Yun Chu’s brows and eyes were heavy with concern.

She said coldly, “Immediately issue orders to all the prefects and county magistrates of cities near Ningzhou. They must restrain the common people under their governance…”

The decree was transmitted in half a day, but those prefects and county magistrates simply couldn’t control the common people.

Upon hearing that the sweet dew bestowed by the Heavenly Maiden could cure all diseases, the common people went crazy, bringing their entire families to seek sweet dew from the Heavenly Maiden.

The common people within the capital heard of this matter and were also moved.

“Have you heard? A Heavenly Maiden has appeared in Ningzhou. Just by drinking the sweet dew she bestows, the plague is cured without medicine. Even people without the plague can eliminate their ailments. It’s truly miraculous.”

“Anyway, Ningzhou isn’t far from the capital. Why don’t we also go request some sweet dew to drink? It’s free for the taking.”

“Didn’t you see that the court issued a decree prohibiting people from blindly going to Ningzhou? You need a travel permit to go there. Defying imperial orders will get you arrested.”

“Why won’t the court let us common people go?”

At this time, a group of scholars also joined the discussion.

“Why won’t they let people go? Of course it’s because this matter is suspicious everywhere.”

“Such a severe epidemic that even physicians were helpless against—could it really be cured by one mouthful of sweet dew? Is that possible?”

“Ningzhou has now gathered over a hundred thousand common people. With so many people, eating, drinking, and waste disposal are all problems. Something will definitely go wrong.”

The common people who hadn’t studied much had different views from the scholars.

“Because that sweet dew was bestowed by the Heavenly Maiden, who is a celestial goddess from heaven, so naturally she can cure the plague.”

“If I have the chance, I definitely still need to go to Ningzhou to request a mouthful of sweet dew. My old mother has been blind all her life—I hope she can see the light again.”

“My youngest son has had poor health since birth. I also want to take him to find the Heavenly Maiden to bestow sweet dew. As long as he can drink one mouthful, I ask for nothing else…”

“…”

Just as the common people were discussing among themselves.

News came from Ningzhou once again.

“Reporting to Your Majesty and Empress Dowager, the Lord of Ningzhou, Prince Cheng, has brought all his attendants and residence troops, along with the so-called Heavenly Maiden, and is heading toward the capital. Along the way, he’s still distributing sweet dew, attracting countless common people from along the route to follow. The number has already exceeded two hundred thousand!”

As soon as these words were spoken, the entire court was shocked.

Two hundred thousand people was no small number.

You must know that the soldiers garrisoning the Western Frontier numbered only two hundred thousand, and the soldiers attacking the Eastern Ling Kingdom totaled just over two hundred thousand combined.

Two hundred thousand common people was truly an enormous number, enough to make everyone in the court feel tremendous pressure.

“Prince Cheng is leading two hundred thousand people straight toward the capital—this is rebellion!”

“Your Majesty, Empress Dowager, please quickly mobilize troops and generals to force back Prince Cheng’s rabble!”

Yun Chu pinched the web between her thumb and index finger, thinking deeply.

Those two hundred thousand people were all common folk. Although numerous, their combat strength was actually not strong.

The capital garrison numbered thirty thousand and could fight one against ten. In other words, even if a real battle broke out, the capital would not be at a disadvantage.

However, the opponents were unarmed common people. Defeating the common people would mean losing the people’s hearts. Whether they won or lost, the result would be defeat.

Prince Cheng and Xie Shi’an were waging a battle for the people’s hearts. Actually, as long as they fundamentally destroyed that popular support, this matter would be easily resolved. There was no need at all for swords and weapons, causing innocent slaughter.

She paused and said, “Since Prince Cheng has led people away from Ningzhou, we can arrange for people to enter the city and investigate for clues.”

Lord Qiu couldn’t help but freeze. “What clues?”

“Lord Qiu is slow-witted,” Chu Hongyu spoke up. “That Heavenly Maiden must certainly be a false person fabricated by Prince Cheng to gather the common people. And the Heavenly Maiden rose to fame because of the epidemic. Therefore, the epidemic must also be false. As long as we find evidence, won’t this matter be resolved?”

Lord Qiu was dumbfounded. “The epidemic is false?”

Many in the court only realized at this moment that the epidemic might just be a hoax.

“General Xu, you will lead people to Ningzhou to search for clues,” Yun Chu said. “Also, Lord Xiang and Prince Shun—they had written letters back before, but these past two days there’s been no news from them. General Xu, make proper inquiries.”

General Xu received his orders and that very day led people racing toward Ningzhou at full speed.

After court was dismissed, just as Yun Chu returned to Kangning Palace, Tingshuang came to report. “Empress Dowager, Noble Consort Yuan came half an hour ago. She’s in the flower hall. Should you see her now or…?”

Yun Chu pinched the bridge of her nose. “Let her in.”

Noble Consort Yuan was the birth mother of Sixth Prince Cheng. Ever since Prince Cheng was driven to his fief by the Late Emperor, Noble Consort Yuan had settled down and caused no more trouble.

Only at major palace banquets would Noble Consort Yuan emerge to participate.

At this moment, she entered dressed plainly, opening her mouth with a frightened expression. “Empress Dowager, although Sixth Son is usually incorrigible, since going to his fief, he has improved greatly. He absolutely could not rebel… He doesn’t have that courage, nor does he have that ability. Please, Empress Dowager, investigate clearly!”

Yun Chu spoke indifferently. “Prince Cheng has already led two hundred thousand people straight toward the capital, and you still say he doesn’t have that courage?”

“He, he… he’s bestowing sweet dew for the common people—yes, bestowing sweet dew!” Noble Consort Yuan hurriedly said. “Sixth Son is also trying to manage the epidemic and stabilize the people’s hearts. This is for the Chu family’s realm! Empress Dowager, you must not be deceived by those people in the court. I can swear that Sixth Son absolutely has no rebellious intent!”

Yun Chu could see that Noble Consort Yuan knew nothing of Prince Cheng’s actions, including everyone up and down in the Yuan family—they had not participated at all.

But not participating now didn’t mean they wouldn’t participate in the future.

“The Zimeng Hall in the palace is still empty. Noble Consort Yuan should temporarily move in there,” Yun Chu said indifferently. “It would be boring for Noble Consort Yuan to live alone in such a large palace. This Empress Dowager will have everyone from the Yuan family brought here to keep the consort company.”

Noble Consort Yuan’s entire person froze, then suddenly understood, crying out sharply, “Empress Dowager, what is the meaning of this? Everyone up and down in my Yuan family has committed no crime—why arrest us…”

“If this Empress Dowager truly wanted to arrest the Yuan family members, they would be thrown into the dungeon, not invited to temporarily reside in the palace,” Yun Chu sipped her tea. “Once Prince Cheng’s matter is settled, this Empress Dowager will naturally release everyone from the Yuan family.”

“No!” Noble Consort Yuan shrieked. “Empress Dowager, you cannot do this! I am at least your elder—you cannot treat me this way! Let me go find Sixth Son. I am his birth mother. I’ll go persuade him to take his people back to Ningzhou. He will definitely listen to me!”

Yun Chu set down her cup. “Someone come, take the consort away.”

Two stout nannies walked in from the courtyard and pressed down on Noble Consort Yuan’s shoulders.

“Let go! How dare you lowly slaves touch me!” Noble Consort Yuan said furiously. “Treating me this way is great unfilial conduct. I will have all the officials impeach you!”

Yun Chu waved her hand. She was too busy and had no time to argue endlessly with Noble Consort Yuan.

The two nannies dragged Noble Consort Yuan away.

Yun Chu closed her eyes, her mind organizing the various events that had occurred recently.

With Chief Minister Li helping to act as a mediator, the vast majority of neutrals in the court were willing to jointly petition for the removal of the Prince Regent.

But now, this Heavenly Maiden had appeared. They could only resolve this matter first, then concentrate their forces on dealing with Prince Regent Chu Rui.