Beneath the glittering facade of the prosperous dynasty, a sudden crisis is quietly approaching, like a surging undercurrent about to shatter the peace and tranquility of this land. Ling Yichen and Jun Moran, a couple who have already made significant achievements in the ancient entertainment industry and the field of cultural dissemination, once again feel the call of fate and resolutely join hands to prepare for this unknown challenge.
At first, only some subtle anomalies in the city caught people's attention. Grain prices began to rise quietly, and the market supply of grain gradually became tight. Long queues formed in front of rice shops in some alleys, and the people's faces were full of anxiety and unease. Ling Yichen and Jun Mozhan also noticed this change during their daily outings. Looking at the people who were worried about food, Jun Mozhan couldn't help but feel a surge of pity: "Yichen, this abnormal rise in grain prices is probably not a good sign. We need to find out what's going on." Ling Yichen nodded in agreement, a hint of worry in his eyes: "Yes, this matter concerns the livelihood of the people, we can't just sit idly by."
They began visiting various places, inquiring with merchants and residents of the city. From an old rice shop owner, they learned that several surrounding counties had suffered severe droughts, resulting in complete crop failure. A large influx of refugees into Shenghua City had caused a sharp increase in demand for food, while local grain reserves were gradually dwindling. At the same time, some unscrupulous merchants were taking advantage of the situation, hoarding grain and driving up prices, further exacerbating the already strained grain market.
As the investigation deepened, they discovered a more complex conspiracy hidden behind the crisis. It turned out that a powerful minister in the court, seeking personal gain, colluded with unscrupulous merchants. He used his power to obstruct the distribution of relief supplies to drought-stricken areas, while secretly manipulating the grain market, attempting to consolidate his position and wealth through the crisis. This minister wielded immense power in the court, had numerous cronies, and many officials dared not speak out against him.
Ling Yichen and Jun Mozhan knew that their combined efforts were far from sufficient to resolve the food crisis. They decided to unite with other like-minded individuals in the city to combat the crisis. They first reached out to friends they had made in the entertainment industry, such as the actress Su Jin, the embroiderer Lin Wan, and the nobleman Zhao Xuan. Upon hearing their plan, these people readily offered their support. Su Jin used her influence within the opera troupe to organize performances throughout the city to raise funds for the disaster-stricken people; Lin Wan initiated a fundraising campaign at her embroidery shop, calling on people to donate clothing and food; and Zhao Xuan, leveraging his noble status and connections, relayed messages to upright officials in the imperial court, hoping to draw the court's attention.
However, their actions quickly attracted the attention of the powerful minister. He dispatched his henchmen to suppress and persecute Ling Yichen and his companions. Their charity performance venue was vandalized, their embroidery shop was harassed, and they were even threatened. Faced with these difficulties and dangers, Ling Yichen and Jun Mo Ran did not back down. Ling Yichen said firmly, "We cannot be intimidated by them. Especially in times like these, we must persevere." Jun Mo Ran also gripped his hand tightly: "That's right, for the sake of the people in the city, we must expose their conspiracy."
In a conflict with a powerful minister's henchmen, Ling Yichen displayed his courage and wisdom. When a group of thugs broke into their gathering, attempting to cause trouble, Ling Yichen calmly stepped forward. He cleverly used the surrounding environment to set up some simple traps. He had everyone spread out to distract the thugs, then triggered the traps at the crucial moment. Some thugs tripped over tables and chairs that suddenly fell over, while others were tripped by ropes hidden in corners, instantly throwing them into disarray. Taking advantage of the situation, Ling Yichen led everyone in a counterattack, driving the thugs out of the venue.
Jun Mo Ran silently supported Ling Yi Chen from behind. Using her embroidery skills, she made some protective clothing and accessories for everyone. She sewed thicker fabric and iron plates into the key parts of the clothes to provide some protection when facing attacks; she also made some accessories with sharp needles that could be used as self-defense weapons in emergencies.
As the situation grew increasingly tense, Ling Yichen and Jun Mozhan realized they needed to find more compelling evidence to fully expose the powerful minister's conspiracy and force the court to take action. They decided to risk a thorough investigation of the minister's residence. On a dark and stormy night, they quietly infiltrated the mansion. The residence was heavily guarded, with patrolling soldiers constantly moving about. However, Ling Yichen and Jun Mozhan, with their agility and seamless teamwork, skillfully evaded the patrols and sneaked into the minister's study.
In the study, they searched carefully and finally found an account book in a hidden compartment. The account book contained detailed evidence of collusion between the powerful minister and unscrupulous merchants, including transaction details, correspondence, and records of the interception of government relief supplies. Ling Yichen carefully put the account book away, and then quietly left the powerful minister's residence with Jun Moran.
With this ledger as evidence, they began actively contacting righteous individuals in the court. They showed the contents of the ledger to some officials who were loyal to the court and cared about the people. After learning the truth, these officials were filled with righteous indignation and decided to join Ling Yichen and others in submitting a memorial to the emperor to expose the crimes of the powerful minister.
A fierce struggle unfolded in the imperial court. Facing accusations from the crowd, the powerful minister still attempted to evade responsibility. But when Ling Yichen produced the account book as evidence, he was rendered speechless. After learning the truth, the emperor was furious and immediately ordered the powerful minister and his cronies to be brought to justice, their ill-gotten gains confiscated, and the money used to purchase grain to aid the disaster-stricken people. At the same time, the emperor dispatched officials to the drought-stricken areas to organize disaster relief efforts, distribute aid supplies, and help the people rebuild their homes.
With the downfall of the powerful minister, the food crisis gradually eased. Food prices in the city began to fall, and people's lives gradually returned to normal. Ling Yichen and Jun Mozhan once again demonstrated their courage, wisdom, and responsibility during this crisis. Their names were widely circulated in Shenghua City, and they became heroes in the hearts of the people.
Through this battle, Ling Yichen and Jun Mo Ran's bond deepened. Facing difficulties and dangers, they supported and trusted each other, remaining inseparable. They knew that in this unfamiliar ancient world, as long as they stood shoulder to shoulder, nothing could stop their progress. They would continue to dedicate their strength to the well-being of the people, the preservation and development of culture, and write their own legendary story on this land.
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