The next day was still a good day.

Yu Jin got up early, washed up, and went to the yard to practice boxing for a while. After he had showered again, he heard the sound of the prince washing up.

Outside, it was not very particular. The one who had breakfast with the Crown Prince and Yu Jin was Minister Zhao.

The gentleman himself came in carrying the tray, and it was his daughter, a young and pretty girl, who set the table.

The prince couldn't help but look at the little girl a few more times.

Although they cannot be compared with the beauties in the East Palace, these wild flowers in the countryside also have a unique charm.

The prince cannot live without women, but he cannot bring his wives, concubines, and maids with him on this trip, and his heart can't help but be agitated.

When the country gentleman saw the prince glance at his daughter a few more times, he was so excited that his face turned red.

My God, their ancestors must have done so much good to have the opportunity to entertain the prince and the king!

If my daughter is favored by the prince, it would be a step to heaven.

With a crisp sound, a pair of chopsticks fell to the ground.

The little girl hurriedly picked it up, rubbed it on her skirt, and was about to put it on the dining table.

The gentleman quickly grabbed his daughter and said, "How can you let a noble lady use the chopsticks that fell on the ground? Take them out quickly."

The little girl pouted in grievance and turned away.

The prince frowned.

Such rude behavior is disgusting.

His interest immediately vanished.

The country gentleman hurriedly apologized: "My daughter was rude and rude to Your Highness."

"It's okay. You're not needed here. Go away." The prince had no interest in the little girl, let alone her father, and said impatiently.

The gentleman left and called his daughter over to scold her: "You are usually quite smart, but how come you can't even hold a pair of chopsticks steadily? That would be fine, but you wiped the chopsticks on yourself after they fell. Are you trying to piss me off to death?"

The girl smiled and said, "I did it on purpose, so that those two-colored eyes wouldn't stare at me. Humph, don't think I don't know what Dad is planning. I tell you, I would rather marry a farmer than be a concubine of a lecherous prince—"

"You little bitch, keep your voice down—"

The girl stuck out her tongue at the gentleman and ran away quickly.

The gentleman shook his head helplessly.

Forget it. His children are grown up and beyond human control. He should stop worrying about them to avoid getting angry to death.

In the dining room, the prince dawdled over his breakfast, knowing that he could not escape, and said to Minister Zhao, "Let's go and take a look at Qianhe County."

Minister Zhao breathed a sigh of relief.

He was really afraid that the prince would not even go, which would embarrass those of them from the capital.

Half an hour later, the prince and his entourage appeared at the gate of the county city.

"Your Highness, please put on your coat before entering the city. Your coat has been fumigated with herbs."

The prince naturally would not refuse, and hurriedly put on the thin coat handed to him by Minister Zhao, pointed to the city wall that was more than ten feet high and said: "Climbing high and looking far, let's take a look from the city wall, so that we can have a glimpse of the whole picture."

Everyone's expressions twisted.

"Hehe, what the prince said is right." Minister Zhao did not know whether to laugh or cry. Seeing that the prince was unwilling to take any risks, he did not force him.

The emperor sent the prince to comfort the disaster victims, saying that it was for all officials and the people of the world to see. When he returned, he wrote a long book to spread the news, and everyone praised the prince for his kindness. But who knew whether the prince actually entered the city?

This is good, at least the prince is safe. If something happens to the prince, his career will be over.

Everyone accompanied the prince to the top of the city wall.

As the prince said, when you are high you can see far.

Yu Jin stood on the city wall and looked around. He saw large expanses of ruins in the northeast, which was shocking. To the southwest, there were fewer collapsed houses. It seemed that the area was originally empty, and now countless tents were built, and shrunken figures could be seen moving around.

He looked at these silently, his expression not changing much.

He had experienced wars of varying sizes in the south, and had seen worse scenes many times. However, such tragic scenes were created by both his own people and the enemy, while the people suffering in front of him were the people of the Great Zhou.

Only then did Yu Jin realize that the two gave him different feelings.

The prince was so shocked that his eyes widened.

The earthquake that day in front of the Imperial Ancestral Temple shook the heaven and earth, and the flagpole broke. He was extremely frightened when he thought about it afterwards. He thought it was the most frightening scene, but he didn't expect it to be so tragic.

He even saw several soldiers carrying a bloated corpse towards a place.

Fortunately, it was far away, otherwise he would have vomited out his morning meal.

The prince looked at Minister Zhao with lifeless eyes and said, "It's been such a long time since the earthquake, how come there are still deaths?"

Minister Zhao no longer wanted to comment on the prince's naivety, and replied: "Those are people who died of plague. Often when one person gets sick, the whole family will be affected, and then the whole family will die..."

The prince shuddered violently.

The epidemic is so terrible, he wants to go home!

Resisting the urge to run, the prince said with a pale face, "Can't you control yourself?"

Minister Zhao smiled bitterly: "Epidemics are not so easy to control, they are usually——"

Fearing that he might frighten the prince, he did not continue. He only heard a cold voice saying, "If they are all dead, then they are under control."

The Crown Prince and Minister Zhao looked at the person who was speaking.

Yu Jin's expression was indifferent, as if it was not him who had just answered the phone.

By now he had understood what these people were planning.

Of course, disaster relief must be provided, but the people in the city cannot leave. If this continues, the problem will be solved when there are no more deaths from the epidemic in the city. However, how many people are still alive by then will be left to fate.

This method of dealing with epidemics is a custom passed down through many dynasties.

In the face of natural disasters, human life is as insignificant as an ant, and there is nothing that can be done about it.

Minister Zhao did not expect Yu Jin to reveal the unbearable truth so directly. He smiled and said, "Your Majesty is too pessimistic. The people who are currently gathered in the west are not a big problem—"

Before he could finish his words, there was a sudden commotion.

Dozens of people rushed into the city and gathered at the city gate to confront the soldiers holding spears.

"Let us out, let us out!"

"Open the city gate quickly. We don't want to stay in the city and wait for death—"

The ragged people, both men and women, young and old, looked numb and hopeless, with red eyes as they shouted.

The prince opened his mouth: "These people——"

Minister Zhao explained: "People gathered in the west and wanted to leave the city."

A look of disgust flashed across the prince's eyes.

Who knows whether these ruffians have been infected with the disease? They are actually arguing to leave the city, showing no sense of responsibility for other people's lives! Fortunately, he was wise and just stood on the city wall to take a look. Otherwise, if he really went into the city, he would be rude to these ruffians.

The prince praised himself silently.

Seeing the disaster victims making a scene in front of the prince, the magistrate of Qianhe County shouted at the top of his voice: "Everyone, be quiet and listen to me. The court will definitely make good arrangements for everyone and will not abandon anyone easily. Look, this is His Royal Highness the Crown Prince. His Royal Highness is here to visit you on behalf of the Emperor—"

The crowd fell silent, and suddenly a worn-out shoe was thrown onto the wall, hitting the prince right on the head.