your Flowing Eagle Stronghold."
Bai Ying looked at Xuan Yuanzhan nervously: "Your Highness intends to release Bai Ying and the brothers of Liuying Village."
He had considered countless possibilities. It wasn't that he hadn't expected the man to release him, but he hadn't expected that the man would release Liuying Village as well.
Moreover, everyone was released unharmed and without any conditions!
Xuanyuan Zhan raised an eyebrow: "Didn't you say yourself that you wouldn't abandon them? Since you can't bear to part with them, then I will release them as well. You can take your people with you!"
He wasn't a villain, nor were the bandits of Liuying Village!
Although becoming a bandit is certainly wrong, the situation in the North is special now, so he can let bygones be bygones and let him go.
"Your Highness..." For the first time, Bai Ying, a grown man, had tears in his eyes from being moved.
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