Face-Slapping the Son of a Concubine and a Transmigrating Girl (9)
Editor: ghost
"Search the house, confiscate all property!"
With the emperor's one sentence, everything Zhou Zong Han and Qi Lan had were instantly gone. Their assets currently reached one million and nine-hundred thousand taels. Adding their various shops, it roughly amounted to two million and five-hundred thousand taels.
Afterwards, Zhou Xu spoke to the crown prince, "The big present I've given you, do you like it?"
Seeing that the crown prince did not speak, Zhou Xu continued, "Blaming yourself? Do you feel that we shouldn't snatch their assets?"
The crown prince maintained his usual silence. Zhou Xu spoke again, "A common saying is that there is no smoke without fire. Since he can say those kinds of words, don't blame the emperor for being able to confiscate his property. Doesn't this conform to the ways of this world? If he had donated a portion of his wealth, the emperor would definitely give him reputation as a virtuous merchant, and he may have earned even more silvers afterwards. But what did he do? I only want to say that his actions served him right."
"Also, I still have a big gift for you." Zhou Xu took out a slip as he spoke. The crown prince's eyes lightly glittered. Zhou Xu continued speaking while smiling, "Two million and nine-hundred thousand silvers in banknotes. This is my individual donation, what do you think?"
This time, it was not that the crown prince did not speak, but rather he could not. His beloved was too amazing. He felt that despite having the identity of crown prince, he still felt that he could not match up to him. What should he do? If one day he ascended the throne, he could present this vast territory as a gift to him?
"What happened?"
"Thinking. If one day I ascend the throne as expected, are you willing to take these rivers and mountains – this country?"
Zhou Xu was stunned. This was a gift he really had not expected. However, Zhou Xu slightly laughed in reply, "Can, but if I become emperor and have a few imperial harems, you won't blame me?"
The crown prince's ears reddened. Zhou Xu's mood was very good. He had not yet walked half a step when he was pulled into the crown prince's embrace.
Listening to the intense palpitation of the crown prince's heart, Zhou Xu felt that this feeling seemed to indeed be a bit familiar. He thought of the last world's Xia Qingfeng; he was known as a war god, but in front of him, he always had some awkwardness.
Zhou Xu was deep in thought, but the crown prince covered his forehead and kissed him. His somewhat shaky technique was so similar to Xia Qingfeng. Everything was telling Zhou Xu, this crown prince, the previous world's Xia Qingfeng and Han Zikui before that, seemed to have some inexplicable areas of similarity.
"Wu….."
The crown prince's initial shakiness subsided and his tongue began to move more ferociously. Zhou Xu also snapped out of his daze, beginning to counterattack. He precisely liked to contest with a strong opponent, and of course this applied to kissing.
Once their kiss ended, the corner of Zhou Xu's mouth glimmered. The crown prince softly said, "I want you, right now."
"Then you won't take responsibility later?"
The crown prince's ears reddened again. Zhou Xu smilingly continued, "I'm waiting for you to ascend the throne. Don't worry, I won't run."
"It's settled then."
As such, Zhou Xu and the crown prince travelled south to Jiang Nan together. The crown prince only truly understood what was called "the people have no way of getting by" after arriving at Jiang Nan.
After the flood, the lifeless village was only left with crumbling fences and ruined walls. The late autumn weather was chilly to the bone. The scene resembled one from an apocalyptic world &#k2013; desolate and miserable.
The cold wind whistled. Old and tattered pieces of cloth and clothing fluttered in the wind. The world seemed to be covered by a layer of ash yellow, lacking life and energy.
Zhou Xu had seen it before, but it was the first time the crown prince had seen it. He stared silently at Zhou Xu. His grief let him understand the meaning behind the word "country".
"Search the area, check if there are any survivors," the crown prince ordered.
"Yes."
Zhou Xu did not say anything. As a person of high status, if he could experience and observe the sentiment of the people, would he be more diligent, more responsible? This would be a blessing to the state.
The two continued forward on the beaten path and the rest of the people kept a small distance away. Zhou Xu then asked, "Why did you agree to come to Jiang Nan?"
"I want to grasp the third prince's weakness."
"The third prince's weakness?"
"It is true that the flood and plague have ravaged Jiang Nan, but further south of Jiang Nan is Min Nan, which holds the third prince's personal army. Furthermore, originally five million silvers were sent to aid Jiang Nan, yet why was nothing resolved? I suspect it is the work of pests, but among these pests, there should be no lack of the third prince's men."
"You want to pull them from the roots?"
The crown prince nodded, but Zhou Xu wrinkled his brows, "The emperor likely does not want you to do it this way, right?"
"His body soon cannot hold up anymore. The third prince is also starting to get anxious, hence even if I remained in the capital, I would be assassinated. There would be no difference. However, if I left, it would be more convenient for me to handle matters."
"Only this?" Zhou Xu looked at the crown prince, his smile did not seem like a smile. The crown prince paused for a bit before replying, "Also, I can snatch the Zhen Nan King's military power."
Laughing heartily, Zhou Xu patted the crown prince's shoulder, "Telling me everything, you aren't worried that I would sell you out?"
The crown prince replied, emphasising every word, "As long as you want to know, I won't hide any matters from you."
Zhou Xu's heart felt a bit warm. Turning his head, Zhou Xu suddenly said, "There are people to the east, be careful."
Zhou Xu signaled the people at the back to quickly catch up to them. The moment they caught up, more than ten masked assassins flew out of the bushes in the east.
The well-prepared imperial bodyguards swiftly blocked the assassins from the two and began fighting.
It was obvious that the assassins were experts. The crown prince was well-prepared, especially since before the assassins appeared Zhou Xu had already given the crown prince and his bodyguard signals. Hence their side quickly gained the advantage.
Soon the assassins realised that they would be unable to succeed. An abrupt smoke appeared and a few seconds later, the assassins disappeared without a trace.
The imperial bodyguards intended to chase them but Zhou Xu shouted loudly, "Don't chase!"
The imperial guards who had rushed a few metres forward hurriedly returned. The crown prince looked at Zhou Xu, then said to the imperial bodyguards, "They may want to use the tactic of luring a tiger away from the mountains – separating our group. No matter when, do not give chase."
"Yes."
After checking the supplies, they continued forward. While walking, Zhou Xu whispered to the crown prince, "Don't make any noise, you are currently in danger. It might be a traitor in our ranks."
"How did you know?" the crown prince asked in a whisper.
"Intuition." Zhou Xu replied. If it was someone else, they might feel that Zhou Xu was speaking nonsense. However, the crown prince had not one bit of suspicion towards Zhou Xu; he trusted him.
The two continued walking. Perhaps he thought that Zhou Xu and the crown prince had raised their guard, the traitor suddenly ceased all movement and even his killing intent was hidden.
"There is no danger for now, but the traitor is still in our midst. If you want to investigate at night, I will accompany you."
"Okay," the crown prince replied.
Zhou Xu's sense of danger was too sharp. As he had predicted, the traitor had hidden his fangs amidst the tension, but these fangs had already been sensed. He would not be able to live for much longer.
The village was completely empty. They did not see even one survivor. But it was likely normal to have nobody in the place they arrived at – the collapsed dams. Even if some had survived, they would flee to a safer place.
Afterwards, the group continued on. According to the map, they would reach a small town in about four hours. However they had not yet reached the town before being attacked for the second time.
The attack was ferocious. They used primitive weapons and fighting methods. The crown prince realised who these people were then shouted an order to his imperial guards, "Do not harm them, subduing them is sufficient."
In the time it took an incense stick to burn, the attackers were completely subdued. Only, the attackers were ordinary people, and not the fierce experts.
The ten odd people were all in rags, with unkempt hair and dirty faces. Some even wore thin and light clothes. They clearly lacked thick clothing to wear; they were shivering. But starvation was much scarier. Long periods of hunger left them with ashen complexions, thin to the point of being only skin and bones and even their gaze was lifeless and empty.
"Who are you people?"
A man in his forties was held down to kneel on the floor. In fear, he said, "We are villagers from a village of pastures. We have not eaten in a very long time. Please have mercy. We still have children at home to take care of. If you let us live, we won't rob and plunder anymore. Begging esteemed officials to let us off ah…"
The man started to kowtow and the rest followed. Their panicked and scared appearance made one feel grieved on their behalf. Just what kind of customs and authorities did they have to make them fear officials to this extent?
The crown prince's aloof expression became even colder.
"No need to fear. I will truthfully say that the person next to me is indeed the current crown prince bringing rations to the south. Even if you had the intention to rob and kill, you have eventually explained the situation to us. The crown prince will understand." Zhou Xu naturally had a smiling face even without smiling. Coupled with his calm and gentle tone, he made the group of people lower their guard.
Seeing that they had lowered their guard, Zhou Xu called people over, each person sending ten jin of rice. The group of people stood dumbfounded while holding the rice. When they finally reacted, the group of mobs became children who were ecstatic over the ten jin of rice.
"Cough, you all have received forgiveness, as well as rice. Still haven't bowed and thanked the crown prince?" Zhou Xu gently laughed as he reminded them.
Thump, thump.
These ten odd people knelt in succession, their feelings of gratitude clearly shown in their speech and actions, "Many thanks to your highness for this great kindness."
Zhou Xu appeared very satisfied. The crown prince helped them up, saying, "All rise. This matter is something this prince ought to carry out. Go and register your name with the people over there; Before next year's harvest, you can receive rice and grain appropriate for the number of people in your family monthly, as well as thicker clothing and quilts to pass the winter."
The ten odd people who were going to stand up thumped back onto the floor to kneel. A few youths even began to wipe their tears. The crown prince and Zhou Xu looked at each other and finally understood: the fund of five million taels that was sent in aid, likely none of it reached the commoners.
They did not continue forward, but rather followed the ten odd people to their hiding place. It was a ruined temple on a mountain. There were some huts behind it. Although it was old and shabby, they still had a roof over their heads. Their own houses had already been destroyed and they had no money to repair them, hence they could only live here. At least it could shelter them from the wind and the rain.
Apart from these ten odd people, there were seven or eight children inside, five women and two old men. Altogether there were more than twenty people and shockingly, all had not eaten for three days and three nights.
The children were dancing in joy after seeing the rice. The women sobbed while hastily boiling water to cook. The old men touched the bag of rice, their dry eyes becoming wet.
Zhou Xu noticed the crown prince's feelings. It was likely the first time the crown prince felt such deep sorrow.
While the refugees ate, Zhou Xu and the crown prince asked for a bowl of porridge. The old man, who was the oldest in the group, trembled as he respectfully passed them the bowls. The crown prince hastily said, "We can do it ourselves."
The old man's teeth were nearly all gone. He spoke in a hoarse voice, "Your highness, you have saved all of us villagers."
While he drank the porridge, the crown prince took the opportunity to chat with the old man. It turned out that they had never heard of the monetary aid, much less receive help and compensation from the local authorities. They were asked to pay taxes even after the disaster, making their already difficult lives truly reach a new low; the remaining food in the whole village was insufficient to pay taxes.
The old man had tried to seek help from the county office, but was beaten and forced to leave by the attendants. In the end, the local authorities sent people to search his house, snatching his last bit of food.
The more the crown prince heard, the more furious he became. Others could not read his cold expression but Zhou Xu knew he was very angry.
Lightly patting the crown prince's back, Zhou Xu signaled him to calm down. The crown prince looked at Zhou Xu and nodded, continuing to listen as the old man spoke.
Meanwhile, Zhou Zong Han who had his property confiscated became completely mad. He wanted revenge. Why did Zhou Xu have everything, while he had nothing? What did Zhou Xu do to deserve it? Just because he was a legitimate son?
Qi Lan was in despair. Zhou Zong Han was not the husband she wanted. Currently, she only wanted to raise the child well. As for Zhou Zong Han, the more distant he was from the child, the better.
Zhou Zong Han relied on his past connection with the capital's number one beauty to contact someone. This person was precisely the third prince's subordinate.
When the third prince's side heard that it was Zhou Zong Han, they were very happy. In the past, many people praised his critique on political affairs. If it was not for the comparison with Zhou Xu's essay, Zhou Zong Han could have definitely aimed for the top scholar. It was a pity that after comparison, the emperor did not even award him second or third place.
After Zhou Zong Han knew that his backer was the third prince, he was overwhelmed with joy. He vowed to ensure that the third prince ascended the throne regardless of the methods used. In any case, as long as he had revenge, he did not care about much else.
History is always written by the winners. If he and the third prince succeeded, he would have rendered an outstanding achievement. At that time, becoming the prime minister would not be impossible.
Zhou Zong Han coldly voiced out, "Zhou Xu, I want to fight you to the end."