By the time Shang Yunlan realized something was wrong, Qiao Xiuyu had already mailed the letter.
Shang Yunlan gave a cold laugh: "Your Highness, are you treating me like a fool?"
Qiao Xiuyu chuckled twice: "Brother..."
Shang Yunlan looked at Qiao Xiuyu with annoyance: "Don't call me brother, I can't accept that."
Qiao Xiuyu: Okay, pretending to be pitiful doesn't work anymore.
After thinking for a moment, he decided to leave the Duke of Zhenguo's mansion first (to avoid upsetting his future brother-in-law), and go to Li Langxuan to seek some advice.
...
It is said that "above there is heaven, below there are Suzhou and Hangzhou", but Hangzhou, which has been a paradise on earth since ancient times, is now particularly desolate. The suburbs are full of disaster victims from other places, and many people are emaciated from hunger.
To avoid trouble, Shang Shaoyan and his group did not travel through the city, but instead took the official road around the outskirts of the city and left Hangzhou.
The further away from Hangzhou they went, the more common such situations became—these areas all fell under the jurisdiction of Yan Xuening's father, but Shang Shaoyan knew that her uncle was a man who believed in self-preservation. Protecting his family was the most important thing. If he interfered in other matters, it would only affect the interests of some people above him and bring disaster upon himself. It was better to pretend not to see it.
Qin Ye, who currently wields immense power and is vaguely known as the "Nine Thousand Years Old," had his entire family wiped out because of this, didn't he? Shang Shaoyan felt increasingly helpless as he thought about the information Shang Yunlan had given him not long ago.
In this world, good people are forced to become bad, and bad people only become worse; in fact, according to her wishes, she was unwilling to bear the rise and fall of a country, as this responsibility was too heavy.
But... rather than pinning your hopes on some wise person who might appear at any time to save you from your predicament, it's better to be that wise person yourself.
"Qiantang has been prosperous since ancient times." Shang Shaoyan sat in the carriage, looking with a sense of loss at the countless disaster victims outside, "but now it has become such a hellish sight..."
Bai Lu sighed: "Your Highness, you may not know this, but my hometown is in a town nearby; I think I just passed by, and it looks completely deserted."
As Bai Lu spoke, she almost burst into tears, but she managed to hold them back, her eyes only slightly reddening.
Shang Shaoyan comforted and reassured him, "Everything will be alright."
No unnecessary words were said, but everything was understood without being said.
Bai Lu trusted Shang Shaoyan, so she nodded and forced a smile.
Meanwhile, Li Xuan and Chen Shu, under Shang Shaoyan's protection, were spared the hardship of traveling and rode in an oxcart. The young children and some frail young women also received excellent care.
Shang Shaoyan was well aware of the principle that too much of a good thing can be bad, and that a small favor can breed resentment. So he went to have a heart-to-heart talk with Chen Shu and Li Xuan.
“After all, His Majesty’s men are still with me, so it’s not good to make things comfortable for all of you. Cheng Chu looks honest, but he’s actually ruthless. Who knows, he’ll complain to His Majesty when we get back to the capital. The only reason we’re turning a blind eye right now is because I paid him.” Shang Shaoyan sighed with a worried look on his face. “But… what should we do next?”
Chen Shu was deeply moved. He felt that Princess Heyang was indeed a straightforward and genuine person. Look at how she speaks – it's so adorably frank. Actually, she's about the same age as his youngest granddaughter.
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