The convoy traveled for nearly another month, and the biting north wind grew increasingly bone-chilling, as if it wanted to scrape away every last bit of warmth from a person's bones.
The scenery outside the carriage window also slowly transitioned from the bustling splendor of the capital to a desolate landscape, eventually becoming nothing but barrenness and withered yellow.
This day, the scout at the front of the convoy galloped back, bringing exhilarating news.
"Your Highness! Yunzhou City is just ten li ahead!"
Zhao Pan's voice came through the thick carriage curtains, and even though he deliberately suppressed it, he couldn't hide the joy of relief. Throughout the month-long journey, he had been constantly on edge, fearing that the Idle Prince's health might suffer an unexpected setback along the way.
"Oh? Have we arrived...?"
Inside the carriage, Li Chen'an responded languidly. He tucked the smooth, warm cobblestone he had been fondling back into his sleeve, stretched, and instructed the maid beside him, "Xiao Huan, go tell the estate manager that those few bags of Shu peppercorns and spices we brought must be kept safe. They are my lifeline for the winter."
Xiao Huan replied crisply and went to deliver the message. Only then did Li Chen'an slowly lift a corner of the carriage curtain.
A cold gust of wind rushed in, making him shiver involuntarily.
On the distant horizon, the silhouette of a city stood resiliently against the gray sky.
The city walls were towering, a symbol of civilization and order in the vast wilderness. On the city tower, a flag embroidered with the characters "Great Xia" flapped in the wind.
Outside the city, there were also a few scattered fields. Although the harvest season had long passed, leaving only bare furrows, the straight, orderly divisions indicated that cultivation was at least maintained here.
"Hmm... a little better than I imagined," Li Chen'an muttered, feeling a sense of relief.
It seemed the rumors were largely exaggerated. After all, it was a prefectural-level city; it couldn't truly be a bandit's nest.
As long as there's a princely estate to shelter from the wind and rain, and a hot meal to eat, my retirement plan is halfway to success.
The stone in his heart finally dropped, and he even said to Zhao Pan with some interest, "Zhao Pan, once we reach the princely estate, first find a skilled carpenter. I've drawn a blueprint for a lounge chair, the kind that can fold and adjust its angle. There will be a reward if it's made well."
"Your subordinate obeys!" Zhao Pan immediately responded, though he thought to himself: The Idle Prince is truly whimsical, constantly preoccupied with such trifles.
Embracing this very specific and beautiful vision of his retirement, his mood brightened a few shades, and even the desolate scenery outside the window seemed much more pleasant.
However, as the convoy slowly approached, this good mood, like a puff of white breath in winter, quickly dissipated.
As they got closer, the filter of reality was mercilessly torn away.
The so-called complete city walls were actually covered in cobweb-like cracks, with withered yellow weeds stubbornly growing out of the brick crevices.
At the base of the wall, there were several obvious collapses, crudely patched up with rotten wood and dirt, as if mocking the very idea of city defenses.
It's fine, it's fine. Appearance isn't important, as long as the facilities inside are complete. We're not doing a vanity project. Li Chen'an conducted his first round of self-consolation internally.
At the city gate, a few soldiers in worn-out, faded leather jackets were leaning against the wall, basking in the sun and dozing off.
One of them even had drool running down his chest. It wasn't until the vanguard guards sent by Zhao Pan shouted sharply that they jolted awake as if from a dream, scrambling to find their weapons, their faces filled with panic and confusion.
Li Chen'an's brow furrowed almost imperceptibly.
Forget it, forget it. I don't expect them to fight anyway. It's better if they're lazy; it saves them from drilling every day and disturbing my sleep, he continued to lower his psychological bottom line.
The convoy stopped at the city gate.
Inside the city gate arch, a sparse group of people stood, likely all the officials of Yunzhou City who could be considered presentable.
At the head was a gaunt, bamboo-thin civil official nearing fifty, wearing a faded blue official robe that was even frayed at the cuffs.
His black gauze cap seemed a size too large, making him look quite comical.
This person was Chen De, the Prefect of Yunzhou.
Behind him followed several equally sallow-faced minor officials, each shrinking their necks in the cold wind, their eyes darting about, as if they were not greeting an imperial prince, but an unwelcome trouble.
Seeing Li Chen'an's carriage stop, Chen De dared not delay. He immediately led the others forward, bowing deeply, almost burying his head in the ground, his voice trembling slightly: "Your humble subordinate... Chen De, Prefect of Yunzhou, with the officials of Yunzhou, respectfully welcomes the Idle Prince, wishing Your Highness peace!"
His attitude was extremely respectful, which sparked a last glimmer of hope in Li Chen'an's heart. Perhaps... the material conditions were poor, but the officials here were still honest?
A pale hand lifted the carriage curtain, and Li Chen'an, supported by his maid, slowly stepped down from the carriage.
As soon as his feet touched the ground, he was seized by a violent cough, as if his lungs were tearing apart. He covered his mouth with a silk handkerchief and took a while to recover, presenting a harmless, sickly appearance.
He gave Chen (Prefect) a weak smile: "Chen (Prefect) may dispense with the formalities. I apologize for keeping all of you waiting for so long."
His gaze shifted, and he asked: "Chen (Prefect), just now outside the city, I saw sparse fields and few houses. Is it... that our Yunzhou is not populous?"
This question, like a needle, gently pricked Chen (Prefect)'s most sensitive nerve.
Population was the most important indicator for judging a prefecture's administrative performance.
Chen De's back bent even lower, cold sweat beading on his forehead. He chuckled awkwardly: "Your Highness is unaware. Yunzhou... Yunzhou is vast and sparsely populated. Most of the common people... most reside within the city. Outside the city, it does look a bit desolate."
Lies. There are hardly any households outside the city; how could the city be teeming with people? Do you take me for a fool?
Li Chen'an understood in his heart but didn't expose him. He merely nodded, his gaze passing over Chen De and looking into the city.
With just one glance, his last line of psychological self-comfort completely collapsed.
As far as the eye could see, the streets were pitted and uneven, a mix of dirt and gravel. A gust of wind blew through, stirring up a sky full of dust that made it hard to open one's eyes.
The houses on both sides of the street were low and dilapidated, many with windows blocked by rags. There were few pedestrians on the street, and each was dressed in tattered clothes, with gaunt faces. Seeing the princely procession, there was not the slightest curiosity or awe in their eyes, only a deep-seated numbness. They quickly lowered their heads and avoided eye contact, as if looking for too long would invite disaster.
The air was filled with an indescribable, complex scent, a mixture of dust, animal feces, and poverty.
Li Chen'an's heart grew cold inch by inch, finally sinking to the bottom with a "thud."
It's over.
Only these two words remained in his mind.
My dream was a fully furnished retirement home with a hot spring pool, but reality is a bare-bones house without even a public toilet! Without even internet... oh no, without even water and electricity!
He roared internally, but his face remained that same calm, sickly expression. He turned to Chen De again, but his smile now carried an undisguised hint of detachment.
He waved his hand indifferently, "The wind is strong outside, and I am not feeling well. Let's... discuss this inside the estate."