Plotting with You: The Forensic Scientist in Ancient Times!

Chapter 673 - 672: Sudden Change in Temperament

Lin Kun and Chang Yu watched Lu Qing and Zhu Yu start eating the jerky, and their expressions seemed much more at ease.

They had lain low here for over a decade, disguising themselves as mountain bandits, but they could never really act like bandits by pillaging—that was something their pride and principles would never permit.

Moreover, in the past decade, the lives of the Lan Country’s people have increasingly worsened, making it even more unbearable to add to the suffering of these innocent civilians.

Therefore, life in the village was tightly constrained and difficult.

Usually, they managed with limited resources, but now that an Imperial Censor from Jin Country was here, they didn’t want their Young Master, the future ruler of Lan Country, to appear too impoverished before the visitor from the Upper Country.

Especially Lin Kun, who could tell that both Lu Qing and Zhu Yu, despite having no luxuries on them, exhibited an unmistakably noble and effortless demeanor.

These two now naturally chewed on the only presentable food they had—jerky. Rather than finding the jerky genuinely delicious, it was more that the two were considering the feelings of those around them, so they wouldn’t feel belittled or uncomfortable.

"Fu Lu, there are still some perishable foods in the cart, perhaps we should take them to the kitchen and prepare them," Zhu Yu suggested, noting that night had fallen and the others seemed unsure about how to arrange dinner.

Fu Lu responded immediately and, relieved, followed two chefs to the horse cart to fetch the ingredients for dinner.

Lu Qing took this opportunity to engage in casual conversation with Chang Yu.

Though Chang Yu had hidden in the village with the guards since he was small, he wasn’t left to idleness by Lin Kun and the others.

The guards were all from the Prince Mansion, and while most of them didn’t have deep knowledge of the Holy Books, they were literate and had read Martial Arts and Military Books.

They found ways to bring many books to Chang Yu, including those for ordinary children’s literacy, as well as classic texts that scholarly candidates typically study for civil service exams.

The guards who were most literate took turns as his tutors, teaching him to recognize words, read books, and encounter new words in the process.

Fortunately, Chang Yu was exceedingly intelligent and perceptive, learning enough words to fully understand and absorb the classic texts.

This greatly gratified Lin Kun and the others. Though they considered themselves mere martial men, their experiences at Prince Lan Mansion had broadened their horizons and intellect beyond that of ordinary fighters. They believed that a person with limited vision and unfamiliar with Holy Books could never become a distinctive Vassal King. If they merely preserved Chang Yu’s life but neglected to teach him properly, it would all be meaningless.

"To be honest," Lu Qing said to Chang Yu after their conversation, "Lan Country is no longer as you remember; saying life is unbearable would not be an exaggeration.

In every place we’ve visited, not a single town is prosperous or secure. Only in areas far from the capital do we occasionally see fields growing crops. Among the people of Lan Country we’ve met, few are carefree, most live precariously.

If we could help you succeed your grandfather as the new Vassal King of Lan Country, how would you govern this land?"

Chang Yu had considered this question before, so he pondered briefly before responding: "The ancient sages have said: in the way of governance, enriching the people comes first; when the people prosper, governance is easy.

When the people prosper, they cherish their homes and families, and will thereby respect authority and dread wrongdoing.

To achieve peace and stability in a nation, the people must first live comfortably and securely; only when everyone is well-fed and clothed will they yearn for a stable life at home, reluctant to see their good fortune destroyed, thus avoiding the path of crime.

For Lan Country in these past decades, vitality and prosperity have been severely sapped, far from their once-thriving state.

If I have the chance to take over Lan Country from my grandfather, I will first strive to restore the people’s livelihoods.

Even though Lan Country was famed for its dyes and spices, loved across the Four Seas, with many spice farmers and merchants in the past.

But times have changed; now, the immediate priority is to ensure everyone is fed before considering a return to former trades.

So I plan to issue orders nationwide to use arable land for planting fruits and grains, at least ensuring that each community can settle without fear of hunger.

Dignitaries and nobles elsewhere can perhaps do without incense and perfume temporarily, but the people of Lan City cannot go even one day without food.

Once the people of Lan Country are well-fed and warm, individuals will naturally return to their former occupations without the need for guidance or restriction."

Lu Qing listened to the young man in his twenties speak boldly, noticing a sincerity in both his expression and tone, devoid of any exaggeration or pretense.

"I hope one day you can put these ideas into practice." He nodded in agreement with Chang Yu, then said to Lin Kun, "You’ve truly educated your Young Master well; the people of Lan Country will be grateful to you all."

"Oh no, not at all.

We are merely rough men, knowing little. Much of what we understand came from our past service at Prince Mansion, listening to the Prince.

Our Prince was then diligent, tirelessly committed to the people, a wonderful King..." Lin Kun reminisced about the past and compared it with the present, sighing and shaking his head, "Had it not been for the events of that year, neither the Prince nor the Heir... Lan Country’s days would have been much better, not like they are now."

"I believe what you say." Lu Qing nodded to him. "If Prince Lan weren’t related by blood to the Holy Emperor and hadn’t been such a capable Vassal King early on, trusted most among the vassal states, the issues here perhaps wouldn’t have gone unnoticed for so long.

But how could a person, fine in every way, suddenly change so drastically?

Including the tragic deaths of the Heir and his other sons, consecutive misfortunes—surely it was no coincidence?"