klisemfg Chapter 1124 There May Be a Dark Secret in Dongchang Prefecture
Chapter 1124 There May Be a Dark Secret in Dongchang Prefecture
After finishing his breakfast, Xiao Jingyu naturally put the used dishes and chopsticks into the dishwasher to wash.
He then turned around and wiped the dining table and swept the floor.
The entire set of movements was performed with effortless grace!
At this moment, Xiao Jingyu no longer had the airs of a prince; he was clearly a domestic whiz and a perfect homemaker!
Leng Rongyue saw it all, smiled, and felt a surge of joy in her heart.
His partner in this life is... so far... well... that seems pretty good!
The two tidied their appearances slightly and checked each other over... Ordinary looks, ordinary clothes...
There are no problems!
Leng Rongyue used her divine sense to explore the outside of the space...
The east is already turning white; dawn is approaching!
Leng Rongyue grabbed Xiao Jingyu's wrist and left the space.
Why not hold hands?
Because when Xiao Jingyu left the space, he also pulled out two big red apples, one in each hand!
The two of them left the carriage.
Leng Rongyue looked through the telescope at Dongchang Prefecture in the distance...
The city gates of Dongchang Prefecture have not yet been opened, but judging by the time, they should be open soon.
On the official road not far away, people who wanted to get to Dongchang Prefecture early were already on their way... Some were riding horses, some were in horse-drawn carriages, donkey carts, or oxcarts, and some were pushing carts, carrying loads, and helping the old and leading the young...
Xiao Jingyu handed one of his apples to Leng Rongyue, then got out of the carriage and sat directly on the carriage shaft. While eating the apple, he cracked his whip and drove the carriage toward the official road.
In the blink of an eye, the carriage was on the official road, merging into the flow of people heading to Dongchang Prefecture.
On a late autumn morning, you can see your breath steaming in the air when you speak.
Take a deep breath... The fresh air, free of any pollution and carrying only the scent of earth, is deeply inhaled into the chest cavity, and then slowly exhaled. Suddenly, one feels clear-headed and full of energy!
Leng Rongyue, wrapped in a cloak, sat in the carriage near the door, watching Xiao Jingyu eat an apple while driving the carriage. She couldn't help but cover her mouth and chuckle—His Highness Prince Yu's image is so down-to-earth!
If those old fogies in the court saw His Highness Prince Yu looking like this, wouldn't their eyes pop out?
Is this still the same Prince Yu, dressed in brocade robes and wearing a jade crown, with a handsome face as cold as ice?
Leng Rongyue recalled the conversation the two had just had at the dinner table…
Xiao Jingyu believed that he and he were the closest people in the world!
Perhaps... he truly regarded me as the closest person in this life, which is why he was so relaxed and at ease in my presence!
Watching Xiao Jingyu eat the apple bite by bite, Leng Rongyue felt that the apple must be exceptionally delicious and sweet!
So, Leng Rongyue, who was sitting in the carriage, also started to eat the apple bite by bite.
Xiao Jingyu drove the carriage forward unhurriedly.
The city gates haven't opened yet. Even if we rush to the city gates, we'll still have to wait. We might as well let the horse roam freely and breathe in some fresh air along the way!
The carriage had to stop not far from the city gate of Dongchang Prefecture.
In front of Leng Rongyue and Xiao Jingyu's carriage, there were people, horses, oxen, and carts all lined up, waiting to enter Dongchang Prefecture.
The time must have come; a faint, muffled sound of a lock being opened or bolted could be heard from ahead.
Immediately afterwards, with a rumbling sound, the two tall and heavy city gates were forcefully pushed to both sides by several soldiers guarding the city, and the city gates of Dongchang Prefecture were opened wide.
The people queuing to enter the city were originally craning their necks to look at the city gate, or chatting with acquaintances, mostly complaining about how expensive the entrance fee was!
Leng Rongyue and Xiao Jingyu had excellent hearing. From the people around them, they gleaned many things, such as: to enter Dongchang Prefecture, each person had to pay five copper coins.
Oxen, horses, donkeys, mules, and carts, like people, also had to pay five copper coins.
In other words, Leng Rongyue and Xiao Jingyu had to pay twenty copper coins to enter the city.
Xiao Jingyu and Leng Rongyue exchanged a glance, both looking surprised and taken aback, their moods becoming heavy.
In Jingyue Kingdom, some counties or prefectures require people, animals, and carts to pay money when entering the city.
But that only amounts to one or two coins.
However, this was not the case in Dongchang Prefecture.
Everyone entering the city, regardless of whether they are people, animals, or carts, must pay five copper coins.
When ordinary people go to the city to sell chickens, ducks, geese, or handicrafts, they have to take one to three copper coins from each item.
This isn't collecting city fees, this is skinning alive!
The common people secretly complained, but they had no choice but to go to the prefectural city to make a living...
The chickens, ducks, and geese raised at home, the eggs they lay, and the baskets and other items that family members weave in their spare time from dawn till dusk—all of these need to be sold to make money!
Should we buy some oil, salt, and linen?
When you're sick, you need money to buy medicine and see a doctor, right?
How can I exchange money if I don't go into the city?
But... we can't earn many copper coins to begin with, and now the city gate is going to take away a huge chunk of them first!
Moreover, this money wasn't even collected by order of the imperial court!
And who ultimately pocketed this money... that probably needs to be thoroughly investigated!
This shows that the officials here are not exactly benevolent, clear-headed, or people-loving!
The people here in Dongchang Prefecture are probably having a hard time!
When the city gates finally opened, the waiting crowd immediately stirred.
The poor people queuing to enter the city felt both pained by the sweaty coins in their hands and had no choice but to hand them over.
The Jingyue Kingdom under the rule of Emperor Hongde can be considered a time of peace and prosperity!
All the policies implemented by the imperial court are beneficial to the country and its people!
But there's probably something fishy going on in Dongchang Prefecture!