Qin Yining shook her head. She casually fiddled with the green jade gourd on her skirt. She turned around and slowly walked in with Ji Yun and Bing Tang.
These days, Golden Harbor's food was tight. However, Pang Xiao couldn't bear to let Qin Yining starve. Pang Xiao had porridge for every meal. Qin Yining ate better than Pang Xiao. Every time there was porridge, Pang Xiao would scoop the dry porridge for Qin Yining. Qin Yining didn't have a big appetite and deliberately saved a little. However, every meal, Pang Xiao would eat the leftovers from Qin Yining.
If the masters were like this, the rest of the people were in similar situations.
Ji Yun, Bing Tang, and the others felt their hearts ache when they saw this. They wished they could contribute their own food as well. However, Qin Yining rejected them every time and watched them eat. Every time, she would tell them, "Now is not the time to enjoy. It's fine as long as we can survive."
They were touched by a master who was so considerate of them.
Therefore, the food crisis became a heavy burden on everyone's heads.
"Wang Ye really didn't have any other choice. The situation in Golden Harbor City is still considered good. The situation outside the city is even worse. Magistrate Chen has sent people out to check the situation every day and gather the dead people to deal with them. He's afraid that there will be an epidemic, "Ji Yun said.
Bing Tang sighed and said, "But the people live in such an atmosphere and watch their relatives and friends die every day. Even if they survive in the future, I'm afraid they will have a mental breakdown."
The few of them returned to their rooms. Qin Yining sat down on the warm kang bed with a thick eiderdown cushion by the window. He sighed and said, "Now, we can only try our best to let more people live. Only by living can we have emotions. As for whether our hearts can accept it, we can only leave it to time."
This topic was too heavy. The few of them didn't speak for a while.
Qin Yining propped her chin up and looked out the half-open window. A few yellow leaves fell and landed on the tidy bluestone tiles.
At this moment, she saw a person walk over quickly, stepping over a few fallen leaves on the ground.
"Princess Consort." It was Liao Zhibing.
When she saw that it was Liao Zhibing, Qin Yining stood up immediately. Her vision went dark for a moment, and she immediately held onto the table for support.
Ji Yun and Bing Tang hurriedly supported Qin Yining. "Wangfei, please stand up slowly."
"I'm fine." Qin Yining walked quickly to the door. "Mr. Liao, how is it?"
Liao Zhibing smiled and said, "Fortunately, I didn't let you down. The first batch of treasures has been exchanged for gold, silver, and banknotes. Princess Consort, should I order someone to bring these things in? "
Qin Yining thought for a moment and said with a smile, "No, we'll attract too much attention if we enter the city. Let's immediately take these treasures to Hui Min Village. Wang Ye went to visit Squire Liu today. In order to avoid being mistaken as a 'bandit', we'd better go there as soon as possible."
Hearing this, everyone could not help but chuckle.
When Liao Zhibing found out that his group had arrived in time, he was very happy and hurriedly went to make arrangements.
Qin Yining ordered someone to prepare a carriage. With Bing Tang and Ji Yun, they left the yamen under the protection of Jing Zhe and the other three secret agents.
The weather was getting colder, and the streets were bleak. There was not a single person to be seen. The desolate scene made people feel depressed.
When they exited the city, they saw County Magistrate Chen ordering people to set up a porridge stall for disaster relief from afar. Seeing the dark mass of people, Qin Yining felt a chill run down his spine.
If they did not handle this properly, they would not be able to get food. Who knew how many of these people would die?
Thinking of this, Qin Yining's expression became resolute. He ordered his men to hurry.
This time, Liao Zhibing was working with several Jinghu Wei. These people had followed Qin Yining to Water Ze Country before, so they were all familiar faces. When they saw each other, they felt a bit closer.
When these people bowed to Qin Yining, they also felt a bit closer and more casual.
The group of people rushed to Hui Min Village at top speed and arrived at their destination not long after.
There was only one wide street in the entire village. On both sides of the street, there were rows upon rows of houses and courtyards. At this time, all of the houses were white. It was also autumn, so the bleak scene made people feel that it was very bleak.
However, there was one house that stood out from the rest. It was like a crane in a flock of chickens.
Just by looking at the courtyard, one could tell that it was twice the height of a normal house's courtyard. There were even high observation platforms at the four corners. Although the building was not very exquisite, it looked more imposing than a normal house.
With such a clear target, it saved them a lot of time to find it.
Qin Yining led his men in the direction of the courtyard. Not long after, they saw a hundred guards from the Wang Estate standing in a neat formation outside the courtyard.
The courtyard door was wide open. Pang Xiao was talking to an old man in his sixties, who was wearing a sapphire blue robe with wide sleeves.
The old man's attitude was neither servile nor overbearing. "This old man can understand that Wang Ye is doing this for the sake of the people. But look, this old man has dozens of people at home. Besides, the food in my hands did not come from the wind. Wang Ye is a benevolent and righteous person. He assists Your Majesty and cares for the people. He is much more benevolent and righteous than the incapable ruler of the previous dynasty. Now that Wang Ye has brought so many people to block this old man's door, what do you think this old man should do? "
These words seemed to be spoken without any rhyme or reason, but in fact, he was using both the carrot and the stick. If the person in front of him was really unreasonable, he might have directly punished the old man for his disrespect. However, Pang Xiao was not such a person. It seemed that the old man had seen through Pang Xiao's character, which was why he dared to speak like this.
Pang Xiao smiled. When he heard the sound of footsteps and carriages, he turned around and saw Qin Yining lifting the curtain of the carriage and looking at him. When he saw Liao Zhibing and several carriages behind Qin Yining, he immediately understood.
His darling was afraid that he would not be able to move an inch without money and would be labeled as a bandit for no reason.
Pang Xiao originally did not intend to rob, but seeing the people in the city dying one by one and Your Majesty not responding, he could not bear to see so many people starve to death. Before the treasure arrived, he wanted to buy it on credit and solve the urgent problem first.
However, this Squire Liu was a cunning old fox. He was not moved by force or persuasion. It was useless to persuade him with emotion. If he spoke more harshly, he would lie down on the ground and threaten Pang Xiao, saying that he was abusing the common people. Pang Xiao's attitude softened a little and he showed the same face as before.
Pang Xiao was even thinking about whether or not to pressure him, but Qin Yining just happened to arrive at this time.
Pang Xiao said, "This King understands Squire Liu's meaning. This King is just a boorish man and does not dare to compare himself with others. This King does not want to rob you of the grain. He has been standing here for so long to discuss the price with you. Squire Liu is a smart man. You should know that This King's patience is very limited, right? "
Squire Liu saw this and could not help but swallow a mouthful of saliva. He thought about what he had just said and could not help but break out in a cold sweat.
Pang Xiao continued, "This year's season is not good. The heavens are not willing to fulfill the people's wishes. The people have been hungry for so long that I'm afraid they have already lost their patience. The imperial court is saying that even the cleverest housewife cannot cook without rice, but the rice is here with you. What do you think will happen if people find out that you have so much food in your hands? "
Squire Liu's face turned pale.
It was true that he had food in his hands, but he didn't dare to tell anyone about it. Even the guards at home might not know what was stored in his warehouse.
In this world, the one with the bigger fist had the final say. If Prince Zhongshun ordered people to rob him, or if he spread the news, he was afraid that even the starving people would rob his house clean before the Prince Zhongshun sent people.
At that time, his whole family might be killed!
Squire Liu's face scrunched up as he thought this through.
Pang Xiao saw that he was finally afraid and said, "Squire Liu, you don't need to be nervous. This King is just stating the facts and has no other meaning. In the end, This King is here today to buy grain. This King will not ask Squire Liu to sell at a price, but as a citizen of Da Zhou, seeing so many people starve to death, Squire Liu should think about the price. Don't worry, as long as the price is right, This King will immediately send people to deliver the money. He will not delay the payment and will not rob you of the grain. "
Liu Yuanwai saw that Pang Xiao had been standing there and talking with him for a long time. If it was someone with a bad temper or a domineering personality, perhaps the soldiers and horses would have already rushed in while they were talking.
Thinking of this, Squire Liu said, "Wang Ye, don't blame me. This old man has no choice. You see, there are so many people in my house. Moreover, we are really short of grain now. This old man can't sell all the grain to you. Wang Ye, please understand. "
"Not at all." Pang Xiao waved his hand and said, "You just have to say the price."
Squire Liu thought for a moment and then pointed a few fingers at Pang Xiao.
Pang Xiao couldn't help but sneer inwardly, "It seems that This King didn't tell Squire Liu everything. Or perhaps, Squire Liu still can't figure it out? "
Pang Xiao looked around and sighed, "It's so comfortable to live here with mountains and rivers. It's a pity that the year is not good and there are more and more hungry people. Many bandits are hiding in some mountain. It's really worrying. "
Squire Liu looked at Pang Xiao's eyes that contained a biting cold murderous intent and immediately realized his mistake. He quickly withdrew two fingers, "Wang Ye, it can't be any lower. If it's any lower, this old man will lose money. Think about it, how long has it been raining? The price of grain changes day by day. You have to be considerate of this old man. "
Pang Xiao saw that his threat was effective. Squire Liu's face turned pale and his head was covered with cold sweat. His trembling lips loosened and he couldn't help but laugh inwardly.
On the surface, Pang Xiao still looked solemn and didn't speak.
Jinghu Wei, who had accompanied him, saw this and immediately came forward to say, "Wang Ye, you see, Squire Liu doesn't sincerely want to do business with you. Why don't you ask the Liu family who has more grain nearby? You can leave it here and talk about it later. "
Talk about it later?
Squire Liu was so scared that his hair stood on end. He stared nervously at Pang Xiao and clenched his teeth as he withdrew one finger, "Wang Ye, please do me a favor. It really can't be any lower. You can't say that you're here to sell grain and expect this old man to give you money, right? "
"How dare you!" Jing Zhe listened for a long time and immediately stepped forward and shouted, "How dare you be so rude to Wang Ye! Don't you want your head? "
"Wang Ye, Wang Ye, what's the price? Tell me a price." Squire Liu almost covered his head and hid.
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