Chapter 113: Severe Laws in Turbulent Times

"A Yue!" Su Ruoqing knew that those words were too much. He lowered his voice and was about to stop Pan Yueqing from speaking. But when Pan Yueqing raised her eyes, she intimidated Su Ruoqing. She then turned her cold face towards the group of people who were left somewhat dazed by her undisguised display of power.

"Look back. Aren't those people your mothers, wives, and children?" Pan Yueqing held the whip and swept her gaze around at these people. "The famine and hunger are indeed difficult to endure... But don't you know that what's more terrifying than death is becoming worse than a beast?!"

"Don't seize the relief porridge by force, and don't pretend to be others to get it." She didn't expect to wake these people up with her scolding. She said firmly, "Those who violate my order will be executed without mercy."

"If you don't believe it, feel free to try!"

When she uttered those words "executed without mercy", Su Ruoqing really felt like he was about to faint. But now Pan Yueqing was speaking on behalf of Prime Minister Pan. Even if he knew it was extremely inappropriate, he couldn't step forward to refute her.

"It's not that serious..." Su Ruoqing watched as the crowd dispersed and then quietly whispered in Pan Yueqing's ear, "Just for a bowl of porridge, it's not worth dying for."

"These people can even eat human flesh. What do you think they care about in terms of what's worth it or not?" Pan Yueqing walked towards the City God Temple with an expressionless face. Just now, Luo Shui had taken the blind old woman inside for the medical officer there to examine her. It wasn't that serious either. If these people rioted, they would be the ones in big trouble. Su Ruoqing followed behind Pan Yueqing. He didn't know when it happened, but the relationship between him and Pan Yueqing had changed. Originally, it was Pan Yueqing who followed him around like a naive little girl, but now it was him who unconsciously followed behind Pan Yueqing.

"I know what you're worried about, Cousin," Pan Yueqing paused with her hand on the curtain before lifting it. She turned around and gave Su Ruoqing a sweet smile. "I'm just hitting them where it hurts the most. Those people are all afraid of death."

Before the real despair arrives, these spineless people won't riot.

The blind old woman was holding a baby who was smacking its lips. Although she was old and blind, her ears were very sharp. As soon as she heard Pan Yueqing's voice, she smiled and expressed her gratitude. "Is that the young lady who saved this old woman just now?"

Young lady. Pan Yueqing's heart stirred. She had deliberately lowered her voice just now. This false voice had deceived many people before. She slightly turned her head to look at the old woman sitting on the stool. Without saying anything else, she just brought a bowl of porridge and placed it in front of the blind old woman. "The porridge is still warm."

"The child is fine." Pan Yueqing saw that the blind old woman was about to grope for the child while holding the porridge. She let out a slight sigh and raised her hand to signal Luo Shui to bring the child over. The child had been fed a little porridge. At such a young age, it seemed to understand good and evil. It smiled happily in Luo Shui's arms. Pan Yueqing leaned over to look at the little baby and unconsciously showed a loving look. She gently stroked the tender skin with her hand. "The eyes are so round and lovely."

"Young lady..." The blind old woman sat on the blanket. Her withered face was filled with relief. "You saved this child's life. You're this child's benefactor."

She spoke after some hesitation. Although she couldn't see Pan Yueqing's face, from the sound of her voice, she thought that this young lady who had been wielding a whip and riding a horse outside must be a kind person. Thinking of this, she struggled to stand up. The moment Pan Yueqing took the child, she knelt down in front of Pan Yueqing, with her hands folded on her forehead. There was an involuntary sob in her voice. "All my family members are dead. This old woman with a life as tough as a monster should have died long ago. But this child was born all alone..."

Before she could finish speaking, she choked up and couldn't continue. Pan Yueqing frowned slightly. "You said all your family members are...?"

The old woman smiled bitterly. "It's because I, this old wretch, have such a tough life that my son, daughter-in-law, and grandchildren all died one by one. I should have died. If I were to die, they could come back to life." The regret in her words was undisguised.

Pan Yueqing: "This child... Isn't he your little grandson?" Looking at the previous situation, she had thought that the child was the old woman's grandson.

"As long as I hold him in my arms, he's my little grandson, even if he wasn't born from my daughter-in-law's womb." The old woman suddenly coughed two or three times. Her tone was filled with despair. "I won't be able to protect this baby for long either..."

"Young lady! You're like a merciful Bodhisattva! Please save him! Such a little baby, it would be such a pity," the old woman raised her head. In the sunken eye sockets, it seemed that what filled them wasn't tears but a glimmer of humanity in this chaotic world. Pan Yueqing took a deep breath. Looking at the child sleeping peacefully in her arms, she finally nodded solemnly. "I will protect him and let him grow up well."

The old woman kowtowed three times heavily in front of Pan Yueqing. With Cang He's help, she stood up. She raised her hand and groped to touch the child's face. She smiled very kindly. After gently touching the child several times, she reluctantly picked up her walking stick and prepared to leave. Pan Yueqing raised her eyes and looked at Su Ruoqing.

Su Ruoqing: "They're not completely hopeless."

"Yeah..." Pan Yueqing nodded in agreement and slightly raised her head to watch the old woman leave.

"But the porridge shed is definitely not enough," Pan Yueqing thought of those people dressed in rags. She handed the child to Cang He and asked her to send the child back to the courier station first. Then she spread out a piece of paper, picked up a pen, and wrote a letter very seriously. Su Ruoqing leaned over. "Are you going to ask for help from Lord Hong?"

"Not just Lord Hong. I'm going to ask the merchants to donate clothes, food, and rice, and ask each state to raise supplies. Although strict laws are good, they can't last for long. These people must be appeased. Otherwise, both our families will lose our heads." Pan Yueqing supported her forehead with a look of helplessness. This situation was even more dangerous than being attacked from both the front and the back on the battlefield. At least on the battlefield, the soldiers under them were loyal. Now, it was just them, the outsiders, who had to face the people who might riot at any time, as well as the potential outbreak of the plague that was left unaddressed due to the hasty handling in the early stage.

She clearly just wanted to take revenge on those who had wronged her in this life and be a proper young lady. How did she get herself into such a difficult situation where one wrong move could lead to a complete disaster?

She let out a sigh of distress.

Luo Shui lifted the curtain and said to Pan Yueqing, "Young Master, the doctor from Fengxiang Temple is here." Since Pan Yueqing was dressed in men's clothing outside, following Pan Yueqing's instructions, she always addressed Pan Yueqing as "Young Master" in front of others. Pan Yueqing had just sealed the letter and handed it to Luo Shui, signaling her to go out and send the letter by carrier pigeon.

Pan Yueqing raised her eyes and looked at Li Zhe, who was still wearing a white robe. "Is there something wrong?"

"I saw what happened outside," Li Zhe said calmly. He turned his head to the side. Through the gap in the curtain, he could see the old, the young, women, and children receiving porridge. Each person received a bowl and then had their name registered beside them. Pan Yueqing nodded, still looking puzzled.