After ten years of accompanying me in my studies, the entire court begged me to shut up.

Your humble servant, Zhang Shi, the Imperial Inspector of Shuntian, respectfully submits this memorial:

On the eighth day of this month, I was ordered to leave the capital and go to Wuqing County to check the accounts. I had only traveled twenty li when...

…In the streets and alleys, many people were eating on the street. I was quite puzzled; Wuqing is not a wealthy place, so how could this be? Therefore, I stopped at the street and chatted with a road worker, asking about his livelihood. The worker expressed his gratitude to the government and also to His Majesty for caring for the people…

…After much reflection, I realize that Wang Shouren's actions have brought tangible benefits to the people, and it is only natural that they would be grateful. However, the people not only feel gratitude for Shouren's benevolence but also for His Majesty's sagacity. Why is this? Because Wang Shouren was personally selected and dispatched by His Majesty, and his policies benefited the people, truly acting as His Majesty's benevolence throughout the land. The people are sincere, and their hearts are clear; they know the source of this gratitude.

Confucius once said, "If the people are well-off, how can the ruler be lacking?" Today, the people of Wuqing are able to live in peace and have enough to eat, which is truly a blessing for the country and a boon for His Majesty!

The Hongzhi Emperor held the memorial and read it for a long time, his feelings very complicated.

Xiao Jing stepped forward with a tea tray and said, "Your Majesty, this old servant has brought you a fresh cup of hot tea."

The Hongzhi Emperor did not react; his eyes remained fixed on the memorial.

Xiao Jing wanted to advise him but didn't dare. He couldn't understand why he had spent half an hour reading a memorial of several hundred words.

We've changed the tea three times already, are you going to drink it or not? It'll get cold again soon...

After a long silence, the Hongzhi Emperor finally spoke: "Xiao Jing, tell me, how do the people of the world view me?"

"what?"

The question came so suddenly that Xiao Jing didn't react immediately.

The Hongzhi Emperor slowly raised his head and asked again, "Do the people know what kind of emperor I am?"

Xiao Jing hurriedly put down the tea tray in his hand, then knelt down and said, "Your Majesty, why do you say such things? Of course, the people know that Your Majesty is a wise and benevolent ruler..."

"alright!"

The Hongzhi Emperor raised his hand to interrupt, somewhat impatiently saying, "Stop trying to fool me with these flattering words. I want to hear the truth!"

Xiao Jing lowered his head, feeling cold sweat all over his back, and didn't know what to say for a moment.

The Hongzhi Emperor stood up, walked to the window, and looked at the falling snowflakes outside.

"I began observing government affairs at the age of ten and assumed personal rule at seventeen. The memorials I have read could fill the entire Qianqing Palace."

He paused, his voice low, and said, "In the memorials submitted by those officials, they always say that the people are deeply grateful for the Emperor's grace, but do the people really know what the Emperor's grace is?"

Xiao Jing sensed that things were serious, so he knelt on the ground, not daring to say a word.

The Hongzhi Emperor turned around and looked at him: "Since ancient times, imperial power has never reached the countryside. My decrees can only reach the county government at most. The county magistrate is the head of the county. After that, we have to rely on the local gentry. Officials and local gentry are always standing between me and the people."

Cold sweat beaded on Xiao Jing's forehead; he finally sensed that something was wrong.

Why is Your Majesty bringing this up today?

The Hongzhi Emperor continued, "When I was young, I would sometimes go out of the palace incognito to observe the lives of ordinary people in the streets. But even under the emperor's nose, I have never seen a single commoner speak well of me."

He walked back to his desk and picked up the memorial: "The officials they can discuss are at most at the county level, because the highest official they can recognize is their county magistrate."

Xiao Jing asked cautiously, "Your Majesty, what is this...?"

The Hongzhi Emperor raised his hand to stop him, his gaze falling on the memorial: "According to Minister Zhang, this is the first time I have heard that the people of Wuqing County are grateful for my kindness."

Xiao Jing pondered the question and tentatively asked, "It seems that Director Wang has done a good job in promoting education."

The Hongzhi Emperor suddenly changed the subject: "How has the Crown Prince been performing lately?"

Xiao Jing was taken aback, and quickly replied, "Your Majesty, His Highness the Crown Prince has been studying very diligently these past few days."

The Hongzhi Emperor nodded and said, "Go and make preparations. I wish to visit Wuqing County again, and I order the Crown Prince to accompany me."

Upon hearing this, Xiao Jing's expression changed, and he hurriedly said, "Your Majesty, if you are going out, shouldn't you inform the Grand Secretariat? It will take some time for the Embroidered Uniform Guard to prepare the imperial carriage..."

The Hongzhi Emperor glanced at him indifferently: "You are traveling incognito; there must be no leaks!"

"This old servant understands, I will go and prepare immediately!"

Xiao Jing dared not say another word and bowed as he withdrew.

Zuo Chunfang.

Zhu Houzhao lay on the table, with a copy of the Analects in front of him, his head drooping lower and lower.

Liu Jin stood to the side, scratching his head in frustration.

"Your Highness, Your Highness! Please don't sleep! His Majesty will send people to question us soon, and I won't be able to explain myself..."

Zhu Houzhao groggily raised his head, drool still clinging to the corner of his mouth: "Huh? What are you investigating? Is Yang, the study companion, here?"

Liu Jin said helplessly, "Your Highness, Yang, the tutor, is in Wuqing County! You've only read four pages in three days. If His Majesty finds out..."

Suddenly hearing footsteps outside, Liu Jin quickly shut his mouth.

Zhu Houzhao rubbed his eyes, picked up the book, sat up straight, and muttered to himself.

"To learn and practice what you have learned is a pleasure... If friends come from afar, though they are far away, you shall surely be punished..."

Liu Jin covered his face in anguish.

Xiao Jing pushed the door open and came in just in time to hear the last sentence, and he was stunned on the spot.

"Your Highness, who do you intend to execute?"

Zhu Houzhao recognized the person and breathed a sigh of relief, throwing down his book: "You startled me! What brings you here?"

Xiao Jing bowed and said, "Your Highness, His Majesty has decreed that Your Highness must leave the palace incognito and has ordered Your Highness to accompany him."

Zhu Houzhao was stunned and asked, "Where to?"

"Go to Wuqing County."

There was a three-second silence in the study.

Zhu Houzhao practically jumped up from his chair, his eyes shining: "Really? Father Emperor really let me go out?"

Xiao Jing quickly said, "Your Highness, please keep your voice down! His Majesty said that this is a private visit incognito, and we must not make a fuss about it."

Zhu Houzhao exclaimed excitedly, "Great! Great! I've been so bored these past few days! Liu Jin, quick, prepare some clothes for me, older ones, so I can wander around freely!"

Outside Chaoyang Gate, an inconspicuous horse-drawn carriage with a green canopy was parked by the roadside.

The Hongzhi Emperor changed into a dark cotton robe and wore a felt hat, looking like a wealthy middle-aged merchant.

Xiao Jing disguised himself as the steward, Mu Bin as the bodyguard, and the other Imperial Guards followed from a distance as attendants.

Zhu Houzhao boarded the carriage and asked, "Father, which road are we going to take? The official road or the new road? The new road is easier to travel, but it's not finished yet, so we can only travel halfway..."

The Hongzhi Emperor looked at him and said calmly, "You seem to know this place well."

Zhu Houzhao chuckled: "Your subject has come so many times, I could feel it with my eyes closed."

The Hongzhi Emperor said nothing more, the curtain was lowered, and the carriage started moving.

The wheels rolled over the road, causing a slight bump at first, and the Hongzhi Emperor swayed slightly.

Zhu Houzhao peered out the carriage window, then suddenly pointed ahead: "Father, look! That's where they're building the road! See? First they dug the foundation, then they laid gravel, then added a layer of lime. When I came back last time, construction had just started, and now they've already built this far!"

Following his finger, the Hongzhi Emperor saw a dark mass of people in the distance—some carrying loads, some pushing carts, some wielding hoes—working busily in the dead of winter.