Qin Yining was somewhat surprised upon hearing this. “You arranged for people?”

“Yes, when leaving I was worried we would lose contact with the outside world and wouldn’t know any news, leaving us completely in the dark and at others’ mercy. So I arranged people early on, placing them beside father-in-law. Father-in-law is an extremely clever person who knows what news to send me at what time. He’s responsible for gathering intelligence, and my people are responsible for delivering messages. Only this way can we ensure that what we know is the most reliable news from the capital.”

Qin Yining was even more surprised. This matter actually also involved Qin Huaiyuan’s efforts.

“When did you discuss this with my father? You never told me.”

“To be honest, this idea was originally suggested to me by father-in-law first, which reminded me of it. Yi’er, father-in-law is truly remarkable—meticulous in thought and good at planning and decision-making. Honestly, all my advisors and strategists combined might not match one father-in-law.”

Qin Yining could see that Pang Xiao truly admired Qin Huaiyuan and wasn’t just saying this to please her.

Qin Huaiyuan was a good father and indeed lived up to his reputation as “Intelligent Pan An.” For Qin Yining, Qin Huaiyuan had always been her pride and the backbone that allowed her to keep moving forward courageously.

Just like this time when she and Pang Xiao came out—it was because she knew that whether it was the Qin family or Pang family in the capital, as long as father was there, everything would be fine. That’s why she could feel so at ease.

Qin Yining smiled. “Before leaving, I kept seeing you meet with father. So you had conspired about so many things without telling me.”

“What are you saying? I wasn’t conspiring about anything.” Pang Xiao finally managed to cheer up his wife, and his own mood improved considerably as well.

They burned the secret edict and discussed things quietly for a while.

That day they didn’t do anything else, simply ate some thin porridge and rested early.

This was the first time in a long while they had properly slept in a bed. Qin Yining was exhausted from travel and almost fell asleep as soon as her head touched the pillow.

Pang Xiao was physically robust, and traveling meant nothing to him, so he was still energetic at this moment. But with Qin Yining sleeping beside him like a soft, fragrant bundle of jade, he had to be careful even when holding her in his arms—how could he think of anything else?

They slept well through the night.

The next day, Pang Xiao went to the front office to discuss serious matters with Gong You.

“Lord Gong, although we don’t know when the Emperor’s relief grain will arrive, we should still set up porridge stands and medical tents now. Every day people are dying of hunger—we can’t just watch everyone starve to death. Otherwise, even when the Emperor’s relief grain and money arrive, those who died will have died in vain.”

“The prince speaks truly.” Gong You nodded in agreement. “This humble official didn’t dare act before because I truly had no confidence in my heart. The stored grain in our granary is only enough for thin porridge in the city for ten days, and this doesn’t even count how many disaster victims might come seeking help.

“The reason I didn’t set up porridge stands before was that I had people investigate—each family still had stored grain and could gather wild vegetables to fill their stomachs, able to hold on for a while. So I thought to save all the rice for when they truly couldn’t hold on anymore, which could help extend their lives while waiting for the Emperor’s rescue.”

Pang Xiao agreed. “Lord Gong speaks correctly. Your approach was right. At times like this, we can’t think about letting them eat their fill, but rather about letting more people survive—that’s the right principle. When the disaster relief money and grain arrive, everything will be easily resolved.”

As he spoke, Pang Xiao took out a stack of banknotes from his chest and handed them to Gong You.

Gong You looked at the stack of banknotes in shock, his lips trembling. “My lord, this is?”

“When leaving, the princess consort sold all the valuable items from her betrothal gifts and dowry, plus the money from her dowry fields and shops, and she also sold her ancestral home to gather this money. Oh, it also includes the silver I earned from fighting wars over the years, though as you know, I previously led the Huben Army with a hundred thousand brothers under me—I earned a lot of money but spent it like water, never saving much. These banknotes are all one thousand taels each, fifty notes total—fifty thousand taels of silver. Lord Gong, please quickly use this money to purchase grain. I believe this money can keep more common people alive.”

“My lord…” Gong You’s lips trembled, his eyes quickly reddened, and tears almost immediately flowed down.

The secretary beside them was already moved to tears.

The four attendants standing in formation began to sob aloud.

They were all locals whose families—mothers, fathers, entire households—had all suffered from the disaster. Some had lost relatives, others were luckier with family members all alive, but now they too could barely make ends meet.

Pang Xiao’s fifty thousand taels of silver was enough to mobilize troops for a battle. Although the current situation involved difficult transportation and price gouging on grain, leaving disaster areas in a state where money couldn’t buy food even if available.

But even so, they hadn’t seen any local wealthy families donate money, much less any court officials donate money.

In their impression, Pang Xiao was still that enemy who had led troops to attack and destroy the Great Yan Dynasty.

But looking at it now, being able to become subjects of Great Zhou and receive Pang Xiao’s sincere treatment was such good fortune.

Pang Xiao was a military general—a military general’s mission was to fight on battlefields.

With one word from the Emperor, wherever he pointed, Pang Xiao would strike like a sharp blade.

Should the wrongs of past wars really all be blamed on such a person who had a righteous heart for the common people?

“The prince shows such noble righteousness! To actually donate family wealth for disaster relief! Before the prince, this humble official can barely lift his head.”

“What are you saying? When encountering great disasters, those with money contribute money, those with strength contribute strength. Lord Gong has worried so much about this disaster relief that his hair has turned white from anxiety. I arrived late—what does it matter if I contribute some worldly possessions? Our goals are the same—all for the common people to survive. That’s enough.”

“My lord… very well. This humble official will definitely memorialize this to the Emperor. We cannot let the prince contribute silently.”

Secretary Lu also said, “And the people in the city—when distributing porridge, we should let everyone know where the money that solved their urgent needs came from.”

Pang Xiao waved his hands repeatedly. “This is all the Emperor’s arrangement. What I’ve done amounts to nothing.”

Gong You and Secretary Lu both understood. By doing this, Pang Xiao sought no merit but only to avoid fault, hoping only that the common people could receive real benefits. If this were widely publicized, it would instead give those with ulterior motives in court reason to impeach him, saying he was winning people’s hearts with sinister intentions.

Both men understood in their hearts and were moved, but nodded and said:

“Yes, this is all the Emperor’s arrangement.”

Pang Xiao then discussed with Gong You the order for inspecting the four major counties under the old capital’s jurisdiction in the coming days.

But could this matter really be kept secret just because Pang Xiao didn’t want it publicized?

Those four attendants went home and told their families about this.

Family members always have friends, and friends always have friends. What was clearly meant to be a secret of “I’m only telling you, don’t tell others” was inadvertently spread around.

The next day when porridge stands were set up and hungry people formed long lines in front of them, people in the crowd discussed how this was grain bought with Prince Zhongshun’s leading donation. This news seemed to grow wings and became known to everyone.