"Prince Zhan, Prince An Yang, are you planning to et Minister Cai? He’s in Wuwang County, not far from Guangye City," he inquired.
Oh, Guangye City is already quite stirred up with just a Steward Hao, and Minister Cai is in Wuwang County. One wonders how the common folk there are managing to live.
"Why would I go see him?"
An Jiuyue lightly touched her chin and chuckled.
"I am here, and naturally, he should co to pay respects to and Prince Zhan. Since when do I need to go et a re governor?"
"Yes, yes, Prince An Yang is absolutely right. It was wrong of to speak without thinking," Sheng Qingyu replied repeatedly.
He had forgotten that in front of the two princes, Minister Cai was nothing. This ti, it’s almost certain that he would lose his official position, and as for his life... could it be saved?
It certainly couldn’t be saved.
Those who profit from the country’s hardships cannot atone with just one life; it might even implicate their family.
"Mr. Sheng, there’s no need for you to concern yourself with matters regarding Governor Cai. Just understand that the presence of and Prince Zhan in Guangye is not to be disclosed to outsiders, understood?"
An Jiuyue instructed Sheng Qingyu while looking at him.
"Yes, I understand," Sheng Qingyu replied.
He couldn’t help but ponder whether the two princes had other plans.
Even leaving Minister Cai in the dark, were they thinking of secretly convicting him, or... no, impossible. The two princes are pillars of the royal court and could never collude with soone like Minister Cai.
"Mr. Sheng, could you kindly arrange a place for us to stay in the city? We plan to remain in Guangye City for a few more days," Qian Jiyun said.
"Certainly, Prince Zhan,"
Sheng Qingyu replied promptly and hurried out to find the governnt guards.
Orders from the princes must not be taken lightly and should be arranged promptly. Although he couldn’t understand why the two princes chose to stay separately instead of at the Governnt Office.
Yet, considering the recent als at the Governnt Office, he felt it was better for the princes to stay separately.
...
The next day.
In the city, Steward Hao continued to dispatch people to exchange water for grain, this ti sending more enforcers to each location, just in case.
However, today passed without incident; no one ca to cause trouble.
Yet the enforcers noticed that not far from their water-for-grain spot, another stall had been set up, with a sign indicating the sale of grain.
"Fifty copper coins for a jin of white rice, that’s truly expensive,"
The stall had clear pricing displayed, with fifty copper coins for a jin of white rice prominently placed at the front, easily visible, and stacks of grain sacks behind, evidently showing a large quantity of grain.
"Isn’t it? White flour is actually sixty copper coins per jin; that’s ten tis the original price—who can afford that?" the literate passersby sighed.
Even those who couldn’t read, upon inquiry, sighed and shook their heads.
Ordinary people simply couldn’t afford such expensive grain, especially since they had so grain at ho already, making it less likely they would buy. Despite being enticed by the fine white rice and flour, they couldn’t afford it.
But while the average folk couldn’t afford it, wealthier families certainly could. By morning’s end, quite a few house servants had indeed co to purchase grain.
"Stone, they’re selling grain over there, and it looks fresh. Should we... go ask the steward?" a guard quietly asked Stone, the leader of the water-for-grain exchange.
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