Meeting Her Crown Prince Brother for the First Time

Jiang Yunsheng shook his head at the scene. Nuannuan meant well, but she was still too inexperienced.

He raised a hand, intending to quell the riot and have a fresh pot of porridge prepared afterward. Just then, Jiang Nuan's inner voice rang out again.

[Hmph, these people really know how to put on an act. Most of the refugees are so hungry they've started gnawing on tree bark. Who would care about a little sand? These people are used to eating polished rice every day, so of course they're unhappy about eating porridge mixed with sand now.]

[Let me see who started stirring up the refugees. In a moment, I'm going to watch you finish every last drop of this sandy porridge!]

[Still, my scumbag dad is pretty clever. He knows to use this method to weed out the people who aren't refugees. As for this riot, all it takes is serving a bowl of porridge and letting everyone watch a refugee drink it.]

The guard was quick-witted enough. As soon as Jiang Nuan's inner voice rang out, he ladled out a bowl of porridge and handed it to the woman who had just received hers.

With so many refugees, there was naturally no way to give everyone enough to fill their bellies. They could only keep them from starving. Seeing that she had been given an extra bowl, the woman happily took it with both hands and drank it clean without the slightest hesitation.

When people were starving, they would even eat Guanyin Clay. What was a little sand?

Once she finished, the guard addressed the people in line without a shred of courtesy. "Why can she eat it when you can't? Do you really think His Majesty doesn't know that some of you have no shortage of food or drink, yet insist on coming here to snatch everyone else's disaster relief grain? You're the ones with rotten hearts! His Majesty has now issued a decree: not just today's porridge, but all porridge from now on will be like this. You people had better weigh your choices carefully!"

Even as he spoke, the guard did not forget to flatter Jiang Yunsheng.

Hearing this, some of the refugees also understood the intention behind it and cried out, "His Majesty is wise!"

Meanwhile, those who had slipped into the crowd to fraudulently claim relief grain turned pale.

Some even tried to sneak away. However, a military unit was already stationed among the refugees to prevent riots, and after hearing Jiang Nuan's inner voice, Jiang Yunsheng had ordered that no one be allowed to leave. Everyone had to stay obediently in line.

Those who wanted to slip away could only remain in the queue.

The genuine refugees drank without hesitation, while those who hemmed and hawed were seized by the soldiers to be called to account!

Seeing this, some could only force themselves to drink. Unsurprisingly, those who had never endured hardship promptly vomited up the porridge, then were hauled aside to await punishment.

Those who had drunk porridge earlier secretly counted themselves lucky and resolved never to come again.

[Hmph, these people deserve it. They have plenty to eat and drink, yet they still came. It's time they faced punishment!]

Jiang Nuan felt no pity as she looked at them. It was precisely because people like these existed that the relief grain was being consumed at such a terrifying rate.

[The best thing would be to mix sand directly into the rice. Then no one would dare skim any off during transport. Even if someone did take some, rice mixed with sand would be very easy to identify.]

Jiang Nuan thought silently to herself.

Jiang Yunsheng gave a slight nod. Nuannuan was right. He would issue the order at once.

Jiang Nuan had done him an enormous favor this time. Although he could not reward her directly because of the matter of her inner voice, surely there was nothing wrong with giving her a few things as her father?

Nuannuan seemed especially fond of gold. He remembered a set of the twelve zodiac animals made of pure gold in his private treasury. He would give her that!

Jiang Nuan had no idea her scumbag dad had handled the matter this way because he had heard her thoughts. She simply assumed he was capable and secretly admired him.

With the matter resolved, Jiang Nuan wanted to return to the palace. Although she still wanted to play a little longer, she was very young and already utterly exhausted.

Before returning to the palace, Jiang Yunsheng specifically instructed someone to report to him that evening on how the number of people coming for porridge differed from the number at midday.

By evening, the number of people coming to collect porridge had dropped by roughly a tenth.

Upon learning this, Jiang Yunsheng angrily hurled the book in his hand to the floor.

While Jiang Yunsheng seethed, Jiang Nuan was basking in happiness.

After returning to the palace, Jiang Nuan learned that her beautiful mother was waiting for her, so she changed direction and headed toward her mother's palace.

"Empress Mother, are you there?"

Jiang Nuan poked her head inside and looked around the palace.

Yet she saw no one.

"Your Highness, Ninth Princess, Her Majesty the Empress is preparing dishes for you in the small kitchen."

A palace maid nearby hastily explained.

Jiang Nuan nodded when she heard this, then skipped toward the small kitchen.

[Hehe, I never imagined that one day I'd get to eat a meal made by my own mother. I'm so happy!]

Jiang Nuan was thrilled. When she had been at school, some classmates' mothers would prepare loving lunches for them at noon, and she had always been envious.

But she had also known that such a thing was impossible for her, so she could only bury that envy deep in her heart.

She had never imagined that this wish would actually come true now.

Seeing how happy its host was, Guagua thought of the juicy gossip it had just discovered and hesitated to speak. In the end, however, it did not throw cold water on her happiness.

When Jiang Nuan reached the kitchen, she saw a figure bustling about inside.

"Empress Mother, I'm here."

Jiang Nuan spoke to Xiao Xiao.

Upon seeing her, Xiao Xiao wiped her hands and stroked her head, her voice exceedingly gentle. "You're here, Nuannuan. Wait a little longer. The food will be ready soon."

Jiang Nuan obediently nodded, then followed Xiao Xiao around like a little tail, helping her with small tasks from time to time.

Before long, Xiao Xiao finished cooking. She had prepared neither too much nor too little: four dishes and a soup.

After wiping her hands, she took Jiang Nuan by the hand and led her to the dining area.

[Mother's hand is so warm!]

Hearing this thought, Xiao Xiao silently tightened her hold on Jiang Nuan's hand.

By the time they arrived, the palace maids had set out all the dishes.

Just then, a voice came from outside. "Empress Mother, little sister, I'm back."

Jiang Nuan instinctively looked toward the voice and saw a figure in a moon-white robe slowly approaching.

His brows looked painted in ink, and his eyes shone like stars. His features were sharply defined, his natural beauty carrying an indescribable edge and majesty. Yet when he looked at Xiao Xiao and Jiang Nuan, a trace of tenderness softened his expression.

Jiang Nuan knew this was her Crown Prince brother.

Because of the snow disaster, Chancellor Chi Hengji had concluded that several villages around the Capital City were likely to suffer avalanches and had gone to inspect them in person. Thinking this would also be an opportunity for training, Jiang Yunsheng had sent the Crown Prince along.

Xiao Xiao had already told him about Jiang Nuan in a letter, and he was delighted to have suddenly gained a little sister.

Although this was their first meeting, the two hit it off wonderfully.

"Crown Prince brother, Empress Mother happened to cook a whole table of delicious dishes herself today. You're in for a treat!"

At those words, Crown Prince Jiang Chengze's expression stiffened. He suddenly regretted coming so early. He should have come tomorrow morning instead.