Xie Zhun asked detailed questions. Villagers from Xuanming, Fengyi and other places were driven away one after another. There was no reason why Pingyuan and Xiude, who were stationed at the entrance of the wasteland, did not make any move.
At this point, Qin Yuan revealed a look of disgust.
“The magistrate of Xiude County was resolute. Although he was under great pressure, he consulted with his master on everything and made excuses. Although he used the tactic of delaying, he was able to hold on with all his might.”
"The villagers outside the city have not been disturbed yet, but the situation is different in Pingyuan..."
"Pingyuan County is located in a remote area and has long been neglected by the imperial court, so the county magistrate was quite ostracized by his colleagues. But that Pingyuan County magistrate was indeed a resolute and good official..."
"This time, the Crown Prince exerted pressure at every level, but the magistrate of Pingyuan County refused to comply, citing the lack of official documents. Less than two days later, he was found hanged from a roof beam..."
Xie Zhun pursed his lips and clenched his fists.
Qin Yuan said with considerable disgust, "Not two days later, the prefect personally appointed a new magistrate, closed the city gates, and forced the people outside the city to harvest their crops, leaving not a single grain of food..."
Xie Zhun invited Qin Yuan to rest outside the tent, and Eunuch Xu prepared a meal to entertain him.
Despite the urgency of the matter, Xie Zhun kept Ning Xi'er behind to discuss it with her.
"If you need money or materials, just say so!"
Ning Xi'er said coolly.
What was originally a heavy topic actually made Xie Zhun feel more relaxed after Ning Xi'er brought it up.
A faint smile spread from the corner of her lips and gradually crept up to her eyebrows.
"Now that you mention it, I have this strange feeling that I'm living off a woman..."
The two had divorced beforehand, and even though their relationship is currently ambiguous, Xie Zhun only refers to Ning Xi'er as "Princess" in public and calls her "Xi'er" in front of close relatives...
In private, they simply address each other as "you" and "I".
Ning Xi'er raised her head proudly and said arrogantly, "Not everyone can afford to live off me!"
Xie Zhun couldn't help but laugh.
As he smiled, he noticed Ning Xi'er staring at his face.
Xie Zhun wiped his face and found that there was nothing stuck to it.
Ning Xi'er coughed lightly, reminding him, "It seems the journey to the Desolate Realm won't be peaceful..."
The fact that a county magistrate could be so easily killed not only served to establish authority but also to make an example of him.
Xie Zhun nodded, but there was no trace of concern in his eyes.
“I originally ran a small business, and although I was confined to the East Palace, I entrusted my maternal grandfather and uncles to manage it. There was also Eunuch Xu and others who took care of things outside.”
Ning Xi'er nodded, signaling him to continue.
Xie Zhun held her hand in his palm and unconsciously played with it.
"It's not a large-scale operation, but it's still effective at protecting those around me. In recent years, the imperial court has become increasingly incompetent; I see the bigger picture and know they won't let me off the hook..."
"So, you've walked right into our trap..."
Ning Xi'er smiled and voiced her guess, "Deliberately angering the emperor so that he would exile you..."
Xie Zhun gently stroked the tip of her nose; the smooth, slippery touch made him pull his finger away, but he couldn't resist touching it again.
"How do you know he won't kill me in a fit of rage?"
Ning Xi'er laughed, "If you're going to kill him, you should have done it long ago! Hypocritical and greedy for a good reputation, that's His Majesty for you. He certainly won't give anyone grounds to criticize him. Imprisoning you is a difficult decision, and releasing you after the verdict would only cause more trouble..."
"Exile is so much better. The journey is arduous, with illness, miasma, and ambushes... There are many ways to die, legitimate and respectable, and you can even preserve your good reputation!"
Xie Zhun tugged at her earlobe approvingly and asked with a smile, "How do you know he will exile me to a desolate place, instead of Lingnan or the North?"
Although Ning Xi'er had only been there a short time, she had a basic understanding of the Great Yan territory based on the original owner's memories.
Exiled to Lingnan, where vegetation is lush and abundant, escaping capture would be difficult. Moreover, being close to the State of Qi, there was a risk of colluding with Qi, which would be a greater loss than gain.
The northern place of exile bordered the State of Jin.
During the reign of the late emperor, the Great Yan and the State of Jin maintained a peaceful coexistence. However, after Emperor Xiaowen ascended the throne, conflicts with the State of Jin became constant...
Sending Xie Zhun to the northern border, how could they know that the Jin state had no intention of supporting Xie Zhun?
In comparison, exiling Xie Zhun to the wilderness would have far more advantages.
This place is barren and difficult to survive in; Xie Zhun could die in many ways along the way.
Furthermore, Xie Zhun's mentor, Wei Xunfang, is easy to find; he lived in Xiude County, not far from the desolate region.
It's impossible that Wei Xunfang and his cronies didn't plot against Xie Zhun. Even without the emperor's personal intervention, his eager sons were able to uproot Xie Zhun's power base.
Hearing Ning Xi'er's analysis, Xie Zhun nodded with relief, "With you here, even if I have difficulty walking, you are enough to cope with the difficulties we face."
Ning Xi'er teased, "What? You want me to be your slave?"
Xie Zhun gazed intently into Ning Xi'er's eyes and placed her palm on his heart.
"How could I enslave you? My heart is with you!"
Ning Xi'er was defeated and almost fled in disarray.
The once aloof and taciturn Prince Cheng, ever since falling for Ning Xi'er, has suddenly seemed to have unlocked his full potential...
When he transforms into a devoted puppy, looking particularly earnest, Ning Xi'er's heart always softens.
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