"You can buy it elsewhere."
"However, the people are displaced and countless people are starving to death every day. It will take at least ten days for grain from other places to be transported here. By the time the grain arrives, it will probably be too late."
Gu Jinxi frowned.
"But I remember reading in a book that the prefectural governor's office in each region stores grain. Can we ask the prefectural governor's office to open the granaries and release the grain?"
Gu Jingchun nodded.
“You’re right, but Mother had already ordered an investigation before she arrived here.”
"Before the people rioted, the prefectural government opened the granaries to distribute grain and set up stalls to distribute porridge."
"However, there was no grain in the granary."
"That so-called porridge distribution was nothing more than some rice water."
Gu Jinxi exclaimed in surprise.
Why is there no food?
"Where did all the grain go?"
Gu Jingchun chuckled, "That's a question for the Prefect of Qi County."
Gu Jinxi frowned, her small face filled with anger.
"Mother, can we defeat the Prefect?"
Gu Jingchun fell silent for a moment.
"We can beat them."
"But he is an official after all. What if we beat him up and get arrested later?"
Gu Jinxi was very dissatisfied.
"I am the eldest grandson of the emperor, who dares to arrest me?"
Gu Jingchun undermined him.
“But we have already left the palace, and you are no longer the eldest grandson of the emperor.”
Gu Jinxi blushed and immediately threw herself into Gu Jingchun's arms.
“Then let’s go back. I’ll go and beg my grandfather. I’ll explain the reason for my vow to him, and he will definitely understand.”
As Gu Jinxi spoke, she looked up at Gu Jingchun and said earnestly.
“Mother, this time, Xi’er understands.”
"From now on, Xi'er will no longer be playful, nor will she complain about the boredom of the palace."
After this matter is over, Xi'er will return to the palace to study diligently under her father and grandfather, so that she can help these people in the future.
Gu Jingchun nodded, gently patted Gu Jinxi's head, and then said:
“Xi’er, your mother hopes you understand that some people are born with their own responsibilities.”
"Since you are the eldest grandson of the emperor, you bear your responsibilities and mission."
"But your mother also wants you to understand that you must protect yourself first, so that you can better help and protect the people. Do you understand?"
Gu Jinxi nodded.
"So, Mother, can you help these people?"
“Seele knows you’ll find a way.”
Gu Jingchun nodded.
"Mother really wants to help them, but Mother doesn't have a better way."
"When Mother woke up five days ago, she sent a message to all the branches of Tianjing Trading Company."
They are now doing everything they can to collect food and deliver it as quickly as possible.
However, even the fastest route from here takes ten days, and half of that time has already passed.
"Therefore, we only need to get the governor of Qi County to produce enough grain within five days to solve our immediate crisis."
Gu Jinxi nodded and immediately looked at Gu Jingchun with admiration.
"I knew it. My mother is so kind, she would never just ignore these people."
Gu Jinxi couldn't help but reach out and poke his forehead with her finger.
"You little rascal, you're always full of tricks."
Gu Jinxi scratched her head and chuckled.
Fortunately, they were currently only half a day's distance from the prefectural governor's mansion.
Therefore, Gu Jingchun asked Ye Wenxi to come and discuss the matter.
"Wenxi."
Gu Jingchun called out to him.
"Is there any news from Mother?"
Ye Wenxi shook her head.
"Perhaps because of the riots here, we haven't received any news from Aunt May for a long time."
Gu Jingchun was somewhat uneasy.
After all, Qi County is too chaotic right now. Even if Mei Xueli has enough people protecting her, it cannot guarantee that everything will go smoothly.
So she said, "I can't remain indifferent to everything here right now, but I'm really worried about Aunt Mei, so I thought I'd send someone over to check on things first."
Ye Wenxi knew Gu Jingchun's personality, so she could only nod.
Gu Jingchun originally intended to send Ye Wenxi over, but Ye Wenxi was so worried about Gu Jingchun's safety that she refused no matter what. In the end, she sent her most trusted subordinate instead.
Soon, they arrived at Qi County.
The carriage entered through the city gate, but the bustling scene from before was nowhere to be seen.
The entire street was desolate and pitiful, with people lying on the ground groaning everywhere.
Their carriage quickly attracted everyone's attention when it entered.
Instantly, everyone gathered around.
"Honorable sir, please have pity on us! We haven't eaten anything for so long."
This was a gaunt old man, his hands trembling as he held a broken bowl, looking as if he might collapse at any moment.
"Honorable ones, please give me some food! My child is starving to death."
This is a mother holding her child. She is extremely thin, and her cheeks are deeply sunken.
The child in her arms had its eyes tightly closed, its face pale, and it remained motionless, as if it had stopped breathing.
"My lord, may I and my sister serve you? My sister and I are very good at working. We don't eat much; a little bit is enough for us."
This is a boy who is about ten years old.
Standing beside him was a similarly thin little girl, pale and emaciated, with a small frame, looking as if she might collapse at any moment.
Behind the carriage followed all sorts of people.
Along the roadside, countless people sat or lay down. When they saw the carriage approaching, they struggled to reach out their hands, opened their mouths, and tried to say something, but they lacked the strength to stand up.
...
Faced with these scenes, everyone remained silent.
Having witnessed the scene of refugees looting before, no one intended to give them anything.
Even as these people rushed forward, preparing to block the horse with their bodies, Ye Wenxi immediately cracked her whip, striking the ground and shouting angrily.
"Get out if you don't want to die!"
The absence of any emotion caused everyone to pause in their actions.
This also caused their bright eyes to dim instantly.
Gu Jingchun saw the shift from hope to despair in their eyes.
Perhaps they have experienced this scenario countless times.
As each carriage passed by, they would come over and beg these noblemen for some food.
However, these important people would also do the same, driving them away with disgust.
So, after Ye Wenxi spoke, they remained silent and gave up the idea of continuing to chase the carriage.
After all, they knew that if they chased after them any further, they would get beaten up.
They were already starving to death; if they were beaten, they would definitely not survive.
So everyone stopped.
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