RWNEFE -Chapter 626 Almost Recognized, What a Coincidence!

The shop owner chuckled and said, “That’s nothing. Back then, just surviving was lucky enough.”

“Thanks to His Majesty settling the wars, bringing in ample grain, and easing taxes, we commoners can now live comfortably.”

Liu Yanhui smiled and nodded. “Indeed. The good life we enjoy now is all because of His Majesty.”

The noodles were served, along with a plate of meat and a plate of vegetables.

Shen Lanxi looked at the white noodles and the dishes on the table, feeling comforted.

Liu Yanhui explained beside her: “Xining mainly produces wheat and corn. Three years ago, cotton and chili seeds were introduced, and these crops grow very well here. Dongchuan is colder and can only yield one or two harvests a year, but the land is vast. With improved planting techniques and animal husbandry, not only can they be self-sufficient, they can also export surplus annually.”

“The meat platter includes beef, pork, chicken, and lamb.” He spoke as he served her a bit of each.

“The beef and lamb come from further east, where the pastures are more abundant. Xining, being relatively more populated in the east, mainly raises chickens and pigs, while areas with more water raise ducks and geese.”

“This place is slightly warmer than the far east, so the growing season is shorter, and they can grow an extra season of vegetables compared to the easternmost regions.”

“These vegetables are locally grown. From what the owner said, normally they also have fish and salted eggs, but his wife hasn’t brought them out yet today.”

Though the flavors weren’t the finest, Shen Lanxi ate with great satisfaction. A simple bowl of noodles brought her a sense of ease and comfort.

“Delicious.”

“You eat too!”

Liu Yanhui smiled. Just as he had taken two bites, a woman appeared pushing a wheelbarrow with two children—one walking, the other sitting in the wheelbarrow.

The guards instinctively reached for their weapons.

“Eat noodles!” Shen Lanxi’s voice rang out.

The guards immediately bowed their heads, eating quickly.

“Sir, we left a little late today.”

The noodle vendor served the food at the table and hurried to help unload the cart.

“No problem. You’ve already had a hard time managing with the children. Next time I’ll have someone watch the stall so you can push the cart yourself.”

The woman smiled. “Today the child fell on the way out. Next time I’ll leave earlier; you don’t need to return. Round trips take too long.”

The noodle vendor held the child with concern: “Hang on a little longer. In a few months, we’ll have saved enough to buy a house in the city. Then we won’t have to run around every day.”

The woman nodded, satisfied: “Good.”

Liu Yanhui went to fetch a fish and some salted eggs.

“Set out like this, and the table looks quite abundant!”

Shen Lanxi glanced at the woman’s plump face and nodded with a smile. “Indeed, Xining is not bad.”

Liu Yanhui thought quietly to himself that Lord Zhang Jin was fortunate indeed.

“Oh, this guest looks familiar,” the woman suddenly said, noticing Shen Lanxi.

Liu Yanhui and the others tensed instantly.

They weren’t worried about being recognized; they were wary of potential assassins.

The noodle vendor laughed and teased, “Impossible. From their accents, they’re not from here. Could they be from the capital?”

Liu Yanhui and the others tensed further.

“Sorry, my wife moved here from the capital, and I retired from the Dongchuan army. That year, she just happened to come to our army to recruit… oh!”

The woman blushed and playfully pinched her husband.

“Sorry, guest, I must have been mistaken. Many here moved from the capital; I misjudged.”

Shen Lanxi raised an eyebrow. No wonder.

Liu Yanhui and the others exhaled in relief.

So that’s how it was—a remarkable coincidence.

Shen Lanxi smiled. “It seems the Emperor made the right match. You two are happily married—many would envy you.”

The woman must have seen Shen Lanxi during her matchmaking days, but at that time, the women willing to marry soldiers were all skinny and gaunt. Now, she looked entirely different, so even a good memory wouldn’t recognize her.

Liu Yanhui said, “Congratulations.”

The couple, embarrassed by the compliment, not only reduced the bill by twenty copper coins but also gave them extra salted eggs as a gift.

Their words implied it was rare to meet people from the capital, making it hard to refuse politely.

Once they had walked a distance, Shen Lanxi asked, “Did you give them money?”

“Yes. I even put it in a red envelope as a congratulatory gift.”

In the afternoon, many soldiers appeared at the city gates. The so-called Loyal Lord, Zhang Jin, arrived with them, clearing the streets.

“He clears the roads without disturbing the common people—this Zhang Jin is interesting.”

Street vendors continued their stalls, though more compactly, leaving a clear path for the army.

The Eastern Expedition Army was approaching.

Shen Lanxi said, “Let’s move on to the next location.”

“Zhang Jin, for meritorious governance, you will be promoted one rank and transferred to the capital upon return.”

Liu Yanhui smiled knowingly—he had said Zhang Jin was indeed fortunate.

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

In the afternoon, they casually toured Xining. The inside and outside of the city were consistent, showing that the preparations were not done just because of Shen Lanxi’s arrival—this was the normal state of the city.

“If only other places could be like Xining, I wouldn’t have to stay up late managing memorials in the future.”

Liu Yanhui, with concern in his tone, said, “Upon return, I will petition for the older officials to write memorials concisely. Useless words and flattery should be omitted to save time.”

Shen Lanxi sighed: “Liu Qing understands me well.”

As the Eastern Expedition Army departed, rumors began circulating daily in Jinmen, attempting to smear Shen Lanxi.

“A mere woman, how can she rule a nation?”

“A hen leading the roosters, she will ruin Great Zhou. Our country will surely fall by her hands.”

“She schemes to seize the throne, a traitor to all! Everyone must punish her!”

“She plotted against the late Emperor, killed the royal family—Shen Lanxi is ruthless, bringing disaster to the people.”

Che Mingyuan and others guarding the border immediately countered the rumors.

“Zhou Ruyuan angered the late Emperor, colluded with foreigners, bringing disaster to the country!”

“Zhou Ruyuan cannot tell pearls from stones—called for water three times in one night!”

“Zhou Ruyuan, fake war god, in reality a coward, beaten back at every turn.”

“So what if Zhou Ruyuan is male? Jinmen suffers from heavy taxes, driving countless people to ruin or exile.”

“Under Zhou Ruyuan, pirates proliferate and officials oppress the people—a tyrant indeed.”

“If not for Her Majesty stepping in to manage the state, and assuming Zhou Ruyuan had taken the throne, Great Zhou would have long been fragmented and destroyed.”