Their return meant the matter of Prince Yan's "recovery" should also be put on the agenda.
Once the Crown Prince made a mistake, they might succeed without bloody slaughter or a palace coup.
Everything in their plan was going smoothly, but the reality that unfolded was different: refugees continuously poured into the capital, news of riots came from all over, the dead lay on the roads, and the people suffered. When this truly appeared before them, apart from those like Zhú lín who could see through the cycle of life and death, no one could ignore it.
Zhou Yu, with his people, set up a shed outside the princely estate to distribute porridge. Every morning, they would boil porridge to offer a bowl to the passing refugees.
In the past, the common people in the vicinity feared Baili Chongyan and would detour far around. However, the newly arrived refugees in the capital knew nothing of this. They only knew that someone here was distributing porridge, and there was food to be had.
Elsewhere, merely approaching the residences of high officials would result in their servants chasing them away with sticks.
In stark contrast, the once fearsome prince, known for his ruthlessness, transformed into a benevolent figure, while those who prided themselves on their kindness became figures of ugly vice.
Especially since they were unaware of the rumors in the capital but knew of matters concerning the world. They knew Baili Chongyan was a great hero who had once galloped across battlefields, driving away the northern barbarians for them, which made them even more moved.
The starving and cold refugees, while drinking the hot porridge, sighed: "Prince Yan is truly a good person."
So many refugees flooded the imperial capital, and their numbers continued to grow. Driven by hunger and cold, they resorted to robbing shops and passersby.
The yamen daily apprehended large numbers of refugees, but it was to no avail. Some even deliberately committed offenses to be arrested.
At least inside, there was shelter from the wind and rain, and food, so they wouldn't starve to death.
Soon, the prisons were overflowing, with no more space to put them.
The reports reached the Emperor layer by layer. The Emperor heard that a crowd of refugees had gathered at the palace gates, robbing officials entering and exiting, who would then appear disheveled during court sessions, utterly lacking the demeanor of court officials. The Emperor became furious.
He was about to issue an decree to arrest them all when he heard the next official report that the prisons were already full and could not accommodate more people.
The Emperor, enraged, declared: "Then kill them all!"
The court fell into a stunned silence.
The Emperor had reigned too peacefully for years. The late Emperor had prepared everything for him; he only needed to do his duty to be worry-free.
Even so, the Emperor had botched a good hand. Now, a mere group of refugees had thrown him into disarray, and he had uttered such an unbecoming statement in court. Chancellor Zhang, below, gently shook his head, his resolve wavering once again.
Of course, it was impossible to kill them all. After the court session, the Emperor issued an decree to cordon off a piece of land on East Street to erect makeshift shelters for the refugees.
Anything discarded or unused by the households in the capital could be given to them.
Although Baili Chongyan appeared outwardly unmoved, he also had his people prepare a large quantity of grain and cotton, which were sent to East Street. The porridge stall at his gates remained open, bustling with people from morning till night.
This was merely a temporary measure.
The influx of people grew by the day. The Emperor then ordered the city gates closed, allowing no more people in.
Heavy snow fell incessantly, and people froze to death at the city gates every day.
The saying "While wine and meat rot behind vermillion gates, the frozen dead lie by the roadside" was now truly witnessed.
...
In the princely estate, someone threw down their sword in frustration.
Du Jin and Zhou Yu, the elder and younger siblings, were still at the gates, running a free clinic. Exhausted to the point of being unable to straighten their backs, they were startled upon entering and seeing someone in a rage.
"What happened?"
"Dozens of people froze to death at the city gates today. The guards actually burned them, simply insane!"
The two were stunned again.
The body is a gift from parents; to harm or damage it is unfilial, let alone to burn it directly.
"More than insane? Those people have no humanity. Watching the common folk freeze and starve to death while they feast and drink? I fear this Great Sheng is truly finished."
"Mind your words!"
Baili Chongyan was walking in. The speaker, startled, immediately said: "Your subordinate admits his mistake, please punish me, my Prince."
Baili Chongyan remained silent, forcing the man to remain kneeling.
"How many people are there outside the city now?"
Someone nearby replied: "Approximately twenty thousand refugees, but people come here every day, and some die on the road."
From the first day of the first snow until now, the snow had been falling for nearly a month.
It was no wonder the world was in chaos.