Chapter 117 - 84: Fairy, My Wife, Critical Hits with Every Slash (2)

Chapter 117: Chapter 84: Fairy, My Wife, Critical Hits with Every Slash (2)

So, Zhao Yong was also led to his quarters.

...

Behind the Commandery Princess’s Mansion were several elegant little courtyards. Not far from them was a vital location in Qingyang County—the armory.

The guard detail responsible for escorting the medicinal pills had already taken command of the armory. They split into two shifts, rotating guard duty. While one team stood watch, the other rested in the courtyard closest to the armory.

The courtyards where the two Princes were staying, however, were a bit farther away.

"Why does the sky in the Northern Three Prefectures feel so gray and hazy?"

Zhao Ci glanced up, feeling an indescribable sense of oppression. He had always been curious about the ruins of the previous dynasty, since he had never seen them before.

’I didn’t expect to feel the oppressive aura of the old dynasty’s ruins just by staying in the Northern Three Prefectures.’

These three commandery cities existed just to seal a single entrance to the ruins, yet they had trapped millions of people for generations.

’Just how magnificent must the entire ruins be?’

"No wonder Kan Luotang comes here every autumn."

Zhao Ci sighed softly. He didn’t quite have the mindset of a Prince; he hadn’t yet lost the ability to empathize with ordinary people.

Even though he had never considered himself a good person, he couldn’t help but feel a pang of compassion when he thought of the plight of the people in the Northern Three Prefectures.

Their homeland was poisoned, which weakened their bodies, yet they weren’t even allowed to leave.

It wasn’t just them. Their children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren would all suffer the same fate.

Even if they wanted to protect their home, their Innate deficiencies made every step a struggle.

Did he feel sorry for them?

Yes.

But that was all it was.

Zhao Ci didn’t see himself as a savior. He was more of a bystander, like someone in his past life scrolling through TikTok, sighing at the misfortunes of others, and then closing the app to retreat back into his own little bubble.

And so, a genuine admiration for Kan Luotang blossomed within him.

’Agreeing to her request would certainly cause a lot of trouble, but I don’t really regret it.’

’As for now...’

Zhao Ci glanced at the hazy sunset. It wasn’t much past 5:00 PM, and back in Lingge, the nightlife wouldn’t have even started.

’I’ll go for a walk first.’

He changed his clothes and headed toward another courtyard.

This trip to the Northern Three Prefectures was considered part of the competition between Princes, not a pleasure cruise, so they had brought no coachmen or maids.

However, that didn’t mean there were no familiar faces.

"Huang Duzhe!"

"Yes! Coming!"

Huang Duzhe hurried out of the courtyard, still wearing his armor. Dressed as a Guard Captain, he asked, "Your Highness, what are your orders?"

He was one of the two Guard Captains.

Zhao Ci patted his pauldron. "Go change your clothes. You’re coming for a walk with me."

Huang Duzhe glanced at Zhao Ci’s coarse linen clothes, his mind racing. "Your Highness, I understand! We’re going out incognito to observe the people’s conditions, right? Everyone says Your Highness is compassionate toward the common folk. Now I see your reputation is well-deserved!"

Huh?

Zhao Ci was a little surprised. ’This guy’s pretty smooth,’ he thought. ’Doesn’t fit the stereotype of someone with no social skills at all.’

He grinned. "So, this disguise will pass, right?"

"Yes, yes! Of course!"

Huang Duzhe praised him profusely. "Your Highness, your disguise is perfect! You look more like a farmer than my own second uncle!"

Zhao Ci: "..."

’So he does have some social skills.’

’But not much!’

’What a strange way to compliment someone...’

Not thinking he’d said anything inappropriate, Huang Duzhe quickly returned to his room to change. Since the guards were on a two-shift rotation, he was technically off-duty. Besides, accompanying the lead envoy to observe the local conditions could be considered part of his mission anyway.

A moment later, he came back out in a fresh set of clothes.

"Your Highness!"

"Once we’re outside, just call me Old Zhao."

"No problem, Old Zhao!"

"Rolls right off the tongue, doesn’t it?"

Zhao Ci and Huang Duzhe left the small courtyard side by side. They didn’t take horses or a carriage, heading straight for the city outskirts on foot.

Along the way, he finally asked the question that had been bugging him for a long time. "Tell me, Old Huang, your cultivation is nothing to scoff at. Divine Treasure Second Layer, almost at the Third Layer. That’s impressive even among the imperial guards. So how did you end up stuck guarding a gate at the Imperial Palace?"

The imperial guards are also ranked.

The highest-ranking ones guard the Emperor himself.

The lowest-ranking are stuck guarding the Imperial Palace gates. It’s the most exhausting post and carries the least prestige.

Most of the guards who get stuck on gate duty have just barely reached the Physical Body Realm. Someone at Huang Duzhe’s level is practically unheard of there.

Zhao Ci had also assumed he was only in the Physical Body Realm. He was shocked when he saw Huang Duzhe’s name on the escort detail roster.

Huang Duzhe looked vexed. "I have no idea! Some people say it’s because I don’t know how to talk and offended my superior. But I think I speak just fine!"

Zhao Ci: "..."

’Never mind.’

’I shouldn’t have even asked.’

The two appeared to be strolling casually, but their pace was surprisingly swift. Before long, they arrived in the northern part of the city.

By the time they arrived, the sun had already sunk halfway below the horizon. Aside from the faint yellow afterglow, the entire city was shrouded in the gray-blue twilight.

The streets were deserted, utterly lacking the hustle and bustle of Lingge.

Only a few scattered taverns had a pair of dim lanterns hanging over their doors.

Huang Duzhe explained in a low voice, "Old Zhao, the Northern Three Prefectures aren’t like Lingge. There aren’t any attractive industries in the city. The officials who willingly post here have all their food and drink shipped in from the outside; they won’t touch the local grain or wine. That’s why the common folk don’t like living in the city."

"No wonder!"

Zhao Ci had a moment of realization. The meal they’d just had was perfectly normal. Even the most common grains showed no signs of being malformed or nutrient-poor.

Let alone being poisonous.

He asked, curious, "The nearly ten thousand officials in the Northern Three Prefectures... is all their food and drink shipped in from the outside?"