My Wife is Unbeatable in the Whole World, Touch Me If You Dare!-Chapter 462 - 322: Zhao Zhiyi’s Test

Over the past month, the previously unremarkable Fourth Prince began appearing frequently in the eyes of the people and the courtiers.

While the other princes were busy showing off to earn attention, only the Fourth Prince quietly achieved significant accomplishments.

Overnight, nearly all thieves in the capital vanished without a trace.

The treasure vault of the Thief Sect was raided, uncovering a massive amount of wealth. Those who had previously filed cases with the government, even if their stolen property wasn't fully recovered, received some compensation and felt grateful to the Fourth Prince.

The court also benefited from this, as after returning some of the property to the people, a large amount was left and added to the National Treasury.

In addition, the assets of the thieves' families were confiscated, which added another substantial sum.

The various government offices clearly felt that the Ministry of Revenue became more generous.

Previously, getting funds from the Ministry of Revenue was nearly impossible in one go; it usually took at least three attempts, sometimes even more, with much effort needed each time to get a small grant.

Recently, many government offices succeeded after only two applications.

This credit also goes to the Fourth Prince.

Additionally, the Ministry of Justice and Ministry of Justice saw a significant increase in case-solving rates, leading the Emperor to reward all officials in these departments. Every official received an extra two months' salary, again thanks to the Fourth Prince.

With the disappearance of thieves and the rise in case-solving, people's happiness greatly increased, leading to more discussions about the Fourth Prince among the populace.

This made the other three princes restless.

If this continued, they knew King Sheng would eventually overshadow them.

Their strategists also started to work hard, offering them advice and strategies.

Distributing porridge, aiding the widowed and orphaned, building bridges and roads, taking in beggars... they had done all these things, receiving good feedback from both the people and the courts.

Although many knew this was only temporary.

Once they ascended the throne, such gestures would likely cease.

No prince who hadn't yet seized the throne would waste silver on such matters, and once on the throne, even more issues would demand their attention, leaving no time for these minor concerns.

This year of the struggle for the throne was probably the happiest time for the people.

After all, while the key to winning the throne was gaining the support of the courtiers, having high praise among the populace could indirectly influence the courtiers' opinions.

Compared to bribing officials, winning over the people was far cheaper.

They had done everything they could, and when the other princes ran out of new tricks, the Second Prince pioneered an innovation.

He invited some doctors from the Medical School to offer free medical consultations to the public on the streets.

For ordinary people, being well-fed, having somewhere to shelter, and being able to afford medical treatment if they fell ill were sources of immense happiness.

But seeking medical help or buying medicine was costly, making it challenging for ordinary people to see a doctor. Minor illnesses were endured, and if a serious illness struck, survival was uncertain.

Even common doctors were beyond their reach.

Skilled doctors from the Medical School were something they never encountered in their lifetime.

Historically, doctors primarily served the upper class, making it hard for commoners to access their services.

Suddenly, long queues of people waiting for medical consultations lined the streets outside King An's Mansion.

Seeing this, the other princes naturally couldn't fall behind and also hired renowned doctors at high costs to offer free medical services to the people, rendering the Medical Halls in the capital without business.

In King An's Mansion, the Second Prince angrily pounded the table upon hearing his subordinates' reports, exclaiming, "Damn it, this was my subordinates' idea, yet they learned it so quickly!"

Although he had taken the initiative, he only held the advantage for half a day.

Those three soon caught on, and by that afternoon, similar queues appeared outside their mansions.

A man stroked the beard on his chin and said, "Your Highness, there's no need for anger. This situation is inevitable. It's just a matter of hiring a few doctors and spending some silver. If we can hire them, others can too. We can't prevent the other princes..."

The Second Prince was merely venting. The princes had always been learning and copying from each other.

As soon as one of them did something that received good feedback, the others would immediately follow suit.

Unless they did something unique and irreplaceable.

Like wiping out all the thieves in the capital.

Or resolving the long-standing unsolved cases of the Ministry of Justice and the Ministry of Justice.

Such tasks were beyond them, leaving only these less challenging but extremely costly activities.

The people got free medical consultations, but those doctors did not work for free. Each was paid as much as a hundred taels per day, all of which he had to cover.

Despite the heartache, with the other princes following, he could only grit his teeth and persist.

King Sheng seemed to have extraordinary luck, tackling these unmatched grand tasks without spending a cent, unlike himself who lacked a capable sister like Zhiyi...

Li Nuo emerged from Wansong Academy, and on his way back to the Embassy, he saw a long line on a certain street. He asked the Sixth Princess beside him, Zhao Zhiyi, who explained: "That is the Medical School invited by the Second Prince. They are offering free medical consultations for three days. Including my elder brother, the other princes are also imitating this initiative..."

From what Li Nuo had personally witnessed these past days, he had to admit that Zhao Country's succession system was far better than that of Daxia.

In Daxia, the Emperor had selected eight Regent Princes, but did not announce the rules for the contest.

Thus, the Regent Princes of Daxia fell into endless infighting and mutual slaughter, with no one caring about the lives of the common people.

Although Zhao Country's succession system also had its flaws, for the common people, it was all benefits without any harm.

Who would become Emperor, the common people couldn't decide, but their opinions were an important reference.

This made the contending princes have to implement tangible measures to win the support of the people.

As long as one prince took the lead, the others would surely follow, unwilling to be left behind. As a result, the competition became more intense. Initially, the people didn't have to pay for food, and now they don't have to pay for medical treatment...

Li Nuo rarely saw beggars on the streets of Zhao Country.

According to Zhao Zhiyi, the four princes had each built a shelter outside the city to house the homeless, providing them with free porridge and meals every day.

No matter what their motives were, at least countless poor people benefitted in the process.

Hearing Li Nuo's approval of Zhao Country's court, Zhao Zhiyi smiled, sneaked a glance at him, and tentatively asked: "A great talent like Lord Li can't fully utilize his abilities in Xia Country. Why not stay in our Zhao Country? By then, you will surely be heavily employed by the court. I will also help bring your family over..."

Faced with the Sixth Princess's blatant recruitment, Li Nuo neither agreed nor refused, smiling as he said: "I have noted the Sixth Princess's words. If I ever do seek refuge with you in the future, you must remember what you said today..."

For now, the situation in Daxia was still unclear.

His father's identity was particularly sensitive.

One could say, anyone besides King Chun taking power would surely lead to the Li Family being persecuted.

So Li Nuo did not completely refuse. If it really came to that, Zhao Country wouldn't be a bad retreat.

Zhao Zhiyi looked at him, smiling as she said: "Lord Li, rest assured, my words will always hold true."

But in her heart, she sighed softly.

He didn't agree explicitly, which was actually a gentle refusal.

However, she still had a chance.

She was well aware of the Li Family's situation in Zhao Country. If King Chun ascended to the throne, it might lead to his heavy use. Otherwise, any prince ascending would surely persecute him first...

More likely, he wouldn't survive until a new emperor took the throne.

The emperor of Daxia was also a formidable figure.

Li Xuanjing was a blade in his hand. While in power, he could use Li Xuanjing to do things inconvenient for himself as the emperor. Once he decided to pass the throne, he would likely clear all obstacles for the next emperor before he abdicated...

Each harboring their own thoughts, the two silently got into the carriage.

The carriage passed by a roadside tea stall where two old men watched the carriage disappear into the distance before retracting their gazes.

One old man looked at the other and asked, "How is it?"

The latter shook his head and said, "I can't predict it. Her fate has already changed."

He had once predicted the fate for the Sixth Princess, and at that time, her fate was particularly clear.

A lifetime of wealth and honor, no illness or disaster, dying of old age.

But now, her future was shrouded in a fog...

Either someone of the same realm in the Yin Yang School had obscured her fate, or someone had altered her destiny...

Her lifespan could no longer be calculated.

Moreover, even the events that would happen to her in the near future were a complete unknown.

The Yin Yang School was supposed to be all-knowing and all-seeing.

But regarding this young girl, they seemed to have become blind, unable to see anything.

The fortune-telling old man tugged at his hair and said, "It must be because of that young man. But the little girl beside him shouldn't have an unfathomable fate. Does the Sixth Princess have something special about her..."

The emaciated old man remained silent for a moment before saying, "So, the Sixth Princess's fate cannot be predicted not just because of that young man. It very likely has to do with herself."

Not everyone's fate could be calculated by them.

They couldn't predict the fate of the four princes, or rather, they didn't dare to.

The struggle for the throne among the five great dynasties was a contest of great fortune. Any attempt to predict it would be met with a cosmic backlash. With only a little life left, trying to predict it would be fatal.

The fortune-telling old man stroked his beard, unable to figure it out, muttering, "It's one thing not to predict the fate of those Regent Princes, but what great fate could a princess have? Unless she is going to become the emperor..."