Which prince is featured in Chapter 13?
She didn't dare say the rest of her sentence. After thinking for a long time, she finally asked, "Which prince? Or marquis?"
"..."
Shang Ruyi leaned against the window, her expression solemn, and remained silent.
Tushe'er whispered again, "Miss, what should we do?"
Shang Ruyi glanced at the empty streets outside, then lowered a corner of the curtain and said calmly, "What else can we do? Everyone's gone. Let's hurry on our way and not be late."
Tushe'er was somewhat uneasy, but he immediately gave the order, and soon the caravan set off again.
They encountered no further obstacles on their journey and successfully left Luoyang. They traveled smoothly along the official road, rested at the post station arranged by Shen Shiyan that night, and set off again the next day.
However, the weather was exceptionally hot that day, and Shang Ruyi almost suffered heatstroke in the sweltering carriage. So she simply had two horses brought over, and she and Tushe'er rode on horseback.
To avoid suspicion, Tusheer specially gave her a veiled hat to wear.
Riding on horseback, a cool breeze brushed against her cheeks through the light veil hanging from the brim of her hat, making her feel incredibly comfortable. Shang Ruyi happily spurred her horse to trot, with Gao Feng and Tu She'er following closely behind her.
However, although riding a horse at full gallop was exhilarating, looking at the surrounding scenery made her mood heavy.
Once outside Luoyang, the scenery along the main road became increasingly desolate, with no sign of human habitation. Dense forests were scorched by the blazing sun, and the air was filled with a dry, astringent smell.
Tushe'er said softly, "I remember passing through here a few years ago when I came to Luoyang with my master to take up my post. There were still a few villages around here, but now they're all barren."
Shang Ruyi said, "They're long gone."
"Why?"
Why do you think so?
Shang Ruyi smiled faintly, a hint of coldness in her smile, and said, "The imperial court has already imposed taxes for forty years from now. How can the common people survive? If they don't abandon their fields and flee, they'll be squeezed dry."
"..."
Upon hearing this, Tushe'er frowned.
Looking at the desolate surroundings, Shang Ruyi felt a sense of desolation in her heart.
Although my uncle held a position in the imperial court, whenever he drank, he would close the door and curse loudly, but cursing was of no use.
The current emperor is not only cruel and bloodthirsty, but also warlike and ambitious. His three campaigns against Gouli have ended in failure, leaving the national treasury empty. He has spared no effort in building the Eastern Capital, moving the capital from Daxing City to this location, and constructing countless palaces. In addition to wasting manpower and resources, this has also caused uprisings and rebellions to break out across the country.
If the desolation before us resembles the aftermath of a raging fire, then who knows when this fire will reach the capital city and the emperor's very doorstep?
Tusheer whispered, "I don't know what the point is for the Duke of Sheng to fight and quell rebellions for such a court."
Upon hearing this, Shang Ruyi immediately scolded, "Don't talk nonsense!"
"..."
"What the court does is its business, but Uncle Shi and Yuwen Ye risked their lives in their battles to quell rebellions, all for the sake of the people."
As soon as she finished speaking, a rustling sound suddenly came from the bushes in front of her.
Gao Feng, who had been quietly following not far behind them, immediately looked up at the front with great alertness.
Tushe'er frowned as well: "Is there anything there?"
Shang Ruyi lifted the white veil in front of her hat and carefully looked at the woods in front of her. She vaguely sensed dark shadows moving in the woods, as if someone was hiding there.
Just then, a sharp whistle suddenly rang out from behind the bushes in the distance, soaring straight into the sky!
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