Yannan’s entire attitude toward the Imperial Crown Princess was a policy decided beforehand—surface respect while constantly stirring up trouble. As for other more important countermeasures, those were secrets that only a few people in the Prince’s study could participate in. Ordinary officials had no right to know, though some officials vaguely knew that Commander You had once said the Imperial Crown Princess would absolutely never reach Kun Zhou.
Over the years, everything Commander You had said came true, so everyone had believed without doubt, feeling they would never directly face the most noble woman of the imperial court. But unexpectedly, the Imperial Crown Princess had still reached the outskirts of Kun Zhou City, and these arrangements outside the city were being dismantled step by step.
More importantly, those who had followed Commander You for a long time all noticed that the Commander was in a very bad mood today.
Even his speed of eating candied fruit had slowed considerably—he had only finished half a box after all this time.
In contrast, Master You Weixing was sprawling in the pavilion, enjoying the service of young boys and girls massaging his back and burning incense, looking quite comfortable.
Several attentive officials noticed that Commander You had glanced over there multiple times, appearing to smile but with gloomy eyes.
Yet Young Master You seemed completely oblivious…
But this time, the Kun Zhou officials’ backup plan still didn’t get a chance to be deployed.
A brief silence and awkwardness appeared ahead, but the people’s attention was quickly drawn to a group of people surging out from behind the Imperial Crown Princess’s carriage. These people still looked like merchants in dress, though from their clothing, expressions, and the goods they carried, they were all small traders. These people looked bewildered at the road-blocking crowd ahead. The leader scratched his head and said in official speech with a heavy Yannan accent: “What’s this about? Why block the road? I heard from behind that it’s dissatisfaction with Kun Zhou’s tax increases?”
Someone immediately replied displeasedly: “What Kun Zhou tax increases? Kun Zhou hasn’t arbitrarily raised taxes for so many years. This is to support the Imperial Crown Princess and build a traveling palace.”
“Exactly! Not only increased taxes but also corvée labor, demanding the traveling palace be completed within three months. That palace they’re building—magnificent and beautiful like a heavenly palace—it’s all the blood and sweat of us Yannan people.”
When the merchant asked this, it stirred up the people’s cooled anger again, and they began chattering noisily.
The merchant stood there stunned, scratching his head. “Really? Such things happened?”
“Of course! And it’s not just Kun Zhou. Didn’t they say checkpoints and taxes were increased all the way from Qian Zhou to Yannan? You look like you just returned to Kun Zhou. Coming all this way, passing through gates and checkpoints, weren’t you charged extra taxes?”
The merchant said in amazement: “No!”
The people suddenly fell silent.
“Far from increasing taxes, Qian Zhou just issued a document saying that Qian Zhou, Huang Yi, and several other states suffered floods this summer, so their money, grain, and taxes for the year were exempted. Merchants traveling between Qian Zhou pay no crossing taxes for one year. Additionally, the government ordered the dredging of Changting Lake, widening waterways, and recruiting workers to dig channels. In previous years, such work was mostly offset by corvée duty, and even when workers were used, the money was often hard to secure. This year, because the project is massive—the entire Changting Lake basin in Qian Zhou territory needs dredging—as soon as the order came down, the Ministry of Revenue allocated funds. They say the Imperial Crown Princess toppled many Qian Zhou officials and confiscated much silver from their homes. The Imperial Crown Princess directly ordered not to transfer it to the Ministry of Revenue but to convert this silver into river governance funds. This year’s wages are generous—many people are rushing to join!”
The merchant glanced at Kun Zhou City and shook his head. “I entered Yannan from Andang Prefecture, closest to Qian Zhou, mostly taking small roads, didn’t encounter many checkpoints. Never thought Qian Zhou was fine, but Kun Zhou has harsh taxes driving people to protest. I don’t understand who’s forcing this, but since I can’t enter Kun Zhou, I won’t. My small business doesn’t matter much whether I do it or not. The few coins I’d earn aren’t worth the wages for dredging Changting Lake—I’ll go be a laborer there.” After speaking, he hoisted his large bundle higher and actually turned to leave.
Behind him, others who seemed to also travel between Qian Zhou and Yannan doing small resale businesses looked at the mass of people ahead, shook their heads, and also said they were leaving to earn those wages. They heard that sheds were set up all along the river, with cabbage, pork, and rice provided daily!
The people stared blankly as those traders left without reluctance. Among them were some familiar peddlers who were known to everyone from their regular street rounds. One peddler, after walking a distance with his goods, turned back to smile at familiar faces and waved from afar: “Wang Family’s eldest son, won’t you come along? You always say you have strength but no place to use it. All the good money-making jobs in and around Kun Zhou City are taken by those thugs who’ve bought off the officials. Usually, there are various conscriptions to deal with too—you can’t earn much in a year. Now there’s work where you can earn money just by using your strength—don’t miss it! With a strong man like you, the officials at the embankment would want you without question!”
The Wang family’s eldest son who was called out showed changing expressions on his face. Seeing the familiar peddler about to walk far away, he stamped his foot and called out, “Elder Brother Liu, wait for me! I’ll go home to say something and pack my things!” Then he hurriedly turned and ran off.
With his departure, many young men were also moved. Living in Kun Zhou City, doing work like carrying water, selling firewood, collecting night soil, sweeping gutters, waiting tables, and odd jobs—competition was fierce, and they had to pay considerable protection fees. With many people eyeing their positions, they couldn’t necessarily work long-term. To last longer, they had to pay the trade guilds, and after a year, they could barely maintain food and clothing.
They had envied these peddlers—though it was harder work, at least they had some spare money. Now seeing these small traders they usually envied unhesitatingly abandon their businesses for those wages, and knowing merchants value profit—unless there were several times the earnings, they would never abandon their livelihood—their hearts stirred and moved.
When several familiar neighbors called out to them, more people turned around to go home and pack.
More importantly, more people understood that the tax and corvée increases in Kun Zhou City these past two months might not have been caused by the Imperial Crown Princess before them.
Otherwise, traveling south all the way, why was Qian Zhou unharmed and instead conducting beneficial river dredging projects for the people?
The Imperial Crown Princess even considered the livelihood of the people in Qian Zhou under her governance—what reason would she have to harm Yannan and its people that she needed to recover?
If it really was the Imperial Crown Princess’s order, and these Yannan officials were indignant at her while claiming to care for the people, why would they execute the court’s edicts so thoroughly? They should have righteously resisted the imperial decree.
In the end, it was just the officials above fighting for power and profit, scheming against each other, using innocent people as weapons.
The people looked at the bloody traces on the ground and instantly felt disheartened.
From the carriage ahead, a curtain lifted, and someone could be heard saying softly: “I have traveled the world, from Haiyou to Yongping to the Western Rong to Yannan. I dare not claim poverty in humble rooms and simple food, nor that I’ve practiced self-denial and endured hardship, but I’ve never taken more than my share from others. I can sleep in six-person barracks, in grass huts in the Western Rong desert, and in stinking tents in Yongping’s great camp. I wouldn’t be unable to sleep in Yannan without a traveling palace.”
The crowd on the official road fell silent.
Everyone knew about the Chronicles of Compassion. Though Yannan forbade its printing and storytelling in teahouses and taverns was prohibited, who didn’t have aunts and relatives? The Imperial Crown Princess’s experiences in academies and military camps—they’d never heard of her bullying others or putting on airs.
The person behind the curtain continued: “The traveling palace—whoever built it can live in it. If I dare not live there, I’ll return it to the people.”
The people erupted in an uproar. This was clearly slapping the faces of all Yannan officials. They all turned back to look, thousands of people turning together like layered waves on the official road, revealing the Yannan officials hiding behind with varying expressions.
Then someone laughed, and a scholar came forward first, politely bowed, and walked away without hesitation.
Most of the scholars and literati left.
Then came the common people—a whole large group, not so refined and reasonable, spitting back after walking far away.
Finally, the merchants and wealthy gentry from the city, who had the closest ties with the government, dared not say anything. Though embarrassed, they also quietly slipped away.
The Eastern Palace tutor watching the people disperse like a routed army stroked his beard with a smile.
He was deeply impressed.
Previously, the Imperial Crown Princess had traveled rapidly but moved slowly through Qian Zhou territory, unhurriedly leaving Xiao Xueya’s army specifically to handle Qian Zhou’s military preparations. She spared no effort in changing Qian Zhou’s generals and prosecuting Qian Zhou’s civil official system—the so-called “settle Qian Zhou before moving on Yannan.”
At the time, he thought this was the Imperial Crown Princess clearing her rear guard, a helpless move. Though this action had both benefits and drawbacks, it inevitably gave Yannan more room to maneuver and more opportunities to stir up trouble, likely creating incidents.
In the end, incidents did occur, but they didn’t stop the Imperial Crown Princess. The careful preparation for today’s scene, intending to block the Crown Princess outside Kun Zhou City, instead gave her a counter-move.
The old gentleman used his staff as a walking stick, smiling as he watched the You father and son exposed after the dispersing crowd, now adjusting their official robes and leading Yannan officials forward.
As the crowd parted like flowing water on both sides, Wan Ji suddenly stepped forward and called out loudly: “Fellow fathers and elders, please don’t leave yet. Why not follow Her Highness into the city? There might be a good show to watch later.”
You Jun stopped in his tracks, even he was stunned.
The arrangements at the city gate were like this—since they were already forced to come forward for the reception, naturally there would be no more incidents.
What was this so-called good show?
Was it the Imperial Crown Princess’s mockery? Or…?
But regardless, having finally dispersed the crowd, why gather them again?
When things go against common sense, there must be something strange. You Jun turned back and signaled to a trusted aide, who quietly departed.
The people, called to stop, were also very surprised, but watching excitement was always good. They spread out to follow on both sides of the Imperial Crown Princess’s procession—they’d been busy blocking the road before and hadn’t gotten a good look at the Crown Princess’s magnificent procession!
The Yannan Administrative Commissioner had always been concurrently held by the Prince of Yannan. The Surveillance Commissioner and You Jun bowed deeply before the carriage: “Yannan Surveillance Commissioner Mi Guangshan and Regional Military Commissioner You Jun, leading Kun Zhou officials, pay respects to Your Highness the Crown Princess.”
Besides the officials present, few noticed that these two men did not address themselves as subjects.
Tie Ci’s voice from behind the curtain was calm: “Though Yannan has no new prince established, it seems the heir apparent should come to receive me.”
The people stirred slightly.
They’d heard that the female heir and the Crown Princess had studied together at the academy and had a good relationship. This came from the Prince’s mansion when the female heir first returned. Now that the Crown Princess asked about the female heir upon arriving in Kun Zhou, their relationship was indeed good.
You Jun respectfully replied: “Reporting to Your Highness, the female heir, being about to marry, according to our Yannan customs, leaving the mansion would be inauspicious. She can only wait in the Prince’s mansion for marriage and Your Highness’s arrival. She specifically instructed us to receive and serve Your Highness well, and asked us to apologize to Your Highness. For any breach of etiquette, please forgive us, Your Highness.”
Tie Ci hummed in acknowledgment. You Jun smiled as he looked at the carriage, expecting her to ask about You Weixing.
But Tie Ci didn’t ask, only hummed indifferently: “If so, lead the way ahead.”
All the Yannan officials changed expression.
To treat the actual master of Yannan, the prestigious and powerful Commander You, like a servant and make him lead the way!
This was humiliation!
Too arrogant!
Amid the commotion, Tie Ci didn’t even raise her head.
Since they’d already torn off the facade, why give you face?
Naturally, while you still want to pretend, she’d trample on you fiercely.
But You Jun had good temper and deep city cunning. Besides an initial flash in his eyes, even his smile didn’t change. He lightly turned around and gestured: “It’s my honor. Please proceed, Your Highness.”
The carriage slowly started moving.
You Jun led all the Yannan officials walking ahead on foot, with people surrounding them pointing and commenting. Many officials’ faces turned purple with anger, feeling they’d never suffered such humiliation in their lives.
You Jun’s expression remained normal as his gaze swept the roadside. A trusted aide stood at the side of the street, shaking his head slightly at him.
You Jun smiled faintly.
He never believed that in Kun Zhou City under his control, the newly arrived Imperial Crown Princess could turn the tables.
She won one round and thought victory was assured, so she wanted to watch his good show?
Then let it come—let’s see who watches whose show!