After he finished washing up and eating breakfast, Xu Fengnian was already waiting outside.
When he arrived at the Imperial Academy, Cai Shu's seat was still empty.
Han Mo didn't mind. After the great embarrassment he suffered this time, he wondered if the beating he would receive back home would split his backside into eight pieces.
Although after the incident the day before yesterday, the students in the entire Imperial Academy had a much improved attitude towards Han Mo.
However, this was, after all, the senior dormitory of the Imperial Academy, and the vast majority of people here were still focused on their studies.
After all, they had worked hard for so many years and were about to face the most important examination of their lives.
At this moment, it was very much like students preparing for the college entrance examination in later generations.
Learning from the previous incident, even the attitudes of some instructors towards Han Mo began to become somewhat strange.
Han Mo didn't care at all, he just read his books, and occasionally, if there was something he didn't understand, he would unhesitatingly seek clarification from the teachers.
Although the things he asked were supposed to be known by the students in the inner dormitory.
However, he was personally placed here by the emperor, so no matter how proud these teachers were, they dared not show him disrespect to his face.
It was a busy day, and it only ended in the evening.
"Young master, shall we go straight home, or stroll around the city?"
Seeing that Han Mo had finally finished school, Xu Fengnian asked excitedly.
"Let's go to the porridge shed outside the city and see if Prince Xin needs any more help," Han Mo hesitated for a moment before saying.
"Yes!"
At his words, Xu Fengnian's heart sank a little.
Han Mo didn't pay attention to what he was thinking. After getting into the carriage, they headed straight for the porridge shed outside the city.
By the time he arrived, the sky was already dim, but people were still queuing up to receive porridge endlessly.
"The number of people seems to have increased a lot..."
Looking at the long line, even Han Mo couldn't help but frown.
The current situation was much more serious than they had anticipated.
If this continued, the 150,000 guan he had brought back would soon be spent.
"Brother Han is here!"
Seeing Han Mo's carriage arrive, Zong Ying hurried forward.
"Brother Shouzheng, why is the situation here so serious?"
"Don't mention it, these disaster victims heard that His Highness was distributing porridge here, and disaster victims from several nearby counties all rushed over..."
Zong Ying hadn't expected something like this to happen, but since it had already happened, all he could do was offer a bitter smile.
"This won't do if it goes on like this. With just us, we can't handle it..."
Han Mo couldn't help but frown. This matter was really a bit troublesome.
"Who can say it isn't? But at this time, as you know, even His Highness cannot see the Emperor..."
"This world is truly interesting. Just to entertain a few barbarians, they don't even care about the lives of their own people..."
Zong Ying couldn't help but sneer.
"Brother Zong, be careful with your words!"
Han Mo gave him a deep look and said in a low voice.
"Even if they hear it, so what? These people are all incompetent and only care about their positions. If they can do it, why can't others speak about it?"
Looking at his indignant demeanor, Han Mo couldn't help but shake his head.
"Where is His Highness?"
Han Mo had no interest in listening to his complaints here. Since things had already come to this, the most important thing to do now was to find a way to solve the problem, not to complain.
"His Highness is sulking over there. The profiteers in the city heard that His Highness was going to provide disaster relief, and they are all finding ways to raise grain prices."
Zong Ying said this with even more anger.
"Merchants pursue profit; this is their nature. It's better to find a solution than to get angry with them. I'll go over and take a look. Brother Shouzheng, you go on with your work."
Han Mo had already expected such things.
After all, expecting those merchants to have a conscience would be like expecting a sow to climb a tree.
Even someone like Feng Yuanbao only agreed to cooperate with them when he saw a chance for profit.
"Your Highness, Mr. Han is here."
Seeing Han Mo walk over, the attendant beside Zhao Zhen quickly whispered.
"Your Highness, what are you doing?"
Looking at the messy pile of firewood on the ground, Han Mo asked with a smile.
"Please forgive my appearance, Brother Han. You guys can go down first!"
Seeing the smile on Han Mo's face, Zhao Zhen gave a wry smile.
"It's just a few profiteers. Your Highness, it's not worth getting angry with them!"
Han Mo said with a smile after taking a sip of tea.
"These people are truly detestable. They know that I am buying grain for disaster relief, yet they are finding ways to raise grain prices! Yesterday it was 900 wen, and today it's already one guan in small coins!"
Zhao Zhen said, fiercely slamming his fist on the table beside him.
If it weren't for the table's decent quality, it would probably have fallen apart by now.
"Your Highness doesn't need to worry about such trivial matters. Has Your Highness ever considered why the Great Song Dynasty has become what it is today?"
Han Mo looked around and saw that the nearest attendant was still tens of steps away, then he said with a smile.
"Brother Han, what exactly do you want to say?"
Zhao Zhen's pupils contracted, and his expression immediately became serious.
He was born into royalty, so he naturally understood the implication of Han Mo's words.
"I came today to ask Your Highness a question."
Han Mo smiled, picked up his teacup again, took a sip of tea, and then continued.
"Please speak, Brother Han!"
Zhao Zhen took a deep look at Han Mo, then cupped his hands towards him.
"Does Your Highness have any thoughts of vying for the supreme position?"
"Cough—cough—cough—"
As soon as Han Mo finished speaking, Zhao Zhen began to cough violently.
Although Zhao Zhen had guessed some of what Han Mo wanted to say from his expression, he never expected him to be so direct.
After all, they had only met a few times, and to ask such a question directly, he was beginning to doubt if Han Mo was out of his mind...
"Your Highness might think I am being too presumptuous, but Your Highness, have you ever considered that although we still have over a hundred thousand guan in copper coins, and your household might have some actual wealth that could be gathered to tens of thousands of guan, what will you do if the number of disaster victims continues to increase, or if the negotiations between the court and the Jin people do not go smoothly and they enter a stalemate?"
Han Mo put down his teacup and looked at Zhao Zhen lightly.
"Brother Han, what exactly do you want to say..."
Zhao Zhen looked around in a panic and said in a low voice.
"The current Emperor has twenty-five princes, yet to this day, not one dares to speak for the disaster victims, let alone participate in disaster relief. Doesn't Your Highness feel that if these people were to ascend to power, it would be a true blindness of heaven?"
Since there were only the two of them here, Han Mo was truly unafraid to shock with his words.
"I am neither the legitimate nor the eldest son, and I am not favored by the Emperor. My elder brothers above are all like wolves and tigers. Brother Han, how can I compete?"
After looking at each other for a long time, Zhao Zhen suddenly slumped like a deflated ball and said with self-deprecation.
"If Your Highness is willing, Han Mo is willing to lend you a hand!"
Han Mo cleared his throat, then stood up, tidied his clothes seriously, and cupped his hands towards Zhao Zhen.
"Brother Han, don't joke. Although you are young, you come from a prestigious family and are highly regarded by the Emperor even before entering officialdom. Why do you need to tie yourself to a loser like me..."
Zhao Zhen's body trembled, and he said with a complex expression.
"It's very simple, because, Your Majesty, among all the princes, it is only in Your Highness that Han Mo sees a trace of the demeanor of a ruler! If Your Highness is willing to fight for the common people of this world, Han Mo, though untalented, is also willing to gamble with Your Highness!"
After hearing Han Mo's words, Zhao Zhen fell silent again...
"If I one day reach the peak, I will never forget Brother Han's kindness today!"
After nearly a quarter of an hour, Zhao Zhen took several deep breaths, then lowered his voice, his eyes red, and bowed to Han Mo...