Traveling through time and space

"Yuanyuan is the one he lost and found again. She lost her mother's protection since she was a child and suffered too much. It's just that the emperor has a little more love for her," Su Yuanyuan understood this. "Yuanyuan knows her status, so how could she be arrogant because of the favor..." It was really strange. Prince De talked to Su Yuanyuan for a long time. The journey was smooth, perhaps because it was daytime. It was pleasant to watch the scenery passing by. They changed horses, had meals, and rested. They didn't see Yulin and the others along the way. When night fell, Su Yuanyuan had another meal and rested again. When he woke up again, it should have been the next day, because it was daylight when he opened his eyes, and there was no one in the carriage. "Prince, how long will it take?"

"We're almost there. We need to change cars before heading into the city."

"Uncle, we are already far away from the capital. Is there any need to be so nervous?" Su Yuanyuan asked.

"Little Princess, we've encountered several groups of people before and after this, but they were all wary and didn't kill us."

"Thank you Uncle Kang for clearing up Yuanyuan's confusion. I wonder if Dongmei and the others arrived first? Did they find anyone? However, the roadside looks like it has been hit by a disaster. I am still a little confused." Su Yuanyuan was also shocked when he saw the people and things on the roadside. It seemed that the disaster was quite serious.

"I heard it was quite severe, and there were quite a few deaths."

"Are there still deaths? Has this earthquake been assigned a magnitude? How large is the affected area? How many people were affected?"

"Read it yourself." Prince De took out a letter.

"When did the prince receive the letter?"

"An hour ago."

Looking at the shocking figures above, Su Yuanyuan felt a little panicked. There were 292 deaths, 300 minor injuries, 43 missing persons, 560 damaged houses, 5 damaged towns and villages, 30 damaged villages, and 220 dead livestock. "So many people died, the earthquake has turned violent, and today is the sixth day. The victims should have received relief, but it seems that the situation is not like that?" Su Yuanyuan pointed outside. Although the car was going very fast, he could still see the people walking on both sides. They were in tattered clothes and had decadent faces. "Haven't several officials from the court come? The disaster relief funds and food are in place. The disaster relief should have started. Why are these people still so miserable?" Su Yuanyuan asked in confusion.

"The disaster relief food won't arrive for another two days, and I heard there have been constant aftershocks these past few days, so I haven't dared to go to the front lines to take a look."

"This is truly chilling for the victims. After so many days of earthquakes, no one from the imperial court has come to offer condolences. The people are left to face the consequences on their own. No one cares whether they live or die."

"Yes, Your Highness, the lives of ordinary people are also lives, but no one cherishes them. We really should report this to the court and charge them with negligence."

"Your Highness, it's too late to hold them accountable now. We should first find a way to remedy the victims' disappointment in the court. Losing the people's hearts is the most important thing."

"This matter will have to wait for the Emperor to make the final decision, but I'm afraid Lord Cai will be implicated."

"Your Highness, please don't look at me. I'm not someone who likes to protect my mistakes. If I'm wrong, I'm wrong, and I have to pay the price. Whatever punishment my father gave my uncle, he deserved it. He was in a position to do his job, but he accepted this task and failed to do it well. Of course, I was wrong."

"I didn't expect Princess Anle to be so fair and just. It's just that Mr. Cai was also framed."

"Uncle Kang, flies don't bite seamless eggs. He gave others the opportunity to take advantage of him. It was his own negligence, and he has to bear the consequences."

"The princess even came to Liupu County in person."

"Uncle Kang, this princess came to Liupu County not to protect her uncle. First, this princess wanted to share the worries of her father, and second, she came to see her elder brother. My elder brother is a person who has done her a favor to her. Your Highness, have you seen the people passing by?" Su Yuanyuan asked, looking at the passers-by who looked like beggars walking on the roadside.

"It seems like this is beyond my imagination. Uncle Kang, stop the car and see what's going on in the city?" Prince De ordered, and the car stopped. Looking at the increasing number of people coming and going, Su Yuanyuan was a little confused. No matter how she looked, they were all people fleeing famine. A group of people came over from a distance, crying and wailing, which really scared Su Yuanyuan. I say crying and wailing because there were quite a few people, some crying and shouting, some hugging each other, but all of them were in tears. Su Yuanyuan got out of the car and stood by to watch. Hearing the crying, she felt a little nervous. The group was getting closer and closer. Because it was so noisy and conspicuous, many people stopped to watch.

"Brother Ji, haven't you found it yet?" A man in his forties on the side of the road walked up to the man walking in front of the group and asked.

"Brother Yu, there's still no news. No one is alive, no body is found. Have you found your family?"

"No, isn't the whole family out looking for him?" The person who replied was also gloomy. "I'm afraid there's no hope. It's been three days and there's no news."

Su Yuanyuan, unable to contain her curiosity, stepped forward. Something must have happened. "Uncles, what's going on?" Su Yuanyuan pushed through the crowd and stepped forward to ask.

"Girl, are you from another place?" an aunt among the spectators asked Su Yuanyuan.

"Aunt, you have a really good eye. My daughter and my family came to Liupu to visit relatives. We came from Min County, but we heard along the way that Liupu suffered a severe disaster. So, I am worried. You all came out of the city, how is the situation in the city? I wonder how my relatives are doing?" Su Yuanyuan asked worriedly.

"Miss, we are all from Liupu County. The county hasn't been affected that much, but Pujishan has been hit even harder. Now a large number of disaster victims have flocked to the county, and robberies are happening every day. The streets are full of disaster victims, and now they are full of beggars who have nothing to eat or drink."

"I didn't expect it to be this serious. I wonder what the current situation is like for my relatives. Uncle, didn't the imperial court provide porridge? Don't they care about the lives of the people?"

"Miss, the emperor is far away. How does he know what's going on here?"

"Brother Yue, don't you know? I heard that the imperial court sent people here, but they are still studying something and haven't taken any action yet.

"Don't you know yet? The county magistrate's daughter is also missing."

"I heard that the prefect also returned to Liupu County the day before yesterday. He left Liupu. I believe the court will take action soon."

"Yes, we are all people of Qingyang. How could the emperor, who is thousands of miles away, forget this place?" Su Yuanyuan said.

"Alas," the middle-aged man who had just asked someone to call Brother Ji sighed deeply, "Brother, please take good care of your daughter. We have lost a lot of girls of this age in Liupu County in the past four days. Now these girls dare not go out." Someone reminded the prince. Su Yuanyuan didn't know that he had followed him here.

"Thank you for reminding me, what's going on? Who just said that the county magistrate's legitimate daughter was also missing?" Su Yuanyuan looked at Prince De. He had a gloomy face, but did not make any excuses. Su Yuanyuan glanced at him and continued to ask the previous topic.

"I don't know what's going on, but a lot of girls between the ages of ten and fifteen have disappeared in the county these past four days. My two granddaughters just went to Huajin Clothing Shop to choose fabrics, and then they disappeared.