Chapter 380: Crash…for your lordship (1/2)
Chapter 380: Crash…for your lordship
The South Ning Region was the largest prefecture in Tianning Country, and one of the areas to suffer the severest effects of famine. If these were normal times, any visitors to the region would be able to sense the lively, flourishing effects of its residents before they even crossed the borders, but now a lifeless air pervaded over everything. Han Yunxi and Long Feiye saw nothing but bleak and desolate scenes their entire trip in. The fields were completely parched without even a single blade of grass, much less grain. All of the village hamlets they rode through seemed dead and stagnant, discouraging visitors in favor of a hasty exit.
Typically speaking, the countryside suffered more from famines, since most villagers were too poor to buy grain in times of need. They were self-sufficient enough to support themselves, but not to buy surplus grain. When harvests failed, they didn’t even have enough to pay the landlord for their land, much less feed themselves. In the past, famines would drive hordes of victims across the lands in search of edible herbs and plants to appease their hunger. It was even common to see wild fights break out for a single weed. But this time, Han Yunxi and Long Feiye didn’t see any famine victims. Occasionally, they’d spot a few elderly people huddled up on the doorsteps of their home, suffering from hunger.
The South Ning Region was a large prefecture whose rural population far surpassed that of its city residents. From what they understood, the famine this time hadn’t caused a mass migration of starving victims because the surrounding counties and prefectures had held a tight rein on the borders to prevent potential rebellions.
But why couldn’t they see any victims at all? Were they all hiding inside their houses?
With uncertainty in their hearts, Han Yunxi and Long Feiye slowly made their way to South Ning City at the heart of the prefecture. A city was still a city in the end, the home of the wealthy and nobility. Even though signs of famine still lingered, order still prevailed. ‘Behind the red doors, meat and wine go to waste; while out on the road lie the frozen bones of the poor’–such was a quote to describe how the rich never lacked in grain. As the carriage sluggishly rumbled forwards, Long Feiye had his eyes closed in a nap while Han Yunxi was looking outside the windows. She only saw that the streets were far less prosperous than usual, but still clean and tidy. There were still pedestrians walking on the lanes as well, if fewer than usual. Despite changing their carriage, Long Feiye and Han Yunxi had yet to expose their whereabouts, so their ride earned only passing glances from the people below. None of them knew that it housed none other than the imperial envoy sent by the palace–the same man behind the hottest gossip topic spreading across the country, His Highness Duke of Qin.
Naturally, they were heading for the estate of the senior provincial official, but suddenly a carriage started racing over from the opposite direction, causing chaos in the streets.
“Move aside, move aside! All of you, out of the way!”
“No reparations for anyone who gets hit! Get out of the way!”
The driver was a young man, yelling at the top of his lungs as he whipped the horses pulling the carriage. Pedestrians on both sides of the street scurried out of the way, the few unlucky slow ones tripping and falling to the sides instead. Han Yunxi had long stuck out her head for a closer look. She saw a double horse-drawn carriage racing towards them, the outside decorated luxuriously with a curtained door made of pure silk. Each of the four corners of the carriage bore a gold tassel. She couldn’t see the insignia of the carriage from here, but from appearances alone, it had to belong to someone powerful and wealthy.
Han Yunxi and Long Feiye’s carriage was meandering leisurely forward in the middle of the street. They had no intentions of clearing the way, but they weren’t stopping, either. The other carriage was coming at such high-speeds that it had to have sizable momentum; if they couldn’t avoid an accident, then there’d be severe consequences. It was the first time Han Yunxi had met with such a situation. She was a little harried by the sight of the charging carriage, but when she glanced back to Long Feiye, she calmed down. He was still lying lazily in the carriage with his eyes shut in a doze, ignoring the outside completely. After being with him for so long, Han Yunxi had picked up a skill: whenever Long Feiye didn’t care, she didn’t have to worry, either. As a result, she withdrew into the carriage and curled up lethargically.
Long Feiye’s carriage didn’t make way, while the other way refused to stop. They were no more than 20 meters apart now and had quickly attracted a crowd of spectators. The young driver of the other carriage had already noticed this, and urged on the horses as he asked, “Master, there’s a carriage blocking the path that refuses to yield!”
An arrogant voice came out of the carriage, “Blocking my path? Are they seeking death? Charge at them, see if they yield then!”
“Yes! This one understands!” the young driver would rather cause a row. Excited, he furiously whipped the horses so they charged forward faster than ever. Anyone else would be frightened by such speeds!
The driver assumed that the other carriage would yield, but they only kept moving without even acknowledging their existence! Soon enough, the distance between the two carriages grew closer. All of the onlookers quaked with terror! Finally, the driver grew nervous too. “Master,” he said urgently, “They’re not stopping, what do I do?”
A young gentleman stuck his head out of the carriage. He looked every inch the noble and was dressed in brocade robes. Under such circumstances, he still managed to keep his cool and said disdainfully, “Force them to stop, then. I refuse to believe that they’ll be fearless in the face of death!”
So speaking, he took the whip and reins from the driver and started to drive the carriage himself, speeding up even further as he charged forward. It really was a spine-raising sight. The two carriages were set to collide at this rate, earning the stares of all the other pedestrians. They were worried that they’d miss the moment of impact! As the distance between them closed, the young gentleman’s expression shifted from its haughty look to one of serious concentration. Meanwhile, the driver of Long Feiye’s carriage looked as calm as ever.
Only six meters left! The ones at the reins could clearly make out each other’s faces by now.
Three meters! Not long before they collided!
Now two! They were really going to hit at this rate unless one of them stopped. Any closer than this and it’d be too late. Everyone watching held their breaths, waiting for Long Feiye’s carriage to move out of the way at the last second. Instead, his carriage kept moving forward.