The next day, Song Yu took Song Shihuan with him to enter Yongning County.
For caution’s sake, Song Yu wore a half-mask, while Song Shihuan covered her face with a veil.
Half an hour later, the father and daughter fell silent as they stood before two diverging paths.
One was a well-maintained main road, guarded by officials at the entrance, where only a handful of noble carriages were permitted to pass.
The other was an unpaved, muddy trail, yet many travelers trudged through the mire toward Yongning County.
Song Shihuan took a few deep breaths before approaching a woman about to take the muddy path. "Auntie," she asked, "that road over there is wide and clear. Why do you choose this difficult, muddy path instead?"
The woman’s face brimmed with gratitude. "This road was built with the magistrate’s own money, meant to encourage the noble families to visit Yongning County. The magistrate said that the more they come, the wealthier our county will become."
"And the imperial officials always take the main road. Every time they visit, Yongning County prospers a little more. We common folk are content with this small path."
"If Yongning County is so prosperous, why hasn’t the road been properly built? Why must the magistrate pay for it himself?" Song Yu’s tone carried a hint of mockery. The woman, sensing his disrespect toward the magistrate, grew wary and walked away without another word.
"Let’s take the main road," Song Yu said to Song Shihuan. The two turned their horses toward the grand path.
But just as they were about to step onto it, the guards stopped them:
"You must take the other road."
"Why?" Song Yu’s eyes flickered with rising anger.
"Only those who bring benefits to Yongning County may use this road." The guard scrutinized Song Yu. "You both carry an air of nobility, yet you ride horses without attendants or a carriage. How curious."
"Snobbish fools!"
Song Shihuan lashed her whip through the air, striking the guard’s waist and sending his official token clattering to the ground. Such a man didn’t deserve to wear it.
"My father and I have come to Yongning County for business, yet you dare obstruct us? If you hinder the county’s prosperity, can you bear the consequences?"
With that, she tossed a pouch of gold ingots onto the ground. The coins spilled out, leaving the guards dumbstruck.
"Forgive our ignorance, my lord and young mistress..."
"Are these enough to let us—and these people—walk this road?" Song Shihuan planted her hands on her hips, embodying the image of a spoiled young noblewoman.
"What? Not enough?" She turned to Song Yu. "Father, it seems Yongning County doesn’t welcome us. Let’s go elsewhere."
"No, no—it’s enough, more than enough..."
Fearing they might drive away good fortune, the guards hurried to the fork in the road and called out to the crowd, "Today, a kind benefactor invites you all to walk the main road! Consider yourselves blessed!"
Yet the people only stepped back, shaking their heads in refusal.
"Thank you, kind benefactor... but we are of lowly status. We fear dirtying the road and displeasing the nobles—that would be a sin."
"Indeed, benefactor. The main road will take you swiftly to Yongning County. Please, go ahead."
Watching the crowd, Song Yu and Song Shihuan realized something was deeply wrong.
These people behaved as if an invisible hand controlled their minds.
"My lord, young mistress, they prefer the small path. Please, take the main road into Yongning County." The guards fawned with sickening smiles.
"Very well."
Song Yu’s smile didn’t reach his eyes. "We’ve heard the magistrate is a virtuous and upright official. We’ve long wished to meet him."
With that, father and daughter spurred their horses toward Yongning County.
......
Yongning County.
As the ancestral home of the imperial family, the streets bustled with merchants, and the shops thrived with activity. Every face in the crowd radiated joy.
Anyone witnessing this scene would praise the magistrate as a rare and exemplary official.
"The magistrate’s daughter is distributing porridge to the laborers at the City God Temple again!"
"Miss Ma is truly a celestial maiden descended from the heavens—not only beautiful but also so compassionate."
"And as the magistrate’s daughter, she’s worthy of even the highest nobility in the capital."
As the crowd surged toward the temple, Song Yu and Song Shihuan followed.
City God Temple.
All eyes were fixed on a woman draped in a goose-yellow cloak, her figure graceful as she personally served porridge to the laborers building the temple.
"My father says Yongning County is unlike other places. Constructing this temple is difficult but necessary work. I thank you on his behalf for your daily toil."
The laborers accepted the porridge with awed reverence, reluctant to even take a sip.
Watching this harmonious scene between officials and commoners, Song Shihuan suddenly understood something. She turned to Song Yu. "Father, these people are all well-dressed. But what about those who came through the muddy path?"
Those in coarse hemp clothes—like the laborers being fed—where had they gone after entering Yongning County?
"Easy. We’ll take that path ourselves and find out."
Song Yu straightened, his gaze turning icy.
At the same time.
The main procession arrived at Ji'an Prefecture.
The prefect and magistrates of the subordinate counties gathered outside the city gates to welcome them—only to find two empty carriages.
"This... Where are Prince Qin and Princess Fu'an?"
The prefect of Ji'an had long heard of Prince Qin’s reputation and spoke with utmost caution.
Liuxi smiled. "My lords, His Highness and Her Highness said that since this journey is for ancestral worship, they would not linger in Ji'an Prefecture. They’ve already departed directly for Yongning County."
Instantly, Magistrate Ma Liang of Yongning County trembled.
"Then how should we receive His Highness and Her Highness?"
"Simply gather outside the gates of Yongning County at dawn tomorrow." With Liuxi’s words, the officials hastily set off for Yongning County, anxious not to miss the next morning’s reception.
"Magistrate Ma, if there’s another chance for promotion, don’t refuse it this time."
The prefect of Ji'an patted Ma Liang’s shoulder amiably.
"This humble official thanks you for your guidance."
At dawn the next day.
Dozens of officials stood in neat rows outside Yongning County’s gates, their eyes fixed on the main road’s exit.
They waited until noon.
Then, Song Yu and Song Shihuan emerged from the muddy path, their legs splattered with dirt. Panting, Song Yu called out:
"Why hasn’t Yongning County even allocated funds to repair its roads?"
"Who is the magistrate here? Step forward!"
