The thing she was going to do hadn't been accomplished yet, so she couldn't reveal the answer for the time being.
In a short while, Qingyu came running in a hurry from afar.
Seeing Tang Youyou sitting leisurely on the chair, basking in the sun, the panic in Qingyu's heart instantly subsided.
"Empress Dowager, this humble maid has already investigated clearly."
Hearing Qingyu's voice, Tang Youyou slowly opened her beautiful eyes, and her lazy voice came out again.
"How's the situation?"
Qingyu huffed and said with a bad look on her face, "Those shrewd merchants have raised the price of the grain sold to the common people tenfold. Now many common people don't have much money left and can't afford the grain."
After a while, Kang Fuhai also came back from afar. "Empress Dowager, the price of grain in some border areas hasn't increased yet. Only around the plague - stricken areas on Chang'an Street has the price increased, and it has also affected Chang'an Street."
Hearing this, Tang Youyou sneered, "Then buy out all the grain in the border areas and hoard it in a barren mountain there. Don't let those who shouldn't know about it find out."
Kang Fuhai nodded and then turned away.
For three days and three nights like this, all the grain in the whole Ming Kingdom was exhausted. The common people were destitute and in great distress.
Tang Youyou watched indifferently as these common people knelt on the street, holding their children and constantly begging others for relief.
However, the wealthy people passing by didn't even bother to give them a single look.
"Three days have passed..."
Tang Youyou murmured softly.
On the other side, Yi Ran couldn't bear to watch any longer and said, "Empress Dowager, saving a life is better than building a seven - level pagoda. They will surely be grateful to Your Highness!"
But Tang Youyou just waved her hand and smiled, "No, at least not yet. Wait for another three days. Just three days."
By that time, it would be the limit for everyone. She wanted to be famous for all generations! What she wanted was people's faith.
At the same time, on the wall of the mansion, there was a man in black tight - fitting clothes. This man was eight feet tall. His beautiful eyes met Tang Youyou's, as if she had seen him somewhere before.
However, Tang Youyou just couldn't remember.
In a short while, the man leaped and landed in front of Tang Youyou. He slowly raised his long and slender hand and stroked her face.
"Xiaoyou'er, I'm back."
Hearing this familiar voice, the skeptical look in Tang Youyou's eyes disappeared, replaced by a look of long - awaited peace.
"Why did you come back so late? Xu Mo came to tell me before that you had encountered some problems. Is it that you don't want the throne of this country anymore? Or do you not want me?"
Rong Xun looked at Tang Youyou's puffy face. It was the first time he had seen her like this. He carefully hugged Tang Youyou and smiled.
"How could that be? You're my wife. Even if I have to leave, I'll definitely take you with me. I'm still waiting for you to bear my children."
Hearing this, the happy look on Tang Youyou's face disappeared. She looked at Rong Xun helplessly.
"You know that our child is no longer with us. I..."
Before she could finish, Rong Xun interrupted, "It's up to you to decide. No need to say more."
"Besides, most of the things in the border areas recently were done by you, right?"
Hearing this, Tang Youyou nodded, "Yes."
"In three days, it'll be about the time for you to open the granary, right?"
Looking at Rong Xun in front of her, smiling gently but with every word being so sharp.
"Yes."
Rong Xun turned around and picked Tang Youyou up in his arms. He took his little wife to the room. The whole afternoon passed before the two of them had fully expressed their longing for each other.
In the evening, Tang Youyou was sleeping soundly on the couch. Rong Xun was dressed neatly and looking at the setting sun outside the window. There was an unfathomable look in his eyes.
Qingyu was carrying the food in her hand. Just as she pushed open the door, she saw Rong Xun on the couch. For a moment, she was so flustered that she almost dropped the things in her hand.
With great difficulty, she steadied herself and immediately said, "Your... Your Majesty, you're back."
"Yeah."
Seeing this girl staring straight at him, he immediately put down the things and turned away. In the darkness, a man slowly walked towards Rong Xun and bowed slightly.
"Master, the Noble Consort is angry and asks you to go back now."
Hearing this, Rong Xun said coldly, "If she still refuses to agree to my matter, then don't even think about me going back. I just want to stay here now."
The man who heard this immediately frowned. He said in disbelief, "Your Honor, can you really endure living in this small country for the rest of your life?"
"Why not? Is there something I need that's not here? Or do you want me to go back for some other purpose?"
"If you really want to do good for me, then stop bothering me."
Hearing this, the man didn't pester him anymore.
On the couch, the person who should have been sleeping soundly slowly opened her eyes after hearing Rong Xun leave. She didn't even know that Rong Xun had another identity.
However, she didn't mention this matter again. Instead, she buried it in her heart. She was sure that she would know the truth one day.
Three days soon passed. Tang Youyou had made all the preparations. She told Yi Ran to prepare the medicinal herbs. She still had one more thing to do.
"Yi Ran, put all those medicinal herbs in the courtyard. All of you will go out with me to do good deeds today."
She didn't want the emperor to owe her this favor. She wanted the common people to owe her.
For a moment, Tang Youyou picked up the gong and drum at hand. Looking at the emaciated common people in the distance, she started beating the gong and drum and shouted loudly.
"All the common people who have nothing to eat, come to me. I'll make sure you're well - fed!"
For a moment, all the people rushed towards Tang Youyou like crazy, without any time to think.
The food she had accumulated in the previous days was enough for these common people to eat for ten days or half a month, and that was enough.
What she wanted to do was to gain the trust of all the common people.
"Don't be in a hurry. Everyone will get a share. Don't fight..."
In a short while, everyone started wolfing down the food.
There were also a few old people who were scolding the court officials while eating.
"Those people always tell us to wait, but we've never seen them do anything for us common people. We've heard too many high - sounding words. This humble commoner will always remember the Empress Dowager's kindness of saving my life. From now on, the Empress Dowager is my reborn parent. I'll always remember this mouthful of food!"