Rumor Has It That I’m Pregnant with His Highness’ Child

231 Second Parent

Xia Haisheng smiled bitterly.

“We want to report it! However, the officials did not listen to us at all. Those officials had long been bribed by the landlords. They were colluding. Once we dare to resist, the officials will come looking for us. We’re just a bunch of civilians. What can we do ? As long as we still have a little hope, we won’t have given up on a peaceful life and become bandits!”

Towards the end, he and his two cousins could not help but tear up. They were clearly desperate and disillusioned.

Yu Niaoniao asked, “Then what about the conscription you mentioned?”

Xia Haisheng calmed down before speaking.

“I’m not sure exactly. All I know is that the Eastern Expedition Army is recruiting. They want a lot of manpower.”

Yu Niaoniao looked thoughtful. It was the Eastern Expedition Army again. First, they raised taxes, then annexed large amounts of land. These were all to hoard money and food.

Not only that, they were recruiting.

This was clearly a big move!

Lu Yao clenched his fists.

“What’s the name of your local magistrate?”

Xia Haisheng looked puzzled. “I’m just a commoner. How would I know the county magistrate’s name? I only know that his surname is Li. Why are you asking this?”

Lu Yao did not answer.

He held his breath.

He had thought that under his father’s governance, Liaodong County would prosper.

Unexpectedly, the officials below actually dared to deceive their superiors and collude with the local gentry!

When he returned home, he would definitely tell his father what had happened here and let his father punish those corrupt officials!

The villagers of Xia Village returned quickly.

They placed the patients they had brought in the shade.

Dang Gui and Yu Niaoniao brought over a small table. Lo Pingsha sat on the ground behind it and checked the patients’ pulses one by one.

Probably because Lo Pingsha had a baby face and looked like a half-grown child, those patients had some doubts about his medical skills.

It was not until Lo Pingsha told them their condition by taking their pulses that they believed that the young man in front of them was really capable.

Lo Pingsha spent an hour seeing all the patients.

He wrote a prescription for everyone and used herbs that were cheaper and more common.

The patients held the prescriptions as if they were treasures.

Regarding this, Xia Haisheng was both happy and sad. He was happy that the villagers’ illness was finally treatable. He was sad that they had no money and could not get medicine.

Taking a step back, even if they obtained the medicine and cured the villagers, how would they live in the future? Would they have to continue to live by robbing?

Yu Niaoniao took out a hundred taels of silver and handed it to Xia Haisheng.

“I can see that you’re an opinionated person. Take this money to get medicine for the villagers and buy some food.”

“In the future, if you have nowhere to go, you can leave Liaodong County and go to Wangsong City to find the local Magistrate Liu.”

Then she took out another letter.

“When County Magistrate Liu sees this letter, he will arrange a place for you.”

Xia Haisheng was touched and knelt down.

“We will never forget your kindness!”

Yu Niaoniao asked him to stand up and speak.

Xia Haisheng took the banknotes and letter with both hands. He was so excited that his hands were trembling. “May I know your name?”

Yu Niaoniao felt that this was a good opportunity to improve Xiao Juan’s reputation. She wanted to reveal her identity, but she was worried that it would threaten her and the people around her.

After weighing the pros and cons, she decided to continue hiding her identity.

“My surname is Yu, and my husband’s surname is Xiao. As for our identities… When you reach Wangsong City and see County Magistrate Liu, he will naturally tell you.”

Xia Haisheng bowed deeply to her.

“Mrs. Xiao saved our entire Xia Family Village. You’re like a second parent to us. We will remember this kindness. In the future, if you need us for anything, just say the word. We won’t hesitate to do anything!”

Yu Niaoniao instructed, “After you reach Wangsong City, live well. If we’re fated in the future, we might meet again.”

Xia Haisheng nodded solemnly. “Yes!”

Lu Yao was still immersed in anger and shock and did not notice what Yu Niaoniao and Xia Haisheng had said.

Dang Gui and Lo Pingsha carried the low table back to the carriage.

Xia Haisheng led his men to move the trees in the middle of the road. With no obstacles, the carriage traveled smoothly.

The villagers stood by the roadside and watched the two carriages leave.

Next, they passed by several villages. The situation was almost the same as Xia Family Village. All the villagers had run away, leaving only empty houses. There were still large patches of abandoned fields that no one had farmed.

Lu Yao became angrier.

When they entered the city, he immediately spoke to the little attendant.

“I have something to do. Follow the three Yu siblings to the inn first. I’ll look for you after I’m done.”

“Okay.”

It was already evening.

By the time Lu Yao found the county office, it was dark.

He stepped forward and knocked. The bailiff who opened the door was impatient.

“Can’t you come back tomorrow? Can’t you see that it’s dark? Go, go! If you don’t, don’t blame me for being rude to you?!”

Lu Yao took out the seal he carried with him.

“I’m the eldest son of the County Governor’s Mansion. I’m passing by here and have something to talk to the county magistrate about.”

The bailiff took the seal dubiously and read it.

However, he had never seen the seal of the County Governor’s Mansion, so he could not be sure if it was real.

“Wait here a moment. I’ll be back.”

The bailiff turned and ran to the private advisor, showing him the seal.

The private advisor knew that the seal was real when he saw it. He hurriedly informed the county magistrate and the two of them rushed to welcome Eldest Young Master Lu.

The door of the county office opened and Lu Yao was politely invited in.

The county magistrate ordered someone to prepare a banquet to entertain Eldest Young Master Lu.

Lu Yao was not in the mood to eat or drink.

He spoke, “I’ve passed through several villages along the way and realized that everyone in the village has run away. Large fields have become barren land. What’s going on?”

He thought the county magistrate would be guilty and flustered.

Unexpectedly, the county magistrate only smiled. “Young Master, you don’t know. Those villagers owed money. It has nothing to do with us.”

Lu Yao was furious. “Are you still lying at a time like this?

I’ve already asked around. Those villagers were forced away by you!

It was you who privately raised taxes and forced the commoners to sell their fields at a low price.”

The magistrate hurriedly protested.

“Young Master, you’ve misunderstood! I’m just a seventh-grade official. How would I have the guts to increase taxes privately? These are all orders from the county governor. We’re just following orders.”

Lu Yao was in disbelief.

“What did you say? My father has always loved the people as his children. Why would he do such a thing?!”

The county magistrate said, “We didn’t take a single cent of the taxes we collected. We handed them all to the county governor. If you still don’t believe me, you can ask the county governor about this.”

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