Chapter 1650: Chapter 1650: True Feelings Are Moving
Just then, from afar ca an elderly woman whose steps were slightly unsteady. Her hair was grey, her cheeks sowhat sunken, clearly she was of age and her legs were no longer sturdy.
In her arm was a bamboo basket, covered with a clean cloth. It was unclear what was inside.
However, just by looking at her attire, one could tell she hadn’t recently experienced the fire disaster. Even though her clothes were not luxurious, they were clean and tidy, not like others who were dusty and dirty.
The elderly woman walked onto the street, approached a child, lifted the cloth covering the basket, revealing the steaming hot mixed-flour stead buns inside.
“You must have not eaten yet? You must be starving. I don’t have much food with , let the children and won eat first, take a little each, and share amongst yourselves.” As she spoke, she took a bun out and placed it in the child’s hands.
She was about to give so to the child’s mother, but the mother quickly broke off a small piece from the bun, saying: “One is enough for us, give the rest to others.”
The elderly woman then went to distribute to others. After she finished, she said nothing more, just took the basket and left.
Those eating the buns sniffed, they had just been crying, but now the tears wouldn’t co. Soone shouted to the elderly woman: “Auntie, thank you!”
Others also thanked her, and the elderly woman smiled, saying: “There are more buns steaming in the pot, I’ll bring so more over later.”
Bai Ruozhu watched this scene, and her eyes couldn’t help but beco moist. The ancient people were indeed pure-hearted, but the next scene made her tears flow unstoppably.
A young couple pushed a cart over, with a large basin of hot porridge on it. The man, sowhat shy, said: “I sell food at the nearby market.”
His wife kicked him, he grinned awkwardly, saying: “I’m tongue-tied, but let be clear. These are hot porridge we’re giving to everyone. No money, no money needed!”
As he spoke, he stabilized the cart, took bowls filled with hot porridge and handed them to the disaster victims.
Subsequently, many more people ca bearing gifts — so brought food, so brought blankets for warmth, so brought old clothes, and others brought shoes. Though these items weren’t valuable, a portion of heartfelt sentint was rare.
Witnessing this scene, Bai Ruozhu was moved to tears. When one part suffers, many co to aid. She was grateful to be there, to experience the warst true feelings in the human world.
Very soon, Fan Li arrived, bowing to the people who brought supplies, and said: “Fan thanks you all for your help. This kindness won’t be forgotten. Here, I promise everyone, we will promptly settle the disaster victims well, and the burnt houses will be rebuilt at the Governnt Office’s expense.”
The disaster victims raised their heads one by one. They regained hope, as once they had a ho again, everything could start anew.
The people who ca to help also cheered, promising: “We’ll help build the houses, no need to provide food!”
In many places at this ti, when helping people build houses, the hoowners wouldn’t pay wages but would provide food. This statent indicated an unconditional offer of labor, trying to save expenses for the Governnt Office.
Many echoed, promising they’d definitely co to help then. Fan Li repeatedly thanked them, moved to tears despite being a seasoned officer in the bureaucratic world.
Soon, officers were sent over from the Palace, led by Jiang Yichun with Wang Shun following behind.
Jiang Yichun imdiately dispatched people to search the site of the fire, aiming to find injured persons and eliminate risks. anwhile, Wang Shun took out the Holy Edict and publicly read it aloud.
“By Heaven’s command, the Emperor decrees that due to the rare conflagration seen in decades in Capital, Fan Li, the Chief Inspector of Capital, is specially commanded to settle all disaster victims. Ensure they have places to live, food to eat, can be treated promptly, and to properly bury the deceased, and console their families. The Ministry of Works is ordered to mobilize all personnel to rebuild residences for the people, and investigate the matter to provide an explanation to the citizens.”
Everyone present knelt, shouting: “Long live the Emperor! Long live tens of thousands of years.”
Bai Ruozhu listened with so dissatisfaction. She wanted to see whether the investigation would clear ties with the Grand Princess and what explanation the Emperor would truly provide to the citizens.
In Jinluan Hall, the Grand Princess stood below, her head hung low, saying: “Emperor, that brothel killed Duke of Zheng. What was wrong with burning it down? Why did the fire suddenly beco so fierce? Soone must have secretly done sothing, trying to fra !”
Tang Yin’s face turned icy, staring sharply at the Grand Princess: “Aunt, you still don’t repent. In Capital, buildings are dense. Is it permissible to set fires indiscriminately? You committed arson, do you even realize?”
The Grand Princess knelt heavily on the ground, her voice choked, saying: “I admit I was clouded by anger, but there’s sothing suspicious about this, soone secretly plotted against Duke of Zheng, did sothing underhandedly, intending to bla , Emperor, you must make things right for !”
Tang Yin rubbed his temples, saying: “The fire was set by you. At this stage, the only option is to seek the forgiveness of the people, otherwise, I can only demote you to commoner status and exile you beyond the border.”
Huilan, the Grand Princess, was dumbfounded, and when she ca to her senses, she cried out, saying: “Soone deliberately frad , Emperor, you must make things right for !”
Tang Yin snorted coldly, “It’s useless to ask , think carefully about what I said.”
The ministers beside didn’t dare to speak. Today, the one who committed an offense was the Emperor’s own aunt. Had it been anyone else, they would’ve been dragged out and flogged by now.
…
On Bai Ruozhu’s side, she had been busy the entire day until she finally saw the disaster victims settled in properly and each given dication. She rubbed her sore shoulders and sighed heavily.
At this mont, a pair of large hands landed on her shoulders, gently massaging them.
Just by the scent, she knew it was undoubtedly Achun.
“You’ve worked hard, we’ll be back soon.” Jiang Yichun’s voice ca from behind her.
“Bah, the real hard workers were mom and them, running around all day.” Bai Ruozhu smiled.
Jiang Yichun massaged her shoulders a couple more tis, “That’s why I told them to head back first. Mom also said she would prepare food for you at ho, saying you’re too tired and need a good replenishnt.”
Bai Ruozhu’s heart ward. With such a family, a husband here, and a smart, sensible child, she was already very fortunate.
On the way back, Bai Ruozhu asked what decision the Emperor would make regarding the Grand Princess, Jiang Yichun’s face fell.
“The Departnt of Justice has been instructed to investigate. Yet, the Emperor asks her to seek forgiveness from the people, which is quite considerate. But I reckon from how the Grand Princess acts, she won’t apologize publicly. Deep inside, she looks down upon impoverished citizens.” Jiang Yichun comnted.
Bai Ruozhu puckered her lips, “One Duke of Zheng in exchange for six lives, fifty or more injured. Doesn’t she think it was excessive?”
—
Perhaps so might say Mouka is writing about an ideal world, where does such a situation exist in reality? Mouka would say there is indeed. Rember the Wenchuan earthquake, so many people contributed money and effort — it’s the best testant that there is true sentint in the world.
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