396-400

396. Go Ask for Help

Translator: Guy Gone Bad

But she had no choice.

Feng Jinghuang closed her eyes, “I am tired.”

Feng Qianjue made a salute, then turned to leave without hesitation.

The riots grew worse and worse, yet no one was able to come up with a workable solution.

Or, the one who can offer a solution was unwilling to do so.

Finally Feng Jinghuang had to compromise and went to look for Su Bei.

She felt that whether Su Bei had already anticipated this and was waiting to see her joke.

But when she arrived, Su Bei just finished eating.

Seeing her, Su Bei said lightly, “My greetings.”

Although Feng Jinghuang felt mad, she didn’t show it.

She pretended to be concerned about Su Bei, “I heard that you are not feeling well recently and haven’t attended the court for a long time. So I specially come to check on you.”

Su Bei thought for a moment and said, “Can’t your Majesty see that I was absent? Why say you heard about it?”

Feng Jinghuang’s face went slightly stiff.

She took a deep breath and said, “I am very concerned about Lord Su. I wonder if you are feeling any better now.”

Su Bei replied, “No.”

Feng Jinghuang said, “Where are you feeling uncomfortable. How about invite an imperial doctor for you?”

Su Bei refused, “I won’t die.”

Feng Jinghuang almost cracked her fingernails, and then said her really purpose for coming to see him, “I don’t know if you have heard about the refugee riots.”

Su Bei just lied through his teeth, “No.”

Feng Jinghuang was shocked by Su Bei’s not playing by the rules. So she could only continue, “Do you have any better solution?”

Su Bei pondered a little and said, “What kind of solution does Your Majesty want?”

Feng Jinghuang asked, “What do you mean?”

Su Bei said, “Literally, does Your Majesty want to solve the riots or the refugees?”

Feng Jinghuang said without hesitation, “The refugees!”

Su Bei smiled, “that is easy, kill them all.”

Feng Jinghuang squeezed out a smile, “I’m afraid it’d cause public indignation.”

Su Bei replied, “But keeping giving them food will only make them feel that the court is weak and deceptable.”

Feng Jinghuang said with uncertainty, “Are you sure it’s feasible?”

Su Bei seemed to think of something, “A saying, destroy the leader and the gang will collapse.”

Feng Jinghuang asked, “How should I deal with these refugees then?”

Su Bei said a lot of places in succession, and then said, “They have been out of repair over so many years, need to be repaired.”

Feng Jinghuang was not silly, so she instantly understood what Su Bei was implying.

Under the name of repairing those places to hire those refugees and let them have a job with a pay.

But Feng Jinghuang was still a bit worried, “the number of refugees is huge, and more on the way here.”

Su Bei said inexplicitly, “because Your Majesty is too generous.”

Feng Jinghuang knew Su Bei was mocking her.

Only feeling that as the emperor, she dare not say anything after being mocked, instead, she had to beg the other side to lend her a hand.

She took a deep breath and squeezed those words through her teeth, “So there are so many refugees, and you still think your method is feasible?”

Su Bei said casually, “The superfluous ones, drive them to the east.”

Feng Jinghuang kind of regretted now. Why would she come to ask his advice?

She got up and said, “Sorry to bother you. I should go.”

397. The Governor: Exchange Their Kids for Food

Translator: Guy Gone Bad

Su Bei handed a memorial to Feng Jinghuang, “Check it if Your Majesty has the time, if not, just throw it away.”

Feng Jinghuang hesitated for a while, but still received it.

The next day, the armies cracked down on the rioting refugees and beheaded those people who deliberately got disguised as the refugees in front of the public.

After the refugees’ riot was put down, the imperial court announced that they would need a lot of manpower to build the imperial tombs.

Those who had labor force were recruited, while those who had no labor force accepted the arrangement.

Apparently, the refugees had accepted the arrangement, albeit with some grumbling.

Feng Jinghuang felt more complicated in the heart, because those methods were all from Su Bei’s memorial.

She thought that Su Bei would continue tricking her, but he did not.

Feng Jinghuang smiled. So what? She would still kill Su Bei, and she would never get shaken!

The next day, Su Bei received an imperial decree saying that the disaster in some county was so severe that people even exchanged their kids for food.

So she’d send him to solve the disaster, so those people could restore their conscience.

Su Bei’s intuition told him that on the way going there and coming back, there’d be rounds of assassinations.

Compared with assassinating him on his way back, Feng Jinghuang would rather get him killed on the way going there.

What cruel female lead! He had just helped her, and now she already requited kindness with enmity?

Now that the imperial decree had been issued, Su Bei had no choice but to go.

After all, he was quite afraid of the female lead, after all, the degree of her brutality was obvious to all.

Feng Qianjue also heard about it, knowing that Feng Jinghuang really wouldn’t let Su Bei live.

Feng Jinghuang should have it planned long ago. Once Su Bei left the capital, Feng Jinghuang started to clear the court.

She would definitely figure out a way to make Su Bei unable to make it back.

Taking ten thousands steps back, even if Su Bei could come back, things would have changed.

He just didn’t know what Su Bei was thinking.

The day before Su Bei left, Feng Qianjue came.

He asked Su Bei, “You really want to go?”

Su Bei asked rhetorically, “Do I have a choice?”

Feng Qianjue said explicitly, “Of course.”

Su Bei glanced at Feng Qianjue, he only wanted to say, dude, your idea is very dangerous.

Feng Qianjue faintly smiled, “It depends on whether you want to do it or not.”

Su Bei looked at him suspiciously. Did this guy mean to encourage him to usurp the throne, and then kill him on this charge?

As smart as Su Bei was, still trying to calculate him? No way! “I don’t understand what you are talking about.”

Feng Qianjue had a slight twitch of his mouth. Still pretending it? How could you not know?

Was his momentary doubt a fear that he was tricking him?

Little liar! He had thought that he was different to him. Now he still suspected him?

Su Bei had already packed things up. When leaving, the long line of carriages made one doubt that he was not going for the disaster relief, but for a spring outing.

Feng Qianjue watched him leave the capital on the second floor of a restaurant.

He got bottoms up and then asked someone to send the news into the palace.

Saying he wasn’t feeling well, and wouldn’t see anyone.

Su Bei wasn’t sleeping well in the bumpy carriage, and only wanted to get to that place as soon as possible.

Suddenly, the carriage stopped, as he was about to ask what was going on, the curtain was brushed open, “My lord, we are so swaggered, I’m afraid that we might get targeted by those refugees.”

Su Bei picked his eyebrow, “Prince Zhennan, isn’t it good to stay in the capital?”

Feng Qianjue sat beside Su Bei, “Not at all.”

Su Bei then ordered the people to move on, totally ignoring the ‘incident’ just now.

398. The Governor: Becoming the Scapegoat Again

Translator: Guy Gone Bad

Then he turned his head back, “Prince Zhennan is really capricious.”

Feng Qianjue echoed, “Yes, since I met you, I have become so capricious.”

748, “Captivating bar increased by 2%, current progress 66%.”

Su Bei turned over a white eye, save it! Give the current captivating bar, even if we meet the assassins later, I guess you wouldn’t save me!

Speak of the devil! Sure enough, as soon as he had finished thinking about the assassin thing, the carriage stopped again.

Su Bei brushed open the curtain, yeah, the assassins were here!

But, this time, he didn’t have to handle it himself, those people the original owner had trained were all top martial arts masters.

So those assassins were no match for them.

After a few eyes, Su Bei put down the curtain, “Can’t l have a quiet sleep?”

Feng Qianjue was a little helpless, “You are still drowsy as always.”

Su Bei directly lay down, resting his head on Feng Qianjue’s thigh while closing his eyes, “Let them quiet down. I’m sleepy.”

As some martial arts masters, of course they heard it, so, the fighting sound really quieted down a little.

Su Bei’s people directly covered their mouths when killing them, even giving them no chance to scream.

In a moment, all the assassins were killed.

In other words, this group of assassins was not that capable.

The carriages were on the road again.

Later, they dealt with several groups of assassinators.

There were casualties, but not many.

The original owner was some existence that made both men and women afraid of, so it was no strange for him to have such powerful underlings.

If the original owner was easy to be killed, he wouldn’t have given Feng Jinghuang such a huge headache.

When approaching that county, Feng Qianjue asked, “Isn;t it too ostentatious like this? Better leave your men here and we’ll go check things out first.”

Su Bei took a look at Feng Qianjue, “All right.”

Only judging by their dresses, one could tell they were never ordinary people. So before they could make it to the county, they had already been surrounded by a lot of refugees, because they tried to beg them for some money or food.

And if they refused, they’d just keep surrounding them like that.

Su Bei took out a money bag from the sleeves, slowly poured some silver pieces into his hand, and then scattered them.

The refugees who were surrounding them hurriedly went to pick the silver.

So the two of them took the opportunity to go into the town.

The streets that should have been bustling looked bleak. Many refugees were lying on the side of the streets, hungry and weak, their sunken faces looking a little scary.

When they saw the two of them, some were ready to move, but a lot already lost the strength to get up, so they could only watch them pass by.

When they came before the yamen, the yamen was as bleak, even the plaque hanging above already got slanted.

As the county magistrate who felt dizzy in the head due to the hanger saw Su Bei, he asked feebly, “Has Governor Su arrived?”

Su Bei responded, “how is the situation so serious? What about the disaster relief money and food?”

The magistrate licked his dry lips and smiled ironically, “Haven’t you sent people to take it away? How is it possible you don’t know?”

Su Bei picked his eyebrows. Really? Why didn’t he know?

Just with an eye, the person in the dark place came out and waited for Su Bei’s order.

Su Bei said only one word, “Check.”

The magistrate hobbled towards Su Bei, “My lord, you also saw the situation here, I’m afraid I can’t host a dinner for your arrival now.”

Su Bei felt so awful. What a bad name the original owner had enjoyed from those people? Maybe he’d have to be the scapegoat again.

399. The Governor: Make a Gamble

Translator: Guy Gone Bad

Forget it, this isn’t the first time he has been other’s scapegoat!

Although he knew that Feng Jinghuang just wanted to get rid of him using this as an excuse, he shouldn’t stay out of this.

Su Bei let the county magistrate report the actual situations here.

At first, the situation was not so bad, so those refugees from other places moved here.

The magistrate also resettled them, but those refugees gradually became unsatisfied with the magistrate’s relief and began to rob other people’s food.

The magistrate tried to stop them several times but failed, coupled with the spread of the disaster, things fell into a mess.

After the introduction of the situation, the magistrate asked Su Bei, “My lord, would you like me to show you where those refugees are?”

Su Bei said OK.

Feng Qianjue asked inexplicitly, “There are a lot of refugees?”

The magistrate nodded, “Although many died or run away, there are still a lot left.”

Su Bei gave Feng Qianjue an eye and didn’t say anything, “88, I think the captivating object wants to kill me immediately.”

748, “Oh.”

Su Bei heaved a sigh, “88, do you need to be so cruel?”

748, “Oh.”

Su Bei had a slight twitch of the corner of his mouth, “You have no other modal particals?”

748, “Hm.”

Su Bei complained, “I still like that talkative 88.”

This time, 748 directly gave no reaction.

Soon they arrived at the place where the refugees were settled. Sure enough, there were a lot of people, but many of them did not look so distressed.

And he happened to see a man frantically gnawing at a man’s arm, which belonged to an adult.

The magistrate moved his eyes away and said bitterly, “Even the dead people are dug out as food, what a sin!”

Su Bei also looked away and as he was about to say there’s no need to go further in,

He saw that Feng Qianjue took a step back, and when he felt something wrong,

Numerous assassins rushed out of the refugees.

As the saying goes, when the ants are many enough, they can eat an elephants. Only two people came with Su Bei this time.

It was difficult for them to defend Su Bei.

And Su Bei who planned to spread the poison powder also withdrew his hand.

There were too many refugees here, whether it was bewitched worms or poison powder, he couldn’t use any, otherwise, a lot of refugees would also die.

By then, Feng Jinghuang would have the excuse to announce him guilty.

Su Bei just stood there and didn’t move. He’d like to make a gamble if his captivating object would save him.

Feng Qianjue and Su Bei looked at each other from a distance, as the cold sword was about to stab into Su Bei’s body, Feng Qianjue moved.

He threw a palm at that guy and the pulled Su Bei into his arms, feeling complicated, “You won.”

He could not let Su Bei die.

748, “Captivating bar increased by 10%, current progress 76%.”

Since they didn’t need to take care of Su Bei, Su Bei’s guards became a lot fiercer. Although it took them quite some time, they killed all those assassins finally.

No need to keep any alive, since he had already known who did this.

When the scene was cleared, the frightened refugees all ran out.

Quite a few people began to scramble for the assassin’s bodies.

Su Bei opened his mouth, “If you want to die, continue.”

Those people thought that he was just bluffing, so they directly ignored him and went on.

Su Bei gave his people an eye, and one of them grabbed the leading guy and killed him on spot.

The others were so frightened that they instantly dropped the bodies and shrank back.

400. The Governor: Digging a Canal

Translator: Guy Gone Bad

Su Bei tilted his head, “So bloody.”

748, “…” It might have been more persuasive if the host had not uttered an emotionless statement with a straight face.

The magistrate finally knew why Governor Su was so horrible as the rumors said, he said with a trembling voice, “My lord, what is your next plan?”

Su Bei said, “Wait.”

What can he do before getting the relief money and food back?

The magistrate was stunned, “Well…”

Ignoring him directly, Su Bei touched his chin, “Is there any water resource nearby?”

The magistrate shook his head, “No. If there is one, it wouldn’t be like this.”

Su Bei then said, “It’s OK if it’s a little further away.”

The magistrate pondered, “There is a big river further away, although due to the impact of the disaster, there is no longer so abundant water.”

“But quite far away, a round-trip will take a day’s time.”

Su Bei nodded and walked away directly.

The magistrate looked at Feng Qianjue, confused, “Governor Su…What does it mean?”

Feng Qianjue smiled slightly, “I also do not know.”

Su Bei’s people also went into the town. Efficient enough, they had found out who had embezzled those money and food using Su Bei’s name.

It was a retired official who had ever fawned on Su Bei when he was in his position.

Since he had found out who did it, of course he should ask it back. As for reporting it to His Majesty? Not possible. He was Governor Su who could cover half the sky with a hand!

When that retired official was dragged out of the quilt, he looked quite panicked.

In a twinkling, the house was turned upside down.

He wanted to struggle, but when he heard that it was Su Bei, he could only cry for mercy.

All the things for the disaster relief were taken back, not only that, even the money and food from that retired official’s place was used for disaster relief.

So the relief supplies were quite substantial.

As everyone thought that Su Bei would send out those relief materials, he did not, on the contrary, as if he had no such a plan at all.

Su Bei and Feng Qianjue went to the big river the magistrate said, indeed, it was not quite affected by the disaster, there was abundant water.

But the terrain near the river was not so good, impossible to build houses or farm.

Otherwise, all refugees would have already come here.

Feng Qianjue asked Su Bei, “What do you want to do?”

Su Bei said, “Dig a canal.”

That seemed to be the only thing he remembered in the history book, and he thought it was pretty good.

If they could open a canal, even if there was a drought or something in the future, people would have water to irrigate the fields.

Well, most of all, he found it funny and wanted to have a try.

Feng Qianjue’s pupils contracted, he really didn’t expect that Su Bei was really trying to do something for those refugees.

He thought that after knowing that this was just an excuse for the emperor to kill him, Su Bei would choose not to put this matter in mind, but he did not.

Su Bei had kept refreshing his cognition about him.

The two of them rode a horse along the river for a long time. Su Bei asked Feng Qianjue, “I wonder if you know some experts on this?”

Yeah, only those professionals would handle it. As a layman, he totally had no idea how.

Feng Qianjue answered, “You are asking the right person, I happen to know such a person, who is quite familiar with this.”

Su Bei’s OS was, see? As long as I got something I can’t handle, I can turn help from the male lead! Sometimes, the male lead is omnipotent!