Both Pang Xiao and Qin Yining’s expressions changed dramatically!

They could never have imagined that Li Qitian would be so obsessed with constructing the imperial mausoleum! Originally, after causing such a great commotion, no matter who sat in Li Qitian’s position, they would temporarily lay low. Even if they wanted to continue building the imperial mausoleum, they would first wait for the current storm to pass and for the common people to completely forget about this matter.

Yet Li Qitian directly gave the supervisory position to Lu Heng!

The common people now all knew that the south had continuous heavy rains with no harvest at all. Although the Great Zhou had granaries in many places that could be used for relief in critical moments, that grain was like a drop in the ocean compared to all the hungry mouths crying for food throughout the realm.

Qin Yining, who was currently having Shopkeeper Zhong provide relief in the south, had the most authority to speak about how much silver was needed to feed the people.

After dismissing the eunuch who had delivered the oral decree, Qin Yining couldn’t help but say:

“If the rain doesn’t stop and the people cannot be self-sufficient, I’m afraid all my family fortune will be completely drained in one go. The court’s relief grain has been delayed, His Majesty doesn’t keep silver for disaster relief, yet insists on building the imperial mausoleum. Does he care about his posthumous affairs and completely ignore his reputation?”

Pang Xiao’s sword-like brows were tightly furrowed, his brow creased into the character “川,” and anger was already visible on his handsome face.

“Such conduct is truly despicable! He now can’t even be bothered to pacify the people’s hearts, focusing only on himself! Does he think that just because he’s secured this position, he need not consider the people’s feelings?”

“The people’s feelings are now secondary. Most urgent is what to do when natural disasters arrive. There are already such trends now—His Majesty cannot be completely ignorant of this, right?”

Pang Xiao thought about Li Qitian’s character and way of doing things, leaning back casually in his folding chair with his head tilted back, saying helplessly, “His Majesty probably harbors a lucky mentality. After all, Jiangnan is the land of fish and rice, a prosperous region.”

“But after these years of warfare, even the land of fish and rice has been devastated. The drought in Great Yan in earlier years already claimed many lives, then came the earthquake, and now there’s incessant heavy rain. Famine is already taking shape—sooner or later an even greater disaster will erupt. How does His Majesty plan to handle it then? Without silver there’s no grain—what will the people eat?”

This question Pang Xiao also could not answer, because he temporarily could not find a solution either, and could not understand why Li Qitian would act so ruthlessly.

“I originally thought that the trap Magistrate Cheng laid with his life would at least allow him to die for a worthy cause. Now it seems it was all for naught.”

Qin Yining also couldn’t think of appropriate words to comfort him. Many things in this world don’t allow for too much careful calculation. Was Magistrate Cheng’s plan perfect? But His Majesty completely refused to play by conventional rules. Was Wang the Great Benefactor’s plan to revenge Danfu County perfect? But after all his busy work, he merely used Sakurai to kill people, and in the end caused Sakurai’s death as well.

Heaven seemed to have already predetermined everything, not allowing human interference in the slightest.

Lu Heng, having received the edict, naturally became even more focused on finding ways to transport the treasure.

Lu Wenru was somewhat worried.

Seeing that all of Lu Heng’s priorities centered on the treasure, he couldn’t help but remind him when Lu Heng was in a good mood.

“My lord, with His Majesty’s edict being thus, might there be no remaining funds for disaster relief in the future?”

Lu Heng looked at Lu Wenru with some surprise, raising one eyebrow with a half-smile, picked up his white porcelain tea bowl with gold designs and took a sip.

Lu Wenru’s heart instantly rose to his throat, hastily bowing his head and body, “My lord, forgive me, this lowly person has overstepped.”

Lu Heng smiled and took another sip of tea, setting down the covered bowl with a “click.” “You’ve followed me for a long time. It’s natural for you to care and ask about my affairs—this can hardly be called a transgression. His Majesty’s actions naturally have his reasons. I imagine His Majesty has long understood the southern situation and has certainly made preparations. Great Yan was originally in a prosperous region. Even now, facing natural disasters, surely they can still manage to gather surplus grain.”

Lu Wenru hastily responded respectfully, “My lord speaks correctly.”

But this was not what he truly thought in his heart.

That region of Great Yan was indeed prosperous, but one must consider—in the past, Great Yan had foolish rulers and demon empresses in power, harming the people for how many years? Later there were continuous military disasters, natural and man-made calamities that had long since hollowed out that prosperous land.

Now the southern floods were much more severe than in the north, yet the court showed no greater action.

As the saying goes, “After long drought must come great flood.” It seemed that after this long flood, famine and plague would also run rampant, right?

But the court was now completely peaceful, with various court officials secretly competing in their factions, and His Majesty showed no particular concern for state affairs, instead busying himself with dealing with meritorious officials and constructing mausoleums.

Thinking of this, Lu Wenru couldn’t help but sigh secretly in his heart. But he was insignificant and powerless—his inability to restrain himself from speaking too much earlier was already improper. He dared not advise even half a sentence more.

Lu Heng paid no attention to Lu Wenru’s thoughts.

In his view, the vast Great Zhou Dynasty surely wouldn’t be unable to handle even a natural disaster. Even if there were natural disasters, naturally His Majesty would arrange for them. Why should he worry about it? If he had time to worry about others, he himself might be killed several times over.

Now the timing was perfect—that brute’s people were all absent, and in all of Huichuan he had the final say. In the matter of constructing the imperial mausoleum, from top to bottom he alone held power, and whatever he said went.

Such an excellent opportunity, if missed, might never come again.

Thinking of this, Lu Heng made up his mind. He organized his recent plans clearly in his mind, ordered Lu Wenru to grind ink, wrote a memorial, and had it delivered to the capital with utmost speed.

Several more days passed, and Liao Zhibing had arranged all the people going to Japan properly. Pang Xiao immediately selected several quick-thinking, highly skilled Tiger Guards to accompany them.

Qin Yining wiped the white porcelain urn clean, carefully wrapped it in silk cloth, placed it in a wooden box, and carefully stuffed all the gaps with soft cloth before wrapping the wooden box in bundle cloth as well.

She did all of this with her own hands—Pang Xiao, Ji Yun, and the others only watched silently from the side.

Ji Yun’s injuries had improved somewhat, but she still couldn’t do heavy work and needed more than a month of care to fully recover. Looking at the wooden box that Qin Yining had packed so carefully, she couldn’t help but sigh, “This servant now doesn’t know whether to be angry that he wounded several of us.”

Jingzhe and the others had fought most fiercely that day, with injuries even more severe than Ji Yun’s. The only one who emerged completely unharmed was Xiao Xue.

Xiao Xue had lost track of Sakurai that day and was led astray by traces Sakurai had deliberately left. By the time she returned, Qin Yining had already been taken away.

Originally she too was furious with Sakurai, itching with anger, but now she felt as complicated as Ji Yun, finally saying, “Regardless, we should still thank him.”

Ji Yun also nodded in agreement.

Qin Yining solemnly handed the bundle to Liao Zhibing, “Sir Liao, I entrust this to you.”

Liao Zhibing said, “Princess, please be at ease. I will certainly handle this matter properly.”

The group saw Liao Zhibing and the others off from the camp. Qin Yining watched them go far before sighing softly.

Pang Xiao put his arm around her shoulders, saying, “Let’s go back.”

Qin Yining nodded, catching sight from the corner of her eye that there seemed to be more common people at the city gate than usual. She asked worriedly, “Should you arrange for someone to investigate? Don’t let those people cause trouble again.”