Liu Gonggong instinctively turned his head, exposing Duan Jin right under Xiao Yunqing’s nose.

Xiao Yunqing was taken aback when he first saw him. Though dressed like an ordinary villager, he stood as straight as a bamboo stalk, exuding an air of solemn dignity—as if he came from a scholarly family.

His features were also delicate and handsome, with a clean-cut appearance.

Since he had already been spotted, Liu Gonggong decided to go all in: “Your Highness, this is the Magistrate of Wuyuan County, named…” Uh… he hadn’t had a chance to ask yet.

Duan Jin took the opportunity to bow: “Duan Jin, Magistrate of Wuyuan County, pays his respects to Your Highness.”

Xiao Yunqing said, “Please rise, Magistrate Duan.”

His gaze instinctively fell on Duan Jin’s shoes. Everyone he had met along the way had been clad in official robes, with ruddy complexions and portly figures; only this Magistrate Duan was handsome and youthful, dressed in simple attire. Earlier at the entrance, he had heard the secretary mention that Duan Jin had been on a tour of the countryside, and upon seeing the mud on his shoes, a favorable impression of a ruler who cared for his people immediately formed in his mind.

Duan Jin lacked the fear and reserve that the common people typically felt toward the imperial family. He looked directly at this legendary young prince with composure. The young prince truly lived up to his reputation as the most favored prince of the dynasty—his skin was so fair it seemed to glow, a natural, ivory-white complexion that countless modern women would envy. It complemented his healthy complexion perfectly, yet never gave off a cold, pallid aura. 

Moreover, his features were exquisite, with a pair of beautiful, moist eyes that seemed almost to speak. Every inch of him exuded one word: dignity.

When he was silent, his gaze was clear and pure, with a cool, aloof aura. With just a slight flick of his eyes, Duan Jin felt as though he were gazing upon a pine-covered valley or a drop of water in a deep, still pool.

He was simply too handsome; Duan Jin couldn’t help but gaze at him a few more times. So this is the legendary “Golden Leaf.”

Liu Gonggong interrupted their gaze. How audacious of this young county magistrate to dare look the Prince straight in the eye—and yet the Prince didn’t even reprimand him. “What business does Your Highness have with this old servant?”

“Ah…” Xiao Yunqing snapped back to reality and frowned. “A guard just reported that there wasn’t a single prisoner in their cell, nor was there anyone guarding it.”

Liu Gonggong’s expression immediately darkened, as if ready to hold him accountable: “Minister Duan…”

Xiao Yunqing turned to look at him as well.

Duan Jin had no choice but to tell the truth as it was and took the opportunity to play the victim.

Liu Gonggong looked grim. “As the county magistrate, how could you let the county office fall into such a state…”

“Liu Gonggong,” Xiao Yunqing called out to him, “This isn’t Magistrate Duan’s fault; it’s the responsibility of his predecessor. Let our guards help secure the place for now.”

“Very well.” Liu Gonggong had no choice but to temporarily set aside his desire to reprimand him, though he cautioned, “However, Magistrate Duan must recruit some constables as soon as possible.”

Duan Jin nodded in agreement. Even if they hadn’t mentioned it, he’d already had a plan. Wasn’t the problem a lack of funds?

The imperial court and his superiors had either hemmed and hawed or flatly rejected his requests for funding, which was why things had dragged on this long.

Duan Jin apologized to the young prince and returned to his room to change his clothes. Perhaps because of first impressions, Xiao Yunqing’s attitude toward him was much gentler.

As soon as he stepped out after changing, he saw the courtyard filled with all sorts of new furniture, including an exquisite carved rosewood four-poster bed. Duan Jin was a momentarily opulent display of wealth.

Just then, Liu Gonggong brushed himself off and said disdainfully, “Your Highness, this room is simply too dilapidated. Even a thorough cleaning won’t help. Why don’t we just go to the inn instead?”

Duan Jin thought to himself, “You’ve clearly never seen the county town’s inn—it’s practically falling apart. I’m afraid the young prince might wake up one morning to find the place reduced to rubble.

“It’s not even as good as this magistrate’s office. At least here, we use real building materials that can actually keep out the wind and rain.”

Xiao Yunqing, however, looked around with curiosity. He had never seen such a dilapidated building before. The residences of the prefects he’d visited previously were all intricately carved and painted, with pavilions and towers of exquisite craftsmanship—he suspected even a single vase there was worth more than Magistrate Duan’s entire county office.

“No need. We’ll stay here.”

Liu Gonggong sighed. Once the young prince got a rebellious streak going, no one could dissuade him. He had no choice but to go all out, decorating the entire inner quarters.

One moment, he ordered all the original furniture thrown out; Duan Jin couldn’t bear to part with it, so he had the guards move it to a storage room far, far away.

Then he complained that the bed the guards had bought wasn’t soft or pretty enough, so he had them buy several thick, heavy quilts and a pile of colorful curtains.

Then he decided the room was too plain and insisted on buying vases and calligraphy scrolls to hang as decorations. Just looking at them, Duan Jin found those gaudy vases clunky and completely at odds with the young prince’s aloof demeanor, but as a lowly official with little influence, he could only secretly despise them in his heart.

As a mere seventh-rank county magistrate, Duan Jin naturally had no say in the matter. Besides, he didn’t care what state they turned the house into—it wasn’t his money they were spending, after all.

Besides, Liu Gonggong had said that when he left, he would see if the Prince liked the items; if he did, he would pick out a few ornaments to take with him, and if not, he would leave everything behind. Naturally, Duan Jin was more than happy to end up with a pile of valuable treasures.

But there was also the little yellow chick he’d been raising for the past ten days or so in the courtyard. When Liu Gonggong saw the chick, he was completely taken aback: “What is this?! Why is there a chicken?!”

“Quick, take it away! Take it away!”

Duan Jin quickly stepped in to defend it: “I’ve been raising this chicken.”

Liu Gonggong retorted, “You can’t keep it here! What if it offends the Prince’s eyes?”

Duan Jin wouldn’t back down. This was the spot he’d worked so hard to find, and besides, they’d fenced off a small yard for the chick and even built a nest inside—how could that possibly offend the Prince’s eyes?

Xiao Yunqing, dressed in robes embroidered with gold and silver thread, heard the commotion and walked over. As he moved, the sleeves of his robe fluttered like a shimmering golden leaf. “Minister Duan, Eunuch Liu, what’s going on?”

Liu Gonggong hurriedly intervened, “Your Highness, please do not approach. This is truly no place for livestock; your servant is currently urging Magistrate Duan to have them removed.”

“What is this?” Xiao Yunqing paid him no heed, instead leaning forward to take a curious peek.

“Oh, it’s so tiny, so yellow—and so cute.”

Seeing that this walking golden leaf seemed a bit more reasonable, Duan Jin said, “This is a chick I’m raising. I’ve already fenced off an area for it here, so there’s no way I’d let it wander out of its pen and disturb Your Highness.” 

Sure enough, upon hearing this, Xiao Yunqing replied without a moment’s hesitation, “Then let the little chicken stay, Liu Gonggong.” 

Liu Gonggong had no choice but to concede: “Yes.”

Xiao Yunqing had long wanted to see the lives of ordinary people, and now that he had finally met someone most likely to help him fulfill that wish, he couldn’t help but ask him.

“Does Magistrate Duan have any other engagements later?”

Duan Jin shook his head. “Not at the moment.” The Prince had only just arrived; if he didn’t accompany him, would he even want to keep his official cap?

“Then let’s go out on an inspection right now.” Upon hearing this, Xiao Yunqing’s eyes crinkled into crescent moons. “Your Highness?” Liu Gonggong was taken aback. “You’ve been traveling tirelessly all this way and haven’t rested yet.”

Xiao Yunqing glanced at him and waved his hand dismissively. “It’s fine, I’m not tired. By the way, Liu Gonggong, it’s enough for Lord Duan and me to go out. You stay here and continue with the arrangements.”

Liu Gonggong was indeed concerned about the people in the courtyard; it would be a problem if the young prince were to feel uncomfortable during his stay. So he said, “Then please take a few more guards with you, and bring the servants as well.”

“That won’t be necessary. Just have the secret guards follow me.”

Liu Gonggong instinctively glanced at Duan Jin. How could the Prince have let that slip? The secret guards were a hidden gambit, meant to catch the enemy off guard and ensure preparedness. The prince is far too naive. He objected, “Gao Yuan must come along as well.”

Gao Yuan was the commander of the traveling guards; he was quiet and steady, unlike Liu Gonggong, who was talkative. Xiao Yunqing feared that if he refused, he would go on and on about it, so he had no choice but to agree.

Duan Jin then led the young prince out of the government office. It was just as the sun was setting, and the glow of the sunset bathed the prince, who shimmered with gold and silver. Duan Jin felt that the radiance of wealth emanating from the young prince was even more blinding!

As soon as they stepped outside, Xiao Yunqing turned to Official Duan, his beautiful eyes fixed intently on him, and said he wanted to see where the common people actually lived. Xiao Yunqing felt that this Official Duan would surely surprise him.

Duan Jin thought for a moment. What better place could there be than the market?

And so, the young prince’s first stop to experience the lives of the common people was the South Street Vegetable Market.

The market was bustling with people. Duan Jin had been coming here often to buy groceries lately, so the vendors all recognized him. And because Liu Cheng or Feng Xin was always trailing behind him, they had gradually come to realize that this was their new county magistrate.

But since they’d gotten used to speaking to him as if he were an ordinary resident, they couldn’t seem to break the habit; when they saw him coming, they greeted him warmly as always.

Today, however, he was accompanied by a young nobleman dressed in opulent finery. His garments shimmered with a dazzling radiance even from a distance, drawing everyone’s attention. Fearing they might be important figures, the crowd grew solemn. Someone finally plucked up the courage to ask who the young nobleman was.

Duan Jin glanced sideways at the young prince, who silently shook his head, his innocent, wide eyes fixed on him as if pleading, “Don’t reveal my identity.” Duan Jin smiled and replied, “Just a friend who’s come to see the sights.”

The young prince’s eyes immediately crinkled with a smile.

Hearing this, the vendors all breathed a sigh of relief. In an instant, they were calling out to the young master, “Come take a look! My vegetables are the freshest around!”

Xiao Yunqing was indeed fascinated; the smile never left his face. He was the last person to say no—once he went to look, he was bound to come back with a pile of things. Then he reached into his money pouch, pulled out a gold leaf, and tried to hand it to the vendor.

Duan Jin was quick on his feet; he blocked the young prince’s movement with one sleeve while swiftly pulling a copper coin from his own purse to hand to the vendor. Xiao Yunqing, his hand blocked, looked a bit displeased. “What are you doing?”

Duan Jin replied helplessly, “Young Master, if you pull out that gold, we won’t be able to leave this place today.”

Good heavens. No wonder they say the young prince is as rich as a nation—he’s pulling out gold just to buy a few copper coins’ worth of vegetables. If everyone saw such a generous patron, wouldn’t they bleed him dry and make him buy the entire market?

After hearing Duan Jin’s explanation, he reluctantly put the purse away. “This is the smallest amount of money I have on me.” He had always given gold leaves as rewards—why hadn’t this been a problem before?

“By the way, give me your purse. Let’s swap.” Xiao Yunqing thought he’d come up with a brilliant idea.

…Swap?

Duan Jin raised an eyebrow. That would mean trading a pouch of gold for a pouch of copper coins! Duan Jin readily agreed: “Alright.”