Inside the hall, Consort Chen was nestled in Yang Guang’s arms, appreciating the graceful dance of the performers. When she saw Yunyi suddenly burst in, she was first startled, then smiled, “Your Majesty, since when has Chengxiang Hall allowed Princess Jinyang to come and go as she pleases?”

The palace servant, covered in cold sweat, knelt down, “Your Majesty, forgive this servant! I tried to stop the Princess, but she insisted on barging in. This servant truly had no way!”

Yang Guang snorted coldly and said to Yunyi, “What are you here for?”

Yunyi knelt, “Your daughter has come to request that Father Emperor open the granaries to provide relief grain and save the people of Jiangdu from their suffering.”

Yang Guang stared at her, “Why do you suddenly speak such words?”

“In response to Father Emperor, your daughter left the palace today and saw the people, each one sallow and thin, unable to eat their fill or dress warmly. Not only are they forced to slaughter their own animals for food, some are even driven to eat tree leaves and such things to fill their stomachs. If this continues, the situation will surely become increasingly severe.” With that, she pleaded earnestly, “These people are all Father Emperor’s subjects. I beg Father Emperor to open the granaries for relief, so they may survive this crisis.”

Yang Guang drained the grape wine that Consort Chen had poured for him and said indifferently, “Those unruly people are lazy by nature and unwilling to work, which is why they’ve fallen to this state. They deserve it!”

“They work hard from spring to autumn, from summer to winter, toiling all four seasons of the year. They are absolutely not as Father Emperor describes. First, last autumn’s harvest was poor, with very little grain collected. Second, the court repeatedly levies taxes, and what little grain they had left was all taken by the court. Where would they have anything left to eat?”

Yang Guang’s expression turned cold as he stared at her, “Speaking thus, are you blaming me?”

“Your daughter wouldn’t dare. I only hope Father Emperor can cherish his subjects. If Father Emperor would open the granaries to distribute grain, I believe they would certainly be grateful to Father Emperor!”

Consort Chen spoke up, “According to the Princess’s words, if His Majesty doesn’t distribute grain, they will resent His Majesty?”

Yunyi glanced at her and said coldly, “What the people want is very simple – just a full meal. When even this simplest wish cannot be fulfilled, even the most kind-hearted people will harbor resentment.”

Consort Chen said with a half-smile, “His Majesty is their sovereign and even more their heaven. Regardless of any reason, they should not harbor resentment toward His Majesty.” With that, she turned her gaze to Yang Guang, “Your Majesty, is what this concubine says correct?”

Yang Guang nodded, “Indeed. If they want to fill their stomachs, they should find their own solutions rather than sitting and waiting for me to open the granaries.”

“They truly have no other options left.” Seeing Yang Guang unmoved, Yunyi continued, “Please have mercy on them, Father Emperor.”

“No!” Yang Guang refused Yunyi’s request without a thought. Before she could speak again, he added, “This is a matter of court governance, not for you to interfere with. Return to your Feixiang Hall immediately!”

Facing Yang Guang’s words, Yunyi bit her silver teeth and knelt down, “If Father Emperor refuses to open the granaries to distribute grain, your daughter will remain kneeling here and not rise!” The scenes she had witnessed earlier kept flashing through her mind – she truly could not stand by and ignore them.

Seeing her treat his words as if they were nothing, Yang Guang’s expression turned ugly, “I’ll say it once more – withdraw!”

Yunyi raised her head, “Father Emperor, do you truly want to watch your subjects die one by one?”

“My affairs are not for you to manage.” With that, he said to a nearby palace servant, “Drag her out!”

The palace servant responded and reached out to pull Yunyi, but she shook him off forcefully. Yunyi cried out in anguish, “The Great Sui has already fallen to this state, and Father Emperor still hasn’t realized how terribly wrong you are?”

Yang Guang, who was about to drink, paused in his motion, then heavily slammed the wine-filled cup onto the table and stood up, “What did you say? Say it again!”

Ruyi, kneeling behind Yunyi, saw the situation turning bad and quickly said, “Princess, please don’t say anymore.”

Yunyi ignored her and only looked at Yang Guang walking toward her, “All these years, rebellions have risen everywhere. As soon as one is suppressed here, another springs up there, keeping the army constantly busy. Even when Father Emperor sends out his Imperial Guards to suppress them, it’s still to no avail. Why are there so many rebellions? It’s not because they’re difficult and unreasonable, not because they’re cunning and treacherous, but because Father Emperor has forced them into a situation where they cannot survive, leaving them no choice but to rebel in hopes of continuing to live!”

“Nonsense!” Yang Guang’s face turned ashen as he shouted, “When have I ever forced them into a situation where they cannot survive?”

“All these years, Father Emperor has excavated canals, built palaces, and launched three campaigns against Goguryeo. Each time required conscripting hundreds of thousands or even millions of laborers, with more than half dying in service. Those were all living people with parents and even wives and children! When a hundred thousand die, a hundred thousand households weep and wail. When a million die, a million households lose family members. Besides this, they must also bear heavy taxes and harsh policies. Father Emperor, they are people – people with emotions of joy, anger, sorrow, and happiness. When you treat them this way, how can you expect them to love and support you?” This time, Yunyi poured out all the words she had kept bottled up in her heart for so long.

“Insolent!” With these two words, a vicious slap struck Yunyi’s face as Yang Guang roared, “Who gave you permission to speak to me this way?”

Yunyi endured the burning pain on her left cheek and lowered her head, “Your daughter knows I am being defiant, but everything I’ve said is for Father Emperor’s good. I don’t want Father Emperor to continue making mistakes!”

“Continue making mistakes?” Yang Guang was so angry he laughed instead, “I am the Son of Heaven. Everything I do is right. What mistakes could there be?”

Yunyi hadn’t expected that after saying so much, Yang Guang still didn’t think he had done anything wrong. In her disappointment, she blurted out, “Must we really wait until the Great Sui perishes before Father Emperor feels regret?”

The response to this statement was an even more vicious slap than before, along with words as cold and hard as iron: “Is it because I’ve treated you too well in normal times, making you forget your place and not know your position, speaking such insolent words?”

Ruyi watched anxiously and kowtowed repeatedly, “The Princess only spoke such words because she cares about the people. She meant no offense to Your Majesty. Please forgive the Princess this once!”

Jixiang also hastily said, “The Princess has always respected and loved Your Majesty. Everything she does is for Your Majesty’s good. Please investigate clearly, Your Majesty!”

Yang Guang ignored them and only stared at Yunyi, “Do you know your fault?”

Yunyi wiped the blood from the corner of her mouth and said stubbornly, “Your daughter is not at fault. All along, it has been Father Emperor who was wrong!”

Ruyi and Jixiang behind her were terrified hearing this and urged, “Princess, please don’t anger His Majesty any further.”

While they feared the situation would escalate, some people wished it would. Consort Chen walked to Yang Guang’s side and said coquettishly, “Princess Jinyang is so unfilial and disrespectful to Your Majesty. She truly deserves severe punishment!”

Yang Guang narrowed his eyes slightly. He had never liked Yunyi. If not for Xiao Shi, she would have died when she was first born, where would she have lived until now, much less argue and quarrel with him.