The Prince's Beloved Little Wife

An hour later, the group finally returned slowly to the gates of the Prince's mansion. Ouyang Han was the first to jump down from the carriage; his posture was as upright as a pine tree, and his handsome face exuded a hint of majesty. Immediately after him, Chen Mengyao also gracefully alighted from the carriage; she was beautiful and captivating, like a fairy descending to earth. The two stood side by side, like a perfect couple, a sight to behold.

At this moment, the servants hurriedly stepped forward, carefully parked the carriage, and led the horses away. Ouyang Han and Chen Mengyao then walked into the center of the Prince's mansion courtyard.

After stopping, Ouyang Han's gaze swept over the guards who had returned with them, and he said loudly, "We brought back some new experts on this trip. Now, you will lead them to a suitable place to settle down." He then looked at the guard captains and continued, "Also, arrange their duty schedules, making sure they are reasonable and orderly. Remember, these new experts will also be our partners in the future; treat them as your own people, without the slightest prejudice!"

The guards responded in unison, indicating they understood the mission requirements. Then, led by the captains, the group marched into the mansion to find their lodgings and arrange their shifts. Watching them depart, Ouyang Han nodded slightly, a look of satisfaction in his eyes. Chen Mengyao stood quietly to the side, a faint smile on her lips, seemingly quite pleased with everything.

Ouyang Han and Chen Mengyao slowly entered the room. After gently closing the door, Ouyang Han eagerly took out his phone, skillfully opened WeChat, and sent a message to Lin Yu, asking, "How is the installation of cameras throughout the streets and alleys of the capital progressing today?" A moment later, Lin Yu quickly replied, "Reporting to Your Highness, all cameras have been installed according to your requirements!" Seeing this message, Ouyang Han's lips curled into a satisfied smile, and he replied, "Well done! Your efficiency is extremely high. I am very satisfied! Keep up this work ethic."

Meanwhile, Chen Mengyao wasn't idle either. She quickly walked to the table, picked up a pen and paper, and began listing the tasks that needed to be completed that evening. First, she called the head of the kitchen and carefully instructed him: "Make sure to prepare all the ingredients needed for tomorrow's porridge early tonight, and get up early tomorrow morning to cook fresh and delicious porridge. Also, starting tonight, the cooks can rest earlier." The head of the kitchen respectfully replied that he would definitely do so without fail.

Afterwards, Chen Mengyao found the contact information in the guards' group chat, opened the chat window, and sent an instruction to the guard captain: "Tomorrow morning, please arrange for dozens of guards to go to the city gate to assist with the porridge distribution." Shortly after, the guard captain replied that he had received the order and assured her that he would properly arrange for personnel to arrive at the designated location on time to carry out the task. Immediately afterwards, Chen Mengyao continued to arrange various tasks methodically. She instructed some servants in the manor to go to the city gate to set up tents for the porridge distribution, while others went to the storage area to organize and distribute various relief supplies in an orderly manner. Furthermore, to ensure the smooth operation of this porridge distribution and supplies distribution activity, Chen Mengyao specifically sought help from several princes, hoping to borrow some of their stewards and guards. Reassuringly, these princes showed great enthusiasm and goodwill upon hearing this, readily agreeing and promising to fully support this charitable act.

With everything arranged in an orderly manner, the two could finally breathe a sigh of relief. Dragging their slightly tired bodies, they hurriedly went into the bathroom and quickly washed away the dust and fatigue that had accumulated throughout the day.

After their showers, they fell into a deep sleep almost instantly, as if they had lost consciousness. Their breathing gradually became steady, and the room was so quiet that only soft snores could be heard. After a long day of work, their bodies and minds were at their limits, and sleep was undoubtedly the most precious gift for them. In their dreams, they might temporarily forget the fatigue and troubles of reality, and usher in a peaceful and sweet time.

The next day, just as dawn was breaking and the east was beginning to lighten, they eagerly climbed out of their warm beds, quickly dressed, and washed up. After a hasty, simple yet nutritious breakfast, the two headed to the kitchen to check on the preparations.

As they entered the kitchen, a rich aroma immediately filled the air—the enticing scent of porridge and steamed buns. Inside, the servants were bustling about, some carefully ladling the fragrant porridge into sturdy wooden buckets, others placing plump, steaming white buns into bamboo baskets. The scene was orderly and efficient, everyone focused on their assigned task.

After confirming that everything was ready in the kitchen, they strolled out and went to the courtyard to check on the other servants. The spacious courtyard was bustling with activity! A group of servants and guards were working efficiently: under the guidance of the experienced steward, the servants were working together to steadily move tables and chairs onto the carriage; while the guards, following their captain's commands, stood in neat rows, ready to depart with high spirits.

Meanwhile, the personnel dispatched by other princes to assist had already been led by Prince Duan's attentive steward to the courtyard specifically for storing and distributing supplies. Furthermore, the princes had specifically briefed them on the relevant matters in the group chat to ensure the smooth operation of the mission.

Looking at the well-organized scene before them, Ouyang Han and Chen Mengyao felt a surge of satisfaction and contentment. After some discussion, they decided to wait until everyone was ready before heading out to inspect the situation. They then leisurely found a spot in an elegant pavilion in the courtyard, enjoying the surrounding scenery while patiently awaiting their departure.

About fifteen minutes later, a series of noisy footsteps came from the kitchen. Then, a group of servants slowly emerged carrying large wooden buckets filled with steaming hot porridge, its aroma filling the air. The servants also carried stacks of snow-white steamed buns. Furthermore, others followed behind, carrying piles of bowls and chopsticks.

Under the steward's methodical direction, everyone worked together to load all the items onto the carriages. One, two, three... more than a dozen carriages were filled! However, even so, some items still couldn't be fully loaded. At this moment, the steward made a decisive move, borrowing several carriages from other princes without hesitation to ensure the smooth transport of all supplies.

Chen Mengyao stood aside, quietly observing everything. Her gaze remained fixed on the busy housekeeper, a hint of appreciation in her eyes. She was genuinely satisfied with the housekeeper's meticulous and thoughtful arrangements.

Soon, the guards mounted their horses, riding tall and powerful steeds, and lined up at the front of the procession, acting as guides. At a command, the carriages behind began to move slowly. The drivers skillfully cracked their whips, guiding the carriages forward at a leisurely pace. The wheels rolled, making a creaking sound.

Behind the long caravan followed a large group of servants. Since the carriages were already crammed full of supplies, leaving no extra space for them, the servants had to follow on foot. Fortunately, the destination wasn't too far; it would only take about fifteen minutes to walk there.

Finally, Ouyang Han and Chen Mengyao boarded the ornately decorated luxury carriage hand in hand, quietly following the grand procession ahead, slowly heading towards the majestic city gate.

The people of the city had already learned from yesterday's notice that Prince Jing's residence would be distributing porridge at the city gate today, and they all praised the prince and princess for their kindness and compassion. This news spread like wildfire throughout the city, warming countless hearts trembling from war and famine.

As the convoy traveled, the surrounding scenery constantly changed, but what remained constant was the strong sense of human warmth and hope for the future. Soon, the group arrived at the city gate. The gate was already teeming with people, bustling and noisy. Ragged beggars and fleeing civilians huddled in corners or anxiously peered out, their eyes gleaming with a thirst for life and a yearning for the future.

After dismounting, the guards quickly sprang into action, maintaining order while guiding the people to wait patiently. Meanwhile, servants bustled between the carriages and the city gate, carefully carrying porridge and steamed buns from the carts. Other guards began setting up temporary tents, making thorough preparations for the upcoming porridge distribution.

After a flurry of busy but orderly preparations, everything was finally ready. Just then, Ouyang Han and Chen Mengyao's carriage slowly came to a stop in front of the shed. Dressed in fine clothes and smiling, they stepped down from the carriage and stood on the high platform in front of the shed.

Ouyang Han cleared his throat, his voice loud and warm: "Fellow villagers, thank you all for coming here today. The king and queen know how hard you all work, so we decided to give out porridge here and plan to build a charity hall in the future to help more people."

Chen Mengyao took over the conversation, her voice gentle yet firm: "Before the Charity Hall is completed, the imperial court will set up temporary tents for everyone as accommodations and distribute daily necessities. Please rest assured, we will do our best to ensure everyone's basic living needs."

She continued, "For the strong and healthy young men, we hope you won't just wait to receive supplies. There are many places in the city that need manpower, and we will make arrangements with various places to ensure that everyone can find a legitimate job first. Only by uniting can we overcome this difficulty together."

As soon as he finished speaking, thunderous applause erupted. The people knelt down, kowtowing to express their gratitude to the prince, princess, and emperor for their kindness. They vowed to live up to these expectations and create a happy life for themselves through hard work.

Seeing this, Chen Mengyao quickly stepped forward to help several elderly people up, gently persuading them to stand up and line up for food. Although the people were starving, they lined up in an orderly fashion. The guards maintained order, ensuring that everyone could fairly receive their share of warmth and hope.

The first person to receive the porridge felt a surge of deep emotion upon seeing its thick consistency and exceptionally rich ingredients, including plenty of lean meat and fresh vegetables. He couldn't recall how long it had been since he'd tasted meat; in these difficult times, every meal had felt precious and scarce. At that moment, the bowl of porridge in his hands seemed like the most delicious food in the world, deepening his gratitude towards the Prince and Princess. He carefully carried the full bowl of porridge and two steamed buns, contentedly walking aside to savor this rare delicacy.

Seeing this, the others also cast envious glances. They noticed how thick and rich the porridge was, and how many ingredients were in that person's eyes, and couldn't help but smile happily. They were filled with gratitude for the prince and princess's kindness; this kindness was like the warm sun in winter, warming everyone's hearts.

Soon, everyone received their own porridge and steamed buns. Some stood, some sat, holding the steaming food in their hands, feeling incredibly warm inside. Each person savored their porridge, the taste not just of the food itself, but also of the deep care and concern shown to them by the Prince and Princess. This kindness made everyone eat with great joy and satisfaction, their faces beaming with happiness.

Chen Mengyao and Ouyang Han stood aside, quietly observing everything. Seeing the people eating so happily filled them with satisfaction and gratification. They knew that everything they had done was worthwhile, because their kindness had not only warmed the people's stomachs but also their hearts. At that moment, they seemed to see the world becoming a better place because of their efforts.