Are We Rebelling Now?

Luo Shuang was so angry that tears streamed down her face. "This dowry was supposed to be mine, why is she taking it away?"

Madam Luo sneered, "We'll just pass off inferior goods as superior ones. I don't believe she can investigate them one by one."

Master Luo nodded and said, "I'll have the craftsmen make some in the next couple of days and replace all the genuine articles with fakes."

Zhou Wanwan, on the other hand, was preparing to enter the academy, which had quite a few rules.

When a woman enters the academy, she may only bring female relatives with her; she may not bring men.

Furthermore, each person is only allowed to bring a maximum of two guards or maids; no more than two are permitted.

She brought Zheng Xing'an and Luo Xue with her. Luo Xue said with a face full of gratitude, "Thank you, Miss. I... I didn't expect you to bring me into the White Deer Academy."

Zhou Wanwan smiled faintly and said:

"The maids around us can study at the White Deer Academy."

Even though you're pregnant now, it won't interfere with your studies.

Luo Xue nodded.

With three days left before entering White Deer Academy, Zhou Wanwan wandered around Chaoyang County, noticing an increasing number of beggars on the streets.

Chen Ankang said softly, "Master, things have started to get Taiping in several counties recently. The number of refugees is increasing. It's a bit better in the city, but the situation outside the city is terrible."

Zhou Wanwan looked at him and said, "Isn't there any noise in the county?"

Chen Ankang shook his head and said, "These county magistrates are only thinking about protecting themselves at this time; they wouldn't care about these things."

Zhou Wanwan sighed and said, "Some county magistrates are still capable of getting things done. Now we need to think of a way to help these disaster victims."

Chen Ankang remained silent for a long time before saying:

"This is a natural disaster. There is nothing we can do except wait for the imperial court to send relief grain and reduce taxes."

But the current imperial court is preoccupied with its own problems, as wars have been raging everywhere, leaving the national treasury empty.

Zhou Wanwan understood; they were simply not going to be rescued by the government.

It's only been one year, and it's already turned out like this.

One can only imagine what the three-year drought in the previous life had turned into.

Zhou Wanwan felt a chill run down her spine when she thought about this.

She was a modern person and had never experienced such a scene before, but even the thought of it was terrifying.

She had seen videos of people exchanging children to eat, selling their own children...

When people truly can't go on living, nothing is surprising.

Zhou Wanwan frowned. Did they really want to watch life be lost?

Zhou Wanwan looked at Chen Ankang and said, "Chen Ankang, let me ask you a question. Answer truthfully: do you think human nature is inherently evil or inherently good?"

Chen Ankang was stunned for a while before looking at her and saying, "I think that human nature, in its original form, has no distinction between good and evil. I believe that different environments will nurture different kinds of people."

Zhou Wanwan smiled and said, "Your answer is quite good. I want to help these disaster victims, even though my abilities are limited."

Chen Ankang looked at Zhou Wanwan and said:

How easy is it for one person to save countless refugees?

We can only do our best and do what we can.

I know you've been giving out porridge, but you also know it's just a drop in the ocean.

Zhou Wanwan muttered to herself:

"Yes! It's just a drop in the ocean, but we can't give up just because it's a drop in the ocean."

I feel I should do something more.

Zhou Wanwan returned to the mountain village and entered the main hall.

Countless courtiers surged toward the main hall. Chen Ankang trembled with fear. When he woke up, he found himself in the Golden Palace.

At first, he thought he was dreaming. When he saw Zhou Wanwan sitting on the dragon throne, he even pinched himself hard.

Then they saw countless court officials walking in.

Chen Ankang leaned against the pillar, dumbfounded; he must be dreaming.

He had been to the Golden Palace in the capital before, but the Golden Palace in the capital looked exactly the same as this one.

You mean the knock-off version?

He felt that this Golden Palace was even more magnificent than the Golden Palace in the capital.

The crucial question is, how could the emperor above be Zhou Wanwan?

Shen Wanjun was equally startled. He grabbed Cheng Chao's hand and muttered softly, "What... what's going on? What is our master doing?"

Cheng Chao coughed, swallowed hard, and said, "You don't know? Do you think I would? I only just found out myself!"

Shen Wanjun frowned and said, "Isn't your wife working for the master?"

Cheng Chao smiled wryly, "Yes, I do serve by the master's side, but she never told me about this!"

"Are we rebelling now?"

Cheng Chao was on the verge of tears. He did have high hopes for Zhou Wanwan Zhou Wanwan, and he had a feeling that she would definitely make a name for herself.

At that time, as his subordinate, he will naturally benefit from it as well.

I never expected it to turn out like this!

Cheng Chao didn't recognize these people in the court, but Chen Ankang was not an ignorant person.

He grew up by his father's side and has been involved in officialdom for many years, meeting many different kinds of people.

He glanced around and immediately recognized several people.

"Zhao Muyuan, Grand Tutor Zhao..."

"General Qin Ge of the North..."

"Shen Chaoge? That's a war god-level figure! My god! My eyes must be playing tricks on me."

Anyway, Chen Ankang felt that he was hallucinating.

Zhou Wanwan sat on top, wearing a dragon robe, which was very beautiful.

But it was black. Zhou Wanwan thought for a moment, how many people in history wore black dragon robes in her previous life?

Only two people consistently and systematically wore black dragon robes: Qin Shi Huang and Emperor Gaozu of Han.

Zhou Wanwan also asked Zhao Muyuan this question.

Zhao Muyuan's answer at the time was that it was calculated by the Imperial Astronomical Bureau.

Don't be fooled by the fact that Zhou Wanwan's place is a fake palace and a fake court.

But its grandeur and pomp were anything but cheap or knock-offs.

Zhou Wanwan looked at the court officials and said, "As you all know, the drought is getting worse. Do you have any good suggestions?"

An older, more experienced minister spoke first:

"The drought is getting worse every day, and the crops in the fields are almost dying."

If it doesn't rain soon, the people will have no harvest, and how will they survive the rest of the year?

Local officials echoed this sentiment:

"Yes, many wells in the countryside have dried up."

Ordinary people are struggling to even get drinking water; if this continues, there will likely be even more homeless people.

Another minister frowned and said, "In my opinion, we should first open the government granaries to distribute grain to the disaster-stricken people, so as to prevent anyone from going hungry and causing trouble."

Someone immediately retorted, "Our grain reserves are limited. With so many disaster-stricken areas, how can we possibly provide continuous relief? This is just treating the symptoms, not the root cause!"

Others suggested, "Why doesn't the imperial court send officials to various regions to inspect and urge the people to dig wells, draw water, and build irrigation canals? Every acre saved is an acre of crops saved."

Zhou Wanwan looked at Chen Ankang and said, "Lord Chen, do you have any good suggestions?"

Chen Ankang shook his head, while Zhou Wanwan looked at Gu Sinian and said, "Gu Sinian, take out the policy essay you wrote at the White Deer Academy this time and show it to everyone."

The handwriting on the paper was neat and clear, and the organization was very clear.

First, explain in detail the current situation of severe drought, cracked fields, withered crops, and food and water shortages for the people.

Then, a series of concrete solutions were listed.

From opening government granaries to distribute grain to disaster victims and resettle displaced people, to sending people to supervise the digging of wells and the construction of canals to irrigate fields.

From appeasing local authorities to preventing unscrupulous merchants from driving up grain prices, every aspect has been taken into consideration.