Penniless and Bare

For the next month or so, the fleet continued its journey down the river, following the current.

Simon Yu and Martin Wu were constantly at odds, neither willing to yield. Every time they met, sparks flew. As luck would have it, their cabins were right next to each other, so they saw each other all the time—meaning endless bickering.

At first, even Princess Jade Hayes and the others found their sharp-tongued exchanges amusing. But after days of noisy squabbles—limited to words, never actual grudges—everyone got used to it and let them be.

After all, the days aboard the ship were mostly dull. Having these two perform their comedic double act now and then did wonders for the atmosphere.

Originally, the plan was to reach the Qin Fiefdom in just a month and a half. But midway, Charles Hayes caught a chill from the wind and fell ill, forcing them to dock at a port. Only after Charles recovered did they resume their journey.

So, with this unexpected delay, another month and a half slipped by.

Normally, traveling by water would be much faster than marching by land, but because of the delay, the fleet and the army would now arrive at almost the same time.

"We'll be arriving at Anchester soon. Everyone, pack your things carefully and don't leave anything behind," Princess Jade Hayes said, cradling Charles Hayes in her arms as she reminded everyone to tidy up. By noon, the fleet reached Anchester Wharf within the Kingdom of Qin.

"Rest assured, Your Majesty, everything's ready," Martin Wu replied, dressed smartly as she skillfully directed the servants to move their belongings onto the deck, preparing to unload at the wharf.

"Soon His Majesty will go outside the city to meet up with the army; we'll lead our people into Anchester first. If I remember correctly, the governor of Anchester is surnamed Zhao, right?" Princess Jade Hayes asked.

Martin Wu nodded and said, "Your Majesty, the governor of Anchester is named Justin Zhao. He’s held the post for over a decade."

Princess Jade Hayes hummed in response, her mind already wondering what kind of person this Governor Justin Zhao might be.

The Qin Fiefdom, though rich in resources, was so remote that in ancient times—when travel was difficult—it was considered a barbaric region far from the emperor’s reach.

A governor who’s been in Anchester for over a decade is basically a local tyrant.

By noon, the fleet docked. Princess Jade Hayes stepped onto the wharf and looked around, instantly realizing Anchester was indeed a wild and desolate place.

The wharf was extremely shabby, with only one dock for ships. Besides Princess Jade Hayes’s fleet, there were just a few scattered small boats—making the place look bleak and deserted.

The street beside the wharf didn’t even have paving stones—just dirt roads. Occasionally, a cart would rumble by, kicking up clouds of dust.

There were hardly any shops by the wharf—just two or three small stores, and even those were empty. The only shopkeeper, who doubled as the clerk, sat outside trying to attract customers, his clothes shabby and the place run-down.

Looking farther away, there weren’t even a few proper tile-roofed houses—most of the buildings were made of earth!

Princess Jade Hayes was secretly shocked. She thought, 'This southeastern wilderness is poor beyond belief!'

Anchester was supposed to be one of the more notable cities in the Kingdom of Qin, which was why they chose to land here. Who could have guessed it would be so run-down!

Princess Jade Hayes pressed her lips together, thinking, 'No wonder Lord Huainan and Leonard Li were so quick to hand over this land as a fiefdom. Turns out this wilderness really lives up to its reputation—nothing but poverty!'