The sun shines through the branches and prints dots of light on the ground.

The trees on both sides were retreating rapidly,

The dust is flying, among the flying sand grains,

A pair of handsome men and women were riding horses and running quickly on the official road.

They distributed the food and water on the carriage to the women and children.

Lingnan Prefecture official residence,

"Your Majesty Shi Yuanjing is here to see His Highness the Crown Prince."

"Master Shi, there is no need to panic. I am here to find a delicacy. I heard that Lingnan rice is the most delicious in the world, so I just wanted to ask for some, Master Shi, to go with my delicacy."

Looking at the suspicious eyes of the officials, Qiao Xi explained, "We met some victims when we came out this time and gave them all our things, so we haven't eaten yet."

Master Shi immediately understood the meaning,

His Royal Highness, it is a lie to eat, but it is true to ask.

He immediately explained, "This year, several villages suffered from famine. The official has sent people to resettle them and also thought of some remedies."

"So, Lingnan City has not been affected?" Qi Anze looked at and played with the jade ring in his hand casually.

"I suffered a little, but it wasn't too serious. I didn't report it to my Majesty because I was afraid that His Majesty would be upset."

This makes sense, after all, no emperor would want his subordinates to report anything and be irresponsible.

Qi Anze patted his shoulder and said happily, "It is a blessing for the people to have such a pillar of talent in Hua Qi State."

"Don't dare to take it seriously."

Seeing Qi Anze preparing to leave, Qiao Xi spoke at the right moment, "Your Highness, it's already noon. Let's have dinner before heading on the road."

Qi Anze thought for a moment and then said in a difficult tone,

"...It just so happens that I have never tasted Lingnan specialties. I would like to ask Mr. Shi to arrange it. Don't bother me."

"No trouble, no trouble. It is an honor for us Lingnan people that His Highness is willing to eat our food." Mr. Shi said with a smile.

After a while, exquisite dishes were served on the table.

The two people waved away the serving maid and closed the door.

He didn't pay attention to the exquisite dishes, but looked at the bucket of rice seriously.

Crystal clear, white and plump, no different from what she ate at home.

After taking a bite, Qiao Xi affirmed, "This tastes exactly the same as what I had at home."

"It's very strange that they are exactly the same." Qi Anze said after taking a sip.

"The rice in my house is this year's new rice. I have eaten last year's rice in the palace before, and the rice from the three periods has the same taste."

"It should be several flavors." Qiao Xi thought that the same flavors would be appropriate. After all, who dares to offer Chen rice.

"But this year's rice is not only suffering from drought but also a locust plague. How can it have the same taste? It should at least taste a little worse than last year's."

"Didn't Master Shi say that Lingnan didn't suffer many disasters?"

"Last year was a bumper harvest year, but this year has been a disaster year that left several villages without harvests. Even if Lingnan was not hit by a very serious disaster, it would be impossible to grow rice with the same taste and plump grains as in a bumper harvest year."

"Is it possible that it's Chen Mi? He's afraid of the taste this year..."

Qiao Xi suddenly stopped. The host just said that the rice in the house is this year's new rice, which means that not only is there no famine here, but it is also a good harvest year.

What about the escapees they met when they came?

"Either there is a problem with the deserters, or there is a problem with Lingnan City."

"Then what do we do now?"

"Just like before, check quietly." Qi Anze said very lightly, looking at her innocently.

Qiao Xi nodded helplessly.

She now feels that things are getting more and more complicated. Ever since the host was rescued in advance, the problems they encountered have become very difficult.

First it was corruption, and now there was a locust plague. Not only did she cry out in her heart, it would be the emperor's birthday soon, and the plot would be over soon.

The two of them asked for a carriage and hurried out of the city on the pretext of going to Chun'an to look for treasures for the emperor.

at night,

The state official residence is brightly lit,

Lord Shi sat restlessly and looked out. It was not until his servants came to report that His Highness the Crown Prince and his maid had left the city that he sat back on the Grand Master's chair with a sigh of relief.

"Master Shi is too courageous." A young man came out from behind the screen and said with a smile.

"Master Tang, why are you here? Do you have any orders?" Master Shi saw the person coming and quickly stood up and raised his hands.

No one would have thought that a small county magistrate could make a state official salute.

The young man waved his folding fan and said, "Don't panic, Mr. Shi. I'm here to ask why His Royal Highness came to your house today. Is it a business or a private matter?"

"His Royal Highness the Prince was originally going to Chun'an to hunt for treasures for His Majesty. When passing through Lingnan, he saw some deserters and came in to ask me about today's grain output and people's lives."

"What did you say?" Master Tang asked.

"I just followed what your Excellency told me and repeated it to His Highness the Crown Prince,"

Master Shi paused and continued, "Then His Royal Highness the Crown Prince asked me to pay more attention to the lives of the people and report it to the court if I need help."

…

"There is something I don't understand. I wonder if Mr. Tang can help me explain it."

"speak."

"Why do you pay so much attention to His Royal Highness?"

"...I'm not sure about this either. We are all people who obey orders." Master Tang asked with a smile.

"Have arrangements been made for this group of escapees?"

"It's been arranged, but I guess I won't be able to hide it for long. Some people have already noticed it and tried to sneak out of Lingnan City, but they were caught by my people."

"Where's the person? Did he die?"

"No, they are all ordinary people. I can't help but lock them in the cellar in the backyard."

Master Tang glanced at him with some disgust, stood up and said,

"Take me to see it."

Seeing the people in the room leave, the two people lying on the roof looked at each other, and Qiao Xi gently lifted the person and dropped him in the backyard of the government office.

But after searching around, they couldn't find the cellar where Master Shi mentioned the prisoner. When they heard footsteps, the two of them quickly got into a room.

Through the moonlight, through the gap between the door and window, they found that Mr. Shi stayed by the well for a while with his back to them.

The ground on the right suddenly opened slowly, and a large hole two people wide appeared in front of them.

"Master Shi's agency is more powerful than County Magistrate Wen's." Qiao Xi whispered.

The two of them came up shortly after going down. Mr. Shi kept wiping his hands with the cloth in his hand, while Mr. Tang next to him impatiently urged him to close the cellar quickly.

With sharp eyes, Qiao Xi saw blood on the clothes and faces of Master Shi and Master Tang, and his mouth opened involuntarily.

Qi Anze thought she was frightened and was about to scream, so he quickly held her in his arms and covered her mouth with one hand to prevent him from making any sound.

Wait until everyone is gone before letting them go.

Qiao Xi just suddenly saw the face of Mr. Tang. He was the illegitimate son of Magistrate Wen.
Chapter completed!