“Then I’ll trouble Magistrate Chen.”

“Please, Your Highness, please.” Magistrate Chen enthusiastically led the way ahead.

Pang Xiao nodded and looked back at Qin Yining.

Qin Yining smiled and gestured for him to proceed first, while she brought her maids and attendants to follow behind, with the empty carriages bringing up the rear.

The group proceeded majestically toward the government office. Qin Yining had visited Jingang many times before, but this time she saw scenes of decay and desolation everywhere on the streets.

Fortunately, being a coastal location, the situation was slightly better than what they had encountered along the way. However, the city shrouded by the shadow of famine was still lifeless. Not to mention the people who looked like withered grass drained of moisture—even the roof tiles, shop signs, and wine banners were much more dilapidated. Weeds sprouted from the cracks between the stone bricks, turning yellow and withered as the weather grew colder. The entire Jingang seemed covered by a layer of black fog, indescribably lifeless and decayed.

Magistrate Chen brought Pang Xiao’s group to the government office and smiled. “Knowing Your Highness would come, this humble official has already relocated his family elsewhere. Your Highness and the princess consort may rest assured and stay here. This humble official will be outside—whatever instructions you have, please feel free to give them at any time.”

“Thank you so much for your trouble, Magistrate Chen.” Pang Xiao thanked him amiably.

But Magistrate Chen shook his head and spoke frankly. “Your Highness need not be so polite. This is all what this humble official should do. I only ask that Your Highness spare no effort and find a way for the people to survive. This humble official would willingly work like an ox or horse!”

A simple word of thanks actually made Magistrate Chen pour out his feelings.

Qin Yining watched from the side, truly feeling that it was quite rare for Magistrate Chen to still be so straightforward despite being over forty. Even more precious was that this person’s heart was pure, acting entirely for the people rather than just for himself—this made him impossible not to respect.

Magistrate Chen soon took his leave to busy himself with comforting the people.

Pang Xiao and Qin Yining temporarily organized their luggage and settled in.

Huzi and Jingzhe guarded the bedroom surroundings very tightly, so Qin Yining felt at ease to ask Pang Xiao in a low voice, “Where have Mr. Xie and the others reached? They should be arriving soon, right?”

“They left before us, took some detours, and deliberately avoided us to prevent attracting attention. I imagine they should arrive within these two days.”

Qin Yining nodded and took the soft duck down cushion that Ji Yun retrieved from the bundle, spreading it on the official hat chair placed by the window. She patted it gently. “Come rest for a while. Traveling and being jostled about like this all the way—who knows if your wounds have reopened.”

Pang Xiao couldn’t help but smile seeing the thick, soft cushion.

This was something Qin Yining had specially rushed to make overnight before their departure, worried he would be uncomfortable riding in the carriage. He found it very comfortable to sit on.

“I’m not made of paper. This is almost healed—how could the wounds reopen? Just put your mind at ease.”

Though he said this, sitting down still caused slight pain from the injury.

Pang Xiao naturally didn’t mind. Having fought on battlefields, he had suffered countless major and minor injuries. Some of the scars left on his body—he couldn’t even remember when or how he had received them. This was merely an external injury from caning. For him, the act of being beaten itself was more infuriating than the pain.

But the pain that Pang Xiao didn’t mind, Qin Yining seemed to feel empathetically. Seeing his movements hesitate for an instant when sitting down, she hurriedly said, “Don’t rush to do anything these days. Healing your injuries properly is what’s important. If you want to investigate the city’s situation, just assign it to your subordinates to handle separately—that way they can investigate more thoroughly.”

Pang Xiao smiled and nodded, raising his hand to pinch Qin Yining’s fair, tender cheek. “So young yet already so nagging—you’re almost becoming an old nanny.”

“I wouldn’t bother saying this to anyone else.” Qin Yining glared at him, her rippling eyes like flowing waves of light.

Pang Xiao only felt this woman was so enchanting at every moment. Just this one glance made his heart stir with desire. He pulled her into his embrace in one motion, startling Qin Yining.

“What are you doing?”

She received no answer from Pang Xiao, only his warm lips landing on her fair face and cheeks.

His treasuring movements were as if Qin Yining were a rare treasure he had obtained with great difficulty.

Qin Yining tried not to press against Pang Xiao to avoid causing pain to his wounds. But his warm, solid embrace and cherishing, joyful gaze made Qin Yining’s heart feel warm and moved.

They had been married for years, through countless ups and downs, with more separations than time together. Yet he had never been swayed by wealth and glory, treating her consistently from beginning to end.

Qin Yining’s body and heart softened, leaning against his shoulder to enjoy this rare moment of tranquility.

At this moment, neither wanted to discuss state affairs. She only wanted to be with Pang Xiao—if they could live their own peaceful little life, that would be enough.

She didn’t need any wealth or glory; she only wanted the whole family to gather together safely and steadily.

But now the disaster situation was becoming increasingly severe, with uprisings against Li Qitian everywhere, and Li Qitian was so wary of Pang Xiao.

The Great Zhou Dynasty now had strong enemies without, internal troubles within, and was also struck by natural disasters.

They possessed none of the advantages of favorable timing, geography, or human harmony, yet Pang Xiao’s status made it impossible for him to ignore all of this.

Qin Yining only allowed herself that moment of weakness.

Because she knew that if she wanted to realize her dream of the family living peacefully together, while the world was in great chaos, there were indeed some things that could be done.

“Zhixi, these days we should still have people carefully observe the city’s situation. Since Mr. Xie and the others are arriving soon, we should also prepare in advance.”

Meeting her bright eyes, Pang Xiao’s heart could no longer care about anything else. He planted several more light kisses on her cheek before compromising under her disapproving gaze. “Don’t worry, I’ll handle these matters carefully. But from what I can see now, I’m afraid without using the treasure, it won’t be enough to let the people survive.”

Qin Yining’s expression also became somewhat heavy as she nodded. “You think so too?”

“If His Majesty could obtain grain, why would he go through all the trouble of falsifying records and scheming? Who has powder but doesn’t apply it to their face? From this perspective, His Majesty truly has no silver to purchase grain supplies. Combined with years of neglect of regional granaries, that’s why grain can’t be produced at this critical moment.”

“Our Great Zhou has indeed experienced natural disasters and man-made calamities, but it’s not as if the entire Great Zhou Dynasty had complete crop failure. There is still grain, and there must be stored grain from previous years, but none of this is in His Majesty’s hands.”

Pang Xiao hit the nail on the head with one sentence. Qin Yining nodded repeatedly. “Exactly so. There are people profiting from the national disaster everywhere. Those merchants and wealthy families are ultimately more informed than ordinary people and have the financial resources to sustain themselves. When this year’s natural disasters showed early signs, they began hoarding grain. Now they’re selling at high prices—they can make a fortune while feeding their own families. It’s truly killing two birds with one stone.”

“Isn’t that right? You’ve analyzed their psychology thoroughly.” Pang Xiao patted her delicate shoulder with his large hand and smiled. “But don’t worry. They hoard grain to do business. If His Majesty truly can’t produce rice, we’ll have to find ways to purchase from these wealthy households with stored grain.”

Speaking of purchasing naturally meant using the treasure’s silver.

“I understand. I also think it’s good to take from the people and use for the people regarding that treasure. It’s just that I’m somewhat worried—after all, regarding the treasure, those who know about it are all your trusted confidants. They’ve worked so wholeheartedly to assist you that it can’t be denied they all have some thoughts of achieving merit by following a dragon to success.”

“These people are the backbone around you. You’d better not make decisions that would disappoint them.”

Pang Xiao sighed helplessly. “They won’t be disappointed, but I can already predict that using that treasure will definitely involve complex processes. Many of them won’t be willing to let me use the silver to freely give to the people.”

Qin Yining’s expression grew grave. “That’s exactly what I’m worried about. Your attendants and advisors have also worked wholeheartedly following us. Their emotions naturally need to be considered. But if whether or not to use this silver for the people can become a topic of discussion, it shows these people are opposed.”

“If you can’t persuade them, I’m afraid they’ll become increasingly dissatisfied with you. This is also understandable—they follow you hoping you’ll ascend to that position.”

Pang Xiao didn’t speak, only held Qin Yining’s waist, pressing her into his embrace.

What Qin Yining meant was simple and clear. She worried that if he insisted on using the treasure, it would cause these followers to rebel and turn away, while they held large amounts of his secrets. This would be an enormous upheaval for him.

But could he ignore the people’s lives and deaths due to these concerns?

If he did that, he would truly become like Li Qitian.

“Don’t worry. I’ll handle all these matters.”

Hearing Pang Xiao say this, Qin Yining no longer continued the topic. Regardless, the result would be the same for them—as long as they acted for the people, they might find it difficult to escape certain fixed destinies.

Over the next entire day, Qin Yining and Pang Xiao both arranged for people to investigate the city’s situation.

The news they received was still more disappointing and helpless than they had imagined.

Even in such a coastal city, half the people had now starved to death.

Although this was better than the tragic scenes of nine out of ten houses being empty that they had encountered along the way, Qin Yining’s face could no longer maintain a smile.

By evening, when the sky was filled with red clouds, Huzi came to report: “Your Highness, Princess Consort, Tang Xiu has escorted Mr. Xie, Mr. Xu, and several other gentlemen here. They’ve now entered through the side gate to the main hall in the second courtyard.”

Pang Xiao thought for a moment, then stood and said to Qin Yining, “You rest first. I’ll go see the gentlemen.”

Qin Yining knew he was going to discuss serious matters, so she smiled and nodded. “Go ahead. I’ll wait for you to return so we can eat dinner together. Whatever you encounter, don’t be impatient—discuss things properly.”

Since Qin Yining said this, she was certain he would encounter obstacles on this trip.

“I understand. Don’t worry. I’m not such an unreasonable person.”

Qin Yining stood to see Pang Xiao off.

At the second gate, she couldn’t help but add another reminder: “This isn’t a place for talking either. Be careful.”

Pang Xiao looked back at Qin Yining, who was chasing after him with her nagging. Seeing her beautiful brows furrowed, he couldn’t help but smile consolingly. “Don’t worry. I know how to handle it.”

Qin Yining could only nod, returning to her room with Ji Yun and Bingtang, filled with worry.

Meanwhile, Pang Xiao arrived at the front hall and met with the group of advisor confidants led by Xie Yue and Xu Weizhi. He instructed Huzi and Tang Xiu to keep watch outside with the elite guards, not allowing anyone to approach, before asking in a low voice, “Having traveled this journey and witnessed these scenes, what insights do you gentlemen have?”