Can't a princess ascend the throne?

Chapter 143 Entering the City Again
Even if they couldn't hold on at first, after learning that the female imperial envoy might pass through Yancheng, almost all the salt workers felt a renewed sense of hope. Sometimes, people need to give themselves something to look forward to, and it is because of this expectation that they can survive.

At this time, Jiu Que had already met up with Wei Yuan. After explaining the situation in a few words, Wei Yuan ordered two of his men to stay here to protect Hu Jinsui, while he followed Jiu Que, Cui Zhufeng, and the others to prepare to go to the Binyang Prince's Mansion in Yancheng.

Although the Prince of Binyang dared to sell smuggled salt in secret, the regulations in Yancheng were not as strict as those in Qianzhou. Perhaps it was because Yancheng was a well-connected place, unlike Qianzhou which was full of continuous mountain ranges. He did not dare to be too presumptuous in public, otherwise His Majesty would have known about the situation in Yancheng.

Bai Yichun was anxiously waiting for Jiu Que and the others to return, but who would have thought that although they did return, they were immediately going to Yancheng, and even to the Binyang Prince's Mansion! Could they just go to such a dangerous place? They might not come out alive!
Immediately and patiently persuade them.

"My dear sister, you civil officials probably don't know the strength of the Prince of Binyang. But we military generals do! Back then, he single-handedly, on horseback, repelled three hundred enemy cavalry. Those were three hundred real cavalry, without the slightest reduction! My mother saw it with her own eyes. He charged into the enemy ranks alone, horse and spear, and after only three rounds of fighting, he scattered the enemy cavalry and captured their captain. Those were Northern Barbarian cavalry! The Northern Barbarians are renowned for their fine horses. It's said that their cavalrymen are born on horseback, raised from childhood. Riding a horse is as easy for them as standing on flat ground. Their horses are trained from a young age, developing a deep bond and exceptional understanding with their masters. Such cavalrymen can practically take on ten men each!"

"But even such cavalry were driven back by the Prince of Binyang. Let me put it this way, the only one who can fight alongside His Majesty on the battlefield without worrying about getting hurt in the back is this Prince of Binyang! How dare you trespass on his palace?"

Even if His Majesty doesn't pursue the matter, the Prince of Binyang could take on ten of Jiu Que's men with a single punch! Isn't this just courting death? Although Bai Yichun didn't say it explicitly, her expression conveyed that meaning, and Jiu Que didn't care.

"General Baiyi, of course I know His Highness Prince Binyang's strength, but that's precisely why I must investigate. If Prince Binyang truly disregards the people and sells smuggled salt, I have a legitimate reason to arrest him. Even a prince is subject to the law. His Majesty is so enlightened that he will pursue even his own son's crimes, demonstrating his impartiality. Moreover, if Prince Binyang is truly as brave and benevolent as you say, there might be some misunderstanding. But if this misunderstanding cannot be resolved, wouldn't Prince Binyang then become an enemy of His Majesty?"

"Furthermore, General Baiyi, I don't think salt in Yancheng was this expensive three years ago, right? Does the general intend to keep buying expensive salt from now on? And such inferior quality salt at that?"

These words left Bai Yichun speechless. Of course, she didn't want her people to have to eat expensive salt, and as a military general, she had to admit that she did have some admiration for the Prince of Binyang.

If this illustrious prince is truly a general in his twilight years, then so be it. Although it would be regrettable, it's not something I can control. But what if this prince has been wronged?

Perhaps everyone is a little more forgiving of those they admire, and Bai Yichun was no exception. After much deliberation, she finally gritted her teeth, stamped her foot, and did it.

"I'll go with you!"

"General?"

“If you civil officials have such ambition, how can I, a dignified military officer, be inferior to you? Besides, I also don’t think the Prince is that kind of person. He was willing to lose two fingers for a completely unrelated village; surely he wouldn’t change his personality so drastically after taking up his post? It just doesn’t make sense! Perhaps you don’t believe me, but we also found it strange at first. Military officers from several surrounding prefectures went to see the Prince together, only to be refused. We never even saw his face, and since then, the price of salt in our prefectures has been rising higher and higher. Everyone thought it was because the Prince was unhappy with our overstepping of authority. But if there’s a misunderstanding, even if we’ll be blamed, we have to find out the truth!”

Jiu Que hadn't intended to refuse in the first place, and seeing the other party's firm attitude, he simply agreed. "I originally wanted to ask the general for help. If we go together, we can look after each other if we encounter any trouble."

"Row!"

Without further ado, the group arrived at the outskirts of Yancheng with lightning speed. Without a word, Cui Zhufeng was the first to climb the city wall. Her martial arts skills had reached the pinnacle; with just two uses of leverage, she had already flown several meters up the wall. Jiu Que and the others watched in awe from below, wondering how their senior had managed to fly up such a high wall so easily. That was incredible!

Turning to look at Wei Yuan, who was also looking at her, Jiu Que cautiously inquired.

"Brother Wei, can you fly up there?"

Wei Yuan's expression immediately turned grim. Although he was highly skilled in martial arts, he was still far inferior to masters like Cui Zhufeng. Such a high city wall was impossible to fly over without external assistance. But let alone himself, who among those present, besides Senior Cui who had already ascended, could possibly fly over?
The eldest brother didn't complain about the second brother's dark complexion, and the rest of the crowd watched expectantly. Cui Zhufeng had already thrown down a rope he had brought with him. Jiu Que was the first to go up. She had never practiced martial arts, so naturally she didn't have that much arm strength. Bai Yichun and the others helped to wrap the rope around her several times, tying her tightly. After receiving the signal, Cui Zhufeng casually tossed it up, and with a whoosh, Jiu Que was already flying up, like riding a roller coaster, much higher than the city wall.

Those watching from below were terrified, but Jiu Que actually found it quite amusing. As she fell, Cui Zhufeng gently tugged, and Jiu Que landed in her arms. The movement was gentle, without the slightest tremor.

"Wow!"

Jiu Que's eyes were practically gleaming as she looked at the other person. She had only known that Senior Cui's martial arts were extremely high before, but these past few days she had truly experienced it firsthand, and she suddenly felt a little regretful that she herself didn't know martial arts.

"Twenty years."

Cui Zhufeng seemed to know exactly what Jiu Que was thinking, and uttered the word crisply. Jiu Que's initial eagerness to learn martial arts was immediately suppressed. Forget it, twenty years? She didn't have that kind of patience. Anyway, with such a powerful senior like Cui Zhufeng around, it wouldn't matter if she didn't learn.

The remaining few people were even easier to manage. With Cui Zhufeng, a martial arts master, by their side, the group entered the city smoothly.

(End of this chapter)