Chapter 114: The Journey Home

Three days later, Zhu Yu and his party were on the road back to the capital. Outside the carriage, Cao Zhengchun reported the latest movements of Qiao Feng.

"Five days ago, Qiao Feng forcibly broke into Juxian Manor, killing and wounding many. He was later rescued after sustaining injuries. A severely wounded woman he had brought along was left at the scene. According to reports from scouts, someone spotted Qiao Feng the day before yesterday, and based on the direction he was heading, it is preliminarily determined that he is bound for Yanmen Pass."

"Very well, I understand. How many more days until we reach the capital?"

"Young Master, based on our current pace, we should arrive in about ten days," Cao Zhengchun replied after a quick mental calculation.

"Understood. Let's keep moving," Zhu Yu replied.

Cao Zhengchun waited outside the carriage for a moment longer, and seeing that Zhu Yu had no further questions, he spurred his horse to the front of the procession to lead the way. This unit, composed of elite East Depot agents, protected Zhu Yu like a well-oiled machine, slowly advancing toward the capital. Because Zhu Yu had been pressed for time on the journey out, the party had taken a circuitous route; now, on the return journey, they were taking a new, more direct path.

Two days later, the party arrived at the border of Qingzhou as planned. However, the procession, which should have continued as usual, came to an abrupt and abnormal halt just before reaching the city.

"What is going on? Why has the carriage stopped?" Zhu Yu asked, feeling displeased. They could already see the city walls; instead of pushing on to reach the city and rest, they had stopped halfway.

"This... Young Master, something seems amiss in the commandery seat of Le'an Prefecture ahead. Perhaps we should take a detour?"

Hearing this, Zhu Yu opened his eyes wide. "Cao Zhengchun, are those your words? What exactly is going on in the city ahead that would cause a Superintendent of the East Depot like you to suggest a detour?"

Seeing that there were no outsiders around, Zhu Yu spoke directly. This was the disadvantage of Zhu Yu spending so long in the imperial palace; the situation was already highly abnormal, yet he failed to sense it. Had he stepped out to look, he would have noticed that his East Depot escorts, though unaware of what had happened, all wore grim expressions, their hands resting on their sword hilts, ready to draw at a moment's notice.

Jiang Yuyan, inside the carriage, also lifted the curtain, peered out, and voiced her own suspicion before Cao Zhengchun could answer. "This... something isn't right, is it?"

"What isn't right?" Zhu Yu asked, sensing she had noticed something.

"Le'an is a major city in Qingzhou. We are already very close to the gates, so why aren't there any people to be seen? I may have never been to Le'an, but I have visited smaller towns before, and there are always people coming and going at their gates."

Upon hearing this, it clicked for Zhu Yu. He looked up and interrogated Cao Zhengchun: "What is the meaning of this? What is the situation ahead?"

"Your Majesty, please forgive me. It is not that this servant refuses to speak, but that I truly do not know the specifics."

Zhu Yu was so angered by this that he laughed. "You don't know? If you don't know, why suggest a detour? It seems you've worn your official robes for long enough!"

"Your Majesty, I dare not deceive you. The situation in Le'an is very strange. According to my scouts, the city is nearly deserted. For the sake of your safety, it is best to avoid it."

Zhu Yu stared at Cao Zhengchun for a long time before saying, "Are you certain you don't know?"

"I would not dare deceive the Emperor."

"Fine. Take the detour."

As Zhu Yu gave the order, the party turned with great speed and resumed their journey. As the carriage started moving, Zhu Yu’s heart grew increasingly restless. This feeling... it was just like the unease he had felt at the Summer Resort!

Thinking of this, he subconsciously opened his long-neglected system interface.

Host: Zhu Yu
Identity: Emperor of the Jing Dynasty, Leader of the Black Stone
Status: Healthy
Martial Arts: Beiming Divine Art (Small Success), Nine Yin Manual (Mastered), Luomo Divine Art (Beginner)
Dynastic Fate Value: 1001 points

Everything remained unchanged, except for one thing: the Fate Value! How could it be 1001? Zhu Yu had never touched it; he remembered the last time he checked, it had been 1132. If calculated by natural growth, it should have been around 1500 by now. Where did the nearly five hundred points go? When were they deducted? Zhu Yu had no idea.

As this realization hit, cold sweat began to bead on his forehead.

"Quickly! Full speed to the capital!"

Zhu Yu's command echoed from the carriage, and within moments, the speed of the procession more than doubled. Feeling the scenery blur past, Zhu Yu felt slightly more at ease.

Whether it was destiny or not, before they even returned to the palace, Zhu Yu discovered where the points had been deducted within just half a day. In front of the carriage lay a lush path flanked by rolling mountains and forests. Under normal circumstances, this would have been a fine place for an outing, but now, it was different.

Zhu Yu stood in the carriage and looked out; the mountains and plains were filled with refugees!

"Cao! Zheng! Chun! Give me an explanation! What is happening here? Why have I not heard a single word about this? It seems the East Depot is being fed for nothing!"

"Your... Young Master, please calm your anger. This old servant truly did not know. Please, give me three—no, two days, and I will surely get to the bottom of this."

Zhu Yu looked coldly at the kneeling Cao Zhengchun. "I want to know the whole story by tomorrow. Go ahead and scout out the reason for their flight."

Without another word to the kneeling man, Zhu Yu turned back into the carriage.

A moment later, an East Depot elite reported the information gathered from the refugees.

"Due to relentless heavy rains followed by scorching sun, the stored grain of many commoners has molded. This was the start. Then, those who could no longer endure the hunger began to seize grain, which gradually escalated into a famine across the commandery. The people had no choice but to flee."

"The commandery? Is it Le'an, the one we passed earlier?" Zhu Yu's voice was cold, devoid of any emotion.

"Returning to the Young Master, yes, it is Le'an."

"What about the grain stores? Do the major cities not have reserves?"

"According to the information gathered, the grain in the Le'an granaries also molded due to improper storage."

Improper storage? That excuse might fool the common folk, but not him.

"And they are fleeing, yet they are all gathered here?"

"According to what I've learned, these people fled to neighboring towns. The officials there opened their granaries to provide aid, but they refused to let the refugees enter the city. Thus, the majority of the commoners from Le'an are gathered here."

When he first heard that nearby towns were providing aid, Zhu Yu felt a shred of relief. But when he heard that they were giving out food yet refusing entry, his face turned icy.

Refusing to let them in? Hah!