Adhere to the gentleman's principles

"Does your back still hurt?" Li Yin asked. Li Ziyan said, "It hasn't hurt for a long time." Li Yin said, "That's good." Xu Zhiwan said, "Okay, okay, let's eat quickly." Uncle Hu ran over and said, "My lord, the Prince of Qi is here." After hearing this, Li Yin and the four of them walked to the door, and Xiao Xuanhe had already entered the mansion.

Xiao Xuanhe said, "I am here to announce the decree." The four of them knelt down to listen to the decree. Xiao Xuanhe said firmly, "The Emperor of Heaven and Order decrees that the son of Marquis Guangping is a gifted man of heaven. I cherish talents. Lucheng, the main city of Liangzhou, is short of a county magistrate. Li Ziyan is extremely intelligent and won the top three in this provincial examination. Therefore, Li Ziyan is appointed as the county magistrate immediately. He can bring his family with him after a year. I decree this."

The four of them said in unison: "Your Majesty, long live the Emperor."

Xiao Xuanhe looked at the four people and said, "Get up quickly!"

He walked up to Li Ziyan and said, "Congratulations, young marquis. This is your appointment letter, Lord Li."

Li Ziyan said with a smile in his eyes: "Thank you, Your Highness Prince Qi."

Xiao Xuanhe looked at the other three people and said, "I have finished my order. I will take my leave now."

After Xiao Xuanhe left, Xu Zhiwan asked, "Why did you send me an official position, a county magistrate? It's an official position that can be bought with money."

Li Yin sighed and said, "Who dares not to follow the position given by the monarch? I don't know what his majesty is planning."

Zhao Junning looked at Li Ziyan and asked, "What's wrong? Do you think there is something wrong?"

Li Ziyan nodded and said, "This is a huge problem."

Back in the house, Zhao Junning asked, "What do you think the problem is? Do you think it's the prince?"

Li Ziyan said: "Yes, I don't think His Majesty took the initiative to give me this position. But now Bianjing is also short of county magistrates, why did you ask me to go to Liangzhou and Lucheng?"

Zhao Junning said, "Yes, it's really strange." Then Zhao Junning asked, "When do you plan to set off?"

Li Ziyan said: "Tomorrow you and Fuling Moyu Feizhou will go first, and I will leave the day after tomorrow."

Zhao Junning asked, "Why do we have to go separately?" Li Ziyan was silent. Zhao Junning said, "I know. You think the prince will send someone to intercept you on the way to Liangzhou. You are afraid that I will be in danger."

"But I don't want to leave first. I'm with you. I've been very lucky since I was a child."

Zhao Junning held Li Ziyan's hand with a firm look in her eyes. Li Ziyan nodded and said, "Okay."

On this day, Fuling stood at the dock and asked, "Miss, we'll leave first."

Zhao Junning nodded and said, "Go ahead. Remember to get off the boat and travel by land when you reach Jizhou." Fuling pursed her lips and said, "Yes, Miss, I remember that."

Then Zhao Junning said to Mo Yu and Fei Zhou, "Please take good care of Fuling and these servants. When you get to Liangzhou, take a look at the houses. If you can't find any, go find the governor Yang. We will be there soon."

Mo Yu and Fei Zhou said, "It's the young lady." Li Ziyan said, "Let's go."

After the boat left, Zhao Junning and Li Ziyan stood at the dock and watched for a long time.

Then the two of them set off, and they drove the carriage away, with Xu Zhiwan and Li Yin, that is, Meng Xiangning and Zhao Nian seeing them off. After watching the carriage leave, Meng Xiangning and Xu Zhiwan entered the mansion, and Zhao Nian walked up to Li Yin and said, "This time the prince's move was too stupid."

Li Yin said, "Yes, I hope these two children can reach Liangzhou safely. We two can't help them, but fortunately we have secret guards."

Zhao Nian said solemnly: "Yes, but our secret guards can only protect these two children to Taizhou and then pass through Jingzhou and Bingzhou."

Li Yin put his hands behind his back and said, "It all depends on their luck. Let's go in and talk, Brother Zhao."

After driving the carriage for two days, Zhao Junning lifted the curtain and looked out. Li Ziyan said, "Junning, let's go to Yucheng and rest for one night."

Zhao Junning nodded and said, "Okay." Then Zhao Junning asked, "It's been a peaceful journey." Li Ziyan said, "Because someone is protecting us and helping us clear the obstacles."

Zhao Junning was a little confused: "Who is it?" Li Ziyan scratched Zhao Junning's nose and said: "My wife, have you forgotten that our two families have secret guards? The journey has been so peaceful, it must be that my father and father-in-law paved the way for us in advance. But I think we may have to rely on ourselves after passing Taizhou."

Zhao Junning finally put her mind at ease after hearing this. Li Ziyan comforted her, "Don't worry, I will protect you all the way to Liangzhou." Zhao Junning nodded and said, "I'm not afraid, I will protect you too."

After traveling for about ten days, they passed Taizhou and Jingzhou, and everything went smoothly and safely.

When the two men arrived in Bingzhou and entered Bingzhou Yuancheng, they saw many beggars along the road. The rich ones wore gold and silver, while the poor ones slept on the street.

"Get out of the way. You stole buns the day before yesterday, stole yesterday, and are still stealing today. Get out of here, you stinky beggar. I'm doing business here, not giving alms." The bun shop owner pushed a middle-aged man onto the street, and the rest of the beggars rushed up to grab. Zhao Junning and Li Ziyan sat down at a restaurant in Yanbian, and while they were eating, they heard a commotion on the street.

"My two guests, please enjoy your meal." The waiter placed the food on the table. Zhao Junning took out a silver ingot and asked, "Why are there so many beggars in this city?"

The waiter said, "Bingzhou is one of the three states on the northern border, facing the northern Mongolians, who are burning, killing, looting and banditry. These people are refugees who fled from Sangping City. They just came to our street a month ago. The shops and restaurants along the street have all provided assistance. A few days ago, several of our larger restaurants also said they would hire them to work and pay them. These people are used to free meals and don't want to. We can't always give them food. Food also costs money. If we give them for free, we will lose too much.

After that, no one cared about them, so they just stole and robbed at will. "After hearing this, Li Ziyan looked at the refugees who were still robbing on the street and asked, "Then the government here doesn't care?"

The waiter looked sad and shook his head, saying, "The government has intervened and said that they can get paid and have enough food if they work. These people are the rich people of Sangping City and they don't want to work, so the government can't control them. Look, our restaurants are guarded by government soldiers. They are finishing their work, and only two people have left today."

Li Ziyan snorted after hearing this: "Then you are just asking for trouble."

The waiter took the change and gave it to Zhao Junning, saying, "Sir, please keep it safe and don't let those people see it, or they will snatch it away."

After hearing this, Zhao Junning turned around and looked at the street while packing the silver. None of the refugees on the street looked at them. Zhao Junning handed the bag of silver to Li Ziyan and said, "You carry it."

Li Ziyan took it and said, "Okay." Zhao Junning put the change on himself. Seeing Zhao Junning's drooping face, Li Ziyan said, "Don't look so sad, eat quickly."

Zhao Junning nodded, and Li Ziyan asked, "Are you feeling sorry for these people?" Zhao Junning shook her head and said, "I'm not that kind. These people are asking for trouble and starving themselves. What's the point of me feeling sorry for them? I just wonder why the border is so chaotic."

Li Ziyan asked with a smile: "Are you worried and scared?" Zhao Junning nodded and said: "No matter what, I am not so scared with you around."