Chapter 106
The scenery on the Fujiang River is different from that in the sea. The sea is too vast and you can't see anyone even after sailing for several days. Going northwest along the Fujiang River, there are occasionally houses of villagers on both sides of the river. Once, there were villagers on the shore carrying baskets to sell things. They were all old people and children. They kept waving and shouting: Selling fruit! Gentlemen, do you want to eat fruit?
Many people went to buy things for Fu, but the big boats could not reach the shore and were easily stranded in shallow waters, so the people below paddled their small boats to the shore and bought up all the things.
The guard came back and said, "The villagers have a heavy accent, but they didn't recognize your highness's ship. There are merchant ships coming and going here. In autumn, when the wild fruits are harvested, they will wait here with baskets on their backs..."
Xuan Fukan bought some wild fruits, including chestnuts, walnuts, and other wild fruits he had never seen before. Of course, he could not eat things bought from outside first. He had to check whether they were poisonous or not, and then do a poison test.
One of them looked like a sweet potato at first glance, but when Zhuyue washed it, the skin of a few of them broke, revealing the flesh inside. Zhuyue showed it to Your Highness and said, "Your Highness, I just tasted this, it's sweet and juicy, not like a sweet potato."
"Let me see." Xuanyu Fu took it and looked at it.
Wang Yuanyuan was anxious, afraid that the prince would eat it.
Manyu Fu had already broken it open and couldn't help but take a bite. Wang Yuanyuan cried out, "I've never seen this fruit before. What if it's poisonous and can't be eaten?"
"Zhuyue just ate it, it's fine." Xuanyufu said hurriedly, and gave a piece to Wang Banban, "Banban, try it, it's sweet and juicy."
Wang Yuanyuan ate and said, "Your Highness, don't be so kind as to think that all the people are good when buying and selling things on the shore. I heard that there are bad people who specialize in cheating the merchant ships. It doesn't matter whether the food is good or not. Anyway, the ship is going fast and I don't want to go back and settle accounts with them, so some people are just making up the numbers."
"Is it delicious, Banban?" Xuanyu Fu asked.
Wang Yuanyuan: "..." I was so busy talking that I didn't even taste it. Now I tasted it carefully and it was really: "It's very juicy and sweet. I've never eaten it before. What do you call it?"
The guard couldn't answer as the grandfather and grandson who were selling the goods had a heavy accent. He was afraid that the boat would go too far, so he threw away the silver and money and moved them all onto the small boat and chased after His Highness's boat.
Xuanyu Fu didn't care what it was called, as long as it tasted good. "It should be a local specialty. Let's keep one and ask the local people when we get ashore."
As he spoke, he took a bite and it was gone.
Yan Huaijin came in at this time. Xuanyu Fu's eyes lit up when he saw him. He took out a new one and handed it to Yan Huaijin, "Try it. I think you will like it. It's not too sweet and has a lot of moisture."
Wang Yuanyuan stood aside with the food in her hands.
"Good." Yan Huaijin took it first and tasted it, savoring it carefully and saying, "It's delicious. What is it called?"
"I don't know yet. We will get there in the evening and then we can ask the locals." Xuanyufu said and took another piece.
Yan Huaijin said, "I just asked Liu Qiang about the weather in Qianzhong. If we spend the winter here, we should move everything downstairs. We're afraid you'll be cold."
"My father once told me that when he and my father were fighting in Qianzhong, the people here loved to eat fish. There was a kind of red leaf or something, and adding some of it when cooking fish made it taste good." Xuan Fu was a little greedy for fish when he thought of this, "Father said that fish had fewer bones."
Xuan Fu muttered for a while, then stopped talking. Anyway, they were almost there. He approached Yan Jinjin and asked, "Did Liu Qiang look for Wang Yuansun?"
"They are together." Yan Huaijin and Xuanyifu have a tacit understanding. They have known each other since childhood. Without waiting for Xuanyifu to ask, he said, "I just went to ask about the weather and saw Wang Yuansun was there. I didn't ask him, but Wang Yuansun asked me what I wanted. I mentioned Qianzhong and Liu Qiang was anxious. Wang Yuansun told me about the weather without showing any likes or dislikes."
Qianzhong is the hometown of the Wang family. Wang Yuansun grew up here until he was eleven years old. It was also Wang Yuansun who killed all the Wang family in Qianzhong and returned to his homeland. No one knows what Wang Yuansun was thinking, just like Li Ze's open-minded expression when he said goodbye, it's all in the past.
But Wang Yuansun's situation was different.
However, on the official route of Xuanfu's southern tour, Qianzhong is a must-go. It has been almost six years since Qianzhong was conquered and the Yi and Rong tribes surrendered. Xuanfu also wants to see how the people here are living now.
"He managed to get through even though Liu Qiang was around before. Now that so much time has passed, Liu Qiang is still around. Maybe Wang Yuansun sees Liu Qiang circling around him and is teasing him." Xuanyuefu said.
They arrived in the evening, just as the sun was setting.
The other side.
The grandfather and grandson of the Luo family had just arrived home, carrying baskets on their backs. When they went to the river to wait for the merchant ship to sell goods, the baskets were heavy. Grandpa Luo was carrying the big basket, which was filled with heavy yacon fruits, and the small basket was carried by his grandson, which was filled with dried walnuts and chestnuts.
"Dad, why did you and Xiaoyu run away again?" Luo San came back carrying a hoe.
Luo Xiaoyu said first: "Dad! Mom! Grandpa and I sold all our things today, and we have a very big boat. It's this big--" he gestured with his arms.
Two women came out of the kitchen, the mother-in-law and the daughter-in-law. Luo Xiaoyu's mother asked, "Are you tired?" She touched her son's head and called him father-in-law.
"What big ship?" asked the mother-in-law.
Grandpa Luo put down the rattan basket first. On the way back, he picked some grass for pigs. "You don't have to go to the mountain to pick grass for pigs tomorrow."
"It's no big deal to just walk a few steps," said Grandma Luo.
Luo Xiaoyu rushed over and hugged grandma, saying that her legs hurt and he was picking grass for the pigs.
Grandma Luo's face was full of wrinkles because of this. She smiled kindly and touched her grandson's hair.
In the early years, a family cultivated the fields of the Wang family. They were not their own family, but just someone with the surname Wang. Anyway, most of the good fields in Qianzhong belonged to the Wang family. The Luo family rented less land because of the small population. Grandma Luo gave birth to four sons and two daughters, but only one son and one daughter grew up. The son is Luo Xiaoyu's father, and the daughter died eight years ago.
The rest of the children died of starvation or disease.
Luoa's legs were also in bad condition, having been beaten eight years ago. The harvest was poor that year, and her family had a hard time making a living. They were almost eating grass roots to fill their stomachs. Her daughter was so hungry that she couldn't sleep, so she went to the fields with her third brother to find food at night and were caught.
Logically, they should have gone to the field, which was the field they rented, but the Wang family found an excuse, saying that their daughter went to other people's fields to steal food, and insisted that they pay more food that year, otherwise they would ask their daughter to marry a fool.
Her daughter was very angry and hit her head against the wall and died.
The family already did not have enough food to eat, and if more food was given to the Wang family, they would starve to death.
The girl said: "Mom, I didn't go to other people's houses. I was just looking for some grasshoppers and voles on my own. Please believe me, believe me..."
How could Luo A-nai not believe it? She believed it, and the third brother also went there, but their words were useless. The manager turned black into white and wanted to exchange her daughter for a fool for nothing. Luo A-nai's leg was injured during the dispute. Because of the bad situation, she naturally had no money to see a doctor. She found some blood-curing herbs in the mountains and made paste. Later, she survived, but her leg was disabled and she limped when she walked. After a long time, it would hurt her heart even in winter.
"The boat today is very big, and the master who got off the boat is also very impressive. His accent doesn't sound like ours, but rather like someone from the north," said Grandpa Luo.
Luo A-nai was frightened, "From the north? Are we going to have a war again?"
"I don't know. It doesn't look like it was from a war." Grandpa Luo comforted his wife, took some silver from his arms, and put it in her hand. "The master is very generous. This is half a tael of silver."
Luo Ah Nai was stunned for a moment, "So many."
"That's right. A few yacon fruits and chestnuts and walnuts won't cost that much. But the master who came to buy them wanted to catch up with the big ship, so he was very generous. In fact, it's good for fighting. It's only after the emperor wins the war that we have land to farm..." Grandpa Luo said as he sat down to rest his feet.
Luo Xiaoyu shouted: "Grandma, can we have some rice today? I want to eat some rice."
"Grandma made some porridge today. I'll give some to you and your grandfather. The third son's wife should also give some to him. We'll eat the dry food tomorrow." Grandma Luo said.
Having suffered from famine and hunger in the past, Grandma Luo is very frugal when it comes to food. Even though the family has now divided up land and has saved a lot of food over the years, she is still used to living frugally. Those who do manual labor at home will eat dry food, but on weekdays she is content with just enough to survive.
Luo San said, "Auntie, if we keep the old grain at home it will get moldy. I think we should dry it on a good day so I can grind it and eat it as cakes."
"Okay." Grandpa Luo nodded.
Grandma Luo also agreed.
When the family was eating, the soup in Luo Ah Nai's bowl was thin, but she was really happy. She drank the soup slowly and said, "We have so much grain at home that it can be left to mold. This is great."
How could we store food in the past? Every year at this time, we are always short of food. It is almost the New Year, and there is always a shortage every year.
Grandma Luo: "This New Year, Third Brother, go to the city and buy some cloth to make new clothes for your wife and Xiaoyu."
"Grandpa, I want to go dig yacon tomorrow." Luo Xiaoyu said happily while drinking his meal, "I don't know where that big ship is going. It would be great if I could meet a big ship again. The people on the big ship are really nice."
"The big ship can't catch up. We are lucky today. This will be enough. When you dig the fruits, go to the city with your father and sell them for some maltose."
"Okay, okay~"
…
"So it's called yacon." Xuanyunfu finally knew the name of the fruit they ate on the boat.
There are mountains and water in Qianzhong, and the land is mostly fertile. Yacon grows in the mountains. Generally, farmers living in the mountains dig some and take them to the city, or sell them along the river to try. Local people are not surprised by this.
"If Your Highness wants to eat it, shall I send someone to buy it?"
Xuan Fu didn't show any expression, waved his hand and said, "No need."
"Yes." The local official did not dare to say more.
Qianzhong used to have five prefectures under it, and the "city center" was called Qianyong City, which was the base of the Wang family. Later, after the family was confiscated and the clan was exterminated, and two other clans surrendered, Qianzhong is now much larger, with seven prefectures under it, and the "city center" is also to the west, which is Xining City.
The military command post here remains unchanged, but thirteen military checkpoints have been set up leading to the Rong and Yi tribes, and they are all elite cavalrymen. These thirteen checkpoints have reached the former territories of the Rong and Yi tribes - naturally, they are all Dasheng land now.
The two tribes surrendered, but their subsequent management became a big problem.
"Your Highness, Xining City is still far away. It will take at least ten days to get there. Moreover, it was only built a few years ago, and the mansion is not big. Otherwise, you can live in Qianyong City? The mansion there is luxurious, but it is much emptier."
Manyu Fu turned his head and stared at the official. "What's your name?"
"Your Highness, my name is Wu Su."
"Who was living in the empty luxurious house in Qianyong City before?" Xuanyu Fu asked.
Wu Su finally reacted, sweating profusely, and knelt down to apologize, "I was careless for a moment. I just thought that the house was very large and luxurious, and it was only two days away from here, so it would be convenient for Your Highness to settle down..."
Wu Su was indeed stupid, but it was just as he said, he wanted His Highness to live in a better house - after His Highness reminded him, he remembered that the house was originally the ancestral home of the Wang family, and no one knew how many people had died there.
"Wang Yuansun." Xuanyifu had just finished shouting when he found that Wu Su was trembling with fear and became even more frightened. She knelt down and begged for mercy. Xuanyifu: ...
"Master Wu, please get up. I don't blame you for this. I just want to know where General Wang is going."
Wu Su was so quick that his lips were dulled. He didn't know what to say, so he stood aside with his head down. Wang Yuansun stepped forward and said, "Your Highness, you can go to Qianyong City to meet Lord Xu first."
"...I forgot that Xu Muchu and the others are in Qianyong City. That's fine." In fact, Xuanyu Fu remembered, but he thought that if Wang Yuansun didn't want to go to Qianyong City, they could just go to Xining City first, and then Xu Muchu and his group would catch up.
Since Wang Yuansun doesn't care, then let's go.
The carriages and horses lined up to go to Qianyong City. The scenery along the way was very pleasant. Even though it was almost late autumn, the shade of the trees was green and full of vitality. There are mountains in Qianzhong, which are different from the mountains in Wuheng Mountain. The mountains here are very suitable for planting, with circles of terraced fields and the more famous tea.
After staying overnight, they finally arrived at Qianyong City the next evening before the sun set. The gate of Qianyong City was very dilapidated, and local officials including Xu Muyu, Zhou Quan, and Li Ang had been waiting for a long time. When the two sides met, they had a lot to say.
Xuanyu Fu: ...He didn't say much, because the faces of these people all looked like they had something important to report to His Highness.
The mansion we stayed in was not the old Wang family mansion, but another one - but I heard it was also a Wang family property in the past.
The Wang family is really the local tyrant in Qianzhong. Everything good belongs to the Wang family. I really felt this sentence today.
"Let's talk about it later, give me some time to relax." Xuanyu Fu: I need to take a break, just lie down.
Xu Muchu and his companions immediately withdrew.
Xuanyu Fu: Wow, Xu Muyu, Zhou Quan and others must have quite a few memorials in their hands.
"Wait, is this something urgent?"
Zhou Quan: "It's important—"
"Xu Muyu, you say."
Xu Muyu: "Your Highness, these memorials have been handled by Lord Zhou and I, but there are some problems that need to be reported to His Majesty. If you don't deal with them today, the sky will not fall."
"Very good, I want to sleep, you guys go back first." Xuanyu Fu finally felt relieved. Zhou Quan, you and I have been classmates for so many years!
You don’t understand the lonely heart!
Zhou Quan actually understood, but he thought that His Highness would not be too tired after taking the boat down, so he could take a look at the memorial and send it to His Majesty's desk as soon as possible.
"Sir Zhou, there's no need to rush for a day or two." Xu Muyu said after coming out.
Zhou Quan bowed.
Li Ang didn't say anything. He was a low-ranking official, and he had admired Xu Muyu and Zhou Quan all along the way. He said, "Let's go back first and come back tomorrow. We haven't seen Wang Yuansun yet."
"Are you looking for me?" Wang Yuansun's voice sounded behind him.
Li Ang was startled. He turned around and saw Wang Yuansun's expression. He couldn't tell anything. He said, "It's nothing serious. I just want to ask you, did your Highness have a smooth journey?"
"Fortunately, nothing went wrong." Wang Yuansun actually knew why everyone was looking at him when they arrived in Qianzhong, and they were worried about him. After he finished speaking, he added: "You arrived in Qianyong City early, but what happened?"
Li Ang shook his head, "It has nothing to do with Qianzhong."
Wang Yuansun stopped asking.
Stay at the mansion.
Xuanyu Fu took a hot bath, but this time he didn't take it with Yan Jinjin - if they took a bath together, they would play in the water for a long time. Mainly, he was playing in the water because it was cold today and he was prone to catching a cold.
"I really miss the time at the beach." Xuanyunfu muttered.
After washing quickly, he changed into new clothes. Yan Huaijin also finished washing and came to find Xuan Duofu to have dinner together. As soon as he sat down, he said, "Your Highness didn't ask me to help you bathe today."
Xuan Fu curled his lips and said, "I feel a little tired today. I will definitely ask you to take a bath together next time."
"Would you like me to warm your bed tonight?"
"Yes, yes, yes!" Duoyu Fu, a 'big pervert', came up to Yan Jinjin, stretched out his paw to touch Yan Jinjin's hand, and said, "It seems that no one has lived here for a long time. I want you to accompany me."
Yan Huaijin smiled, stopped joking, and said yes seriously.
At night, they simply ate and brushed their teeth. Then Xuanyufu pulled Yan Huaijin to bed early. Yan Huaijin went to warm the quilt in his underwear. Xuanyufu also stuffed himself in, rolled around, and said to Yan Huaijin, "Why is it so cold here?"
"Especially at night, it's cold and gloomy."
Yan Huaijin went to embrace many blessings and said, "It's like this in the mountains, it's a little colder at night."
The two chatted for a while, and after a while, Xuanyuefu, who was still awake, said, "When I came here just now, I didn't see any civilians along the way. Is there no civilians in Qianyong City?"
"Maybe you can get out of the way." Yan Huaijin patted Xuandufu on the back, as if he was coaxing a child.
Xuan Xuanfu hummed and fell asleep in a daze. Yan Jinjin was the best warm bed "warm baby" in the world - exclusively for him.
There was no curfew in Qianyong City, but every household had their doors tightly shut. In the afternoon, the people knew that the Crown Prince was coming, and some wanted to see the excitement, so they stood guard at the city gate. The Crown Prince's personal soldiers led the way, and the figure sitting on the horse was very familiar, especially the big knife on his back.
When the people saw this, the shadow of the past loomed over their heads, and they immediately retreated in fear.
Before it gets dark, the doors and windows are closed, the house is dark, people light candles, and the family eats together around the table. If the children don't eat well and throw a tantrum and want to go out to play, the adults will sternly threaten them: "Wang Yuansun is here today."
The child immediately didn't dare to go out to play.
It’s been more than five years, and I didn’t expect Wang Yuansun still has this effect.
"Why is he back?", "Hurry up and eat.", "He is in the prince's team——"
"The family that was confiscated was the Wang family. It has nothing to do with us."
"And now that life is better, we have our own fields outside the city, all thanks to that thing."
"That's what I said, but I still felt scared when I saw his back. I said the sky had been gloomy lately, so it turned out to be him."
The next day.
Xuanyi Fu slept soundly. He got up early the next morning, washed and had breakfast. Then he called Xu Muyu, Zhou Quan and Li Ang to see him. He began to deal with official business. Officials such as Yan Huaijin, Wen Lianglu and Wen Erdan also arrived.
"Yan Huaijin, my Chancellor..." and the dear Crown Princess, "I will confer the title when I return." Xuanyifu reintroduced his Yan Jinjin's role as a councilor to the others.
Yan Huaijin bowed and said with a smile, "Thank you, Your Highness, for your kindness." He did not mention his status as a student on the spot. He said that he could only take the imperial examination after returning home and after the mourning period, and then become an official.
Manyu Fu loves and respects him, so naturally he has to give Manyu Fu face.
Xu Muyu looked at Young Master Yan for a second longer.
He had always wanted to be the Chancellor of the Eastern Palace for the past few years, but he never expected...
Li Ang, Zhou Quan and others accepted it well. Xuan Fu had a good relationship with Yan Huaijin. Yan Huaijin was extremely talented, but he had not yet taken the imperial examination or entered the officialdom. However, given Yan Huaijin's intelligence, he deserved the position of Zhanshi.
After discussing government affairs for the whole morning, Xuanyu Fu was shocked when he heard several people talking about the malpractices and corruption in various places. You are the real "incognito" and he was indeed eating, drinking and having fun, and there were similar things like Wuheng Shanhaihua. Xuanyu Fu said: "I have also seen this matter and have reported it to my father. It's not a big deal. You can deal with it if you encounter it. If anyone sues you, I will support you."
He just doesn't believe it. His father doesn't believe him, but believes other people!
"Yan Jinjin, please take a look at this memorial. If there are no mistakes, stamp it with my seal and send it to Shengdu together."
Yan Huaijin: "Okay, I'll take care of it."
Seeing that His Highness trusted Young Master Yan so much, Xu Muyu sighed in his heart: Forget it, it has been so many years anyway. If the Chancellor cannot do the job, there is still a Deputy Chancellor.
Thinking this way, I felt a little bit unwilling to accept it.
After the morning meeting, Yan Huaijin said, "I am here to see you off. I have some questions that I would like to ask you, Lord Xu."
"Okay." Xuan Fu was not stupid. When he first introduced Yan Jinjin's identity, Xu Muyu looked a little unnatural. He knew what was going on as soon as he thought about it.
Xu Muyu is indeed capable, but he had already left the position of Chancellor to Yan Jinjin.
Xuan Fu admitted that he had selfish motives in this regard, but Yan Jinjin was very smart and would definitely do a good job as the Chancellor. By then, Yan Jinjin would be his Chancellor during the day and his Crown Princess at night, and they could play and work together all the time!
Xu Muyu can report the situation to his father and let him serve as an official for his father, which will give him a better future.
Outside the yard.
Yan Huaijin first talked to Lord Xu about a few small details of the memorial he had just sent. After confirming them, he finally said, "Your Highness is not a nepotist. Lord Xu knows what kind of person Your Highness is. He——"
"Master Yan, there is no need to explain. I have been with Your Highness for many years and I understand everything." Xu Muyu looked at Yan Huaijin. The other party's eyes were sincere and frank. He was not showing off, but really wanted to protect Your Highness's reputation and retain him as a subordinate. He couldn't help but smile and tell the truth: "I really want to take the position of Zhanshi. I must have lost my composure when I heard Your Highness say that today."
"But the Highness has the final say in the Eastern Palace. In fact, it doesn't matter what position an official holds."
The officials in the Eastern Palace are not clearly divided.
Thinking of this, Xu Muyu comforted himself, and felt a little lost in his heart. Yes, returning to the Eastern Palace, whether it was the Chancellor or the Prime Minister, they were all in an idle state, doing some errands. Compared with the southern tour to solve problems, there was no point in going back.
Xu Muyu looked thoughtful and bowed before leaving.
Seeing this, Yan Huaijin returned to the house. Duo Xuanfu asked, "Is he angry?"
"No, I saw Lord Xu's expression. He didn't seem angry, but rather a little disappointed. Is he not interested in the Eastern Palace?" Yan Huaijin asked.
Xuan Fu first subconsciously said no, and then stopped, "...He was indeed unhappy when he first came to me. Xu Muyu is not like Wen Lianglu. Xu Muyu has some ambitions. That's perfect. I plan to tell my father when I go back and transfer Xu Muyu to him."
His East Palace is really small, suitable for people who don’t have big ambitions.
"Yan Jinjin, I shouldn't have said it so early. Zhanshi is a high-ranking official, but with your talent and knowledge, you really need to pass the imperial examination..."
"Xuandongfu, I want to be tied to you for the rest of my life. We can discuss politics together during the day, and I will warm your bed at night. How about we eat and sleep together?"
I had reflected on myself: being good to Yan Jinjin should help Yan Jinjin fly higher. When I heard this, I immediately smiled widely, rushed over, and hugged Yan Jinjin.
"Here I come!"
Yan Huaijin hugged many blessings, kissed them, and said, "The great demon has come down."
"Hehe, what? You must be happy when I kiss you, Yan Jinjin, don't pretend."
"Then I am the perverted Crown Princess." Yan Huaijin changed his words and said, "Can I molest Your Highness?"
When Xuanyunfu heard this, he laughed so hard that his stomach hurt. How could a gentle and refined scholar like Yan Jinjin be such a sex maniac?
Are you acting like a pervert?
He has to play himself!
The author has something to say:
Your Highness Duozai: The gentleman Yan Jinjin wants to molest the mermaid. He hums and doesn't believe it. I am a big shot!
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