After Rebirth, I Married my Archenemy - Chapter 100

The rented ox cart entered the inner city. The farther they went, the harder the road became.

Qun Qing lifted the curtain and glanced outside. Her palms had begun to sweat. Having lived through the fall of the imperial palace, this kind of unrest was what she feared most.

The crowd lined up for relief food filled the streets, surrounding the guards. Cries and shouts echoed—women and children weeping, voices rising in panic. The people were disheveled, filthy, and in even worse condition than those she’d seen in the outer city.

Lu Huating said, “Officer Liu likely gathered the disaster victims here from the outer city, so His Highness wouldn’t have to witness the full extent of it.”

Li Huan’s body remained tense, the mask concealing his expression. 

“What’s causing the uproar?”

Zhu Su, riding alongside, replied, “It seems the grain is being distributed unfairly.”

Xiao Yunru said, “Your Highness, shall we get down and take a look?”

Qun Qing reached out to stop her, gesturing lightly toward her own abdomen.

“It’s too chaotic outside. Please, allow me to go in your stead, Princess.”

But Xiao Yunru suddenly grasped her hand in return and, like an elder sister, gently patted it in comfort. 

“Since I am Princess Yan, this is something I ought to do,” Xiao Yunru said calmly. “If a child can be harmed this easily, then it isn’t worthy of being mine.”

With that, she braced herself against the edge of the cart and stepped down without hesitation. Li Huan followed immediately, steadying her carefully.

At the grain post, the overseer was shouting at a woman. “What are you making a fuss for? Can’t even beg properly and want more grain? The louder you cry, the less you’ll get!”

The woman held a child in one arm, her eyes brimming with tears. 

“Is this your grain? This is the disaster relief grain from the Governor’s office! There’s someone sick at home—I’m not asking for extra out of greed. I’ve studied too; I wouldn’t do such a thing. If you won’t give it to me, I’ll lie down right here.”

“A scholar’s household with no sense of decorum?”

“What use is decorum when we are starving? Can dignity fill an empty stomach?”

The guard poured the watery rice soup from her bowl back into the pot. 

“Nothing for you. Move along!”

Pushed and shoved, the woman’s tears finally fell. The people behind her couldn’t bear it and began speaking out, pressing forward.

The guards scrambled to restore order. Xiao Yunru stepped up, took a ladle and bowl, and scooped from the bottom of the pot until she finally reached a thin layer of rice. She filled the bowl and handed it to the woman, then turned to the guard. 

“This porridge is far too thin. It won’t fill anyone. Do you need me to teach you how to cook it properly?”

The guard looked ready to lash out, but seeing that she was a well-dressed lady with a rounded belly, he held back. He stepped closer, glaring.

Zhu Su stepped in front of Xiao Yunru. 

“Mind your manners. This is Her Highness, Princess Yan.”

The guard sneered, “Prince Yan’s gone to the Governor’s manor, and now you’re saying this is the Princess? Anyone can make that claim.”

Before he could finish, Li Huan stepped forward. He kicked the man squarely in the knee and slammed his fish-shaped token in front of his face.

“Open your damn eyes—if she’s not the Princess, are you?!”

Struck and humiliated, the guard dared not respond. He dropped to his knees on the spot.

Li Huan gave a cold order. “Go unload the grain we brought.”

Most of the citizens hadn’t seen Li Huan before, but someone recognized the bronze mask and began murmuring among themselves.

Li Huan and Xiao Yunru oversaw the distribution of grain personally. Qun Qing watched from a nearby inn window as the once-chaotic crowd gradually settled into order.

“You’ve dealt with flood relief before?”  she asked.

Lu Huating, who had been walking quietly ahead, turned back at her words. Qun Qing studied his face. He looked as calm as ever.

“No,” he replied. “Why, are you nervous, madam? You once served as the Crown Princess’s attendant—surely you’ve studied policies on civil governance.”

Qun Qing couldn’t help admiring his composure. It was one thing to write theories on paper, but another to witness suffering with one’s own eyes.

“These are real people,” she said softly. “They have no shelter, no food. If we mishandle this, they’ll die.”

Lu Huating was briefly taken aback. Her face had gone slightly pale.

“They won’t die,” he said solemnly. “Officer Liu knows what he’s doing. Each time the crowd grows restless, he sends out another sack of grain. This watery porridge may not nourish them well, but it’ll keep them alive—for now.”

What follows flood is often plague. If they can’t eat, then real disaster would strike.

Lu Huating spotted a plate of pastries on the table. Without any particular expression, he pushed it toward her. 

“You mustn’t go hungry. Have a bite.”

Qun Qing took a bite but, recalling the scene she’d just witnessed, found it hard to swallow.

Inside the inn, the Sima¹ of Yunzhou and Zhang Qiru from the Ministry of Revenue came forward to report

The current Sima of Yunzhou, Xue Zhou, had previously served as a registrar in Jiannan Road. It was he who had exposed the nomination scandal. After the Spring Examinations case, he was promoted here by Prince Yan.

Zhang Qiru, beside Xue Zhou, was also a selected candidate chosen by Prince Yan’s faction.

Realizing Lu Huating had long planted his people in Yunzhou, Qun Qing quietly let out a breath of relief.

Lu Huating asked, “The supplies we brought will last no more than three days. When will the stored grain be released?”

Sima Xue drooped his head. 

“The reserves were depleted long ago.”

“And the relief funds?”

Zhang Qiru quickly replied, “That’s exactly why I submitted a memorial to His Highness, but I didn’t receive a respond. Even though the funds have been allocated, Officer Liu hasn’t used them to purchase grain. It’s being distributed sack by sack, just like you saw—nothing but thin soup.”

Sima Xue said, “This humble official begs His Highness Prince Yan to submit a memorial to His Majesty and order the confiscation of the Governor’s residence, so as to uphold justice on behalf of the people.”

Lu Huating replied, “Even if someone were to return today with an edict from the capital, how would we survive the few days in between?”

Qun Qing asked, “Is there still any grain left in the city?”

Zhang Qiru hesitated, then turned to her. “If we’re talking about where grain and wealth are stockpiled, besides the monasteries and Taoist temples, it would be the merchants outside the city who still hold reserves. But… they want money.”

“It would be strange if they didn’t,” Qun Qing said coldly. “When grain is scarce, people become desperate. What are the current prices for grain outside the city?”

“It’s risen to one or two taels per silver. We’ve already approached the big merchant households, but they refuse to lower the price. When we asked again, they closed the door and said they have no surplus grain.”

Qun Qing said, “Sima Xue, can you send someone tonight to spread word outside the city?”

“What word?” Xue Zhou asked.

“Just say that His Highness Prince Yan has arrived with grain and cloth, and will have his people sell them within the inner city. The grain will be sold at one tael per silver, and cloth at one tael per bolt. It’s already driving the prices mad.”

Before the words had even faded, both Lu Huating and Zhang Qiru were already looking at her.

“That’s… not a good idea, is it?” Zhang Qiru said, taken aback. “This—His Highness Prince Yan clearly meant to distribute the grain freely to the people. Her Highness Princess Yan is heavily pregnant and still handing out porridge… If such a rumor spreads back to the palace, it could damage His Highness’s reputation.”

Lu Huating glanced at Qun Qing, then lowered his eyes to the cup of water before him. 

“Madam, this is not good.”

She wore her hair in twin buns; her side profile was pale and delicate as porcelain, lashes fluttering like butterfly wings. She looked proper and refined, yet the plan she proposed bore an undercurrent of malice toward Prince Yan’s household.

The Prince’s reputation was the last thing Qun Qing cared about. 

“The people are starving to death. What matters more—saving lives or saving face?”

That night, at the third watch, the soft ringing of a bell accompanied an ox-cart quietly entering the city gate.

The man holding the lantern and driving the ox-cart was a wealthy merchant from Yunzhou. Upon arriving at the inner city, he noticed two or three other ox-carts already crowded at the entrance, all loaded with grain just like his.

The merchants exchanged awkward glances but managed to engage in idle small talk.

“So, is it true that Prince Yan is selling grain?”

“Seems real. My family’s servants have scouted for days. A while ago there were always people trying to break through and steal food, but last night things were suddenly quiet. Must be because they were fed.”

“Prince Yan came from the palace to offer disaster relief, and even he wouldn’t let go of this bit of profit?”

“Even a mountain of gold and silver is built grain by grain. Besides, he has soldiers to feed. How many mouths do you think he supports? If the Governor of Yunzhou can still hoard and extort, why should a royal prince be held to a higher standard?”

The group laughed a little, then someone said, “If the rumors are true and the famine inside the city will be resolved in a few days, he must have brought in a huge amount of grain. Enough to feed that many stomachs? Or is he just making a show with what little he brought and will keep restocking later?”

The mood suddenly turned tense. Someone grumbled, “That Prince of Yan’s an idiot. Took so long to raise the market price of rice, and now he’s selling it at one tael per silver. He ruined it all.”

“If he keeps selling at that rate, our hoarded grain will be worth nothing but rotten stones in water. We won’t even get half a tael for it. We can’t wait any longer. Whoever gets in first will lose less.”

Just then, the city gate creaked open slightly, and the ox-carts rushed to squeeze through into the inner city.

Sima Xue of Yunzhou stood holding a torch. 

“What do you think you’re doing?”

“We’re here to sell grain.”

Sima Xue’s face was stern. 

“It’s not the time for the gates to open. Stop making a scene. And the people already have food. What are you selling? Go back.”

Sima Xue was now surrounded by several tall guards from Prince Yan’s group. He looked nothing like the man who had begged them to sell grain just a few days ago. Seeing this, the wealthy merchants became even more certain—Prince Yan must have brought plenty of grain, and they wouldn’t be the ones making money from it.

Immediately, they grew anxious.

“Sure, there’s enough now, but in a few days it will run short again. Isn’t having more grain a good thing? We’re just trying to help.”

“We promise not to disturb the people.”

Qun Qing was lying in bed when she heard the jingling of cart bells, followed by the rising commotion outside. Still dressed, she quickly tossed aside the blanket and moved to the window.

In the streets of the inner city, fires blazed here and there—lit by refugees under makeshift shelters to keep warm and cook rice. The firelight cast shifting shadows. Hearing that grain was available, the disaster-stricken people surged toward the ox-carts. The once silent street roared like a bustling market.

Qun Qing moved swiftly through the crowd, her ears catching the angry curses of the wealthy merchants. When she turned, she found Lu Huating trailing behind her—matching her every step. As she paused, so did he. The firelight cast a warm glow over his pale, jade-like features.

“Where are you going?”

Qun Qing glanced around as she walked briskly. 

“To buy yunjin brocade.”

Lu Huating glanced to the side. “Most of those selling to the refugees are just offering cheap cloth to cover themselves. How did you know brocade merchants would be here?”

“Cloud brocade is produced here in Yunzhou,” she replied. Just like fish are cheap along the coast, and cattle and sheep are cheap on the plains—here in Yunzhou, even ordinary brocade isn’t expensive.”

As she spoke, her gaze fell on a nearby silk merchant. The man stared at her coldly.

Tonight, the people had flocked to buy grain, handing over all the silver and coins they had left. Yet even one or two taels of silver could barely buy them a measure of rice. When word spread that Prince Yan’s grain was fake, the merchants panicked and tried to flee the inner city. But the Sima of Yunzhou and the Prince’s men had shut the gates and physically blocked their way out.

The grain and cloth these merchants had brought were now surrounded by desperate victims. If they didn’t sell at low prices, they risked being looted.

The silk merchant looked enraged, his glare at Qun Qing nearly murderous.

Qun Qing met his gaze calmly, flipped through the brocade as if nothing were amiss, and asked casually, 

“How much for this piece?”