The yamen runners opened the gate as Shen Qingchen had instructed, and the people flocked in as expected.
The solemn and quiet courtroom instantly became bustling and noisy. Xie Wenyuan frowned, led the doctor inside, and then ordered the yamen runners to guard the corridor leading to the back hall. The runners naturally obeyed, holding their weapons and upholding the last vestige of dignity of the prefectural government office, but they were struggling against the sheer number of people.
Prefect Shen had already issued orders not to use force against the people or harm them. While Prefect Shen was known for his strict enforcement of the law against corrupt officials, he treated the common people quite differently. Judging by this situation, it wouldn't be long before the people stormed into the inner hall.
However, some of these people were members of the White Lotus sect who stirred up trouble, saying things like, "There are starving people on the road, but the newly arrived prefect is hiding behind his rich gate, indulging in wine and meat, and disregarding the lives of the people." They insisted that Qingchen give them an explanation, and that they would not return even if blood was spilled in the courtroom, unless the granaries were opened and grain was distributed.
Xie Wenyuan dared not let Qingchen appear in front of this group of people. If something went wrong, he would not be able to explain it. So he ordered that Qingchen not to be told. However, he did not have a good way to get rid of the person.
At this moment, a carriage was parked seven or eight steps away from the intersection outside the government office.
The person inside the carriage was lifting the curtain, peering through the gap at the scene outside the government office. When he saw the gate open and the people rushing in, Meng Gexing couldn't help but be slightly taken aback, his eyelashes blinking twice.
Is this an act? What kind of show is this?
He instructed his men to incite the people to cause trouble in order to put pressure on Shen Qingchen and make her realize that Meng Gexing was not someone to be trifled with, so that she would hand over her younger brother as soon as possible.
However, he also anticipated that the newly arrived prefect would inevitably cower in the government office and refuse to open the gates. With no grain in the granaries, no one could face the people.
Continuing the stalemate would also be disadvantageous for her.
But to his surprise, she actually opened the gates of the government office!
The once solemn and dignified courtroom had been transformed into a noisy marketplace where anyone could come and go as they pleased. The constables all had grim faces, yet they dared not make a move... Had this Shen Qingchen... completely given up the struggle?
Meng Gexing frowned, his handsome face full of doubt. Then he tilted his head and smiled.
Is it that interesting?
I've seen cowardly prefects before, but I've never seen one this cowardly... It seems he overestimated this person? When it came to actually fighting, she was still helpless.
In that case, he can just wait here and wait until the people have torn off the roof tiles of the government office, and then see how ugly this prefect's crying face will be.
Having made up his mind, Meng Gexing took the wine bag beside him, opened the bottle and took two sips. Then he chose a comfortable position, leaned back in his chair, and his gaze fell on the entrance of the prefectural government office.
The weather in August is neither too hot nor too cold, the sun is just right, and there's plenty of excitement to watch—it's truly delightful.
Meanwhile, the doctor Xie Wenyuan had invited finally entered the backyard of the government office. After unloading his medicine chest, he began to treat Meng Gexing's younger brother.
After taking the pulse, the doctor's expression wasn't good. The diagnosis confirmed Qingchen's suspicions: the child had pneumonia.
"Please, doctor, you must save this child," Qingchen said nervously.
The doctor then wrote out a prescription and said, "To be honest, sir, this child's fever is not an ordinary one. Fortunately, you discovered it in time and gave him some Platycodon grandiflorus soup, which relieved the symptoms somewhat. Otherwise, even if the legendary physician Li Shizhen were here, he probably wouldn't be able to save him. In the current situation, I can only do my best. Whether he recovers or not depends on his fate."
"The child is still young, please, doctor, do your best." After saying this, Qingchen instructed the yamen runners to help him prepare the medicine, and then pulled Xie Wenyuan aside and asked softly, "What's the situation outside? Have all the people come in?"
Xie Wenyuan hesitated for a moment, then nodded helplessly, "They're all lingering in the hall, refusing to leave, insisting that you open the granary and distribute grain..."
"I'll go take a look."
Xie Wenyuan quickly stopped her, "My lord, please don't go! There might be some ill intentions among the crowd..."
Qingchen patted his shoulder, his voice calm and firm, "I am the prefect of Yuanjiang, the official in charge of these people's lives. How can I be afraid to face them?"
Having said that, she straightened her official robes and headed towards the courtroom. Sunlight fell upon her, casting a slender yet resolute shadow.
When Qingchen arrived at the courtroom, the bailiffs immediately blocked her way. She stood behind the desk, facing the people beneath the plaque that read "The Mirror of Justice."
Several people in the crowd shouted when they saw the prefect finally appear: "Yuanjiang was hit by hail, why hasn't the government distributed relief grain yet? Are they going to just watch us common people starve to death?"
"Yes, yes, as the prefect of Yuanjiang, he doesn't care about our lives. What kind of official is he?"
"We must open the granaries and release the grain! Open the granaries and release the grain!"
Everyone was talking at once. Seeing this, Qingchen suddenly slammed his gavel and said, "Everyone, please be quiet and listen to me."
The common people, being the common people, instinctively fell silent at the sound of the gavel. Qingchen then said, "Although the disaster in Yuanjiang Prefecture is a natural one, since it happened in Yuanjiang Prefecture, it is my responsibility as the prefect of Yuanjiang. If it is my responsibility, I will give everyone an explanation. No matter what method I use, believe me, I will do my best to ensure that you do not go hungry. However, please give me some time."
At this moment, a voice emerged from the crowd, "I heard that the prefect got his position by currying favor with Grand Secretary Song. What ability do you have to keep us from starving?"
As soon as he finished speaking, whispers immediately arose among the people. Everyone looked at the handsome prefect before them, their eyes filled with doubt and distrust.
Qingchen blinked slightly. She had guessed that facing the common people would not be easy, especially with the White Lotus Cult interfering, but she hadn't expected them to so directly humiliate her, striking her directly at her character and abilities.
Meng Gexing is indeed ruthless.
Xie Wenyuan became agitated upon hearing this, "Shut up! How dare you spout nonsense, spread rumors, and make false accusations in court! Drag these troublemakers out and give them fifty strokes of the cane!"
"Wait a minute," Qingchen said, stopping him. She was unwilling to use power and weapons to force them to submit.
"Grand Secretary Song is my teacher." She took a slight breath and continued, "But he is also the Second Grand Secretary of the Ming Dynasty. His ability and character are beyond question, a fact known throughout the world. Even a thousand mouths could not slander him. I have been ordered by the court to serve as the prefect of Yuanjiang. Whether I can govern this place well or not, I do not need to argue with you with words. You have thousands of eyes to watch. If I fail to govern Yuanjiang and cause most of you to go hungry, I will remove my official hat in front of you."
After a pause, Qingchen continued, "I won't lie to you, the official granary ran out of grain three years ago. But the fact that we have no grain now doesn't mean we won't have any in the future. I promise you, I will do my best to ensure that everyone has grain to get through the winter."
Most of the people in the crowd were persuaded.
Whether a person's words come from the heart or not can actually be easily seen from their eyes.
But some people still wanted to cause trouble, shouting, "Don't listen to his delaying tactics! We won't leave until we see food today!"
"I'm not asking you to leave, I'm just worried you'll get tired from standing for so long. Please sit down," Qingchen said, then ordered water to be brought and distributed to the people. She then sat in the courtroom and began to handle her official duties.
The scene before them left not only the common people dumbfounded, but also the White Lotus sect members who were causing the disturbance, and even the officials in the government office, including Xie Wenyuan, dumbfounded.
The people sat down. Most of them remained quiet. Although they still had doubts about whether the prefect would ensure they had enough to eat for the winter, they began to trust her. They hadn't forgotten how they often saw the prefect's figure along the field paths.
If she didn't care about the people, why would she go to the fields every few days?
The White Lotus Sect members quickly relayed the scene inside the government office to Meng Gexing, who was leisurely drinking outside.
Meng Gexing's eyes widened in astonishment upon hearing this.
He knew that Shen Qingchen was different from ordinary people, but he didn't know she was this different.
Not only did she open the door and let everyone in, but she also allowed everyone to sit in the courtroom, and she was even able to carry out her official duties with peace of mind.
He knew there was no grain in the official granary. He had even considered checking it last year, only to find it completely empty. Therefore, he knew Shen Qingchen couldn't release any grain.
If she couldn't release the grain, she wouldn't be able to explain herself to the people.
He originally thought she would make excuses and delay, but to his surprise, she actually told the truth to the people... How could a prefect, who was supposed to be in charge, tell the whole prefecture that he had no food?
However, he admired her courage to speak the truth. She was much better than those officials who deceived their superiors and misled the country with lies.
That's interesting.
The sun gradually began to set in the west.
Inside the prefectural government office, someone came from the back courtyard to report to Qingchen that Meng Gexing's younger brother had been cured!
Qingchen nodded, put down his pen, and said to the crowd below, "I know there are members of the White Lotus Sect among you. Go and tell Meng Gexing outside the door that his younger brother was sick but has now recovered. I will send him outside the mansion so that he can take him back."
Given Meng Gexing's lively and boisterous nature, he probably wouldn't miss such a lively scene. He's likely watching the excitement somewhere outside right now.
Xie Wenyuan added indignantly, "Also, tell him that what he did today prevented the doctor from entering the government office and almost cost his brother his life!"
Meng Gexing, who was outside the door, quickly received the news, and the smile on his face instantly disappeared.
She opened the door so that the doctor could go in and treat her brother.
"Give the order to disperse the people," Meng Gexing said after a moment of contemplation, his brows furrowed.
Soon after, the crowd in the courtroom finally dispersed.
Then, as Qingchen instructed, a strong yamen runner carried Meng Gexing's younger brother out the door and returned the child to Meng Gexing's men.
Meng Gexing helped his younger brother into the carriage. Before leaving, he glanced back at the prefectural government office from inside the carriage.
After the crowd dispersed, he could finally see inside through the gate, though he couldn't make out the people inside. The setting sun slanted across the roof tiles, and the hanging animal-head eaves gleamed faintly with golden light.
Shen Qingchen, consider it a life I, Meng Gexing, owe you.
Still sitting behind his desk, Qingchen watched as the noisy government office returned to calm, finally letting out a long sigh of relief and rubbing his temples.
"You must be tired, sir," Xie Wenyuan said, offering a cup of hot tea.
Qingchen took the tea and sipped it. She was truly exhausted today. Being an official was not easy; she had truly experienced that today.
Although the people who had asked for food had left, the food shortage problem remained and urgently needed to be solved.
With no stored grain and no way to borrow any, the only remaining option in the face of this predicament is to find a way out.
"Go and invite Yuan Song here for me."
Xie Wenyuan knew she was already worried about the grain situation, and after today's events, she must be even more anxious. "Sir, you should rest first. This grain issue can't be resolved in a short time. Don't overwork yourself..."
Qingchen shook her head and looked at him, "I've thought of a solution."
Xie Wenyuan looked at her with a puzzled expression.
"Two harvests of rice a year."
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