The ring connects the past and present, the exiled prince worships me as a god

"Why is the County Magistrate here? I am sorry for not welcoming you. I am sorry for not welcoming you."

A tall and thin man came out of the main hall with a hunched back. When he saw the magistrate, he clasped his hands together and was very humble and polite.

When his eyes moved to Qi Yu, he paused and asked suspiciously: "This young man looks very dignified, not like an ordinary family. I wonder where this noble man came from?"

"He was indeed a noble man in the past, but now he is a fugitive hated by everyone."

The magistrate said this in a sarcastic tone, never giving Qi Yu a straight look. Instead, he was very polite to the village chief for his obedience. "If he hadn't said he could get some food, I wouldn't have brought anyone here without permission. I wonder if I'm bothering Brother Yu?"

Yu Wenzheng's eyes flashed when he heard this, and he immediately guessed Qi Yu's identity. However, his reaction was very different from that of the county magistrate. He bowed respectfully to Qi Yu and said, "I am Yu Wenzheng, the head of Huai Village. I am honored to meet His Royal Highness the Crown Prince."

"What's the name of the prince? What's the name of the highness? He was exiled here. He is just a fugitive." The magistrate snorted.

"Hey, Mr. Magistrate, you shouldn't say that. It's said that His Royal Highness the Crown Prince has great ambitions and loves the people like his own children. There must be some injustice or misunderstanding that has caused him to act like this. You and I must not neglect him."

Yu Wenzhen placed his hand on the back of the magistrate's hand and patted it, his eyes sincere.

This is the person who respects him the most since he was exiled.

Qi Yu smiled lightly, "The magistrate is right. I am a fugitive and cannot deserve such a generous gift from the village chief. It is said that the village chief is blessed by the gods and has water to drink at his mansion. Qi Yu came here to make a deal with the village chief."

"Brother Yu, you don't know. If someone hadn't reported it, even I would have been kept in the dark." The magistrate couldn't help but glance at Qi Yu. "He was originally exiled to Huai Village to build a temple, but last night they were blessed by the gods and received a lot of fresh vegetables, but no water to drink, so he wanted to exchange food for water with you."

"Oh? Your Highness can get some food?"

Yu Wenzhen's eyes lit up and he was extremely excited. He quickly invited everyone into the house and asked someone to prepare tea.

Even in a year of famine, we can still drink such clear and mellow tea. It seems that the rumors are true. This village chief is no ordinary person.

Qi Yu: "I have been exiled here, and there is no prince. The village chief can call me Qi Yu. As for food, I will give you 100 kilograms of rice and 100 kilograms of flour to exchange for three days of water for the more than 30 exiled people."

"Can you get a hundred kilograms?" The village chief was unconvinced. "Where did you get it from?"

His people are all within a hundred miles of Huai Village. If someone takes the opportunity to transport vegetables, he will not be unaware of it.

On the contrary, if someone did this kind of thing under his nose, then it is very likely that what he has been doing will be exposed.

Thinking of this, Yu Wenzhen frowned.

"How else could he have come from? Brother Yu, where did he come from? Did you forget his identity just by calling him by his name?" The magistrate chuckled, his words hinting at something.

Qi Yu took advantage of this opportunity and simply played along, just smiling foolishly.

He said nothing, but answered everything.

The village chief could no longer laugh.

After enduring for a while, he tentatively asked, "Where is the food now?"

"It's the safest place." Qi Yu said, "If the village chief wants to see it with his own eyes, he can send someone to accompany me back to the place of exile later. But now, I need to make sure that the village chief has enough drinking water for us."

When the magistrate heard that there was still food in the exile place, he turned around and winked at the people behind him, and a guard quietly left.

"Water is not a problem. Someone, open the floodgates."

The village chief waved his hand and people immediately ran away in a hurry.

He led the way, taking Qi Yu and the magistrate out of the main hall, turned into the corridor, passed a courtyard, and came to the backyard of the house.

There was only an ancient well in an empty room.

Qi Yu could tell at a glance that the well was newly built.

"Thanks to the blessings of our ancestors and the protection of the gods, this century-old well suddenly began to seep water a few months ago." As the village chief spoke, his face was full of pride.

He asked people to prepare a large vat, and the bare ancient well suddenly began to produce water as if it had sensed something unusual.

Until the three large vats were filled, the ancient well stopped flowing water.

"It's really surprising."

Qi Yu sighed and looked around.

There was nothing unusual about the surrounding stone walls. Could it be that the village chief was really a god?

"During famine years, water is scarce. I believe the gods want us to conserve water, so they only give us three jars at a time. So, Brother Qi, please send someone to fetch more water tomorrow. What about your food?"

"Please ask the village chief to send water to the exile area, and I will send the food back."

The village chief immediately sent someone to take water to escort Qi Yu out of the house. At this time, the person sent by the county magistrate happened to come back and whispered something in his ear. The county magistrate's face changed drastically.

"stop!"

The magistrate roared, and the accompanying officials immediately drew their swords to stop Qi Yu.

"My people searched the exile area and found no food at all. Are you trying to trick us into giving you water?"

The village chief was shocked when he heard this and immediately ordered people to surround Qi Yu.

For him, water is not important. If Qi Yu really has food, he can naturally get water to drink. What worries him is whether the prince has other purposes.

Could it be that what he has been doing has alarmed the capital, and his exile is also fake?

"Your Excellency's men are searching the wrong place, so naturally they can't find me. Besides, if I were a liar, how could the magistrate let me go? Whether it's true or not, wouldn't you know if you go and take a look?"

Qi Yu took the lead and walked in front.

The magistrate and the village chief looked at each other, and finally the magistrate personally led his men to follow.

The village chief was left alone, staring at Qi Yu's cold back and lost in thought.

"No, that man is also a fugitive?" He pointed at Jiang Zhi who appeared out of nowhere and asked.

"Looking at his clothes, it seems like him. What's wrong, sir?" The servant beside him rubbed his eyes. Seeing Jiang Zhi approaching Qi Yu, and seeing that he was dressed the same as Qi Yu, he became more certain of his identity.

"When did someone appear beside him?" The village chief was shocked. "Oh no!"

Yu Wenzhen hurried to the back door of the ancient well.

That’s right, the back wall of the ancient well is a fake wall made of stone bricks. It doesn’t look like anything on the surface, but in fact there is another room behind it, which is connected to the natural stream behind the yard.

He discovered this stream three years ago. The water is crystal clear and drinkable. He didn't think it was useful to have a stream of drinkable water in his backyard until Huai Village was hit by a drought more than half a year ago. Then he came up with a good idea.

Yu Wenzhen looked left and right, and only felt relieved when he was sure that there was no sign of a third person here.

"Everyone, cheer up! Remember, this place must not be discovered by anyone!"

The village chief gave the order and hurried back to the front yard with his men.

"How's the preparation for the latest batch of goods going?"

The attendant handed over a stack of bamboo sticks. The detailed information on them made the village chief very satisfied. "Very good! Quick, arrange for carriages and horses to send them out as soon as possible. Remember to be cautious."