Chapter 628 Lichun Pavilion!
"I also saw it in the news. His Majesty's adopted sons, daughters, brothers and sisters add up to several thousand, which is more than the population of an entire city."
"My God!"
"There are so many people, even His Majesty himself probably can't recognize them all!"
The convoy swayed and passed by. Shen Lanxi understood one thing: things in Wencheng were more expensive than in Xining, and even accommodations were more expensive. Otherwise, it would be unnecessary to travel a day apart just to save a few coins.
Liu Yan replied: "Nie Congzhou, the garrison commander of Wencheng, is indeed His Majesty's adopted son. However, Nie Congzhou is different from others. He came to His Majesty's attention through family donations and then climbed to the position of garrison commander step by step."
She remembered this person.
"This person used to work for Xiao Fang."
"Yes, that's him. Your Majesty has a good memory."
Shen Lanxi: "I remember his family were silk merchants."
Liu Yan nodded: "His Majesty's memory is truly one in a million; he even remembers what his family does."
“As for those of merchant background, last year I abolished the system that prohibited them from taking the imperial examinations.”
Liu Yan replied: "Many people in the army come from merchant families. They may not stand out in the army, but once they enter the imperial court, they will definitely be resisted by the upright officials."
“Students from poor families rely on the support of several generations of their families, or even an entire clan, to embark on the path of the imperial examinations. Merchants, on the other hand, have plenty of money to hire tutors for their children. If you put students from poor families and students from merchant families together, I'm afraid even students from poor families would feel it's unfair.”
Liu Yan replied: "That was before. Now, thanks to His Majesty's grace, all the people of our Great Zhou can have access to education. The unfairness has been eliminated."
Shen Lanxi chuckled softly and entered Wencheng as she spoke.
"Boss, how much is a steamed bun?"
"Vegetable buns are ten coins, meat buns are twenty coins."
"Boss, how much is one tael of tea?"
"Boss, how much is a set of ready-made clothes?"
After a round of shopping, Liu Yanhui already had a clear idea of what to expect.
"The prices here are indeed a bit higher than in Xining, but not by much. Each type is two to three coins more expensive."
It was already evening, and after they settled down, it was completely dark.
A bell rang, and shortly after, Liu Yan came over to explain.
"It's the sound of the city gate bells closing, and..."
Shen Lanxi: "Just say it."
Liu Yan replied, "I saw a lot of men going out just now, so I went up and asked them a couple of questions. They said that things are different here at night than during the day, and there are brothels."
Shen Lanxi raised an eyebrow. Previously, she had not banned brothels, but only strictly prohibited officials from entering and leaving.
Officials in the capital were adept at reading people's expressions and probably realized that she was not happy. As a result, places for seeking pleasure were gradually decreasing.
There used to be more than thirty such places in the capital, but now only eight remain. Apart from the families of convicted officials who could not be redeemed, most of them have been redeemed and left.
With her, the emperor, around, not a single maid in the brothels dared to stop her.
"I never imagined that the expensive things those traveling merchants were talking about were this expensive."
Brothels are the graveyards of heroes and dens of iniquity. No matter how wealthy you are, if you fall into them, you'll come out penniless.
Liu Yanhui said coldly, "I never expected that such a place of corruption would be bred under the jurisdiction of Wencheng. Nie Congzhou truly lives up to his reputation as a merchant; he only thinks about money and not about justice."
Shen Lanxi stood up.
"Let's go take a look."
Liu Yan was taken aback. "Go look at what?"
That's a brothel, isn't it?
Is Your Majesty really going?
"Your Majesty, perhaps we shouldn't go!"
"How could you possibly set foot in such a filthy place?"
Shen Lanxi chuckled and said, "If everyone else can go, why can't I?"
Liu Yan Hui naturally dared not say that it was because those people were men and you were a woman.
"Your Majesty, why don't we send someone to scout ahead first? If there's no danger, then we can go?"
Shen Lanxi looked at him coolly.
"Danger? What danger? Is there a tiger inside that can eat me?"
Liu Yanhui looked embarrassed.
If Che Mingyuan were here, he would have to say something: "Your Majesty can fight on the battlefield, but can't you go to brothels?"
"If you don't want to go, stay at the inn." She didn't realize that Liu Yanhui was a pedantic person.
Liu Yanhui said helplessly, "I'll go, can't we go together?"
Shen Lanxi walked out of the inn with a smile. The outside was indeed different from the daytime. Red lanterns were hanging under the eaves of the houses on the street, and there were many vendors outside.
"It's very lively."
Liu Yan quickly signaled to the guards to protect His Majesty.
“Your Majesty, I’ll go ask for directions,” Liu Yan replied.
"No need, just follow them."
Liu Yan looked around curiously: "How did Your Majesty figure that out?"
Shen Lanxi said casually, "Those men were all dressed smartly, with heavy purses around their waists, and they would occasionally let out lewd laughter while talking to others."
Liu Yanhui was embarrassed again.
"Your Majesty knows so much."
Shen Lanxi casually asked, "Haven't you been there before?"
Liu Yanhui's eyes almost popped out of their sockets. It was as if she went there often.
"I have been there."
Liu Yanhui: He only knew that His Majesty was exceptionally brave and wise, but he did not expect that His Majesty's curiosity was so strong.
"Your Majesty is truly knowledgeable and well-traveled!"
Shen Lanxi chuckled: "Of course, of course. Since you've never been before, I'll take you to see the world today."
Liu Yanhui's face turned completely red. Luckily it was nighttime; if it had been daytime, her face would have been unbearably red.
The emperor himself was taking his high-ranking officials to brothels; if the officials in the capital found out, they would surely impeach him to death.
Shen Lanxi reminded Liu Yanhui, "This matter must be kept secret. If the people in the capital find out, they will definitely think you led me astray."
Liu Yanhui's face was full of horror. This is outrageous! Who led whom astray?
"Your Majesty, I've discovered that you are truly..."
What is it?
"To betray a minister."
"How can you call it a trap? I call it being helpful."
Do you think I believe you?
Following the well-dressed men, we soon arrived at our destination.
"His Majesty is on his eastern expedition and will be passing through here in the next few days. Starting tomorrow, Lichun Pavilion will be closed until His Majesty leaves. Please do not make a wasted trip tomorrow."
The people from Lichun Pavilion shouted three times in succession, and then eight strongmen carried a huge treasure basin and placed it in the center.
"Those who want to go in can pay now and go in."
Shen Lanxi looked at the three characters "Lichun Pavilion" and went in with a cold smile.
"It costs three hundred taels to go in, and you can only go up to the first floor. If you want to go up to the second floor, His Majesty will give another three hundred taels, and so on."
When Liu Yan Hui heard that she had to pay three hundred taels just to enter the door, she immediately felt distressed.
"Your Majesty, it's too expensive, let's not go in."
Shen Lanxi rolled her eyes at him: "Here."
It wasn't that she couldn't afford it; Liu Yanhui simply didn't want His Majesty to go in.
"Wait for me..."
Just as they were paying, His Majesty was almost inside, so Liu Yan hurriedly caught up with him.
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