Chapter 125 The Scholar Who Favored His Concubine Over His Wife (Seventeen) Taking Pure Love to...
Two days later, Xiao Yunzhan, accompanied by a group of guards, traveled lightly from the capital to Qizhou City by fast horse.
Along the way, he couldn't help but recall the various scenes of disaster relief in Qizhou years ago. In his memory, Wang Su was an upright official, unlike those who disregarded the people's livelihood. But the reports presented in the court now were vastly different from what he had seen before, which filled Xiao Yunzhan with doubt.
With this question in mind, Xiao Yunzhan and his group traveled at breakneck speed, arriving in Qizhou territory in just twelve days. When he finally caught sight of the Qizhou city gates, he couldn't help but be surprised. Were the Qizhou city walls really this high back then?
Soon, they arrived at the gates of Qizhou City. Xiao Yunzhan dismounted and stared at the majestic city walls in the distance, his eyes filled with awe.
“Your Highness, the renovation of Qizhou’s city walls is quite impressive.” Zhang Ruochong, a bodyguard accompanying the prince, leaned closer and said in a low voice, “According to the regulations of our Great Wei, prefectures and counties must submit a report to the Ministry of Works for approval when repairing city walls. However, the capital has not received any reports from Qizhou in recent years!”
"You don't work at the Ministry of Works, so how did you find out?" Lian Yun asked with a smile.
Upon hearing this, Zhang Ruochong chuckled and shrugged, saying, "I overheard the Minister of Works' report to the palace that day. He said that in recent years, the number of documents submitted by various prefectures requesting repairs to the city walls has been less than ten, and Qizhou City was not among them!"
Xiao Yunzhan frowned slightly, his gaze sweeping over the brand-new bricks and stones on the city wall. The blue stones were cut into neat squares and stacked tightly, clearly indicating that a great deal of manpower and resources had been spent on their construction. If Qizhou City had indeed carried out unauthorized repairs without reporting them, then there was a serious problem at play.
"Let's go into the city," Xiao Yunzhan said in a deep voice, then led the group slowly toward the city gate.
Two squads of strong guards stood at the city gate. Xiao Yunzhan noticed that the weapons they wore on their waists were not the standard weapons of the Great Wei Dynasty, but rather strange ones that he had never seen before.
The weapon appeared to be forged entirely from refined iron, shaped like a long, thick cylinder, but upon closer inspection, it was no more than the length of a forearm. The edges of the cylinder were polished smooth and rounded, and there were no decorations on it.
What is this...?
Filled with questions, Xiao Yunzhan gestured for Lian Yun to step forward and take out the identity documents that they had prepared in advance.
"Tea merchants?" The commander of the guards in the middle of the city gate slowly flipped through the documents handed over by Lian Yun, and asked casually, "You come from Yunzhou, why did you take the long way to our Qizhou City?"
Upon hearing this, Lian Yun calmly cupped his hands and smiled, "Replying to your question, sir, I have heard that the new tea from Qizhou is of excellent quality, so I made a special detour to purchase some rare goods so that my old customers can have a taste of it when I return."
The guard commander sized them up, his gaze lingering on the jade pendant at Xiao Yunzhan's waist for a moment before he suddenly smiled and said, "Since you're here to do business, then go in! Just don't cause any trouble in the city."
"Don't worry, sir, we are all honest businessmen and would never intentionally cause trouble," Lian Yun said.
The commander of the guards waved his hand, signaling them to hurry into the city.
As soon as the group passed through the city gate, Lian Yun leaned close to Xiao Yunzhan's ear and whispered, "Your Highness, this city guard is not simple. Judging from his eyes just now, he probably noticed something."
Xiao Yunzhan nodded slightly and said in a deep voice, "It was my oversight. Let's act according to the situation."
"Yes, Your Highness!"
Lian Yun and Zhang Ruochong followed behind Xiao Yunzhan, and the group slowly walked along the bluestone street. After a short while, Xiao Yunzhan suddenly stopped and looked down at the stone pavement under his feet.
"Your Highness, what's wrong?" Lian Yun asked.
"Why are the roads in Qizhou City so smooth?" Xiao Yunzhan muttered to himself.
Lian Yun squatted down, ran his fingertip along the seam of the stone slab, and indicated, "Your Highness, it looks like there's something underneath this stone slab."
Zhang Ruochong, who was standing nearby, bent down, brought his nose close to the stone slab, and sniffed. He said uncertainly, "There's a strange smell here. Could it be that they used some new method to build this road?"
Xiao Yunzhan remained silent, his gaze sweeping over the shops lining both sides of the street. The warm sunlight filtered through the glass windows, casting dappled shadows that made the goods inside appear more upscale.
Lian Yun and Zhang Ruochong exchanged a glance, their eyes filled with shock. Every single household in Qizhou City had installed transparent glass windows!
Xiao Yunzhan reached out and touched the window of a shop on the street, his suspicion growing. He knew that glass was a rare commodity even in the capital; ordinary wealthy families couldn't even afford a set of cups. How could shops in Qizhou City be so extravagant?
Just then, several men dressed in coarse linen clothes pushed a wheelbarrow by, and the wheelbarrow was loaded with a whole piece of glass! Xiao Yunzhan's heart skipped a beat, and he signaled Lian Yun to stop one of them.
“Brother, we are merchants from out of town who have come to Qizhou. We would like to inquire about glass windows…” Before Lian Yun could finish speaking, the man interrupted him with a smile: “You want to buy glass windows? Look, that shop over there is it!” As he spoke, the man pointed to the shop on the street corner.
"Thank you, brother."
The man nodded slightly and hurriedly pushed the cart forward. The wheels rolled over the smooth stone road with hardly any bumps, and he easily pushed the cart away.
Xiao Yunzhan watched the man's departing figure, his hand tightly gripping the jade pendant at his waist. Before he could think further, Zhang Ruochong suddenly lowered his voice and said, "Your Highness, look over there!"
Following the direction he pointed, Xiao Yunzhan saw several children carrying schoolbags, chasing each other as they ran out from the street corner.
The group exchanged glances and hurried towards the direction the children had come from. At the street corner stood a magnificent school. Outside the school was a sign, inscribed in vermilion ink—"Free School."
Even more eye-catching is the sign that blatantly proclaims at the end: "No tuition fees, children aged five and up are welcome, room and board included, both boys and girls are welcome."
Upon seeing this, Lian Yun gasped in astonishment, "A school of this size, and it's free?"
Xiao Yunzhan stared at the sign for "Free School," his mind filled with unreadable thoughts. He had seen too many charitable organizations in the capital that operated under the guise of charity, but secretly engaged in shady and unsavory activities.
"Let's go in and take a look."
The group passed through the hanging flower gate of the school, and the sound of reading aloud came from the main hall not far away. Xiao Yunzhan was about to go forward to find out what was going on when he suddenly heard a slight "click" behind him.
"Who are you? How dare you trespass on my Qizhou Academy?"
Upon hearing this, Lian Yun hurriedly stepped forward and said sincerely, "We are tea merchants from out of town who came to Qizhou to do business. Seeing the magnificent atmosphere of this place and hearing the sounds of children playing, we thought we would like to come in and take a look. If we have offended anyone, we hope you will forgive us. We have traveled all over the country and have seen many local schools, but it is rare to see one like Qizhou that does not charge tuition and allows both boys and girls to enroll. We hope you will not take offense at our abrupt visit."
The four school guards exchanged glances upon hearing this. One of the guards, the leader, sheathed his weapon, looked them up and down, and said leisurely, "Since you are merchants from out of town, and this school is not a forbidden area, you may take a look, but please do not disturb the students' studies."
Xiao Yunzhan clasped his hands in thanks, a perfectly measured smile on his face, but a tension lingered in his heart. He led Lian Yun and Zhang Ruochong around the corridor, and through the stained glass windows, he saw dozens of tables and chairs neatly arranged in the main hall, where children sat upright, swaying their heads as they recited the Book of Rites.
"Therefore, people do not only love their own parents and children, but also ensure that the elderly are cared for until their end, the able-bodied are employed, the young are nurtured, and the widowed, orphaned, lonely, disabled, and sick are all provided for..."
Xiao Yunzhan frowned and walked forward, only to find the same scene in the main hall ahead. He couldn't help but turn back to look at the head of the guards who had been following them, and after a long pause, he asked, "May I ask, sir, who exactly runs this 'free school'?"
The guard leader smiled slightly, "It was Mr. Song who insisted on it, and Lord Wang ordered it to be carried out, saying that we should enable all the children in Qizhou to read and write, and to understand things and reason."
“I see… This Mr. Song is truly an extraordinary person,” Xiao Yunzhan said.
After touring the free school, the group took their leave. The head guard gestured to his men, who bowed in response and departed.
Xiao Yunzhan had Lian Yun find an inconspicuous inn for them to stay in. As soon as the door closed, Zhang Ruochong poured Xiao Yunzhan a cup of hot tea and said in a low voice, "Your Highness, things are very unusual in Qizhou City. Not to mention the repair of the city walls, even the streets, shops, stained-glass windows, and compulsory education are far superior to those in the capital. Why don't we reveal our identities and go to the county government tomorrow to meet with Prefect Wang Su and find out the truth?"
"No rush." Xiao Yunzhan sat at the table, his fingers tapping unconsciously on the surface, and said calmly, "Tomorrow we'll investigate again secretly and find out the situation before we speak. Wang Sushou is secondary; the real question is, who exactly is this Mr. Song?"
Meanwhile, inside the Qizhou County government office, Wang Sushou was sitting opposite Song Ce.
“Mr. Song, the Fourth Prince Xiao Yunzhan and his guards have entered the city disguised as merchants.” Wang Sushou said with a solemn expression, looking at the gentle-looking young man beside him, “I’m afraid their purpose in coming here is not good.”
Upon hearing this, Song Ce took a sip of warm tea and said calmly, "It's alright. Now that he's here, let him see what Qizhou City is really like now."
Wang Sushou laughed heartily, "Alright, then let them have a good look."
Five days later.
Xiao Yunzhan, accompanied only by Lian Yun and Zhang Ruochong, personally knocked on the door of the Qizhou County government office. A short while later, a middle-aged scholar resembling a clerk emerged from the office, his gaze sweeping over the three outside. He politely inquired, "And you gentlemen are?"
Lian Yun stepped forward, presented his visiting card, and bowed, saying, "Please inform him, sir, that the tea merchants of Yunzhou wish to see Lord Wang to discuss a business deal with your county."
The middle-aged scholar nodded slightly, slowly opened the door, and said with a smile, "Please come in. The gentleman and the sir have been waiting for your esteemed guest for a long time."
The three of them walked around the screen wall, through the halls and courtyards, and soon arrived at the main hall of the county government.
The main hall was wide open. Wang Sushou, dressed in plain clothes, stood beside Song Ce, who was wearing a blue robe. The two were leaning against the railing, looking at the trees. When they entered, Wang Sushou stepped forward and smiled, saying, "I wondered why two magpies flew into the courtyard today. It turns out we have distinguished guests."
Xiao Yunzhan glanced at the gentle and refined young man beside him and smiled politely: "Lord Wang, how have you been? I hope you and Mr. Song will forgive my unauthorized visit."
Wang Sushou raised his eyebrows. It seemed that the Fourth Prince had found a lot of useful information during his stay in Qizhou these past few days.
"Mr. Song, I have long admired your name." Xiao Yunzhan smiled and said, "Do you remember that we met once before?"
Upon hearing this, Song Ce smiled and returned the greeting, saying, "Young master, you are too kind. Of course I remember. Back then, you paid me a hundred gold coins for a divination, which just happened to solve my urgent problem. However..." He paused for a moment and said, "Yunzhou is a thousand miles away from my Qizhou. It must be very hard for you to be a tea merchant."
As soon as he finished speaking, Zhang Ruochong drew his sword and stood up, but Xiao Yunzhan stopped him with a raised hand.
"Sir, you flatter me. Although being a tea merchant is hard work, we also get to see many rare things. Just like Qizhou City now, everything here is new and exciting, isn't it?" Xiao Yunzhan said.
"Now that Your Highness is here, let's speak frankly," Wang Sushou suddenly said. "You've been secretly investigating Qizhou City for several days; you must have many doubts in your mind, right?"
Xiao Yunzhan paused. Since Wang Sushou had revealed his identity, there was no need for him to hide it any longer.
"Sir, you seem to have no surprise at all about my identity?" Xiao Yunzhan looked at Song Ce, who had a calm expression, and smiled faintly.
“His Highness the Fourth Prince is an exceptional man, possessing an air of elegance in every gesture. I can glean some insight from the divination,” Song Ce said.
"Good, good." Xiao Yunzhan stopped pretending and looked sharply at the two men, asking in a deep voice, "Lord Wang, Mr. Song, Qizhou City is part of our Great Wei territory. Why do you refuse to go to the capital to pay taxes? Furthermore, you have illegally constructed city walls without reporting to the authorities, and the weapons you use are not of our Great Wei standard. How do you explain all of this?"
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Author's note: Getting ready for vacation! Hooray! [Sprinkling emoji]
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