Whether the emperor truly cared for them or not, at least the prince and Magistrate Li had been trying their best. They’d rioted only because someone had taken advantage of their panic and fear to fan the flames.
After emotions ran their course, many regretted their actions and worried if they’d have to answer for their misdeeds. They no longer stormed the yamen, but sobs continued to ring out from the crowd.Everyone felt their grief as if it were their own; the louder the refugees cried, the more infectious their anguish became.
Qin Yining leaned against Pang Xiao and shed tears of her own as she took in their despairing sobs. The prince wrapped his arms around his distressed lady and rubbed her shoulders before addressing the crowd.
"Fear not. Since this prince is here by royal decree as the disaster relief ambassador, I will do my job well. The earthquake destroyed many roads, which makes the transport of provisions difficult. However, I will see to it that this problem is resolved. Please have patience and conserve your energy.”
At this, one of the sobbing citizens piped up. "Why should we believe you?"
"Yeah, we've been trapped here for so long, and so many people who could’ve been saved have already kicked the bucket!"
"You disaster relief officials took your sweet time getting here, and you came empty-handed. How are we commoners supposed to trust you?"
……
Everyone was in a pitiful state—many had lost family to this catastrophe one way or another, and Li Qitian's policies truly didn't inspire much confidence. It made sense why people of the disaster zones would resent them.
Frankly, Pang Xiao and Qin Yining didn’t agree with Li Qitian's methods, either. However, they weren’t in the position to point fingers at their liege lord. All they could do was solemnly swear that no one would be abandoned.
The two devoted everything they had to quelling the riot, resulting in minimal losses.
Even the strongest of tigers cannot hold off a pack of wolves. Pang Xiao was a master of the martial arts and had a group of elite soldiers to protect him. However, if the rioting had continued and enraged citizens charged them, no one could say for sure what dire consequences might’ve developed.
Having finally pacified the refugees, Pang Xiao took Qin Yining to discuss their next course of action with Magistrate Li and Prefect Gong. They sat on the ground of a barren clearing without regard for status or station, the Dragon Riders forming a perimeter around the group.
Sir Gong began, "The situation before us is very clear. Though His Majesty's relief funds have yet to arrive, His Highness' donations are enough to last us a good while. However, transportation is still an issue, and we don't have anyone we can buy rice from. The rice families in town refuse to settle for anything less than ten taels for one stone of coarse rice. Even if we have to agree to those prices, we still need to purchase medicine. Who knows how much longer we'll be able to support the people?"
Pang Xiao grit his teeth and hissed, "Curse those dogs who gave up their humanity for wealth!"
Dejection loomed over the group. In the people's hour of need, some gathered together to brainstorm ideas, while others lacking in morality, such as the Dings and Peis, looked on as if watching an entertaining show.
One could only sigh at the stark contrast between the two.
But the refugees knew nothing of their troubles—all they saw was that their emperor neither sent them disaster relief provisions nor funds, and many had died from starvation or disease as a result.
The purpose of helping those affected by the disaster wasn’t just to save lives. From the emperor's perspective, it was more crucial that he retained the public's confidence in him. Fail at the former, and he would lose the faith of the people. Fail at the later, and someone might come for his head!
Qin Yining pursed her lips. Truth be told, she had already devised a callous solution, but she couldn't bring herself to voice it. But after witnessing the suffering of so many citizens, she could afford to hesitate no longer.
She declared resolutely, "I actually have a way for us to temporarily solve the problem at hand without the use of silver. However, it may be too unsavory..."
Everyone looked at the princess consort.
Pang Xiao looked thoughtful. "What do you propose we do?"
"Steal from the rich and give to the poor." Qin Yining pursed her lips, her brows pinched. She remained silent for a long moment.
"This subordinate understands what Her Highness is saying,” Magistrate Li spoke up, “but we lack manpower. If we try to break into those residencies, we may not even be able to get any provisions. We would merely be endangering the lives of those involved."
The prefect nodded as well. "Indeed. What's more is that if we loot and steal, we’ll get into trouble with the law."
Qin Yining pursed her lips and closed her eyes for a moment before speaking again. "But, what if the refugees were the ones to raid the estates?"
The group was stunned into silence by her words.
Heart aching, Pang Xiao pulled his beloved into his embrace without regard for anyone else and patted her back. "My darling, this is such a difficult situation for you."
Chapter 455.2: Raid
The princess consort shook her head and gently pushed her husband away. "You may find my idea distasteful, as it’s sure to lead to casualties on both sides. If angry citizens go on a rampage, they inevitably ransack, loot, vandalize, or set fire to these beautiful residences. They won’t stop at grabbing the food. Even the elderly, children and women may be hurt...
“However, at the moment I really can't think of any other way to save so many people. The national treasury is exhausted and we don't know when we will receive provisions. But the people can't go a day without food or medicine. At this rate, their dissatisfaction will grow and His Majesty's authority will be destabilized. More importantly, I fear these citizens will all be just written off.
"Sending them after these rich families may sound callous and result in harm and injury, but this is the best option compared to letting people starve to death or driving them to desperate measures." Qin Yining lowered her head with a murmur. "Perhaps I’m condemning myself to the eighteenth level of hell with such a cold-blooded proposition."
"Don't say such a thing, my dear." Pang Xiao smiled and wrapped an arm around her in comfort. "I understand where you’re coming from. When I was first sent to war, I couldn't bring myself to swing my sword at my foes and end their lives. They too had people waiting for them at home. Every slice and thrust would visit tragedy upon a family.
"However, I couldn't afford to hesitate when it actually came to ending a life because if I did, not only would they kill me instead, they would also slaughter the people I fought to protect. The era of chaos and violence would never end if I didn’t take out my opponents, and the people would never know peace.
“Killing hundreds might seem like a cruel and bloody act, but at the same time, their sacrifices are valuable because more people can live on happily and peacefully. If I must atone in hell for my sins, then so be it. As the Buddhist adage goes, 'Who will enter hell, if not me?'"
Hearing this, Qin Yining couldn't help mutter, "Who will enter hell, if not me… indeed. If my unscrupulous proposition keeps more people alive, the sacrifices of the minority will not be in vain. If I am sent to hell for this, then I wholly accept it.
“This will also set an example for the families in other cities and counties, so that they don’t dare to form cartels of their own. We're not looking to seize their provisions from them. We only ask that they set fair prices."
Her resolve grew as she spoke, a shining assertiveness and foresight replacing the previous vulnerability in her eyes. Those present understood what the princess consort meant.
Considering how they lacked sufficient military power, it did appear that encouraging the refugees to riot was the only way they could minimize casualties and ensure the survival of the majority. Even the law couldn't punish so many at once; h
ow could His Majesty punish such a large number of refugees?
However, their hearts ached for those soon to be martyred: the elderly, children and women of those rich families. They had no say in the prices of the rice, yet they were to be bystander casualties nonetheless.
When the group next looked at Qin Yining, they saw her in a different light.
How intelligent and decisive was she to have thought of such a solution! Compassion drove her remorse over those about to lose their lives, yet she’d done so to save the majority. Cruel as she may seem, could any of them truly denounce her?
That night, Qin Yining found herself unable to sleep.
She tossed and turned, kept awake by chilling mental images of mobs raiding the estates of the rich to commit arson, murder, and plunder while women and children were tortured to death. When she finally found sleep, she was frightened awake by nightmares.
His wife’s screams woke Pang Xiao with a jerk. The sight of her face streaked with tears squeezed his heart painfully as he drew her into a tight embrace.
"My darling, you've done nothing wrong. Your solution isn’t wrong. Even if there’s fault to be distributed, the one upon the throne is to blame, not you."
"But the truth is that many will die because of my plan."
"That may be, but a great majority of the citizens will live because of you. Not just the people of Yang County, but all of the citizens living in the disaster zone."
Qin Yining leaned against Pang Xiao's shoulders with closed eyes and nodded. She had to bury her weaknesses in order to move forward in the face of harsh reality.
At daybreak, the refugees learned what the immoral landlords had done in their lust for money. They’d increased their prices to the unaffordable amount of twelve taels per stone when the Faithful Prince of the First Rank sought to strike a deal. The prince tried several times, receiving nothing but doors slammed shut in his face for his efforts. Knowing this, the people agitated with outrage.
Riots boiled over by noon. News spread of attacks on the Dings and the Peis. Meanwhile, Huzi dragged a person bound by rope before Pang Xiao and Qin Yining.
"Your Highness, the two we interrogated yesterday confessed they were acting on orders to provoke the refugees so that there would be a major riot. This one is the person pulling the strings."
The two looked down with conflicted feelings—lying on her side and gagged with a rag was none other than Madame Lu.
The princess consort intoned, "Why? Didn’t you move to your countryside estate? Why are you here and why did you do that? Do you know how many citizens were trampled to death because of you?"
Biting down on the rag in her mouth, Madame Lu glared wrathfully at her.
"Remove her gag so that she may speak," ordered Qin Yining.
"Yes, Your Highness." Huzi immediately removed the rag.
Squirming like a massive cicada larva, Madame Lu struggled for a long while before she brought himself to a seated position. She lifted up her head at Pang Xiao, then Qin Yining before exclaiming, "I only wanted to help the refugees! What wrong have I committed?"
Chapter 456: Contact
“It doesn’t surprise me at all that Madame Lu possesses such kind intentions. I just never thought that you’d still be so idiotic after all that you’ve suffered through.” Qin Yining’s tone was measured and gentle, but every word was mental torture to Madame Lu’s ears.
“How dare you!” Madame Lu flushed beet red and looked throbbingly at Pang Xiao, beseeching help.
The prince sat at the head seat leisurely drinking his tea, having cast not a single glance at her. She was trussed up like a chicken and thrown onto the floor, whereas Qin Yining had the right to be on the same footing as the prince and even viciously humiliate Madame Lu!
Flying into a rage out of humiliation, she glared scathingly at Qin Yining. “Are you the only ones allowed to help?? What, other people can’t even do a good deed?”
The princess consort chuckled, amused by the sophistry. “Riling up the people so they rush to their deaths is your idea of a good deed? Then if I want to take your life so that you reincarnate early, is that a good deed too?”
Off to the side, Pang Xiao couldn’t help a grin from spreading over his face.
In the end, Madame Lu was frightened into submission by the furious and violent look in the princess consort’s eyes. The madame scooted backward. “You, you wouldn’t dare! I’m a Lu! My clan will demand an answer from you if you so much as harm a hair on my head!”
“Oh? In that case, you goading the people on to mutiny was authorized by the Lus then? Do you believe me when I say that your clan will be utterly annihilated when the emperor hears of this? Who will stick up for you then?”
“You cheap bitch, cut the nonsense! Don’t you dare think of dragging House Lu into this!”
“Why didn’t you remember that you’re part of House Lu when you did things that would implicate the clan?”
Madame Lu realized to her chagrin that she wouldn’t win an argument against Qin Yining. She wriggled her well-rounded body and looked tearily at Pang Xiao for help, pleading tenderly, “Your Highness, you are wise and noble. You know that I’m not this sort of person.”
This woman’s audacity knew no bounds! There she was, blatantly attempting seduction right in front of Qin Yining, and multiple times to boot! Did she have no shame??
The princess consort rose and stalked toward the madame, finally standing two steps away from the woman and loftily looked down at her. Her positioning also happened to block the woman’s line of sight.
The madame lifted her head upwards and realized with shock that this angle was simply too undignified. She averted her eyes with an angry snort.
“Out with it. Who instructed you to incite the citizens to rebel.” Qin Yining’s voice was neither too ponderous nor too harried, but the look in her eyes raked Madame Lu like a flay.
“No one gave me instructions,” insisted the madame doggedly. “I felt that things were too difficult for the refugees. They’re all crouched by the walls out of starvation. So I had them make a bit of noise and demand food from court. I did this out of good intentions, how is that rebelling?”
“Oh? Do you need to be cross examined? Have you forgotten what you taught that man and woman to say to rile up the people?”
“Qin Yining! I know you don’t like me, but you can’t falsely accuse me like this! You’re taking advantage of the opportunity for revenge!” shrieked the madame.
“You’re not worthy of being my enemy at all, so for what reason would I take revenge? You don’t have to say anything now, it’s already set in stone that you incited the riots. I just need to hand you over to the emperor. His Majesty will form his own judgement of the rest.”
“You wouldn’t dare! I’m a Lu! I…”
“The woman follows her husband after she marries. You’re not only a daughter of the Lus, but a daughter-in-law of the Mis. Ask yourself this, are your actions worthy of your husband, the Marquis of Valiant Faith? As the marchioness, you fed off the benefits of your late husband to keep a harem of escorts. You emotionally tortured your husband while he lived—do you really think there’s no such thing as karma in this world?”
“You don’t know anything!” Madame Lu’s face turned even redder upon this full exposure. She opened her mouth to spit at the princess consort.
Off to the side, quick-witted Jiyun kicked the madame over so that her spit didn’t fly out.
“Stopper her mouth and keep a close guard on her. Don’t let her get away, and most certainly don’t let her die.”
“Understood.” Huzi carried out Qin Yining’s orders and hauled the madame out like a cut of meat.
Pang Xiao rose and flung his arm around his wife. “Jealous?”
Qin Yining nodded seriously. “That’s right, I’m jealous. How dare she scheme about you right in front of me? She’s shameless to the extreme! This kind of woman should be thrown into a bamboo cage and immersed in the lake.” [1]
The anger on her charming face, bunched up brows, and dissatisfied pout of her pert lips elicited unspeakable delight from Pang Xiao. Though it wasn’t that appropriate in such a serious occasion, he couldn’t help but wrap her in his embrace and kiss her lightly on the lips.
“Don’t think too much, I don’t care about anything they think. I have only you in my heart.”
Sweet honey welled in Qin Yining’s heart and contentment filled her. She hugged Pang Xiao’s waist and buried her face in his chest. “Do you mean that? What if a younger, prettier girl appears in the future? What if you like her? Will you take her as your concubine?”
* * *
1. This kind of punishment was reserved for adulterous women in ancient China, with the most severe punishments lasting until the woman drowned.
Chapter 456.2: Contact
Pang Xiao was both amused and horrified by the question. “How would I ever? One, there will never be another girl prettier than you. Two, I don’t want any concubines. I said this long ago, I only want you.”
Qin Yining remained silent, her face buried in the prince’s embrace, but she was smiling and felt much more light-hearted.
Footsteps traveled in from the outside, prompting the two to separate and find their seats.
“Your Highness, Madame Lu is locked away and awaiting further handling,” reported Huzi. “The citizens have charged into the Ding and Pei manors and it’s all a chaotic mess right now. There are casualties on both sides, but the people are worked up and there’s so many of them. The guards for the two families don’t amount to much, so I think we’ll see an end to the turmoil in less than an hour.”
Qin Yining’s mood plunged once more when she heard there were casualties. “Should we send our men to clean up the aftermath? It’s enough to get our hands on the food, there’s no need to wait until the people have wiped out the families.”
Return of the Swallow c1-644 Page 252