Chapter 584: Time
“With just a single bolt of lightning, that arrogant, domineering demon was instantly struck down and left paralyzed! If you ask me, no one compares to the immortals of Great Yan! As the saying goes, ‘in the North, evil spirits have always run wild, but a single thought from an immortal subdues the demons!’“
On stage, Old Old Mr. Zhang’s voice rang out clear and forceful, full of passion. It painted vivid images in the hearts of the audience, echoing the flair of the storyteller from years past.
After delivering the final line, he immediately paused and gave a respectful bow to the listeners below, “Ladies and gentlemen, that’s all for today. My throat is dry from all the talking. If you’ve enjoyed it, come back tomorrow and we’ll continue.”
He then raised his teacup and took a long drink to moisten his throat. But the audience didn’t disperse. Instead, they grew more relaxed and lively, murmuring among themselves, chatting with familiar faces, discussing the story’s events, current affairs, and strange happenings from nearby regions.
This scene hadn’t changed much from the past.
After the storyteller finished, the crowd didn’t rush off. The pavilion naturally became a gathering place for common folk who enjoyed tales and sought a bit of leisure. In fact, it seemed even more lively than before. Some folks whispered about court politics, others gossiped about major news from Changjing.
Meanwhile, Song You remained seated, quietly listening.
His journey in the Western Regions had taken over three years. Though the West was technically part of Great Yan and had a steady stream of merchants, it was far and remote. Central authority was weaker, and after passing through the West, Xingzhou was nothing but endless grasslands and deserts, and it was sparsely populated and home mostly to nomads. During those three years, Song You had heard little of the court’s political or societal shifts.
Take for instance the rebellion of King Wenhan in the western territories.
True, King Wenhan was merely a tribal leader from the highlands of western Yizhou, a vassal of the Great Yan court that was not very powerful. In such remote regions, there were several kings like him, enfeoffed to rule alongside officials appointed by the imperial court. But for a local king to openly rebel, had Song You not been in the Western Regions, he would surely have caught wind of it sooner.
He had only heard that Yu Jianbai was still prime minister, and that the Emperor had appointed a new State Preceptor, following the example of the late Emperor. Now, sitting here, he could finally catch snippets of current events and piece together some understanding of the current situation.
Taxes had increased, and the common people were suffering.