The balance of grace and power is the true way of the Emperor.

Chen Yuan is rebellious and must be suppressed at all times, but not too harshly. It requires gradual measures until he is completely under control.

"Your loyal subject obeys the order."

"Did you rush in just to talk about the annihilation of the Bright Temple?" Jingtai suddenly asked.

Cao Zhengxian shook his head, a grave look on his face:

"This is a trivial matter. What I must report to Your Majesty is something significant."

"What is it?"

"Wu Tianxi, the Yellow Divine Envoy of the Heavenly Patrol Bureau, has sent a secret report to the headquarters, which Grand Governor Xiao instructed to be delivered to me. Many places in Youzhou are experiencing severe droughts, with a fast-spreading plague. According to statistics, over ten thousand people have already been affected or died."

Jingtai's pupils contracted, pounding a fist on the table:

"Who spread the plague!"

When the words 'according to statistics' are used, it implies the real situation is far worse. The death toll likely far exceeds ten thousand, with local officials suppressing the true numbers.

"Currently unknown; the only suspects could be the Barbarians to the north."

"These scoundrels, Youzhou is adjacent to the Grassland. Do they not realize that once a plague spreads, the Grassland's casualties would be even worse?" Jingtai only felt that everything had been going wrong recently.

The plans he had prepared earlier were delayed, as one thing after another occurred, even stirring up anger in his heart.

"Your Majesty, please calm your anger. The urgent task now is to allocate funds for drought relief, treat the people, and stop the plague from spreading to Liangzhou and Bing State."

"The national treasury and internal treasury's silver and Primordial Crystals have almost been exhausted due to previous compensations and rewards."

Jingtai furrowed his brow.

Cao Zhengxian was taken aback, empty treasury being normal due to the instability across Great Jin in recent years, requiring to sustain an army of over a million to fend off the Barbarians and Southern Demons.

But except for palace expenses and tomb constructions, internal treasury spending is minimal. He remembered that when Jingtai ascended the throne, the gold, silver, and Primordial Crystals were abundant.

How could it have been consumed so quickly?

Yet he remained silent because, as a close aide to Jingtai, he vaguely understood that the Emperor seemed to have a powerful force in Jianghu.

It seemed that some great undertaking was in the works.

"Your Majesty should summon the clan elders, open the Royal Secret Realm, and leverage the court's foundation to respond to Youzhou's sudden disaster. I feel someone is intentionally causing trouble within the Great Jin Thirteen States, which cannot go unguarded."

Jingtai pondered for a moment, exhaling a long breath:

"The Royal Family's foundation must not be touched; this concerns the country's foundation and mountains."

The world belongs to the Sima Family; if resources are insufficient and the Sima Family's strength falls behind, what will they use to maintain their hold on the world?

"Are you suggesting we let Youzhou... fend for itself?"

Cao Zhengxian's spine chilled, his eyes flashing with a touch of reluctance.

The people are the nation's foundation; sometimes when one part rots, it can spread to other areas.

Jingtai closed his eyes, exhaling a breath of turbid air:

"Issue an edict for me to increase taxes in Qing, Shu, Yun, and South State, then halt the construction of my Imperial Mausoleum for now, first to stop the plague from spreading in Youzhou. Those afflicted cannot be treated, and must be burnt and buried on the spot...."

"Your Majesty, the taxes in the southern states are already high enough. Adding more...." Cao Zhengxian seemed to foresee the people being pushed to the brink of rebellion.

"As long as those Jianghu forces and Aristocratic Families don't get involved, a slight commotion among the people won't amount to much."

"Your Majesty, this...."

"Do you have any better solution?"

"The Capital Nobles." Cao Zhengxian raised a hand, a hint of murderous intent flashing in his eyes.

Compared to the common people below, the Capital Nobles are genuinely wealthy; confiscating a few more families could roughly match the expenses needed for Youzhou's relief.

"No nonsense!" Jingtai reprimanded.

The Sima Family's hold on the realm relies on the joint strength of the Capital Nobles and Jianghu forces. Touching them could very well trigger a chain reaction.

Before he is fully prepared, they absolutely cannot be moved.

"Your loyal subject spoke out of turn."

Cao Zhengxian sighed lightly.

Jingtai looked ahead, somewhat desolate, and said faintly:

"Let the people suffer a bit more...."

"Your loyal subject obeys the order."

Jingtai pondered for a moment, waving a hand: "Send someone to the Imperial Kitchen to prepare some spiritual porridge for me, I am hungry...."

.....

"I am hungry too..."

In Chunhua Palace, Noble Consort Yang, clad in a luxurious robe, leaned against the desk. The entire hall was empty, all the maids dismissed by him to avoid any disturbances.

The deep palace is desolate, especially so in the dead of night. If one had never seen the light, it might be bearable, but she had recently seen the light and had her fill many times.

She also learned from that fellow what it truly means to be satiated and hungry.

Holding a jug of wine, Yang Noble Consort took a sip every so often. She thought she had endured so many years of solitude, another year wouldn't matter much.

But....

Since Chen Yuan left, the days stretched into years, with a feeling like ants gnawing at her heart, repeatedly making her suffer in the silence of the night.

Better to be Yuan Lang's possession than to be an Emperor's Imperial Concubine.

This was the true reflection of Yang Noble Consort's feelings at the moment. She really grew weary of the monotonous palace life, constantly yearning to change clothes and escape the palace at night.

Unfortunately, there was no one left in the Marquis Mansion.

Sighing softly, Yang Noble Consort downed the cup of spiritual wine, reminiscing about the once-tasted delicious sea cucumber soup and murmured softly:

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