Forced to marry, I picked up a young powerful official

Gu Yichuang didn't want to make her worry, so he didn't tell her that he was sick. He still asked Feng Ze to return to Deshui Lane in a few days to report that he was safe.

Therefore, Shen Nankui always thought that the situation in the city was gradually improving.

Until Zhang Qiongsi came to the door.

"Qiong Si, why are you here?" Shen Nankui was very surprised to see her.

Zhang Qiongsi's voice was filled with tears. "Sister Nankui, it's bad. My father has also been infected. There is no one in charge of the state government now. Panic is spreading in the city. People have surrounded the government office and forced the government to open the warehouses to release grain. But those are the military grains that have been counted and are to be handed over to the court."

Shen Nankui frowned, "Taking military rations without permission is a capital crime."

As soon as she finished saying this, her eyes suddenly shrank, "Wait, Jones, what did you say? There is no one in the state government, where is the governor?"

Zhang Qiongsi was stunned and looked at her in disbelief.

"Sister Nankui, Zhou Zun was already sick more than ten days ago, didn't you know?"

"what!"

Shen Nankui was shocked and staggered.

Seeing her like this, Zhang Qiongsi also understood and said hurriedly, "Zhou Zun must not want to make you worry, so he didn't tell you. Sister Nankui, don't be afraid. Zhou Zun and my father have both taken medicine, so they will be fine for the time being. It's just that they are both very weak and have been in a coma most of the time. They can only recuperate in the government office."

Shen Nankui took a few deep breaths and forced himself to calm down quickly.

Before, she was afraid that Gu Yichuan would worry, so she always followed his arrangements and didn't step out of the house easily. But now, Gu Yichuan has fallen. If a riot really broke out in the city, all his previous efforts would be in vain.

She couldn't just watch this happen!

Shen Nankui calmed down, pulled Zhang Qiongsi aside and asked, "Qiongsi, tell me in detail, what is the current situation of the state government?"

Zhang Qiongsi said, "There is only one chief clerk left in the prefecture government. He cannot suppress the rioting people. Once the people rob the military rations, the Yongzhou government will be held responsible. Moreover, the epidemic that was finally brought under control may get out of control again. Although there are medicines that can alleviate the symptoms, if the plague really breaks out, where will the city get so many medicines?"

Everything she said made sense. Shen Nankui frowned and fell into deep thought.

Zhang Qiong thought for a moment and asked, "Sister Nankui, we should act swiftly in this emergency. Compared to letting the plague break out among tens of thousands of civilians, the imperial court may not pursue the crime of improper storage of military rations. Otherwise... let's open the warehouses and release the rations! Otherwise, how can we control the situation?"

Hearing this, Shen Nankui was about to nod, but he immediately stopped the idea.

"No." She shook her head.

Zhang Qiongsi asked anxiously, "Why, Sister Nankui?"

Shen Nankui said, "According to the law, taking military rations without permission is a capital crime. None of us can guarantee that the court will give a lenient punishment. Moreover, the governor and the imperial envoy knew about the plague in Yongzhou, but they did nothing and did not even send any relief."

It was as if he had predicted that Yongzhou had enough grain reserves to resolve the crisis.

In addition, Shen Pingwan is also in Jiangnan. The fact that she can now accompany the prince and stay beside Marquis Jianning shows that her status is not low.

Shen Nankui always felt uneasy about the incident of the goddess who had previously guided the people to seek refuge in Yongzhou, as well as the order issued by Marquis Jianning to refuse to allow the victims to return home.

Although opening the granaries and releasing grain is indeed the fastest way to quell public grievances, she cannot take the risk.

What if they fail to welcome Gu Yichuan as they wished, wouldn't that be a capital crime?

When Zhang Qiongsi heard this, his heart skipped a beat.

"Then what should we do?"

Shen Nankui thought for a moment, and seemed to have made up his mind. He fixed his eyes and called out, "Zhongshan."

A ban was issued in the city, so Yanxia Pavilion had been closed long ago, and Zhongshan also returned.

Hearing the call, he hurried in.

"Ma'am, what's the matter?"

Shen Nankui said: "You should immediately go to the government office to find Feng Ze, and ask him to lead the officers and soldiers to go with you to the yard where the grain was stored before, move some grain out, and ring the gongs in the four directions of the city to inform the people. Each household can be given a quota based on the number of people..."

But she couldn't take the risk. This thought was like a cold iron chain, tightly wrapped around her heart, making every step she took feel extremely heavy. The night was as dark as ink, the stars were hidden, and only the occasional night breeze, with a bit of restless coolness, shuttled through the dense forest, as if even nature was warning her of the unknown territory she was about to enter.

She stood on the edge of a cliff, with a bottomless abyss at her feet, pitch black, as if it could swallow up all light and hope. The torch in her hand flickered, and the faint light drew a stubborn track in the darkness. It was her only guide and the only remaining fire of courage in her heart. Ahead was the legendary ancient ruins, which were said to contain a mysterious power that could rewrite fate, but also a terrifying mechanism that could doom any explorer.

She closed her eyes, and the eyes of her tribesmen, full of hope and despair, emerged in her mind. The secret they had guarded for generations had now become a shackle on their survival. Only by finding that power could she break the curse and save them from the dire straits. This responsibility, like a huge rock, weighed on her shoulders, making her unable to retreat, even if there was a bottomless abyss ahead and a desperate situation where she would be in danger of death.

But she couldn't take the risk. This decision was like a double-edged sword, with the desire for the future of her people on one side and her own safety on the other. Every breath she took was accompanied by a fierce struggle, and her inner balance swung between hope and fear. She knew that once she set foot in that forgotten land, there would be no turning back.

Suddenly, a burst of hurried footsteps broke the silence of the night, and several dark shadows approached quickly, with greed and cruelty in their eyes. They were the uninvited guests who also coveted the power of the ruins, and they would do anything to gain power. At this moment, she realized that she had no choice. Either she would be killed by the enemy here, or she would take that step bravely, even if the road ahead was unknown, she would fight for that glimmer of hope for her people and for the beliefs in her heart.

She took a deep breath, buried her fear deep in her heart, held the torch tightly, and took a step forward resolutely. At that moment, the night wind seemed to become gentle, and the stars seemed to crown her courage. She knew that this road was destined to be bumpy, but she was ready to write her own legendary chapter with wisdom and courage. Between the unknown abyss and the bright hope, she chose the most difficult, but also the most glorious path.