As they scrambled for grain, another change was occurring in Deming Prefecture.
Tens of thousands of soldiers were stationed outside Deming Prefecture. The Emperor and Empress of Dingbei Liao, leading a thousand elite troops, entered Deming Prefecture and, accompanied by the Prefect, proceeded towards the royal mansion in the inner city.
This news spread like wildfire through the streets and alleys of the inner city, reaching every corner.
It was then that everyone realized the Wangfei's words were true. From the moment the Emperor and Empress of Dingbei Liao arrived, people stopped scrambling for grain. The matter finally came to an end, but half of the grain from the granaries was gone.
The Prefect looked at the grain accumulated, now reduced by half. If he wanted to replenish the granaries, he still had a lot of work to do.
He had just deceived the common people, claiming the granaries were enough to last them five years. Let alone five years, even three years would be a stretch.
The Prefect of the inner city gazed at the half-empty granaries, feeling like crying without tears.
Meanwhile, at the royal mansion, Zhao Jiaqi, dressed in her finest, set out to welcome the Emperor and Empress of Dingbei Liao.
Helian Zhicheng, his face imposing and stern, showed no trace of a smile. Seeing Zhao Jiaqi come out to greet them, he felt a strong disdain for women appearing in public.
"The Wangfei's name is renowned throughout Dingbei Liao. I have long heard of the Wangfei's deeds, yet upon seeing you today, I don't find you to have three heads and six arms."
Upon their meeting, Helian Zhicheng immediately tried to assert his dominance over Zhao Jiaqi, speaking with extreme harshness. Faced with his skill in belittling others, Zhao Jiaqi retorted.
"The name of the Emperor of Dingbei Liao, however, has not reached the inner city. I am entirely unaware of anything concerning you. However, looking at your bulging belly, you are no different from our common folk in the inner city, merely a bit fatter."
After Zhao Jiaqi's reply, Pingting by her side desperately wanted to put her hands on her hips and laugh.
Big Sister-in-law's analogy was simply perfect, and her retort was immensely satisfying. Seeing Helian Zhicheng's flushed face, everyone present applauded the Wangfei.
Zhao Jiaqi rolled her eyes upwards, indirectly giving the other party a pair of white eyes. Her words left the Emperor of Dingbei Liao speechless. She instructed the Prefect of the inner city standing beside her.
"The Emperor and Empress of Dingbei Liao have traveled a long distance, and their journey must have been arduous. Please escort them to the post station to rest and be well-entertained. Our inner city is quite hospitable. Although they are not very polite, we should not stoop to the level of a small country like theirs. Do you understand?"
The Prefect grinned and bowed respectfully, replying, "Yes, your humble servant will certainly instruct the post station staff to treat the guests well."
Having given her instructions, Zhao Jiaqi turned and left, lifting her skirt, feeling extremely displeased. Had she known that Helian Zhicheng was such an arrogant and conceited person, she would never have dressed up so elaborately.
She had given him too much face, and he had tried to trample on it with his feet. Hmph, it backfired on him.
Instead, she had trampled on his face with her shoes in front of everyone. It felt great to have vented her anger.
Helian Zhicheng was somewhat dumbfounded. It seemed that for every word he spoke, this woman retorted with ten, and not only that, but she also mocked him sarcastically.
He opened his mouth to call out to Zhao Jiaqi's retreating back, but he was intercepted by the Prefect of the inner city beside him. The Prefect spoke first, "Your Majesties, Emperor and Empress of Dingbei Liao, the post station is on another street. Please follow me. Otherwise, standing at the entrance of the royal mansion, allowing the common people to gawk, is rather unseemly."
The Prefect actually wanted to say that standing there and being stared at was like being a monkey on display for amusement, but he didn't have the Wangfei's audacity and dared not say it.
As for who was the ringmaster and who was the monkey, he believed that intelligent people could see it at a glance, especially since everyone in the inner city was observant.
People wearing strange clothes from out of town were a rare sight. Relatively speaking, the common people naturally wanted to see people who were different.
Hearing the Prefect's words, Helian Zhicheng suddenly noticed the crowd of people standing on the street, and his face suddenly turned red.
The Prefect understood that he was embarrassed and smiled, "Your Majesty need not worry. They cannot understand Your Majesty's words, and the translator beside you spoke very softly. Even I, standing so close to you, couldn't hear, let alone those people. However, they can read expressions."
The word "embarrassed" successfully made the enraged Helian Zhicheng's face turn dark. He really wanted to ask this smiling-but-not-smiling Prefect which eye he saw him being embarrassed with!
However, one thing the man said was correct: the onlookers might not understand their country's language, but they would definitely read expressions.
Helian Zhicheng did not want to lose face in front of the local people. He forced himself to pull at the corners of his mouth, managing a strained smile. Holding his breath, he followed the Prefect to the post station.
To his embarrassment, the manager of the post station was stunned by the arrival of such a formidable figure.
The manager pulled the Prefect aside, looking troubled, and whispered, "My Lord, wasn't the Emperor supposed to stay at the別院 (biéyuàn - detached villa)? Why has he come here so suddenly? I am completely unprepared. What if the Wangfei blames me for not entertaining them well?"
The Prefect gave him a calming look and gently pressed his hand downwards. "The Wangfei arranged this at the last minute. As long as you don't let them go hungry, that's all. For everything else, the Wangfei will handle it. What are you afraid of?"
The manager felt bitter. How could he not be afraid?
However, what use was it to dwell on that now? Since they were already here, he naturally had to quickly arrange for the servants to tidy up a courtyard. As for not letting them go hungry, that also implied preparing good food and drink.
If they wanted anything, as long as it wasn't excessive and was within the manager's control, he would try his best to satisfy them. By doing so, the manager believed he would not make any mistakes.
Royal Mansion.
Pingting, giggling, sat beside Zhao Jiaqi and gave her a thumbs-up. "Big Sister-in-law is truly mighty."
Zhao Jiaqi slapped away her finger and glanced at her. "Don't gloat here. Looking at you, I almost want to slap you."
The child hadn't been found yet, and this aunt was smiling like this. Thinking of the child, Zhao Jiaqi felt annoyed.
At one point, she even suspected she was going through menopause. If she hadn't been having her period, she would have truly believed she was entering menopause early.
Just as she was thinking this, the housekeeper rushed in, holding a letter. He handed it to her. "Wangfei, the Wangye has sent a letter."
Zhao Jiaqi was delighted and almost snatched the letter from the housekeeper's hand. She unfolded it and read it at a glance, quickly finishing. This time, she indeed became happy.
As she laughed, tears began to fall. "The child has arrived in a town called Zijin. Husband has gone to find him. I believe my husband will bring the child back safely soon."
Pingting was also very happy upon hearing this. She grabbed her Big Sister-in-law's hand and shook it vigorously. "That's wonderful! Once the child is found, Elder Brother will definitely write to you immediately."
"When the children return, you must sweep away all their ill fortune with mugwort. I will handle this."
Zhao Jiaqi wiped away her tears. Sweeping away ill fortune was superstition, but as long as the child returned, what harm was there in being superstitious?