After saying those words, she didn’t dare to speak further. She thought for a long time, then asked, "Which Prince? Or Marquis?"
Shang Ruyi leaned against the window, her expression solemn, and remained silent.
Tushere softly asked, "Miss, what should we do?"
Shang Ruyi glanced at the empty street outside, then lowered the curtain and said calmly, "What else can we do? Everyone has left; we should hurry and get on the road so as not to miss the hour."
Tushere, a bit uneasy, immediately gave the orders. Soon, the convoy set off again.
For the rest of the journey, they encountered no obstacles. After smoothly leaving Luoyang City, they traveled unimpeded along the official road, rested at the post station arranged by Shen Shiyan for the night, and set out again the next day.
However, the weather was unusually hot that day. Shang Ruyi nearly suffered from heatstroke in the sultry carriage, so she decided to have two horses brought over and rode forward with Tushere.
To avoid suspicion, Tushere even brought a veil hat for her to wear.
Riding on horseback, the cool breeze swept across her face through the light veil hanging from the brim, bringing an unparalleled sense of comfort. Shang Ruyi happily urged her horse into a trot, with Gao Feng and Tushere closely following behind her.
However, even though the galloping was exhilarating, looking at the surrounding scenery, her mood inevitably grew heavy.
Outside Luoyang City, the scenery along the road became increasingly desolate, with no sign of human habitation. Dense forests were scorched by the burning sun, filling the air with a dry, acrid smell.
Tushere softly said, "I remember a few years ago when I came to Luoyang with the master to take office, there were a few villages around here. How come it’s all barren now?"
Shang Ruyi replied, "They were gone long ago."
Shang Ruyi gave a faint smile, a hint of coldness in it, and said, "The court has collected taxes for the next forty years. How can the common people survive? If they don’t abandon their fields and run away, their bones will be completely dried out."
Upon hearing this, Tushere frowned.
Shang Ruyi looked at the surrounding desolation, her heart equally bleak.
Her uncle, though serving at the court, would often curse behind closed doors after drinking, but curses were of no use.
The current Emperor, not only cruel and bloodthirsty, but also eager for war and grandiose successes, had returned from three expeditions against Gouli Country without success, leaving the national treasury empty. Unperturbed, he moved the capital from Daxing City to the Eastern Capital, constructing countless palaces at great expense, burdening the people, and inciting rebellion across the land.
If the current desolation resembled the devastation following a fiery blaze, who knows when this fire would reach the Eastern Capital City, before the Emperor’s eyes.
Tushere said softly, "I don’t understand the point of Duke Sheng fighting to quell rebellion for such a court."
At these words, Shang Ruyi immediately scolded, "Do not speak recklessly!"
"How the court acts is the court’s matter, but Uncle and Yu Wenye, they fight and quell the rebellion, risking their lives for the people."
Just as she finished speaking, a rustling sound suddenly came from the bushes ahead.
Gao Feng, who had been silently following not far behind, became very alert and immediately lifted his head to look ahead.
Tushere also frowned, "Is there something over there?"
Shang Ruyi lifted the white veil at the front of her veil hat, carefully observing the forest ahead, vaguely sensing figures moving among the trees, as if someone was hiding there.
At this moment, a sharp whistle suddenly sounded from the distant bushes, piercing the sky!