Wang Feng, unlike his usual somber demeanor, wore a mournful expression, looking as if he were a woman who had suffered a great injustice.
The adults standing nearby also looked sad and aggrieved.
Lin Yuxin couldn't help but admire him, and kept thinking to herself:
[This guy is definitely a government official; his face-changing is as smooth as turning the pages of a book, his acting skills surpass those of an award-winning actor!]
Li Xiaochen frowned as he watched these officials crying and sobbing in front of him. He was about to get angry, but when he heard Lin Yuxin's words, he calmed down.
Since Yuxin wanted to watch a play, he would watch it with her for a while.
Li Xiaochen then looked at the group expressionlessly and asked in a calm voice:
"Is that what you all think?"
"Your Highness, it's not that we officials don't support the princess's work, it's just that the princess is nowhere to be seen every day, and she doesn't think about any other drought relief policies, she just tells us to plant trees. Isn't this a waste of our talents?"
"This humble official only wishes to make some contribution to the Xia Kingdom and do some practical things for the people. I beg Your Highness to grant our request."
Wang Feng truly lived up to his reputation as the second-in-command of the Ministry of Works. His eloquence was such that if he didn't know that what Lin Yuxin was doing was beneficial to the country and its people, he would have thought that Lin Yuxin was neglecting her duties and not doing anything practical.
"Does the princess have anything to say?"
Li Xiaochen glanced at Lin Yuxin, who was watching the show from the sidelines, and passed the buck to her.
As soon as Li Xiaochen spoke, everyone in the room focused their attention on Lin Yuxin's face, just in time to see her half-smiling expression.
[That wretched Li Xiaochen! Just get to the point! Why did you call on me? I was enjoying the show, and now I've been caught red-handed. He's forbidden from speaking to me for an hour!]
Lin Yuxin mentally punished Li Xiaochen severely before looking at the ministers with a serious expression.
"My lords, do you know why Your Majesty has come here? Do you even know?"
Wang Feng paused for a moment, then replied cautiously:
"Do everything in my power to alleviate the drought in the northern city, so that the people of the northern city can survive and the death toll can be reduced."
"Lord Wang is right. So how are the people of the North City living now?"
Lin Yuxin asked again.
"Thankfully, the people have been well taken care of!"
Gu Qing replied with her head down.
"Lord Gu, there have been zero deaths among the people of Beicheng so far. The only reported deaths today are five in Shanyang County, three in Muzhu County, and eight in Huaishui County. Among these eight, one of them committed suicide because he was old and did not want to waste the family's food."
"The current mortality rate is unprecedented since the founding of the Xia Kingdom."
Zhao Er suddenly spoke up to report the mortality rates reported by various townships over the past few days.
Lin Yuxin gave Zhao Er an approving look, saying, "Well done!" and then spoke up, effectively silencing Wang Feng and the others.
"Now there is only one last question: how can the drought situation be improved? You gentlemen can share your thoughts."
Seeing that the adults' expressions were not good, Lin Yuxin continued to look at them expressionlessly and said the most important thing she had to face in Beicheng this time.
The five ministers felt a pang of anxiety. This was a difficult question to answer, but for the sake of a better future, they had to.
The group looked at Wang Feng, who could only grit his teeth and speak:
“Princess, I think the drought prevention measures are too late. We can only fight the drought. To fight the drought, we need to build water conservancy projects and plant crops. We need to plant crops as soon as possible so that the people will have food to eat. The government’s meager grain supply will run out sooner or later.”
Wang Feng said a couple of sentences seriously.
Lin Yuxin nodded in agreement and said:
“That’s right, Lord Wang is absolutely right. It shows that Lord Wang was able to reach his current position as Vice Minister of Works through his own abilities.”
Lin Yuxin's words made Wang Feng blush with embarrassment. It made it sound like he had bought his official position. Did this princess even know how to speak properly?
"Since Lord Wang has a good idea, could you please tell me where you get the water that this grain requires?"
Lin Yuxin looked at his flushed face, sneered inwardly, and asked.
"Didn't the princess just say that she and the prince found a water source today?"
Wang Feng was puzzled by the question and frowned as he asked.
"Lord Wang also said that this water was only found today. So why does Lord Wang think that I, the princess, am neglecting my duties? Did I not find this water source, or did it just spring up on its own?"
"Furthermore, now that we have a water source, is there enough water besides what the people use for farming? And most importantly, where will the seeds come from?"
Lin Yuxin's series of questions left Wang Feng completely bewildered, and his previously confident demeanor weakened considerably.
"This...this...!"
Wang Feng's face turned even redder, and he couldn't utter a single word for a long time.
"You gentlemen say that I, the princess, have been missing every day since I arrived in the north city, and have not cared about anything in the city. Then may I ask, gentlemen, have you even walked around the city? Have you gone out of the city to see those disaster victims? You gentlemen are trying to convict me with nothing but empty words. Are your hearts made of mud?"
Lin Yuxin didn't give him much time and spoke sternly again.
This time, however, the other adults blushed and lowered their heads, not daring to look up.
They didn't look around or go outside the city. They went out early and returned late every day to plant trees. They were exhausted when they got back to their rooms. How could they have the mood or energy to go out and see the people?
“I know that you gentlemen want to serve the country and its people, and I understand your eagerness. But this is something that cannot be rushed. We have found a water source and can grow crops, but we still have to wait for the seeds to arrive.”
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