with a smile that wasn't quite a smile."The woman has made up her mind," Liu Sichun stated firmly."Okay."Nodding, Li Chen said, "Then let's return to the palace."After finishing his words, Li Chen pu...Chapter 68: The Real Disaster

Sān Bǎo's tone faltered, as if he had some reservations. But in the end, he gritted his teeth and continued, "The real disaster is a hundred times worse than what Your Highness knows."

As for Xishan province, which suffered the most severe water damage, its rivers and streams overflowed due to the Yellow River's floods and breaches. Every river inundated its banks, every field was submerged. The once fertile fields and crops that flourished there are now barren and desolate, stretching as far as the eye can see.

"Neighboring Nanhua province fared little better. The floods inundated over a thousand li, leaving hundreds of thousands starving. To survive, disaster victims resorted to desperate measures. Some dug up white clay from the Guanyin statue for sustenance, while others climbed mountains to unearth grass roots and bark for food. Wherever they passed, mountains were stripped bare. One eyewitness recounted that they saw entire hills reduced in height by a whole zhang after being ravaged by hungry refugees. The implication is that these famished people could consume an entire mountain if needed. When all else was gone, they even resorted to eating dirt."

Even someone like Sanbao, a eunuch known for his effeminate and self-serving nature, couldn't help but show some sympathy on his face. He trembled and said, "The disaster is getting worse and worse. People are resorting to cannibalism out of desperation. What's even more terrifying is that in some places, people gather around the dying, waiting for them to breathe their last so they can rush forward and devour their bodies..."

"Okay."

Li Chen interrupted San Bao's words. He was silent for a long time.

Li Chen remained silent, and Siba dared not speak either. Now, they felt more than ever that Li Chen's emotions were hidden deep within him. His majesty grew day by day, and they no longer dared to easily guess his thoughts.

To be with a ruler is like being with a tiger...

Though Li Chen wasn't the ruler yet, San Bao could feel him changing, gradually transforming into someone ready to take on that position.

After a long time.

Bang!

A teacup was smashed on the ground.

Li Chen, unable to bear it any longer, burst out in anger, shouting: "While the people suffer so greatly, Zhao Tailai, son of Zhao Xuanji, can spend hundreds of thousands of taels of silver to build a pavilion. The officials, one by one, live extravagantly. They indulge in wine, music, and revelry almost every night, feasting on delicacies without stopping. Their food, clothing, and everything else they use are all the best and most expensive. Isn't this the epitome of 'the stench of rich men's wine and meat!'"

The teacup shattered, and shards flew, cutting Sanbao's cheeks. A crimson line appeared, but he dared not touch it. He pressed his face to the ground, trembling, "Your Highness, please calm your anger."

Li Chen let out a cold snort, glanced at Sanbao, and waved his hand. "This matter has nothing to do with you. This palace won't blame you......Forget it. The problems in the imperial court have been accumulating for too long. It wasn't formed in a day, so to solve them, we must use thunderous means, striking down a large group of them. Let blood teach them to be afraid!"

Feeling chest tightness and irritability, Li Chen let out a breath and walked out of the Xizheng Hall intending to get some fresh air. Looking up, he saw that the night sky had begun to snow at some point.

Feathery snowflakes, drifting down from the deep sky, seemed to come from nowhere. They landed on the ground and absorbed the last bit of warmth from the day.

A biting cold wind swept in, freezing people to the bone.

Behind him, Sanbao held a mink fur cloak and carefully put it on Li Chen, saying, "Your Highness, it's snowing, the night is deep and the dew is heavy. Please take care of your health."

"With a thought."

Li Chen tightened his cloak, feeling much warmer. He suddenly said, "The disaster situation is already severe, and now heavy snow covers four provinces. Today it has already covered the capital city. Those disaster victims, I wonder how many will be able to survive this year's winter"

The Three Treasures knelt and said, "Your Highness is kind and benevolent. We are utterly unworthy."

"Stop kissing up."

Li Chen's eyes narrowed, and he said in a calm voice: "Go, summon Champion Wang Suzhen to the East Palace. This palace has something important to discuss with him."r banquets hosted by the crown prince, Taishan Pavilion.Behind the main hall where palace maids and eunuchs bustled about, preparing a lavish banquet, Li Chen was in a side chamber, enjoying a bowl of...