While Kangxi's approach wasn't perfect, it was close enough.
The cost of breaking the law is too high, and most people wouldn't wrong an innocent person for such a small achievement.
Kangxi also considered other factors that needed to be taken into account, which can be considered to have yielded significant results.
They traveled and stopped frequently, having separated from the main group. They moved even slower, staying for a day or two at each stop before continuing their journey.
If it's inconvenient, then sleep outdoors.
This time they arrived at another village, which was located by the river and was called Shanghe Village. The village was quite large, with about six or seven hundred people. The houses were neat and orderly, and the crops in the fields were growing well.
Unlike the "Guai Zi Village" where I stayed overnight last time, this Shanghe Village is surrounded by neighboring villages on both sides, and looks quite prosperous.
Liang Jiugong got off the carriage and asked the old man chatting idly at the bridgehead at the village entrance.
"Sir, is there any house in your village that is spacious enough for us to stay overnight? My husband and wife are passing through this area and haven't found an inn. They would like to stay the night."
Upon hearing this, the old man looked at Liang Jiugong's attire. The clothes were made of silk that he had never seen before. If even the servants in this family were dressed so well, the owner of the carriage must be even better, and the reward must be quite substantial.
The old man was the village head, chatting with people at the village entrance. It wasn't the busy farming season, so the villagers had nothing to do. The older women and young wives were either feeding poultry at home or getting together to make knots. The older men, having nothing else to do, would chat and gossip at the village entrance.
Even the village head is no exception.
"We have a few spaces at home, feel free to come over if you don't mind!"
Liang Jiugong quoted a price for lodging, and the village head was satisfied. He then led his men home.
In fact, Liang Jiugong also intended to find the village head. Although they were both powerful figures, the village head was someone with power, which made them somewhat different. Liang Jiugong was very perceptive about these things, so he immediately found the right person to talk to.
When Kangxi heard that Liang Jiugong had reached an agreement, he got off the carriage, but Youqing did not.
When they arrived at the village head's house, Youqing got off the carriage.
When going out, Youqing dresses neatly, but no matter how "simple" she dresses, her temperament is still there!
Having studied for over a decade in modern times, coupled with his experiences in ancient times, he may not be someone who is naturally refined and cultured, but he certainly has a commanding presence that is enough to amaze ordinary people.
The moment he stepped off the carriage, the village head's youngest daughter and her new wife, who had just come out of the house, were stunned.
Is this a fairy?
In this small village, those with exceptional beauty in the imperial harem would be like celestial beings descended to earth.
The five or six-year-old child being led by the young wife suddenly exclaimed, "Mom, I saw a fairy!"
These words came out of his mouth quite loudly, causing several people to blush slightly and look rather embarrassed.
The village head glanced at Youqing, then turned to Kangxi and said, "Master Huang, I'm so sorry. The child is ignorant and speaks without thinking. He didn't mean any harm."
Kangxi knew that the child had no bad intentions, and said with a smile, "I know."
The village head then asked his daughter and daughter-in-law to go inside and tidy up the room.
The village head's family lived well, in a house with blue tiles. There were many people in the family, so the house was built big. The youngest son and the eldest grandson were studying away from home. In addition, when the house was built, the problem of having more children in the family was taken into consideration, so several extra rooms were built. Kangxi, Youqing and Anle's family would live in one room at night, and the remaining ten or so people could also fit in.
Upon entering the village head's house, the village head began to chatter on and on with Emperor Kangxi. Emperor Kangxi was also interested in learning about the situation in the village, so he didn't hesitate to share his thoughts.
Not long after they finished speaking, more people entered the room.
She is the wife of the village head.
After some introductions, Youqing started talking to the village head's wife. At first, the village head's wife was rather taciturn and didn't talk much. She seemed a little reserved in front of Youqing. However, Youqing didn't hold back and started talking about the children, which opened up a lot of conversation.
Then Youqing learned a lot about what was happening in the village.
Having traveled all over the country for many years, Youqing was able to chat and laugh with this village head's wife. She talked about the customs of other places, and the village head's wife couldn't help but start talking as well.
"Speaking of customs, we have a river god worship ceremony every three years. You're just unlucky. If you could stay a few more days, you could have seen it with your own eyes."
"Offer sacrifices to the river god?" You Qing appropriately showed a puzzled expression.
She had only asked casually, assuming it was something like a temple fair or a tomb-sweeping event during the Qingming Festival, but what the village head's wife said next startled Youqing.
"The reason why our village has been able to enjoy good weather and abundant harvests is all thanks to the protection of the river god. Since we have received the protection of the river god, we should naturally offer sacrifices and prayers. In a couple of days, the newly appointed goddess will go into the water to serve the river god, thus offering sacrifices to express our gratitude for the river god's protection of us."
"Goddess? Submerged in water? What does this mean?"
Actually, Youqing had some guesses after hearing this, but she needed to confirm them.
"The goddess is a river god's attendant chosen according to her birth date and time. She is specially used to serve the river god. Going into the water means that the goddess is carried into the deep water in a sedan chair carried by eight people. Only in this way can the goddess be sent to see the river god."
Youqing frowned upon hearing this. This was nothing short of a human sacrifice, a deadly thing.
Looking at the village head's wife's calm and composed demeanor, and the fact that she didn't try to hide anything from her, it seemed that the people here considered human sacrifice quite ordinary, and didn't even think it was taking lives.
"Who told you that sacrificing a goddess to the river god would bring good weather and abundant harvests?"
"More than ten years ago, several villages around us suffered from a severe drought, and we were on the verge of not being able to survive. At that time, the respected elders in the village said that if a goddess was sacrificed to the river god, it would bring rain. The villagers tried it out of curiosity. The goddess entered the water, and it rained that very night. Since then, our village has sent a goddess to serve the river god every three years."
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