The officials of Yangzhou were indeed difficult to deal with. Not only the officials of Yangzhou, but even Yangzhou’s merchants were more arrogant than those elsewhere. The welcoming banquet prepared for Zhou Weizhao was naturally top-notch with everything one could want. However, before this welcoming banquet, the city of Yangzhou first presented Zhou Weizhao and Song Chuyi with an even bigger gift.

When they reached the outskirts of Yangzhou City, Zhou Weizhao and Song Chuyi’s procession could no longer move forward. It wasn’t because the people lining the roads in welcome were too enthusiastic, but rather refugees who suddenly rushed out nearly overturned Zhou Weizhao and Song Chuyi’s ceremonial procession.

The Imperial Grand Grandson and Grand Grandson’s Consort coming in person had never been a small affair. They had already informed the officials of Yangzhou City early on, but this arrangement by Yangzhou City’s officials was far too enthusiastic.

So enthusiastic, it seemed as if they wanted to use these refugees’ hands to kill them.

The moment this thought surfaced in her mind, Qing Tao was startled. In recent years following Song Chuyi, she had experienced many things and was no longer that little girl from before. Having seen many great storms and waves, she was rarely surprised. But precisely because she had seen many great storms and waves, the scene before her made her heart uneasy. She watched from afar as the ceremonial procession ahead fell into disarray, watched from afar as the refugees knelt and wept, and some simply grabbed onto the carriages and the legs of those in the ceremonial procession refusing to let them go. Cold sweat faintly broke out on her.

Ziyun found it strange. She lowered the curtain and went back to look at Song Chuyi: “Your Ladyship already anticipated that Yangzhou would also have refugees?”

But that shouldn’t be right. Even Jinling, which had suffered from Japanese pirates, wasn’t in such a sorry state as Yangzhou. How could Yangzhou, which had always been renowned for its prosperity, be like this?

Song Chuyi smiled, looking at the people outside causing an uproar, but her smile didn’t reach her eyes: “Take a look at them – see if there’s anything strange?”

Ziyun didn’t understand her meaning and truly looked carefully and earnestly, but even after looking for a long time, she couldn’t make out what was going on.

It was Qing Tao who reminded her: “They’re called refugees, but look at their strength. When they hit people, pull at horses, and grab things, where do they look like starving refugees?”

These words awakened the dreamer. Ziyun was dumbfounded: “Then these people…”

Song Chuyi lowered her eyelids: “It seems Yangzhou City truly intends to give us a grand gift first.”

Unfortunately, if they wanted to give a grand gift, the Grand Grandson and Grand Grandson’s Consort also had to be willing to receive it. Seeing the chaos had about run its course, the Yangzhou Prefect and the Garrison Eunuch came out to greet them, intending to first comfort the frightened Grand Grandson and Grand Grandson’s Consort. Who knew that within the ceremonial procession there was no trace of the Grand Grandson or Grand Grandson’s Consort – they all stood frozen on the spot.

Only after a long while did a few inconspicuous carriages slowly come forward from the rear. First, Eunuch An, the imperial pen-wielding eunuch from Emperor Jianzhang’s side, descended from the carriage. With a smile that didn’t reach his eyes, he stood before them and first laughed once at Garrison Eunuch Feng Qin.

Feng Qin immediately went soft. His position as Yangzhou’s Garrison Eunuch had come through connections made via Eunuch An. He never imagined the capital would actually send Eunuch An down together with them.

These were all secondary matters. When the Yangzhou Prefect came to his senses, Zhou Weizhao had already laughed aloud: “All along this journey, Jinling and other places were quite peaceful with song and dance, people living and working in contentment. I haven’t seen such a grand spectacle. When I return, I must have Imperial Grandfather thoroughly investigate whether they were just glossing over the truth.”

This statement was deeply meaningful, as if he had seen through everything, yet said nothing specific. The Yangzhou Prefect’s palms broke out in cold sweat. Feeling dizzy, but by now he also knew that this Grand Grandson before him was definitely not easy to deceive. He continuously apologized, saying it was his poor governance that allowed the refugees outside Yangzhou City to offend the Grand Grandson’s procession.

At least he was quick to read the situation. After entering the city, Zhou Weizhao had just sat down when Fu Youde and Chen Dezhong came in. They had changed into ordinary attire before entering the city. Upon seeing Zhou Weizhao, they reported everything they had seen and heard along the way: “What refugees? They’re all families from the estates of those wealthy households. Their strength is considerable. We carefully followed them all the way. After they dispersed, they still received silver, and after receiving silver they got a full meal to eat.”

What rotten scheme were these Yangzhou people thinking of, to actually use such base and dirty tricks? Who didn’t know Yangzhou was prosperous? Even Jinling ahead of them, though they created difficulties, had limits. How could it be like Yangzhou, actually staging refugees disrupting the procession and wailing about not being able to survive?

Doing this, didn’t it just confirm that the Yangzhou Prefect was incompetent?

Zhou Weizhao and the others didn’t understand. The Yangzhou Prefect himself had only just figured it out. So angry that one Buddha was born and another entered nirvana, when he returned to the rear courtyard he couldn’t help it – trembling with rage all over his body, he delivered a heavy slap right to his wife’s face.

The Prefect’s wife’s face immediately swelled up terribly. Without a word, she first started crying. While crying, she tried to throw herself at the Prefect. She was the daughter of the Liang family, Yangzhou’s wealthiest family. Her husband’s promotions largely relied on her maternal family’s connections and assistance. Previously, no matter what, her husband had always been cautious and careful with a bit of wariness. Who knew that today he would hit someone without asking right from wrong, when she had just helped him accomplish a great matter.

She couldn’t help but burst into tears: “Who do you think you are?! If it weren’t for me, if it weren’t for my parents helping you, those people would have devoured you! You see, if the Grand Grandson truly asks for silver, will that bunch lightly spare you and go with him?! My parents thought of every way to help you, and you…”

The Prefect was furious beyond measure. One finger nearly poked the Prefect’s wife’s nose. He couldn’t help but curse directly in his rage: “You foolish woman! There are plenty of other useful methods. Was it necessary to have people dress as refugees to disrupt the procession right from the start? Yangzhou City’s public order has always been excellent. Doing this, when the people around the Grand Grandson report it upward, even if he doesn’t know, there are plenty of censors who will impeach me for poor governance, impeach me for being a vegetarian in my position! You… you’re truly stupid to death!”

The Prefect’s wife hadn’t thought of such complicated ramifications. She had always done things straightforwardly. After being stunned, she asked: “Nothing happened to anyone?”

Those estate workers weren’t lacking in strength. Among Yangzhou City’s wealthy households, where were there any truly willing to pay out silver? The people they selected were one by one the strongest and most numerous – they were counting on something happening.

If something happened to the Grand Grandson and Grand Grandson’s Consort…

But nothing happened, right? Originally, the situation in Xibei was already so severe – public sentiment being unstable was to be expected. If something happened to the Grand Grandson and Grand Grandson’s Consort, they could only blame themselves for insisting on coming to Yangzhou. Coming here and still asking for silver – at most they’d just submit a memorial begging forgiveness. The law doesn’t punish the masses – could they really take the lives of these Yangzhou wealthy households? That would be too laughable. Just wait for Jiangnan to be finished too. Who knew that now, hearing the Prefect’s meaning, the Grand Grandson and Grand Grandson’s Consort were fine?