Chapter 146: Chapter 146

When Shen Qinglan and Xuan Ming arrived at the main hall, Duan Yunfei, Le Zhao, and Xuan Ying were already seated at the dining table.

"You’re here!" Duan Yunfei stood up and pulled her to sit beside him.

"Good morning, Miss Shen!"

Le Zhao and Xuan Ying said in unison.

The two exchanged a glance, Le Zhao chuckled lightly, while Xuan Ying snorted and turned his head away.

Xuan Ming shook his head and sat down next to Xuan Ying.

"Is the carriage ready?"

After serving Shen Qinglan a bowl of rice porridge, Duan Yunfei asked Xuan Ming.

"Everything is prepared," Xuan Ming said, "and the items have all been packed."

Duan Yunfei nodded. After finishing breakfast, he looked at Le Zhao and asked, "What about you? Are you returning with us to Jinxi Town, or heading back to the Capital?"

Le Zhao simply said four words, "You already know."

Duan Yunfei glanced at Xuan Ying and smiled silently.

Shen Qinglan didn’t bring much when she arrived, but was leaving with a carriage full of goods.

These were all gifts prepared by Luo Jing and Mrs. Xuan for her, mostly consisting of fruits, snacks, silks, and famous wines intended for her relatives.

Six days later, Jinxi Town.

As Shen Qinglan and her party arrived at the Town Gate, they heard the noisy commotion from outside the carriage.

"What’s going on?" Duan Yunfei asked aloud.

"Young master, I’m not sure. It seems like refugees are clashing with the government men," the coachman said. "Master, the entrance is blocked, the carriage can’t get through."

Upon hearing this, the group frowned, and Shen Qinglan lifted the curtain to see refugees tightly blocking the Town Gate. For more chapters visıt novel~fire~net

Due to the snow, the mountain roads were difficult to travel, causing their delayed return.

County Magistrate Pei and Old Tang descended the mountain a day earlier than them, so they should have arrived yesterday. Why would such a situation arise?

"Let us in. It’s snowing, if you don’t let us in, do you intend to freeze us to death outside?"

"They said the Court would soon resolve our issues. Where are the Court’s people? Why haven’t we seen them?"

The refugees gathered before the town gate in protest, their shouts growing louder and louder.

"How could this happen?" Xuan Ying frowned. "Weren’t they supposed to be appeased?"

A soldier shouted, "The official just returned. The issue will be resolved soon. If you continue to cause trouble, don’t blame us when things go wrong!"

"Who are you fooling?" someone shouted. "It’s been so long, and we haven’t seen anyone from the Court. You’re still trying to deceive us!"

"The ones in charge this time aren’t from the Court," the soldier shouted back, "it’s the people from Yongning Manor. Their manor owner has already promised thirty silver taels and fifty bags of grain for each household. If you keep causing trouble, you’ll get nothing, not even a single grain!"

"Thirty silver taels!"

The refugees’ aggression suddenly calmed considerably.

"Of course, it’s true!" the soldier shouted, "we heard it directly from our master. Do you think we’d lie to you?"

"When will the money and grain be distributed to us?"

Now that the water has receded, many houses were washed away, without money they can’t build new homes.

"Why rush?" the soldier said, "soon they’ll come to register you, once it’s done, you’ll receive the money and silver taels. However..."

Changing his tone, the soldier coldly said, "If anyone dares to be cunning, deliberately reporting false or additional households, once found, you’ll face execution."

This statement immediately quelled any restless thoughts among the people.

They were after all simple villagers. Though tempted by wealth, hearing about risking their lives made them drop those thoughts.