Although Du Ruo was dead, everything he said soon came true.
First, the emperor issued a decree to build the Longevity Pavilion for the second prince, followed by a snow disaster.
Heavy snow fell for half a month without stopping. Not to mention other places, even within the imperial city at the foot of the emperor, many people froze to death.
Urgent reports poured in from all regions, urging the emperor to take action.
However, the emperor couldn't even manage the imperial city at the foot of the capital, let alone other places. He could only summon his civil and military officials to the palace to discuss the matter.
When the discussion turned to who would lead the relief efforts, the Crown Prince and the Fourth Prince stepped forward simultaneously.
The Crown Prince claimed he wanted to atone for his sins, while the Fourth Prince said he wished to share the emperor's burdens.
The emperor, wary of the Crown Prince, naturally refused and instead sent the Fourth Prince to lead the disaster relief.
The term "disaster relief" was merely a pleasantry. Whether it was the Crown Prince, the Fourth Prince, or other civil and military officials who wanted to "share the emperor's burdens," nine times out of ten, they intended to skim off the profits.
As expected, the Fourth Prince did not take the relief efforts seriously. He indulged in pleasure and feasted on the relief funds and supplies along the way, taking half a month to reach the disaster area.
The messages that came back were all about heavy snow blocking the roads and difficulties in travel.
When the news reached Bai Li Chong Yan, the inconspicuous small paper was shattered by his shock.
The secret guard knelt on the ground, head lowered.
Silence reigned in the study for a while. Just as the secret guard was trembling with fear, Bai Li Chong Yan said, "If they can't move, it must be because their legs are broken. Go and check on Fourth Brother."
The secret guard responded, "Yes!"
About ten days later, another message arrived, reporting that the relief convoy had been robbed by refugees, and all the relief supplies and silver had been plundered. The Fourth Prince had also had his leg broken in the chaos.
The emperor was so enraged that he nearly fainted on the spot.
After finally regaining his composure, he once again asked who was willing to lead the relief efforts and suppress the rioters. The officials who had initially wanted to skim off profits now cowered like quails.
Money was important, but they had to be alive to spend it.
These rioters dared to attack a prince; if they were robbed, they might even be killed.
With these thoughts in mind, no one stepped forward.
Finally, the Crown Prince once again requested to share the emperor's burdens.
With no other candidates, the emperor, though unwilling, could only agree and ordered new supplies to be taken from the national treasury, handing them over to the Crown Prince.
The Crown Prince set off with his men in grand fashion.
The emperor was temporarily at ease, but the Prince Yan's residence was not entirely peaceful.
Mo Jia, a secret guard who had been away for a long time, knelt before him and reported the events: "Your Highness, the people you mentioned have all been investigated and dealt with. Those who deserved to die have been killed. Southern regions are also suffering from the snow disaster. Stores that are too conspicuous have been closed to prevent looting. Rice and grain shops remain open for now."
Food is the primary need of the people. If even the rice and grain shops were closed, the common people would go mad with hunger and resort to cannibalism.
Bai Li Chong Yan nodded. "Very good."
He would not deliberately protect them, but within his capacity, he would offer some care.
"Your Highness, I heard that the Crown Prince is bringing ten thousand Imperial Guards. If… will the Crown Prince kill the common people out of anger?"
Bai Li Chong Yan sneered, "He was always going there to kill people."
Killing those common people as rioters, doing a perfunctory job with the relief efforts, and funneling the money into his own pockets – a move with multiple benefits. How could a person of the Crown Prince's nature truly be going for disaster relief?
Although he had been prepared, Mo Jia still found it difficult to accept.
He hesitated and asked, "Your Highness, should we intervene then?"
"Not yet," Bai Li Chong Yan did not want to confront him. "Send the previously collected grain to the Northern Frontier, and ensure that the Northern Frontier troops are always on standby."
"Yes."
Mo Jia had no objections.
For the innocent, he would save whom he could within his capabilities, but compared to those people, their own people were more important.
This was not a matter of good or evil, but simply how human hearts worked.