Shen Xining took off the pearl hairpin on her head and raised her hand high. The hairpin was made of high-quality material and it sparkled brightly in the sun. She looked at everyone.
"Everyone, this thing can be exchanged for 200 taels of silver, which is enough for you to eat for at least three days. If you let us live, this thing will be yours!"
The people around were still staring at them eagerly. Shen Xining's palms were sweating. She took off the other pearl hairpin on her head. This was all her belongings, Shen Xining said loudly.
"Everyone, these two pearl hairpins can be exchanged for 500 taels of silver, which is enough for you to live for a while at least!"
As Shen Xining was speaking, he was about to move forward. Xie Zhaoan stood up at some point, followed closely behind Shen Xining, and whispered.
"Ms. Shen is so majestic. She gives me a great sense of security. I want to thank Miss Shen very much!"
Such a nice sentence, but it was inexplicably ironic when it came out of this man's mouth. Shen Xining frowned and had no time to pay attention to Xie Zhaoan. However, he never expected that after he took two steps, the old man spoke again.
"You two are both wealthy people and our benefactors. Please save us!"
The people around shouted together.
"Please save us, both of you!"
As he spoke, someone reached out to Shen Xining.
There were so many people around that Shen Xining and Xie Zhaoan's circle was getting smaller and smaller. The boundless fear and the stench in the air made Shen Xining feel a little short of breath, and her face turned slightly pale. Xie Zhaoan stood beside her, taking in her expression, and the stench around made Xie Zhaoan frown. When everyone was about to grab their things, Xie Zhaoan grabbed Shen Xining's waist and brought her out with his light kung fu.
"you... ... ."
"Don't talk."
Xie Zhaoan's hands were on her waist, giving her an unusual sense of security. He helped her onto the horse, and the two of them galloped away. Behind Shen Xining was the man's warm chest. Her nose no longer smelled the stench, but instead the cool pine scent of the man. Shen Xining pursed her lips, and her heart skipped a beat.
It was unknown how long it had been, but Xie Zhaoan finally tightened the reins and stopped galloping with her. The horse stopped on a high hill.
The two men stood on a high ground. Shen Xining was stunned when he saw the scene in front of him.
The huge royal riding and archery field was guarded by royal guards all around. Even from a distance, one could still see the magnificent resting area. Having just come out of it, Shen Xining knew that the prey inside was even more valuable. However, in order to allow the royal men to practice riding and archery from an early age, these prey were purchased.
Not far from the horse riding and archery field, there were large groups of black people. The dark crowds made Shen Xining feel depressed, and there was even a foul smell in her nostrils.
That group of people must have not eaten for a long time, and they still smelled like corpses.
"The refugees came here from the county government below. There was a flood in the south this year, and these refugees fled to the north, but they had nowhere to turn for help, and they couldn't even get through the city gates. The royal archery field and the refugees' place are only a hundred meters apart. Do you think the royal family can't see these refugees?"
Shen Xining's nails dug into his palms, and the pain stimulated his senses.
"These refugees have been stationed here for a month. More than 30 people have starved to death in this month. Seven days ago, they began to eat corpses. In a few days, I'm afraid that even living people will become food."
“That’s enough!”
Shen Xining interrupted Xie Zhaoan in a cold voice.
"Fourth Prince, I don't understand what you mean. Since these refugees are in such a difficult situation, they should go through normal channels and seek help from the government. The government will solve the problem."
After Shen Xining finished speaking, he turned around and wanted to leave. Xie Zhaoan was still looking into the distance, but his words were carried by the wind to Shen Xining's ears.
"Ms. Shen, you allocate funds from your government every month to help refugees in the suburbs of Beijing. Whenever you look at the refugees, you always have an extremely sad look. What you saw today may make you feel cold. If the government is willing to help these refugees, do you think they will go to the point of eating corpses? Or do you think the royal family has no money or is unwilling to help?"
Shen Xining froze in place. She wanted to answer that it was the former, that the empty treasury caused these refugees to be homeless. But although Shen Xining was a girl in the boudoir, she had heard a little about the affairs of the court. There were frequent floods in the south, and people were displaced and homeless, and there was a shortage of food. Every time the emperor went to court, he would be furious about this matter, but there was no one available in the court, and no one was willing to go.
Even worse, rumors began to spread that if the emperor died and a new emperor ascended the throne, the situation would change. But whenever someone was sent to investigate, they were either corrupt or died on the way. Whenever they inquired about the progress, they were told that the treasury was empty and that there was no money, so there was no way to govern.
But some time ago, the state banquet for the Queen's birthday cost tens of thousands of taels of gold, and today's archery competition, the rare birds and beasts alone cost thousands of taels of silver. Is the treasury really empty? Or is it just a lie
"Fourth Prince, I don't understand why you have to tell us girls like you about this. I don't understand these court affairs. I have something else to do in Xining, so I'll leave first."
"Shen Xining, you are the daughter of the current imperial tutor, and you are going to marry into the palace and become the mother of the nation. This matter has nothing to do with you? It has nothing to do with the Shen family?"
"Fourth Prince, the Celestial Empire will not collapse even if it follows the established path. Even if the royal family and nobles live a miserable life, they are better off than refugees. So why should I worry about the fate of others?"
Shen Xining hurriedly prepared to leave, and Xie Zhaoan frowned deeply. Shen Xining did not tell the truth. She was well aware of the country's interests, but for her, the pressure was not harsh enough, so Shen Xining still wanted to hide.
How can it be that easy
Xie Zhaoan stepped forward and tried to grab Shen Xining's arm. Not far away, an arrow shot over and scratched Xie Zhaoan's arm. He frowned. Behind him, a group of men in black were riding horses forward. Xie Zhaoan directly picked up Shen Xining by the waist and rode away on his horse.
Shen Xining was lying across the horse, his stomach was churning and he almost vomited.
"Xie Zhaoan! Put me down!"
At least, let her sit!
Xie Zhaoan glanced at the back of her head twice and pretended not to hear. This was the first time he had met such a stubborn woman with such a bad temper, and it ignited Xie Zhaoan's strong desire to conquer her. One day, he wanted to see Shen Xining surrender, put away those fangs, put away that rebellious look, and use her for his own purposes.
The horse's speed did not slow down, but even faster. Shen Xining was shaking so much that her eyes rolled back. If she had a dagger in her hand right now, she would have stabbed it directly into the man's heart without hesitation.