Being an emperor is not something he can do, so he can only rely on his connections.

A few days later, a luxurious carriage, pulled by four sleek, sturdy horses, sped along the well-maintained, smooth official road, heading towards Gaoyang County. The carriage was spacious, its interior lavishly decorated with cushions, a small table, and an incense burner. There was even an ice jar fixed in the corner, emitting a subtle coolness.

Four people sat in distinctly arranged rows within the carriage. At the very top, a beautiful woman lounged lazily on a soft brocade pillow. She looked no more than 27 or 28 years old, her skin whiter than snow, delicate as a baby's. Her oval face was a picture-perfect oval, her eyebrows and eyes gleaming with beauty. Her lips, untouched by makeup, were rosy, radiating a healthy, moist glow. Most striking was the delicate diamond-shaped flower between her eyebrows, outlined with gold powder and cinnabar, adding a touch of elegance and grace. And just below her left eye, a tiny, alluring teardrop mole, perfectly placed, brought a touch of life to her already dignified face. Her dark hair, combed into a gorgeous bun, was adorned with a gold and jade hairpin and a pearl-studded hairpin. The slight sway of the carriage sparkled and shimmered. A pair of rich, emerald earrings, their emerald green hue, dangled from her earlobes, creating a striking contrast against her fair neck. The scarlet silk dress with gold embroidered peonies made her look even more majestic and imposing.

On the seat below her, a pretty maid was lowering her head and carefully massaging her legs.

Below them was a middle-aged man in his fifties with a serious face and sharp eyes, and a young man who looked to be in his early twenties with a calm temperament.

A guard's low voice came from outside the car: "Mrs. Shi, Gaoyang County is just ahead."

The beautiful woman known as "Madam Shi" opened her red lips slightly, her voice as gentle as pearls falling on a jade plate, but with a barely perceptible solemnity: "It is better to be cautious. After all, two imperial officials have been 'accidentally' killed in Yunzhou one after another." Everyone in the car knew the deep meaning of her words.

The guard outside the car responded: "As you command."

The serious-looking uncle interjected, "Madam, you're absolutely right. Most of the people sent by the court have fallen on hard times here, and quite a few have been corrupted and bribed. Unless absolutely necessary, our identities must not be made public."

The beautiful woman nodded slightly, her gaze fixed on the rapidly receding scenery outside the window. She spoke more slowly, "The roads in Yunzhou are truly well-maintained. This day's journey was much less bumpy than I had expected."

Upon hearing this, the uncle snorted coldly, "All of this was built with the blood and sweat of the people! When I return, I will have the Censorate thoroughly investigate Liu Yanzhi and Zhang Jingwei to see how much corruption and abuse of power they have committed!"

The young man beside him pondered for a moment, then said gently, "Sir, calm down. I'm sure you also cherish talent. Gaoyang may be located on the border, but along the way, I've seen the people's peaceful faces, the fields in good order, and the markets brimming with prosperity. It's a scene of thriving prosperity. This is truly rare since the restoration of the Sixteen Prefectures of Northern Yun."

The uncle's expression eased slightly, but he still kept a straight face: "Humph, even if he has some talent, he's just a conceited child!"

At this moment, the little girl who was massaging her legs couldn't help but be curious. She looked out through the lifted window curtain and exclaimed softly, "Madam, look, what a huge city gate!"

After a pot of tea, the group arrived at the gate of Gaoyang City. The huge city gate was clearly divided into two halves, with the words "Exit" and "Enter" prominently displayed above, demonstrating the orderly flow of traffic.

Guarding the city gates weren't armored soldiers, but rather men in black uniforms. They were calm and methodical, directing everyone: "Don't worry, don't worry. Drivers, bring your pass and carriage permit over here to register. Tie up your manure bags tightly. If you don't have any, go buy one at the nearby window. The price is fair!"

The driver was clearly puzzled and asked, "Sir, does this dung bag... have to be tied up?"

A seemingly minor official explained affably, "I'm not going to call you sir. We're from the Gaoyang County Comprehensive Law Enforcement Office. Fellow travelers, you might not know that there have been so many merchants traveling to Gaoyang in the past two months that cleaning up the horse and cow manure in the city is a real hassle. Our streets are paved with kiln bricks, which absorb water. When exposed to the sun, the smell is truly unpleasant. We're also trying to keep everyone clean."

At this moment, the young man in the carriage stepped out. Hearing this, he looked around at the neatly maintained streets, a flicker of admiration in his eyes as he exclaimed, "Master Zhang is truly...generous! So thoughtful!"

The police officer smiled knowingly and said, "You are all from Gyeonggi Province, right? Don't worry, it won't take long to tie up the dung bags. My colleagues are very skilled at it, and your four-horse carriage won't take long either."

The young man bowed and said, "Thank you for your help."

Upon entering the city, the bustling streetscape rivaled even the busiest of larger county towns. The broad main street, paved with bluestone, was smooth as a polished stone, large enough to accommodate eight carriages abreast. Shops lined the streets, their signs fluttering in the breeze, their business proving brisk. Even more remarkable was the fact that all the small vendors were confined to areas marked off by wooden fences on either side of the street, completely separating pedestrians from vehicles. Every ten feet or so, several constables in uniform emerald green vests could be seen, holding small red and green flags, expertly directing traffic. Everything appeared bustling yet unconfused.

Before they had time to take a closer look at the scene in the city, there was a sudden commotion and screams behind them.

"Quick! Get out of the way! The horse is frightened!"

The green-clad constables reacted swiftly, quickly dismantling a section of the fence. Somehow, the fence clicked together, transforming into a simple yet sturdy barrier that quickly blocked the street. Meanwhile, two constables cautiously approached the startled, leaping horse, attempting to calm it. Another, standing at a safe distance, calmly aimed a strangely shaped compound bow at the horse's head, just in case.

Through a series of well-trained and coordinated actions, the frightened horse was quickly brought under control, and the danger was averted. The surrounding people were first panicked, but then burst into admiration.

Inside the carriage, the beautiful woman took in all of this through the gauze curtains. She tilted her head slightly and whispered to the uncle, "Brother, I remember in Chang'an, there are no fewer than a hundred casualties each year due to uncontrolled carriages and horses, right?"

The uncle's eyes were sharp, and he noticed the details of the previous handling. He pondered and said, "This method of separating the lanes does avoid the risk of a large number of people and vehicles competing for the road. I guess... it also costs a lot of money and manpower." There was a scrutiny in his tone.

The young man praised sincerely, "It seems that this Zhang County man is really willing to work hard for the safety and convenience of the people."

However, the uncle's brow furrowed again. He thought carefully and said in a deep voice, "Since entering the city, I've been carefully counting. There are at least dozens of these 'fast hands' in this main street and the surrounding area alone. If we go by this ratio, this county probably has no fewer than a thousand of these clerks! This far exceeds the county quota and is against the rules!"

The beautiful woman seemed to be moved by another scene. She said softly, "Brother, let's not talk about whether it is a violation of the rules or not. But look at the side. The constable who fell in the chaos just now is being helped up by enthusiastic people, and those constables are also eagerly asking if the surrounding people are injured. This scene of officials and people being united and caring for each other really makes people feel warm." As she spoke, the jade earrings swayed gently, reflecting a warm light in her eyes.