The frail counselor you said, you fight against three heroes alone?

Ouyang Lian turned to face Xi Yu, lowered his head slightly, and asked in his eyes: "Prime Minister, is it okay for me to handle this?"

His expression was a little nervous and he cared a lot about Xiyu's opinion.

Xi Yu raised the corners of his mouth slightly, revealing a smile of approval, nodded and said, "Governor Ouyang handled it very well."

Ouyang Lian heaved a sigh of relief after receiving Xi Yu's approval. He looked at the shop owner again and said sternly, "Go and compensate this girl immediately, and then close the shop. If I find you doing this again, I will never let you off."

The shop owner slumped on the ground, his eyes filled with despair, but he knew that things were irreversible.

He could only stand up slowly and walk towards the store in a daze to get compensation.

When the people around saw this scene, they applauded and praised Ouyang Lian for being fair and selfless.

Under the gaze of everyone, Ouyang Lian stood even taller. He knew very well that what he was upholding was not only fairness, but also his own reputation and that of the prime minister.

The woman's eyes were filled with tears and her lips were trembling slightly.

Under the gaze of everyone, she slowly bent her knees and knelt down, with her knees making a slight sound when they hit the ground.

She folded her hands in front of her, and said with a choked voice, "Thank you, sir, thank you, Prime Minister. If it weren't for you two, I really don't know what I would do."

Seeing this, Ouyang Lian immediately stepped forward and tried to help the woman up. With a gentle and caring look on his face, he said, "Young lady, please get up quickly. This is what we should do."

Xi Yu stood aside, nodded slightly, and there was a hint of tenderness in his eyes. He said softly: "Miss, you don't have to be like this. Evil deeds should not be condoned."

The woman raised her head, her eyes full of gratitude. She looked at Ouyang Lian and Xi Yu, tears streaming down her cheeks.

"I will never forget the great kindness of you and the Prime Minister."

The shop owner hung his head and reluctantly handed the compensation to the woman.

There was still a hint of unwillingness in his eyes, but under Ouyang Lian's majestic gaze, he did not dare to do anything rash.

Ouyang Lian turned to face the crowd, his posture as straight as a pine tree. He raised his voice and said, "The punishment I gave to my cousin today was real, and it was definitely not to appease the Prime Minister. Even if the Prime Minister left, I would not allow my cousin to come back. Please supervise me."

His eyes were firm and sincere as he scanned the faces of everyone present one by one.

The people were stunned at first, and then the crowd burst into warm applause.

The applause was as loud as thunder, echoing in the streets.

Someone shouted, "Governor Ouyang is fair and just, we believe you!"

Someone else echoed: "It is our blessing to have such a good official!"

The woman hugged the compensation property tightly, tears in her eyes, and she also applauded.

Xi Yu stood aside, nodded slightly, and a smile of approval appeared on his face.

He looked at Ouyang Lian and was quite satisfied with the way he handled the situation.

Ouyang Lian's cheeks flushed slightly, and he was moved by everyone's recognition.

He bowed to everyone again and said, "Thank you for your trust, fellow villagers. I will definitely live up to your expectations."

The sunlight at this time shone on him, as if covering him with a layer of golden glow, making him look even taller and more majestic.

Amidst warm applause, the shop owner left in disgrace, and the incident came to an end under Ouyang Lian's fair handling, becoming a good story among the people.

The crowd gradually dispersed, and the streets returned to their former tranquility. Ouyang Lian stood beside Xi Yu, bowed his head slightly, and asked respectfully: "Prime Minister, why did you come to Fang County?"

His eyes were full of curiosity and anticipation.

Xi Yu smiled slightly, looked into the distance, and said slowly: "I just wanted to come to Fang County to see how you govern. Now, I have seen it."

His tone was calm, yet it carried a convincing force.

Ouyang Lian felt warm in his heart and said quickly, "Thank you for your concern, Prime Minister. I will never let you down."

Xi Yu patted Ouyang Lian on the shoulder and said, "Work hard. The welfare of the people of Fang County depends on you."

Ouyang Lian straightened his back and nodded solemnly, "Don't worry, Prime Minister. I will do my best." A strong sense of responsibility and mission surged in his heart.

A gentle breeze blew by, and their clothes fluttered in the wind.

Ouyang Lian's eyes were full of expectation. He leaned forward slightly and said earnestly, "Prime Minister, I beg you to come with me to the palace and let me show my hospitality."

Xi Yu looked at Ouyang Lian and recalled what happened today. He and Ouyang Lian really hit it off from the first sight, and he also had a little more appreciation for Ouyang Lian in his heart.

So he nodded gently, smiled and said, "Okay, let's go to the palace."

Ouyang Lian's face suddenly showed joy, and he quickly turned sideways and made a gesture of invitation.

"Prime Minister, please." His voice was full of respect and excitement.

The two walked side by side towards the palace.

Along the way, Ouyang Lian introduced the customs and habits of Fang County and some of his own governance situations to Xi Yu from time to time.

Xi Yu listened carefully and occasionally asked some questions and made some suggestions.

On the other side, in a simple farmhouse, farmer Ren Dabai sat quietly at the table, holding the portrait tightly in his hand.

His eyes were a little blurry, and his thoughts seemed to have drifted to a faraway place.

A gentle smile appeared on Ren Dabai's face, and he murmured to himself: "This must be God's gift to me, knowing that I miss my daughter." His heart was filled with longing and concern for his daughter.

He gently stroked the portrait, as if he could feel his daughter's warmth through the thin paper.

The person in the portrait has a bright smile and his eyes are full of innocence and kindness.

Ren Dabai looked at the portrait and tears gradually welled up in his eyes.

He remembered what his daughter looked like when she was a child, and that lively and lovely figure seemed to still be dancing before his eyes.

He thought of the day his daughter left home, and his heart was filled with reluctance and worry.

Today, this portrait is like a bond that closely connects him and his daughter.

Ren Dabai took a deep breath and tried to calm himself down.

He carefully placed the portrait at the head of the bed, as if this would bring him closer to his daughter.

In this quiet farmhouse, Ren Dabai's thoughts were like strands of silk, entangled in his heart, and he could not calm down for a long time.

After a while, his wife Shen Qinqin pushed open the door and saw Ren Dabai sitting there in a daze.

She frowned slightly, put down the basket in her hand, walked to Ren Dabai, and asked softly: "Dabai, what's wrong with you? Why are you in a daze?"

Ren Dabai came back to his senses, with a hint of excitement in his eyes. He handed the portrait to Shen Qinqin and said, "Qinqin, look at this."

Shen Qinqin took the portrait in confusion, and was shocked after just one look.

"Isn't this our daughter? Who drew this?" Her voice trembled slightly with surprise.

Ren Dabai shook his head and said, "I don't know who drew this either. I saw it somewhere else by chance. It's probably not a painting of our daughter, but it looks a bit like her."

Shen Qinqin looked at the portrait carefully, her eyes full of longing.

"It's so similar, it's exactly like our daughter." Her fingers gently stroked the portrait, as if she was touching her daughter's face.

Ren Dabai sighed and said, "Maybe it's just a coincidence. But when I saw this portrait, I couldn't help but think of my daughter."

Shen Qinqin's eyes were also a little moist.

"My daughter, I miss you so much." Her voice was filled with sorrow and longing.

Seeing his wife so sad, Ren Dabai felt sad. He walked to Shen Qinqin and said, "Don't cry, Qinqin. After all, this is God's comfort to us."

Shen Qinqin raised her head, looked at Ren Dabai with tearful eyes, and nodded slightly.

Xi Yu spent a quiet night in Prince Fang's palace.

The early morning sun cast a soft glow over everything.

Xi Yu stood up, straightened his clothes, and prepared to leave Fangjun.

What happened at the door of the store yesterday spread quickly throughout Fang County like a gust of wind.

On the streets, people were whispering to each other, talking about the prime minister's fairness and decisiveness.

"The Prime Minister is such a good official, he stands up for us, the people."

"Yes, it is our blessing to have such a prime minister." Everyone's praises were endless.

When Xi Yu heard these words, his heart moved slightly.

He knew that his every move was being watched and remembered by the people.

Ouyang Lian came to see him off, his face full of respect.

"Prime Minister, your fair actions have deeply touched the people of Fang County. Don't worry, I will continue to work hard to govern Fang County well."

Xi Yu nodded slightly and said, "Okay, I look forward to you bringing more prosperity to Fang County." As Xi Yu left, his figure gradually disappeared in the distance.

Xi Yu was riding a horse and was already some distance away from Fang Jun.

The sound of horse hooves echoed on the empty road, and his thoughts were still immersed in the experiences of this trip to Fang County.

Suddenly, a burst of hurried horse hoof sounds came from behind, getting closer and closer.

Xi Yu frowned slightly, pulled the reins, and stopped moving forward.

Ouyang Lian came galloping over on his horse.

His face flushed, he was out of breath, and he came to Xi Yu and shouted hurriedly: "Prime Minister, please stay!"

Xi Yu looked at Ouyang Lian with a puzzled look in his eyes and asked, "Ouyang Governor, how did you catch up with me?"

Ouyang Lian tried to calm his breathing and said with regret: "Prime Minister, I was too confused. The Prime Minister finally came once, and I actually forgot the most important thing."

Xi Yu raised his chin slightly and asked, "What's going on?" There was a hint of curiosity in his eyes.

Ouyang Lian's face was full of anxiety and worry. He said, "Prime Minister, there is a remote small county in Fang County. The geographical conditions there are extremely poor. It is impossible to grow much food. The people live in extreme poverty."

Xi Yu frowned slightly, thought for a moment and said, "Come on, take me to see it."

Ouyang Lian was so excited when he heard this that he widened his eyes and said, "Prime Minister, I was just talking casually. I didn't expect you to take it so seriously."

Xi Yu glanced at Ouyang Lian and said, "The suffering of the people cannot be ignored. Now that we know about it, we naturally have to go and see and find a way to solve it."

Ouyang nodded repeatedly, his admiration for Xi Yu growing even stronger.

He immediately turned his horse around, led the way, and led Xi Yu towards the remote little county town.

Along the way, Ouyang Lian felt nervous and excited. He knew very well that the arrival of the prime minister might bring new hope to those poor people.

The two men rode their horses along the winding road.

The road was bumpy and some sections were difficult to walk on. The horse's hooves would occasionally stumble on rocks, raising a bit of dust.

Ouyang Lian said apologetically, "Prime Minister, this road is not easy to travel. I am sorry to have troubled you. That place is too remote. I didn't expect it to be so difficult."

Xi Yu shook his head slightly and said, "It doesn't matter. For the sake of the people, this little bit of hardship is nothing."

Ouyang Lian was moved and continued, "The Prime Minister cares so much about the people. It is a blessing for the people."

Xi Yu smiled and said, "As an official, you should put the people first. Tell me about the situation in that small county."

Ouyang Lian began to introduce in detail the geographical environment of the small county, the living conditions of the people and the difficulties they faced. Xi Yu listened carefully and asked some questions from time to time. The two chatted while riding horses. Although the atmosphere was a bit solemn, it was also full of hope.

As night fell, the stars twinkled in the sky. After a long ride, Xiyu and Ouyang Lian finally arrived at the remote town of Zhuping.

The town looked exceptionally quiet in the night, with only a few dim lights flickering.

Xi Yu looked at the tired Ouyang Lian and said, "Let's find a place to rest first and talk about other things tomorrow." His voice sounded steady and powerful in the night breeze.

Ouyang Lian nodded and said, "Okay, Prime Minister. Thank you for your hard work along the way."

They led their horses and walked slowly through the streets of the town.

The night air was a little chilly, and the sound of horse hooves echoed in the quiet streets.

Finally, they found a simple inn.

When the innkeeper saw the guests coming, he hurriedly came out to greet them warmly.

Xi Yu and Ouyang Lian handed the horses to the innkeeper and walked into the inn.

Although the room is simple, it is clean and tidy.

Xiyu sat on the edge of the bed, closed his eyes slightly, and thought about tomorrow's schedule.

Ouyang Lian was packing his luggage on the side, thinking about how to better introduce the situation of this small town to the prime minister.

As the night deepened, the town fell into silence.

Xi Yu and Ouyang Lian gradually fell asleep in exhaustion, waiting for the arrival of tomorrow.

The innkeeper squinted his eyes and peered inside through the small hole in the window paper.

In the room, Xi Yu and Ouyang Lian were sleeping quietly, their figures appeared blurry in the dim light.

A feeling of greed surged in the boss' heart. He believed that these two people had extraordinary demeanor and must be rich.

He held the bamboo tube tightly in his hand, ready to blow air into the room.

He knew that as long as the drug took effect, all the property of these two rich men would belong to him.

His hands were shaking slightly, he was both nervous and excited.

He carefully brought the bamboo tube close to the small hole in the window paper, ready to blow air.

The boss' heart was beating fast.

He imagined the wealth that was about to come, and a smug smile appeared on his face.

The innkeeper was concentrating on his work, his heart filled with excitement at the prospect of success.

However, he had no idea that the danger was approaching quietly behind him.

At this moment, a black shadow flashed like lightning, and the secret guard appeared instantly.

His movements were swift and decisive, and he quickly covered the innkeeper's mouth with one hand, preventing him from making any possible exclamation.

With his other hand, he tightly grasped the boss's arm and twisted it hard, thus controlling him.

The innkeeper's eyes widened in horror. He struggled desperately, but in the face of the powerful strength of the secret guard, his struggle seemed so powerless.

The secret guard had a blank expression and cold eyes. He quickly took the innkeeper out of the room to prevent him from disturbing the prime minister's rest.

The secret guard took the innkeeper to a remote corner and threw him heavily to the ground.

The boss was so scared that he was shaking all over and his face turned pale.

The secret guard looked down at him and said in a cold voice: "How dare you attack the Prime Minister."

When the innkeeper heard this, he was so frightened that he almost fainted.

He never expected that the person he was robbing was the prime minister.

He immediately knelt down and begged for mercy, kowtowed and said: "Please spare my life, sir. I was blind and did not recognize a great man. Please forgive me this time."

The early morning sunlight poured into the room through the window. Xi Yu and Ouyang Lian woke up slowly. They really didn't know that a crisis had quietly arrived last night.

At this time, the secret guard appeared in front of Xi Yu with a serious look. He bowed his head slightly and said respectfully: "Prime Minister, the innkeeper had some bad intentions last night."

Xi Yu was slightly startled, and his eyes suddenly became sharp. "What's going on?"

The secret guard recounted in detail what the innkeeper had done.

After hearing this, Xi Yu's face darkened.

Ouyang Lian was also furious. He said angrily: "This boss is so bold."

Xi Yu was silent for a moment, then said, "Bring the boss here."

The secret guard took the order and left. After a while, he brought the innkeeper to Xi Yu.

The boss was so frightened that he was shaking all over and his face was pale. He fell to his knees and kowtowed repeatedly, begging for mercy: "Prime Minister, spare my life. I was confused for a moment. Please have mercy on me."

Xi Yu looked at his boss kneeling on the ground with cold eyes.

"Do you know what the consequences of your actions will be?" His voice was intimidating.

The boss trembled and said, "I know I was wrong, and I will never do it again. Please forgive me this time, Prime Minister."

Xi Yu frowned slightly, thought for a moment and said, "Considering that you haven't succeeded yet and this is your first offense, I will forgive you this time. But if there is a next time, I will not let you off easily."

The boss thanked me repeatedly as if he had been pardoned.

Xi Yu waved his hand and asked him to leave.

The innkeeper lowered his head and said with shame on his face: "My Lord Prime Minister, my inn is really deserted and is about to close. It is because this town is too poor that I have to resort to this desperate measure. I know I was wrong."

Xi Yu frowned slightly, looked at the innkeeper and said, "I came here this time to solve the poverty problem here."

When the innkeeper heard this, his eyes lit up instantly. He looked at Xi Yu in disbelief, then quickly knelt down and said excitedly: "Thank you, Prime Minister! The Prime Minister is really our savior!"

Ouyang Lian watched the innkeeper's reaction from the side, feeling deeply moved.

He said to Xi Yu: "Prime Minister, it seems that the people here are indeed living a hard life. We must find a way to change this situation." (End of this chapter)