Feng Jinlin felt disdainful, but everything was proceeding according to the Prince's plan.
"Since this matter is settled, this subordinate will take his leave. All related matters will be discussed with the Cao family head."
Feng Jinlin was not in charge of grain collection, so he could not interfere.
The Cao family head quickly nodded, "County Magistrate Feng, rest assured. With our Cao family here, we guarantee that this grain collection will proceed without a hitch."
"That is excellent."
With Liang Quanbin severely injured and bedridden, and Feng Jinlin not overseeing this matter, the officials in Jinling City had frequent dealings with them. Naturally, they knew who would be able to obstruct it.
The Cao family had truly seized the opportune moment, the geographical advantage, and the support of the people.
Thus, as he left the Supervision Bureau, everyone could see the smile on his face.
The common folk would never know that their lives and livelihoods were once again in the hands of this unrestrained individual. However, it was precisely this unrestraint that Prince Ding desired.
If the festering wound is not broken, how can medicine be applied?
The Cao family was the needle that would pick at the festering wound!
At this moment, in a small courtyard, Huo Chong had been imprisoned in the dark cells for many days. Apart from the fixed three meals a day, no one had come to see him.
The other party seemed in no hurry to interrogate him, nor were they worried that he would commit suicide. They simply kept him imprisoned, as if they intended to keep him until he died of old age.
At first, he would curse incessantly. Now, his voice was hoarse, and no one had come, so he was too lazy to bother.
His only concern was his brother-in-law, Zhu Hong. He wondered how he was faring in the naval camp's prison.
It was time for meals again, and someone entered the room.
The dishes had not changed, two dishes and one soup, but the portions were a bit insufficient.
It was enough to keep him from starving, but also enough to leave him with little strength to struggle.
This was a tactic to subdue the enemy without fighting, a truly formidable strategy.
The person delivering the food always hid in the shadows, so he had never seen who it was.
He picked up the bowl and, as always, devoured the food with great speed. Soon, the meager meal disappeared into Huo Chong's belly.
Su Cheng and Yang Zhao, standing outside, were somewhat curious.
"When the Prince brought him back, I thought he would start the interrogation immediately. I didn't expect him to be locked up for so long without any mention of it. Did he forget?"
Yang Zhao rolled his eyes, "When have you ever seen the Prince forget such things?"
"That's true."
In their eyes, Prince Ding was like an inscrutable yet always well-prepared God of War. Anyone he set his mind on, he would find a way to make them unable to cope and confess the truth.
In this regard, he was far more capable than they were, who only knew how to use brute force.
The two stood for a while and then left the small courtyard. The Prince Ding they were discussing was currently playing chess with Feng Jinyao.
After their boat trip last time, Feng Jinyao had made Prince Ding repeatedly eat humble pie for several days.
Not only him, but even Yang Zhao and Su Cheng were treated with disdain.
Only when she saw her second brother, Feng Jinlin, did she show a slight improvement.
Although she understood that Prince Ding's actions were for her father's and the Feng family's good, she still felt uncomfortable.
After thinking for these few days, she had gained some clarity.
"At that time, this Prince did not have the feelings for A'Yao that I do now. If I had known I would fall for you, I would never have laid a hand on your uncle. If A'Yao still feels wronged, why don't you stab me?"
With that, he took out a sharp short dagger and placed it in front of Feng Jinyao.
His sincerity left Feng Jinyao speechless.
Fortunately, she was not someone who could not distinguish right from wrong, so she forgave Xiao Tingyi.
From then on, Xiao Tingyi became even more presumptuous.
Every day, he would either bring fruits or other delicacies. They were not precious items, but they were quite characteristic of Jiangnan flavors.
Today's game of chess was exchanged for seasonal fresh fruits.
Feng Jinyao's chess skills were not as outstanding as Elder Xu's, and playing chess with her, Xiao Tingyi was naturally superior.
However, she excelled in her unique thinking, always coming up with ingenious moves that could entangle the Prince's black pieces. Thus, their interest in playing chess together grew.
After becoming accustomed to his presence, no one in the small courtyard said anything more.
Especially Yun Xu, who always managed to time her preparations of tea and snacks perfectly.
Gradually, everyone accepted Xiao Tingyi's presence by Feng Jinyao's side as a matter of course.
Feng Jinyao herself also gradually became accustomed to it.
For some reason, after the boat trip, her feelings towards Prince Ding had changed.
In the past, she felt that this person was too unfathomable and she did not want to get involved in trouble. However, she had witnessed all the little things that had happened these past few days.
The dignified Prince Ding never used his power to suppress her, but instead gave her the greatest freedom.
He accompanied her in her wildness and shared her laughter.
Many times, before she even spoke, Xiao Tingyi seemed to be able to read her mind, even bringing her a small pot of the rare "Drunk White Head" late one night.
Feng Jinyao was not made of wood, and she naturally felt joy and gratitude.
Once these emotions accumulated over time, they naturally began to change.
Although she did not admit it herself, Xiao Tingyi noticed it.
Therefore, he became even more diligent in his actions.
He was neither overly intimate nor did he fail to create opportunities for himself to be present in her life.
The scenery outside was beautiful, and the two inside, under the bright window, were like celestial beings in a painting, enjoying themselves.
Unfortunately, Xu Lin arrived in a hurry, his face serious, breaking the idyllic scene.
"Your Highness."
"Speak."
"There is news from the Southwest Army that a flood has occurred."
When the word "flood" was uttered, Feng Jinyao paused.
In her previous life, when a flood occurred in the southwest, countless people died, and refugees gathered in places like Shuzhou and Qianzhou, causing riots. They even plundered the government granaries, yet it was still not enough to fill their stomachs.
For this reason, they caused trouble everywhere, plundering many nearby prefectures and counties.
She had incidentally heard Wen Mengsheng mention it, but at that time, she only felt pity for the refugees, yet she had never actually helped them.
"Has the grain collected by my maternal grandfather and the Chi family reached the southwest?"
"It has entered the border, but it is being held up outside Shuzhou. It will take a few more days to reach the city."
"Tell my maternal grandfather and the Chi family head to sell it to the local gentry and nobles at a price at least three times higher, the higher the better."
Upon hearing this, Xu Lin was stunned.
He had always thought that the Prince was hoarding grain to prevent unrest if the refugees scattered, but he never expected that he would actually "profiteer from a national disaster"!
For a moment, he was confused.
It was Feng Jinyao, standing beside him, who seemed to understand his thoughts and asked,
"Does the Prince intend to attract other merchants to follow suit by selling grain at a high price, making them all transport grain to the southwest?"
Xiao Tingyi smiled, "Only A'Yao truly understands me."
Hearing this, Xu Lin finally understood.
The nearly forty million dan of grain could alleviate the immediate suffering in the southwest, but it could not be sustained long-term. It was currently the harvest season, and with the sudden flood, there would naturally be no crops.