The continuous heavy rain had lasted so long that those already despairing could no longer remember how long. Such persistent rain brought them deep shadows and heavy coldness.

However, they now discovered that the surface-level cold had numbed them, while the coldness brought by a single sentence from this woman before them – with her clear, striking features and naturally commanding presence despite her calm brows – could surge from their feet to their hearts, sending chills down their spines.

Even those restraining the man who wanted to dash himself against the wall unconsciously released their grip under Shen Xihe’s gaze. The middle-aged man, nearly forty, collapsed weakly to the ground without support, seemingly forgetting his intent to die.

Shen Xihe unhurriedly took two steps forward, stopping before him: “Why aren’t you dashing yourself?”

The man froze, stammering wordlessly, his face suddenly turning ashen.

“Moyu!” Shen Xihe called out.

People only saw a blur before hearing a devastating scream. When they focused their eyes, they saw a woman in fitted clothes had somehow lifted the suicidal man, one hand pressing the back of his head, violently smashing it against a stone pillar. Blood immediately splattered, terrifying everyone into taking a step back.

Even Xiao Changqing and Xiao Changyan were shocked!

One had assassinated many high officials and nobles, while the other had killed countless on the battlefield – blood to them was as unremarkable as flowing water. But they had never dealt with commoners this way, even troublemakers.

When this woman turned cruel, she inexplicably sent chills down people’s spines.

As soon as the man’s head was split open, a physician stepped forward. Moyu released her grip, throwing him to the ground.

Shen Xihe raised her eyes to meet the fearful and angry commoners, speaking extremely calmly: “In Youning’s fifth year, the Yangzi region flooded violently. The people used their bodies to build walls protecting their homes, eating only a bowl of clear soup daily, with severe disaster victims drinking muddy water to stave off hunger. In Youning’s seventh year, Duli Town flooded, and the court’s relief grain was lost at sea due to the transport official’s negligence – people ate mud to fill their stomachs. In Youning’s tenth year, Ganzhou suffered water damage…”

Shen Xihe recounted each flood disaster during this dynasty, clearly describing the people’s circumstances then.

After finishing, she paused before looking at the gradually lowering heads of the gathered crowd: “You, because of the drought before, received court relief grain very quickly. Even during the severe drought, the court tried every way to keep you fed and watered.

Then came the disaster brought by heavy rain, which hasn’t yet become a flood, and you haven’t gone hungry for even one meal. Prince Jing sacrificed his reputation to force wealthy households to provide food for you and even cleared out the best restaurants for your shelter. These were acts of grace from Prince Jing as a royal family member, unable to bear seeing you suffer. They were not rights you inherently deserved.

But you viewed them as your due. Since the disaster, you’ve eaten your fill, living each day with food appearing at your lips and clothes at your hands, developing the temperament of great lords.

However much grace you’ve received, no matter how foolish or ignorant you are, you should know that no one’s granary is inexhaustible. This past month of provisions – have you considered that those supplying you might have exhausted their resources? You eat their food and use their things – have you felt even a hint of gratitude?

Know that if they weren’t supporting you, they and their closest relatives wouldn’t be like you now, filling up on half bowls of soup. They still have no complaints, no hatred for you. What face do you have to hate them first?”

Most people’s heads lowered further, but some still couldn’t help muttering: “We… we can’t just sit and wait for death…”

“Has the court ever abandoned you?” Shen Xihe raised her voice, “Whatever you eat, I and even the ill Crown Prince eat the same. Even now, we haven’t withdrawn or left – do you know why?”

The heavy rain splashed on the ground, the pounding sounds seeming to strike these people’s hearts, leaving them breathless and silent.

“The country’s situation hasn’t been exaggerated or concealed by officials. Routes are cut off, making grain difficult to bring into the city – it’s not that the court is unwilling to transport more relief grain to save you,” Shen Xihe continued after a moment. “The Crown Prince and I have thought of a way to transport grain in, but it still needs two or three days. Currently, the county’s grain reserves are tight. To prevent you from having no food before relief grain arrives, we’ve temporarily reduced portions.

I can say that while I cannot let you eat your fill, I won’t let you go hungry to the point of being unable to sleep. Most of you are farmers – before the disaster, could you eat your fill at every meal?”

This was truly a soul-searching question. Most of these people ate worse before the disaster than after. While they weren’t starving, they couldn’t eat freely, especially those with big appetites or large families – being half-full or less was normal.

Shen Xihe gave a light snort: “At home, you could endure hunger, but in times of crisis, eating others’ food, you suddenly can’t bear being hungry.”

Anyone with any sense of shame wanted to find a crack in the ground to crawl into.

Everyone suddenly felt the urge to retreat, but Shen Xihe was too imposing – without her word, they didn’t dare leave.

Seeing their thoughts, Shen Xihe said lightly: “Go to Guang’an Hall for a bowl of ginger soup, then disperse.”

These people quickly left as if granted amnesty. The man whose head Moyu had smashed was also carried to Guang’an Hall – Moyu had controlled her strength, and he wouldn’t have been seriously injured.

Shen Xihe turned to enter, immediately beginning to berate Xiao Changyan: “Prince Jing, for causing today’s situation, you cannot escape blame.”

Xiao Changyan had long known Shen Xihe disliked him. But now that she held power, he could only acknowledge: “Sister-in-law’s criticism is right – I was negligent.”

“You weren’t just negligent! You were glory-seeking and short-sighted!” Shen Xihe said sharply.

Xiao Changyan clenched his fist, bowing: “Please instruct me, sister-in-law.”

“You think I’m referring to you sheltering disaster victims who looted wealthy households?” Shen Xihe’s eyes overflowed with thick mockery. “Although that move was improper, you had the people’s interests at heart, and the county’s situation indeed forced you to take such measures – it could be considered understandable.

However, you don’t understand the common people. You rashly provided relief, not knowing how long the heavy rain would continue. Because you could squeeze grain from wealthy households, you were completely unsparing, feeding all disaster victims their fill, never understanding how much they normally ate.

If you had controlled their portions early on, with the grain you obtained, you wouldn’t have worried about running out even if the heavy rain continued for ten more days. You wouldn’t have developed such big appetites in these ignorant commoners, actually breeding greed that official provisions were meant to stuff them full!”

If rules about not letting disaster victims go hungry had been established from the start, today’s drama wouldn’t have occurred.

Xiao Changyan, who had been somewhat unconvinced, now slumped his shoulders, his face turning pale.