Chapter 46 Trying to Escape from Him?

Chapter 46: Want to Escape from His Side?

After a while, Luo Yunchen finally released Su Zheng, put his hands behind his back, said goodnight to Su Zheng, and returned to the side hall.

In the side hall.

Luo Yunchen placed a strand of hair beside the pillow, gently stroked it, and whispered, "Brother, there's still half a month, only half a month."

"I'll only give you half a month, brother. You need to think it through quickly."

"Brother, there's no other way for you but to come to my side."

Luo Yunchen placed one hand on the strand of hair and the other arm in a hugging gesture by the pillow, as if embracing something, then curled his lips and fell asleep with his eyes closed.

Early the next morning.

Upon waking up, Su Zheng asked the system, "System, did he sleep well last night?"

"He slept the first half, but in the second half, he put on dark robes and slipped out of the palace."

Su Zheng paused, "Did he go do that stupid cat-searching-and-burying thing, or go on official business?"

"Official business. He took some people to South City."

Su Zheng was slightly startled. South City, Beggar City. What was he going to do there?

The scene from yesterday reappeared in his mind, and Su Zheng no longer had his usual lazy, carefree attitude.

Since crossing over, Su Zheng hadn't taken anyone or anything seriously, staying detached and carefree.

But those beggars, those ruins and broken walls, seemed to have become his demons.

At the mere thought, Su Zheng couldn't help but overthink, and couldn't get back his lighthearted mood.

After freshening up, Luo Yunchen came to find him.

The two had some breakfast and then went to the Shangshu Bureau together.

Before leaving the Eastern Palace, Su Zheng asked Xiaoyunzi to pick some good-looking maids. If none could be found in the Eastern Palace, then go to the Imperial Household Department to ask for some.

Luo Yunchen didn't react, just said softly, "Brother, let's hurry, or we'll be late."

Su Zheng nodded, and the two walked side by side out of the Eastern Palace.

On the way, Su Zheng was unusually silent. He didn't walk drowsily leaning on Luo Yunchen, and his usual energy was gone.

Luo Yunchen's eyes darkened, and his fists were clenched tight.

Is brother already trying to run away from me?

Not only has he lost his usual closeness, even walking together seems like such a chore!

Su Zheng spaced out for a bit, but finally couldn't help edging closer to Luo Yunchen and asking in a low voice, "Chen Di, do you have any thoughts about South City?"

Su Zheng's voice was like warm water pouring into Luo Yunchen's heart, completely driving away the biting cold inside him.

Luo Yunchen came back to his senses and found that Su Zheng was shoulder to shoulder with him, his head slightly tilted, looking at him with expectant eyes.

Luo Yunchen released his clenched fists, the corners of his mouth lifted, and he gave a faint smile.

He also tilted his head towards Su Zheng, almost touching heads, and whispered, "I do have some thoughts. Has brother been thinking about South City all along?"

Su Zheng didn't hide it from him and nodded, "I'm concerned about the beggars there."

"So what do you think, brother?"

"My opinion? Naturally, give them enough to eat and warm clothes, have their own homes, and live a stable life. Most of those beggars just want a bite to eat and a roof over their heads."

Luo Yunchen looked at Su Zheng silently. He actually sensed a kind of pity born of shared suffering in Su Zheng's words.

Not hearing Luo Yunchen's reply, Su Zheng sighed, "I understand. This wish sounds simple, even trivial, but it's as hard as reaching the sky to accomplish."

"It's not something you can finish in a day or two, but it's not hopeless either."

Su Zheng stopped and looked at Luo Yunchen, eyes lighting up, and asked, "Chen Di, do you have a way?"

"I have some rough ideas that need work."

"Spill it."

Luo Yunchen grabbed Su Zheng's wrist and pulled him along, "Brother, let's talk on the way, or we'll be late."

Su Zheng kept up with him, "Alright, go ahead."

"Basically, it's trading food for labor. Men can rebuild houses and fix up South City. Women can make clothes and boots for the troops. Those with skills can use them. As for kids, I haven't figured out what to do with them yet."

Of course, men, women, or kids—if they're useful, he'd grab them for himself without hesitation.

Su Zheng frowned at that, "The idea is good, but hasn't anyone ever thought of this before? Why hasn't anyone done anything about it?"

"Do you know how South City became a Beggar City, brother?"

Su Zheng shook his head. The original Su Zheng didn't know, so how would I?

Luo Yunchen said, "Over the past two-plus years, there have been several disasters of all sizes across the country, cutting harvests by more than half. Those who could scrape by naturally didn't want to leave.

But folks who couldn't make it had to travel far to find a way to live, and a lot of them ended up in the capital.

With a large number of refugees wanting to enter the city, the court couldn't just ignore it, so someone had to handle it.

However, the officials who took it on weren't helping the refugees—they were lining their own pockets.

The refugees were herded into South City.

At first, they got three meals of watery porridge. Then it became even thinner soup, and went from three meals to two, then one, and finally they just stopped.

The refugees were starving and tried to find their own way out, but were stopped. South City became their prison overnight.

If they resisted, the soldiers would crack down on them, no matter who lived or died.

They couldn't fight their way out, so they turned on the locals in South City.

At first, just petty stuff. But soon they realized the soldiers wouldn't stop them as long as they stayed inside.

So they got bolder—formed gangs, robbed, and trashed places.

Locals with money or connections moved out, and South City became what it is today."

So, the beggars inside are not all refugees fleeing disasters; some are locals too."

After a long silence, Su Zheng finally spoke, "Were those officials all part of the Shen and Lin cliques?"

"Mostly, but we'll need to investigate further. The ones who actually did the fieldwork were just low-level officials.

Those truly in power never even bothered to see for themselves. They took bribes, delegated authority, and as for how the common people fared—that was never a concern of theirs, nor did they ever inquire.

Some officials might have felt a pang of compassion, but they either knew that getting involved would only bring trouble and no reward,

or they were of too low a standing and lacked the power to act, so the South City’s problem was, intentionally or not, neglected by the court."

He himself had never paid attention to the South City situation either.

If it hadn’t been for Su Zheng’s sudden whim to go there, he wouldn’t have started investigating and uncovered so many problems.

There was one thing Luo Yunchen did not tell Su Zheng.

In the past half year or more, quite a few children of powerful families would occasionally send people to the South City to seize suitable individuals, dragging them back to serve as prey, slaves, or playthings for their sadistic pleasure.