Chapter 180: A sage monarch or a muddled one, Master!

Jiakang City.

Yuwen Yuwen Liqian's party traveled unimpeded along the main official road from the capital city until they reached the post station.

Today is already the third day!

The group had not yet set off for the Prince of Yan's Mansion because Yuwen Yuwen Liqian was waiting for the student delegation from Great Chu.

Yuwen Yuwen Liqian had previously studied at the White Deer Academy in Great Chu, and among those arriving this time was a former teacher of hers.

Aside from Xun Li, a high-ranking official of Great Chu, the delegation also included others.

The leader of the White Deer Academy students was the direct grandson of the Lady Gongsun clan; he had now been promoted to Academic Supervisor of the White Deer Academy and concurrently held the post of Vice Minister of the Ministry of Revenue, his reputation and family background both illustrious for a time.

Yuwen Liqian had no fondness for this person, as his conduct was overly ostentatious.

The teacher he—that is, the one she—respected, though he had studied at the White Deer Academy of Great Chu, came from a humble background, yet possessed a heroic and bold spirit; he was open-minded in his dealings, diligent in his studies, well-versed in current politics, and skilled in poetry, having written several works that had moved all of Great Chu.

However, this man was indifferent to fame and wealth, unwilling to step into the strife of officialdom; after completing his studies, he retired to the countryside, opening a private school to make a living by teaching young children.

Yuwen Yuwen Liqian knew of his talent and, after leaving Great Chu, had personally walked into the alleyways to visit this teacher.

She had wanted him to go to the State of Han to serve as an official, but was refused by him.

Unexpectedly!

This time, when the Great Chu delegation arrived in the Yan territory, the teacher was surprisingly among their ranks.

But thinking about it, it made sense; when the teacher was studying at the White Deer Academy, the figures of the Five States also held this "Grand Guardian of Daqing" in the highest esteem.

On the second day, the delegation from Li Qian Yuan arrived, led by Wu Long, the third Prince of Li Qian Yuan.

Wu Long held immense power in Li Qian Yuan, being the head of the nine pillars of the military, and was deeply trusted by the Empress.

When she had traveled through Li Qian Yuan with the students, she had never even seen this person; she had not expected him to come here, which showed how much Li Qian Yuan valued the Yan territory.

During these three days!

Yuwen Yuwen Liqian did not stay long in the post station, but instead changed into casual clothes and quietly stepped into Jiakang City.

She saw that the common people lived in prosperity, with smiles brimming on their faces.

Walking to the riverside, she saw that the porters at the wharf, in their moments of rest, did not forget to take a break; as they chatted and laughed, their collars were half-open, and underneath, they were actually wearing fine, soft silk.

Yuwen Yuwen Liqian, accompanied by her maid, wove through the bustling main streets; the air on both sides of the official road was fresh, and the drainage beneath the roads was maintained by dedicated personnel.

The horses pulling carts on the road were of many breeds, and there was even the spectacular sight of seven or eight fine steeds pulling a single cart; at first, Yuwen Yuwen Liqian felt surprised, but now she had become accustomed to it.

In the afternoon, Yuwen Yuwen Liqian saw a group of children playing and frolicking in a place called the "Public Garden," their laughter and cheers never-ending.

This "Public Garden" had been built by the City Lord's Mansion at the cost of millions of silver taels, specifically for the common people to gather and play; it contained cooling pavilions to escape the heat, and within the pavilions were various precious flowers and trees, covering a vast area of over a hundred mu.

Yuwen Yuwen Liqian looked at this scene, and a sense of doubt could not help but arise in her heart.

In Jiakang City, where every inch of land was worth an inch of gold, building a place specifically for the common people to play was truly rare; but why?

Looking at the government office of Jiakang City!

It was a completely different scene; the government office buildings were low, and if not for the large characters on the plaque above, it would be hard to recognize it as a government location.

It did not look like the government office of such a large city!

Yuwen Yuwen Liqian was puzzled, so she asked the local merchants for the reason.

"The Prince of Yan has said that the government office need not be tall, lest the common people feel afraid."

Upon hearing this, Yuwen Yuwen Liqian's gaze swept over the simple government office before her, and she compared it in her heart; it was completely different from the government offices in the State of Han.

In the State of Han, government buildings were towering and magnificent, with stone lions at the entrance that looked majestic.

The intention was to make the common people feel awe.

But here, it was based on being close to the people; the two philosophies were poles apart.

The two women continued walking to see the Green Gang at the wharf.

But they did not expect!

This Green Gang hall was actually so large, many times bigger than the government office they had just seen.

There were even seven or eight such halls in this city.

Yuwen Yuwen Liqian, with her maid, stood in the main hall of the Green Gang hall; the roof was made of brilliant glazed tiles, and the tables and chairs were of fragrant yellow wood, crafted with exquisite workmanship.

Lu San, who had blocked their path three days ago, personally received the two, his attitude respectful.

They also saw the portrait hanging in the center of the main hall.

There was no "Heaven, Earth, Sovereign, Kin, Teacher"!

In the main hall, only one portrait was hung.

The person depicted in the painting was a tall and straight young man.

He was slender, draped in a Daoist robe, standing naturally with his left hand behind his back.

His right hand held a scroll of books.

His features were handsome, his expression natural, his gaze directed downward, his eyes filled with gentleness.

Beside him were painted clouds of color, and his whole body was surrounded by an aura of peace.

Yuwen Yuwen Liqian naturally recognized him; in Jiakang City, many merchants and commoners hung this in their homes.

The Prince of Yan, Lu Chen!

Incense smoke curled around it; the person in the portrait was this Prince of Yan in his youth.

The scroll of books in his hand was said to be the "Essentials of Northern Governance" written by the Prince of Yan in a single night.

Yuwen Yuwen Liqian walked out of the Green Gang ancestral hall and stepped onto the road back to the post station; night had quietly fallen, and the lanterns were lit, adorning Jiakang City like a poem or a painting.

"Prin... Miss, look, how beautiful!"

Yuwen Yuwen Liqian was a bit distracted; this Jiakang City seemed completely different from what she had imagined.

The prestige of this Prince of Yan among the common people was simply too high; even her father, who was called a sage monarch in the State of Han, could not reach it.

She heard the maid's exclamation and slowly came back to her senses.

The streets were bustling with noise, decorated with lanterns and colored streamers, lively and extraordinary, as if every corner was filled with a festive atmosphere.

However!

Today was not any specific festival; this sudden liveliness!

Restaurants everywhere were preparing for business.

Fireworks were constantly shooting into the sky.

"What day is it today? It doesn't seem to be a festival, why is it so lively!"

Jiakang City had no curfew; the sound of gongs and drums rose one after another, flower boats shuttled on the river, dancing girls sang and danced, and restaurants and small shops were even more bustling.

People walked out of their homes one after another, and the streets were like they were in the daytime.

Students held poetry gatherings in restaurants, chanting poems and composing couplets; outside, one could only see shadows through the windows.

Yuwen Yuwen Liqian continued forward, the brilliance of the fireworks reflecting on her face; every explosion was accompanied by the cheers of the crowd, as if the whole city was boiling for some upcoming grand event.

The doubt in the maid's heart grew even stronger; she stopped a scholar who was passing by in a hurry, wanting to get to the bottom of it.

The scholar initially showed displeasure, his expression one of annoyance, but seeing that both were beautiful, especially Yuwen Yuwen Liqian who carried an air of nobility,

his expression softened, and he began to explain slowly.

The reason why it was so lively tonight!

It turned out that the Prince of Yan was going to descend from Mount Zhongnan to go to Enter Yanjing, and he would pass through Jiakang City on his way down the mountain.

After hearing this, the maid still felt a bit unconvinced; she retorted:

"That shouldn't cause such a big commotion, right?"

Upon hearing this, the scholar smiled and said:

"Miss, you are mistaken; for the Prince of Yan to descend from Mount Zhongnan is, for the common people of the Yan territory, no less than a matter of the utmost importance."

The maid asked unwillingly:

"But this time, the four-nation delegation is traveling through the Yan territory, and it even includes the Princess of the State of Han; doesn't that count as a big deal?"

Upon hearing this, a strange look flashed in the scholar's eyes; he looked the two women up and down, as if he understood something, and looked at Yuwen Yuwen Liqian, probing:

"Could it be that you, Miss, are from out of town?"

"Miss, why not join the poetry gathering together? If you are appreciated by the Prefect and several other officials tonight, there will be rewards."

Yuwen Yuwen Liqian did not answer, and the two women said goodbye and left.

The scholar looked at Yuwen Yuwen Liqian's departing back, and a trace of lingering attachment could not help but flash in his eyes.

The woman's appearance was no less than that of the top courtesan in a brothel.

The long night was endless, and it was a pity there was no beauty to accompany him.

The scholar was urged by his companions, so he responded and hurried away.

Yuwen Yuwen Liqian and her maid returned to the restaurant arranged by the post station.

The road was full of joyful people, and the restaurant was offering free food today.

At the entrance, the restaurant owner saw that the two women were dressed and looked extraordinary, so he smiled and took the initiative to give them a red envelope.

The maid unwrapped it to find dozens of copper coins, and looking at the owner's warm smile, she thought to herself.

"Who cares about your petty change!"

Yuwen Yuwen Liqian said thank you, walked back to the room in the restaurant, and pushed open the window.

Outside, it was still so lively, with people gathering together to parade through the streets.

Some were holding children, watching people perform iron-flower shows.

Yuwen Yuwen Liqian remembered three days ago, when three carriages were loaded with gold and silver, totaling tens of thousands of taels.

The maid and she also found it unbelievable.

Over the past few days, Yuwen Yuwen Liqian had been almost unable to sleep; what she saw and heard completely overturned her understanding of the Yan territory.

She had originally thought that the reforms in Great Li Qian, Northern Wind, and Great Chu were already astonishing enough, and that the State of Han would not be inferior in comparison.

However!

The scene in the Yan territory made her feel elusive.

On one hand, this place seemed to have no laws, with unruly people rising up, an incompetent government, and a foul atmosphere.

But on the other hand, the common people lived in prosperity, content with their work, and even at night, they did not close their doors.

The two things were clearly incompatible, completely overturning her imagination.

Was such a Yan territory digging its own grave or what?

Fortunately, the teacher from Great Chu would arrive tomorrow, and with his insight, he should be able to clear up her confusion.

Yuwen Yuwen Liqian tossed and turned all night, unable to sleep well.

She dreamed of this Prince of Yan from Mount Zhongnan!

This young Grand Guardian, who had been a general in Daqing and had opened up the Yan territory, was a young hero.

As he grew older, he became obsessed with the arts of longevity, his officials were muddled and incompetent, the people were in dire straits, and finally, the capital was breached by the four nations.

The Yan territory perished!

Mount Zhongnan also ignited with a towering fire, turning into a pile of ashes!

Yuwen Yuwen Liqian slept lightly, and in her daze, she heard the neighing of horses at the restaurant post station, so she woke up from the bed!

The sky was just breaking, revealing the morning light, and she got up to wash.

The maid had already prepared everything and was waiting quietly to the side.

When going downstairs, she vaguely heard voices in the courtyard, and her heart stirred.

She quickened her pace!

Outside the small courtyard, several carriages were parked, and inside the courtyard, several people were chatting!

Among them was Su Su Beihai, the Prefect of Jiakang City from three days ago.

It was indeed the Great Chu delegation!

The middle-aged man chatting with Su Su Beihai was Xun Li, the Minister of Rites of Great Chu.

And beside Xun Li stood an extraordinary noble young master, who was none other than Lady Gongsun Jixia, the grandson of Lady Gongsun Lady Gongsun Zhongshu; the two had met a few times.

As the three chatted, the atmosphere was harmonious.

After Yuwen Yuwen Liqian greeted them, her gaze moved through the crowd.

She saw!

On the last carriage, a rather elderly Confucian scholar finally crawled out of the carriage, unhurriedly, and slowly walked down the carriage steps.

His figure was somewhat thin, his hair was already gray, but it was meticulously groomed; he wore a clean Confucian robe that had been washed until it was somewhat white, his face had deep wrinkles, but a pair of eyes revealed a little sharpness.

It was her teacher, Du Hui.

"Teacher, long time no see!"

Du Hui bowed solemnly and said:

"Du Hui, pays respects to the Princess."

Clan cultivation boutique, highly recommended.

A bit rushed today, didn't write enough, will add a chapter tomorrow!



(End of chapter) ===== CHAPTER 181 =====