Qin Yining’s brows were tightly knitted as she watched the direction where Registrar Gao’s group had departed with worried eyes.

When she and Zhao Wanjin had devised this plan, she knew that Registrar Gao would certainly not let things slide after meeting Zhao Wanjin. A few slaps and kicks would be the least of it – she feared that cruel torture would await Zhao Wanjin in the future.

She felt some reluctance and guilt in her heart, but Zhao Wanjin had patted his chest and said: “What I hate most are these cruel officials who prey upon the common people. To be able to bring down such a person and rescue our old alliance leader, I’m only suffering some superficial injuries – this deal is worth it. The alliance leader doesn’t know about my internal martial arts skills. When I circulate my qi, they won’t be able to harm my vital organs. Please don’t worry, alliance leader.”

Qin Yining was still concerned, but during her hesitation, both Zhao Wanjin and Zhao Yinuo repeatedly assured her. Seeing that Zhao Yinuo seemed even more confident than Zhao Wanjin, Qin Yining finally believed them.

But now that Zhao Wanjin had been taken away, she still worried.

“Bingtang, prepare the medicinal pills when you return. We need to be ready to send them in at any time.”

Bingtang nodded, adjusting the cloak that had slipped down to Qin Yining’s arm. “Princess, please don’t worry. I’ve already prepared everything according to your instructions.”

“That’s good.” Qin Yining finally felt slightly more at ease.

At this moment, the common people in the square came to their senses, and there was already an uproar.

These cruel officials of the former capital had never cared about their lives or deaths. Whenever relief came down from the court, it would first fill the pockets of these scoundrels.

Now, with great difficulty, a kind-hearted person had come who was willing to buy grain and clothing for complete strangers. Many people had been pulled back from the brink of starvation and freezing to death. Zhao Wanjin was like a second parent to them. Seeing such a good person treated this way, not knowing how much suffering he would endure once inside the yamen, how could the common people sit still?

Everyone was clamoring and cursing the cruel officials and corrupt magistrates when Zhao Yinuo stepped up to where Zhao Wanjin had been standing with a bitter expression: “Fellow villagers, elders, please listen to what I have to say.”

The crowd fell silent, looking forward with puzzlement.

Zhao Yinuo rubbed his reddened eyes and called out loudly: “I am the head steward of Boss Qian’s household. Everyone has seen the current situation. Our master has been arrested, and his life and death are uncertain. If I cannot bring him back home safe and sound, I won’t have the face to meet our old master. So this soup kitchen will probably not have the resources to continue operating. Everyone should quickly eat while the food is hot and disperse early.”

Upon hearing this, the disappointment in everyone’s eyes was almost impossible to hide.

No matter who it was, when they had just glimpsed hope of survival and were suddenly told that no further help would come, negative emotions would surge.

However, the crowd who had witnessed firsthand how the great benefactor Qian was arrested found it difficult to resent the speaker at this moment.

The great benefactor Qian had been arrested, and with no one left in charge at home, it was understandable that the servants would be busy trying to pull strings to rescue their master, having no time or energy to care for the soup kitchen.

If they were to blame anyone, they should blame the cruel officials who had arrested the great benefactor Qian!

The thick porridge in the people’s bowls and the dry rations in their hands had already gone cold. Everyone stood there dazed, not knowing what to do. After eating today’s meal, would they have no hope again tomorrow?

They had originally gained a glimmer of hope that they could survive this harsh winter, but with the great benefactor Qian’s arrest, where could they find another person who was both so kind-hearted and possessed such financial means? Their hope for survival had been easily stripped away by Registrar Gao!

Low sobbing sounds came from within the crowd. Some elderly, weak women and children didn’t dare eat their porridge and dry rations anymore, planning to save them for tomorrow when they were truly starving and take just one bite. They didn’t know how they would get through the days ahead. The younger ones, however, were filled with rage.

“Good people don’t get good rewards! What kind of logic is this!”

“Oh Heavens, you are blind!”

“It’s all the fault of the corrupt official Registrar Gao!”

The square was like a pot of boiling oil, with angry curses rising wave after wave. Their terror of the future and resentment at having their food source taken away had nowhere to vent, and only through roaring could they release some of it.

“This Registrar Gao has never done any good deeds in the city, and his son is even worse!”

“Anyone can see that these cruel officials eat the government’s rice but refuse to help the common people seek justice. Instead, they cause us grievances!”

“To put it bluntly, what do our small lives mean in the eyes of these cruel officials? Killing a few dozen of us is just a matter of them moving their lips!”

“Heaven above, Heaven wants to cut off our path to survival!”

…

Angry curses and mournful cries mixed together, and the entire square was filled with indignation. The porridge and dry rations had been distributed, but the common people didn’t leave immediately. They remained in place, those familiar with each other gathering together, discussing how they could rescue the great benefactor Qian.

Qin Yining lowered the warm curtain of the carriage and sighed softly. “Let’s depart and return to the manor.”

“Yes.”

Bingtang and Ji Yun gave the orders, and the coachman complied. The carriage began to move slowly.

The wooden wheels rolled over the street paved with blue bricks, jolting rhythmically as they passed over the gaps between bricks. The lifelike golden silk butterflies on the Eastern pearl hairpin slanted in Qin Yining’s hair also swayed gently with the motion.

They traveled in silence, and when they returned to the prince’s manor, Steward Zhong hurried over to ask Qin Yining: “Master, how should we handle things next?”

Thinking of those refugees in the square, Qin Yining’s brows furrowed.

“How is their situation now?”

“The crowd in the square still hasn’t dispersed. Everyone is in a state of anger. Some might be planning to go to Registrar Gao’s house to plead, and others are talking about going to the yamen to petition, asking Governor Yang to release the man.”

Governor Yang was stationed in the former capital, governing all the various cities and towns under his jurisdiction.

Qin Yining’s brows furrowed slightly. “To be able to risk their status as commoners and boldly seek clemency for Zhao Wanjin shows Zhao Wanjin’s position in the people’s hearts.”

“Indeed.” Steward Zhong also sighed. “During this period of bitter cold, the former capital has suffered consecutive years of disaster, and the common people have long lived in unbearable suffering. Without this soup kitchen, many common people probably wouldn’t survive this winter. That’s why Zhao Wanjin is revered by them like a living deity.”

“So you see, the common people’s demands are really not high.” Qin Yining shook her head with a sigh. “Though I wanted the current situation, I cannot bear to watch everyone starve and freeze to death.”

Steward Zhong’s expression changed as he asked: “Princess, do you mean to continue the soup kitchen?”

“Mm.” Qin Yining nodded, her eyes slightly narrowed as she carefully considered how to handle the current situation.

Steward Zhong said anxiously: “But wasn’t this current scene also arranged by the Princess initially? If we start the soup kitchen again now, won’t the people’s anger be diminished? That would bring nothing but harm to our operations. Please reconsider, Princess.”

Qin Yining smiled. “What you say makes sense. But do you know when human anger reaches its peak?”