The officials exchanged glances, not expecting Jun Yelan to say such a thing. Their manors outside the city were for their own preservation; how could they possibly give them to these filthy commoners!
When their interests were involved, they mustered the courage to confront Jun Yelan, whispering, "Your Highness, this is a bit excessive. Those manors were built or bought with great difficulty; they are for our families."
"Those commoners are people, and so are we."
"Heh," Jun Yelan sneered. "You know you are no different from them? When you took the disaster relief funds, when you did nothing, why didn't you remember that!"
He struck the armrest of his wheelchair heavily, his eyes sweeping across them. "As far as this Prince knows, your manors are all empty, with only a few servants inside. What, have your families all died!"
The officials immediately cowered, kneeling on the ground and saying, "Your Highness, this subordinate is terrified. This subordinate has absolutely never done such a thing; there must be some misunderstanding."
In any case, His Highness wouldn't be able to find the destroyed evidence.
Jun Yelan casually pointed at the official on the far right and nodded to a nearby guard. "Lord Ren, do you have four manors?"
As soon as the words fell, the guard severed four of Lord Ren's fingers, and a piercing scream erupted.
The other officials shivered all over, lowered their heads, and felt that Jun Yelan before them was a demon.
Jun Yelan asked Lord Ren again, "Are you willing to give up your manors now?"
Lord Ren clutched his hand, weeping tears of blood. "Your Highness, this subordinate is a thousand times willing." He was truly terrified; this was about giving up his manors to save his life. He met Jun Yelan's gaze and felt that this matter was far from over.
As Jun Yelan moved his fingers again, the other officials cried out, "Your Highness, this subordinate's manors are also willing."
Instantly, all the officials agreed.
Lan Yan watched from behind, unable to help but curve her lips. Jun Yelan was truly formidable.
As the officials breathed a sigh of relief, Jun Yelan continued, "You all slighted this Prince's consort when you arrived; what do you think should be done!"
The officials were stunned. Was there such a thing? They had only called out "Madam"; how had they slighted her! They fell into distress, and meeting Jun Yelan's icy gaze, they dared not delay.
"Consort, this subordinate apologizes to you. It was this subordinate's poor judgment not to recognize you." Fearing that Jun Yelan would be displeased, they bowed their heads, their attitude incredibly humble.
Lan Yan cleared her throat and said, "If you dare to mistreat the commoners again, His Highness will not let you off so easily next time. You should be grateful to His Highness."
Still have to be grateful? The officials were so tormented they were about to faint. They quickly thanked His Highness, eager to leave.
Jun Yelan waved his hand, too lazy to look at these eyesores. He looked at Lan Yan beside him and smiled, "Are you satisfied now?"
"Of course," Lan Yan squatted beside Jun Yelan and smiled faintly. "Your Highness, may I go help settle the commoners? I want them to know what His Highness has done."
Jun Yelan understood Lan Yan's intentions, reached out, and stroked her hair, instructing, "Bring more people."
"Thank you, Your Highness." Lan Yan squeezed Jun Yelan's fingers and turned to leave.
Jun Yelan lowered his head to look at his fingers, a slight curve appearing at the corner of his mouth.
Taking half the manpower from the manor, Lan Yan headed towards the streets. She looked at the displaced commoners on the street and called out, "Everyone, His Highness has arranged places for you to stay now. Please follow me."
As she spoke, the ragged commoners merely glanced, then withdrew their gaze. They did not believe that any official or prince could genuinely care for them.
They clutched their children tighter, enduring their hunger.
Seeing this, Lan Yan called out, "Everyone, I know you have your concerns. But think about it, since things are already so terrible, can they get any worse? You're going to die either way, so why not take a chance!"
"Dingzhou is your home, and it needs everyone to work together. If you don't think for yourselves, you must think for your children!"
The children lay pathetically in their parents' arms, crying hungrily, "Mom, Dad, I'm hungry."
The commoners couldn't help but look at Lan Yan again, and some had already stood up. They wanted their children to live.
Lan Yan smiled, having the guards help the commoners as they headed to the manors. After arranging everything, she turned and saw Granny Ge also persuading the commoners.
Granny Ge had grown up here and knew many people. She called out with conviction, "Uncles and aunts, if you don't believe her, don't you believe me? I've interacted with her, and she is indeed a trustworthy and good person."
"She even gave me two steamed buns last time."
Hearing that there were still warm steamed buns to eat, the commoners were even more moved. Their goal was simple: a place to shelter from the wind and rain, and a bowl of wild vegetable soup to fill their stomachs.
But now their homes were destroyed, and they didn't have the energy to rebuild. "Granny Ge, we'll trust you just this once."
"Alright," Granny Ge nodded and turned to smile proudly at Lan Yan. "I have repaid the kindness you showed me."
Lan Yan replied, "Yes, thank you."
Granny Ge became a little embarrassed and quickly followed the commoners. She felt that Lan Yan couldn't possibly manage alone and that she had to help. She would repay her kindness to the very end.
Lan Yan settled the commoners into the manors and, through Granny Ge, found some reliable local personnel to manage the affairs there.
At this moment, Xia Lian came to report, "Consort, there isn't much grain in the manors; it's not enough to support the commoners."
These officials had a contingency plan, having long since transferred precious grain and hidden it in their own homes.
Lan Yan was also helpless now. The grain from the Prince's manor was too far away, and they still had to support the people in the manor. The sheep's wool came from the sheep. She rubbed her chin and said, "It seems we need to make those officials bleed again."
Without grain, the commoners wouldn't survive, let alone repair the river. Only by repairing the river could the commoners return, rebuild their homes, and Dingzhou could be stabilized again.
She handed over the matters here to Granny Ge and returned with Xia Lian to inform Jun Yelan.
Jun Yelan's solution was simple: he ordered people to go to each manor and place two large chests in their courtyards.
The officials, having lost their manors, were so angry they were recuperating in bed. Hearing that the Prince had sent people again, they were so frightened they rolled out of bed and rushed to the courtyard.
Looking at the two large chests, they asked, "What does Your Highness mean by this?"
The guards held ledgers and said, "The left one contains grain and silver, and the right one contains heads. His Highness said that everyone can choose."
The officials couldn't take another breath and, in their anger, collapsed backward.
Their families were shouting beside them, "Master, you absolutely must not die! You alone are not enough to fill the chests. We don't want to die; quickly move the grain and silver!"
The officials' eyes went black, and they fainted. But their families had already abandoned them and were rushing to empty their homes.