Heaven-Sent Farm Girl Builds Her Fortune And Captures His Heart-Chapter 527 - 526: The Fatuous Emperor

"Liushui City, is it the capital of Nanfeng Country?" Shen Qinglan was surprised.

Apart from the many merchants, there are hardly any people walking around. How can the capital of a nation be so desolate?

"No," Duan Yunfei nodded, "However, Liushui City is near a port, suitable for business exchanges, and is adjacent to the Capital of Nanfeng Country. People call it the second capital of Nanfeng Country."

Shen Qinglan frowned, "Even near the capital it’s so deserted; wouldn’t the other prefectures and towns be even more barren?"

"Not so," Du Bingxue said, "Liushui City is deserted, but other prefectures and towns are bustling with people."

"Why is this?" Shen Qinglan was puzzled.

Fu Junyan said, "Because in Liushui City, besides foreign merchants, only members of the royal family and nobility can live here. Ordinary citizens of this country are not allowed to stay in Liushui City for long."

Shen Qinglan was not only shocked but also bewildered. What on earth was the Emperor of Nanfeng Country thinking?

Fu Junyan gave a bitter smile, "The emperor is foolish, there’s no remedy."

Shen Qinglan raised her brows, "Can’t they... replace him?"

"It’s not that easy," Fu Junyan said, "That man is vigilant even against the Crown Prince, do you think you can replace him so easily?"

"Are there no officials who dare to persuade him?"

"There are," Fu Junyan said softly, "However, those who tried to persuade him are mostly residing in the Yellow Springs by now."

Shen Qinglan sighed softly, "What are the Crown Prince’s thoughts then?"

"The Crown Prince is fine," Du Bingxue said, "The Crown Prince is kind-hearted and compassionate, always concerned about the people. He wants to overthrow Nanfeng Country’s system to give its ordinary citizens complete freedom, but up to now, he still has the will but no power."

Shen Qinglan couldn’t help but agree with Xuan Ying’s words, "It’s truly pitiable to be a commoner in Nanfeng Country."

With imperial power supreme and the populace constantly restricted, living in such a country, when will there be a day for them to rise?

Le Zhao said, "I remember hearing about three years ago, an official in Nanfeng Country became extremely enraged during court because his persuasion was fruitless. In front of all the ministers and officials, he angrily cursed Emperor Liu for being foolish, and eventually, Emperor Liu had him cut into pieces on the spot. Since then, no one dared to persuade again. Is this true?"

Fu Junyan sighed lightly, "I was right there in the court, and it’s indeed true."

Although the official had intentions to protect the people, he was indeed rather foolish. Cursing the Emperor for being foolish is no different from seeking death, isn’t it?

"Emperor Liu’s cruel methods are not something new," Duan Yunfei said, "He can even be ruthless to his own flesh and blood, what else is he incapable of?"

Le Zhao raised his brows, "Are you talking about the Third Prince, who was proficient in both civil and martial arts at seven years old and was destined with the fate of a heavenly dragon?"

Duan Yunfei nodded, "Precisely, back then the Third Prince, at the age of seven, was calculated by the State Preceptor to have a heavenly dragon’s fate. The State Preceptor even said that one day he would be able to stabilize the world with his power, but unfortunately..."

He smiled, "Not long after, the State Preceptor died in a fall, and the Third Prince contracted a peculiar illness that left even the Imperial Physicians helpless, and soon after, he died from the illness."

Du Bingxue said with a heavy expression, "Back then, my grandfather received the order from the Empress Dowager to enter the palace to check on the Third Prince, but unfortunately, he was hindered in every possible way on the way, and by the time he entered the palace, the Third Prince was already dead."

Fu Junyan sneered, "Back then, when the State Preceptor’s words spread, all the commoners and ministers placed their hopes on the Third Prince. Thinking about it now, it’s really laughable."

Duan Yunfei nodded in agreement, "Indeed laughable, it’s very evident that someone disliked the Third Prince, so they wanted to use Emperor Liu’s hand to get rid of him, whereas the State Preceptor was just a pawn for those people."