Chapter 309: Golden Horses, Scented Chariots, Carved Along the Road—Peace, Joy, and Fortune!

"The esteemed guest from Mount Zhongnan has arrived!"

"We're going to Mount Zhongnan to meet the Shaobao!"

A brief message spread rapidly throughout Jiakangcheng.

The entire city erupted!

Not only did members of the Qing Gang flock there, but more and more commoners came spontaneously.

Along the roadsides, crowds had already swelled into a sea of people, blocking all passage; those who arrived later could only stand at a distance, tiptoeing to catch a glimpse through the gaps in the throng.

The maid, witnessing this scene, could not help but be stunned—she had never seen such a magnificent spectacle.

"Princess, we…"

Yu Wen Lishan herself seemed equally taken aback.

The students behind the carriage were also stunned by the sight before them.

This spectacle was truly enormous!

Even the merchant ships along the river had stopped loading and unloading, all heading to the main city's thoroughfare!

Women from the pleasure houses danced on upper floors.

Singers on painted boats began to sing along the river.

"The Prince of Yan's guest!"

"Heading to Mount Zhongnan!"

Cheers grew ever louder, rolling in like a tidal wave.

Lu San stood respectfully to one side, gesturing with a bow.

Yu Wen Lishan's party thus began their journey.

Along the way, the maid noticed the roadside crowds roaring with joy, their faces radiant with delight.

Gongs and drums thundered, music rose from all sides—a scene of extraordinary festivity.

Children were hoisted on shoulders, yet all they saw was a sea of heads, with no gap in sight.

"Father, who are those people?" The child's voice was soft, brimming with curiosity.

Before the child's eyes were countless jostling heads.

"Father, who is inside that carriage?"

The man replied:

"Boy, they are guests from Mount Zhongnan, going to meet the Prince of Yan."

"If you grow up to amount to something, and one day get to visit Mount Zhongnan and meet the Prince of Yan, that would be the greatest fortune imaginable."

Though the child did not fully grasp the meaning, he nodded solemnly.

To meet the Prince of Yan—glory to one's hometown!

Four carriages moved slowly forward, wheels rumbling, carrying the party steadily into the journey.

Yu Wen Lishan and the maid entered the carriage.

The maid's mood, however, was complex; seated inside, she gazed out at the clamor outside, her brow slightly furrowed.

She was accustomed to the orderly, reverent stillness of Han people standing in silence; this noisy, casual atmosphere in Yan felt alien to her, even disrespectful to the Princess.

It was far removed from the solemn dignity she expected for a princess's procession.

Yu Wen Lishan lifted the carriage window, her beautiful eyes slowly scanning the scene.

The maid spoke angrily beside her:

"Princess, the people of Yan lack all sense of propriety—today's sight proves their reputation is well-deserved."

Yu Wen Lishan said nothing, her gaze resting on the genuine reverence the people of Jiakangcheng held for the Prince of Yan.

She could not help but compare it to her father.

In her deepest memories, when her father traveled, his carriage was majestic, and though the people lined the road to greet him, most wore solemn, joyless faces.

Her father had been deeply displeased, even furious.

Since ancient times, sage emperors have rejoiced with the people!

To please His Majesty, ministers gathered crowds on either side—often dressed in tattered clothes, faces blank and lifeless.

To her, it was mere formalism, masking deep underlying despair.

Han scholars, since ancient times, prided themselves on their integrity; in recent years, they had grown even more arrogant—how could they possibly lower themselves to cheer for an emperor on the street?

Those tattered figures were merely the destitute lower-class poor!

Han's prosperity in recent years had long surpassed that of previous generations.

Yet she had never seen such heartfelt joy from the people!

Yu Wen Lishan studied the crowd again and noticed, to her surprise, many scholars in Confucian robes, elegant and dignified, raising their arms and cheering with equal passion.

Along the roadside, she saw no emaciated or poorly clad figures.

The people were prosperous!

Their eyes shone with spirit!

"Lu Chen?"

What manner of man could he be?

Yu Wen Lishan grew ever more curious about this Prince of Yan.

In Han, there were also Confucian scholars who admired Lu Chen, believing him to be:

"On horseback, a warrior; off horseback, a statesman—unmatched in this age."

"A sovereign of the mountains, whose mere gesture governs the world!"

The praise was not modest.

Yet most Han Confucian scholars opposed him, insisting that only diligent rulers could govern—how could a monarch who neglected state affairs be worthy?

"Inner sage, outer king!"

This was Confucianism's highest praise for an ideal ruler—but in their eyes,

Lu Chen was merely a Daoist!

In Confucian reputation, Lu Chen had gradually been painted as a foolish ruler.

History, it seemed, always confirmed this—emperors who pursued Dao too fervently while ignoring the realm invariably met ruin.

At that moment!

Rain poured down upon the carriage, striking its roof.

Something heavy seemed to pound against the carriage.

A dense, pattering sound!

The maid startled, instantly stepping in front of Yu Wen Lishan:

"Princess, be careful!"

"Assassins! Hidden weapons!"

Though Yu Wen Lishan's heart tightened, she quickly regained her composure.

She sighed with a faint smile: "How could hidden weapons make such a noise? Don't be so alarmed."

Yet!

She quietly lowered the carriage curtain.

After listening to Yu Wen Lishan's reasoning, the maid also found the idea of hidden weapons implausible—the sound outside resembled heavy objects striking the carriage.

No panic stirred among the crowd.

"Could it be those unruly commoners causing trouble?"

The maid's anger flared; she yanked open the curtain—and the sight before her stunned her again.

Yu Wen Lishan was equally curious!

The maid bent low, picked up an object from the carriage floor, her face filled with astonishment!

"Princess, look!"

Yu Wen Lishan gazed slowly—the maid's palm held a piece of metal, warm in hue, soft in texture, exuding nobility.

"Gold!"

At that moment, rain poured heavily against the carriage windows.

The maid lifted the curtain again, cupping both hands to gather items from the floor—like cradling a pool of clear water—filled not only with gold, but also silver and a dazzling array of bracelets and ornaments!

"Princess, this… this is what's happening?"

The maid's voice trembled, unable to believe what she saw.

Just as the two were still bewildered, the carriage behind them erupted in excited shouts.

"Found gold! Look, over there!" The cries pierced the rain, reaching inside the carriage.

Clearly, the carriages behind had received the same "treatment."

Yu Wen Lishan could wait no longer—she pulled open the window.

What she saw:

Along both sides of the road, many commoners were tossing objects—upon closer look, all were gold, silver, and valuables.

The pounding on the carriage was not hidden weapons—it was gold and silver jewelry.

Some copper coins were thrown too, but only by children.

Every face in the crowd beamed with joy.

Cheers from both sides of the road never ceased!

The sound of objects crashing onto the carriage echoed continuously along the way!

The driver's platform was already piled high!

The three carriages behind were the same, their students overflowing with excitement.

Not long after!

The carriage continued forward, but its speed had slowed considerably.

The wheels grew heavy from the weight of too much gold and silver, and the horses showed clear signs of exhaustion.

Seeing this, Su Beihai had no choice but to order his guards to stop the commoners from throwing more, yet the crowds on both sides remained fervent, laughter and cheers unceasing.

Su Beihai helplessly ordered the guards beside him to intervene, but the flow of offerings along both roads showed no sign of stopping.

Yu Ke watched this, slowly lowering the carriage curtain, his face gradually going slack with shock.

Fine horses and fragrant carriages lined the road, laughter ringing everywhere, gold and silver cast in abundance until the carriages overflowed.

The luxurious carriage passed down fragrant streets, the surrounding lanes alive with merriment, as the people threw so much gold and silver that the carriages were stuffed to bursting.

Inside the carriage!

Yu Ke bowed his head in silence.

The maid stared at the piles of gold and silver at her feet, her face filled with disbelief.

Outside the window.

Along both sides of the road, laughter rang sweetly.

(End of Chapter)