Outside the city gates, several burly men squatted in a corner, whispering among themselves as they ate the porridge and steamed buns they had received.
“Big Brother, Xin’an City is really something. We don’t have to do anything, yet we can get porridge every day. It’s even better than what we used to eat.”
“Exactly. This isn’t ordinary rice porridge, either. There’s lean meat and vegetables in it, and, best of all, salt. It gives you strength. I wonder how many more days they’ll keep handing it out.”
The leader sighed. “It definitely won’t last forever. But compared to other places, this one is countless times better. There’s no entrance fee, either, and anyone who wants to leave doesn’t have to take a detour. Xin’an really is a good place. If only we could stay…”
Many refugees, like them, had gathered in groups and were quietly discussing the matter. They had fled here from all over the place. Some were merely passing through and intended to continue onward, while others wanted to stay.
Just then, Nanxing’s voice rang out. “Folks, tomorrow will be the last day we distribute porridge. Our Commandery Princess has said that from then on, anyone who wants to eat will have to work for it. Men, women, young, and old alike.”
As soon as she finished speaking, the crowd erupted, and everyone began whispering among themselves again.
A woman could not hold back her excitement. “As long as we work, we’ll be given food?”
Nanxing smiled and nodded. “Yes. The Commandery Princess is kindhearted. As long as you work, you’ll be given food. If you’re willing, come tomorrow to register. Someone will arrange a place for each of you.”
After so many days of receiving porridge, even those in the poorest health had regained their strength from eating their fill every day. Those who wanted to leave would naturally go, while those who stayed either had nowhere else to go or had no money to continue their journey.
As long as they were willing to work hard, they still had a way to survive.
Nanxing was certain that if these people worked diligently, Xi Qingyue would definitely arrange new household registrations for them and allow them to settle in Xin’an County.
But she would not say that aloud. She had not even mentioned the other benefits of staying to work. Those who could not endure hardship would naturally leave.
The burly man who had sighed moments earlier now wore an expression of delight. If working meant they could eat their fill, then they could stay here. To them, that was a blessing from heaven.
An old man who had been abandoned by his family excitedly wiped away his tears. Though he was old, he still had some strength left. If working meant he could eat his fill, then he could enjoy a few more days with a full stomach.
Many people felt the same way. Receiving porridge was only a temporary arrangement, and they were constantly afraid that the food might be gone the next day. If they could exchange their labor for food, they would no longer have to live in fear.
Amid the crowd, several people pressed their heads together and whispered for a while. Then a thin-faced man shouted loudly, “If we don’t eat, where are we supposed to get the strength to work? We need to eat our fill before we can work! Isn’t making us work before feeding us putting the cart before the horse?”
Nanxing glanced toward the group. A trace of mockery appeared at the corner of her lips. “No strength? Your voice sounds full of energy to me. You don’t look like someone who lacks strength. Besides, you look familiar. You’ve been coming here for porridge for more than a day or two, haven’t you? Did all the porridge and steamed buns you ate before go into a dog’s belly?”
The thin-faced man’s face flushed red with anger after being compared to a dog. He was about to argue, but when he saw the cold look in Nanxing’s eyes, he was too frightened to say anything and quickly lowered his head.
Nanxing did not bother with him any further. With so many people around, there were bound to be a few with impure motives. As long as they had no intention of harming anyone, that was enough.
She swept her gaze across the crowd and spoke in a clear voice. “If any of you are scholars or have passed the county-level examination, you may also go to the county office and work for the Commandery Princess. Those who are selected can be settled directly in Xin’an City. Of course, anyone who knows medicine, can cook, or has any other kind of skill may also register at the county office. As long as you pass the assessment, you can stay.”
At those words, the crowd became lively once again. Many women began to show interest, while some frail scholars traveling with their families also brightened visibly.
Seeing their reactions, Nanxing smiled faintly. It was certainly right to recruit more cooks. They could prepare food for the two Commandery Princesses while also giving these people a means of earning a living.
More importantly, they could assign some of them to places such as the teahouse to prepare food. The pastries in Shifang Teahouse—now renamed Moonlan Teahouse—were already being made by cooks who had recently arrived.
Inside the county office, Xi Weilan was happily riding her little electric vehicle around in circles.
Xi Qingyue watched her delighted expression and smiled as well. It was about time they found her a teacher.
A quarter of an hour later, Xi Weilan stopped beside her, grinning brightly. “Elder Sister, I’m done playing. It’s time for sword practice.”
Xi Qingyue smiled and nodded. “All right. Let’s go.”
She then led Xi Weilan to begin their daily sword practice.
Meanwhile, in Xuanzhou—
Prince Kang and Princess Kang had also returned to Xuanzhou, but they had done so quietly and had not moved into Prince Kang’s residence.
Prince Kang was unusually afraid of death. Even though Bai Ruoshu had arrived, he still had to make sure the area was safe before meeting her.
The spy he had sent to Xin’an returned to Xuanzhou at that very moment, bringing back news that the Ninth Prince was dead.
Upon hearing the report, Prince Kang was overwhelmed with excitement.
He paced back and forth in the room, thinking to himself, “Excellent! Old Nine died in Xin’an City. Now Wenqing won’t be able to escape responsibility, and Lu Jinshuang won’t be able to clear her name, either. Xi Qingyue is a Commandery Princess personally appointed by Father Emperor, yet this emperor is old and senile. As his son, I naturally have to help him rid himself of the evil influences around him.”
His spirits had never been higher. He could hardly wait to make his move. Who knew what changes might occur if he delayed? At present, he had an excellent excuse to send out troops.
He looked at the spy and asked again, “What about Nightshadow? Does he know that you also went to Xin’an?”
“Your Highness, Nightshadow doesn’t know. At the time, I was afraid he would discover me, so I stayed at an inconspicuous inn. After seeing the Ninth Prince’s corpse, I immediately left the city. No one knows that I went there.”
Prince Kang nodded in satisfaction. “Very good. You did well. Go collect your reward.”
This man was both the spy Prince Kang had arranged and another assassin. If Nightshadow failed or was severely injured but survived, this man was to finish the job. Now that the Ninth Prince was dead, Prince Kang only had to wait for Nightshadow to steal back the hidden weapon.
“Thank you for the reward, Your Highness!”
The man happily withdrew.
As soon as he left, Nanny Liu arrived at Prince Kang’s courtyard.
“Your Highness, when will you meet Miss Ruoshu? Shall this old servant bring her here?”
Prince Kang considered the matter before finally replying, “Bring her here. Since she has come, there’s no need for her to leave again. She doesn’t need to return to the Duke of State’s residence.”
As he spoke, a smug look appeared on his face.
He was about to raise an army, so naturally he no longer needed to worry about the Duke of State’s family’s reputation. Bai Ruoshu was his cousin, and keeping her here seemed perfectly reasonable.
Nanny Liu hesitated before asking softly, “Your Highness, what about Song Qian? Should we bring him here as well?”
The moment he heard Song Qian’s name, Prince Kang’s expression changed completely. “Why bring that little bastard here? If I hadn’t taken the bigger picture into consideration back then, I would have had both him and his father executed long ago. And now he dares come to my territory? He really is courting death.”
Nanny Liu did not dare say a word. Prince Kang’s temper was so unpredictable that she truly did not want to ask the question, yet she had no choice.
It would have been better if Bai Ruoshu had died back then. But not only had she survived, she had also borne a child with another man. Prince Kang considered it a humiliation, despite the fact that he himself had caused it.
Nanny Liu kept her head bowed and waited for quite some time before finally hearing Prince Kang’s voice, cold as ice.
“Bring Song Qian along as well. Have someone take him to play by the pond in the estate. A child accidentally falling into the water is perfectly normal, isn’t it?”
