Besides lying down, I also know a little about power struggles

Chapter 51 Fanaticism
"Let me in!" A young man dressed as a scholar pushed the yamen runner in front of the city gate, waving a piece of paper in his hand, "This is my pass!"

The piece of paper in his hand almost hit the bailiff's face. The bailiff turned his head away and pushed him out: "Queue up, queue up! I've told you so many times! Don't squeeze in!"

Other yamen runners beside him were also shouting, "Back off, back off! No cutting in line! No pushing forward any further!"

In front of this group of yamen runners, there were at least sixty or seventy people, most of whom were dressed like the scholar. Some of them were wearing straw raincoats, some had servants holding umbrellas, and some did not bring any rain gear. They were soaked to the skin, but they were shouting loudly with all their might -

"Sir! Sir! I am Wen Shangxuan from Jiangnan, and I have come to ask you for a gift of calligraphy!"

"Make way!" Another man pushed him away with his buttocks, jumped into the city gate and shouted, "Sir! I am Wu Yuezi, and I have admired you for a long time. Last month, I came to Linshui from the capital. I just want you to see me and give me some advice on my humble work!"

"Sir! My father is in his eighties and cannot travel far. I only ask you to come to my humble home and let my father see your calligraphy. I am willing to pay you a hundred taels of gold to reward you for your hard work!"

"What are you yelling about?" The yamen runner who was squeezed into the corner wiped the rain off his face and shouted in a hoarse voice, "The Wuyue Mountain Man has already entered the city. He can't hear you even if you shout to the sky. Why don't you hurry up and line up and show us your pass!"

"What? The Wuyueshan people left?"

"No, it sounds to me like we have already entered the city."

"Then what are we waiting for? Let's get into the city!"

The crowd was noisy and jostling. The bailiffs saw that the situation was out of control and drew out their shining swords: "Back off! Everyone, back off!"

The people in the front saw the knife flashing and stepped back in fear. They quickly passed the message to the back: "Don't push. The people from Wuyue Mountain have already entered the city. Everyone, please be quiet and let the officials finish their inspection. Only then can we go in earlier."

"Yes, yes. I heard that the inns in the city are almost full. We can't delay any longer. Come on, sir. This is our place of residence."

When the group of people heard that the man from Wuyue Mountain had entered the city, the lively atmosphere suddenly disappeared. Some returned to the team dejectedly, while others took the silver and stuffed it into the hands of the yamen runners, just to ask for them to be released as soon as possible.

Just then, another team came from outside the city.

Xiao Nian arrived at the city gate, looked at the uniform and found the head of the yamen runners: "This one——"

"What are you doing?" The head of the bailiff glared at him. "I told you not to cut in line, you..."

Before he could finish his words, the other party showed a badge.

"We are subordinates of the twelfth prince. We were ordered to come here for an inspection. On the way here, we caught a group of bandits. Who among you will take over?"

Xiaonian spoke quickly and got straight to the point. When the squad leader saw the badge in his hand, his heart skipped a beat.

"Just hand it over to us." After the squad leader said this, he remembered the rules and bent his knees to pay homage.

Xiao Nian held his arm and held him back: "No need, Your Highness doesn't want to attract attention, you guys hurry up and get the person in, I have to go back and line up."

"Line up?" The squad leader glanced at the team following him, and saw a dozen tall horses and a carriage waiting behind the dark crowd.

"The twelfth prince is in the carriage?" The squad leader was so shocked that his eyes almost popped out of his head. He slapped his thigh and said, "Why are we still queuing? Someone, please invite His Highness into the city."

"Alright, alright," Xiaonian stopped him, "I told you not to disturb others. There are so many people gathered here, let them pass first."

"Is this okay?" The squad leader looked embarrassed. "Yesterday, when Prince Jing came, he also told us not to mobilize a large force, but afterwards the county magistrate scolded us."

"Prince Jing?" Xiaonian was surprised. "Prince Jing is also in the city?"

"Yes," the squad leader pointed at the crowd waiting to enter the city, "Look at these people. Like Prince Jing, they all came here to see the Five Mountains Man."

"Mr. Wuyue?" Feng Twelve heard the news brought back by Xiaonian in the carriage, and a hint of deep thought flashed across his eyes.

"Is Wuyue Shanren the one who wrote the plaque for Xiaoyao Tower?" Fang Tong remembered this name. He had specifically asked the store owner about it outside Xiaoyao Tower that night.

Feng Twelve nodded: "Wuyue Shanren is a great calligrapher of the time, highly respected by scholars."

"No wonder I heard these people arguing." Fang Tong understood, "It turns out they were just chasing stars."

"Star chasing?"

"They worship each other as if they were stars in the sky," Fang Tong explained. "They follow the stars wherever they go. This is star-chasing."

"This explanation is quite apt." Feng Twelve smiled.

When he smiled sincerely, it was like a picture on a white paper, quite vivid. Fang Tong looked at him and smiled too.

"Why did Prince Jing come to Linshui County?" she asked curiously.

It is a small county town, and the people who come here are either nobles or celebrities. They all happen to gather together. Is this a coincidence or someone did it deliberately?
"According to what you said, Prince Jing came here to chase stars." Feng Twelve said.

Fang Tong's curiosity suddenly increased: "Is Wuyueshanren also his idol?"

"Idol?" Feng Twelve chewed on the word and nodded slightly. "Prince Jing has loved calligraphy and painting since he was a child. In order to make friends with the Five Mountains Hermit, he spent a lot of money to buy houses in various scenic spots and gave them to the Five Mountains Hermit for him to rest."

Fang Tong opened his mouth slightly. Isn't this the top brother on the list? And he's not the kind who covets beauty.

"He is so generous." She admired sincerely, "but where did he get so much money?"

"Guzhou is the fief of King Jing. Half of the taxes from the six cities and eighteen counties under Guzhou's jurisdiction belong to him."

This was the emperor's care for a disabled son, but such favor would only last for one generation. By the time of King Jing's son, the title would be downgraded and the tax share would be reduced again.

Prince Jing probably thought very clearly. Not only was he not in a hurry to have a son, but he squandered a large amount of money on his favorite things, such as eating, drinking, traveling, calligraphy and painting, and completely pursued the principle of seeking happiness in life.

After Fang Tong heard what Feng Twelve said, an image of a sensual maniac came to his mind.

Although King Jing was born lame, he was much more at ease than many people.

Fang Tong couldn't help but glance at Feng Twelve with sympathy, causing him to look back.

"how?"

"Nothing." Fang Tong placed his hands flat on his knees. "If I were him, I would also like to live a carefree life like this."

Speaking of Xiaoyao, her heart suddenly moved.

"That day outside Xiaoyao Tower, you mentioned Prince Jing in addition to Wuyue Mountain Man. Could it be that Xiaoyao Tower was opened by Prince Jing?"

The writings of Wuyue Shanren are priceless, and the owner of Xiaoyao Tower must be an extraordinary person to have invited him to write the plaque.

Fang Tong still remembered that day when Feng Twelve told the shopkeeper that the Five Mountains Man was on good terms with Prince Jing, so there was no need to worry about the stability of the restaurant. Doesn't that mean that the restaurant was related to the Five Mountains Man or Prince Jing?

"You guessed right," Feng Twelve said, "The real owner of Xiaoyao Tower is Prince Jing."

(End of this chapter)