Big Black like Honey

Flora didn’t wait long.

“Speaking of which, that canal construction near the star domain, was that also the Crown Prince’s doing?”

As everyone was listing the crimes of Lei’e, one person suddenly spoke out in alarm.

“Was that also done by the Star Prince?”

“I don’t know, some say it was the Emperor who pushed for it, others say it was that head steward…”

“It was the Crown Prince! To amass wealth, to curry favor with His Majesty!”

Flora said loudly, her face filled with anger,

“He actually said he wanted to transport grain from the central region; when has the capital ever lacked food!

And he even said the Wune River wasn’t enough, as if it weren’t good to use.

Isn’t this obviously wanting to put the dockworkers out of work!”

“That’s right, he’s not doing anything humane!”

The first person to voice their indignation chimed in.

“That’s not right, isn’t the capital’s grain supply more than sufficient?”

“No, the capital doesn’t have enough grain.”

A young man, who looked like a low-level official, said, “The central region has always been transporting grain, but we don’t just rely on the star domain. The Vienna region in the southeast can also provide us with grain.”

“Then there’s no problem, right?” Someone was dissatisfied that the Crown Prince might have done something good.

“No, it’s enough now, but it won’t be in a few years.” Another scholar-like person said,

“You might not know, but the capital’s population is already three times that of the empire’s early years, and it will continue to increase! So, this canal is a necessity.”

“Actually, the water transport’s insufficient capacity is indeed not enough, and the river is shallow, the carrying capacity is very poor…

In spring, everyone will feel like something’s amiss, that’s because the waterway transport isn’t working, and the land transport is carrying too much cargo and is also not very good.”

“So, the canal is really necessary?”

“That’s not necessary, such a huge project is so labor-intensive and costly!”

Flora said angrily, “In the end, it will definitely involve forced levies and extortion, making the common people pay both money and labor, it’s too much!”

“That’s right!”

Only the first person and a few others responded.

“I heard the Crown Prince has already raised the funds?” Someone said weakly.

“That’s fake, how could nobles do such a thing?”

“If they don’t collect taxes for ten years, that’s already considered them being merciful.”

“No, no, I heard that this time, there won’t be any tax increases, and the surrounding people won’t have to perform corvée labor either. Instead, they’ll adopt a recruitment system, and they’ll even be paid a salary.”

“Really? The royal family would be so kind?”

“I heard it was the Crown Prince who suggested it, and he intends to use the national treasury and even pay a portion from his own pocket to do this, the price is that the canal will be brought under state control after it’s built.”

“Didn’t they have to pay canal fees anyway? What’s the difference?”

“So, the Crown Prince is so kind?” Someone didn’t believe it.

“Where’s the kindness? Compared to his wealth, this money is just a drop in the bucket!” Flora was both sour and angry.

“That’s right.”

Many people nodded, realizing other nobles were unwilling to contribute. They weren’t willing either.

Even that little bit of money, they weren’t willing to give.

This Crown Prince, though a bit cruel and inhumane… doesn’t seem that bad?

And those cruel things, were done against foreigners, against other races, and as for the Crown Prince’s killings of ordinary people… that doesn’t seem to happen, does it?

Then, do they need to be so afraid?

As for being so lustful… men are always lustful; they’re just envious and jealous, feeling they can’t have many women.

Seeing that everyone seemed to have lost their willingness to denounce the Crown Prince, Flora was furious.

“You don’t think these are the only things the Crown Prince has done, do you? The northern city walls are also starting to be built, this is simply a repeat of the former Faste Empire!”

Upon mentioning this, the atmosphere once again became heated.

“Yeah, the canal is fine, it’s quite helpful to the capital, but is that Great Wall necessary?”

“Those Viking barbarians, weren’t they already defeated by the Marquis of Qianyin? They didn’t repair the Great Wall before, and now they are, isn’t it a bit late?”

“It’s definitely another pretext operation; what the Third Prince lost in the canal, he plans to make up for it at the Great Wall.”

“The people in the north are really pitiful…”

Many people sighed.

Just then, a middle-aged man, who looked like a merchant, snorted, “You ignorant people, you don’t know how stupid it is to build the Great Wall!”

The merchant’s colleague also said, “That’s right, you’re too naive, thinking that the Marquis of Qianyin’s Azure Sky Knights can really cover the entire northern region every moment?

Most of the time, those barbarians are like bandits, plundering a wave and then running off.

By the time the support troops arrive, the villages and towns have already been destroyed!”

“Most of the lords other than the Marquis are the same useless trash as the Blue Lion family!”

Flora was already shaken, but she still held back from refuting this.

Because that wasn’t her goal.

“I don’t know about the rest, but the Great Wall is like the canal, they’ll both pay salaries, and it’s the Third Prince and the Marquis of Qianyin who are jointly paying!” Someone added.

The people immediately began to discuss.

“The Third Prince and the Marquis of Qianyin together? This is fake, right?”

“Absolutely confirmed! Do you think Master Leonardo is as ignorant as you are?”

“That’s right, as expected of the Marquis.”

“Since the Marquis supports this, the Great Wall is a must.”

“That Crown Prince… is actually doing something good?”

Someone still found it hard to believe.

“This is definitely just to show off in front of the emperor, don’t think he can get the emperor’s trust.” Someone said from the side.

“He seized the rights to handle the stories and was kicked into the Royal Academy, he deserved it.”

“That’s right, a typical case of failing to steal the chicken but losing the rice!” Flora couldn’t help but sneer with contempt.

The two looked as if they had succeeded.

Some people also agreed with their laughter.

But they weren’t fools; after carefully reflecting, they realized something was wrong.

“The Crown Prince… it seems he’s still doing things for the people.”

But now he’s been locked up in school…

Some people working in subordinate departments remembered the smiling faces of their noble superiors these past few days.

It seemed as if a weight had been lifted from their hearts, as if no one could bind them anymore.

The Crown Prince going to school… doesn’t seem like something to be happy about.

“Why did His Majesty let the Crown Prince go to school…”

Someone couldn’t help but complain.

Not many people responded, but most had complicated feelings.

Some people suddenly had an epiphany, quickly paying their bill and getting up, as if to tell others the inside story that they had just understood but others hadn’t thought of.

Some people were still hesitant but kept an open mind, planning to continue observing the situation before making a decision.

Regardless of what everyone thought, the seeds of doubt had undoubtedly been sown.

Seeing that her goal had been achieved, Flora and Xue En paid their bill and left the restaurant.