Shangguan Wan Ning closed her eyes subconsciously.
"The sword will save you."
A sharp arrow shot over, hitting the executioner's wrist, and the sword fell to the ground.
The executioner was stunned for a moment, and then he became upset. He stood up and rushed over, shouting at the man coming on horseback: "Who are you? You are so courageous that you dare to block the execution on the execution ground?"
The sudden change made Shangguan Wan Ning's heart beat faster.
The visitor jumped off the horse, took out a token from his arms, and said calmly: "I am the personal bodyguard of His Highness, and I am here to delay the execution on the orders of His Highness."
The supervisor looked at the token carefully, his aura weakened by more than half.
"But... even His Highness the Crown Prince must abide by the laws of the country..."
"The emperor's imperial edict of pardon is on the way, and he will be there with His Royal Highness tomorrow evening at the latest."
When Shangguan Wan Ning heard this, a relieved smile broke out on her face.
She was overjoyed, held Mu Jingrui's hand, and winked playfully. "Great, it's okay."
Mu Jingrui's expression remained calm and calm.
"General Mu, His Royal Highness the Crown Prince asked me to tell you that Miss Mu came with him and everything is fine. You don't have to worry."
"Thank you."
Mu Jingrui calmly clasped his fists in thanks, but Shangguan Wan Ning, who was standing beside him, saw the dissatisfaction flashing across his eyes.
Shangguan Wan Ning realized that although the things she was experiencing now were different from those in her previous life, people's destiny did not seem to have changed much.
For example, Mu Jingyan.
She remembered clearly that in her previous life, Mu Jingyan married the prince, but her character was too straightforward and she didn't know how to please and turn around. Therefore, she was framed and died in a palace fight. The ending was not good.
"Ning'er?"
Mu Jingrui noticed that Shangguan Wan Ning was in a daze, so he called her softly. "It's freezing outside. Let's go back first."
Shangguan Wan Ning nodded, and the three of them returned to the Yamen as if nothing had happened.
At noon the next day, Xiao Yujue arrived with a large amount of relief food and the emperor's imperial edict of amnesty.
Shangguan Wan Ning finally breathed a sigh of relief.
Xiao Yujue only rested for an hour before convening the state capital and all officials under his jurisdiction to learn about the specific disaster situation and the number of victims in the northwest region.
The more he listened, the more uncomfortable he became, and his brows furrowed more tightly.
After all the officials had finished reporting and retired, Xiao Yujue was left with only the Mu Jingrui brothers and Shangguan Wan Ning, as well as his two personal guards.
"Miss Shangguan, after the Prime Minister asked me to see you, I will send someone to take you back immediately." Xiao Yujue decided to do the simplest things first.
"This matter is easy to talk about," Shangguan Wan Ning smiled sweetly, "His Royal Highness, it is better to deal with other serious matters first."
Xiao Yujue didn't pay much attention and sighed deeply.
"There are two biggest headaches right now. The first is the attack by the two small border countries of Goshawk and Wuxiong. According to the information received yesterday, they have captured three cities on the border, and the generals who defended the cities were killed. Although
Most of the people in those three cities have fled, but the imperial court cannot allow them to occupy them."
"After all, the people still need a home to return to after the disaster. What's more, those three cities are the only way out. Being occupied by these two small countries, we will become very passive."
Xiao Yujue looked at Mu Jingrui and continued: "My father's intention is that I hope you, Jingrui, will be able to make meritorious deeds and lead the troops to regain the lost territory."
Mu Jingrui raised his hands and saluted. "It is the responsibility of a general to lead troops in battle. My subordinates have no hesitation and should accept orders."
"That's my second question."
Xiao Yujue's face became even more gloomy, and he hesitated for a long time without speaking. Finally, he sighed.
"The relief food I brought this time has been distributed a lot along the way. However, there are too many disaster victims, and the small amount of relief food provided by the court alone is actually a drop in the bucket. And I didn't know until I got here that if we go further, the victims
There are countless more.”
"The most terrible thing is that blizzards are continuing in various places, and none of us know how long this snowstorm will last. Not long ago, Jingrui, in order to give the people a way to survive, you opened granaries to release grain, which caused the granaries to be empty."
"If you are asked to lead troops on an expedition at this time, the imperial court will not be able to provide you with much assistance. Food, grass and wages... have become problems."
When Xiao Yujue learned about this situation, his hair almost turned gray in anxiety.
Under such circumstances, asking Mu Jingrui to lead troops on an expedition was actually no different from asking him to die.
But if he doesn't go, there will be no generals in the court willing to take over this mess.
Everyone turned their attention to Mu Jingrui.
"My subordinates are willing to lead troops on an expedition." Mu Jingrui answered firmly.
"Brother..." Mu Jingyan was worried about this problem along the way.
She stepped forward and took Mu Jingrui's arm, tears welling up in her eyes. "Then... I'll go with you. Even if something happens, we, brother and sister, must be together."
Mu Jingrui gently patted the back of his sister's hand to express comfort.
His attitude had long been expected by Shangguan Wan Ning.
"Your Highness, the court's disaster relief food is not enough. Actually... there is another way."
"oh?"
Xiao Yujue looked at Shangguan Wan Ning. He wanted to know what kind of change this eldest lady of the Prime Minister's Palace could bring to him.
"Has His Royal Highness the Crown Prince heard of Zhang Yide?"
Xiao Yujue was slightly startled and shook his head. Instead, it was his personal bodyguard who asked tentatively: "What Miss Shangguan said is the largest rice merchant in the Central Plains?"
"Yes, that's him."
Xiao Yujue was a little confused and didn't understand why Shangguan Wan Ning mentioned Zhang Yide at this time.
"As far as I know, Zhang Yide is not only the largest rice merchant in the Central Plains, but the Zhang family's business also involves silk and cloth. In order to facilitate the transportation of food to various places, they also have their own escort agency and shipping ships."
Shangguan Wan Ning has already investigated Zhang Yide clearly.
"The Zhang family has been in business for three generations and has achieved today's glory. Zhang Yide can be regarded as a solid businessman. If His Highness the Crown Prince can find cooperation with him and buy grain and warm cotton-padded clothes and quilts from him, perhaps,
There is a chance that we can survive this snowstorm."
In fact, as early as the beginning of food preparations when the snowstorm broke out, court officials had proposed mobilizing food from the south.
However, the cost of mobilizing food is too high. The people escorting it have to eat it themselves, and most of it will be consumed on the way.
Since the Zhang family sells grain throughout the country, there must be surplus grain in their warehouses.
It is always better to mobilize from nearby than from the south.
"But... will Zhang Yide be willing to cooperate with us?" Mu Jingrui questioned, "There is no business without treachery. At this time, the food in his granary can be sold at a high price. If it is used for disaster relief, wouldn't it be a waste of money?