After returning to the capital to farm, the abandoned concubine made a comeback.

The bumpy carriage finally came to a stop. Lin Qin lifted the curtain and saw nothing but withered yellow leaves.

The fields were cracked and barren, and the air was thick with dust and a sense of despair.

The disaster victims, dressed in rags, were emaciated and stared blankly at the group, like a school of dying fish yearning for the last drop of water.

Even though Lin Qin was mentally prepared, she was still deeply shocked by the scene before her.

"Your Highness, this..." Lin Qin's voice was choked with emotion. Zhu Ling held her hand and squeezed it gently to comfort her.

His deep gaze swept over the disaster victims, his thin lips pressed tightly together, and a chill emanated from him.

General Wu rode over, his face grave: "Your Highness, the disaster is more severe than expected. Many victims have already... alas!"

The distribution point for supplies was set up in an open space at the entrance of the village. The disaster victims lined up in a long queue, which stretched as far as the eye could see.

Lin Qin and Zhu Ling personally supervised the distribution to ensure that everyone received one.

However, Lin Qin keenly noticed that some local officials were acting suspiciously, as if they were doing something in secret.

She observed them discreetly and discovered that they had secretly hidden some grain when no one was looking.

A surge of anger rose in Lin Qin's heart. These people were simply taking advantage of her misfortune!

"General Wu, go and see what those officials are doing," Lin Qin instructed in a low voice.

General Wu accepted the order and left. Not long after, he returned with several officials. Their faces were pale and their eyes were darting around, clearly indicating that something was wrong.

“Your Highness, Your Highness, we…” An official was about to explain when Lin Qin interrupted him: “Explain? What do you have to explain? Look at these disaster victims, they are starving to death, and you still dare to embezzle disaster relief grain!” Lin Qin’s voice was not loud, but it carried an unquestionable authority.

The officials were so frightened that they trembled and could not utter a single word.

Zhu Ling's face was terribly gloomy. He glanced at them coldly and said in a voice as cold as ice, "Men, take them away!"

"Your Highness, spare us! Your Highness, spare us!" the officials cried and begged for mercy, but Zhu Ling remained unmoved.

As Lin Qin watched them being taken away, she felt no pleasure, but rather a heavier heart.

This is just the tip of the iceberg. How many more such parasites are hiding in the shadows?

Lin Qin took a deep breath and said to Zhu Ling, "Your Highness, it seems we still have a lot to do." Zhu Ling gripped her hand tightly, his gaze resolute: "Don't worry, I will make them pay the price."

Suddenly, a commotion arose in the crowd. A frail old woman walked shakily to Lin Qin and knelt down: "Your Highness, I beg you, please save my grandson, he's starving to death..."

Lin Qin quickly helped the old woman up, only to find that she was holding a dying child in her arms.

The child's face was sallow, his lips were cracked, and his breathing was weak; he looked like he was about to die.

Lin Qin's heart tightened, and she immediately ordered someone to bring food and water.

Just then, a sharp voice rang out: "Your Highness, this child is beyond saving. Let's leave the food for others..." Lin Qin turned around abruptly and saw a richly dressed woman standing in the crowd, her face full of malice...

Lin Qin's eyebrows shot up, her eyes sharp as knives, as she glared directly at the woman: "What did you say? Say it again!" The woman, intimidated by Lin Qin's imposing presence, involuntarily took a step back, but still stubbornly insisted, "I said, this child is beyond saving. Your Highness, please leave the food for others! After all, saving one is saving one..."

"Slap!" The crisp sound of a slap echoed throughout the distribution point.

Zhu Ling's eyes were icy cold, her expression chilling: "Shut up! The Princess is here, it's not your place to point fingers!" The surrounding disaster victims gasped, casting disdainful glances at the woman.

Lin Qin knelt down, gently stroking the child's cheek in the old woman's arms, and said softly, "Grandma, don't worry, I will save him." She took out some pills from her medicine box and fed them to the child.

Then they had someone bring clean hot water and carefully fed it to the child.

"Your Highness..." The old woman was moved to tears and held Lin Qin's hand tightly.

Lin Qin patted the back of her hand to comfort her.

She stood up, looked around, and said loudly, "I know everyone is having a hard time and is very hungry. But please believe me, I will do everything I can to ensure that everyone can survive!"

A burst of enthusiastic applause erupted from the crowd, and hope ignited in the eyes of the disaster victims.

Lin Qin smiled slightly, turned to General Wu and said, "General Wu, arrest all those officials who are hoarding grain and interrogate them thoroughly!"

"Yes!" General Wu accepted the order and left.

Lin Qin then said to Zhu Ling, "Your Highness, I need to re-plan the resource distribution scheme to ensure everyone gets enough food." Zhu Ling nodded, looking at her gently, "Go."

Lin Qin immediately convened a group of officials and representatives of the disaster victims to begin discussing a new distribution plan.

She was clear-headed and thorough in her analysis, and quickly devised a fair and reasonable plan.

The disaster victims expressed their agreement and deep admiration for Lin Qin.

Looking at their grateful eyes, Lin Qin felt a great sense of accomplishment.

"Your Highness, Your Highness, something terrible has happened!" A soldier rushed over in a panic. "A large number of refugees have arrived outside the city..." Lin Qin and Zhu Ling exchanged a glance, both feeling a sense of foreboding.

Lin Qin frowned. A large number of disaster victims had arrived from outside the city, which was undoubtedly adding insult to injury.

The limited supplies were like a drop in the ocean, far from meeting the needs of all the disaster victims.

Looking into the longing eyes of the disaster victims, Lin Qin felt a surge of helplessness.

The air seemed to freeze, making it hard to breathe.

The conventional method of distributing supplies by headcount is clearly not feasible.

Lin Qin made a quick decision and decided to take an unconventional approach.

"The elderly, women, children, and the weak should be given priority! Next are the able-bodied young adults, and lastly..." Lin Qin paused, her gaze sweeping over those well-dressed people who were trying to take advantage of the situation, "Those who don't seem to be short of food, go to the back!"

As soon as these words came out, the crowd exploded.

Those dressed in fine clothes shouted, "Why? We are disaster victims too!"

Lin Qin sneered: "Disaster victims? I think you're more like people who came to take advantage of the chaos! Look at the fine silks and satins you're wearing, and then look at these emaciated real disaster victims. Don't you have any conscience?"

"You...you are so slanderous!"

"Slander? Do you want me to compare your delicate skin with the hands and feet of these disaster victims?" Lin Qin retorted without holding back.

Zhu Ling stood beside Lin Qin, his cold gaze sweeping over the shouting crowd. His sharp, hawk-like eyes silenced them instantly.

General Wu then led his men forward and isolated these people.

The new distribution plan was implemented, and the elderly, women, children, and the infirm received food first. They were so grateful that they kowtowed to Lin Qin to express their thanks.

Seeing the smiles on their faces, Lin Qin felt a little comforted.

"Your Highness, you are truly a living Bodhisattva!" An old woman trembled as she grasped Lin Qin's hand, tears streaming down her face.

"Grandma, please don't say that. It's what I should do," Lin Qin said gently, helping the old woman up.

However, supplies were still scarce, and some young and middle-aged laborers had not yet received food. Lin Qin was extremely anxious and racked her brains to think of a solution.

Suddenly, a brilliant idea struck her.

"General Wu, you go..." Lin Qin whispered a few words in General Wu's ear.

Upon hearing this, General Wu's eyes lit up, and he immediately accepted the order and left.

Lin Qin watched General Wu's departing figure and silently prayed in her heart: I hope this method will work!

A short while later, General Wu returned with several soldiers, followed by several carriages.

The carriage was filled with...

"Your Highness, everything you requested has been brought," General Wu said softly as he approached Lin Qin.

Lin Qin nodded, a mysterious smile playing on her lips...

The carriage wasn't loaded with grain, but rather...

Potato!

The carriage was piled high with potatoes, like small mountains, exuding the fresh scent of earth.

The disaster victims looked at each other, discussing the matter amongst themselves.

Potatoes? Can you eat these?

"Why did Your Highness bring these clods of earth here?"

"Can this stuff fill your stomach?"

Lin Qin smiled slightly, picked up a potato, and said loudly, "Fellow villagers, I know that what you need most right now is food, but food is scarce, so we must find another way. Although you may not be familiar with potatoes, they have a high yield, are easy to grow, and are rich in nutrients, making them the best choice to get through this famine!"

"Your Highness, are these potatoes really edible?" a bolder disaster victim asked.

“Of course you can eat it!” Lin Qin said, taking a small knife from General Wu’s hand and skillfully peeling off the potato skin to reveal the tender white flesh inside.

"These potatoes can be boiled, baked, or stewed; they taste delicious no matter how you cook them!"

Lin Qin had someone build a fire and put the chopped potato chunks into a pot to cook.

Soon, the aroma filled the air, making the disaster victims' mouths water.

"It smells so good!" "This tastes amazing!"

The cooked potatoes were distributed to the disaster victims, who took a small, cautious bite and their eyes lit up instantly.

"Delicious! So delicious!" "These potatoes are even tastier than whole grains!"

The disaster victims cheered and expressed their gratitude to Lin Qin.

Lin Qin looked at the smiles on their faces and felt a surge of joy in her heart.

This unexpected potato feast not only solved the immediate crisis but also ignited a spark of hope in the hearts of the disaster victims.

Amid cheers, a soldier stumbled over, pale-faced and covered in sweat.

"Your Highness, Your Highness, something terrible has happened!" he gasped, "East of the city...east of the city..."

"What happened in the east of the city?" Lin Qin's heart tightened, and an ominous premonition surged into her mind.

The soldier swallowed hard, his voice trembling as he said, "A plague has broken out in the east of the city!"

"What?!" Lin Qin and Zhu Ling's expressions changed drastically.

The air froze instantly, the cheers stopped abruptly, and the smiles on the faces of the disaster victims froze.

An indescribable fear, like a plague, spread rapidly...

Lin Qin took a deep breath and forced herself to calm down.

"Plague..." Lin Qin murmured to herself, a resolute glint in her eyes, "It seems we have an even more arduous task to complete..."