Xiao Meng City nominally belonged to the Daxu Kingdom, but along with several surrounding cities, it was actually ruled by the Vajra Gate. For official decrees from the Great Xu Imperial Court to be carried out here, they first had to receive the Vajra Gate's approval.
Even the appointment of officials required the Vajra Gate's nod. This was the result of years of contention between the imperial Yang Family and the Vajra Gate.
Though Zhi Hua was somewhat ashamed as she said this, it was the truth.
"Honored officials, please spare me! My family has money—I don't need to work!"
As the three passed down a street, several yamen runners in official uniforms were escorting a man out of a private residence.
The man's hands were twisted behind his back as he begged miserably for mercy. His wife, daughter, and elderly father rushed forward to stop them, only to be roughly shoved aside by the runners.
"Fuck off, all of you! You don't know what's good for you. I'm doing this for your family's own good, finding you a way to put food on the table.
"You say your family has money? How much money could you possibly have? If you refuse to work, sooner or later you'll eat yourselves into poverty. A lazy bum like you does nothing but feed on your parents' flesh and blood.
"This is settlement money. Your wages will be paid regularly from now on."
Cursing, the head runner tossed down some silver and hauled the man away.
Besides the man who had just been dragged out, seven or eight other young men were being watched by the runners on the street, all of them looking frightened and uneasy.
The runners continued on to pound on the next household's door.
"Honored officials, there are no