Only Li Xuan and Lai Cang remained in the conference hall.
One of them is an imperial envoy appointed by Xia Ruixue personally, and the other is a direct subordinate of Liu Men. They can both be regarded as close confidants.
Lai Cang first reported some of the information he had gathered, then bowed and left.
Without the interruption of others, Li Xuan said respectfully: "Your Highness, thank you."
"no need thank me?"
Xia Ruixue's eyes fell on Li Xuan, and she showed a trace of vitality.
She has been surrounded by military and state affairs all day these days, and she is followed by some old guys with serious faces. She is almost going crazy with her work.
Only when she sees Li Xuan, who is younger than herself, does Xia Ruixue think of her own age and that she is just a girl in her early twenties.
"Thank you, Your Highness the Princess, for sending Peng Yue to Xianyun City to rescue me from the siege."
Li Xuan said.
"It's just a small matter... Besides, I have also been a little negligent regarding the Talisman Masters Association.
Don't worry, I won't force you to join any organization in the future."
Xia Ruixue said.
Xia Ruixue has been in the Eastern Province recently and has not met the regent. She does not know that Li Xuan has actually joined the Six Sects and is considered her direct subordinate.
Before Li Xuan could say anything else, Xia Ruixue said again: "How about you go out with me later?"
"Where to go?"
Li Xuan was stunned.
Xia Ruixue said: "I'm going to see the specific situation of Maplewood City. You also know that you can't believe what those bureaucrats say!"
Li Xuan was speechless and couldn't refuse.
An hour later, a completely new Xia Ruixue appeared in front of Li Xuan.
The usually cold princess transformed into a beige cloak, her hair tied into a ponytail, and a gray hat.
This look was no different from those fashionable and lively girls on the streets of Maplewood City. Li Xuan's eyes were straightened and he almost drooled.
She is indeed a beauty on the same level as Chen Meina! Li Xuan thought to himself.
The two sneaked out from the back door and walked side by side on the street.
After walking a few streets, Xia Ruixue's expression became more and more ugly. She pointed at the closed shops along the street and said: "I remember this street is very prosperous, why are all the shops closed?
And why can’t you see a few people on the street?”
Li Xuan said helplessly: "After the monster attacked the city, people were panicked. Many wealthy people fled. The remaining people don't know what will happen tomorrow. Everyone dare not go out casually, so it became like this..."
"Asshole..." Xia Ruixue cursed, not knowing who she was scolding.
After walking down another street, the princess finally lost her patience and said coldly: "I'm hungry, let's find a place to eat!"
Li Xuan scratched his head and asked tentatively: "I know there is a store where the beef noodles taste very good, but the environment is a little bad..." "Just go there!"
Before Li Xuan could finish speaking, Xia Ruixue waved her hand and said.
When Xia Ruixue sat in the small shop introduced by Li Xuan, she finally understood what "the environment was a little worse" meant.
This store is located in an alley in the slums of Maplewood City. All the buildings are at least fifty or sixty years old, and garbage is dumped directly in the corner.
Fortunately, it is winter, and the rancid smell of garbage is not too strong, otherwise I would be suffocated if I entered this alley! Compared with the deserted streets, these small alleys are very lively, and you can see small vendors everywhere, selling hard.
Carrying some merchandise from God knows where.
Sitting in the small shop, looking at the wooden table in front of her that couldn't bring out its original color no matter how hard it was wiped, and the diners beside her who were eating their food, Xia Ruixue couldn't help but frown and asked in a low voice
: “Are the things here hygienic?”
"Why is it so unhygienic? The boss himself eats it."
Li Xuan said casually.
Xia Ruixue's face twitched. She could clearly see that the boss's fingernails were full of dirt. She felt a little nauseous when she thought that the beef noodles were made by these hands.
"Many luxury restaurants and big shops in the city are closed, but everyone still has to eat and buy things.
As you can see, Your Highness, only this kind of place in Maplewood City is full of vitality now, while other places are lifeless."
Li Xuan said again.
Xia Ruixue was stunned for a moment, and then she realized that the appearance of the slums was completely different from what she had seen before.
She suddenly understood that it seemed that Li Xuan didn't just bring her to eat beef noodles, but wanted to show her what the real Maplewood City was like.
Li Xuan saw Xia Ruixue's expression change and knew that she understood what he meant, so he said no more.
The fragrant, hot and wonderfully fragrant beef noodles were served. Xia Ruixue took a bite and found that the taste was unexpectedly good.
She usually doesn't eat a lot, but she ate a full portion of beef noodles, and she even felt like she still had more to eat.
"It's so delicious, even better than the ones made by the royal chefs in the palace!"
Xia Ruixue finished the last noodle and then commented in surprise.
"A lot of delicious food only exists in places like this, because if it's not delicious, no one will come to take care of the business."
Li Xuan smiled.
"You found a nice place."
Xia Ruixue praised.
But before Li Xuan could be proud, Xia Ruixue's next words gave him a headache.
"I will stay in Maplewood City for about ten days, and you will be responsible for the breakfast, lunch and dinner during these days.
Remember, I want to eat this delicious food!"
In the next few days, a lot of things happened in Maplewood City.
First, a group of nobles and celebrities headed by Ding Zhen and Salang donated a large amount of property to repair the city walls and recruit soldiers, greatly improving the city's defense strength.
Xia Ruixue then held several more meetings to mobilize merchants to resume business.
Thanks to these efforts, Maplewood City has gradually regained some of its vitality, and the streets are finally a little more lively.
In the conference room of the prefect's office, Xia Ruixue is reviewing the last few documents. The situation in Maplewood City has stabilized. If there are no other surprises, she will leave tomorrow.
Suddenly, the door to the conference room was pushed open, and Lai Cang hurriedly walked in. His military boots made a muffled "boom" sound when he stepped on the marble floor.
Arriving in front of Xia Ruixue, Lai Cang bowed and saluted, and said with a hint of excitement on his face: "Your Highness, we have found the whereabouts of the Black Cloud Thief!"
"oh!"
Xia Ruixue's eyes lit up, "Where?"
"In Xiaogang Town, there are about seventy people, including twenty monks!"
Lai Cang said.
"Xiaogang Town?"
Xia Ruixue opened the map and quickly found this small town two hundred kilometers away from Maplewood City.
"Your Highness, I have sent people to keep an eye on them.
But these people are very powerful, I don’t dare to act rashly!”
Lai Cang said again.
"There are more than seventy people and more than twenty monks... It is indeed a bit difficult. It seems that the only way to mobilize troops is from nearby cities."
?Xia Ruixue said thoughtfully.
Lai Cang said: "These guys are only staying in Xiaogang Town temporarily. I'm afraid it's too late to mobilize the army! If you want to catch them, you must act as soon as possible!"
Xia Ruixue's expression became serious and her eyes fell on Peng Yue.