Chapter 43 Spring Outing
Does anyone really think that this emperor, the Taoist priest, is wise?

Yan Shaoting at least doesn't think so.

But now, none of this has anything to do with him.

The sound of rumbling wheels came into the carriage from outside the window, and the road outside was filled with bustling noises.

Yan Shaoting held a copy of the Ming Dynasty Law in his hands and read through it.

In the carriage, Lu Wenyan was chatting with her eldest sister, third sister, and fifth sister with a smile on her face.

Lu Yi changed into a set of eye-catching yisa today, showing his youthful heroism, but he huddled beside his second brother-in-law Yan Shaoting with some uneasiness.

Today is the day for the Lu family girls to go out for a spring outing. The weather has been quite good recently, and not long ago, the eldest brother-in-law Zhu Shitai was sent to the southeast to fight against Japanese pirates.

Come to think of it, it’s still related to my second brother-in-law.

That's why Lu Wenyan pulled her younger sisters and brothers together, and after talking for a long time, she finally persuaded her eldest sister to go out for a spring outing.

But today, ever since the family got on the Yan family's very spacious carriage, the eldest sister has not said a word, which made Lu Yi a little worried, and his eyes kept glancing at Yan Shaoting.

Yan Shaoting was a little annoyed by Lu Yi's stare, so he naturally put down the Ming Dynasty Law in his hand, walked out of the carriage, and squeezed together with the coachman.

Not long after, my brother-in-law Lu Yi also ran out and squeezed to the side.

"My brother-in-law is smart. He knows that this is not a good place."

Lu Yi raised his eyebrows, his face full of fear.

At this moment, the carriage had already left Fucheng Gate.

Across the moat, the environment on both sides of the street is completely different from that in the city.

Low thatched houses and uneven trees are scattered around.

These are the lowest class of people who rely on the capital to support their families.

But compared with the people outside the capital, they can be said to have no worries about food and clothing. They can rely on the money earned in the capital to support their families without having to engage in farm work.

As soon as he left the city, Yan Shaoting's face turned a little ugly.

The out-of-city communities, which already looked a bit dirty and messy, now look even more messy.

Since some time ago, many ragged people have appeared in those alleys.

The people who originally lived outside the city would stay away from these people and were unwilling to get close.

In the corners away from the main streets, any citizen from the capital carrying food would immediately be stared at by countless pairs of eyes in the dark corners.

"What happened? Where did the victims come from?"

Yan Shaoting frowned and asked in a deep voice.

It is easy to guess that only when there is a disaster will there be homeless refugees around the capital.

Lu Yi snorted twice and said calmly, "It didn't snow last winter. But after the Chinese New Year, it snowed non-stop.

Especially in mountainous areas such as Changping Prefecture, Huairou, Miyun, and Pinggu, the snow melted in the spring and rushed down from the mountains.

These people were originally from Shuntian Prefecture in the capital, but they suffered a disaster and had no choice but to come to the capital to beg for food.”

Yan Shaoting's expression eased a little.

As long as it is not a large-scale disaster, although the court is in some difficulties now, it can still provide relief.

But he thought for a moment and then asked, "What about Shuntian Prefecture? Why don't we see officials coming out to provide relief and rice?"

"Yes," Lu Yi said, and then explained, "It's just that during this period of famine, Shuntian Prefecture did open its warehouses to provide relief at the beginning, but after so many days, Shuntian Prefecture has no more food."

Yan Shaoting's brows became more serious: "What about the Ministry of Revenue?"

Lu Yi curled his lips and said, "The Ministry of Revenue transferred the already limited grain reserves to Xuanfu at the beginning of the year. Now everyone is eagerly waiting for the summer grain to be stored. The court can't even make ends meet, so how can it take care of these disaster victims?"

As he spoke, Lu Yi stretched out his hand from outside the carriage and snapped his fingers.

Immediately, several Jinyiwei cavalrymen rode their horses to protect the carriage.

Lu Yi also explained: "Recently, Shuntian Prefecture has received many complaints, all of which are cases of disaster victims outside the city secretly looting."

As he spoke, the brother-in-law had already quietly leaned close to Yan Shaoting's ear.

"I heard that the Ministry of War has quietly transferred a lot of troops into the city to prevent the victims from causing unrest and attacking the capital."

Yan Shaoting's heart sank instantly.

Even though Shuntian Prefecture had suffered a disaster and the government warehouses were out of food, it did not mean that there was no food in Shuntian Prefecture. Otherwise, the first people to starve to death would be the imperial palace and the civil and military officials in the court.

At this moment.

Yan Shaoting no longer had the mood to accompany Sister Lu on the spring outing. He just lowered his head and thought about things.

Once you pass through the residential area outside the city, you will see an endless plain.

Villages are dotted across this fertile plain.

It was not until they reached the foot of Xiangshan Mountain that Yan Shaoting's mood eased a little. After suppressing his last bit of worry, he and Lu Yi were the first to get off the carriage.

When Lu Wenyan walked out of the carriage, the smile on her face became even wider.

And her hand was actually still holding the hand of the eldest sister of the Lu family.

It seemed as if there had never been any grudge between the two sisters before.

Lu Wenyan got off the carriage first and affectionately helped the eldest sister of the Lu family get off the carriage.

"When I get back, I will ask my husband to buy the young lady from Fangchun Tower last time and send her to my eldest sister's room. From now on, she will serve as my eldest sister's night perfumer."

Hearing her second sister's promise again, the eldest sister of the Lu family finally smiled.

Yan Shaoting, who was standing aside waiting for the Lu family women to get off the car, finally understood how his eldest sister calmed down the anger of the eldest sister of the Lu family.

Lu Yi glanced at his second brother-in-law with ill intent.

The mouth moved slightly a few times.

Yan Shaoting saw clearly that it seemed that he was saying that the girl from Fangchunlou was not cheap, and he would have to pay a large sum of money this time.

The eldest sister of the Lu family, with a smile on her face, held Lu Wenyan intimately and glanced at Yan Shaoting indifferently.

Afterwards, the eldest sister of the Lu family and Lu Wenyan walked past Yan Shaoting.

"I'm telling you carefully, you must keep a close eye on this man. It's ok to keep him at home, but you can't let him mess around with other women outside."

When Yan Shaoting heard this, his eyelids twitched twice.

Lu Wenyan looked back with a smile and winked at Yan Shaoting.

Then a group of people started climbing Xiangshan Mountain.

Since the pre-Tang Dynasty, Xiangshan has been a popular destination for people living around Beijing in spring.

Over the years, many buildings have been built on the mountain.

Climb high.

The spring breeze is refreshing and pleasant.

Yan Shaoting stood in a stone pavilion on the mountainside and looked towards the capital.

The land is flat and numerous houses are dotted among the green grass. After countless years of continuous renovation, the city of Beijing looms on the horizon like a giant beast.

suddenly.

Yan Shaoting's brows jumped.

He turned around and looked at the girls from the Lu family who had climbed halfway up the mountain and were gathering in the pavilion to rest.

"Yucheng, send someone to follow me back to the city."

Before Lu Yi could react, Lu Wenyan spoke up: "My dear, you are only halfway up the mountain, why do you want to go back to the city?"

Yan Shaoting had already turned around and walked out of the stone pavilion.

Turn around and look at Lu Wenyan.

"Your husband is going to be a hero."

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"History of Ming Dynasty, Chronicle Volume 18, Emperor Shizong" On March 23rd, the famine broke out in the capital.

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Thanks to book friends 20240329114750811 and 160428153756840 for their tips (I was at home a few days ago and didn’t have time, so I came back today)
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Monthly ticket recommendation ticket

(End of this chapter)