"This commoner definitely wouldn't dare to lie. Our family and those villagers who were also affected by the disaster haven't received the relief food allocated by the county. If we could just barely eat our food, we wouldn't disturb the county, young master …"
Thinking of those villagers who had died from starvation, Zhao San, a man, burst into tears regardless of the occasion.
Liu Ruo Qing knew that Yan Yuan's heart was filled with rage, so she let the guards bring the two of them down. Sitting beside him, she comforted them softly: "Didn't you already expect this to happen? Why are you so angry? "
"How many people have died this time? I'll make that dog-official's family suffer!"
The usually calm and composed Prince Jing was so angry that the veins on his forehead were bulging.
Even the food that was used to save lives had to be kept in the grain depot. If he did not come personally this time, the food that the imperial government had allocated would definitely not fall into the hands of the victims.
"Alright, alright, don't be angry anymore. Right now, it's more important to save the victims."
Liu Ruo Qing patted Yan Yuan's chest that was moving up and down in anger, and smiled as she comforted him.
Yan Yuan, who was originally in a rage, was actually amused by Liu Ruo Qing's coaxing look. He reached out to pinch her cheeks and said, "You …"
Indeed, it was as Yan Yuan had expected. In order to show his loyalty to Yan Yuan, the minister in charge, the Zhixian even risked being infected and left the city on the same day to visit the temporary tents Yan Yuan had set up to pay respects to the villagers.
However, it was just a matter of actual actions, such as allocating food and medicinal herbs while crying in poverty.
"Fellow villagers, it's not that I don't want to leave you be, it's just that I can't do anything about it. I'm only a seventh rank county magistrate with only a small monthly salary. Having a large family to raise really makes me powerless …"
He covered his face with his hands and cried exaggeratedly as he acted miserable in front of the victims. But at this moment, if the victims were not completely starved, their faces would be sallow and weak, or their relatives would be suffering on the verge of death. Listening to Zhixian crying miserably without a shred of mercy, made the anger in his heart grow even stronger.
Their eyes were glaring at Zhixian who was in front acting, as if flames could shoot out of them.
If this gaze could kill, then Zhixian would probably die thousands or even tens of thousands of times.
Facing the anger of the victims, Zhixian seemed to not have noticed at all as he continued to cry miserably, "Everyone, don't worry. When the court's relief money arrives, I will immediately send it down to all of you. I will definitely not detain any of your rice, is that alright?"
"Humph!" If you say it nicely, why don't you take out the emergency rations in the granary? Those are specially arranged by the imperial government for emergency relief in the counties! "
In the crowd, someone stood up angrily, pointed at Zhixian and shouted.
When he said that, the Zhixian and the victims all froze, and then all kinds of murmurs sounded.
Zhixian did not expect that someone would bring up the matter of the emergency granary at this time. Although the emergency granary could not be considered as a secret from the people, most people did not know that the emergency granary was specially used for disaster relief.
They only knew that once they were affected, they would have to wait for the imperial government's relief food to arrive. That was why they did not make a big deal of it. After all, judging by the date, the relief food might still be on the road.
After all these years, Yizhou had never experienced any kind of natural calamity. Logically speaking, the grain in the emergency grain depot should have not been moved at all, so why did Zhixian not take it out and just watch them starve to death?!
The whispers and discussions below gradually turned into angry curses. Some of the victims whose families had been starved to death due to the disaster wanted to rush up to make a ruckus, but they were stopped by the officials and soldiers of Zhixian.
"Protect the lord!"
A group of soldiers stood in front of Zhixian, blocking his way. Zhixian did not expect this either, he had panicked a bit, but he quickly calmed down.
Ordinary citizens were not aware of the matter of the emergency grain depot, but the man who had just started had spoken with confidence. It was unlikely that it would be as simple as being a victim of a disaster!
Could it be that he was sent here as a messenger to probe him?!
If the messenger wasn't here, he could still deny the matter of the emergency grain depot and fool these people, but with the messenger here, he couldn't deny it even if he wanted to.
However, if he admitted the matter of the emergency grain depot, then he would have to spit out all the food he had under his breath.
This was equivalent to gouging out his heart. Moreover, there was no reason for him to spit it out.
Immediately, he gave a meaningful glance to the Grand Master beside him. The Grand Master immediately understood what was going on, for the people below who were being blocked by soldiers and gnashing their teeth in hatred, wanting to rush up and tear Zhixian to shreds, and said: "A group of bold and unscrupulous people, Lord Zhixian loves the people like a son, sympathizing with the refugees who have suffered from disasters, and came out of the city to console you, not only are you ungrateful, you actually want to make a move against the Lord, what punishment!"
The Grand Master's words clearly meant that he wanted to bypass the matter of the emergency grain depot. He turned to the soldiers and scolded loudly, "You guys watch carefully, whoever dares to harm our master, we will punish them together!"
After all, they were just a bunch of ordinary commoners. Master's words really scared them and made them retreat.
Taking advantage of this situation, the Zhixian fled dejectedly under the escort of a bailiff.
"Shameless dog official!"
Liu Ruo Qing, who had been hiding at the side watching this entire time, gnashed his teeth in anger. If she still had martial arts on her right now, she would definitely teach that dog official a lesson.
Yan Yuan stood by her side, soothingly patting her back, leaning on her ear, and whispered: "Don't be anxious, I will make him spit out everything he swallowed very soon."
Liu Ruo Qing heard the hidden meaning in his words, and her eyes lit up: "You have a way?"
Yan Yuan gave her a meaningful look. He only raised his eyebrows, but did not answer her question.
"So fast?" Don't you want to look at it again? "
Liu Ruo Qing said in shock.
"It's about time. He clearly knows that the messenger is in the city, yet he dares to fool the victims like that. He clearly doesn't intend to release the food. When we go see him tomorrow, I will definitely skin him alive."
After he finished speaking, a cold light quickly flashed past Yan Yuan's eyes.
When Zhixian returned to the city, he heaved a sigh of relief with difficulty. With some resentment in his heart, he said, "That Assistant Minister of Revenue really has some skills. Just by asking people to talk there, he was able to stir up a commotion amongst the victims."
"That's right, it's a good thing that you came back in time, otherwise the victims would be in trouble."