Chapter 117 "Good Wife"

At first, the rumor only spread among the disaster victims that there was a porridge stall at the city gate that provided rich porridge. Although the fairy lady who distributed the porridge was fierce, she was fair and would not give out porridge just because there were many people asking for it. She ensured that everyone had a share.

Seeing that the victims were all heading toward the city gate, the people on the street were also surprised.

The victims of the disaster all wanted to go inside the city, so why were these people running towards the city gate?

Once people in the street inquired about it, they also heard about it.

At first, it was just rumored that the porridge stall of Empress Shen in the palace was honest.

Later, a porridge stand a few streets away was looted by the disaster victims.

So someone asked, "There are more disaster victims on the other side of the city gate than here. Why haven't we heard of any disaster victims causing trouble?"

"You don't know? I heard it was a palace maiden, very tough, who frightened the disaster victims all by herself."

"How brave they must have been! You have no idea how terrifying it was. These people were starving and mad. The guards had their swords drawn, but they were not afraid."

"As expected of someone from the palace, you are really capable. If the victims get too greedy, we will probably suffer as well."

"That's not true. Haven't all the shops around here been robbed?"

The empress and the maids in the palace, these secret things that are far away from the lives of ordinary people naturally make people curious.

So, with a passion for gossip and a little gratitude, the maidservants beside Empress Shen were so brave and capable that they subdued the disaster victims who even the guards could not frighten them. In a short time, the news spread to almost everyone.

By the time the news reached Hawking's ears, it was already evening.

It was past the hour of Hai, and the lights in Yu's study were still brightly on.

The serving palace maids and eunuchs stood outside the door. The smoke from the copper stove in the middle of the hall was thick and straight. Except for the slight sound made by Hawking Chi dipping his pen into ink, the hall was completely silent.

He was indeed extremely busy during this period, and working at his desk until late at night had become his normal routine. He was also very concerned about the situation of the disaster victims in the city.

But Hawking didn't have time to ask about them one by one, so the final news was sent to Xu An.

While taking a break from writing and drinking tea, Huo Jinchi pinched the back of his neck, looked at Xu An standing inside the palace gate, and asked, "What's the situation?"

Xu An understood that he was asking about the victims in the city, and immediately said, "Your Majesty, nothing serious happened. Although there were incidents of looting porridge stalls and shops along the street in some places, they were quickly suppressed."

Huo Jinchi responded, his eyes showing no sign of fatigue but a hint of caution.

Tomorrow, Jiang Yuanzheng will also send people to maintain order. With so many people crowded together, we must not allow an epidemic to break out.

Fortunately, the Chiang Kai-shek government has experienced an epidemic before, so it will definitely be able to take precautions.

The registration of disaster victims must also be expedited. Only in this way can they be effectively managed and prevented from causing trouble everywhere and making the people in the city more dissatisfied.

Otherwise, Yu Shitai would probably submit another memorial to "report" himself.

Although there were many things to do, he had his mind organized and did not feel confused or distressed.

What really troubled Huo Jinchi were those "ministers who helped the country" in the court. They had started investigating when the refugees were rioting, but they had only uncovered the truth so far.

The positions have changed from county magistrate to prefect, but there are still so many victims of a locust plague.

There are starving people everywhere in the west, and the cities are almost empty!

Huo Jinchi's eyes turned cold, and there was a murderous intent in the darkness. If the poison penetrated into the skin, then there would be nothing left but flesh and bones to be removed!

He turned his neck and was about to pick up his pen again, but he saw Xu An, who came over to refill his tea, looking as if he wanted to say something but hesitated.

"Just say whatever you want to say." He glanced at Xu An before picking up the pen again.

Xu An stole a glance at the emperor, then whispered, "Your Majesty, I heard an interesting story, but I didn't expect it to be related to Miss Yunqin."

Huo Jinchi paused, put the pen back in his hand, looked at him coldly, and said, "Explain it clearly."

Seeing the emperor's concern, Xu An immediately found some idle palace maids in the cold palace due to the "shortage of staff" in the palace, and told Huo Jinchi everything about Yun Qin's performance in the porridge shed today and the rumors that were spreading everywhere.

Huo Jinchi's expression became colder as he listened, and finally he slammed the brush in his hand on the table. What shortage of manpower? He was not a fool, how could he not know what tricks these women were playing!

"That's great! They came to me one by one and said they wanted to set up porridge stalls. I thought they were well-intentioned, but I didn't expect that they would end up cheating!"

Xu An hurriedly said, "Ms. Shen did send two of her maids. Miss Yunqin went to her porridge stall completely by accident."

Accident? Hawking didn't believe it.

Everyone in the palace knew that Shen Daying and Su Yiyan were not getting along. It was obvious that they knew that people around Shen Daying would also go to the porridge stall, so they deliberately arranged for her to go there.

So that he could use the hands of Shen Danying's palace maids to torture her.

When the disaster victims entered the city the day before yesterday, Huo Jinchi went to the city tower to see what was happening. He knew how chaotic the situation was today.

Although the little palace maid was a little temperamental, even if she got angry she would only get angry to the point of red eyes.

That she is tough?

Hawking Chi didn't find it funny at all, nor did he think she was so impressive. He just felt sorry for her.

Because he knew that she must have been forced!

It was because of the situation at that time, the chaotic victims, and also because of the people in the palace and the Empress who forced them!

I felt sad and scared at the same time. Fortunately, she was smarter and braver than others. If she was really rushed into the porridge stand by the disaster victims like in other places...

Huo Jinchi just thought about it, and some hostility appeared in his eyes.

He sneered, "There are indeed too many idle people in the palace. Go to the Queen's palace and pass on the order. Tell her that the Queen Mother's birthday is coming soon. In order to bring blessings to the Queen Mother, a group of palace maids of appropriate age should be released from the palace, especially those "idle" people in the cold palace. I want her to submit the list within three days!"

He emphasized the words "idle person", which made Xu An swallow his saliva.

The emperor was so angry, was it because the ladies in the harem were lying or because they had set their sights on Miss Yunqin? Others might not understand, but didn't he?

The emperor was already unhappy because Miss Yunqin was sent to the cold palace, and he had not had time to see her during this period, so he missed her even more.

This news was bad news about being bullied, no wonder the emperor was angry.

"Your Majesty, if this matter is handled too hastily, there will probably be chaos in the palace." Xu An still gave some advice, risking the risk of being affected by the emperor's anger.

The smile on Huo Jinchi's lips turned colder. "Doesn't she just like to make trouble? This is a good opportunity for her to show off her power as the queen! It also allows the queen mother to see how this 'virtuous wife' she chose can help me manage the harem."

Xu An thought he was intermittently deaf and didn't hear this. He responded and said, "The harem is also under lock and key now. Your Majesty, why don't we wait until tomorrow morning?"

"Go now!" Huo Jinchi said in a cold voice, "I haven't even slept yet, how can someone who is causing trouble for me sleep?"

Xu An's face turned bitter. The empress was already angry about this decree, and now it was delivered in the middle of the night.

I just hope the Queen won’t beat him out with one blow!