"Your Majesty is wise. This subject knew that Your Majesty would not easily tolerate a vile person who wants to falsely accuse this subject and sow discord between the ruler and subject!" Pang Xiao bowed with a face full of admiration. His attitude was sincere and there was no flaw in it at all.
Li Qitian was so angry that his heart was beating wildly. He almost couldn't maintain his composure! Pang Zhixi dared to insult him indirectly and call him a vile person! But he couldn't flare up!
At this time, Li Qitian only felt that he and Pang Zhixi were destined to clash. This person was born to be his nemesis!
Not wanting to see Pang Xiao's proud face any longer, Li Qitian squeezed out an amiable smile and said, "Although we will investigate this matter strictly, the disaster relief cannot be delayed. You should set off immediately. Use these provisions carefully."
"Yes, this subject obeys Your Majesty." When Pang Xiao saw that Li Qitian didn't even mention the matter of making up for the twelve carriages of provisions, he understood. He didn't argue and led Qin Yining and his subordinates to respectfully bow to Li Qitian.
Li Qitian was very satisfied with Pang Xiao's thorough etiquette. His mood improved slightly and he nodded, allowing everyone to set off.
Pang Xiao's group escorted the eight carriages of provisions and set off, heading out of the city.
Seeing Pang Xiao's group leave, Li Qitian returned to the imperial carriage and set off back to the palace.
In the distance, the commoners who were craning their necks to watch all knelt down and kowtowed, shouting "Long live Your Majesty".
Li Qitian's mood didn't improve because of this. Today's plan didn't succeed, but so many commoners also saw this scene. This matter would soon spread from one person to ten people and a hundred people to a hundred people in the capital. When that time came, how many people would slander him behind his back and spread rumors about him?
It was time to show some attitude.
Thinking of this, he secretly made a decision in his heart.
Qin Yining and Pang Xiao left the capital, but they didn't pay attention to Li Qitian's solution to this matter.
"He's someone who cares about his reputation. With so many people watching, he'll definitely think of a way to put on an act." Qin Yining sat sideways in the carriage, leaving most of the space for Pang Xiao to lie down. "I just didn't expect him to come up with such a way to slander you. Earlier, I solemnly reminded you to be careful, but in my heart, I felt that I was making a mountain out of a molehill."
"Fortunately, I listened to you." Pang Xiao let out a sigh. "It would be too stupid to discover it halfway or passively wait for Your Majesty's next move."
Qin Yining smiled sweetly. When he lifted the curtain and looked back, he saw the eight carriages.
When he thought about how Your Majesty had only given eight carts of coarse rice and other grains for the disaster relief in the South, it was simply a drop in the bucket for the current disaster.
It seemed that when it was necessary, the treasure would have to be used.
As Qin Yining expected, the eight carriages of grain were not enough to support them all the way to the south. Pang Xiao observed the small towns along the way and found that they had used up a whole carriage of grain. Qin Yining's eyes turned red when she saw those emaciated children with big heads and thin necks chasing the grain carriages barefoot just to get some rice to cook porridge for their parents who were too hungry to get up.
"I've been protected too well by you all this time. Even if I know there's a disaster, I can't feel it without seeing it with my own eyes."
Outside Golden Harbor City, Qin Yining and Pang Xiao stood on the side of the road and watched the accompanying guards of the wang fu set up a porridge stall. Then they looked in the distance and saw the people who had gathered cautiously and didn't dare to come forward. Qin Yining made a decision.
"Zhixi, if I had some hesitation about using the treasure in the past, now I don't have any hesitation at all."
Pang Xiao's expression was also grave. She held Qin Yining's hand and nodded. "I feel the same."
Qin Yining felt that his fingertips were cold. He pulled his fingertips closer to Pang Xiao's warm palm.
There was not enough grain, so the porridge stall could only distribute thin porridge. But even if the porridge and soup could be seen, the people still cherished it very much.
The grain was finished in less than three days.
Pang Xiao only had the empty carriage left in his hands. When they left the porridge stall and headed towards Golden Harbor City, the people's despairing and numb eyes were truly piercing.
In front of a natural disaster, the power of a person was really too small. But fortunately, they still had a chance to fight.
The situation in Golden Harbor City was better than outside the city, but it was much worse than when Qin Yining came last time.
Pang Xiao brought so many attendants and drove an empty carriage. Her appearance was very eye-catching. He did not deliberately announce his identity on the way here. Now, he was also keeping a low profile. Many people in Golden Harbor thought that he was taking advantage of the country's disaster to make a fortune.
They had not found a place to settle down when they were stopped by the newly appointed county magistrate Chen.
"Wang Ye, you're finally here. Have you brought any provisions with you? Ever since I received the news that you came to provide disaster relief, this official has been making preparations. I was waiting for you to come so that I could provide grain and porridge to solve the urgent situation! "
The previous county magistrate of Golden Harbor had been punished by Li Qitian because of the fire at Golden Harbor's pier and the warning of the fire dragon.
The new county magistrate of Golden Harbor had just taken office not long ago. He was very upright and plainspoken. Although he was a grand scholar in the last years of the previous dynasty, because he was not tactful and flexible, he could only be a seventh rank official.
Pang Xiao had heard of this county magistrate Chen. When he saw him today, he knew that the rumors were true. This county magistrate Chen was indeed a straightforward person. He did not have any misgivings when he spoke.
If it was any other official, who would say such ambiguous words? It was as if he, a small county magistrate, dared to question Wang Ye's ability.
However, when he saw county magistrate Chen's expectant face, Pang Xiao knew that he did not have any other intentions. Instead, he did not know how to respond to his expectations.
"Lord Chen. When This King left the capital, Your Majesty arranged for eight carriages of grain. Along the way, they encountered countless disaster victims. This King could not leave them to die, so he could only set up porridge stalls by the roadside to provide food for the people. Therefore, by the time we reached you, all the provisions this prince had brought had already been used up. This time, I would like to ask for your help. "
When county magistrate Chen heard this, he was in his forties, but he was so aggrieved that he almost burst into tears.
"How could this be! How could this be! Eight carriages of grain? How big are the carriages? " As he muttered to this point, county magistrate Chen saw the empty carriages Pang Xiao brought. They were just ordinary carriages. How could they only give so little grain when they sent people out to provide relief?
"This is simply unbelievable. Does Your Majesty not know that there is not enough grain outside? Does he not know how many innocent people have starved to death? "
"Lord Chen, please calm down and be careful with your words."
It was rare for Pang Xiao to meet such an honest person who would question the Emperor for the sake of the people. Naturally, he could not bear to let him bear the blame.
However, the honest county magistrate Chen did not understand Pang Xiao's thoughts.
"Prince Zhongshun is the Emperor's subordinate. Naturally, he will speak for the Emperor. You have lived like a prince in the capital. Naturally, you do not know how many people have starved to death. Why did you agree to bring eight carriages of grain out? "County magistrate Chen stamped his feet.
"How dare you!" Huzi could not bear to listen any longer. He reprimanded, "The national treasury is empty. Your Majesty does not have any money either. After so many years of war, do you think that you do not need money? Moreover, Your Majesty still needs to build the Imperial Mausoleum! Is it wrong for Your Majesty to use money to build the Imperial Mausoleum? Now that there is no money to provide relief, the eight carriages of grain were all fought for by Wang Ye. How dare you be so picky! Are you not afraid that Your Majesty will punish you severely when he finds out?! "
Qin Yining secretly shook his head as he listened to the county magistrate. The people around Pang Xiao naturally learned some of his ways of doing things. Huzi's words seemed to be speaking for Your Majesty, but in fact, it only increased County Magistrate Chen's dissatisfaction with Your Majesty's actions. He had unknowingly given Li Qitian another crime.
County Magistrate Chen was furious when he heard this. However, he also knew that his words carried little weight. He had spoken so harshly just now. It was already Wang Ye's mercy that Wang Ye did not punish him. The people around Wang Ye naturally spoke on Wang Ye's orders. If he contradicted this imperial bodyguard, wouldn't he also contradict Wang Ye?
County Magistrate Chen suppressed his anger. He lowered his head and said with determination, "Wang Ye, you have been ordered to provide relief. Since you have arrived at Golden Harbor, you should focus on providing relief. Whether the people of Golden Harbor can survive depends on Wang Ye."
Pang Xiao said helplessly, "This King also has to send a letter to Your Majesty to ask for food. I can't guarantee anything at the moment."
Seeing that Pang Xiao did not dare to guarantee anything, County Magistrate Chen became anxious. County Magistrate Chen was anxious and angry. He grabbed Pang Xiao's sleeve and said, "Your Highness, you can't just stand by and watch him die. There are so many people waiting for you to save them! If you can't come up with a plan when necessary, don't blame me for being too ruthless. I can't let you leave Golden Harbor even if I have to risk my life. "
Qin Yining clicked his tongue when he heard this.
Wasn't this lord a little too forceful? He really dared to say that he would detain Pang Xiao here?
This person clearly knew what Pang Xiao was thinking. He knew that Pang Xiao was not someone who would target the people and would not punish him for such a thing. That was why he dared to make such a tough request.
Qin Yining shook his head and sighed softly. Pang Xiao really couldn't do anything to such an unreasonable official who wanted the good of the people.
Pang Xiao really did not get angry. He just patted County Magistrate Chen's shoulder and said, "This King will immediately send a letter to ask Your Majesty to send food. Please cooperate with us and pacify the people, including those who are waiting outside the city for food. This King will not leave. When the people here can survive, This King will go to the old capital of Dayan. "
County Magistrate Chen was stunned by Pang Xiao's kind and reasonable attitude. He even wondered if Wang Ye would kill him in anger, but he still did it. He was betting that the rumor that Prince Zhongshun was a benevolent and righteous person was true.
Now that he saw Prince Zhongshun's character, County Magistrate Chen couldn't help but pull back his hand that was pulling Pang Xiao's sleeve. He knelt down with a thud and kowtowed three times. He didn't care even when his forehead turned purple.
"For the people of Golden Harbor, this official thanks Wang Ye!"
Pang Xiao quickly helped him up and comforted him, "You and I are doing this for the same purpose. Disaster relief is This King's duty. How can I accept such a big gift from Lord Chen? "
County Magistrate Chen waved his hand and shook his head with an ashamed smile.
Pang Xiao said, "I will need Lord Chen's cooperation these days."
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