She accidentally flirted with the villain and was fiercely criticized as the regent for forcibly mar

Even though she was sleeping in a house with an underfloor heating system, she only felt warm. The thatched and mud-brick houses in the countryside don't keep out the wind or the cold. If things continue like this, the death toll will keep rising.

If they want to go out and find a way out, they need to have warm clothes. Those with weaker constitutions may not be able to walk more than a few miles before they freeze to death.

Rice and flour prices are skyrocketing.

Many people regret not listening to Jiang Ruining and not stockpiling anything.

However, some people formed gangs and plotted to kill and plunder supplies at the pharmacy.

A dozen or so burly men sat around a room lit by candlelight.

But the leader was a man dressed as a scholar, who looked refined and gentle, but whose eyes revealed a shrewd calculation!

He sat on the edge of the bed, holding a cold, lifeless hand, furious: "They clearly predicted the natural disaster, but only mentioned it casually. They weren't genuinely trying to help us, yet they wanted our gratitude for nothing!"

"If she truly wanted to help others, she should have given us all her heating supplies for free! But she did nothing! She's probably sitting in a warm house right now, eating delicacies, laughing at us for being poor and starving!"

As she spoke, she wiped away a tear.

A muscular man nearby slammed his fist against the wall: "This outsider woman is so malicious! So heartless!"

The scholar sighed, his words filled with pity for the lives lost: "If I had so much rice, grain, and money, I would have given it all away in charity. Alas, we have nothing!"

Everyone wants rice and heating supplies to survive the cold winter, but hunger and cold can amplify a person's evil and make them do things that violate their bottom line of willfulness!

For example, murder and robbery!

Humans are all vain.

After hoarding resources, would they really readily offer them up selflessly to everyone?

impossible!

They would form teams, trample the weak underfoot, only accept the powerful into their ranks, and continue to plunder as a matter of course, until they confronted the government.

At that time.

It's easy to incite riots!

The muscular man sneered, a venomous green glint in his narrowed eyes: "Just because we don't have it now doesn't mean we never will!"

The scholar seemed to understand his meaning, his expression one of exaggerated surprise, leading everyone to guess in the same direction.

If the robbery fails, the burly man will be the ringleader, and it has nothing to do with him!

If successful, he could use his wits to seize credit and become the leader of this group, making them obey only his orders!

"Brother Zhou, what do you mean?"

Zhou Zhuanghan: "Take the supplies from her hands and distribute them to the people who have no food stored!"

The scholar frowned, seemingly disagreeing, but remained silent.

The dozen or so people in the room split into two camps with differing opinions.

Excited.

Hesitant.

The hesitant person said, "She bought the things; it wouldn't be right for us to rob her, would it?"

Zhou Zhuanghan slammed his fist on the table, cracking it and making it teeter on the verge of collapse. It was a threat, a warning: "We're doing this not for ourselves, but so that more people can survive the winter! Can you just stand by and watch your friends and family starve and freeze to death?"

"Those willing to follow me, raise your hands! Those unwilling to participate, I won't force you, but after we've secured the supplies, don't come begging for them, lest you taint your pure and innocent hearts!"

The dozen or so people looked at each other, exchanging glances or whispering among themselves.

After a while.

The scholar was the first to raise his hand: "Rather than sitting and waiting to freeze or starve to death, let's take a gamble! For the sake of more people, and for our own sake, I'm in!"

Even a scholar who couldn't even kill a chicken followed.

If these farmers, butchers, and tough guys didn't follow, wouldn't they become a laughing stock?

In the next instant, all the dozen or so hands in the room were raised!

Zhou Dahan nodded in satisfaction: "Go back and prepare the equipment, and each of you should recruit more able-bodied young men into the ranks. We'll meet here tomorrow night!"

The dozen or so nodded in agreement and went their separate ways to begin their efforts to win over and prepare.

Even faster than those people were the government officials!

That very night, they arrived at the pharmacy without making a sound.

Leading the group was the prefect's advisor.

As soon as I came in, I wanted to sit in the head seat.

Startled by the gleaming longswords in the main room, he retreated and sat in the lower left seat. The glint in his narrow eyes revealed his grudge.

Jiang Ruining walked over gracefully, and looking at the advisor's demeanor, a cold sneer curled at the corner of her lips.

In the face of natural disaster, the head of a prefecture wants the supplies from a commoner like her, who has no parents to manage the household and no husband to rely on, but he has this attitude. He seems to be arrogant and conceited!

The advisor frowned slightly when he saw that she showed no sign of fear or trepidation.

His tone, though tentative, remained condescending: "Why is it just a young lady like you coming out? This is a serious matter; call the head of your household!"

Jiang Ruining took his seat at the head of the table. His youthful face was indifferent, and the ten pairs of cold, bloodthirsty eyes beside him gave him a composed yet sharp air of authority: "Please wait a moment, Master. We will talk after our distinguished guest arrives."

The advisor sneered, his expression clearly saying, "This girl is easy to bully!"

"Young lady, there's no need to play tricks on the officials! If you truly had a powerful backer, you would have revealed it long ago. Why wait until today? The officials won't take what you have for nothing. Wait until next spring, and the prefect will reward you with valuables, ensuring your business in Daning Prefecture thrives!"

He paused for a moment.

I was observing her expression.

She still didn't seem nervous, and she emphasized her tone.

"You need to understand, a young girl like you is utterly insignificant and laughable in the face of such a natural disaster. Once the people outside go mad with hunger, they will turn insane and swarm in, tearing your guards apart, and tearing you apart too!"

"Without the government protecting you and helping you allocate these supplies, you're doomed!"

"Be pragmatic and hand over all the supplies!"

Jiang Ruining ignored him and quietly ate her honey tea.

It was sent to her by the Regent, and it certainly tastes much better than what you can buy here.

Ignored, the clerk became somewhat enraged: "The government is doing you a favor by taking over the supplies you have. Don't be so stubborn!"

Zzzzz!

Zzz! Zzz!

Several long swords were drawn and aimed at him.

"This is not a place for you to shout. Shut your mouth!"

The clerk felt a chill run down his neck and was terrified: "How dare you! You dare lay a hand on government officials! You're asking for trouble! This is your final warning: by dawn tomorrow, have your supplies organized and respectfully hand over the warehouse keys to the yamen!"

"otherwise!"

"snort!"

He sneered contemptuously, adopting an arrogant and domineering attitude, as if he held the power of life and death over others.

"But nobody cares whether you live or die anymore!"

Jiang Ruining still ignored his dog's barking.

Baxi, who was on duty outside, made a hand gesture.

The person we've been waiting for has arrived!

"Lead the way!"

The leader walked briskly through the wide crescent gate, his steps quick yet steady, clearly the composure cultivated from years of holding high office.

The clerk was a close associate of the prefect and was quite knowledgeable. He immediately recognized the leader as the Provincial Administration Commissioner, a second-rank official and the highest-ranking official in Daning Prefecture!

The Commander-in-Chief and the Provincial Judicial Commissioner were among them!

These three are high-ranking officials of Da Ning Prefecture, people who would never see them otherwise, yet they have come together to see this little girl today.

He squinted and glanced at Jiang Ruining again.

He hissed.

Could it be that this brat has something extraordinary in her hands?

Seeing this, he stood up and greeted them with a smile: "Why have you gentlemen come in person? Although this woman is ungrateful, I have almost finished discussing the matter of contributing supplies..."

The provincial governor glanced at the man with a sharp look, shoved him aside, and went straight into the main hall.

His gaze was fixed on the young woman in the first seat.

Catching a glimpse of the gold medal half-exposed at her waist, and then looking at the marriage compatibility chart in the box in her hand without an official seal, he immediately confirmed her identity. He bowed deeply in greeting and returned the brocade box with both hands: "Your subject, Chen Qiaoming, the Provincial Governor of Daning Prefecture, along with all the officials under his jurisdiction, respectfully wish the Regent Princess a peaceful and healthy life!"