Qin Yining shook her head, unconsciously fidgeting with the azure jade gourd that weighted down her skirt, then turned to walk slowly inside with Ji Yun and Bingtang.
These days food had been tight in Jin Harbor. Pang Xiao couldn’t bear to let Qin Yining go hungry—while he ate thin porridge at every meal, Qin Yining ate somewhat better. Each time porridge was brought, Pang Xiao would scoop out the thicker parts for Qin Yining to eat. Though Qin Yining had a small appetite and deliberately saved some, Pang Xiao ate whatever she left at every meal.
Since the masters were like this, everyone else’s situation was similar.
Seeing this made Ji Yun, Bingtang and the others feel heartbroken, wishing they could contribute their own rations. But Qin Yining refused each time and watched them eat, always telling them: “Now is not the time for enjoyment. Being able to stay alive is enough.”
Having such a considerate master moved them deeply.
So the food crisis became a thousand-pound burden weighing on everyone’s heads.
“His Highness truly has no other choice. The situation in Jin Harbor city is still relatively good—conditions outside the city are even more tragic. County Magistrate Chen orders people to go out and check the situation daily, gathering the dead people together for disposal, precisely to prevent any epidemic from breaking out,” Ji Yun said.
Bingtang sighed: “But the people living in such an atmosphere, watching relatives and friends die every day—even if they survive later, their spirits will probably collapse.”
The group returned to their room. Qin Yining sat down on the warm kang by the window, which was furnished with thick duck down cushions, and sighed: “Now we can only try our best to let more people survive. Only by living can one have emotions. As for whether they can accept it psychologically, that can only be left to time.”
This topic was too heavy, and for a moment no one spoke.
Qin Yining rested her chin in her hand, gazing out the half-open window where a few yellow leaves drifted down, dancing as they fell onto the neat azure stone floor tiles.
Just then, she saw someone approaching quickly, stepping over the fallen leaves on the ground.
“Princess Consort.” It was Liao Zhibing.
Seeing that Liao Zhibing had come, Qin Yining immediately stood up. Her vision went black for an instant, making her quickly support herself on the table.
Ji Yun and Bingtang hurriedly supported Qin Yining: “Princess Consort, please rise more slowly.”
“I’m fine.” Qin Yining quickly walked to the door. “Master Liao, how did it go?”
Liao Zhibing smiled: “Mission accomplished. The first batch of treasure has been exchanged for gold, silver, and banknotes, and is now outside the city. Princess Consort, should we have these items transported in?”
Qin Yining thought for a moment and smiled: “No, bringing them into the city would attract too much attention. Let’s immediately take this treasure to Huimin Village. His Highness went to visit Squire Liu today. To avoid being misunderstood as ‘bandits,’ the sooner we arrive, the better.”
Everyone couldn’t help but chuckle softly upon hearing this.
Learning that their group had arrived at just the right time, Liao Zhibing was also very pleased and hurried to make arrangements.
Qin Yining had people prepare a carriage and, taking Bingtang and Ji Yun with her, left the government office under the protection of four hidden agents including Jingzhe.
The weather was getting colder, the streets desolate, with not a soul to be seen anywhere. The bleak scene was depressing just to look at.
After leaving the city gate, they could see from afar the disaster relief soup kitchens that County Magistrate Chen had ordered set up. Seeing the dense mass of human figures, Qin Yining felt a chill run down her spine.
If handled improperly, if they couldn’t obtain grain, who knew how many of these people would still perish.
Thinking of this, Qin Yining’s expression became resolute as she ordered everyone to hurry.
Liao Zhibing had acted together with several Jinghu Guards this time. These men had all followed Qin Yining to Shuize Country and were familiar faces, making the meeting feel more intimate.
When these men paid their respects to Qin Yining, they also showed more familiarity and casualness.
The group rode at full speed toward Huimin Village and arrived at their destination before long.
The entire village had only one wide main street, with houses and courtyards lined up like fish scales on both sides of the road. Every household now hung white mourning cloth, and being autumn, the scene was filled with desolation and bleakness.
However, one household stood out from the rest, appearing like a crane among chickens in this village.
Just looking at the courtyard wall—it was twice as high as ordinary household walls, with watchtowers at the four corners. Though the architecture wasn’t particularly exquisite, it looked much more imposing than ordinary homes.
With such a clear target, it saved them the time of searching.
Qin Yining led her people toward that courtyard. Before long, they saw the hundred palace guards lined up neatly outside the gate.
The courtyard gate was wide open, and Pang Xiao was talking with an elderly man in his sixties wearing a sapphire blue wide-sleeved fine cloth robe.
The old man’s attitude was neither servile nor arrogant: “…Your Highness is doing this for the people—this old one can understand that. But look, this old one still has several dozen mouths to feed in his household. Moreover, the grain in my possession didn’t blow in on the wind. Your Highness is a righteous person who assists His Majesty and cares for the people—far more enlightened and benevolent than the foolish rulers of previous dynasties. But now Your Highness has brought so many people to block this old one’s gate. Tell me, what should this old one do?”
These words seemed rambling but actually employed both soft and hard tactics. If facing someone truly unreasonable, they might directly charge this elder with disrespect. But Pang Xiao was precisely not that kind of person, and the elder probably dared speak this way because he had accurately assessed Pang Xiao’s character.
Pang Xiao smiled slightly. Hearing footsteps and the sound of carriages and horses, he turned to look and saw Qin Yining lifting the carriage curtain to look at him. Seeing Liao Zhibing’s group and several horse-drawn carts behind Qin Yining, he immediately understood.
His precious treasure was afraid he had no silver and would be unable to move forward, gaining the reputation of a bandit for nothing.
Pang Xiao originally hadn’t planned to rob by force. But seeing the city’s people dying one by one while His Majesty showed no response, he couldn’t bear watching so many people starve to death. Before the treasure arrived, he had wanted to buy on credit first to solve the urgent crisis.
But this Squire Liu was cunning and slippery, completely unmoved by either soft or hard approaches. Appeals to emotion and reason were useless. When spoken to more harshly, he would threaten to lie on the ground and accuse Pang Xiao of abusing common people. When Pang Xiao’s attitude was gentler, he would put on that same face as before.
Pang Xiao had even been considering whether to apply pressure and intimidation, but Qin Yining happened to arrive just at this moment.
Pang Xiao said: “This prince understands Squire Liu’s meaning. This prince is merely a crude warrior and doesn’t dare compare himself to anyone. This grain—this prince isn’t trying to rob you of it. Haven’t I been standing here all this time discussing prices with you? Squire Liu is a clever man and should know that this prince’s patience is very limited, right?”
Seeing this, Squire Liu couldn’t help but swallow and reflect on what he had just said, breaking out in a cold sweat.
Pang Xiao continued: “This year’s season has been poor, and Heaven refuses to favor the people. The people have been hungry for so long that their patience is probably long gone. The court faces the dilemma of a clever woman unable to cook without rice, but the rice and grain are right here with you. Tell me, if people learned that you have so much stored grain in your possession, what do you think would happen?”
Squire Liu’s face immediately turned pale.
It was true that he had grain, but he dared not publicize it to anyone. Even the household guards he employed probably didn’t know what was stored in his warehouses.
In these times, whoever had the bigger fist made the rules. If this Prince Zhongshun ordered people to rob by force, or if he directly publicized this matter, probably without Prince Zhongshun sending anyone, the starving people alone could strip his household bare.
By then, his whole family might lose their lives!
Realizing this, Squire Liu’s features all twisted together in anguish.
Seeing that this person finally felt fear, Pang Xiao said: “Squire Liu need not be nervous. This prince is merely stating facts and has no other meaning. After all, this prince came today to purchase grain and grass. This prince won’t demand that Squire Liu must sell at any particular price, but as fellow people of the Great Zhou, seeing so many people starving to death, Squire Liu should at least consider what price would be appropriate. Rest assured, as long as the price is reasonable, this prince will immediately have silver sent over. There will be absolutely no delays, and certainly no robbery after seeing the grain.”
Squire Liu saw that Pang Xiao had already stood here talking with him for so long. If he had a bad temper or a domineering nature, by the time they finished talking, his troops might have already charged in.
Thinking of this, Squire Liu said: “Your Highness, please don’t blame me. This old one also has no choice—look, there are so many people in the household. Moreover, grain is indeed scarce now. This old one cannot sell all the stored grain to Your Highness. Please understand, Your Highness.”
“Fair enough.” Pang Xiao casually waved his hand: “You just need to name a price.”
Squire Liu thought for a moment and held up several fingers toward Pang Xiao.
Upon hearing this, Pang Xiao couldn’t help but sneer inwardly: “It seems this prince hasn’t spoken clearly enough with Squire Liu. Or perhaps Squire Liu still can’t think it through?”
Looking around, Pang Xiao sighed: “The mountains and waters here are so comfortable to live among. It’s just a pity that the year has been poor, with more and more starving people. Many bandits have taken to the mountains, and who knows which mountains they’re hiding in. It’s truly worrying.”
Squire Liu looked at Pang Xiao’s eyes, which contained a hint of sharp killing intent, and immediately realized his greed. He quickly lowered two fingers: “Your Highness, it cannot be any less. Any less and this old one would be selling at a loss. Think about it—how long has this heavy rain been falling? Grain prices change daily. You must show some understanding for this old one.”
Seeing that his intimidation had worked and that Squire Liu was so frightened his face turned ashen, covered in cold sweat, and his lips trembled as he relented, Pang Xiao couldn’t help but chuckle inwardly.
On the surface, Pang Xiao still maintained a serious expression, keeping his face stern without speaking.
A Jinghu Guard who had accompanied them saw this and cleverly stepped forward to advise: “Your Highness, this Squire Liu doesn’t seem sincere about doing business with you. Why don’t you ask the Liu family if they know anyone else nearby who has hoarded grain? This matter can be discussed later.”
What did “discussed later” mean?
Squire Liu was so frightened that his hair stood on end. He stared nervously at Pang Xiao and, gritting his teeth, lowered another finger: “Your Highness, please have mercy. It truly cannot be any less. You can’t say you’re here to buy grain but expect this old one to pay you silver instead, can you?”
“Insolent!” Having listened for quite a while, Jingzhe cleverly stepped forward and scolded: “How dare you be disrespectful to His Highness! Do you not want to keep your head?”
“Your Highness, Your Highness, why don’t you name a price? Please state a number for this old one to hear,” Squire Liu almost hugged his head to hide.
Seeing that he had intimidated enough, Pang Xiao smiled: “No need. This prince wouldn’t go so far as to make you lose money. Whatever grain and grass you have here that’s usable, sell it all to this prince. Also, recommend some grain merchants that Squire Liu knows to this prince.”