That afternoon, Li Weiyang accompanied the old madam into the palace.

The heavy snow had continued for days without stopping, bitterly cold. Even with seven or eight large braziers placed inside Cining Palace, it was useless—still unable to resist the cold that penetrated deeply.

The old madam wore a scarlet cloud-patterned outer robe embroidered with gold thread, with an embroidered lion rank badge on her chest. At the collar was an extremely narrow trimmed edge with gold and silver buttons, and the ceremonial shawl draped over her body shimmered with radiance.

Li Weiyang lowered her head, her eyes fixed straight ahead on the large white jade floor tiles three feet square, following the old madam in proper ritual prostration.

At this moment, the entire hall was silent—even the slight rustling friction of clothing hems and skirt edges could be heard.

“Which one is Li Weiyang?” The Empress Dowager’s countenance was dignified as she slowly spoke with gentle brows and eyes.

Li Weiyang took a deep breath, stepped forward, performed the grand ceremony, and said, “May the Empress Dowager’s phoenix body be healthy and blessed for ten thousand years.”

The Empress Dowager’s gaze fell upon her and she smiled: “Raise your head so I may have a look.”

Li Weiyang obeyed and raised her head, her eyes respectful, her manner proper.

The Empress Dowager looked at her face, nodded with a smile, and said, “She’s a pretty child.” Then she said, “The countermeasures in that memorial—did you devise them?”

Li Weiyang replied quietly: “Yes.”

“Oh…” The Empress Dowager pondered while deliberately examining her again. “At such a young age, to have such insight is truly rare.”

Her gaze was clearly very gentle, yet the old madam felt those eyes were all-penetrating, and a trace of unease actually rose in her heart. But Li Weiyang beside her seemed completely unaffected. For a moment, the old madam couldn’t help feeling astonished. How could she have known that for Li Weiyang in her previous life, such scenes had long been commonplace?

After they rose, they were granted seats by the Empress Dowager. The Empress Dowager ordered the formalities waived, then conversed with the old madam, no longer mentioning the memorial.

Li Weiyang very calmly looked at the white porcelain blue-flowered teacup in her hands, sitting quietly at the lowest seat. She knew the Empress Dowager didn’t want her to become overly proud and was deliberately tempering her disposition.

Soon, a palace attendant announced from outside the curtain: “His Majesty arrives.”

Everyone hurriedly rose to welcome him. The Emperor, dressed in bright yellow formal robes with dragon patterns, walked in. He did not bow to the Empress Dowager, only calling out “Mother Empress.” Turning his head toward those about to prostrate on the ground, he waved his sleeve and said carelessly, “All of you may rise.”

The Emperor’s physique was very tall and imposing. In his youth he had clearly been a handsome man, but years of imperial life had added an intimidating quality to his bearing that involuntarily inspired awe. As he sat down, his gaze naturally fixed upon the young girl below the hall.

When Li Weiyang’s eyes met the Emperor’s, she showed not the slightest timidity. Instead, she mischievously rolled her eyes, then smiled openly and naturally. Her eyes were as brilliant as black diamonds—with that roll, the Emperor felt his vision filled with radiance and couldn’t help examining her closely.

Thirteen or fourteen years old, her figure though tall and slender had clearly not yet fully matured—still just a child.

“You say there are problems with the Five Strategies for Disaster Relief?” The Emperor gazed at Li Weiyang.

Li Weiyang unhurriedly lowered her head: “Yes.”

“Speak.”

“These past days when Father returned home, he sighed deeply, saying he had failed His Majesty’s grace and couldn’t share His Majesty’s burdens. This subject’s daughter saw Father’s distress and couldn’t bear it, so inquired in detail about the disaster victims’ actual circumstances. Later, I also analyzed Big Sister’s strategies and discovered that the Five Strategies for Disaster Relief indeed had many oversights. If Your Majesty wishes to hear, this subject’s daughter will explain clearly for Your Majesty one by one.”

The Emperor hadn’t expected that a delicate little girl could speak so methodically, and his interest increased by two parts: “Speak.”

“The Five Strategies for Disaster Relief that Big Sister proposed could originally have alleviated the disaster situation very well. However, Father mentioned to me that the disaster victims rioted and claimed they received no relief whatsoever, yet Your Majesty’s relief grain had clearly already reached the disaster area. Thinking it through carefully, the problem arose in the intermediate stages. The first strategy is to register disaster victims to ensure relief reaches each person, but during the relief process, Your Majesty and the supervising censors cannot directly distribute the relief grain to the disaster victims. Instead, it’s allocated layer by layer, with the final distribution authority in the hands of minor officials and village heads. They exploited the disaster for private gain, concealing, falsely reporting, and lying about disaster victims.”

Li Weiyang gently raised her eyes and discovered the Emperor’s body had already straightened, revealing a thoughtful expression.

She continued: “The second strategy is the persuasion system, having wealthy families provide free relief to disaster victims or sell grain to them at reduced prices. Regarding this strategy’s loophole, Your Majesty must pardon this subject’s daughter’s transgression before I dare speak.”

The Emperor frowned: “I will not blame you. Speak.”

The Empress Dowager looked at this little girl with curiosity. She had so many princesses around her, yet had never seen one so young who could calculate so well.

Li Weiyang smiled very gently: “Yes. The second strategy’s loophole is that after Your Majesty implemented the persuasion system, many local officials secretly hoarded the originally allocated relief grain, then forced local wealthy households to contribute money and grain. Naturally, the local wealthy households harbored resentment—inciting disaster victims to riot was inevitable!”

What was just mentioned were merely minor officials and village heads—now it had implicated court officials.

The Emperor narrowed his eyes: “Are you saying my officials are lining their own pockets?”

Li Weiyang lowered her head and said seriously: “If not eight or nine out of ten, three or four out of ten there certainly are. The more abundant the granaries’ grain, the fatter the rats become. Your Majesty is an enlightened ruler and must surely be aware of this in your heart.”

The old madam was somewhat anxious, but seeing the Emperor didn’t appear angry, she temporarily calmed herself and listened to her continue.

“The third strategy is to establish gruel kitchens. Major government offices establish places to cook gruel and provide relief to disaster victims. Your Majesty urgently dispatched high officials to transport grain to the disaster area, and local officials also set up gruel kitchens for relief. But even with sufficient relief grain, large numbers of disaster victims still starved to death. The secret behind this still lies with local officials.”

Every sentence spoke of official corruption. The Emperor’s brow furrowed even more severely, and he couldn’t help becoming angry: “Complete nonsense!”

Li Weiyang immediately knelt on the ground, but her face showed not the slightest trace of fear—only calm.

This was merely a gamble. As long as she won the bet, she would gain the greatest benefit.

If she lost, it was merely death. In any case, she had already gained back one life—what was there to fear? Moreover, she understood this Emperor’s personality very well. Though he had a violent temper, he was a very wise emperor. If not for this, Dali would not be so prosperous and powerful.

She lowered her head without saying a word, only straightening her back, her expression resolute.

For a moment, the great hall was as silent as death. Finally, only the Emperor’s cold voice was heard: “If you cannot explain the reason, I shall grant you death for the crime of falsely accusing loyal officials.”

At this moment, the old madam’s back was already soaked through…