Chapter 454: the secret

Then Yao Qing spoke again.

"There is something else I heard before we left."

The Emperor turned toward her.

"What is it?"

Yao Qing hesitated briefly.

"I cannot confirm whether it happened in every settlement, but I heard several complaints about the officials responsible for preparing the refugees for the journey."

"What kind of complaints?" the Empress asked.

"Some people claimed they were beaten when they questioned the arrangements."

Lady Chen’s face hardened.

"Beaten?"

"According to what I heard, yes. Others said they were forced to pay additional money for daily necessities."

Prince Liang frowned.

"What necessities?"

"Food containers, blankets, water vessels, shoes, and other items they needed for the journey. Some officials allegedly demanded payment far above the usual price."

The Empress stared at him.

"But weren’t these people already struggling to afford their necessities?"

"Exactly," Yao Qing replied.

She continued in a low voice.

"Imagine a family that has spent nearly all its savings reaching the capital. They are told that they must travel north, and they are given a list of items they supposedly need. Then someone demands an inflated price for those items."

Princess Zhi looked distressed.

"If they refuse to pay, what happens?"

"Some may manage without the goods. Others may borrow money or sell whatever they have left. And if the reports are true, those who complain may be threatened."

Lady Chen put her bowl down.

"That is despicable."

The twins, who had been listening silently, exchanged worried glances.

The girl asked, "Wouldn’t the officials know that these people have very little money?"

Yao Qing gave a grim smile.

"That may be precisely why they target them. People who have nothing left are easier to pressure when they believe their journey depends on the officials’ cooperation."

The Emperor’s face had become completely still.

It was the expression he wore when listening to a report that could have serious consequences.

"Who told you this?"

"A traveler I encountered before our departure. He claimed that some families had complained about the prices charged for supplies."

"Did he name the officials?"

"Not directly. He was afraid of being overheard."

The Emperor nodded.

"Then we will need independent accounts."

He looked toward General Guo Han.

"Tomorrow, speak with a few families separately. Do not promise them anything you cannot guarantee, and do not pressure them into making accusations. Ask about their experiences before the journey."

General Guo Han inclined his head.

"Understood."

The Emperor then turned toward Yao Qing.

"Find out whether the supplies were purchased centrally or through local merchants. If there are official price lists, we can compare them with what the refugees were charged."

Yao Qing nodded.

"I will investigate."

The Empress watched the Emperor carefully.

He had not raised his voice.

He had not ordered anyone arrested.

But the calmness of his expression made it clear that he was taking the matter seriously.

She knew he would not act merely because someone had made an accusation.

He would want evidence.

And once he had it, the people responsible would have to answer for their actions.

### What the Refugees Were Saying

Their conversation was interrupted by a commotion several paces away.

A middle-aged man stood near the food distribution area, holding an empty wooden bowl.

He was speaking to an official.

"Sir, I am not trying to cause trouble. I only want to ask about tomorrow’s provisions."

The official looked impatient.

"What about them?"

The man lowered his voice.

"My family has five members. We were told that food would be provided during the journey, but we do not know whether we must pay for additional meals."

"That depends on the arrangements."

"Could you please explain them?"

The official’s expression darkened.

"I have already told you that it depends. Why are you asking so many questions?"

The man swallowed.

"I am only trying to plan our expenses. We have two children, and my mother is elderly. I cannot afford to buy food at every stop."

Several people nearby glanced toward them.

The official noticed.

Instead of answering, he stepped closer.

"Are you accusing the government of failing to provide for you?"

"No, sir! I would never—"

"Then stop spreading unnecessary doubts."

The man’s shoulders stiffened.

"I was only asking—"

"Go back to your family."

The official waved him away.

The man bowed his head and retreated.

The Empress watched the exchange with growing anger.

"He asked a reasonable question," she murmured.

The Emperor nodded.

"Yes."

General Guo Han’s jaw tightened.

"Should I speak to the official?"

"Not yet," the Emperor replied. "We need to understand whether this is merely one impatient official or part of a larger pattern."

He looked toward the man returning to his family.

"However, we will not ignore it."

The Empress could see the humiliation in the man’s posture.

He had approached the official politely.

He had asked about something that directly affected his family’s survival.

And instead of receiving a clear answer, he had been treated as though he had committed an offense.

She turned toward the Emperor.

"Even if the food distribution is adequate, the officials should explain the arrangements clearly. These people have already left their homes. They should not have to guess what will happen to them tomorrow."

"Agreed."

The Emperor’s answer was immediate.

"A person entrusted with public responsibility must not use that position to intimidate those who depend on it."

He glanced at the official one last time.

"Remember his face," he told General Guo Han quietly.

The general nodded.

"I will."

### A Meal That Tasted Different

By the time their group finished eating, the sky had turned deep blue.

Small fires flickered across the resting area.

The refugees gathered in family circles, talking quietly while they prepared for the night.

Some spread blankets beneath trees.

Others arranged their belongings to create makeshift shelters.

A few men volunteered to collect firewood, while women helped children wash their hands and faces.

The evening was peaceful on the surface.

Yet the conversation beneath the tree had changed how the Emperor and his companions viewed the journey.

Earlier, they had praised the quality of the food.

Now, they wondered whether every family had received the same portions.

Earlier, they had assumed the migration officials were following the government’s instructions.

Now, they questioned whether those instructions were being followed at all.

And earlier, they had thought the greatest challenge would be completing the long journey to the north.

Now, they understood that the road was not the only difficulty these people faced.

Corruption could follow them even after they had left their homes behind.

The Empress looked at the remaining half of her bun.

She had enjoyed its warmth and flavor.

But she could not stop thinking about the families who might have been forced to pay extra money simply to obtain a blanket or a container for

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?? **When the ghosts bring their relationship problems to the Empress, the entire palace turns into a battlefield!** Fen Yu, Wei Rong, and Li Shen demand justice against another ghost who has been dating their former partners. Now Lian An has to deal with jealous ghosts, endless arguments, and supernatural love scandals in her own courtyard. She doesn’t know whether to laugh or lose her temper! ????