Weird! Is His Royal Highness addicted to touching corpses? Why do you keep touching it back and forth?
The captain chuckled and took out something from his arms, "Because he is looking for this thing. The Prince's Seal."
"What? Captain, why did you take this thing away?"
The captain said calmly: "As mentioned above, this trip is for him to experience. The identity of the prince is useless after leaving Chang'an City. If he carries this around again, the danger will outweigh the benefits."
"Then if the prince reveals his identity to others again..."
"Haha, it's best not to. Because without an identity seal, he will be beaten as a liar."
…
The developments in the next few days simply refreshed the bandits' outlook.
Li Chengqian was walking eastward with dozens of taels of silver in his arms. He found a teenage boy sleeping in the open air without a car or horse. He couldn't walk very far and his feet were covered in blisters. On the mountain trails, I encountered a black shop, and my dozens of taels of silver were robbed again. Fortunately, the other party did not kill the young and old, but knocked them unconscious and threw them on the official road.
He was penniless and suffered two big losses. Now he sees everyone as a bad guy when he walks, so he walks with his head lowered in a low voice and never talks to anyone.
Some passers-by looked at him pitifully and thought he was a little beggar. They threw some food and drink to him, but he picked it up and ate and drank, but still didn't say a word. Others were more sympathetic, saying that this beggar is still a deaf-mute, so pitiful...
The secret guards were confused. Didn't they say that His Highness the Crown Prince was out training? Does this, does learning to beg count?
Coincidentally, after five days of sightseeing, Li Junxian brought Xiao Rui to Luoyang City, the second most powerful city in the world. Although it is slightly in decline and not as prosperous as Chang'an, it is still second to none, and the power of the Eastern Capital still exists.
At the announcement place at the gate of Luoyang City, many people gathered around to watch the official announcement. The little beggar Li Chengqian was also watching. He cursed in a low voice in anger, "Damn bandits, don't point blindly if you don't know the way. I want to go back to Chang'an, and you pointed me to Luoyang... It's over. It will take at least half a month to walk back to Chang'an, and I will starve to death."
"We finally arrived in Luoyang. I have been so tired from traveling these past few days that my butt is almost split in half." Xiao Rui stretched out a big stretch. At this time, he and Li Junxian did not dare to show their true faces, so they both wore disguises and make-up. Xiao Rui, with his three long beards, looks like a middle-aged Taoist, while Li Junxian looks like a bearded coachman.
"Yeah, it's better to be at home."
"Who would go out if not to avoid trouble? Fishing at home...huh? Why are there so many people at the gate of the city? Fifth brother, go and see what the government announcement says?"
Li Junxian followed the instructions and walked towards the list. Before he reached it, he saw a familiar figure in the crowd. His heart suddenly jumped and he saw the side face carefully. He was so scared that Li Junxian turned around and ran away.
"What's wrong? What happened?"
"Sir, that, that little beggar looks so familiar. It seems to be that person from Chang'an." Li Junxian lowered his voice and winked.
Xiao Rui almost fell off the carriage and secretly looked at the little beggar in the distance. Hiss...it's true, except for the beggar's attire, this figure looks like him. It's not that big, right? The 20,000 Imperial Guards in Chang'an couldn't be found, but I met them when I went out to enjoy the mountains and rivers?
After carefully observing the surroundings, Xiao Rui quickly discovered that several secret guards were paying attention to the little beggar.
He patted Li Junxian on the shoulder: "Let's go, let's go quickly, don't be recognized. Go to the city and find a hotel to stay."
Li Junxian looked at Xiao Rui's three long beards, then touched his own beard, and suddenly became bolder, "It doesn't matter, it's not that easy for us to recognize each other like this."
The carriage drove slowly on Luoyang Central Street. Xiao Rui didn't know much about Luoyang's memories because he had passed by Youzhou before. It doesn't mean that he hasn't heard stories about Luoyang, especially during this period of vacation for fishing. Almost every day, the Supreme Emperor Li Yuan told him about his romantic deeds in his early years.
For example, when Yang Guang, the former Emperor Daye of the Sui Dynasty, was still a prince, Li Yuan and he were cousins. When they were young, the two of them visited the most famous Jinxiu Tower in Luoyang together, and the scenery was indistinguishable...
Who is Xiao Rui? It is not an exaggeration to say that he is the richest man in the Tang Dynasty today. Even if he is staying in a hotel in disguise, he must be the best. Where is the best place in Luoyang? Everyone knows Jinxiu Tower! It’s a time-honored brand for nearly a hundred years.
Li Junxian asked in a low voice: "Master, let's go out for refuge and wander around. Is this a suitable place to live?"
"What? Are you afraid of being recognized by the hidden stakes inside?" Xiao Rui smiled, "I am very confident in my disguise skills."
"No, the princess at home is still pregnant with a child... It's a bit inappropriate for you to do this."
Xiao Rui laughed and said, "Fifth brother, what are you thinking about? You just stay in the hotel to eat and drink. It's not too much to ask a girl to pour you a drink. I have lost all my martial arts and my body is full of holes. There is no cure. Come and take care of me." It’s eye-catching, and it might help with recovery.”
"Ahem, you must have been here before, otherwise you wouldn't be so familiar with Luoyang, and you would have found Jinxiu Tower right away." Li Junxian said suspiciously.
Xiao Rui lowered his voice: "I've never been here before. I'm usually a member of the Imperial Religion. He was a frequent visitor here when he was young."
Pfft... This is too outrageous. You can just pass the blame, but how can you pass it on to an old man?
"Fifth brother, don't worry. I won't tell my sister-in-law when I go back. I'm out to play, so I won't treat you badly. I'll find two oirans to accompany you. I'm not in good health and I'm powerless, so you don't have to restrain yourself."
Ahem...
This immediately made Li Junxian blush. He waved his hands and did not dare to ask any more questions.
On the other side, Li Chengqian thought about it and realized that he could not return to Chang'an. Then go to the government and report to the governor of Luoyang. As long as the governor recognizes you, it will be easy.
Imagination is beautiful, but reality is cruel. You, a little beggar, want to see Mr. Fu Yin?
Not to mention reporting, just because he pestered a few more words, he was thrown out by the guard at the door and almost got a beating.
Li Junxian glanced with resentment in his heart. But he happened to be caught in the eye by the gangster who had just left the government office, and his eyes suddenly turned around. Like a kind and good person, he extended a helping hand and came to help the little beggar. At the same time, he warmly invited him to eat and drink, and was even willing to spend money to help him change into clean clothes.
"Thank you, Brother Lu, you are such a good person. When I get home, I will repay your kindness." Li Chengqian grew up very quickly due to the circumstances along the way, and he has learned to be nice and obedient. At least I have temporarily let go of my previous arrogance, and my gratitude at this time is sincere.
"It doesn't matter, just eat quickly. After eating, I will find a familiar Chang'an caravan and have someone escort you home. Just don't run around alone in the future."
"Well, never again." Li Chengqian wiped his tears while eating.
After dinner at the restaurant, an ordinary carriage came to the door. The driver seemed to be familiar with the man named Lu and greeted him warmly.
"Master Lu, everything has been arranged. Our shopkeeper has specially ordered us to come down to pick up this young master. Don't worry about leaving him to us."
"That will be hard work. Little brother, the arrangements have been made. You can get in the carriage and go with him. Their shopkeeper is friendly with me and will take care of you."
"Well, thank you, Brother Lu. Take care of yourself. I will come back to you."
Li Chengqian got on the carriage without any precautions and said goodbye reluctantly. But he didn't see that what Lu was supposed to give the coachman for travel expenses was actually a bag of silver that the coachman secretly gave to Lu.
Not long after, the carriage stopped. Li Chengqian, who was in the carriage, was tired from many days of work. After eating enough, he fell asleep in the carriage.
"Hey kid, we're home, get off the car."
"Ah? Arriving in Chang'an so soon? How long have I been sleeping?" Li Chengqian rubbed his eyes in confusion.
"Going to Chang'an? What a beautiful idea. This is your new home! If you can take a fancy to Luoyang Jinxiu Tower, learn from it and be a turtle slave with peace of mind. It will benefit you in the future."
W-what Jinxiu Tower? What turtle slave? I want to go home, not to Jinxiu Tower...
Pooh! Nalu Sanhun is the famous leader of Luoyang's flower-making business. He has sold you here for ten taels of silver. Do you still want to go home? If you don't obey, you will suffer consequences!
With that said, he violently grabbed Li Chengqian, and it was as easy as lifting a chicken. Li Chengqian roared and cursed, and couldn't help crying again, why am I so unlucky? Are you being scammed wherever you go?
