[Fantasy] The Rogue Landlord (Complete) - Chapter 14

Chapter Three: Poverty, Poverty

Zhang Qinghe cautiously glanced at Xu Ping's face before nodding and saying, "Indeed, Yu Qing also risked his life this time. However, according to his private complaints to this servant, he is now facing a life-threatening situation, unable to take even a small step smoothly."

"Understood!" Xu Ping's face was extremely dark, and he slammed his hand on the table in anger, causing the solid mahogany square table to immediately shatter into wood chips with a loud bang.

"This servant is incompetent!" Zhang Qinghe was so frightened that he knelt down again.

Xu Ping didn't say anything to him, but coldly said, "Zhao Ling, bring the imperial fan from my room."

Zhao Ling had been waiting behind the screen, and seeing her beloved husband's unprecedented anger, she felt uneasy. She immediately ran to Xu Ping's room, respectfully kowtowed nine times, and then carefully picked up the imperial fan from under the portrait of Emperor Zhu Yuanzhang, running over without stopping.

Xu Ping took the fan, waved for her to leave, and stood up solemnly. He slowly removed the silk cover and opened the jade fan. After examining it for a moment with a grave expression, silently muttering a few words to himself, he said sternly, "Zhang Qinghe, stand up!" "Yes!" Although Zhang Qinghe was somewhat frightened, he immediately straightened up.

Xu Ping handed the fan over, saying in a somewhat cold tone, "The fan of the founding emperor, now temporarily bestowed upon you."

Zhang Qinghe's legs went weak with fear. This was an object used in the founding sacrifices to Heaven; holding it was practically equivalent to having the power to rival an imperial edict. It meant that any official who saw it would be executed first and reported later. He hurriedly knelt down, but dared not reach out to take it. This fan was far too significant; even a high-ranking official would have to kneel and kowtow three times upon seeing it.

"Regarding the Ministry of Commerce,

we'll proceed as needed." Xu Ping tried to calm himself down, but his face was still contorted with rage as he gritted his teeth and said, "Anyone who obstructs us, even those of the highest rank in the court, can be executed without prior notification."

Zhang Qinghe, seeing this, knew his master's determination to support the Ministry of Commerce, and his heart pounded with excitement. His hands trembling, he respectfully took the imperial fan from Xu Ping, raised his hands high, and kowtowed nine times before daring to stand.

Zhang Qinghe naturally didn't dare open the fan to see what it was, but with such firm support, he could act with greater freedom. Just thinking that the fan in his hand belonged to the ancestral emperor made his heart race with excitement, his blood pressure surging, and he felt dizzy.

Zhang Qinghe barely managed to keep himself from fainting. He took a deep breath to calm himself, then his expression turned serious as he resolutely swore, "With the Emperor's fan in hand, this servant Zhang Qinghe swears never to tarnish its majesty. If the Ministry of Commerce fails to take shape within half a month, this servant will have his entire family commit suicide to atone for their sins."

"Go!" Xu Ping was quite satisfied with his attitude and waved his hand, saying, "Hanging the imperial fan in the Ministry of Commerce is tantamount to treason for any troublemakers."

"This servant obeys."

Even the usually refined Zhang Qinghe's face now showed a fierce glint. This was tantamount to saying that if any stubborn old men from the Ministry of Rites came to cause trouble, he could kill a few to show the world.

After he withdrew, Zhao Ling walked out somewhat tremblingly, her pretty face full of worry. She had wanted to ask if it was inappropriate to bestow the Emperor's gifts upon a commoner, but then she realized it wasn't something a woman like herself should ask, so she immediately swallowed her curiosity. She went up to pour Xu Ping a cup of tea and said softly, "Brother Ping, calm down!" "Mm!" Xu Ping took a sip of tea, gently took her small hand, and said softly, "Ling'er, are you tired? You should rest too!" "Ling'er isn't tired."

Zhao Ling walked behind Xu Ping and gently pressed her small hand on his shoulder, saying tenderly, "It's just that Brother Ping is angry, and it breaks Ling'er's heart."

"It's alright, silly girl."

Xu Ping looked at her affectionately. It took great courage for a woman of this era to go out and show her face like this. Even though everyone knew she was the Crown Prince's woman, she couldn't avoid being criticized.

While gently serving her lover, Zhao Ling's eyes darted around. After a while, she tentatively said, "Brother Ping, Ling'er did some accounting yesterday."

"Go ahead and tell me!" Xu Ping sighed inwardly.

Zhao Ling looked troubled and said, "Ling'er knows that a woman like me shouldn't interfere, but almost all the money the distillery hands over goes to the Ministry of Works. Although these craftsmen don't ask for much, with so many people gathered together, the cost of food, sleep, and the tools they need, even if you add it all up, is staggering!" "I know!" Xu Ping's head started to ache again at the mention of money, and he asked weakly, "Ling'er, is there any good way to make money? Your brother Ping is so poor he's practically pawning his pants. Now, when I pass by a slaughterhouse, I even think about how much money I could get by selling myself!" Zhao Ling couldn't help but chuckle, looking at Xu Ping with tenderness. After thinking seriously for a while, she said timidly, "Brother Ping, Ling'er does have an idea, but I'm afraid you'll be angry."

"What idea? Tell me!" Xu Ping chuckled and pulled her small hand to his face, giving it a loving kiss. Her once delicate, jade-like fingers had become stronger and thinner. This adorable little girl had really worn herself out for him.

Seeing Xu Ping in such a good mood, Zhao Ling couldn't help but playfully say, "You have to promise me you won't be angry, okay?"

"Okay, okay!" Xu Ping reached out and pulled her into his arms, affectionately stroking her delicate nose as he said with a soft smile, "Okay, I won't be angry no matter what you say. Even if you say the best solution is for me to sell myself, that's fine too, okay?" "You're so annoying..." Zhao Ling hesitated for a moment, but still lingered in her lover's embrace, giving a coquettish sigh before saying, "Brother Ping, actually, after the winery was established, my own feeling is that although the quality is good, the main reason people are willing to pay is because this wine is a government-supplied wine. With that title, people will buy it no matter how much money they have. If it weren't for that, I don't think anyone would spend so much money just to get drunk on this wine."

Xu Ping had only intended to tease her, but upon hearing this, his eyes lit up. Why hadn't he thought of this? All luxury goods are luxurious because of their background; the more expensive they are, the more people will buy them. If the price is cheap, they really aren't high-end anymore.

Xu Ping's mind immediately started racing, but he still asked her first, "Ling'er, what good ideas do you have?" Zhao Ling was delighted that her beloved would actually ask her. She knew that in those days, women's status was actually very low; men didn't usually ask women what they thought when they did things. Men as gentle and considerate as Xu Ping were even rarer, so Zhao Ling always felt she was living a very sweet life. However, she quickly told herself not to let her mind wander; helping her beloved share his burdens was what truly mattered.

"Brother Ping!" Zhao Ling thought for a while, then said sweetly, "Actually, I don't think it's that complicated. We can consider everything from clothing and food to housing and transportation, and even jewelry and jade. As long as it's branded as royal, even a bottle of vinegar can fetch a high price. If the Imperial Workshops can cooperate and source goods from us, it's actually quite simple to operate."

"You little devil!" Xu Ping laughed heartily, unable to resist giving her a deep kiss on the cheek. He excitedly lowered the little beauty in his arms, and amidst her soft moans, kissed her delicate, sweet lips, his tongue immediately and intensely seeking out the sweet flavor.

"Mmm..." Zhao Ling groaned softly, shyly closing her beautiful eyes in response to her lover's passionate kiss, feeling so happy she almost fainted.

After kissing the beautiful woman until her body went limp, Xu Ping leered and pressed his hands against her breasts, kneading them as he said, "Little Ling'er, you are truly my virtuous wife!" "Brother Ping!" Zhao Ling murmured happily, her eyes filled with tears as she looked at Xu Ping, biting her lip, her face slightly flushed with desire, looking at him expectantly.

It's hardest to resist the kindness of a beautiful woman! Xu Ping couldn't resist that captivating gaze. They had been separated for many days, and now that she was so actively hinting at something, what was he waiting for? He swept her light body up in his arms and carried her into the house. After closing the door, he impatiently tossed her onto the bed.

"No, now..." Zhao Ling still tried to struggle, but her body was pressed down and her mouth was blocked, and she immediately lost her strength. Her clothes were stripped off piece by piece, revealing her delicate body, as smooth as mutton-fat jade.

Xu Ping breathed heavily, his large hands roaming over her entire body, his passionate kisses constantly teasing her sensitive areas. As Zhao Ling writhed restlessly, moaning softly, he removed all his clothes, gently possessing this beautiful body full of youthful vitality once again.

Zhao Ling groaned in satisfaction, and immediately became entangled with Xu Ping, their two white bodies beginning to writhe rhythmically.

Soft moans rang out, her skin whiter than snow. Xu Ping tenderly pampered the obedient beauty beneath him, gently thrusting again and again to the deepest part of her body.

"Ah... Brother Ping... No, I can't take it anymore..." Even the usually shy Zhao Ling was drenched in sweat, her body trembling as she reached her third climax. It seemed too intense; her eyes rolled back, and she fainted from bliss, panting heavily, her round breasts heaving.

Xu Ping didn't want to leave her bedridden; otherwise, how could the little girl have the energy to help him make money? Even though he hadn't ejaculated yet, he stopped, whispering sweet nothings to her while lovingly caressing the girl's uniquely elastic body.

He told her to rest well before getting up, putting on some simple clothes, and leaving the house. Although he wanted to sleep with her, his mind was too preoccupied to fall asleep.

When he reached the outside, the crescent moon was already high in the sky. Xu Ping took a breath of the fresh, unpolluted air, feeling the afternoon's heat dissipate considerably, and leisurely strolled to the back garden.

Uncle Liu was tending to his flowers and plants when he saw Xu Ping approaching. He immediately came forward with a smile and said, "Master, what brings you here? I heard you were angry earlier, but you seem to be in a much better mood now!" "Yes!" Xu Ping sighed deeply. Compared to the tedious tasks at hand, both manpower and funds were severely lacking. If he were to let Zhao Ling add some other businesses, it would inevitably mean that some of the recruited staff and people from the manor would be taken away.

Xu Ping mentally counted the available personnel, and they were already almost stretched thin. The Ministry of Works always rushed its fundraising, and these slowly gathering craftsmen would definitely need someone to manage them. In the past few days, even the deputy head steward Xiao, who was in charge of the servants, and another accountant had been taken away by her, forcing Uncle Liu, at his advanced age, to temporarily fill the vacancies with his pen.

Xu Ping sighed with a bitter face, and asked weakly, "Uncle Liu, it seems that everyone selected last time has been put to use. Aren't there a few people who can be used even if we have to?" Uncle Liu knew his master's current predicament. Almost everyone in the manor with any ability was gone, and now they were practically using the pigs and cattle in the backyard as servants. Randomly recruited people weren't safe, and even the scholars recruited from the teahouse were being investigated by Zhang Hu, as it was still a sensitive time.

After thinking for a moment, he suddenly clapped his hands and said, "There's another scholar named Guo Ziwen. Sun Zhengnong said that although he's intelligent, he's a bit rigid. He'd be okay for managing internal affairs, so we reluctantly kept him. However, he's from the capital, so he doesn't live in the manor."

"Rigid, rigid! Call him over

," Xu Ping muttered to himself. As long as his background was clean, having someone to use was better than having no one. At most, he'd have to put in some effort to brainwash him, and if all else failed, he could just have him as an accountant.

After Uncle Liu instructed the servants to leave, the two strolled in the garden for a while, Xu Ping's mind preoccupied with other matters. Uncle Liu, knowing he couldn't help, remained silent. They sat down on a stone bench.

Xu Ping then remembered Zhang Yulong's matter and quickly asked, "By the way, how are Lin Wei and Sun Zhengnong's affairs in Yunnan going?" Uncle Liu sighed, shaking his head, and said, "Zhang Yulong has been operating there for over ten years. His local influence and official connections are as solid as an iron barrel. Coupled with the support of various local ethnic groups, Lin Wei is now facing a very difficult situation. Even Sun Zhengnong says he doesn't know where to begin."

"How could this be?" Xu Ping asked, somewhat surprised. "Wasn't Zhang Yulong temporarily detained in Beijing? Why can't Yunnan take action?" Uncle Liu smiled bitterly and said, "This is actually quite normal. Even though Zhang Yulong is being held here, he probably can tell it's intentional. The letter has likely already reached his trusted confidants in Yunnan. To save his life, he'll definitely gravitate further towards Ji Long. After all, although Yunnan has been a wild and untamed land since ancient times, its people are exceptionally fierce. If Ji Long rebels, wouldn't the northwest corner be able to echo Beijing?" Xu Ping was speechless for a moment, and lowered his head in self-reproach. He had been too confident; this step was tantamount to reminding Ji Long that they were already on guard against him. Although Uncle Liu didn't say it aloud, the implication was that he had placed too much importance on Cheng Ningxue, a commoner, and that sending Lin Wei to Yunnan rashly was a mistake.

Uncle Liu immediately saw Xu Ping's self-blame. Although he felt it wasn't worth doing this for an ordinary woman, he still gently comforted him, saying, "Master, please don't blame yourself. This old servant thinks this is a case of mistaken identity. Since Lin Wei and Sun Zhengnong can't get their hands on this, then they might as well not try."

"But we've already alerted them!" Xu Ping said with a wry smile, perhaps he had acted too emotionally.

Uncle Liu shook his head and said seriously, "It doesn't matter. I don't believe Ji Long would think we have no precautions against him. This is just premature exposure. Since Lin Wei and Sun Zhengnong can no longer be secretly won over there, let them settle down in the south. Even if they can't control the situation, at least they can provide intelligence!" "That's the only way!" Xu Ping's mood was very low. He knew this was just Uncle Liu's words of comfort. He shook his head and said, "I'll leave this to you. I was careless about the Yunnan matter."

"Master!" Uncle Liu stood up with a serious face, bowed, and said with a hint of malice, "Since we can't see it openly, we can create some commotion there. We can't let everything be too quiet!" "What do you mean?" Xu Ping was full of doubt, but he had guessed a little.

"Assassinate a few, let them get nervous!" A fierce glint suddenly flashed in Uncle Liu's cloudy eyes.

Xu Ping thought for a moment, then nodded in agreement, saying, "Let's do it this way. At least it will keep them in chaos for a while."

"This old servant will arrange it immediately!" Uncle Liu bowed respectfully.

At this moment, a maid led in a scholar dressed in pristine white robes. Seeing the two discussing matters, he respectfully waited at a distance.

Upon seeing the newcomer, Xu Ping didn't say much, but directly asked, "How is Zhang Yulong doing now?" "His Majesty favors him, and he's staying in the capital for sightseeing. However, he seems to be suffering from some acclimatization issues!" Uncle Liu said slowly.

Xu Ping knew this was only a temporary measure; keeping him in Yunnan temporarily, leaving the region leaderless, was for the best. However, judging from Uncle Liu's words, it seemed he intended to poison him; he wondered if it would be effective. However, he still pretended to be serious and said, "Oh, Zhang Yulong has worked so hard for the country for so many years, it's only right that Father rewards him however he pleases!" Xu Ping said this seriously while cursing in his heart: "Damn it, I wish I could give you arsenic, bleach, melamine, and Sudan Red. And I wish I could give you Sister Furong and Brother Chun to share a wedding night. Damn it, what's wrong with being a high-ranking official with three wives and four concubines, and being impotent every night? Not rebelling, but rebelling my ass!

" "Your Highness, shouldn't we get Hong Shun out of here?" Uncle Liu asked tentatively. After thinking about it, since they were so short of people, the first person they would definitely think of was this fierce man who dared to strip several old scholars from the Ministry of Rites naked.

Xu Ping from the Ministry of Rites gritted his teeth with hatred when he thought of the Ministry of Rites. Although Zhang Xuwen had been killed, the Ministry of Rites did not have a new Minister at this time, and everyone was even more passionate about crying, making a scene, and threatening suicide. It was estimated that all the officials, eunuchs, and palace maids in the court would avoid these old bastards. Damn it, I'll find a chance to drag them all to the sea to fill in the land. Those guys are fucking bastards.

Although Hong Shun had helped him vent his anger, Xu Ping still shook his head after thinking for a moment and said, "Forget it, let him stay locked up for a few more days!" "Then this old servant will take his leave!" Uncle Liu bowed and went to arrange things.

"Your Highness, it's hot, please have some fruit to cool off."

As soon as Uncle Liu left, Yao Lu swayed gracefully and walked over with a smile. Although she was a maid in the mansion, everyone knew that she was brought back by her master, so no one really treated her like a maid.

A glint flashed in Xu Ping's eyes, and he immediately smiled and said, "Put her down, go and call Guo Ziwen over."

"Yes!" Yao Lu bowed gently and walked away with a somewhat disappointed expression.

Xu Ping sneered at her back. What kind of era is this, still using a beauty trap? Once I figure out what you're made of, I'll strip you naked and hang you on the city wall, and let you see how much your stinking body is really worth.

Xu Ping sipped his tea slowly, his mind racing. His father was also in a bind; famine was raging in Hebei and Zhili, and more and more refugees were flocking to the capital. Compared to the city's dazzling lights and decadent lifestyle, the area outside the city was like a locust swarm, devouring everything imaginable, even looting nearby villages.

The court currently couldn't afford disaster relief, and Xu Ping feared his father might turn his attention here. He himself was nearly bankrupt; where would he find the spare money to help his father? But if this continued, it would inevitably lead to chaos, which was the most difficult part, as hungry people were easily incited. Thinking it over

, if he were Ji Long, he could also use these people to create some chaos for the court. However, he figured Ji Long wouldn't be willing to part with such a sum of money, and Xu Ping couldn't help but shake his head and smile. This guy was also desperate for weapons and supplies if he wanted to rebel; he was probably as poor as he was now, even considering selling himself.

Guo Ziwen slowly walked over. He was about 1.6 meters tall, with a fair complexion and a graceful yet slightly nervous demeanor. Xu Ping glanced at him. "Hmph, a fake!" He clearly possessed a girlish fragility; no Adam's apple, and worse, pierced ears. These days, a man with pierced ears was considered a great disgrace, and to try and deceive people was to be so unprofessional.

"This humble subject, Guo Ziwen, greets Your Highness the Crown Prince!" Guo Ziwen knelt, offering a solemn greeting. Although he deliberately made his voice a little deeper, it wasn't hard to detect the pure, feminine quality.

Didn't anyone notice this shoddy cross-dressing? Are these people blind?! Xu Ping cursed inwardly, but his face remained impassive as he asked, "You're Guo Ziwen. Why didn't you move to the Crown Prince's residence with the other talented scholars? Is it because my humble abode is beneath your notice?" "I wouldn't dare," Guo Ziwen replied, "I simply find the inn more comfortable. While the Crown Prince's residence isn't exceptionally luxurious, its layout is exquisite, and the flowers and trees are tastefully arranged. I fear I might be disrespecting such a fine place, so I dared not stay."

Guo Ziwen was startled by the seemingly lazy Crown Prince's sudden accusation and quickly answered cleverly.

"Hmph, that's not up to you. You came to take my exam and then refused to follow my instructions. What do you take this place for?" Xu Ping, wanting to vent his frustration and also curious about this woman disguised as a man, continued his intimidation.

"This humble subject had no such intention, Your Highness, please investigate thoroughly!" Guo Ziwen seemed nervous, but not in the way one might expect from a commoner meeting a high-ranking official.

Xiao Mi approached at this moment, lighting incense to repel mosquitoes.

"Rise, Guo Ziwen! You know about Hong Shun's matter, right? Tell me your opinion."

Xu Ping stretched his shoulders, which were a little sore, and Xiao Mi immediately and cleverly stepped forward to massage her master. Her small hands applied just the right amount of pressure, making Xu Ping close his eyes in comfort.

Guo Ziwen seemed slightly indignant, speaking frankly, "Your Highness, this humble subject thinks Hong Shun's words are reasonable, but he is utterly lacking in social graces. To disrespect the scholars of the Ministry of Rites in public is truly an insult to scholarship. He has earned the wrath of scholars throughout the land, and his imprisonment is entirely his own fault."

"Oh, what would you do in that situation?" Xu Ping felt she wasn't so rigid; she was probably just inexperienced.

Guo Ziwen thought for a moment, then slowly said, "If I were to handle this matter, the first thing I would do is appease those old scholars. Then I would take them aside and explain the reasons. I think with their knowledge and character, they should understand."

Damn, what's the point of doing that? You really haven't seen what those stubborn old scoundrels are like. Talking about character? What's the use of talking to them about this stuff that comes out of their anus? I really misjudged this girl; she's incredibly rigid, extremely rigid! Completely brainless.

Thinking of this, Xu Ping couldn't help but angrily curse, "What kind of books have you read? People have come to our door to cause trouble, and you're still spouting nonsense about reason. Hong Shun's actions were indeed a bit excessive, but they did curb the situation that was unfavorable to the Ministry of Works. On the contrary, your actions will only make those old guys who come to cause trouble and gain fame even more emboldened. You should know that this is my territory. If they cause trouble like this, and I don't use some methods, if word gets out, what if a bunch of hypocritical guys come here to hang themselves and cry? What if they all cause trouble here?" "You're ignorant, commoner,"

Guo Ziwen said, but it was clear that he was somewhat unconvinced by Xu Ping's statement. Xu Ping took in her expression and sneered, "Do you really think the world is only at peace because of these people's nagging?" "Your Highness!" Guo Ziwen bowed respectfully, her face showing a hint of contempt. "Since ancient times, our ancestors have followed the teachings of Confucius and Mencius; half of the Analects can govern a country. Countless rulers have followed this example. Does Your Highness think it's wrong to educate people?" Xu Ping was utterly disappointed in her. Another bookworm, a bookworm who only knows books. Why not just die from reading? If it weren't for her figure and face, which should be considered beautiful, she would have been sent to a brothel long ago—at least she would have made some contribution to society.

"Xiao Mi, come here!" Xu Ping thought for a moment, then beckoned Xiao Mi over and whispered a few words in her ear.

"Really?" Xiao Mi's eyes widened in surprise, and she asked uncertainly.

"Go!" Xu Ping waved his hand. Although Xiao Mi hesitated and looked uneasy, she obediently nodded and went out.

Guo Ziwen was curious about what the two were whispering, but she couldn't hear anything. After Xiao Mi left, Xu Ping suddenly changed his expression of disgust towards these stubborn people, stood up and said gently, "Let's go, let's go for a walk."

"A walk?" Guo Ziwen was dumbfounded. It was already dark, and they wanted to go for a walk? At this moment, Xu Ping's gentle smile looked so lewd.

"Yes, a walk!" Xu Ping said and left first. Guo Ziwen hesitated for a moment, but still followed. After leaving the mansion, Xu Ping led her to the carriage one after the other. Without stopping, they went straight to the south gate. After Zhang Hu showed his token, the guards immediately opened the city gate, which had been closed for half a month. Although it was already quite late at night, it was not dark outside the city.

Because the south of the city had many dilapidated temples and abandoned houses, and consisted of vast stretches of flat land, this was where the largest number of refugees gathered. Scattered fires dotted the hillsides, and the starving refugees huddled in small groups, listlessly trying to keep warm around the firewood. Even in August, the biting chill of the night was unbearable.

At Xu Ping's signal, the carriage quietly avoided the area with the most fires and stopped in a dark corner. This attracted the attention of some refugees, who, disheveled and filthy, glanced at it listlessly before lying down again.

In the capital, things were relatively better; occasionally, kind-hearted wealthy people would regularly send them leftovers. Although it was just scraps, it was a life-sustaining delicacy for them. Some would even turn half a bowl of rice into five bowls of porridge to save as many lives as possible.

They were all dizzy with hunger. The adults were weak and listless, and the children were skin and bones, crying on empty stomachs. The surroundings were deathly still; in such an environment, survival was paramount, and speaking seemed like a waste of energy.

Some people ate a dozen or more dishes with their meals, throwing away any leftovers. Here, however, even chicken husks were considered treasures—a stark contrast to the squalor of the wealthy.

Xu Ping got out of the car and looked at the scene with a grave expression. Although they were on a hillside, the refugees stretched out like endless fields of wildflowers, with tiny fires dotting the landscape, seemingly without end. He estimated there were at least 100,000 people.

Sighing, Xu Ping approached Guo Ziwen's car. Her face was filled with confusion and sorrow, as if suffocated by the oppressive atmosphere. Tens of thousands of refugees had gathered there, yet the silence was eerie and almost unbearable.

"Do you see them?" Xu Ping asked, looking at them, his heart heavy, his voice lacking any spirit.

Guo Ziwen knew there were many refugees gathered in the capital, but she hadn't expected so many at the South Gate alone. Their ashen faces evoked a sense of desolation. Her legs instinctively went weak, and she reached for a tree, only to find it smooth. Turning around, she was stunned. The entire tree was devoid of leaves; the thick bark had been gnawed away, leaving only a white trunk.

Xu Ping snorted coldly and said, "Is that so strange? They should be satisfied with tree bark to eat."

Although Guo Ziwen also felt heavy-hearted, he stubbornly said, "This humble subject knows the disaster is serious, but I wonder what Your Highness's purpose in bringing me here?"

"Nothing!" Xu Ping's smile was somewhat sinister and helpless as he said, "I just came to show you whether your Confucian doctrines can save them."

Guo Ziwen didn't know what Xu Ping was up to, but seeing him turn his back and remain silent, he could only stand behind him curiously and watch.

Zhang Hu stepped forward and sighed with deep emotion, saying, "Every day, at least one or two hundred corpses are dragged away from here! But few died of starvation; most died from hunger, cold, and disease. To prevent a large-scale outbreak of plague and cholera, the imperial court sends people to gather them together and burn them every day on the desolate mountains outside the city!" Xu Ping looked at the deathly silence before him and muttered to himself, "Between the city and the outside, there's a wall separating one a paradise on earth, a place of hedonistic indulgence; and another a ten-mile-long hell, where people die every day. Don't you find that strange?"

Guo Ziwen was bewildered, unsure how to answer.

Xu Ping sneered, his tone slightly mocking, "The Ministry of Rites are all living off their salaries, acting like 'knowledgeable men.' I can count on one hand the number of people who actually help them when they have spare change, yet they all hypocritically cry and complain. Today, I'll show you what good those principles are."

"Master!" Zhang Hu suddenly warned him warily.

Guo Ziwen followed his gaze and was horrified. Not far behind them, a large pot was simmering something, and several men with cold, gleaming eyes were greedily eyeing them, seemingly eyeing the two men's fine clothes and wanting to rob them.

Upon closer inspection, the pot was boiling human hands! Guo Ziwen's head throbbed, and he couldn't help but vomit violently, bending over.

Xu Ping was also extremely disgusted; it was the first time he had ever seen cannibalism. Stomach acid seemed to rise to his throat, but at this moment, besides disgust, he felt mostly sorrow. Seeing this hell on earth, you couldn't condemn them. Especially with children in the laps of the women sitting around, greedily eyeing the human flesh in the pot—what could one say?

Zhang Hu didn't seem too frightened, explaining with a sorrowful expression, "This isn't a scene unique to this place, all for the sake of survival. The imperial court takes the corpses away and burns them, but sometimes they secretly bury one or two first, then dig them up at night when no one is around to eat."

Chapter Four: Humanity

"Too...too much!" Guo Ziwen couldn't hold back her churning stomach and continued to bend over, vomiting everywhere. It seemed she'd even thrown up her full-moon meal, let alone dinner. Tears and snot streamed down her face, but she still muttered indignantly.

"Too much?" Xu Ping forced himself to calm down, saying sarcastically, "What you vomited up is life-saving food for them. That's the worst part."

"Humans aren't livestock! You can't do this!" Guo Ziwen felt her nerves about to give way, screaming hysterically.

"At times like this, humans are even worse than livestock!" Xu Ping's eyes turned cold as he spoke. Several refugees had already noticed the two, and, harboring malicious intent, silently approached with stones or sticks. Guo Ziwen felt a chill

run down her spine at their predatory, murderous eyes, and instinctively hid behind Xu Ping. Zhang Hu, though also in a bad mood, knew his duty. Before they could get close, he walked heavily towards them, a look of guilt in his eyes, his face darkening. His knife flashed, and before they could even scream, several cold glints flashed.

Seeing the several living people before her, their faces contorted in pain, clutching their bleeding necks, and collapsing limply to the ground, seemingly still twitching slightly, Guo Ziwen felt her nerves about to break. All of this seemed completely different from what she had always believed.

If they were such pitiful people, why would they harbor such malicious intent?

"Surprised?" Xu Ping asked, seeing her trembling, Bai Zhi's face filled with confusion and bewilderment. He walked up and gently put his arm around her shoulder, his voice low but tinged with sorrow as he said, "This is a relief for them, you know? To survive, they wanted to kill us, steal our clothes and money, and go into the city so they wouldn't starve. And we, to protect ourselves, had no choice but to kill them."

"No, no, absolutely not!" Guo Ziwen's eyes were wide open, seemingly bordering on madness, as she muttered to herself, her small lips trembling.

"Why not!" Xu Ping ignored the bloodshot eyes and her near-hysterical shock. He walked a few steps over and picked up a little boy, who looked only three or four years old, who was crying and clinging to a refugee. He said gently, "This is an orphan. He should be thankful that his parents didn't starve or die of illness."

"You mean...?" Guo Ziwen thought Xu Ping was going to kill him to silence him, even a child like this. She cried out in shock, "He's just a child! You can't do this!"

"Indeed, he's quite cute!" Xu Ping smiled gently, touching the little boy's face. "I did consider sending him to reunite with his parents, but those people might not be his relatives, so I decided against it."

"Phew!" Guo Ziwen finally breathed a sigh of relief. Hearing the child crying from hunger in Xu Ping's arms, she felt a pang of sadness.

"Child, are you hungry?" Xu Ping didn't care about the filth on his body. After wiping his face, he said softly, "Would you like something to eat?"

"Hungry, hungry!" the little boy cried out in his infancy.

After he finished answering, Xu Ping smiled slightly, carried him to the tree, and placed him where Guo Ziwen had vomited. Pointing to the still-steaming vomit, he said softly, "Eat!" "No…!" Guo Ziwen screamed hysterically, trying to rush over to stop him. Xu Ping immediately grabbed her waist and said coldly, "This is where you went too far. Look for yourself!" The little boy had been starving for a long time, eating only tree bark and clay. Now, he opened his eyes wide, bent down, and frantically licked the vomit on the soil, seemingly enjoying it.

Guo Ziwen watched all this in despair. Then she looked at the pot where human flesh had been cooked. Other refugees, unable to resist the aroma, had gathered around it, drinking the soup for survival, and even fighting over the human flesh in the pot.

Watching a young refugee smash another man's head with a stone, then gleefully snatch the cooked human hand, run to another tree, and offer the still-smoking meat to a sickly old man, the two of them tearfully gnawing on it, Guo Ziwen felt he had gone mad. This scene should have been heartwarming, but now they were eating human flesh.

Outside the quiet city, the commotion had clearly attracted considerable attention. Refugees began to gather, staring wide-eyed at the corpses on the ground. Although such people were a minority, some were willing to eat human bones and tendons to save their families.

Guo Ziwen felt he couldn't cry anymore; it was as if all his tears were stuck in his chest, causing waves of pain. Xu Ping gently put his arm around her shoulder, gritting his teeth as he said, "This is the common people, this is hunger. Those high and mighty old scholars only know how to ruin the country and its people, crying and threatening suicide. Why not use the money they use to support their concubines to save these people!" "I don't know, I don't know!" Guo Ziwen was completely devastated. After a hysterical scream, tears streamed down her face as she collapsed into Xu Ping's arms, sobbing uncontrollably. Her cries were so shrill they hurt the ears, clearly the voice of a young girl.

Xu Ping didn't say much. He himself was finding it hard to bear, let alone her. Although he had heard that the area outside the city was a living hell, he hadn't imagined it would be this desolate. Seeing it firsthand was a completely different experience from just hearing about it. Now, he felt a deep sadness in his heart, and if he hadn't been holding back, he would have felt an urge to cry with her.

Although it was night, it was clear that there were hardly any weeds left on the ground, and even the grass roots had been turned over. Looking around, almost all the edible bark in the woods had been eaten. Such a horrific scene left Xu Ping speechless, even though he wanted to comfort her.

Zhang Hu cautiously surveyed the surroundings, seemingly still watching the refugees, but perhaps because he had killed several, no one dared to approach.

She cried for a long time, until she could no longer shed tears. Xu Ping and Guo Ziwen sat silently in the carriage, watching the refugees lying all over the ground until the sky began to lighten. Only then did they realize they had unknowingly watched this desolate scene for an entire night.

"They're here!" Xu Ping suddenly exclaimed excitedly.

"What?" Guo Ziwen looked on in confusion. A group of refined and well-mannered scholars emerged from the city gate, dressed in bright, colorful clothes, swaying their heads as they walked to the center of the refugees, shouting something loudly.

"What are they trying to do?" Guo Ziwen asked疑惑地.

Xu Ping looked at the group of old fogies getting ready, sneered, and said, "They want to use their knowledge to save these refugees who have lost their humanity and only know how to survive. They want to use their knowledge to teach them that this way of life is wrong."

This was also Xu Ping's idea; he had someone temporarily invite scholars from the Ministry of Rites to give lectures here. These old geezers really thought that Xu Ping had finally come to his senses, and they were as happy as if their wives had died. They dressed up at dawn, ready to show off their knowledge in front of the Crown Prince.

Guo Ziwen fell silent. After what happened last night, he could no longer believe that such a naive thing could happen. What these people needed was food, food to survive, not these grand principles.

Sure enough, the scholars, one by one, dressed impeccably and like knowledgeable scholars, began their lectures. The refugees thought that some kind-hearted person had come to give alms, but seeing this scene, they immediately left in disappointment. The crowd surged forward like a tide, then dispersed even faster.

The scholars stood watching the refugees leave in disappointment, their faces alternating between pale and flushed. They seemed still indignant that these people were so ungrateful, naively believing that their presence as professors was a great favor to these disheveled refugees, and that their lack of gratitude was an absolute insult to them.

"Do you feel normal now?" Xu Ping asked kindly. At daybreak, a closer look at Guo Ziwen revealed that, setting aside her male attire, she possessed a face as white as snow, bright black eyes, long eyelashes, a small and delicate nose, cherry lips, and an oval face—a rare beauty. She appeared to be only sixteen or seventeen years old, radiating the captivating charm of youth.

She was about 1.6 meters tall, somewhat frail. Although her breasts and buttocks weren't particularly large, the proportions were good, and her developing areas were slowly coming into shape. Her unique girlish innocence and fragrance were also incredibly alluring.

Guo Ziwen had no idea that after spending the night nestled in Xu Ping's arms, she now looked up to meet the man's burning gaze. Her face flushed, and she shyly lowered her head, remaining silent. Her heart was churning, yet she felt no struggle whatsoever.

At this moment, another large group of people emerged from the city gate. Carts carried sacks of rice and flour, along with more than a dozen large black pots, each over two meters wide. Leading them were Zhao Ling and Zhang Qinghe. Although they both looked somewhat sleepy, the heaviness in their eyes upon seeing the scene before them as they stepped out of the city gate was evident.

"Let's go take a look!" Xu Ping gently took her hand and followed the surging refugees.

The servants deftly set up the large pots and directed the refugees to gather firewood. The refugees scattered, and soon they had brought a small mountain of dry branches. Skillfully, they boiled the water in each pot, then added rice, millet, and other grains. The aroma of the grains immediately made everyone's eyes light up.

The children standing at the front were already drooling.

Zhao Ling spotted two brightly dressed, eye-catching figures in the crowd, and smiled sweetly. Just as she was about to greet them, Xu Ping stopped her with a look. Zhang Qinghe understood Xu Ping's meaning, so the two of them tacitly pretended not to see them and continued directing the servants to set up pots and cook porridge.

A dozen large pots were lined up, emitting a fragrant aroma as the water boiled. If it weren't for the constables from Tiandu Prefecture watching closely, the porridge would probably have been snatched up by the starving refugees long ago.

Zhao Ling gracefully stepped forward and gave a proper bow to the sea of refugees. The somewhat restless crowd immediately quieted down.

"Fellow villagers, today, at His Highness the Crown Prince's behest, we begin this almsgiving. Hearing of your hardships, His Highness is deeply worried and unable to eat or sleep. Though not wealthy, he wishes to do his utmost to help you through this difficult time. Please, please maintain order and allow our children to fill their stomachs first." Her gentle words

, though spoken softly, reached the ears of everyone in the silent crowd. At that moment, Zhao Ling was like a goddess to them; each heavy pot held their hope for survival. The refugees didn't shout "Long live the Crown Prince!" or engage in any excited commotion. Instead, the adults obediently stepped back, spreading out in a massive wave. Hungry children emerged from between the adults' legs, some too young to walk, carried forward by their relatives.

Though they were all disheveled and poorly clothed, their simple, hungry faces revealed the purest longing!

Zhao Ling waved her hand, and the servants immediately served porridge to the children, repeatedly reminding them to be careful of the heat. The children immediately opened their eyes wide and began to eat. Although the adults watched silently from behind, many of them were drooling. Everything seemed completely unrelated to the previous night, appearing so orderly.

Guo Ziwen watched all this with gentle eyes. The adults voluntarily gave the food to the children first, some even drooling on the ground but still not moving forward; while the children, while drinking their porridge, still looked around for their parents in the crowd, their deep affection vividly expressed in their small actions. This was true humanity!

"Make way! Make way!" A sudden commotion broke out in the crowd. It turned out that the scholars from the Ministry of Rites, seeing that the people from the Ministry of Commerce and the Crown Prince's residence had arrived, immediately realized they had been tricked, and they rushed over in a fit of rage.

Before they could even approach, Zhang Qinghe immediately blocked Zhao Ling's path, coldly asking, "What business do you gentlemen have?" "I'm asking you!" The white-bearded old man at the head of the group was particularly indignant, pointing directly at Zhang Qinghe's nose and saying, "You money-grubbing wretch, how dare you set up a soup kitchen here in His Highness the Crown Prince's name? Who gave you permission?" "None of your business!" Having received the imperial fan, Zhang Qinghe felt emboldened, slapping the old man's hand away and saying somewhat angrily, "I am His Highness's appointed Minister of Commerce, my official rank is probably higher than yours, it's not your place to point fingers here."

"You…" Zhang Qinghe had been enduring this for some time, and the scholars seemed surprised by his sudden outburst. But the quick-witted ones immediately reacted, saying gruffly, "The Ministry of Commerce isn't one of the Six Ministries of the Imperial Court. What kind of official are you, a mere merchant?"

"That's right, we all came from the imperial examination system."

"I doubt you can even hold a pen properly!" Zhang Qinghe endured their sarcasm for a while, ignoring them. Instead, a glint flashed in his eyes, and he walked over, feigning helplessness, bowing to the refugees who had now focused their attention. He sighed and said, "Fellow villagers, today I earnestly hope you will seek justice

for me." The refugees were still wondering what these officials were doing, so few spoke.

The scholars couldn't find anything to say for a moment; they were simply annoyed by being mocked, and Zhang Qinghe's attitude only fueled their anger. They immediately began to berate him: "You are misleading the Crown Prince! What are the Ministry of Commerce and the Ministry of Works? They're all just games, causing the current Crown Prince to indulge in all sorts of strange and ingenious crafts. If this leads to the downfall of the nation, you will be sinners for all time!"

Zhang Qinghe ignored them, his eyes reddening, and he said tearfully, "Fellow villagers, although I am just a cloth merchant, I have never committed any crimes or exploited the people. Therefore, I have gained the favor of His Highness the Crown Prince and have served under him with my humble efforts. Even though I was simply giving away money out of goodwill, these people have obstructed me in every way."

The crowd was somewhat confused as to why Zhang Qinghe was bringing up their past grievances. "What?!" Zhao Ling immediately stepped forward, continuing Zhang Qinghe's "sobbing" words, "Fellow villagers, the Crown Prince's surplus grain has been distributed. His Highness the Crown Prince is benevolent, wishing to open soup kitchens everywhere, but lacking the means. These bags of grain were all donated by Lord Zhang."

She paused, seeing the bewildered looks on everyone's faces, then turned to the old scholars, coldly glaring at them, and said, word by word, "But some people consider themselves superior, believing that money is not enough to survive. Even if Lord Zhang used his entire fortune to buy grain for distribution, he would still be branded as someone who misled the emperor."

"I...we didn't!" The old scholars had now realized that this was a coordinated scheme to frame them; they hadn't dared to bring up the donations to the refugees from the beginning. They tried to defend themselves, but their voices were drowned out by the refugees' chatter.

"What's wrong with opening a soup kitchen?" "Compared to those landlords back home, Lord Zhang is a good man!" "Yes, His Highness the Crown Prince's charity doesn't seem to interfere with his governance."

As the crowd's discussion grew heated, Zhang Qinghe stood up shakily, looking utterly dejected, muttering, "I'm doing good, yet I've only earned a bad reputation. What was I doing all this for?" His voice was soft, but many heard him. A middle-aged man, who appeared to be the manager and likely a member of Zhang Qinghe's family, suddenly understood. His eyes darted around, and he stepped forward to support Zhang Qinghe, glaring fiercely at the old scholars. He deliberately shouted, "Sir, don't be sad! What good deeds are we doing now? Relief for disaster victims only brings bad reputations. You, a man with no family or friends, have already done more than enough by giving away your wealth. Since we've done wrong, let the Ministry of Rites handle this."

Zhang Qinghe neither confirmed nor denied anything. Shaking his head, he was helped back onto the cart, looking furious and panting heavily.

Xu Ping couldn't help but chuckle. Zhang Qinghe was good at business and acting! If this little thing could make him this angry, he'd probably be driven to death by those old fogies in the Ministry of Rites long ago, and wouldn't be alive to put on this grand show of being a savior of the people.

Zhao Ling didn't shed tears, but she looked disheartened. She parted her lips slightly and said, "Since that's the case, we can no longer open the porridge distribution. It's not that the Crown Prince's Mansion is heartless, please forgive us, fellow villagers."

After saying that, she retreated dejectedly.

Now, the old scholars broke out in a cold sweat. Tens of thousands of refugees, all looking at them with fierce eyes. These two had somehow managed to trap them in their act. They waved their hands, wanting to explain, but were too frightened to speak by the increasingly vicious looks from the refugees.

The porridge was still being distributed to the children. Some children, while eating, ran back to their relatives crying and asking if they would never have any more to eat. Zhao Ling and Zhang Qinghe sat by the city wall, both looking heartbroken. They exchanged a quick glance and a suppressed chuckle. But they immediately adopted a dejected expression.

After all, officials were indeed intimidating these days, and the hierarchical system was extremely strict. At first, the refugees dared not speak out, but seeing the faces of those distributing porridge turn cold, and their heads shake and sighs, some of the more short-tempered refugees finally couldn't hold back any longer. They grabbed stones from the ground and threw them at the old scholars.

From the crowd, a ragged young man emerged, carrying the corpse of a small child, emaciated and barely recognizable as skin and bones. His once innocent smile now betrayed deep anguish. Tears streamed down his face as he looked at them with a cruel gaze, choking back sobs as he gritted his teeth and said, "Shouldn't we live?" His voice was low, but each word struck like a hammer blow to everyone's heart.

A little boy suddenly stepped forward, looked up at the elderly scholars with white hair but ruddy complexions, and threw a yellowish lump of something—whether mud or excrement—at them.

The crowd, unable to contain their anger any longer, swarmed around them, throwing stones and other objects while shouting, "The Ministry of Commerce did nothing wrong! They gave us food!"

"You high and mighty fools, you deserve to die!"

"If you hadn't embezzled the relief funds, my father wouldn't have starved to death!"

Perhaps to vent their grief over the loss of loved ones, everyone turned their anger towards them, crying and shouting as stones and branches rained down on them. The old scholars' explanations and frantic screams were drowned out by the crowd.

The scene was chaotic for a moment, but no one dared to touch anyone in the soup kitchen. Xu Ping, holding Guo Ziwen's hand, watched coldly from a distance. Needless to say, they would be beaten to death by these refugees who had been suppressing their anger for so long.

Zhang Qinghe felt a surge of satisfaction. After being bothered by these old fogies for so long, he had finally gotten his revenge. If he didn't have to keep up the act, he really wanted to throw a feast and have a good time. Using someone else to do his dirty work was so satisfying; watching the scene unfold, Zhang Qinghe almost jumped for joy.

Zhao Ling had also suffered a lot at their hands regarding the Ministry of Works, and she vaguely felt that framing someone like this was a bit inappropriate. However, thinking of how her beloved husband had been constantly bothered by them, even sighing during meals, she dismissed that bit of sympathy.

The crowd jostled and pushed for a while, and when they finally dispersed, several old scholars lay on the ground, covered in mud and blood, seemingly beyond saving!

Only then did the crowd realize that the dead were high-ranking officials of the imperial court, and they were all stunned. When the refugees first gathered in the capital, there was bound to be some unrest, and some even tried to sneak into the city… But after several bloody crackdowns by the Tiandu Prefecture and the Imperial Guards, no one dared to even consider it. Now that several high-ranking officials had died, if the court were to retaliate, wouldn't they kill everyone else?

The scene fell silent again. The previously restless crowd was now shrouded in gloom, everyone silent, looking distressed and panicked.

Zhang Qinghe knew it was his turn to step in, and he hurriedly pushed through the crowd. Looking at the old scholars on the ground, beaten to a pulp and resembling beggars, he tentatively reached out to check their condition, confirming they were all lifeless. He secretly felt a surge of satisfaction, almost wanting to laugh, but his face remained one of utter shock.

Zhang Qinghe slumped to the ground, feigning panic, muttering listlessly, "It's over, it's over. They were high-ranking officials!" The refugees knew the gravity of the situation and the enormity of their crime. Seeing Zhang Qinghe's dejected state, they felt a pang of sorrow, yet also a growing fear.

"My lord, I killed them!" At this moment, the young man who had first attacked, carrying the child's corpse, stepped forward, knelt before Zhang Qinghe, and said tearfully, "I confess my guilt and accept punishment. I will pay for this crime with my life." "

No! No!" Zhang Qinghe frantically waved his hands, appearing too terrified to speak.

The young man, however, was resolute, saying firmly, "This humble subject is homeless. I have committed a crime that cannot implicate you, sir. This matter is my doing, and has nothing to do with you."

He looked at the child in his arms, tears streaming down his face. He kowtowed and wept, pleading, "This humble subject asks for nothing more than a simple coffin for my child's burial. My wife and child are dead; leaving one alive is useless. In my next life, I will repay your great kindness even as a cow or a horse."

Perhaps moved by his actions, some lonely people in the crowd also stepped forward, saying nothing, and knelt beside him with resolute expressions.

Xu Ping watched all this with approval. After all, there were still many people with compassion. Everything last night was merely for survival; now he finally saw their kind side. Although the people from the Ministry of Rites deserved to die, it was truly remarkable that they would resolutely step forward to take the blame under such feudalistic thinking.

Zhang Qinghe stood there for a long while, somewhat listlessly instructing his servants to collect the bodies of the scholars and send them into the city. He straightened his clothes, stood up, sighed, and solemnly clasped his hands, saying, "The death of a few officials from the Ministry of Rites is no simple matter. This matter will not only implicate me, but perhaps even His Highness the Crown Prince. Even if you take the blame, I estimate I will still not escape punishment!" "My lord!" The refugees knelt down in a thunderous roar, some children, though young, wept along with their parents.

"Enough!" Zhang Qinghe laughed heartily, saying, "Your confession will not help. Just live well. When we return, let them kill or torture me as they please."

"My lord!" A cry of excitement rang out from the crowd, everyone weeping, even some young children were pulled to kneel by their parents.

Xu Ping looked at him with new respect once more; this big businessman truly knew how to win people's hearts. Although this matter would be a bit of a headache to handle, it shouldn't be too difficult. If he could use this incident to improve the reputation of the Ministry of Commerce, that would be good too.

"No need for further words!" Zhang Qinghe loudly ordered his servants to continue distributing porridge, while his face was stern as he had his servants tie him up.

"I, Zhang, humbly accept my punishment. The only thing you, my fellow villagers, can do is to live well, understand? Do not fail the kindness of me and His Highness the Crown Prince. I will continue to run the porridge kitchen. For the sake of the children, you must all live!" Tears streamed down Zhang Qinghe's face as he spoke. After shouting a few times, he turned and resolutely boarded the carriage.

The refugees were so moved that they knelt for a long time, watching his figure return to the city.

The refugees didn't get up for a long time, silently taking the porridge and feeding their children and relatives. Some of them still couldn't stop crying while drinking the porridge, their tears falling into the bowl.

After watching Zhao Ling busy herself for a while, she also returned to the city. Xu Ping, having enjoyed this spectacle, couldn't help but chuckle to himself. He called to Zhang Hu, "Let's go back!" "Master, please get in the carriage!" Zhang Hu quickly brought both carriages.

"No!" Looking at the refugees drinking porridge with tears streaming down their faces, Xu Ping felt a pang of guilt. Although it was a deception, their simple honesty filled him with deep remorse.

Xu Ping paused for a moment, then stepped forward, drew Zhang Hu's sword, and with a swift stroke, said, "There should be some oil in the porridge to fill their stomachs."

Guo Ziwen hadn't even realized what Xu Ping had done when two exceptionally fine horses neighed a few times, blood spurting from their necks as they collapsed. Zhang Hu immediately understood, silently beckoning for the people at the porridge kitchen to come and slaughter the horses for the refugees.

Guo Ziwen felt utterly exhausted. Walking hand-in-hand with Xu Ping along the still bustling streets of the capital, the events of the previous night and everything that had happened that morning seemed like a dream. She was in a daze, her mind seemingly a mess, yet also as if she hadn't thought of anything at all.

Even after entering the mansion, she still couldn't distinguish between dream and reality.

Xu Ping was also greatly traumatized, and at this moment, he had no intention of taking advantage of her; he simply wanted to comfort this frightened girl. Back in the courtyard, although her stomach was empty, she had no appetite whatsoever. He led her to sit in the courtyard, and the three of them remained silent, unsure of what to say.

Xiao Mi had waited all night, and as soon as she heard her master had returned, she immediately came over. Seeing that the three of them had solemn expressions and were silent, she didn't dare to ask any questions and obediently stood aside to pour tea for everyone. Uncle Liu had also vaguely heard the whole story from Zhao Ling, so he hurried over as well.

Seeing Guo Ziwen still lost in thought, Xu Ping sighed and said, "So, do you still hold onto your previous opinion?" "I don't know!" Guo Ziwen murmured listlessly, "I'm confused, let me think." "

Hmm, but there's something more important right now."

Xu Ping said as he walked towards her.

"What is it?" Guo Ziwen asked nervously as Xu Ping approached.

Xu Ping didn't answer, but grabbed her belt and collar with both hands.

"Change out of this weird outfit first."

As he spoke, Xu Ping lifted Guo Ziwen up and threw her into the pool amidst her screams. Guo Ziwen didn't expect Xu Ping to suddenly do such a thing. She screamed a couple of times before falling into the pool, choking on the water several times. Xu Ping clapped his hands in satisfaction and turned to Xiaomi, saying, "Find some clothes for her to change into."

Xiaomi responded and walked to the edge of the pool, helping Guo Ziwen, who had just climbed out of the water and looked somewhat disheveled. After whispering a few words in her ear, she led her towards the west wing. As soon as she emerged from the water, Xu Ping noticed the curves outlined by the clothes clinging to her body. She was slender where she should be, and curvy where she should be, but her chest looked a little small.

What a flaw, what a pity! Her hair was slightly disheveled after emerging from the water, and her face was stunning. Xu Ping couldn't help but shake his head with a sigh before sitting down in the armchair. He felt a pang of pity seeing her coughing as she walked, but he couldn't let her continue to suppress her thoughts like this. Reluctantly, he had no choice but to resort to this measure.

"Ah, so she's a woman!" Uncle Liu said, somewhat surprised.

"I really don't know what kind of eyes you have, you can't even see something so obvious. I really doubt if you ever actually traveled the martial arts world before!" Xu Ping said irritably, feeling a bit sleepy after not sleeping all night.

"When I was wandering the martial world, all I cared about was martial arts and masters. I didn't know anything else!" Uncle Liu, unusually acquiescing, scratched his head somewhat embarrassedly.

"Yes, only someone with a head full of women like me could see that,"

Xu Ping chuckled self-deprecatingly.

"I didn't mean that,"

Uncle Liu quickly explained.

"Hmm!" Xu Ping closed his eyes wearily, his expression pained, and said, "Uncle Liu, I saw a lot last night. I originally thought the rumors of cannibalism and mothers feeding their children in Zhili were exaggerated. Now, it seems like such things are quite normal, and I even think they're reasonable." Uncle

Liu knew that although his master had a strong streetwise air, he rarely came into contact with the realities of the lower classes, so it was understandable that he was finding it hard to bear. He paused, then said with a hint of helplessness, "Master, this happens every year during famine. You don't need to blame yourself too much; after all, it's a natural disaster, not man-made one."

"Man-made disasters are much worse!" Xu Ping sighed. From what he'd overheard the refugees yesterday, he knew the so-called disaster relief funds were meager to begin with, and after layers of exploitation, there was practically nothing left for them. But these refugees constantly surrounding the capital wasn't a solution!

Uncle Liu naturally understood what Xu Ping meant and wanted to offer some comfort, but felt that any words would be pale and powerless. Regardless of the dynasty, disaster relief funds were always embezzled. The court might give 100,000, but who knows how much actually reached the disaster victims? Otherwise, the disaster wouldn't have suddenly become so severe.

After a brief silence, Xiao Mi slowly approached and softly said, "Master, Miss Guo said she's feeling very unwell. I've already had someone send her home."

"Hmm!" Xu Ping mumbled a groggy reply, then suddenly remembered Zhang Qinghe had tied himself up to plead guilty, and was instantly jolted awake. He sat up anxiously and said, "Quick, I need to go to the palace!" "Brother Ping, what palace are you going to?" Zhao Ling walked in just then, asking with a puzzled look, followed by a smiling Zhang Qinghe.

Xu Ping was dumbfounded. Wasn't this guy supposed to be pleading guilty?

Zhang Qinghe immediately saw through Xu Ping's thoughts. His old face flushed red as he knelt down, his tone barely concealing amusement as he said, "This servant, Zhang Qinghe, witnessed the Ministry of Rites officials being slaughtered by refugees and was powerless to stop it. I beg Your Majesty to punish me."

"Damn you!" Xu Ping kicked him angrily, saying with a wry smile, "You bastard, I thought you were going to the Golden Palace to die. Turns out you've come here to beg for forgiveness! Damn it, you even looked like you were about to commit suicide."

"Hehe!" Zhang Qinghe wasn't angry at being kicked. He knelt back down and smiled slyly.

Uncle Liu probably also knew the intricacies of the situation. He looked at Zhang Qinghe with a smile and then volunteered, "Your Majesty, this matter is neither a big deal nor a small one. It involves the death of high-ranking officials. Perhaps this old servant should go to the palace and plead with the Emperor."

Xu Ping knew there were other things he needed to discuss with his father, and he was currently half-dead from exhaustion. Yawning, he nodded and said, "Okay, go ahead!" "This old servant takes his leave!" Uncle Liu said, then smiled slyly and left.

"Brother Ping!" Zhao Ling's heart ached at Xu Ping's exhausted appearance. She softly pleaded, "Go get some sleep. You haven't slept all night; even a man of iron couldn't take it."

"You sleep with me!" Xu Ping reached out and pulled her into his arms, looking at her with a lecherous grin.

Zhang Qinghe and Xiao Mi immediately pretended to be blind, one lowering their head and the other turning away.

"You're so annoying!" Zhao Ling struggled shyly, giving Xu Ping a playful glare before saying, "I have a lot to do, not as relaxed as you. I still have to go to the Ministry of Works later. Go to sleep by yourself!" She then ran off, her face flushed.

Zhang Qinghe, knowing he was alright, breathed a sigh of relief and said he had too much to do at the Ministry of Commerce, so he also took his leave.

Xu Ping yawned as he returned to his room. With Xiao Mi's help, he undressed, his eyes barely open, and lazily asked, "Xiao Mi, why is no one home today?"

Xiao Mi gently wiped the oil from Xu Ping's face, which was still oily from staying up all night, and softly replied, "Reporting to Master, Aunt Lin and Ning Xue went out this morning. Aunt Ji and Qiao'er went out all day, without saying where they went. They haven't returned yet!" Since Liu Ziyi wasn't in the mansion, there was no need to ask. A lone man and woman, it would normally be perfect for some intimate, passionate encounters. Unfortunately, Xu Ping was incredibly tired. Although his physical body was no longer affected by staying up late after practicing martial arts, the shock of last night's events and his mental exhaustion made him wonder if he was developing neurasthenia. Looking at Xiao Mi's delicate and innocent face, and the expectant blush on her cheeks, he gritted his teeth and decided it was better to go to sleep first.

Xiaomi was a little disappointed, but she still obediently helped Xu Ping lie down, gently spreading out the quilt and lighting incense.

Xu Ping looked at her, thinking to himself, "I'll let you be a virgin for a few more days, so you can have more to reminisce about later." However, he seemed a little uncomfortable without a woman to hold him. With a soft "yes" from Xiaomi, he pulled her into the quilt, hugging her alluring body tightly, his eyes closed, and said in a low voice, "Sleep!" Xiaomi nestled shyly in Xu Ping's arms, feeling a pang of heartache at the sight of her master's exhausted face. Knowing that Xu Ping had a habit of sleeping naked, her face flushed slightly. She gently removed the clothes Xu Ping hadn't taken off yet, hesitated for a moment, and then slowly took off her own thin dress, leaving her only in a close-fitting bodice and underpants, softly offering her delicate body to her master's embrace.

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[Fantasy] The Rogue Landlord (Complete) - Chapter 14

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