Shen Jintang smiled slightly, but instead of answering directly, she asked, "Does it matter, cousin?"
She deliberately emphasized the word "cousin," her voice carrying a subtle hint of coldness.
Shen Huaixu was a smart man, and naturally understood the meaning behind her words.
Whether she is or not is not important; what matters is that from now on, no one will doubt her identity.
She said she was Shen Jintang, and that is Shen Jintang.
Shen Huaixu was silent for a moment, then smiled and changed the subject: "Since you sent officials here, you must have a solution."
Shen Jintang smiled slightly, neither confirming nor denying, but a deep meaning flashed in her eyes.
Just as Shen Huaixu was about to ask something else, a commotion came from outside the door.
A short while later, officials from Yanzhou arrived one after another.
They all looked distressed; some clutched their chests, their faces contorted in pain; others dragged their feet, taking one step and then stopping, as if every step was incredibly difficult.
One of the officials couldn't help but complain, "Sir, we're sick and we're being summoned here. They're really putting on airs!"
As he spoke, he deliberately coughed twice.
Another official immediately chimed in, "That's right, sir! Please have some consideration for us patients. Who can stand this freezing weather!"
He rubbed his hands exaggeratedly, making a trembling gesture.
Shen Jintang stood in the hall, smiling as she looked at them, but her eyes were so cold that they were devoid of any warmth.
That's quite a convincing act!
She glanced at the crowd with a hint of disdain in her eyes, as if the officials' performance was utterly ridiculous.
She glanced around at the crowd and said, "My lords, I know you are all unwell, but I have summoned you all here today because of a very important matter. I am not doing this to make things difficult for you. Look at the people outside. They are all ragged, starving, and in dire straits. As officials of the court, the people's guardians, shouldn't you do something for them?"
The officials looked at each other, and one of them muttered under his breath, "That sounds nice, but there's nothing we can do about it!"
Upon hearing this, Shen Jintang's expression instantly turned cold. He said, "No way? You're quite good at making excuses! I've long heard that the officials in Yanzhou are unruly, only knowing how to indulge in pleasure and turning a blind eye to the suffering of the people. The imperial salary isn't for nothing; are you going to feed it to the dogs?"
Upon hearing this, the officials were immediately speechless and blushed.
Some lowered their heads, not daring to look Shen Jintang in the eye, while others tried to explain, but their voices grew softer and softer.
An official mustered his courage, raised his head, and said, "Lord Shen, we have no choice. The disaster relief funds were embezzled by higher authorities; we are victims too!"
Shen Jintang sneered, his gaze sweeping over the crowd like a knife, showing them no mercy whatsoever. He said directly, "Withholding funds? You're good at shirking responsibility! I investigated before I came here. Your Yanzhou disaster relief funds are embezzled at every level, and less than half reaches the people! You're all fat and bloated, yet you let the people go hungry. Is this your so-called 'no choice'?"
The officials were speechless, some muttering under their breath, while others tried to change the subject.
An official, forcing a smile, said, "Lord Shen, you're new here and don't know the situation. The situation here is complicated, not as you imagine..."
Shen Jintang interrupted him: "I don't understand? I know everything you've done! I've called you here today to make you understand that the court's money is not for you to line your own pockets! The lives of the people are not tools for you to use to gain personal benefits!"
"Today, you must give me an explanation! How do you plan to make up for the embezzled disaster relief funds? What do you plan to do with the people who are starving?"
The officials were stunned into silence by her words, and they all lowered their heads, not daring to look up at her again.
Upon seeing this, Shen Huaixu smiled slightly, quite satisfied with Shen Jintang's performance.
If someone plays the good cop, someone else has to play the bad cop.
So he cleared his throat and tried to keep his tone calm and sincere: "My lords, the people are in dire need of food relief, but the grain in the warehouses is almost gone and the relief grain is still on its way. I hope you can all contribute generously to help us get through this difficult time."
Upon hearing this, the officials immediately looked troubled, as if Shen Huaixu's proposal would cost them their lives.
That's right, who doesn't love money?
Getting money out of their hands is more painful than cutting flesh with a knife!
So someone immediately cried poverty, saying, "Sir, my family is almost starving, we really can't afford any more food!"
As he spoke, he deliberately put on a gloomy face in an attempt to gain sympathy.
Another official chimed in, "Yes, sir, we have it tough too, please be understanding!"
Before he finished speaking, he deliberately sighed, as if he were the one who was most wronged.
A bunch of scoundrels.
Shen Jintang had been observing coldly all along. At this moment, she narrowed her eyes, a hint of coldness in them, as if she could see through the hypocrisy in the hearts of these officials.
She suddenly stood up, her movements swift and decisive, and slightly raised her hand, signaling the guards outside to close the door.
The door slammed shut with a loud bang, cutting off all outside light and plunging the room into darkness, leaving only a faint sliver of light filtering through the cracks in the door and window.
The officials immediately felt uneasy and questioned, "Sir, what do you mean by this?"
Their voices trembled slightly, revealing their inner fear.
They looked at each other, their eyes filled with surprise and uncertainty.
Shen Jintang smiled slightly, but the smile sent chills down one's spine.
She took a box out of her bundle, slowly opened it, and inside was the sword that Gu Zhixing had given her.
The sword flashed with a cold light, reflecting on the terrified faces of the crowd, making everyone's hearts leap into their throats.
The light reflected from the sword blade danced in the room, as if it were a harbinger of death.
"Sir, what are you trying to do?"
An official asked in alarm, his voice trembling and his body shaking slightly.
Shen Jintang slowly walked up to the official closest to her. The official was named Wang Youde, a fat man who was usually very afraid of death.
He saw the sword in Shen Jintang's hand and was so frightened that he retreated repeatedly, only to bump into the chair behind him, looking utterly disheveled.
His body trembled violently, his eyes filled with terror, as if he had seen the entrance to hell.
Shen Jintang placed the sword against his neck, and with a slight movement of the blade, a shallow bloodstain was drawn.
Blood seeped out instantly, staining his originally fair neck red.
Wang Youde turned pale with fright, cold sweat pouring down his forehead. He stammered, "No...no, sir, my family really doesn't have any extra food!"
His voice was choked with sobs, and his body trembled violently.
"Really none left?" Shen Jintang asked again.
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