Pang Xiao, Mu Jinghu, Xie Yue, and Xu Weizhi listened quietly as Huzi finished speaking, all falling into contemplation.

Xu Weizhi said, “This is clearly deliberate. Those grain shop managers coordinated this. It’s not just about inflating prices – it’s more like opposing us specifically.”

“Obviously, someone is orchestrating this behind the scenes.” Pang Xiao smiled. “My recent actions have made certain people unhappy, so they’ve come up with this rotten scheme to starve my soldiers and then watch me make a fool of myself.”

Mu Jinghu said, “Only Earl Zhongyi could do something like this.”

“Indeed.” Pang Xiao smiled. “He’s quite interesting too – not knowing our true capabilities, he dares use such methods against my people.”

Mu Jinghu’s smile was equally mocking. In the past, when he was penniless, he was extremely stingy and wouldn’t even make himself new clothes. Now with Qiu Feishan constantly sending him things, worried he didn’t have enough silver, his concept of gold and silver had long since changed, and he felt that having Sifang Business as “his own enterprise standing there as backing.”

“No worries, I’ll tell Shanshan to have grain transported here for you.”

Hearing this, Xie Yue and Xu Weizhi smiled. “With Boss Qiu here, we needn’t worry about grain.”

“However, with these continuous heavy rains, looking at the court gazettes, disaster conditions nationwide are severe, especially in the south. The land of fish and rice has become a waterlogged wasteland. Transporting grain is one thing, but firstly, we don’t know the grain shortage situation in flood-affected areas, and secondly, the transportation time will likely be extremely long.”

“Your Highness’s concerns are not without merit.” Xie Yue’s expression also grew more worried.

Xu Weizhi sighed, “What’s wrong with this weather? I remember we set out from the capital in late April when it started raining. I thought the rain would stop once we reached Huichuan County, but who knew it would rain throughout May. No crops can withstand this much rainfall.”

“Yes, the court has also been facing troubled times these past two years – continuous warfare, natural and man-made disasters, an empty treasury. To support the wars, the Emperor had no choice but to impose many harsh taxes. Just when the fighting finally stopped, the Tatar issue was resolved, and we survived the great earthquake disaster, now we have flood disasters.” Xie Yue shook his head helplessly. “I feel sorry for the innocent people. Encountering such times, with natural disasters and human calamities combined, how can people even survive?”

Hearing this, everyone couldn’t help but sigh. All their hearts felt unbearably heavy. What Xie Yue said was exactly what Pang Xiao worried about.

Though he was competing with Li Qitian, how innocent were the common people? When such problems occurred under Li Qitian’s rule, people would surely curse him as an incompetent ruler, but Pang Xiao couldn’t feel any joy about this.

“I only hope fewer people will die this time.” Pang Xiao sighed helplessly.

Huzi said, “Your Highness, don’t worry about others first. If the grain transportation route is too distant, what will we brothers eat during the interval?”

Pang Xiao was pulled back to reality by Huzi’s question. After thinking, he said, “We can only contact Sifang Business and have them speed up the process.”

Mu Jinghu stood up. “Let me handle this matter.”

Pang Xiao smiled. “Good idea. After all, you’re another boss of Sifang Business.”

Mu Jinghu shook his head. “How am I any kind of boss? Shanshan just gave me a token to handle emergencies as I see fit.”

He also had a Sichuan entry token similar to Qin Yining’s. All Sifang Business people recognized it, and seeing the token was like seeing the proprietor himself, so it was convenient for him to conduct business there.

Pang Xiao said, “Then I’ll have Huzi go with you. If anything comes up, he can relay messages.”

“Good idea.”

Mu Jinghu and Huzi quickly left.

Pang Xiao discussed with Xie Yue and Xu Weizhi how to continue the search operations.

But before half an hour had passed since Mu Jinghu and Huzi left, they rushed back in great haste.

“What happened?” Pang Xiao was startled by their frantic appearance, worried something unexpected had occurred.

Huzi kept shaking his head, grinning widely. “No, no, it’s not that.”

Mu Jinghu stared at Pang Xiao with an inscrutable expression. “We just arrived at Sifang Business and found the chief manager directing people to transport something. Worried he wouldn’t recognize me, I used the token and inquired about the situation. What they were transporting was grain and fodder.”

“Oh?” Pang Xiao smiled. “Sifang Business deals in everything, so transporting grain and fodder is normal.”

“Yes, but the chief manager said the grain and fodder was ordered by the Princess Consort. Now that’s very unusual.” Huzi laughed heartily. “He said the Princess Consort had her personal maid make the purchase, to be temporarily stored by Sifang Business after delivery, with payment to be made after the Princess Consort’s house arrest ends.”

“You’re saying Yining ordered it?”

“That’s right! Young Master Mu and I both heard it – how could it be false?”

Mu Jinghu confirmed, “Indeed, that’s correct.”

Xie Yue thought for a moment, stroking his beard with a smile. “This is truly remarkable. Did the Princess Consort calculate that we would be short of grain?”

“The Princess Consort is wise and resourceful, most skilled at planning. Perhaps she saw through something early on and made this decision.” Xu Weizhi smiled. “Your Highness, why don’t you invite the Princess Consort here to explain? This old man is very curious about how the Princess Consort thought to order grain in advance.”

At this moment, Pang Xiao’s heart was filled with the lingering shock of Qin Yining’s actions. His chest felt as if brushed by the softest feather, tingly and warm. The tenderness in his eyes was about to flow out like spring water. He cleared his throat before saying, “Very well.”

Pang Xiao stood up. “I’ll go invite the Princess Consort out. You all rest for a moment.”

Xie Yue, Xu Weizhi, and Huzi all nodded with smiles.

Mu Jinghu followed Pang Xiao into the inner residence without hesitation.

Passing through the hanging flower gate and walking along the covered corridor toward the main hall.

Since the young maids who usually worked outside naturally didn’t need to stand guard in the rain, when Pang Xiao lifted the curtain to enter, no one greeted him. Only the maid keeping watch in the outer room saw Pang Xiao return and bowed respectfully, “Your Highness.”

“Mm.” Pang Xiao strode quickly toward the inner room. “Where is the Princess Consort?”

“The Princess Consort and several sisters are doing needlework.”

“I understand.”

Pang Xiao hurried toward the inner chamber.

Mu Jinghu sat down in the outer room and accepted tea brought by a young maid.

Qin Yining was leaning over the table drawing patterns. At home, she wore no powder or rouge, her hair loosely arranged, dressed in an everyday honey-colored jacket that was neither new nor old, both sleeves rolled up to reveal her fair, slender wrists. The jade bracelet on her wrist swayed gently with her drawing motions.

Pang Xiao’s heart melted into a pool of sugar water watching this scene. “Yining.”

“You’re back? Have you eaten?” Qin Yining set down her brush, smiled as she stood up and adjusted her sleeves.

Pang Xiao nodded with a smile, stepped forward and took Qin Yining’s hand. “It was Master Xu’s suggestion that I invite you out to ask. How did you think to go to Sifang Business to purchase grain and fodder in advance?”