The next day, after finishing his studies, Gu Yuzhi changed into his princely robes before leisurely setting off in his carriage.
Compared to the road to Xinliang, the road to Wen's Inn is much shorter, but the sounds of vendors hawking their wares are constant, making it really lively!
Gu Yuzhi pushed open the window and leaned over the bed, peering out with eyes wide open, not wanting to blink. He looked around with the same curiosity as someone visiting a market for the first time, seeing vendors selling sugar paintings, fabrics, and candied hawthorns...
He counted them one by one and found that there were many more stalls on the street than before.
Gu Yuzhi felt he couldn't get enough of looking at it, and even after getting off the carriage, he was still gazing in that direction.
After entering the inn, Gu Yuzhi whispered, "Compared to Changzhou, Xinliang is not lively at all."
He scratched his head and counted on his fingers: "A clinic, a grain store, a cloth store..."
He sighed like a little adult: "There are only three shops, and it seems that the people don't intend to set up small stalls."
Gu Yuzhi shook his head: "There are still too few people in Xinliang."
If his fiefdom had ten thousand people...
Gu Yuzhi thought to himself and let out a soft "wow." He thought that Xinliang would definitely become a large city and would one day replace Changzhou as the most prosperous city in the northern desert.
He stood at the door of the private room with a grin. When Xie Changshi pushed the door open, he subconsciously straightened his back, raised his chin slightly, put his hands behind his back, and looked around with his big eyes, carefully observing the people in the room.
He recognized He Jiarui from his attire. As soon as he turned his head to him, the people in the room knelt down in unison. He Jiarui was the first to speak: "Your subject, He Jiarui, pays respects to Your Highness Prince Wen."
The other prefects introduced themselves.
Gu Yuzhi glanced over quickly, nodding repeatedly. "Oh, oh, oh, the one who's darker and has a longer beard is Huang Yanzhang, and the thinnest one is Wei Chengrui..."
Based on these physical characteristics, Gu Yuzhi quickly identified them and then sat down in the main seat with a smile: "Get up."
After thanking them, the group stood up and stood on either side, heads slightly bowed, eyes fixed on the tips of their shoes, not daring to look around.
Although the young prince is young, he is quite capable. He has already started planting two newly discovered grains, sweet potatoes and potatoes, in the southern regions.
He Jiarui, who had lived in Lingnan, especially knew what kind of changes such high-yield grains would bring to the region.
Therefore, He Jiarui never underestimated Gu Yuzhi. He respectfully recounted his previous experience to Gu Yuzhi, and only after Gu Yuzhi nodded to indicate that he understood did he continue, "I have been reviewing the files of the former governor for the past few days."
Gu Yuzhi nodded his little head: "As Chief Secretary Xie said, Governor Zhu is a good person."
He thought to himself with delight, "This inn was given to me by Governor Zhu!"
During the years that Governor Zhu was in office, the Li family business was at its most powerful. It was already quite an achievement that he managed to avoid making any mistakes.
If Governor Zhu hadn't succumbed to the pressure and temptations of the past few years and had also pledged allegiance to the Prince of Chu, then the northern desert would have been truly in dire straits.
Thinking of this, Gu Yuzhi smiled. He glanced at the people and wanted to mention Mr. Huo to He Jiarui, but then thought it was inappropriate. He just smiled and said, "I heard from Prefect Qi that Governor He is also very capable."
When he had the chance in the future, he asked Governor He about his work in capturing bandits in Lingnan.
He Jiarui had never been praised so directly before. He stood there stunned for a moment, scratching his head and remaining silent for a long time.
Chief Secretary Xie smiled slightly, feeling quite honored.
You see, at first, none of them were used to the young prince's direct confession, but now...
What they weren't used to was not receiving praise from the young prince.
No one present noticed the slight sour smell emanating from Xie Changshi.
Gu Yuzhi, of course, didn't either. His mind was entirely on He Jiarui. He waved slightly at him, and after He Jiarui came over, he whispered, "Governor He, I heard that you served in the Northern Desert Army for two years."
He was still worried about Guard Qi.
The scars on Guard Qi's face hadn't even faded yet, but he hurried off to Quanzhou.
Gu Yuzhi rested her chin on her small hand, pouted, and sighed.
He's so stupid; he should have sent Guard Zhang from the beginning.
Gu Yuzhi's eyes darted around, and looking at He Jiarui, he smiled again: "I want to ask you, since you took office, have you visited Quanzhou?"
He Jiarui shook his head and said, "I have only been in office for half a month and have not yet had time to inspect the various prefectures."
He had only just managed to sort out the things left behind by the previous governor, and hadn't even had a chance to start traveling around to the various prefectures yet.
He Jiarui knelt down again, thinking: "Please forgive me, Your Highness. I heard about Your Highness's robbery, but I was unable to rush to Xinliang in time..."
Before he could finish speaking, the other prefects also knelt down, saying, "Please forgive us, Your Highness."
Gu Yuzhi's eyebrows furrowed, and he puffed out his cheeks, saying, "What are you doing? Get up! I didn't mean to blame you."
He raised his chin, looking completely self-righteous: "My being robbed and murdered has nothing to do with you, why blame you?"
"Besides, weren't all the remnants of Li's Trading Company caught?"
He blinked his big eyes and looked at the prefects of the other three prefectures: "Right?"
The three men stood up and said, "Your Highness is right!"
Gu Yuzhi was finally satisfied: "That's right! So get up now!"
These four people had never dealt with Gu Yuzhi before, and for a moment they didn't know whether he was telling the truth or lying. They exchanged glances without leaving a trace, and none of them dared to get up now.
The Changzhou government kept the abduction and murder of the young prince very secret. By the time they received the news, it was Liu Dianyi who, holding the prince's token, ordered them to thoroughly investigate the Li Ji Trading Company.
After everything was finished, His Highness returned from Xinliang.
They rushed to Changzhou in a hurry, fearing that His Highness would blame them.
Gu Yuzhi cupped his face in his hands and waited for a while. Seeing that they were still kneeling, he asked in surprise, "Why aren't you getting up?"
These people are acting strangely; I can't understand what they're saying!
Gu Yuzhi pouted and looked at Chief Secretary Xie, who smiled slightly and said in a low voice, "His Highness said he wouldn't blame you, and he really means he won't blame you. You don't need to overthink it."
"You'll understand once you spend more time with His Highness. What His Highness says is the truth, so don't speculate too much."
He Jiarui and the others found it somewhat unbelievable.
These civil officials, especially those in extremely complex environments, were used to being cautious in their interactions with others, thinking things through five or six times over, for fear of saying the wrong thing and arousing the other party's suspicion.
But at this moment, it seems that His Highness truly doesn't care about these things?
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