The next morning, as the first rays of sunlight outlined the pale white of the sky, the prince slowly awoke from his deep sleep.
His head felt as if it were being crushed by a thousand-pound boulder, the pain unbearable, and his thoughts were as chaotic as a small boat in the fog.
He struggled to sit up, his movements slow and labored, as if even this simple action had exhausted all his strength.
He gently rubbed his temples with his palms, trying to relieve the intense discomfort caused by the hangover. Recalling last night's banquet, the strong liquor unique to the North burned his throat like fire, reaching deep into his bones, leaving him still feeling dizzy and weak.
This wine truly lives up to its reputation; it's far too potent!
At this moment, the world outside the window seems to be expressing its discontent as well.
The sky, which should have been clear, was suddenly shrouded in gloom, the temperature plummeted, and the wind howled.
The biting chill seeped silently into the room through the gaps in the slightly ajar window, causing the prince to shiver.
He realized that although Nanyang City was located in the south, it had now penetrated deep into the north, and the climate was naturally very different from before, much colder and more unbearable.
Ah Heng, who had been waiting in the outer room, immediately pushed open the door and entered upon hearing the commotion inside the Crown Prince's room, asking with concern, "Your Highness, are you awake? Should I instruct the servants to prepare a hangover soup for you?"
The prince gently shook his head and replied in a slightly hoarse voice, "No need... Go find me a thick outer robe, the weather is a bit chilly today."
Upon hearing this, Ah Heng immediately turned and left, returning to the Crown Prince's side shortly afterward with a heavy outer robe and toiletries.
With Aheng's help, the Crown Prince slowly dressed and put on the warm outer robe. He felt his body gradually warming up, and his spirits lifted slightly.
After dressing, the prince walked slowly to the window and gently pushed it open.
A blast of cool, fresh air hit him, and he couldn't help but take a deep breath.
The cold air seemed to possess some kind of magic, instantly clearing his mind and washing away the effects of the alcohol.
He gazed out the window at the gray sky and the occasional gust of cold wind, and couldn't help but think of what had happened last night.
He turned to Aheng and asked, "Where's Aning?"
"Your Highness, the princess is still asleep. She waited until Lord Chu and the others left before she went to bed yesterday."
"What did Chu Pingfeng say?"
"The princess didn't ask anything else, only that there wasn't much silver confiscated in total," Ah Heng replied slowly.
How much in total?
"Your Highness, the total is four million three hundred and twenty thousand taels!"
"How many?"
The crown prince thought he had misheard. "Four million three hundred and twenty thousand taels? That much was confiscated?"
They thought three million taels was a lot, but they underestimated the greed of human nature.
Ah Heng raised her eyelids slightly and said in a low voice, "Your Highness, I was also shocked when I heard this number, and Her Highness the Princess was so angry that she wanted to flip the table."
“It’s understandable that she’s angry…” the Crown Prince sighed. “All she wants is peace and prosperity, but these corrupt officials are acting with impunity. How can she not be angry?”
"What's even more hateful is that behind this wealth lies the blood, sweat, and suffering of countless ordinary people." The crown prince clenched his fist, a flash of indignation in his eyes. "They enjoy fine clothes and sumptuous food, but they never think that all of this is built on the suffering of the people."
Ah Heng nodded slightly, a look of agreement on his face. He continued, "Your Highness is absolutely right. Your insights are always so profound and unique."
His Highness the Crown Prince sat quietly by the window, gazing intently at the rising sun outside. The golden light shone on his face, reflecting his complex and ever-changing expressions.
His heart was filled with mixed feelings, including reluctance to leave this place and anxiety about the unknown future.
He gently closed his eyes, as if organizing his thoughts, and then asked, "Where are Chu Pingfeng and the others now?"
His voice was deep and powerful, conveying an unquestionable authority.
Ah Heng quickly replied, "Your Highness, Lord Chu was busy with official business until late last night. Since it was late, he rested in the state office. If Your Highness needs to summon them, I will send someone to wake them up immediately."
His Highness the Crown Prince shook his head slightly, interrupting Aheng, "Forget it, there's no need to rush. They've been working tirelessly for two days and nights on official business, and they must be exhausted now. Let them sleep a little longer, and send someone to invite them over after they wake up naturally."
Upon hearing this, Aheng felt a deep respect for the Crown Prince's thoughtfulness.
He knew that although His Highness the Crown Prince held a high position, he always cared about the hardships of his subordinates, and such benevolence was truly commendable.
His Highness the Crown Prince continued, "We are preparing to return to Nanyang City today, as Chu Pingfeng and the others know. Therefore, they shouldn't be sleeping too late. It's still early, so we don't need to disturb them."
At this point, a relaxed smile appeared on His Highness the Crown Prince's face.
He turned to Ah Heng and said, "Ah Heng, come for a walk with me. Let's see what good breakfast options are on the street and bring some back for Ah Ning. That way, she won't wake up hungry and have nothing to eat."
Upon hearing this, Aheng quickly replied, "Yes, Your Highness. I will accompany you out immediately."
As he spoke, he followed behind His Highness the Crown Prince and walked out of the room together. The two of them left the state office together.
The streets were still shrouded in a hazy mist in the early morning. A thin fog covered the city like a veil, adding a touch of mystery and tranquility to this busy day.
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