At the same time, she did not forget to respond to Qin Qianluo's question, her voice carrying a hint of reassurance: "Luo Bao, I think it's most likely a butterfly effect caused by our arrival."

However, this locust plague is a natural disaster, and in principle, it shouldn't cause such a big change because of us.

Don't worry, let me look through the materials more carefully. I'm sure I'll find something useful.

Upon hearing this, Qin Qianluo nodded solemnly. The jewels in her hair swayed gently with her movements, making a soft sound, as if expressing her unease at the moment.

Her gaze seemed to be firmly drawn in by a powerful magnetic force, locked tightly on the light screen for an instant.

The images of the locust plague displayed on the light screen were shocking.

The people were filled with grief, some slumped on the ground, their eyes empty and desperate as they looked at the farmland ravaged by locusts and left with no harvest.

That was their hope for the year, but now it has vanished like a bubble.

They would help the elderly and lead the young, walking unsteadily on their escape route, their clothes tattered, shivering in the wind, their frail bodies seemingly about to be swept away by the storm of fate at any moment.

Seeing this scene, Qin Qianluo felt as if her heart was being gripped by an invisible yet powerful hand, a dull ache spreading through her.

The despair and helplessness etched on the faces of those people were like sharp thorns, relentlessly piercing her tender heart again and again.

Immersed in the tragic scene depicted on the light screen, Qin Qianluo was completely unaware of the changes happening outside.

As soon as she began talking to Feng Qingyun, the intense debate that had been like a battle on the battlefield gradually subsided, like the receding tide.

At first, the volume just decreased, as if both sides in the argument were deliberately suppressing their emotions, and their voices became low and indistinct.

Later, as everyone's attention was drawn to other things, there was no sound at all.

The entire court fell into a deathly silence, so quiet that you could hear a pin drop.

However, Qin Qianluo's entire mind was firmly captured by the light screen, and she paid no attention to these subtle changes in the outside world.

He remained completely absorbed in staring at that small screen of light, as if it were the entire world.

Her eyes were only on the people suffering from the disaster, and her heart was filled with worry for them.

The two prime ministers, who were pretending to argue, lowered their voices in unison when they realized they had successfully attracted Qin Qianluo's attention.

Their gazes kept drifting towards Qin Qianluo, their eyes filled with a barely perceptible expectation, as if they were waiting for something.

When they glimpsed the shocking scenes of disaster displayed on the light screen above Qin Qianluo's head...

Their expressions froze instantly, as if they had been frozen in place, and they all froze in surprise.

Their mouths were slightly open, but no sound came out. Their faces, which had previously shown some signs of acting, were now extremely solemn.

His brows were furrowed tightly, forming a deep "川" (river) shape, and his eyes were filled with worry and shock.

The officials in the court seemed to be drawn by an invisible force, their gazes falling one after another on the cold-glowing screen.

Looking at the disaster-stricken people, everyone felt as if a heavy, cold stone was pressing on their hearts, causing them great distress.

Some officials couldn't help but shake their heads slightly and let out a few heavy sighs, sighs filled with helplessness and sorrow.

Some bit their lips tightly, their faces filled with self-blame and guilt, as if questioning themselves why they hadn't discovered the problem sooner and why they couldn't do more for the people.

At this moment, the emperor, who was sitting upright in the court, was also staring intently at the light screen above Qin Qianluo's head, his eyes filled with regret and self-blame.

His once dignified face was now slightly distorted with pain, and his hands unconsciously clenched into fists.

The knuckles turned white from the exertion, the joints protruded slightly, and the veins on the back of the hand bulged high.

Those were all his people. In his daily life, he always thought of taking the world as his responsibility, protecting them for life, and letting the people live and work in peace and enjoy a prosperous and peaceful world.

But now, because of these tiny locusts, his people have fallen into such a miserable state. How could he not feel heartbroken looking at the tragic scene on the screen?

He felt a mix of emotions, including a sense of powerlessness in the face of natural disasters.

He felt deep self-reproach for failing to take preventative measures, as well as anxiety and worry about how to save the people from their suffering.

The atmosphere in the imperial court was so heavy it was almost suffocating, and the oppressive atmosphere hung over everyone like dark clouds.

The officials seemed to be pulled by invisible ropes, their eyes meeting and looking at each other in bewilderment.

Every pair of eyes was filled with an overwhelming grief, as if silently expressing the shock and sorrow in their hearts.

These are the officials who usually wear fine clothes and govern the country in the stable imperial court.

For a long time, they lived within high walls and deep courtyards, always surrounded by attendants, rarely setting foot among the common people and facing their hardships.

In their past understanding, locusts were nothing more than a few small insects that occasionally stirred up in the fields, living alone and occasionally leaping among branches and grass.

It was as light as a gentle breeze, unable to stir up any waves.

Locust plagues are merely dry and obscure historical records.

Those descriptions of locusts swarming everywhere, crops failing, and people starving to death.

Although they know the harm is enormous, they can never truly empathize with it because they have never experienced it firsthand. It's as if there's a thick barrier between them, preventing them from touching the cruelty within.

However, at this moment, with the help of the cold light screen above Qin Qianluo's head, they witnessed for the first time the devastation caused by the locust plague so directly and up close.

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