A Cai's work: The Emperor's Phoenix: The Godly Doctor and the Abandoned Concubine ... Volume 1 046 Meet, follow me...
The old farmer was indeed a righteous man. Not only did he bring the Ninth Prince and Feng Qingchen into the city, but after asking them where they were going, he also sent them to their destination.
Feng Qingchen repeatedly declined, but the old farmer said bluntly: "Young lady, this is not the capital. You can't find a carriage if you go into the city. Don't look down on my ox cart. It's much better than walking."
Feng Qingchen didn't know whether to laugh or cry: "What are you talking about, sir? We are grateful to you so much that we can't even express our dislike for you. We are just embarrassed. You see, it's almost dark now. If you send us back and go back by yourself, it will be even later."
"It's okay. The road is wide. You won't bump into anyone even if you walk on the street at night." The old farmer looked smug and praised the emperor at the same time.
Compared with the people in the south of the Yangtze River, the people in the border towns are more grateful for the emperor's kindness.
Jiangnan was already a rich place, and the people had no worries about food and clothing. The changes made by the Ninth Prince would at most make their lives slightly better, and it was not obvious yet. But it was different in Border Town...
Before this, people in the border towns were hungry and cold, and had to dig for food in the fields every day. However, many people starved to death in years of famine. Even in normal times, people in the villages in the mountain valleys with poor field yields would sell their children in exchange for food.
You can't blame the parents for being cruel. They really couldn't survive, so they sold their children. Even though they became slaves, they didn't have to starve to death here, and the family could also have a respite.
Since the Ninth Prince ascended the throne, many policies have been tilted towards the poor people, just like the people in the border towns. Although they are not as wealthy as the people in the south of the Yangtze River, they are more satisfied and happier than the people in the south of the Yangtze River.
They can now have enough to eat and no longer have to sell their children. If they are a little more diligent, they can save food and have a piece of meat for the New Year. For them, such a life was something they had never dared to imagine before.
The less you have, the easier it is to be satisfied and the easier it is to find happiness. The people in the border town are the best example. They don’t ask for much. They are not afraid of hardship, but they are afraid of not having enough to eat and starving to death...
"Compared with Jiangnan, this place is actually better governed." Along the way, the Ninth Prince and Feng Qingchen saw and heard a lot, and they had a good impression of the officials in the border town.
Feng Qingchen agreed with this: "The people's tough character also has its advantages. Those officials always like to say that poor mountains and bad waters produce unruly people. In fact, if they really can't survive, no one dares to go against the government."
The Chinese people are deeply influenced by Confucian culture. Not to mention now, even in Feng Qingchen's era, ordinary people were well-behaved. Even when faced with injustice, most of them would just endure it and let it go. They would not confront the government for trivial matters.
Of course, those daring gangsters and lazy thugs are not in this category.
"When you have time, meet the local officials." The Ninth Prince was satisfied with the situation in the border town and naturally admired the local officials. If the official was really a good one, he would not mind giving him a chance to succeed.
"There will be a chance." They were not in a hurry to return to Beijing, so they would have time to see someone.
"Let's go. Tianyu's house is in front of us. Let's go and knock on the door." Feng Qingchen pulled the Ninth Prince forward...
That’s right, the Ninth Prince and Feng Qingchen came to the border town just to meet Xiling Tianyu, the former Prince Xiling Rui, and the little bun.
The big hand wrapped around the small hand, and the ten fingers were tightly clasped. Thinking of what Feng Qingchen had said before, "my man", the Ninth Prince felt better and was not so annoyed by the dust on his body.
Knock knock knock... Feng Qingchen knocked on the door. A woman in blue coarse cloth opened the door and shouted loudly, but in a friendly manner: "Who are you? Who are you looking for?"
"Tell your master that an old friend is here to see you." Although Feng Qingchen and the Ninth Prince were covered in dust, their demeanor was there. The woman who opened the door hesitated for a moment, but she did not refuse. She lowered her voice and said, "Please wait a moment, I will go and ask my master."
Soon, footsteps were heard, and then Xiling Tianyu came out. Seeing the Ninth Prince and Feng Qingchen, Xiling Tianyu was startled, and then laughed: "I knew it was you two. It's a great honor to have such distinguished guests."
He has lived in seclusion here for decades. Although he travels around every year, no one knows he is still alive except the Ninth Uncle and Feng Qingchen...
When old friends meet, there is no tearfulness, nor any strangeness or wariness. The Ninth Prince and Xiling Tianyu are not affected at all...
The Ninth Prince glanced at Xiling Tianyu and nodded: "After ten years, you are still the same as before."
Xiling Tianyu has not changed. Although the years have left traces on his face, they have not made him sophisticated, nor has he become decadent due to frustration. He is still the elegant and calm prince who never becomes arrogant because of power, nor does he give up on himself because of loss of power.
Among this group of people, Xiling Tianyu is the one who cares least about power...
Xiling Tianyu warmly welcomed the two into the house, and said as they walked in: "I am old, but you two haven't changed much, especially Master Jiu...Jiu, you look younger and younger."
She and Feng Qingchen are becoming more and more compatible.
"Yeah." The Ninth Prince was in a good mood and smiled, but he couldn't smile the next second because...
"Master Jiu, where are you from? What are you wearing?" Xiling Tianyu was so happy to meet his old friends that he realized at this moment that Uncle Jiu and Feng Qingchen looked like they had rolled in the dust, with even their hair covered with a layer of yellow sand.
Can the Ninth Prince bear it?
"Don't say that... This border town is good in every way, except that the yellow sand is a little too much." Feng Qingchen looked at himself and didn't take any pictures.
Dust flies up in the air with just one shot.
"That's true, but can Master Jiu bear it?" Why did these two people come on horseback instead of in a carriage?
Xiling Tianyu knew how much the Ninth Prince loved cleanliness. Not to mention the dust on his body, even if he was a little dirty, the Ninth Prince could not stand it.
Feng Qingchen glanced at the Ninth Uncle and said with a smile: "When in Rome, do as the Romans do. You have to accept it even if you can't stand it."
Fortunately, she didn't tell Xiling Tianyu that the Ninth Prince and she came in by carriage, otherwise Xiling Tianyu would have laughed to death.
“Okay, those two are…” Xiling Tianyu looked at the Ninth Prince’s dark face and tried hard to suppress his smile.
"Take a bath!" The Ninth Prince interrupted Xiling Tianyu directly.
It is not easy for him to endure until now.
"I'll ask someone to boil some water for you, but... it's a small place, it can't be compared with the capital, so you have to bear with it." Xiling Tianyu was afraid that the Ninth Uncle would have an attack of mysophobia, so he gave him a preventive measure in advance.
The Ninth Prince could endure it for Feng Qingchen, but he would not endure it for him.
"Not that squeamish." The Ninth Prince spoke a little more to Xiling Tianyu.
Maybe they used each other at first, but later on, the Ninth Prince really regarded Xiling Tianyu as a friend. Especially later, Xiling Tianyu's actions in Xiling made the Ninth Prince feel at ease.
He was not mistaken.
"I know that you are a grown man and you are not a spoiled child. I am just worried that Qingchen will not be used to it." Xiling Tianyu was still the same as before. He did not treat the Ninth Prince and Feng Qingchen as the emperor and empress at all.
The two of them here are just his old friends.
"She's used to it." The Ninth Prince was telling the truth. Feng Qingchen could endure more hardships than the average woman. She didn't think the conditions were bad, even if she had to sleep outside her clothes.
Xiling Tianyu smiled and nodded. He did not respond, but said with a sigh: "After so many years, you two are still the same, you haven't changed at all."
When Xiling Tianyu said this, his eyes felt a little sour and there was a pain somewhere in his heart.
Over ten years have passed, and for him, many things have changed. If the Ninth Prince and Feng Qingchen had not appeared, he would have almost forgotten that he was once a crown prince.
"You haven't changed either." The Ninth Prince looked at Xiling Tianyu deeply and said, "Very good."
"It's really good." Xiling Tianyu replied, but...
They both said good things, but they didn't mean the same thing.
"You two can just play guessing games with each other here. I can't stand being covered in dust. I'm going to find a place to shake off the dust." Feng Qingchen took the opportunity to escape so that the two of them had a chance to talk.
"Qingchen's personality hasn't changed." Xiling Tianyu looked at Feng Qingchen's back, but his eyes were scattered, without a trace of focus.
The Ninth Prince knew what Xiling Tianyu was talking about and sighed slightly: "Come back to the capital with me."
"Ah?" Xiling Tianyu was startled, then shook his head: "No, this place is great."
Far away from the capital, far away from the glitz and the danger, but compared to the capital, he likes it here better.
Simple and natural, although the conditions are a bit difficult, he lives more freely.
"She... is still waiting for you." The Ninth Prince has never been a person who likes to meddle in other people's affairs, but that person is Xiling Tianyu, so he has to pay more attention.
Back then, Xiling Tianyu's Crown Princess was taken back by Cui Haoting after Xiling was destroyed.
Even though she was dissatisfied with this woman and did not go with Xiling Tianyu, she thought of Tianyu's last entrustment and that the Ninth Prince did not treat her badly. He also hinted to Cui Haoting that Tianyu did not want to tie her up for life. If she wanted to marry and change her identity, she could still get married...
However, people are like this. Only after losing something do they realize how precious it is. Tianyu, the Crown Princess, did not marry as the Ninth Prince said, but stayed in the Cui family's Buddhist temple for decades...
She told him through Cui Haoting that she regretted it.
regret?
The Ninth Prince is disdainful. He regrets after he loses something. Is that interesting?
The Ninth Prince ignored her for ten years. It was not until he decided to look for Xiling Tianyu that he asked someone to check Xiling Tianyu's current situation.
Knowing that Xiling Tianyu had never married, and in addition to Cui Haoting's pleading, the Ninth Prince rarely interfered in other people's affairs.
If Tianyu is willing to go back to the capital with him, he doesn't mind helping that woman, just as...
For the sake of that woman who had waited for Tianyu for ten years, if it could allow Tianyu to return to Beijing, he would not mind being a good person and meddling in other people's business...