Chapter 121: Ankang Prefecture

Though the voice was lowered considerably, the people around still heard it. Yet what did it matter if they heard? Everyone bowed their heads slightly, their eyes filled with fear.

The captain of the guards snorted coldly, saying no more. He stood to the side, scanning the crowd with a deep disdain in his gaze.

What a waste of Ankang Prefecture’s grain—nothing but a bunch of parasites!

Ye Kun, trailing behind, hadn’t caught the captain’s words but was carefully observing A Di’s changing expressions.

As the procession gradually advanced, Ye Kun noticed sweat beading on A Di’s brow, a clear sign of his nervousness.

Back when Ba Wanqing lived in Taixi County, she was regarded as a “little princess.” Now, in Ankang Prefecture, she was considered a “little noble.”

Though Ba Tai was not the prefect governor, he had recently been promoted to the position of Taishou of Ankang Prefecture, responsible for all civil affairs—a position of considerable power. Meanwhile, his in-law Pan Ming served as the commander of Ankang Prefecture, overseeing both internal and external security.

With this marriage alliance, the two families essentially ruled Ankang Prefecture—of course, setting aside the prefect governor. But the prefect governor rarely meddled in minor matters, instead focusing on the changes in the capital, Taijing. Any opportunity to gain merit would not be missed.

Ye Kun and Ye Qin, of course, were unaware of these intricacies. They only knew that Ba Wanqing’s father was well-established, but they could never have guessed just how well off he truly was.

In just a few years, Ba Tai had risen from Taixi County to become Taishou of Ankang Prefecture—a terrifyingly rapid ascent.

“How exciting! We’ve been waiting forever, and now we’re finally at the gate,” Yuan Zhen said, clasping his hands together, his face alight with joy and an indescribable excitement.

“The Anjing Academy opens in a few days. I wonder if my father has made all the arrangements,” Feng Dian said with a hint of worry.

Yuan Zhen patted Feng Dian’s shoulder. “What’s there to worry about? I’m here now…”

“Good brother, no words needed,” Feng Dian replied.

Yuan Zhen gave a playful punch and gazed up at the city walls before them. They were awe-inspiring—how had they moved such enormous stones up there? How much manpower and resources did it take? Truly befitting the second largest capital city of Taijing. It was a place one would want to die in.

After an hour of queuing, Ye Kun and his group finally entered the city of Ankang Prefecture—the city of temptation.

Passing through the gate, what lay before Ye Kun’s eyes was—

A shock to Ye Kun, Ye Qin, Yuan Zhen, and Feng Dian alike.

This... was Ankang Prefecture?

Are you sure this isn’t Ankang County?

They had imagined a scene of grandeur, bustling with vitality. But what met their eyes?

Ordinary houses, ordinary streets, everything seemed so... impoverished.

Only one word could describe it: poor.

And the people around bore no smiles—more often, their faces were etched with worry. In the corners, Ye Kun even spotted beggars. Taixi County didn’t have beggars, yet here, in the second largest capital city of Taijing, there were quite a few.

The air was heavy with a sour stench, as if the clothes hadn’t been washed for over ten days.

“Is this really Ankang Prefecture, husband…” Yan Mu’er covered her cheek slightly, her brows furrowed. Even Ye Li beside her looked the same. It wasn’t pretentiousness; after all, they had all been accustomed to better lives.

Ye Kun forced a smile. “We must not have come to the wrong place.”

“Kun-ge, this is worse than our Taixi County. Oh my God…” Yuan Zhen couldn’t believe it. Everything before them shattered their illusions.

“You’re mistaken,” a voice suddenly sounded beside them. Everyone turned to see it was none other than the flamboyant boss.

Ye Kun cupped his hands in salute; the boss smiled and returned the greeting.

“Boss, not busy now?” Ye Kun asked curiously.

“The business has grown, so I’ve hired some teachers. From now on, it’s no longer my affair.” The boss flicked open the folding fan in his hand. His long hair fluttered in the breeze, as if proudly flaunting itself before Kun-ge.

Ye Kun couldn’t help but say, “Looks like you’ve finally succeeded in changing careers.”

The boss twitched at the corner of his mouth, shooting Ye Kun a sideways glance. “I was just showing off my hair in front of you. Don’t be petty.”

“Do you feel what you see is different from what you imagined?” the boss said, strolling ahead with a smile.

“Indeed.”

“This west city gate entrance is the poorest part of Ankang Prefecture. Almost everyone arriving from the flying boat here comes from the counties; ninety percent are poor. They’ve spent all their savings just to get here. You get it now, right?”

Hearing this, everyone immediately understood—they had entered a slum.

Feng Dian asked curiously, “That can’t be right. If outsiders see this, wouldn’t they…”

The boss glanced at Feng Dian. “Didn’t you notice those who took carriages went a different way when getting off the flying boat?”

Ah... now that he mentioned it, it was true. Those at the west city gate had come on foot. Ye Kun and the others, unfamiliar, had simply followed the larger crowd.

“The south city gate is a world apart from here,” the boss said leisurely.

Yuan Zhen puckered his lips. “Then I’ll just walk over there. I won’t stay here.”

“Of course you can, but they cannot.”

Ye Li paused, puzzled. “Why can Yuan Zhen and not them?”

“This is Pingkang Ward. There are over a hundred wards of various sizes, occupying one-third of the entire west city. But this area is sealed off.”

“Sealed off???” Ye Kun was stunned. Was it some kind of plague?

In truth, poverty was a terrible plague in itself.

“A half-hour walk will bring you to the gates of Pingkang Ward, heavily guarded. Anyone poorly dressed is strictly forbidden from leaving.”

Everyone was shocked. Such division? To separate people into classes like this?

Such was the harsh reality of Ankang Prefecture.

Ye Kun now realized that their own clothing was indeed “luxurious,” while others wore very simple attire. Even their bearing revealed their status.

The boss, seeing their expressions, closed his fan. “Taixi County is a good place, but once you leave, it’s a dog-eat-dog world. You’ve just left your parents; you need to learn to guard against everyone, including me.”

Ye Kun nodded. Compared to the Ninth Prince, he trusted this boss more—even if he seemed flashy and a bit of a trickster, at least he was sincere.

“Boss, have you been in Ankang Prefecture long?” Ye Kun asked quietly.

“Yes. After leaving, I came here to swindle people—or rather, to do business.”

Everyone was speechless.

Ye Kun had never met anyone who said ‘swindle’ with such pride.

“Boss, do you know where the county magistrate used to live?”

As Ye Kun spoke, Ye Qin’s face tightened, his heartbeat quickening.