The prefect of Xuzhou led his men to provide disaster relief every day. He wanted to open the granary, but it had been garrisoned by troops sent by Prince Yong, and the key was also in Prince Yong's hands. Prince Yong told him to write a memorial to the court to request grain, but he knew that even if the relief grain arrived, it would most likely end up in his own pocket.
Seeing the starving people of Xuzhou, he was filled with remorse. Every day, people were dying of hunger and cold, and every day, people asked him when the imperial relief grain would arrive.
The imperial court was also out of money and grain, so the funds were allocated to the prefectures along the canal so that they could begin construction.
The prefect of Xuzhou was filled with despair and hoped that someone could help him.
It was at this time that the Peng family closed their grain and oil shops and began distributing porridge to the disaster-stricken villages.
"Thank you so much, kind philanthropists! Thank you!"
The people were finally able to drink a bowl of hot porridge and were filled with gratitude.
The staff told them to line up and then gave them another bowl of ginger soup to ward off the cold.
"Everyone, the Peng family's shops in the city have all been converted into charitable halls. You can all go there tonight to squeeze in! During the day, we'll work together to rebuild our homes!"
Upon hearing this, the previously desperate people's faces lit up with hope.
"Is any shop owned by the Peng family acceptable?"
"Yes! Any shop owned by the Peng family is fine!"
"Can we get in looking like this?" someone asked cautiously. Their clothes were soaked with snow and mud, and they were filthy. Many of them had frostbite on their hands and faces, and they were almost unrecognizable.
These villagers also knew that the Peng family's shop sold only good things and was a place only the wealthy could enter.
“Yes, we can! Our hosts said they want to help everyone get through this disaster! Business is already slow in winter, so why not come and help people!”
"The Peng family is truly a family of great kindness!"
"Master Peng is so kind!"
As many people spoke, they all knelt down in front of the flag bearing the name of the Peng family.
When Prince Yong learned of this, he summoned the prefect of Xuzhou.
"Is this how you do things? Letting the Peng family talk nonsense in front of the people!"
The prefect of Xuzhou thought to himself, "They didn't say anything; they just did something you didn't want to do."
Prince Yong adopted the Lu family's suggestion and planned to stockpile troops and grain before returning to the capital at an opportune time. Upon receiving news of his father's assassination attempt, he also submitted a memorial requesting to return and visit his father.
But now, the Peng family has caught him off guard.
Because the Peng family was distributing porridge, the recruitment notices he had hung up were no longer as appealing.
If life were peaceful and safe, who would willingly risk their life in the army? Besides, the military pay isn't enough to support a family. If these able-bodied men join the army, who will farm the land? Without farmers, how will they collect the autumn taxes? More importantly, once in the army, they can only go home once a month. Who doesn't want a warm home with their wife and children?
"Find a pretext to shut down all of the Peng family's shops."
The governor of Xuzhou was dumbfounded. Wasn't doing this just forcing those people to die?
He wanted to say something, but when he met the fierce gaze of Prince Yong, he couldn't say a word and had no choice but to bite the bullet and go out.
After returning home, he fell ill, so ill that he was unconscious and unable to see anyone.
Prince Yong knew perfectly well that this was a delaying tactic. He was furious at the prefect's lack of pragmatism, but he could only send one of his own men to do it.
Yong Wang's plan only became clear to her after learning that the prefect of Xuzhou had fallen ill. She went to the prefect's residence to inquire about his condition, but his wife's answers were nonsensical. She then sent someone to inquire about what was happening in the city and realized that things were far from simple.
Immediately, she sent out invitations to the homes of various powerful and wealthy merchants in Xuzhou, reserved a table at the best restaurant, and invited them to discuss disaster relief strategies together.
She had done this before to appease the refugees from Yunzhou, and she was quite adept at it.
Prince Yong was busy figuring out how to deal with the Peng family and hadn't yet realized that his princess was opposing him. He disliked this princess from the start and therefore rarely went to her room.
As a woman of the Zhai family, Lady Zhai possessed her own dignity and would naturally not lower herself to beg for a man's affection. She neither cared for nor despised such advances.
"I have been living in the inner quarters for a long time and am not well informed about the news outside. I originally thought that the prefect of Xuzhou was prepared for the snow disaster, but I did not expect the situation to be so serious. I have gathered you all here today to discuss disaster relief methods together."
Among those present are the wife of the prefect, as well as many wives from the families of members of the Chamber of Commerce.
These merchants' wives usually fawn over the wives of officials. To put it bluntly, inviting them to such occasions is just a way to get them to spend money.
Princess Yong said, "After this snow disaster, I will inform my father and ask him to reward everyone. Surely none of you want the Peng family to become the only powerful family in Xuzhou City in the future?"
Princess Yong's words were so blunt that they struck a nerve with these merchants. The Peng family was so generous that everyone in the city knew about their righteousness, and many families only went to the Peng family's shops to buy things, hoping to support the Peng family's disaster relief efforts through their own small actions.
"The Princess is right. Faced with this natural disaster, we should unite as one! But I wonder about Prince Yong..."
None of the people sitting there were fools. The snow disaster had been going on for several days now. If Prince Yong had intervened, the disaster wouldn't have been so severe, and the Peng family wouldn't have been the ones to step in.
Princess Yong smiled and said, "Unfortunately, His Highness has been ill recently, and the entire palace has been busy with his condition, so we didn't notice how serious the disaster was."
Whether Prince Yong was ill or not, no one knew. However, since Princess Yong had said so, they could only agree on one thing.
After Princess Yong issued the tasks to each household, she went back and asked someone to invite Prince Yong to her courtyard.
She invited him last night, but Prince Yong was busy dealing with the Peng family and therefore did not come. She invited him again today, and Prince Yong came when he had some free time, but his expression was not good.
"Don't you know I'm very busy?" he said sharply. Although his queen was the daughter of a high-ranking official, he was the chosen one and had the right to look down on everyone else.
"Your Highness, I know you are very busy, but how long has it been since you last visited my courtyard? My mother wrote to urge me, and I cannot give birth to a child on my own..."
The Prince of Yong was annoyed by her crying and sobbing. He was busy with his great cause, but all she wanted was a child.
"I know Your Highness is busy, so I dare not disturb you. I am really bored here in the backyard by myself. Please have a meal with me."
Zhai Gewen spoke softly and gently, which made Prince Yong feel quite guilty towards her, so he picked up his chopsticks and ate with her.
After he finished eating, the maid brought him a bowl of nourishing soup, which he drank.
"Your Highness, you have been working hard for many days and your health has deteriorated. You should rest well."
Prince Yong looked at her in confusion, then felt dizzy and collapsed to the ground.
That wicked woman actually poisoned him!
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