With fewer people inciting emotions among the disaster victims, and as everyone recalled that the grain they had eaten these days was all obtained through the efforts of Prince Zhongshun and the Princess Consort, their anger subsided considerably.

Regardless of whether the Emperor truly cared for them, at least Prince Zhongshun and Magistrate Li had done their utmost.

They had been incited to riot only in their panic.

But after venting their emotions, many people felt regret and even began worrying whether they would be held accountable. They no longer continued charging violently into the government office, but waves of crying arose from the crowd.

This sorrow resonated with everyone, and the disaster victims’ weeping grew louder and louder, shaking people’s hearts.

Qin Yining leaned against Pang Xiao’s side, and hearing such sorrowful crying, she too shed tears of sadness.

Pang Xiao rubbed Qin Yining’s shoulder and then called out loudly: “Everyone, don’t be afraid. Since this prince has received the imperial edict to come here, I will certainly fulfill my duties as disaster relief envoy. The earthquake destroyed many roads, making it extremely difficult to transport grain into the city, but this prince will find ways to solve these problems. Please remain calm and don’t waste any more energy.”

Among the sobbing people, someone called out loudly: “How can we trust you?”

“Yes, we’ve been trapped here for so long, and so many people have died in vain. Many of the injured shouldn’t have lost their lives!”

“You disaster relief officials came so slowly, and arrived empty-handed. How can you expect us common people to trust you?”

…

They were all pitiful people who had lost relatives and loved ones to varying degrees in this disaster. Moreover, Li Qitian’s actions were truly disheartening, so it was no wonder that the people in the disaster area harbored resentment.

Actually, Pang Xiao and Qin Yining didn’t approve of Li Qitian’s methods either.

But given their position, they couldn’t say a single word against Li Qitian. They could only solemnly guarantee that they would never abandon any of the people.

The two expended tremendous effort to suppress the riot and prevent serious losses.

If today’s riot had continued to develop, even though Pang Xiao was supremely skilled in martial arts and had expert protection, a good tiger cannot defeat a pack of wolves. When desperate people risking their lives charged forward while they had to restrain themselves, the consequences could have been even more severe.

Finally having pacified the disaster victims, Pang Xiao pulled Qin Yining along to discuss countermeasures with Magistrate Li and Governor Gong.

On an empty lot, regardless of rank, everyone sat on the ground while the Dragon Cavalry soldiers surrounded them.

Governor Gong said: “The situation is now very clear. Although His Majesty’s disaster relief funds haven’t arrived, the money Your Highness donated is enough to last for quite a while. But with transportation difficulties, we have nowhere to buy rice. The wealthy households in the city have rice but are stubbornly insisting on ten taels of silver per bushel of coarse rice and refuse to lower the price. If we pay ten taels per bushel, after buying medicine and rice with this money, we don’t know how long it can sustain these people’s lives.”

Pang Xiao ground his teeth: “Those heartless, greedy bastards!”

Everyone felt heavy-hearted, because while some people gathered to find solutions during the people’s suffering, there were also morally bankrupt families like the Ding and Pei households standing on the sidelines watching the spectacle.

Such a stark contrast was lamentable.

But the disaster victims didn’t understand these difficulties—they only saw that His Majesty wouldn’t provide disaster relief grain and silver, letting many people starve and die of illness.

Disaster relief wasn’t just about keeping disaster victims alive. From His Majesty’s perspective, stabilizing people’s hearts was even more crucial.

Failing the former might lose popular support. Failing the latter could invite mortal danger!

Qin Yining pressed her lips together. Actually, a cruel solution had been circling in her mind for some time, but she had never voiced it.

After seeing so many suffering people today, she finally stopped hesitating and said firmly: “Actually, I have a method that could temporarily resolve this urgent crisis without using silver. But this method is too underhanded…”

Everyone looked at Qin Yining.

Pang Xiao said thoughtfully: “What is your method?”

“Rob the rich to help the poor.”

After speaking, Qin Yining pressed her lips and frowned, unable to say another word for a long time.

Magistrate Li said: “This humble official understands the Princess Consort’s meaning, but we don’t have enough manpower. If we attack those wealthy households, we might not be able to seize any grain and would only increase casualties.”

Governor Gong also nodded: “Exactly. Moreover, if we rob those families ourselves, we might end up with charges against us.”

Qin Yining bit her lips, closed her eyes, and then said: “But what if it were the disaster victims who attacked those wealthy households?”

Everyone was stunned upon hearing this.

Pang Xiao tenderly embraced Qin Yining, ignoring everyone’s gazes as he soothingly patted her back.

“Yining, this is difficult for you.”

Qin Yining shook her head and gently pushed Pang Xiao away: “You might think this method I’ve conceived is too underhanded. Because once the disaster victims attack the wealthy families with anger, it will certainly cause serious casualties on both sides. And when disaster victims rush into the luxurious mansions of wealthy households, acts like smashing, robbing, and burning will be unavoidable. Even some elderly, children, and women will…

“But I really can’t think of any other way to save so many people now.

“His Majesty’s treasury is empty, and we don’t know when grain supplies will arrive. But the people in the disaster area need to eat and use medicine every day. If this continues, with popular resentment rising, His Majesty’s kingdom won’t be stable. Most importantly, I fear these people will all become sacrificial victims.

“This method of attacking wealthy households, though cruel and causing casualties, compared to all the common people starving to death and eventually resorting to eating children, this is already the method with the fewest casualties.”

Qin Yining lowered her head and murmured: “For devising such a cruel method, perhaps I’ll go to the eighteenth level of hell in the future.”

“Yining, don’t say that.” Pang Xiao smiled and comfortingly put his arm around her shoulder: “I understand your meaning and thoughts completely. It’s like when I killed people on the battlefield—at first I couldn’t bring myself to strike, because the opponents were also human beings. Perhaps everyone had families waiting for them to come home. One strike from me would cause a family’s tragedy.

“But when the time came to act, I still couldn’t hesitate. Because if I didn’t kill, they would not only kill me but also harm more common people. If I didn’t kill, the chaotic times wouldn’t end, and the people couldn’t live peaceful, good lives. Sometimes killing hundreds of people feels very cruel and bloody. But thinking again, these people’s sacrifice could bring happiness to more people, making it worthwhile.

“As for the karmic debt incurred, whether going to the eighteenth level of hell after death or whatever else, it doesn’t matter. After all, Buddhism also has the saying ‘If I don’t enter hell, who will?'”

Hearing this, Qin Yining couldn’t help murmuring: “If I don’t enter hell, who will… Yes. Even though I’ve devised such an underhanded method, as long as it can keep more people alive, the sacrifice of these few is worthwhile. Even if it means going to hell, I accept it. Moreover, such action could serve as an example to others—when wealthy households in other cities and counties hear about the fate here, they won’t continue stubbornly insisting on high prices. We don’t want to forcibly rob their grain; we just want a fair price.”

The more Qin Yining spoke, the more resolute her conviction became. Her eyes cast off their previous weakness and became firm and wise.

Everyone present now understood Qin Yining’s meaning.

Upon careful consideration, indeed, without troops to suppress the situation, the only way to minimize casualties and let most people survive was to incite a riot and let the disaster victims themselves seize the wealthy households’ grain.

The law doesn’t punish the masses—how could His Majesty pursue accountability for a large group of disaster victims’ actions?

But this matter would ultimately be pitiful for those sacrificial victims—the elderly, weak, women, and children of those wealthy families. They weren’t the decision-makers but would lose their lives for no reason.

Everyone’s expressions changed when looking at Qin Yining.

How intelligent and decisive was a woman who could conceive such a strategy? She had compassion and would feel reluctant and guilty about those about to die, but her purpose was to save more people. Though the method was cruel, who could blame her in the slightest?

That night, Qin Yining suffered from insomnia.

She tossed and turned, unable to sleep. Before her eyes appeared scenes of rioters rushing into wealthy households to burn, kill, and plunder, alternating with tragic scenes of women and children being abused.

When she finally managed to fall asleep, she was awakened by nightmares.

Pang Xiao was awakened by Qin Yining’s cries in her dreams. Seeing her face covered in tear tracks, he couldn’t help but tenderly hold her tightly in his arms.

“Yining, you did nothing wrong. Your method is not wrong. If there’s any fault, the culprit is the one above, not you.”

“But people will die because of my method.”

“But most of the people will also survive because of your method—not just the people of Yang County, but all the people in the rest of the disaster area will live because of your method.”

Qin Yining leaned against Pang Xiao’s shoulder, closed her eyes, and nodded.

Faced with cruel reality, one could only put away weakness to move forward.

The next morning, the disaster victims learned of the wealthy households’ heartless behavior: when Prince Zhongshun went to buy grain, grain that was half sand and half coarse rice had risen to twelve taels of silver per bushel. They also learned that Prince Zhongshun had been turned away several times, and because there wasn’t enough silver, he couldn’t buy rice locally. The people were immediately filled with indignation.

After noon, news came that disaster victims had rioted and attacked the Ding and Pei families.

At the same time, Huzi brought a bound person before Pang Xiao and Qin Yining.

“Your Highness, after careful interrogation yesterday, those two people finally confessed. Indeed, someone ordered them to deliberately incite the disaster victims’ emotions, causing yesterday’s great riot. This person is the mastermind behind it.”

The two looked down with complex expressions at Madam Lu lying on her side on the ground with a piece of torn cloth stuffed in her mouth.

Qin Yining said in a low voice: “Why is it you? Didn’t you return to your country estate? Why are you here, and why did you do such a thing? Do you know how many common people died in the stampede during yesterday’s riot because of your actions?”

Madam Lu bit the torn cloth and glared angrily.

Qin Yining said: “Remove it and let her speak.”

“Yes.”

Huzi immediately removed the cloth.

Like a giant silkworm chrysalis, Madam Lu struggled for a long time before managing to sit sideways with great effort. She looked up at Pang Xiao, then at Qin Yining, and said: “I just wanted the disaster victims to survive. What wrong did I do!”