The Cold-Hearted Princess Who Transmigrated Here

Day two.

Wang Xiyue planned to go with Mingzhe to gather information, so just after dawn, she was already dressed and waiting at the door.

Seeing Wang Yu follow her brother out of the next room, she gave him a couple more words of advice out of concern.

"Wang Yu, you must personally deliver this medicine and letter to my father. Don't delay on your journey, go and come back quickly!"

"Remember to always pay attention to your own safety!"

Wang Yu knelt on one knee to bid farewell, saying, "Thank you for your guidance, Miss. I will certainly not fail in my mission!"

The task that the young lady and young master entrusted to him must be very important and urgent, and they valued his lightness skill as the best in the manor, so he didn't want to disappoint her.

Seeing that Wang Yu had left, Wang Xiyue turned to her brother and said, "Brother, starting today, the task of repairing the manor will be yours, okay?"

Wang Xijie immediately waved his hand and said, "It's no big deal. I guarantee you'll be very satisfied. Yueyue, go do whatever you want! Don't worry about me."

Watching her brother slowly leave, Wang Xiyue said to Mo Yun, "Brother Mo, you should stay with my brother for the time being!"

Mo Yun wanted to retort, "Then what about you, Miss...?"

Although he knew that the prince was secretly protecting the princess, it was still somewhat inappropriate not to be able to protect her closely. His departure was a violation of the orders given in the prince's original letter.

Wang Xiyue couldn't feel at ease knowing that her brother was going to deal with the prefect who was plotting a rebellion.

"This city isn't safe. I only feel at ease with you protecting me! With Shadow and the other three protecting me, there won't be any problems."

Mo Yun bowed and said, "Yes."

That's true. With the four of them accompanying the princess, her safety is definitely guaranteed. The absence of one of them won't make a difference.

Moreover, this is the Princess's order. Now the Princess is his first master, and her orders take precedence. Even the Prince has to take a backseat.

Seeing Mo Yun follow her brother away, Wang Xiyue smiled and teased Xiao Yun, "You should stay at the inn! I see you're quite good at eating, drinking, and having fun, and the two children really enjoy being with you."

Xiao Yun awkwardly touched her nose: "Yes, Miss!"

He didn't want to lose his image like this, but when it came to taking care of the children, he couldn't think of any other way besides feeding, drinking, and having fun. He couldn't just keep the two children locked up in the inn all day; that would be too stifling.

Although Xuan Tian and Xuan Yi, who were standing to the side, didn't say anything, their eyes clearly expressed their contempt for Xiao Yun.

This brat clearly wanted to have fun, but now he has an excuse to go out and have fun.

The tasks had been assigned, and Wang Xiyue instructed Mingzhe to follow, "Let's go, I happen to be free today, so I'll go with you to take a look in the south."

Mingzhe was momentarily at a loss. He was about to change back into his smelly, dirty beggar's clothes, and for some reason, he was terrified that the young lady would see his ugly side again.

Others might not have noticed, but Dongfang Yu, who was walking alongside Mingzhe, saw Mingzhe's expression clearly; he understood that hesitation better than anyone else.

Before meeting Xiyue, he had no desires or wants, and his body and mind were tormented by toxins. Many times, the pain was so bad that he wished he could end his own life.

His heart had become twisted from spending too much time in the shadows. If it weren't for the strong insistence of his mother and the old man, he would have only wanted to live a decadent life in his foreseeable short existence.

But after meeting Xiyue, his mindset completely changed. It was the moment he first saw her, the moment she gave him the Buddhist beads, and the moment she stood in front of him without hesitation to protect him from everything.

For the first time, he felt the warmth of the light, experienced the thrill of being moved, and learned what inferiority meant.

For the first time, I wanted to have someone, to be with them for a long time. For the first time, I understood the conflicted feeling of wanting to get close but not being qualified yet being unwilling to let go.

During those six years of separation, he deeply understood what it meant for each day to feel like a year.

People only want to leave a good impression on someone they like, and at the same time, they will try their best to hide their awkward and bad side.

Mingzhe's thoughts now are exactly the same as his previous thoughts.

However, he couldn't possibly give up his position to a half-grown boy of unknown origin, unless Xiyue made it clear one day that she no longer needed him.

Otherwise, he would never have given up, especially since he was the first man to receive Xiyue's gift, and he was even less likely to give up easily.

The group of six quickly arrived at the South District.

Mingzhe had already mentally prepared himself on the way. Since Miss had already seen his worst side, he didn't mind seeing it again.

He carefully considered all the information he had gathered about the South District and made a preliminary plan. Now he planned to seek Miss's opinion again.

"Miss, Mingzhe plans to disguise himself as a beggar to investigate. Do you think that would be feasible?"

Wang Xiyue thought this idea of ​​feigning weakness was excellent.

Since Mingzhe has no martial arts skills, the best approach is to approach the other party as an equal to them in order to better understand their situation.

"Very good! You go alone, and we'll meet here in an hour."

"Be sure to pay attention to safety!"

"Yes, Miss." Mingzhe breathed a sigh of relief when he heard that the young lady was not following him. He picked up the package and prepared to find a secluded place to disguise himself.

Once Mingzhe's figure disappeared at the end of the street, Wang Xiyue said to Xuan Yi, "You secretly follow Mingzhe!"

"If there is any danger, bring him back immediately!"

After bowing, Xuan left quickly and chased after Mingzhe.

Wang Xiyue gracefully stepped off the carriage, lifting her skirt. To avoid appearing out of place, she deliberately changed into elaborate palace attire. Today, she was to play the role of a wealthy young lady who was going on a trip and spending lavishly.

"Shadow, let's just wander around around here."

Sometimes, you can indirectly learn some details that are easily overlooked by the person involved.

"Mm." Dongfang Yu followed Xiyue half a step behind, keeping close behind. There were many people around, and he didn't want anyone to bump into her.

Xuan Tian and An Yi also consciously occupied other positions to avoid offending the future princess.

Although they didn't know when the prince would actually marry Miss Xiyue, it seemed that she was the only candidate for princess consort, and they dared not be negligent in the slightest.

The sun had already risen, and the streets and alleys were beginning to bustle with activity.

Horses, pedestrians, merchants, wealthy people, and commoners all gathered around, and occasionally a few luxurious carriages could be seen passing by.

Temporary stalls lined the streets, their calls echoing throughout. Fresh fruits and vegetables, steaming buns and soy milk, and unique trinkets were on display, making the trip worthwhile.

The street appears chaotic yet orderly, clean and tidy, presenting a thriving scene.

Shops on both sides of the street hung their own signboards and flags outside their doors. A colorful array of flags fluttered in the wind, attracting customers to stop and make their choices. Almost all the shops were decorated in a striking and simple style.

The people here seem to lead very ordinary lives. She doesn't know much about other areas, and she hadn't paid much attention to the street she visited before because she was distracted. But the streets near Youfu Inn seem to have the same harmonious atmosphere.

If the capital city is a gathering place for the powerful and wealthy, and a hub for heroes, then Shantou can be considered a happy place for most ordinary people, neither the best nor the worst.

Everyone is busy making a living. Although we may not be rich or powerful, we can still have enough to eat and drink. We can also enjoy some small pleasures after a hard day's work.

Such a life is the lifelong wish of countless people. Ordinary people only ever ask for one thing: to live and work in peace and contentment.

Someone once said, "The prefect is the foundation of good governance. If we can find the right people, what is there to worry about in the world not being well-governed?"

This shows that the position of prefect is of paramount importance, and only those with both talent and ability can be competent in this role.

Therefore, the requirements for the selection of prefects in all dynasties were quite strict. The prefects were required to be diligent in their duties, have the ability to govern, and be subject to periodic assessments by the imperial inspectors. If any candidate was found to be unqualified, he or she would be demoted or dismissed.

Therefore, the selection of prefects was usually made by the emperor himself, or they were appointed as prefects after passing the first-class imperial examination in the capital.

However, according to the father's investigation, this Prefect Ling was recommended by local officials and had no connection with the Ling family, so the father also overlooked this person.

If the people live comfortably and are willing to pay taxes, then the local official can be considered a capable administrator.

This Shantou city has nine subordinate counties. If each of these counties follows the same management model, then high tax revenue will not be a problem. After all, such a profitable place can create many wealthy merchants.

Wang Xiyue specifically selected several of the larger stores in the area and carefully browsed through them all.

There were restaurants, clothing stores, pastry shops, and jewelry shops. After an hour, they had made a considerable haul. By this time, An Yi, Xuan Tian, ​​and An Ying were each carrying two or three boxes.

Every shop she visited was a prime location, and upon inquiring, she discovered that these shops were all directly or indirectly related to Magistrate Ling.

Although they sell different items, they are all very popular with a constant stream of customers, and their unique and innovative business methods make them stand out from the crowd.

The target customer group completely covers middle and upper-class people, and the daily gross income of each shop is roughly estimated to be several hundred taels.

In the entire southern district, Magistrate Ling owned at least five or six shops, and he made a net profit of at least a thousand taels of silver that day.

Including the other three districts, Shancheng alone can bring in at least 5,000 taels of silver a day for Prefect Ling. It may seem like a small amount, but it amounts to 1.8 million taels a year. And this is just the minimum profit from a main city.

The Western Moon Kingdom comprises four major states, twenty-three main cities, and one hundred and thirty-six subordinate counties.

Given the power and resources of the Linghou Mansion, it is estimated that at least half of the prime locations in all counties and cities are controlled by them.

The amount of gold and silver sent to the Linghou Mansion each year was over a hundred million taels. Over the years, they could accumulate immeasurable wealth. No wonder they had the capital to raise an army to rebel, and no wonder they had the confidence to compete with the emperor for power.

If you ignore the hidden beggars and the secret within the Shancheng prefectural government, you have to admire the Ling family's remarkable management skills.

Perhaps the contents of that formation were not only the wealth plundered from the people, but also a large part of what they had obtained through their own business dealings.

She now somewhat understood why the Ling family had such a rebellious idea.

Ling Zhi, the emperor's brother-in-law, not only held a high position but was also adept at accumulating wealth. He had status, identity, and money; he could have anything he wanted.

Aside from immortality, they had nothing else to pursue; now, the only thing left to fight for was the supreme throne.

After such a detailed analysis, it seems that her saving Mingzhe was truly an arrangement of fate. If she hadn't met him, she wouldn't have thought of establishing a charity, nor would she have investigated Prefect Ling Daquan, and naturally, she wouldn't have discovered the shocking conspiracy within the Ling family.

As the saying goes, a cunning rabbit has three burrows. Even if the treasure in the prefect's backyard is not all of the Ling family's rebellion funds, it is certainly a very important one.

It seems she needs to speed things up. Even if she can't overturn their entire plan, she should at least interrupt their current period of preparation and give her father and the emperor enough time to make preparations.

She was determined to deal a significant blow to the Ling family, since they had committed numerous evil deeds, made things difficult for her father at every turn, and indirectly harmed her by hurting Dongfang Yu.

Looking at the bustling crowd, Wang Xiyue wondered how long this peaceful state could last. They were completely unaware that danger was lurking nearby, and once it erupted, it would cause widespread devastation.

She felt both helpless and fortunate; it seemed as if her own family was born to subdue the Ling family, and they were enemies wherever they went.

In the capital, his father, the prime minister, and Lord Ling were basically at odds; now that they had left the capital and entered the martial world, he and his brother had inadvertently discovered the conspiracy that the two were trying so hard to hide.

If things go smoothly, she will definitely take what's inside the formation. Even if she can't get it, she'll destroy it. Naturally, the result is that the brother and sister will secretly become the objects of Ling family's lifelong jealousy.

This must be fate! Perhaps even the heavens couldn't stand what the Ling family had done, and specially chose them to destroy the other side.

Dongfang Yu noticed a hint of mockery on Xiyue's lips and asked in confusion, "Xiyue... what's wrong, Miss?"

Wang Xiyue shook her head, not wanting to explain.

The appointed time was approaching, and Mingzhe and Xuanyi still hadn't returned. She frowned, wondering, "Can you find Xuanyi?"

Dongfang Yu said gently, "Okay. Don't rush, let's wait a bit longer. Perhaps the two of them are already on their way back."

"To prevent accidents, we leave tracking marks along the way when we go out, so it's still easy to find someone."

Fearing she wouldn't believe him, he had to give another order: "Xuantian, go and check it out. We'll wait for you here! Go and come back quickly!"

"Yes, Lord Ying." Xuan Tian bowed and quickly left to find someone.

During this free time, Wang Xiyue rehearsed all the available treasure-hunting methods.

After much deliberation, it was discovered that no single solution was feasible. Each plan would inevitably cause a major disturbance and was unlikely to succeed, making it riddled with flaws.

Of the sixteen people in their group, only five from the Prince Xian's residence could be present. The guards from the Prime Minister's residence were all registered, and they were required to be present alongside the Prefect and others on the day of the treasure hunt.

Breaking the formation can be done by themselves and Shadow, but moving the money away will be time-consuming and laborious. With just a few people, it's impossible for them to move so much stuff quietly.