The moon falling to the ground

Chapter 272 Beggar

When the two little beggars heard that there were steamed buns to eat, their eyes immediately lit up. But when they were asked to lead the way, they shook their heads and dared not go.

Fulang went to the roadside to call for help again. After a while, he brought over an old beggar with a limp and a stick.

"Master, they said that starting from this spring, the magistrate will not allow beggars like them to show up on the main street. If they are found, they will be beaten to death."

Ji Yunzhong raised his eyebrows: "Why?"

Fu Lang said to the old beggar: "Tell me the reason in detail. The more detailed you are, the more reward you will get."

The old beggar hesitated for a moment and said, "I didn't know the reason at first. Later, I found out after asking around that the magistrate was afraid that Princess Mingyue would suddenly come to his fiefdom and that we beggars would affect his political achievements, so he drove us to a secluded place."

After thinking for a while, the old beggar said: "There are many beggars in Tong County, and they are divided into many gangs. The county magistrate dare not do too much, for fear of causing unrest."

Jian Yue looked at the dirty old beggar in front of her. His gray hair was like a chicken coop, covering half of his face, so she couldn't see his true appearance: "So, the beggars on this street belong to the same gang?"

The old beggar's face changed, and he looked at Jian Yue warily. Jian Yue smiled and said, "Don't be afraid, we have no ill intentions. Since you dare not go to the main street, we will leave some money for you, how about you go and buy it yourself?"

The old beggar bowed and said, "Thank you very much, sir."

Ji Yunzhong said: "Let your heads come out and give money to your heads, otherwise you will not be able to keep them."

The old beggar was silent for a moment, then said, "I am the leader of these beggars."

Ji Yunzhong waved his hand, and Fulang took out ten taels of silver and gave them to the old beggar.

The old beggar and the two little beggars were overjoyed and quickly knelt down and kowtowed.

"Thank you, my lord!"

"Good people will be rewarded, and they will definitely make a fortune."

The two little beggars were very articulate. They must have said these words many times, so they spoke very fluently.

Jian Yue suddenly said: "Judging from your accents, you should all be from Tong County. Why have you all become beggars?"

The old man and two children suddenly fell silent. Jian Yue could keenly sense the sadness and anger of the old beggar.

Jian Yue said: "Don't worry, old man. We won't spread what you said today and won't cause you any trouble. We are just curious why there are so many beggars in Tong County, and they are locals."

She didn't know that beggars were all locals, and she was just trying to trick the old beggar by saying that.

The old beggar sighed heavily: "It's not a secret. We were originally villagers from the vicinity of Tong County. We all made a living by farming. But the taxes in Tong County have always been higher than other places. The land here is barren and the harvest has always been poor. Therefore, those who can't pay the taxes sell their children. In the end, when there is no one to sell, they sell the land. If there is no land to sell, they mortgage the house. Then, we became homeless beggars."

Jian Yue frowned: "Tong County is under the jurisdiction of Pingchang Prefecture. Why don't you file a complaint with the Tong County Magistrate for doing this?"

The old beggar had a sarcastic look on his face and smiled helplessly: "In the past, there were people who filed complaints every year, but the people who filed complaints were never found alive or dead. Later, no one dared to file a complaint."

Ji Yunzhong said: "Pingchang Prefecture Lord Bai Jianxiong and former Duke Lu, now Lord Lu, are brothers-in-law."

Jian Yue understood.

The county magistrate extorted money from the people, and naturally he would benefit from the government officials. The farmers' fields were taken away by the government and the big landlords, and the desperate people either became slaves or beggars. No matter which outcome, it had no effect on those powerful people. It only made them fatter.

Even though Emperor Jingzhen was considered a wise ruler, there were still many dark places below him where the sun never shone. The court officials and aristocratic families of this era were powerful, greedy, and bold. To them, the lower-class people were nothing but ants, apart from being exploited and enslaved. It was even harder for the common people to get their grievances heard directly by the emperor than to go to heaven.

"Let's go look somewhere else." Jian Yue felt inexplicably angry.

Ji Yunzhong touched his nose guiltily and hurried to follow.

At first, he and his brother the Crown Prince just wanted to find a place for Jian Yue that had a promising future but would not attract attention. But after an actual inspection, there were indeed a lot of bad things going on here! Did he do more harm than good?

Ji Yunzhong secretly regretted it.

When they reached a deserted place, Jian Yue asked, "Tong County is my fiefdom. Am I the most powerful person in Tong County?"

Ji Yunzhong understood immediately: "Of course, you want to be the master of Tong County, and the county magistrate is a soldier under your command. If he disobeys, let him go."

Jian Yue's mood instantly improved a lot: "Okay, find out clearly. If Zhao Tongfang is a corrupt official who only cares about his position and does nothing, then let him go."

Ji Yunzhong choked up and said, "There's no need to be so hasty. Wait until you have a clear understanding of the government affairs in Tong County before asking him to leave."

A small Zhao Tongfang is not to be feared, but the problem is that there is a Ningyuan Marquis standing behind him. And Bai Jianxiong, the Lord of Pingchang Prefecture, is unknown what role he played in it.

"Let's go see your Princess Mansion first! I heard that it has just been completed. Let's go and see how it is going?" Ji Yunzhong suggested.

The newly built Princess Mansion is located a little to the east of the center of the county town. It is separated from the county government by two streets. It is a three-in-one courtyard with four rooms. It is simple and elegant, and does not look gorgeous.

Jian Yue's mind moved: "The style of the master who designed the Princess's Mansion is quite to my liking."

Ji Yunzhong smiled proudly: "I knew you would be satisfied. It seems that my hard work has not been in vain."

Jian Yue glanced at him in surprise: "You designed this? No way?"

Ji Yunzhong raised his chin proudly: "Besides me, who else can design a princess mansion that suits your taste?"

Jian Yue couldn't help but smile: "Thank you, Fifth Prince, for your hard work!"

Ji Yunzhong snorted and said dissatisfiedly: "Are you just saying thank you?"

Jian Yue hesitated and said, "How about I treat you to a feast after we move into the Princess's Mansion?"

Ji Yunzhong was dissatisfied: "What kind of thanks is this? There is no sincerity at all."

Jian Yue was speechless: "How about you state a condition?"

"Purse, embroider a purse or a handkerchief for me."

Jian Yue narrowed her eyes and looked at him with a half-smile: "Your Highness, you must know that a girl's purse and handkerchief cannot be given away casually, right?"

Ji Yunzhong said with a thick face: "It's true that you can't just give it to anyone, but it's okay if you give it to me. We are friends for life and death, so who cares?"

Jian Yue didn't know whether to laugh or cry, knowing that Ji Yunzhong hadn't given up yet. But she really didn't want to talk about feelings now. She couldn't accept getting married at the age of fifteen.

Ji Yunzhong was like a worm in her stomach, and he knew exactly what she was thinking: "I know you don't want to get married so early. But I can wait. When you want to get married, how about you consider me first?"

Jian Yue was caught off guard and ran into his affectionate and passionate...