The Fifth Prince immediately stepped forward, asking with some concern, "Are you alright?"
Wu Caiwei shook her head, lamenting, "In the end, several people begged for mercy. I also asked them who sent them, but unfortunately, they couldn't say anything coherent. They only knew that a middle-aged man with an ordinary appearance had visited their stronghold and spoken with their leader, the one I killed, in private. Afterward, their leader somehow obtained a lot of gold and jewelry, brought it down the mountain, mingled with the refugees, and used it to win hearts, inciting them to charge forward."
"As long as you are safe, that's all that matters. This matter can wait. Who else would want to take my life, besides those few in the capital?" The Fifth Prince looked at her with a touch of guilt.
"Will you continue to treat me well in the future, just as you did before? Even after you ascend the throne, will you still be obedient to me?" Wu Caiwei looked at him with confidence.
"Naturally. After all we've been through, who else would I marry in this world?" The Fifth Prince said without hesitation, as it was his most genuine thought. Without her, his life would be meaningless.
"Then that's settled. I'm not just striving for you, but also for my own future. Don't look at me like that anymore. We are one and the same," Wu Caiwei sighed, feeling he had changed recently, over the past few lives.
In the past, he would never have felt indebted to her. Perhaps his health had deteriorated over the recent lives, leaving him physically weak, which had caused a psychological shift. If she put herself in his shoes, she couldn't imagine how insecure she would feel without martial arts.
"Alright!" Hearing her words, the Fifth Prince smiled with relief. It seemed he had unconsciously revealed his thoughts on his face, becoming so distant from her. In a few more months, the world would be hers to command, and he would make her the happiest woman in the world.
As dawn broke, everyone realized that quite a number of people had indeed died. The refugees, recalling how they themselves had almost become one of them last night, couldn't help but feel a lingering fear. They couldn't fathom how they had been so possessed to insist on rebelling with them.
Seeing that the Fifth Prince had no intention of pursuing the matter, they breathed a sigh of relief and hid, no longer daring to show their faces, fearing he would remember their actions from the previous night and settle old scores with new ones.
Due to the recent floods, the refugees had not only suffered significant losses but also lost loved ones. With the weather clearing and no rain in sight, they wished to return to their hometowns, as it was hard to leave one's homeland.
However, some individuals wished to stay, planning to try their luck in the city and perhaps settle down. The Fifth Prince instructed the prefect of Lizhou to offer convenience to all those who wished to stay, helping them find jobs and easing their household registration requirements.
For those who wanted to return home, the Fifth Prince personally led them to various counties to assess the situation. He not only distributed some grain to each person but also allocated government funds and labor to help them build houses and settle down.
Although the Fifth Prince had brought some silver, it was like a drop in the bucket for the refugees. The county granaries were also empty after the recent disaster relief efforts. To address this, the Fifth Prince specifically summoned the wealthy households and merchants from various counties, using both persuasion and coercion to solicit donations.
While some, upon hearing of the Fifth Prince's identity, eagerly responded to the call and gave him ample face, others, with powerful backing, disregarded the Fifth Prince and deliberately made things difficult for him, intending to cause trouble.
In response, the Fifth Prince took swift and decisive action. Citing their refusal to cooperate with the court, he directly confiscated their property. They dug three feet into the ground, and sacks of grain were brought out in front of the common people. In their granaries, boxes of silver, along with antiques and calligraphy, were discovered and auctioned off in front of everyone. The gathered grain and silver were then distributed to each refugee.
His move, like killing a chicken to scare the monkeys, caused considerable alarm among some. They ungrudgingly produced more silver and grain, hoping the Fifth Prince would forget their earlier non-cooperation. The wealthy households that had been eager to contribute silver and labor saw this and added more, hoping to leave a good impression on the Fifth Prince and avoid being targeted.
Regardless, the outcome was positive. Looking at the mountains of grain and boxes of silver before him, the Fifth Prince finally managed a smile, the first in days. While he couldn't make the refugees live in affluence, at least they had shelter, food, and wouldn't worry about starvation. He had even prepared next year's seeds for them.
If there were any shortfalls, he would seek them from the households that were initially uncooperative. The Fifth Prince always adhered to the principle of repaying a drop of kindness with a gushing spring, and of course, if anyone tried to obstruct him, he would not be lenient. The fact that he hadn't confiscated their homes was already an act of exceptional grace.
Some understood this principle. Although they were displeased with the Fifth Prince's demand for more silver and grain, they still complied. However, some were less cooperative. For them, the Fifth Prince fabricated an excuse and suppressed them overnight.
The common people remembered the kindness of those who treated them well. The Fifth Prince's actions this time were commendable. People had never imagined that they would be able to live a peaceful and prosperous life again. Although some loved ones were gone, that was beyond human control. They only knew that it was the Fifth Prince who helped them rebuild their homes. In a short time, the Fifth Prince's reputation among the populace reached its zenith, and praise for him even reached the capital.
The Emperor, listening to the reports from his hidden guards about the children's rhymes in the capital and the poems written by scholars for the Fifth Prince, remained silent. No one knew what was going through his mind.
The Fourth Prince paced anxiously in his study. Lord Li watched his nephew's demeanor and couldn't help but shake his head, saying somewhat exasperatedly, "Calm yourself!"
"How can I not be anxious? I originally wanted to take on the assignment to the south, but seeing my father's attitude, I had no choice but to follow his wishes and pass the task to the Fifth Prince. With so many princes watching, something might happen to him in the south, thus incurring my father's displeasure. Who would have thought his reputation would soar? I followed my uncle's instructions and fanned the flames. Now, I just want to know what my father is truly thinking."
In truth, when his uncle first suggested helping the Fifth Prince enhance his reputation among the people, to the point of surpassing the emperor's own prestige, the Fourth Prince was not entirely in favor. This matter had its pros and cons. If the emperor truly didn't mind and instead saw the Fifth Prince as a wise ruler, what would happen if he passed the throne to him?