Chapter 163
In the autumn of the first year of Ruiqing, a luxurious carriage traveled westward, slowly entering the borders of Liangzhou.
The sight of such carriages was nothing new to the people of Liangzhou. In recent years, merchants of all kinds had been coming and going, transforming Liangzhou from a desolate and avoided land into a thriving and desirable place. Carriages passed through every day, so no one paid them much attention.
The carriage seemed to be stopping for a rest. A man who appeared to be an attendant ran ahead and asked an elderly farmer working in the fields for directions. After reporting back, it wasn’t long before an elderly man with a dignified yet kind demeanor approached.
The newcomer smiled warmly and said, “Pardon me for the disturbance, but may I ask, is this Liangzhou?”
The old farmer had already answered a similar question moments ago and was feeling a bit impatient. But upon seeing that this was a different person, he nodded and said, “That’s right. Are you a traveler from outside?”
The elderly man nodded. “I(Zhen)*… I have just arrived in Liangzhou and am unfamiliar with the area. On my journey here, I heard many things about this place and was curious. Would it be alright if I asked a few questions?”
Note: Zhen here is I but used by emperor only.
This man was none other than Ming Yu’s father, Emperor Delong.
Hearing this, the old farmer did not refuse. He happened to be taking a break and walked over, wiping the dirt off his hands. “Ask whatever you want, traveler. Our Liangzhou—hah! Who would have thought we’d see such good days?”
“How many people are in your family?” the emperor asked.
The old farmer chuckled. “All in all, there are seven or eight of us.” In the past, just keeping everyone from starving or dying of illness was a struggle—who could have imagined they would live as they did now?
The emperor frowned. “With seven or eight people in your family, why are you the only one working the fields? Where are the others?”
The farmer waved a hand dismissively. “The young ones all have jobs of their own. They’re out earning money. My old bones can’t just sit idle at home, so I come out here to move around a bit.”
“Jobs? Have they abandoned their land? If they’re all working elsewhere, who tends the fields?” the emperor asked.
“How could we abandon it?” The farmer laughed. “Thanks to Duan Wang, Liangzhou’s farmers no longer have to pay land taxes. Whatever we grow, we keep. Our family’s food all comes from this land. If we have a surplus, we can even sell it to merchants and earn some extra money.”
He paused before adding, “Right now, it’s not the busy season, so I can manage the fields alone. But when harvest time comes, the young ones all return to help. Almost every household here does the same—it doesn’t interfere with anything.”
The emperor let out a breath of relief. The foundation of a nation was its people’s sustenance. No matter what, farmland was the people’s lifeblood and could not be neglected.
“I heard that Liangzhou used to be desolate, but looking around now, it doesn’t seem that way at all. That’s good to see,” the emperor said, continuing the conversation. He intended to learn more.
“You wouldn’t know, traveler, Liangzhou used to be overrun with bandits and barbarian invaders. Every year, foreign invaders looted the land. Nine out of ten homes were empty, and countless people suffered. If it weren’t for Duan Wang, we wouldn’t have the peaceful and prosperous days we have now. Every family in Liangzhou has built ancestral shrines for him, all praying that he lives a long life, blessed with endless fortune.”
The old farmer sighed. He had never dreamed of such a stable and abundant life. And it was all thanks to Duan Wang. Was there a single person in Liangzhou who was not grateful to him? Speaking of Duan Wang filled him with nothing but deep respect and gratitude.
The emperor’s face twitched. That brat—usually so unreliable—was actually well respected among the people of Liangzhou. Listening to the locals praise his son, the emperor couldn’t help but feel a surge of pride. A sense of honor welled up within him, and he grinned so widely that his smile nearly reached his ears.
Seeing that his guest was listening intently, the old farmer became even more enthusiastic. He went on and on about how great Duan Wang was, rambling for quite some time. He only stopped when one of his attendants came over to ask when they should resume their journey.
Looking at the sky, it was indeed getting late, and they still needed to find a place to rest for the night.
Now that he had abdicated, he was merely the retired emperor. The new emperor had ascended the throne and was handling state affairs diligently and frugally, ruling with a sense of duty and care for the people. There was nothing for him to worry about, so he had decided to travel and see the world. That was how he ended up on this journey to Liangzhou.
The old farmer was still in high spirits. Seeing that his guest was about to leave, he seemed somewhat reluctant to part and said eagerly, “Sir, just follow that road, and you’ll reach Liangzhou. There are inns and post stations set up every few miles along the way, making it very convenient for travelers. You might not know this, but this road—Duan Wang had it paved with cement. It’s smooth and wide, making travel much easier. Even carriages can move much faster now.”
Following the direction the farmer pointed, the emperor saw a straight road stretching westward, gleaming like a white jade belt in the distance.
The emperor expressed his gratitude, feeling even more anticipation for this journey to Liangzhou.
By now, Liangzhou’s horse farms had developed into a large-scale operation. Ming Yu had introduced fine horses from the Western Regions for breeding, significantly improving the quality of the Great Yan’s horses. The horses from Liangzhou were even being supplied to the northern military, and the Great Yan was no longer suffering from a shortage of warhorses as it had in previous years.
Traveling along the way, the emperor, disguised as a commoner, saw many new things. In the fields beside the road, people were growing corn and watermelons. The further west he went, the more vibrant and lively the land became. The people’s smiles radiated genuine happiness from within.
The locals were hospitable, warmly inviting the travelers into their homes, offering them water and a place to rest.
A young man quickly finished his meal and rushed out the door, calling, “Father, Mother, I’m off to work! If there’s anything that needs to be done at home, wait until I get back. Don’t strain yourselves like last time and end up hurting your backs.”
“Go on, go on! Don’t be late!” His father, beaming, urged him on. This was something he said multiple times a day.
Turning back, the old man chuckled and said to the emperor, “Please don’t mind him. This boy is always in a hurry.”
The emperor shook his head with a smile. “You are fortunate to have such a son.”
“Ha! It’s all thanks to Duan Wang. These days, life feels like a dream,” the old man said, his face crinkling with joy.
As they were chatting, a voice called from outside, “Old Chen! Are you home, Old Chen?”
Old Chen quickly responded and stepped outside. “Ah! Shopkeeper Zhao from the Ma family business! What brings you here today?”
The emperor stood by the doorway, quietly observing.
Shopkeeper Zhao hopped down from his carriage, his round face jiggling slightly. “The watermelons in the fields are about to ripen, aren’t they? I’m here early to sign a purchase contract and pay a deposit. Once they’re ready, we’ll send people to collect them.”
Old Chen’s face lit up with joy. Rubbing his hands together, he laughed, “Your Ma family business keeps getting faster every year. Last year, you didn’t come until half a month later!”
“Well, a lot of people have their eyes on these melons! If we don’t act fast, we might not even get a single seed, the market price hasn’t changed much this year. If you trust me, Old Chen, let’s keep the same rate as last year.”
Old Chen waved his hand dismissively. “No need to talk about trust—we’ve worked together for years! Of course, I trust you.”
The two men burst into hearty laughter. They proceeded with the familiar routine—signing the contract and marking it with their fingerprints. Finally, Old Chen happily accepted a deposit, securing a buyer for his watermelons.
Shopkeeper Zhao hurried off to his next stop. Watching the entire process unfold, the emperor found it curious and asked, “The watermelons won’t be ripe for another month or two, right? They’re already sold?”
Old Chen nodded and grinned. “Exactly. We just focus on farming—we don’t have to worry about selling. Buyers are eager to get their hands on our produce.”
“But merchants can be cunning. Aren’t you afraid of being cheated?” the emperor asked.
Old Chen seemed unconcerned. “No worries. Wang Ye has set strict regulations—no one is allowed to exploit others in business. There are plenty of rules in place to protect us common folks. No one dares to break them.”
The emperor gazed at the towering city of Liangzhou in the distance, a sudden sense of urgency rising in his heart.
Ming Yu’s head ached. He pressed his fingers against his temples, trying to ease the discomfort. He had received a secret letter from the Crown Prince—no, he should now be called Emperor Ruiqing—informing him that his imperial father had traveled to Liangzhou in disguise and instructing him to send people to protect him.
After receiving the letter, Ming Yu didn’t dare to make a grand display of welcoming him. He could only send guards out to look for his father. Yet, despite dispatching several groups, none had found the emperor. How could he not be anxious? The emperor was traveling incognito—what if he encountered danger? What if he ran into trouble?
“As long as he reaches Liangzhou, he should be safe,” Xie Yixiu said as he approached from behind. He placed his fingers gently on Ming Yu’s temples, massaging them to help relieve the tension. “You shouldn’t worry too much.”
Liangzhou was now prosperous and peaceful. One could leave their doors unlocked at night and walk the streets without fear—it was impossible for any harm to come to him.
“That may be true, but without any news, I can’t help but worry.”
Xie Yixiu’s expression softened. “The retired emperor is visiting Liangzhou for the first time. It’s natural for him to be curious and want to explore. If you’re really worried, I can personally lead some men to search for him.”
Ming Yu hesitated, still undecided, when someone outside reported that a visitor was asking for Wang Ye.
The two exchanged glances. Ming Yu quickly asked about the visitor’s appearance, and before the messenger could finish, he leapt to his feet and rushed out.
The moment he stepped outside the gates of the Prince Manor, Ming Yu nearly smacked his forehead. Standing at the entrance, puffing out his beard and glaring in anger, was none other than his imperial father. Who had upset him now?
But now wasn’t the time to dwell on that. Ming Yu quickly stepped forward with a bright smile and bowed. “Father! Why didn’t you send word before coming? I would have come to greet you properly!”
The people at the gate were stunned. This elderly man was actually the retired emperor? They had just barred the retired emperor from entering the manor. They were doomed. As realization struck, every single person dropped to their knees in unison, pleading for forgiveness.
The emperor didn’t even glance at them, entering the residence in a huff without saying a word.
Ming Yu hurried to catch up, asking, “Father, what’s wrong? Who made you angry?”
Only then did the emperor stop and scold, “What kind of nonsense regulations have you put in place? Huh? It’s just entering Liangcheng, yet you demand a livestock management fee. Horses can relieve themselves anywhere in the city, and they get fined? And if a person spits, they get fined too? How can there be such ridiculous reasons for fines in this world? As a prince, shouldn’t you manage this? The people below are charging indiscriminately, what’s the difference between this and oppressive taxes?”
When they entered the city, someone had stopped them, claiming they needed to pay for livestock management. He had argued against this absurd claim, but the other party didn’t insist too much, allowing them entry. However, shortly after entering, they were caught and fined because the horses had relieved themselves in public.
Now, it didn’t matter what their status was; no one was willing to compromise, and even onlookers said they were in the wrong. Left with no choice, they ultimately paid the fine. The more he thought about it, the angrier he became, and he spat on the ground. The group hadn’t gone far before they were caught again, resulting in a doubled fine.
Eventually, the city defense team got involved, thinking it best to resolve the issue peacefully, so they begrudgingly accepted the situation. Yet, he couldn’t make sense of it; the common folk of Liangzhou praised how compassionate the Old Fourteenth was and how well he governed. But now, this was clearly unreasonable charging, and how was it different from oppressive taxes? He knew the oppressive government was worse than a tiger; the Old Fourteenth surely understood this. His son managing a territory wasn’t easy, and it must be the case that his subordinates were only pretending to comply. They couldn’t encourage such corruption any further.
The emperor vented his anger, and Ming Yu felt a bit awkward. “Father… Father, I know about this; it was actually my suggestion.”
”…” The emperor stared in disbelief, pointing at Ming Yu and unable to speak.
Ming Yu smiled, “Father, don’t rush. Let me explain! After you hear me out, if you’re still dissatisfied, I’ll accept the punishment.”
The emperor flicked his sleeve and huffed, indicating he would listen.
”What do you think of the environment in Liangcheng? Is it cleaner and tidier compared to the capital?” Ming Yu asked.
The emperor pondered for a moment and nodded, “It’s a bit better in that regard.” He had to admit that the cement streets and the flowers and greenery along the roadside were indeed pleasing to the eye.
”A clean and tidy environment reduces the likelihood of germs, making it less likely for people living there to get sick. Liangcheng has a lot of merchants coming and going, with many horses and livestock. People can control themselves, but livestock can’t, so the owners have to take responsibility. If there are no regulations, how can the environment be kept clean and tidy?”
”In fact, if the livestock management fee is paid, there will be someone specifically guiding how to manage them, which would prevent fines.” Ming Yu sneakily glanced at the emperor, thinking, if you refuse to pay the fee, who can you blame?
“However, can the common people really accept such fines?” He couldn’t believe anyone would willingly tolerate such arbitrary charges.
Ming Yu smiled slyly, “Do those people have red ribbons tied around them? They are actually a group of citizens who organized themselves to supervise things. They’ve lived in Liangcheng for a long time, and when comparing the past Liangcheng to the present, their choice speaks for itself.”
”As for newcomers to Liangcheng, they will receive a small booklet with all the notices upon entering, so…” Ming Yu trailed off, scratching his nose.
The emperor then remembered the booklet he had casually tossed in the corner of the carriage. He had been so eager to see his youngest son that he hadn’t even noticed those details. So, it seemed all the issues were self-inflicted.
Thinking of this calmed him significantly, and he finally felt at peace. “Alright, since I’ve arrived in Liangcheng, I’ll stay for a while. If you have business, go ahead; if not, just accompany me as we look around.”
Ming Yu naturally agreed. At that moment, they had entered the inner courtyard, and the emperor glanced around. The others had dispersed, leaving only Xie Yixiu awkwardly standing next to Ming Yu.
The emperor frowned, noticing the two holding hands, which didn’t sit well with him. He huffed heavily, “If there’s nothing else, you can leave; I’m tired.”
Ming Yu blushed, pulling Xie Yixiu forward a step, cheerfully saying, “Father, you relax. If you’re really bored, let Yixiu play chess with you or chat. Yixiu is a bit dull; if you have any dissatisfaction, feel free to express it.”
The emperor’s face twitched, realizing the little rascal was taking care of Xie Yixiu, already protective of him.
”Go away! All of you leave; don’t bother me!” The emperor impatiently waved them off. Back in the capital, he was always thinking of his youngest son and looking forward to seeing him. Now that he finally saw him, he found it bothersome to have him in front of him.
Ming Yu instructed someone to arrange accommodations for the emperor before stepping out. Only then did he notice that Xie Yixiu’s palms were sweaty, and he appeared dazed, lost in thought.
”What’s wrong?” Ming Yu asked with concern.
Xie Yixiu stared at him, “Does the former emperor know? We…” He hadn’t expected the emperor to have such an attitude. Originally, Ming Yu had entered the inner courtyard with the emperor, but he was left standing outside until Ming Yu pulled him in. Just like that, they were openly exposed in front of the emperor, who seemed unfazed, leaving him astonished.
”The emperor knew about it years ago,” Ming Yu nodded and recounted the story.
When they had entered the palace and said those things, how could the emperor not investigate? Since he hadn’t shown any displeasure at that time, it meant he had accepted it and wouldn’t suddenly get angry now.
Xie Yixiu hadn’t realized Ming Yu had done so much for them. He found it hard to imagine how Ming Yu would react if the emperor hadn’t accepted it and had become furious. Thinking of the crown prince’s situation, Xie Yixiu felt a surge of pain; had he always intended to silently bear that uncertainty alone?
He tightly embraced Ming Yu, overwhelmed with gratitude and joy, unsure of how to express himself.
He cupped Ming Yu’s face and planted a sincere kiss on his lips. Having you in this life is my great fortune! From now on, I will never let you down!
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