Lu Xiaoyun couldn't resist and pulled him into her arms.

That night, the Zhenguo Duke's mansion's secret guards were kept in watch all night.

The day after the official start of court was the ninth day of the first lunar month.

As the officials were heading to their offices after the court session, they saw the Imperial Guards leading messengers carrying urgent reports rushing toward the Imperial Study.

The messenger was travel-worn and covered in mud.

Holding the memorial high, he shouted all the way: "Urgent report! A severe snow disaster has struck Mu City! We request Your Majesty to immediately send people to Mu City for disaster relief!"

"Urgent report: A severe snowstorm has struck Mu City. We request Your Majesty to immediately dispatch envoys to Mu City for disaster relief!"

The Duke of Zhenguo straightened up. Sure enough, the snow disaster in Mu City had come.

However, the grain and fodder he ordered to be procured were just loaded onto carts this morning. Mu City is 800 li away from Shengjing. Even if the journey is smooth, it will take nearly 20 days to transport it to Mu City.

Twenty days! How many people will freeze or starve to death in that time?

The old emperor had just returned to his study after court when Consort Ye was already waiting there. She was looking forward to relaxing when she heard the messenger's announcement from outside.

The old emperor rubbed his temples, sat down behind his desk, and waved for Consort Ye to leave for the side hall.

Consort Ye got up from the old emperor's lap and left reluctantly.

As soon as the messenger entered the imperial study and saw the old emperor, he knelt down with a thud, raised the memorial in his hand, and said loudly, "Your Majesty, the snow disaster in Mu City has caused thousands of houses to collapse and tens of thousands of people to be displaced. We implore Your Majesty to send people to Mu City immediately to provide disaster relief."

Zhang Zhongwei hurriedly took the memorial from the messenger and respectfully handed it to the old emperor.

The messenger was so exhausted that he fainted on the spot.

The Imperial Guards immediately carried the person out.

The report was sent by Lin Yuanqing, the prefect of Mucheng, three days ago.

The report stated that Mu City had experienced heavy snowfall for eight or nine days, and in recent days the snowfall had intensified, causing countless houses to collapse, food crops to be destroyed, and countless people to starve or freeze to death. The report implored the Emperor to immediately dispatch a capable minister to Mu City for disaster relief.