The Stunning Prime Minister

Chapter 31

"I think so too, but unfortunately, despite sending many secret guards, we haven't been able to find out about his family background," Shen Wuyue said somberly.

[Dynasty Storm: Famine]

"General Rin, you've arrived." Shen Wuyue smiled as she looked at Rin Lie, who was standing outside. He was dressed in military uniform and exuded an imposing aura.

"Your Majesty, this humble subject greets you." Lin Lie didn't kneel at all; only Lin Lie was exempt from kneeling before Shen Wuyue. This was Lin Lie's sole condition for helping Gengyue Kingdom. Shen Wuyue actually agreed. This baffled everyone, but Lin Lie's strength proved he had the right. He conquered a mountain with only ten men, gaining instant fame across Eurasia, known as the Cold-Blooded Divine General. Not a single one of his men survived, yet his prestige within the army surpassed that of any other general in Gengyue Kingdom.

"General Lin, what brings you here?" Shen Wuyue looked at Lin Lie calmly. This was probably his most capable assistant; Yu Qingqian was too old to keep up with him. Only Lin Lie could help him temporarily support the entire Gengyue Kingdom. After the reforms three years ago, Shen Wuyue hadn't made any major moves, fearing it would bring him death, and had maintained the status quo. But this drought had made things even worse for the entire Gengyue Kingdom.

"Your Majesty, many starving people are pouring into the capital. And the relief grain has disappeared without a trace," Lin Lie reported truthfully.

*Slap!* "What are you saying? The relief grain is gone! These corrupt officials! Summon the Prefect of the Capital to see me! I want to ask him if he still wants his official hat!" The Emperor's rage shook the heavens. Several eunuchs and palace maids, terrified, repeatedly said, "Your Majesty, please calm down!"

"yes"

When Yu Zhou and Bing Ning arrived at the outskirts of Gengyue Kingdom's capital, they were met with a scene of utter devastation, with corpses strewn across the land. The barren land had been stripped bare of its trees, and women were feeding their children with their own blood. Heart-wrenching cries filled the air, and countless graves dotted the landscape. The starving victims sat motionless at the city gate.

Yu Zhou, wearing a straw hat, carefully observed his surroundings, finding no significant disturbances.

"Husband, how could this happen? Those starving people are so pitiful. Let's share our food with them." Bingning said, and was about to take out the steamed buns from her bundle to give to the starving people. But Yu Zhou stopped her and said coldly, "No, not a single one can be given."

“Why? Didn’t you see they were all dying? Husband, how could you do this?” Bingning said, pointing at the sallow-skinned, thirsty child.

"I said no, Bingning, do you want me to say it again?" Yu Zhou's tone became stern.

"You're being mean to me, husband, you're becoming more and more heartless. They're all dying. And you still won't let me..." Bing Ning's eyes began to redden and swell. She sobbed as she spoke.

"Shut up," Yu Zhou said impatiently, then walked over and asked an old woman, "Grandma, why are you staying at the gates of the capital instead of going back to farm?"

"Alas! It's a long story. We've suffered a drought and can't farm at all. The imperial court said they would distribute relief grain, so we're waiting here. But we've been waiting for two days and still haven't heard anything. If they don't distribute it soon, we'll starve to death," the old woman sighed, holding her grandson.

“Grandma, isn’t there a river over there? You can fetch water to farm, why don’t you do that?” Yu Zhou said, pointing to the river.

"Some people suggested it before, but the road is too far, and after a few trips, no one went anymore. It wasn't enough to solve an emergency. Everyone just wants to leave it abandoned," the old woman said helplessly.

"Thank you very much, Grandma. I have some food here. Please take it, but don't tell anyone." Yu Zhou secretly handed the steamed bun in his hand to the old woman.

The old woman looked at Yu Zhou gratefully. She followed Yu Zhou's instructions and kept quiet.

"I'm so angry! Yu Zhou, you big bad guy! I'm not talking to you anymore!" Bing Ning stomped her foot and stormed off. Yu Zhou, however, walked to the side of the farmland to observe it. Bing Ning noticed Yu Zhou hadn't followed and found it strange. She also walked towards the farmland.

"What are you looking at? What's so interesting about some withered rice? You big jerk, you don't look at people suffering so much, but you insist on looking at these lifeless things, you cold-blooded animal, you big idiot... You're so annoying!" Bing Ning huffed and puffed. But Yu Zhou didn't even glance at her, and walked towards the riverbank. After surveying the area, he went to the fertile fields.

"Hey, you stupid Yu Zhou, are you crazy? Walking around like that, what's so interesting about that? Did I scold you so much that you went crazy?" Bing Ning looked at Yu Zhou's series of actions strangely.

"Bing Ning, if you say another word, I'll roast Xiao Bai," Yu Zhou said coldly. Bing Ning quickly covered her mouth, glaring at Yu Zhou with hatred, cursing him in her heart and eyes.

Yu Zhou walked around all the fertile fields again, marking out the entire geographical location. He then looked at the rice paddies, his brows furrowing. After a moment of contemplation, he returned to the riverbank.

"Waaah!" Bing Ning covered her mouth, looking at Yu Zhou with teary eyes.

Yu Zhou chuckled: "Alright, you can speak now."

"Ugh! I can finally talk now. You stupid Yu Zhou, you big idiot, I'm never talking to you again. If I talk to you again, I'm an idiot, a fool, a moron... I'm so angry."

"Whatever." Yu Zhou walked past Bing Ning and headed towards the city gate.

"Ah—you big bad guy, wait for me! My legs are about to break, you spineless bastard!" Bing Ning quickly chased after him, shouting as she ran.

[Dynasty Storm: Trials]

"Hmph," Bing Ning snorted throughout the journey, glancing at Yu Zhou with a snort.

"Give me a skewer of candied hawthorns," Yu Zhou said to the vendor. A smile played beneath the black veil. Bing Ning stared wide-eyed at the candied hawthorns; she had never seen such beautiful food before. But she said, "Don't think you can get rid of me with just a skewer of candied hawthorns. You're wrong. I won't give in."

"Little brother, tell your brother where the palace is, and this string of candied hawthorns is yours," Yu Zhou said, squatting down to the child. Bing Ning became even angrier upon hearing this. It swelled up into a small ball.

"If you walk a few steps ahead, you'll see a big house; that's the palace. Brother, this..." the child said, staring at the candied hawthorn.

Yu Zhou patted the child's head and said, "Of course, this is for you." Yu Zhou walked quickly toward the imperial city, but Bing Ning kept staring at the candied hawthorn.

"I'll throw it away if you don't want it~" Yu Zhou waved the candied hawthorn, gesturing for Bing Ning to come and take it. Bing Ning immediately ran to Yu Zhou's side, picked up the candied hawthorn and started eating it, but she didn't notice the smile in the corner of Yu Zhou's eyes.

"Hmph, it's nothing special." Bingning ate with relish, but stubbornly insisted that it wasn't tasty.

As Yu Zhou approached the palace gate, a dispute broke out in the main hall of Gengyue Kingdom.

"Prefect of the Capital, do you have something to say to me?" Although Shen Wuyue didn't show much anger on the surface, there was a tense atmosphere beneath the surface. The capital region didn't take it to heart at all.

"Your Majesty, I am filled with trepidation and have no idea what to say," said the official, neither humble nor arrogant. He was like a cunning fox playing the role of a hunter. Everyone in the hall knew that he had stolen the silver, but there was no evidence, and even the emperor could do nothing about it.

"Prefect of the Capital, then it is my fault." Shen Wuyue's eyes held a hidden murderous intent.

"Your Majesty, I dare not! I know everyone suspects me of stealing the silver, but please tell me, Your Majesty, this silver is stored within the Prefect's residence. The secret chamber was built by the Strange Hero of Tianchi, and no one could break it. Moreover, there is only one key, which Your Majesty carries with you and never leaves. The secret chamber is undamaged; not even a fly could get in. So please, Your Majesty, tell me how I stole the silver. If Your Majesty can explain how I stole it, even if I didn't steal it, I am willing to give up everything I own to provide this relief grain." Jingji spoke with righteous indignation, leaving Shen Wuyue no room for rebuttal. She was suddenly in an awkward situation.

"Your Majesty, there's a young man outside carrying a piece of yellow sage. He says he's here to take up his post as the headmaster of the Six Arts Academy. He says that if you just mention his name, Your Majesty will let him in." A young eunuch rushed over.

"Speak quickly!" Kannazuki perked up immediately.

"He said his name is Yu Xuanyuan." As soon as the eunuch finished speaking the name, Shen Wuyue eagerly said, "Bring him in!"

"Your Majesty, do you really want him to be the Prime Minister? Even if Yu Xuanyuan has Huang Ling in his hands, he is still too young to be qualified! If the other four kingdoms find out that we have appointed a mere child who hasn't even reached adulthood as the Prime Minister of a country, wouldn't we be laughed at?" Zuo Yan said angrily. He was indignant on behalf of Yu Qingqian. Why should a mere child take away his teacher's position?

"Prime Minister Yu, what are your thoughts?" Shen Wuyue asked. Yu Qing smiled faintly, calm and composed. Although he didn't care about becoming Prime Minister or not, and had long wanted to be with his beloved wife, he was afraid that this sixteen-year-old boy was simply not up to the task. Wouldn't that be a waste of his years of hard work? He wanted to test this young man.

"Although I know Yu Xuanyuan's strength, I am still somewhat worried. If he can pass the test I have set, I am willing to step down," Yu Qingqian said.

"Teacher, how could you..." Zuo Yan said somewhat indignantly.

“Alright, it’s decided then. Please, Minister Yu, give us the questions,” said Kannazuki.