Xiao Yichen and Lin Wan'er mounted their horses, tightened the reins, and the hooves kicked up clouds of dust as they galloped towards the capital of Rong Kingdom like arrows released from a bow. Their eyes were filled with anxiety and determination. The crisis in the capital was like the Sword of Damocles hanging over their heads; every second of delay could worsen the situation to an irreversible degree.

The horses galloped along the official road, the whistling wind rushing past their ears, as if urging them to quicken their pace. Xiao Yichen leaned over the horse's back, his movements as agile as a cheetah. His eyes, sharp as torches, pierced the road ahead, as if he could already see the chaotic scene in the capital. Images of the hungry faces and panicked eyes of the people, and the conflicts arising from the scramble for grain, flashed through his mind, fueling his drive and driving him to spur his horse on.

Lin Wan'er was equally impressive, her white robes flowing as she rode alongside Xiao Yichen. Though her face showed slight fatigue from the journey, the light in her eyes remained undiminished. She was acutely aware of the gravity of the crisis in the capital; the lives of innocent civilians depended on their timely return. She gripped the reins tightly in one hand and pressed the soft whip at her waist with the other, ready for any eventuality.

They rushed along, passing through what was once a bustling town. It was usually a lively stop for merchants and travelers, with inns filled with laughter, taverns brimming with the aroma of fine wine, and street vendors hawking all sorts of novelties. But now, the town was shrouded in gloom. Many shops were closed, the streets were deserted, and those few who were were hurried and filled with worry. In front of the shops that remained open, people huddled together, whispering about the food shortage in the capital, their eyes filled with fear that the crisis would spread to their homes.

Xiao Yichen and Lin Wan'er did not linger; the sound of their horses' hooves broke the silence of the town before quickly disappearing into the distance. But the town's devastation weighed heavily on their hearts. They knew that if the problems in the capital were not resolved quickly, similar scenes would unfold in many more places.

They continued their journey, and a mountain forest appeared ahead. This forest was usually a haven for bandits and robbers, and travelers had to tread carefully. But Xiao Yichen and Lin Wan'er had no time to consider these potential dangers; they rushed straight into the forest. The path through the forest was rugged and narrow, with tangled branches constantly whipping their faces and bodies. But they only frowned slightly, without slowing down at all.

Suddenly, several arrows shot out from the woods, whistling towards them. Xiao Yichen's eyes sharpened, and his sword instantly drew, flashing in the air as he deflected the arrows. Lin Wan'er, meanwhile, wielded her soft whip, which darted through the trees like a serpent, striking the direction from which the arrows had come. With a scream, several bandits hidden in the woods were struck by Lin Wan'er's whip and fell to the ground.

"Don't block our way if you don't want to die!" Xiao Yichen roared, his voice echoing through the mountains and forests, intimidating the bandits who still wanted to launch a sneak attack. Looking at these two imposing martial arts masters, the bandits felt a sense of fear and dared not make any further moves. Taking advantage of the situation, Xiao Yichen and Lin Wan'er quickened their pace and crossed the forest.

After leaving the mountains, the road widened, but they dared not relax their vigilance. They crossed a river with a swift current, and the bridge across it looked precarious. Instead of taking a detour, they spurred their horses directly onto the bridge. The horses' hooves pounded heavily on the bridge, causing it to shake violently as if it might collapse at any moment. But thanks to their superb horsemanship, they safely crossed the river.

As they drew closer to the capital, they encountered an increasing number of refugees pouring in from the city. These refugees, with their families in tow, their faces filled with terror, carrying meager belongings, trudged away from the capital. Some were ragged, some were wounded, and the despair in their eyes was heartbreaking.

Xiao Yichen and Lin Wan'er reined in their horses and stopped a refugee: "Fellow countryman, what's going on in the capital?" The refugee looked up and saw that they were two people dressed in martial arts attire. A glimmer of hope flashed in his eyes: "Heroes, the capital is in chaos! There's no food, and people are looting everywhere. The government can't do anything about it. We really can't survive, so we had to escape." After saying that, the refugee continued on his way, his figure appearing particularly desolate in the setting sun.

Xiao Yichen and Lin Wan'er's hearts tightened; they knew the situation was far more serious than they had imagined. They spurred their horses on again, the outline of the capital city becoming increasingly clear in their eyes. In the distance, black smoke billowed over the city, signs of houses burned in the chaos. Large crowds had gathered at the city gates—refugees trying to enter the city, and soldiers maintaining order. The soldiers looked exhausted, struggling to cope with the surging crowds.

Xiao Yichen and Lin Wan'er arrived at the city gate. The soldiers were overjoyed to see them: "General Xiao, Miss Lin, you're finally back!" Xiao Yichen asked, "What's the situation inside the city?" The soldier replied, "General, the city is in chaos. Food shortages have triggered numerous riots, and fighting is taking place in many places. We don't have enough manpower, so it's difficult to control the situation."

Without a word, Xiao Yichen and Lin Wan'er spurred their horses and charged into the capital. The scene within the city was horrifying. The streets were littered with garbage and debris, some shops were smashed to pieces, and goods were scattered everywhere. People wandered the streets, their eyes filled with madness and despair. Some were fighting over scraps of food, even coming to blows. The cries of children, the shouts of people, and the sounds of fighting mingled together, creating a symphony of death and chaos.

They arrived at a square, a place where the people of the capital used to relax and enjoy themselves, but now it had become the epicenter of the riot. A group of people were surrounding a wagon loaded with grain, clashing violently with the soldiers guarding it. Although the soldiers tried to maintain order, they appeared extremely vulnerable in the face of the starving people.

Seeing this, Xiao Yichen shouted, "Stop!" His voice boomed like thunder across the square, stunning many. However, some, blinded by hunger, continued to rush towards the carriage. Xiao Yichen used his lightness skill to leap to the carriage, his sword flashing, a blade of energy cutting through the ground and raising a cloud of dust. "If you don't stop, don't blame me for being impolite!" His eyes were sharp as knives, and the frenzied crowd finally stopped.

Lin Wan'er also joined the crowd and said loudly, "Fellow villagers, we are here to help you. There will be food, but please don't fight over it like this; it will only make the situation worse." The people looked at Xiao Yichen and Lin Wan'er with a mixture of doubt and a glimmer of hope in their eyes.

With Xiao Yichen and Lin Wan'er's reassurance, the riot in the square was temporarily quelled. However, they knew this was just one of many chaotic scenes in the capital, and there were many more places they needed to deal with. They left some soldiers to guard the carriages and continued towards the city.

Along the way, they saw many injured civilians and soldiers. Xiao Yichen and Lin Wan'er immediately organized people to move the wounded to a safe place and provide them with basic medical treatment. They also ordered the soldiers to patrol the streets to stop violence and maintain order.

While dealing with these problems, Xiao Yichen was also pondering the reasons for the food shortage. He knew that simply appeasing the people was not enough; he had to find the root cause of the problem to completely resolve the crisis. He decided to first go to the granaries to check the situation and see if there was a problem there.

When they arrived near the granary, they found it heavily guarded. The granary gates were tightly shut, showing no signs of damage. Xiao Yichen stepped forward and asked the guard, "Why isn't the granary open to release grain?" The guard replied, "General, the Prime Minister has ordered that the granary cannot be opened without the Emperor's decree." Xiao Yichen was furious. In this critical moment, the Prime Minister was still rigidly adhering to the rules, disregarding the lives of the people.

He decided to confront the Prime Minister, but on their way to the Prime Minister's residence, they encountered new trouble. A mob blocked their path, wielding clubs and filled with rage. "You officials, you don't care about our lives! We demand food!" the mob shouted. Xiao Yichen explained, "Please don't be impulsive. I'm here to solve the food problem. Trust me, I will make sure you have food." But the mob didn't believe him; they charged at Xiao Yichen and Lin Wan'er, brandishing their clubs.

Left with no other option, Xiao Yichen and Lin Wan'er could only try to maneuver around the rioters. They tried their best not to harm the civilians, merely deflecting their attacks. After a fierce struggle, the rioters gradually calmed down. Xiao Yichen tried to persuade them again, and this time, some of them believed him and laid down their weapons.

After resolving the issue of the rioters, Xiao Yichen and Lin Wan'er finally arrived at the Prime Minister's residence. The guards tried to stop Xiao Yichen, but he ignored them and barged in. The Prime Minister, pacing anxiously in the residence, saw Xiao Yichen enter and his expression changed: "Xiao Yichen, how dare you! How dare you trespass on the Prime Minister's residence!" Xiao Yichen bowed respectfully, but his tone was firm: "Prime Minister, the capital is in such chaos, why haven't you opened the granaries to distribute grain?" The Prime Minister snorted: "Without the Emperor's decree, I cannot act without authorization; otherwise, it would be a grave crime." Xiao Yichen retorted angrily: "Prime Minister, the people are starving to death, and you're still adhering to these rules? If the capital is destroyed, we will both be criminals!"

The Prime Minister and Xiao Yichen were locked in a dispute when Lin Wan'er said, "Prime Minister, the situation is critical. We can open the granaries to distribute grain to alleviate the crisis, and then apologize to the Emperor. If we delay any longer, the consequences will be unimaginable." The Prime Minister hesitated. He knew the situation in the capital, but he was afraid of taking responsibility.

Just as the two sides were deadlocked, a messenger from the imperial palace arrived at the Prime Minister's residence. The messenger conveyed the Emperor's decree: "The Emperor has ordered that, given the food crisis in the capital, the granaries be opened to release grain to alleviate the people's urgent needs. The Prime Minister and General Xiao are jointly responsible for this matter and must ensure the stability of the capital." Upon hearing this, both the Prime Minister and Xiao Yichen breathed a sigh of relief.

Xiao Yichen and the Prime Minister immediately went to the granary and organized the soldiers to open it and distribute the grain. As the granary doors slowly opened, the people cheered upon seeing the mountains of grain inside. The soldiers began distributing the grain in an orderly fashion, and hope rekindled in the eyes of the starving people, who lined up to receive their share.

During the distribution of grain, Xiao Yichen remained vigilant. He knew that there might be a deeper conspiracy behind this crisis. He arranged for soldiers to patrol around the granaries to prevent anyone from taking advantage of the situation. At the same time, he was also considering how to further stabilize the situation in the capital and restore social order.

Lin Wan'er helped the soldiers distribute food, gently comforting the starving people and bringing them warmth. As the food was distributed, the chaos in the capital gradually came under control. But Xiao Yichen knew this was only the first step in solving the problem; much work remained. They had to find the mastermind behind the food crisis and prevent similar incidents from happening again.

During this perilous and challenging return journey, Xiao Yichen and Lin Wan'er, with their courage, wisdom, and kindness, gradually begin to resolve the crisis in the capital. Their figures become a beacon of hope in the hearts of the capital's people, illuminating the city plunged into darkness. And they will continue to wage a fierce battle against the hidden enemies for the stability and prosperity of the capital.

The moment Xiao Yichen and Lin Wan'er stepped into the capital, an atmosphere of despair washed over them, as if an invisible hand had gripped their hearts tightly. The streets were bustling with people, but the usual liveliness and vibrancy were gone, replaced by chaos and panic.

They walked along the main street, their eyes meeting only heartbreaking scenes. Shops that had once been filled with various goods were now empty, especially the grain shops, where the sacks and wooden barrels that had once been full of grain were nowhere to be seen, leaving only scattered straw and dust on the ground. Some shop owners sat slumped at their doorways, their eyes vacant, either looking helplessly at their empty shops or shaking their heads and sighing at the crowds of people gathered around demanding answers.

“The grain is all gone, really gone! We don’t know what happened, overnight, all the grain was bought up,” a grain shop owner said, his voice trembling with tears, to the people surrounding him. The people were filled with anger and despair, and one of them shouted, “Did you hide the grain? Were you planning to sell it when the price was higher?” The owner hurriedly waved his hands, “How could I dare to do that! I don’t even have enough to eat myself, my whole family is starving.”

Xiao Yichen and Lin Wan'er continued walking and saw many people gathered around a well. Upon closer inspection, they realized they were trying to draw water from the well to fill their stomachs. The well water was murky and had a faint fishy smell, but the hungry people didn't care about that. An old woman struggled to carry a bucket of water, her hands trembling, water constantly splashing out. Beside her, a child stared longingly at the bucket, his lips cracked, his eyes filled with a yearning for food.

"Grandma, I'm hungry." The child's voice was so weak it seemed a gust of wind could carry it away. The old woman looked at the child with loving eyes, tears welling up in them: "Good child, just bear with it a little longer. When there's food, Grandma will cook you something delicious." But neither of them knew when this wait would end.

Further on, there was a residential area. The situation was even worse here; most of the houses were dilapidated, some even with their roofs torn off. Some residents sat in front of their homes, staring blankly into the distance. A woman held a baby in her arms; the baby was too hungry to cry, and the woman could only gently rock it, her eyes filled with helplessness.

“We haven’t eaten for days. My husband went out to find food and hasn’t come back yet.” The woman, seeing Xiao Yichen and Lin Wan’er, clung to them like a last straw. “Heroes, do you have any food? Please, save my child!” Lin Wan’er’s eyes reddened. She took a piece of dry rations from her food bag and handed it to the woman: “Sister, give the child some to eat first.” The woman took the rations, thanking them profusely, and quickly broke them into pieces to feed the baby. The baby, having eaten the rations, gradually regained its strength and began to cry again. The cries sounded particularly pitiful in the quiet, despairing neighborhood.

Xiao Yichen and Lin Wan'er left the residential area and arrived at the capital's market. This place was usually bustling with activity, a vibrant mix of vendors' cries and haggling, brimming with the lively atmosphere of daily life. But now, the market was a mess; stalls were overturned, and goods were scattered everywhere. Some people were rummaging through the ruins, hoping to find a few scraps of food.

In a corner of the market, a group of people were gathered around a porridge stall. The stall owner, a kind old man, had cooked porridge with his meager resources and was sharing it with everyone for free. However, there were more people than porridge, and people were fighting fiercely for a bowl. Some even disregarded the scalding hot porridge and reached out to grab it. The old man anxiously shouted from the side, "Don't fight! Everyone gets some! Everyone gets some!" But his voice was drowned out by the clamor of the crowd.

Seeing this, Xiao Yichen immediately rushed forward, using his lightness skill to leap above the crowd, and shouted, "Stop!" His voice echoed like a bell throughout the market, and the crowd immediately quieted down. Xiao Yichen landed on the ground, looking at the emaciated people, and felt a pang of sorrow in his heart: "Everyone, don't fight over food. It will only make the situation worse. We will find a way to solve the food problem."

The people looked at Xiao Yichen with a mixture of hope and doubt in their eyes. An old man asked, "Who are you? What can you do? We're starving!" Xiao Yichen clasped his hands in a respectful bow, "I am Xiao Yichen. I will definitely work with the government to solve the food problem and ensure everyone has food to eat." Hearing the name "Xiao Yichen," a murmur rippled through the crowd. Xiao Yichen was renowned in the capital; the people knew him as an upright, kind, and compassionate hero. Hope rekindled in some people's eyes, and they put down their bowls and chopsticks.

After leaving the market, Xiao Yichen and Lin Wan'er arrived at the wealthy district of the capital. This area presented a stark contrast to other places; although the impact of the food crisis was still felt, the situation was far less dire. Guards stood watch at the gates of some wealthy homes to prevent starving people from entering. Inside their mansions, the wealthy, while somewhat anxious, at least still possessed some stored food that could sustain them for a while.

However, this wealth gap further highlighted social injustice at this time. Some poor people, witnessing the situation in the wealthy neighborhoods, were filled with anger and resentment. At the gate of a wealthy house, a group of poor people were clashing with the guards.

"You rich people, you have food but you don't share it with us, do you have any conscience?" a poor man shouted angrily. The guards, armed, stood tense at the door: "This is our master's house, we are just following orders, don't cause trouble." The two sides were deadlocked, and it looked like the conflict was about to escalate.

Xiao Yichen and Lin Wan'er rushed over and stopped the conflict. Xiao Yichen said to the poor people, "Everyone, calm down. Impulsive actions won't solve anything. We will find a way to ensure everyone has food." Then he said to the guards, "Go back and tell your master that in times like these, we should help each other, not hide our food." The guards nodded in agreement and retreated into the mansion.

Continuing their inspection of the capital, Xiao Yichen and Lin Wan'er arrived at a school. The school, once filled with the laughter and sounds of children reading, was now eerily silent. The classrooms were empty, desks and chairs overturned. In the school's backyard, they found an old teacher sitting under a tree, looking at a scroll in his hands, his expression somber.

"Teacher, where have all the students gone?" Lin Wan'er asked. The old teacher looked up, saw Xiao Yichen and Lin Wan'er, and sighed, "Alas, they've all gone home. The children are hungry and have no energy to study. Some children have no food at home and haven't come to school for several days. I, this old man, don't know what else I can do for them." Xiao Yichen clenched his fist, "Teacher, don't worry, we will definitely get the children back to school."

After leaving the school, they arrived at a military camp in the capital. The soldiers there were also facing food shortages. Although they maintained a certain level of discipline, prolonged hunger had left them exhausted. Some soldiers were sharpening their weapons, preparing for a potential riot. The camp commander, seeing Xiao Yichen, hurriedly approached: "General Xiao, you've finally arrived! We're running low on food. If we don't find a solution soon, the soldiers won't have the strength to maintain order in the capital." Xiao Yichen nodded: "I'm already thinking of a solution. First, tell the soldiers to stay calm and not panic."

During their inspection of the capital, Xiao Yichen and Lin Wan'er discovered numerous problems stemming from food shortages. Besides the hunger of the people and the chaos of social order, disease was beginning to spread. In some dark, damp corners, some people had already succumbed to illness due to weakened immune systems caused by hunger. They lay on the ground groaning, or were already unconscious. Those around them watched with fear in their eyes, knowing that under these circumstances, a large-scale outbreak of disease would have unimaginable consequences.

Xiao Yichen immediately arranged for soldiers to gather the sick and set up a temporary medical station in a relatively open area. Lin Wan'er searched for people with medical knowledge to help. Although some doctors were also facing food shortages, they still rushed over, bringing their limited medicinal herbs, and began to treat the patients.

While dealing with the disease, Xiao Yichen didn't forget to investigate why the grain had been bought up. He sent people to inquire about the procurement channels and sales records of various grain shops, trying to find out where the grain had gone. After some investigation, they discovered that before the grain shortage, some mysterious buyers had purchased large quantities of grain, and these buyers were generous, not asking about prices. However, the identities of these buyers were very mysterious, and no one knew where they came from.

Xiao Yichen had a vague feeling that there must be a huge conspiracy behind this. Someone was deliberately creating a food crisis in the capital to disrupt the city's order and achieve their ulterior motives. But who this person or force was still under investigation.

In the chaotic capital, Xiao Yichen and Lin Wan'er were like two beacons in the darkness, striving to bring hope to the people and solve their problems. However, the food shortage weighed heavily on their minds like a mountain; they knew they had to find a solution quickly, or the capital would be plunged into utter ruin.

As night fell, the capital city did not quiet down in the darkness; instead, it became even more noisy. Shouts, cries, and arguments echoed through the night sky like an endless lament. Xiao Yichen and Lin Wan'er gazed at the capital city mired in suffering and secretly vowed to restore its vitality and allow its people to once again live peaceful and prosperous lives. They continued their tireless efforts, working tirelessly through the long night for the hope of the capital.

When Xiao Yichen and Lin Wan'er stepped into the palace, the once magnificent and solemn atmosphere was now enveloped in a heavy mood. The servants and maids in the palace hurried along, their usual composure replaced by anxiety, their eyes revealing unease.

Inside the imperial kitchen, the shelves that were once overflowing with delicacies were now empty. The chefs sat huddled together, their faces etched with worry, helpless before the nearly empty rice bins and the dwindling supply of vegetables and meat. One chef, gazing at the still-burning fire on the stove, sighed resignedly, "I never imagined that the palace would one day face such a food shortage." A junior cook beside him chimed in, "Master, those precious ingredients are long gone, and now even ordinary rice and flour are almost gone. What are we going to do?"

They arrived at the palace granary, where the soldiers guarding it looked tense. The granary doors were tightly shut, with only a faint sliver of light filtering through the cracks. Opening the granary, they found that while some grain remained, it was a meager amount compared to its usual fullness. This stored grain, which might normally only constitute a small portion of the palace's daily consumption, had become crucial for survival in these extraordinary times.

The eunuch in charge of managing the granary wiped the sweat from his brow and reported to Xiao Yichen, "General Xiao, fortunately, our palace still has these grain reserves, otherwise we really wouldn't know what to do. But even so, if the food problem isn't resolved soon, these reserves won't last much longer." Xiao Yichen frowned. He knew that the palace's grain reserves were usually carefully planned and arranged, and the fact that even the palace was in such a predicament showed how serious this food crisis was.

An uneasy atmosphere permeated the palaces where the concubines resided. The lavish banquets and exquisite pastries of the past were now a thing of the past; each palace was striving to conserve food. Some of the lower-ranking concubines huddled together, whispering amongst themselves.

"Sister, I haven't had a proper meal in days. How are we supposed to survive?" A young concubine, tears welling in her eyes, complained to the older concubine beside her. The older concubine patted her hand and comforted her, "Sister, bear with it for now. Even the Emperor is worried about the food situation. We can only hope that the court can solve this problem soon." In these conversations, there was worry and complaint, but more than anything, there was fear of the future.

Even the palaces where the princes and princesses lived were not spared. The children, who used to play carefree and laugh without a care in the world, now felt the pressure of food shortages. In one prince's palace, the young prince was frowning at half a bowl of thin porridge. His wet nurse pleaded, "Your Highness, please eat some. Food is scarce now; this is already a hard-won treat." The young prince pouted, "Wet nurse, I don't want this. I want meat buns." The wet nurse shook her head helplessly, her eyes filled with heartache.

In the palace gardens, the once carefully tended flowers and plants now lie neglected and overgrown. Some palace maids are digging for wild vegetables in a corner of the garden, hoping to supplement the palace's meals. Their hands are covered in mud, and their eyes are filled with despair as they dig, muttering to themselves, "These wild vegetables used to be used to feed livestock, but now they've become our lifeline."

The palace guards, normally the backbone of the palace's security, were now facing a food shortage. While the guards on duty remained steadfast, their exhaustion was taking its toll. One guard said to his companion, "Brother, I'm so hungry I'm seeing stars. I'm afraid if anything happens, I won't have the strength to react." His companion patted him on the shoulder: "Hang in there a little longer. The court will definitely find a way."

The atmosphere in the imperial court was extremely tense. Ministers, their faces grave, discussed how to deal with the food shortage. One minister said worriedly, "Your Majesty, the food shortage in the capital has now spread to the palace; this is unprecedented. If it is not resolved quickly, not only will the people suffer, but the palace will also be unable to continue." The Emperor, seated on his dragon throne, frowned deeply. He knew the severity of the crisis: "I have ordered General Xiao and the Prime Minister to handle this matter together. My dear ministers, you must also actively offer suggestions and work together to overcome this difficult time."

However, the palace was not entirely united. Some eunuchs and maids began to quarrel over the meager amount of food. In one corner, two maids argued over a piece of dry rations.

"I found it first, what right do you have to take it?" One palace maid clutched the rations tightly, her eyes filled with anger. The other maid retorted defiantly, "Hmph, whoever gets it first keeps it; I'm starving!" The two refused to give way and even began to pull at each other. At this moment, an older eunuch approached and reprimanded, "Stop! What kind of behavior is this in the palace? If the Emperor finds out, you'll both be in serious trouble." The two maids stopped, but their eyes remained hostile.

In the palace stables, the horses' feed was dwindling. The grooms were heartbroken to see their once plump and strong horses now thin and emaciated. These horses were essential for the palace's operations and communication; their inability to be used due to insufficient feed would significantly impact the palace's functioning. The grooms could only try to conserve feed, giving the horses some hay, but the horses seemed to sense the food shortage, occasionally letting out low whinnies.

In the imperial library, some scholars had no interest in reading. They gathered together, discussing the current situation. One scholar said, "This food shortage is probably not accidental. The capital and even the palace are affected; there must be a conspiracy behind it." Another scholar nodded in agreement: "Yes, we must help the court find the mastermind, otherwise the capital is in danger, and the palace is in danger too." They pored over ancient books, hoping to find ways to deal with similar crises in history.

In the palace temples, the monks were also troubled by the food shortage. Food offered daily by devotees, which used to be plentiful, was now scarce. The abbot led the monks in chanting prayers, hoping to overcome this crisis. He said to them, "My disciples, this is a natural disaster and a man-made calamity, but we must not panic. Keep compassion in your hearts and believe that Heaven will bless us." However, the monks' stomachs were also rumbling, and the chanting seemed to have lost its usual tranquility.

The pond within the palace, once a playground for palace maids and concubines, was now deserted. The fish in the pond had become emaciated from lack of feeding. Some eunuchs tried to catch fish to fill their stomachs, but with far more fish than people, it was impossible to meet their needs. Moreover, fishing freely within the palace grounds was against regulations, but at this moment, those concerns were irrelevant.

In this tense atmosphere, the people inside the palace were struggling to cope with the food shortage. After learning about the situation in the palace, Xiao Yichen and Lin Wan'er realized even more acutely that this food crisis had swept through the entire capital like a raging flood, leaving no place unscathed. They had to find the root cause of the food shortage and a solution as soon as possible, not only to save the people of the capital but also to ensure the normal operation of the palace; otherwise, the entire Rong Kingdom would be plunged into an even deeper crisis.

They began gathering more information inside and outside the palace, searching for clues that might be related to the food shortage. Xiao Yichen questioned the palace's purchasing agents and transport personnel, trying to find the problem at every stage of the food supply chain. Lin Wan'er, on the other hand, communicated with the palace maids and eunuchs to understand the food consumption situation within the palace and whether there were any unusual phenomena. Every detail could be the key to unraveling the mystery of the food crisis, and they dared not slacken in the slightest, striving to find that glimmer of hope in this perilous palace.

As the investigation deepened, they discovered some suspicious signs. Several grain purchases in the palace's procurement records showed prices significantly higher than normal, and the supplier information was vague. Problems also existed in the transportation process; some grain mysteriously disappeared during transit. These clues further convinced Xiao Yichen and Lin Wan'er that someone was secretly manipulating the grain supply, launching a premeditated grain crisis targeting the capital, and even the palace.

Finding the mastermind behind this is no easy task. The palace is rife with complex interpersonal relationships and intertwined interests. Every clue could uncover more problems, and every suspicious figure might have a powerful backer. Xiao Yichen and Lin Wan'er know they are about to face a difficult battle, but for the capital, for the palace, and for the entire Rong Kingdom, they must forge ahead, unveil this conspiracy, and restore the capital to its former glory and prosperity.

Throughout this process, the food shortage within the palace remained severe, testing everyone in the palace every day. Meanwhile, Xiao Yichen and Lin Wan'er, amidst the tension and busyness, continued to move towards the truth, their figures becoming the last hope in the hearts of the people within the palace.