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"So what do we do next? Where did all the people in this village go?" Seventeen asked.

"The three of them said that after the heavy snow blocked the roads, the crops in the fields were all frozen. The whole village had nothing to eat, so they started digging for wild vegetables everywhere. Later, some people came to the village and said that the village was being targeted by a demon. They said that as long as they went with them, they could get rid of the evil and have enough to eat and drink. At first, everyone was unwilling to leave their homes and still wanted to wait for the imperial court to come to their rescue. But suddenly people started dying in the village, dying inexplicably. So they began to believe what those people said. They said that they went with the fairy to avoid the disaster, leaving only some old, weak, sick and disabled people behind, and many of them died one after another due to the famine," Duolong said.

"A fairy maiden?" Seventeen said in surprise.

“Seventeenth Master, superstitious activities are common in folk customs, but this servant feels that this ‘fairy’ is acting rather mysteriously,” Duolong said. “It’s not surprising that they come to the mountain village and try to persuade the villagers to believe in a certain doctrine. What’s strange is that when the villagers refuse to believe, people immediately start dying.” “You mean, those dead people are related to them?” Seventeenth Master asked, understanding.

“This servant thinks there is some connection. Seventeenth Master, should we continue to visit other villages? After all, your main mission here is disaster relief,” Duolong said.

Seventeen slammed his hand on the table with a loud "bang," and said angrily, "What are the county government officials doing here? Such a thing happened in their jurisdiction, and they didn't even notice it, or rather, they did notice it, but they didn't care?"

Duolong said, "I think those places are very barren. They don't pay much tribute on weekdays, so they don't bother to care and let the mountain people fend for themselves. They embezzle the disaster relief funds allocated by the court."

"The imperial court has truly raised a bunch of parasites. They eat the imperial court's millet all day long, but they don't manage the region properly. It's simply outrageous!" Seventeen said angrily, clenching his fist.

Duolong said, "Seventeenth Prince, let's do our part to clean up this area for the court this time. Also, I have a feeling that the so-called 'fairy maiden' is quite suspicious, and we need to investigate her thoroughly."

Seventeen nodded and said, "Let's continue to visit other villages; the disaster relief work must continue. As for the 'fairy maiden' matter, we can secretly send her back and have Prince Yong send someone to investigate it again." Duolong said.

"Why don't they just ask the local county or prefectural government for the people? After something like this happened, they still don't care?" Seventeen asked, puzzled.

“Seventeenth Prince, we don’t yet know if they are involved in this matter. If we rashly go to them, it’s uncertain whether we will be able to find out anything. I personally think we shouldn’t go to them,” Duolong said.

After pondering for a moment, Seventeen said, "Then I will immediately write a letter to Fourth Brother and inform him of this matter. Let's hear his advice!"

Duolong raised his hand to stop him, saying, "Seventeenth Prince, I'm afraid that going back and forth will delay things. This servant thinks that we can ask the county and prefectural governments for disaster relief. You are an imperial envoy sent by the court and have the authority to mobilize the troops of the counties and prefectures. Why don't we just go and summon people directly and have them go to the various mountain villages that have been blocked by heavy snow to investigate? We will investigate the background of the 'fairy maiden' ourselves."

When the Seventeenth Prince heard Duolong say this, he said, "How about this, you come to investigate the matter of the Fairy Maiden, and I, the Imperial Envoy, will handle the arrangements. Explain to them directly the seriousness of the matter, and if they refuse to obey, I can dismiss them from their posts on the spot."