The Prince's Beloved Little Wife

As they walked, sunlight filtered through the leaves, casting dappled shadows. Several ministers stopped, took out their phones, and sent WeChat messages to Emperor Mingsheng. They had gone out for a day of fun with Princess Jing, Chen Mengyao, the previous day, but had missed today's court session. They apologized profusely to Emperor Mingsheng, their words revealing their lingering fondness for yesterday's gathering.

Emperor Mingsheng sat on his dragon throne, staring at the leave request on his phone screen, a wave of frustration washing over him. His son and daughter-in-law always found time to travel and enjoy life, while he, the ruler of the nation, was confined to the deep palace, dealing with tedious official duties day after day. Gazing at the blue sky and white clouds outside the window, a strong desire to resign surged within him. He thought, this throne has kept me busy for most of my life; now it's time to put everything down and enjoy the beauty of life. Therefore, he secretly resolved to have a serious talk with the Crown Prince today; perhaps it was time to pass the throne to him.

However, the crown prince was completely unaware that his father, the emperor, was considering abdication because of his younger siblings' outing. He was still busy with his affairs in the palace, oblivious to the impending changes.

Meanwhile, outside the city, beside the bus, the ministers were busy saying goodbye to Chen Mengyao. Chen Mengyao took out a carriage and sent the bus back into her personal space. She instructed the ministers to return in batches, while she waited with the Crown Princess and several princes. The ministers chatted happily with Princess Jing, Chen Mengyao, asking when they could travel together again. Chen Mengyao smiled slightly and said, "Once all my shops that are under renovation are open, I'll invite the other ministers to go somewhere else. Although someone is managing them, I'm still a little worried and will only leave when they're all running smoothly. Besides, there's an auction house under renovation. However, if you want to eat delicious food or play games, you can come to the palace to find me anytime. Although we can't travel far, we can still have a great time here."

The ministers expressed their understanding upon hearing this, and secretly pondered how to help Chen Mengyao finish decorating the shop as soon as possible. Only after the Crown Princess and her entourage's carriage had driven far away did the ministers begin to enter the city. Chen Mengyao and her group were the last to enter.

Upon returning to the manor, Chen Mengyao went straight to her room to rest. The Second Princess and her husband, along with the Little Princess, also returned to their residences. Chen Mengyao then remotely replenished the supplies stored in the courtyard using her spatial storage. She hadn't checked on the situation of the people outside the city recently and was quite worried about them. So she dialed the number of guards protecting the refugees outside the city to inquire about their situation. The guards replied, "More and more people are coming recently; we're almost at our capacity."

Upon hearing this news, Chen Mengyao's heart tightened. She decided to personally check on the construction progress of the Charity Hall and urge them to speed things up. So, she took her maids and guards and boarded a carriage to the address given to her by Emperor Mingsheng.

On her way to the Charity Hall, Chen Mengyao called Emperor Mingsheng to report on the situation outside the city and request his help in finding more people to expedite the construction of the Charity Hall. Emperor Mingsheng hadn't expected the situation outside the city to be so dire, so he immediately called the Prime Minister, the Minister of Revenue, and others, ordering them to come to the palace to discuss countermeasures. Hearing the Emperor's urgent tone, the Prime Minister and the others knew something serious must have happened. Therefore, they rushed into the palace as soon as they arrived at their doorstep.

Upon arriving at the palace, Emperor Mingsheng had already been waiting in the main hall for some time, his face etched with worry. After the prime minister and others hurriedly paid their respects, they listened to Emperor Mingsheng recount the dire situation of the refugee crisis outside the city.

"I originally intended to abdicate and enjoy a peaceful life, but now it seems that there are still many problems to be solved in this country and its people," Emperor Mingsheng sighed, his gaze sweeping over the crowd.

Upon hearing this, the Prime Minister and others looked grave. The Minister of Revenue spoke first: "Your Majesty, I am willing to immediately allocate grain and supplies to relieve the refugees' urgent needs."

"Very well, I'll leave this matter to you." Emperor Mingsheng nodded in agreement. Then, the Prime Minister also made a suggestion: "Your Majesty, the construction of the Charity Hall requires increased investment in manpower and resources. I am willing to personally go and supervise the construction."

Emperor Mingsheng nodded slightly, a satisfied look on his face, and slowly said, "With you all by my side, sharing my burdens and solving my problems, I feel much more at ease. However, we still need to intensify our efforts in collecting donations. For those large families and merchants who have not yet donated, you must visit them again and communicate in depth the importance of donations. You must clearly explain all the benefits the court has given them, so that they understand that this is not only a contribution to the country, but also a form of protection and honor for themselves. At the same time, you must pay attention to your methods and approaches, and be sure to persuade them with reason and emotion, so that they are willing to contribute to the country."

"As for the Crown Prince, I need to find a suitable time to have an in-depth conversation with him. This matter of national importance concerns the safety of the country and the well-being of the people, and I cannot always be the one worrying about it. As the heir apparent and the future pillar of the nation, the Crown Prince should also shoulder more responsibilities and obligations. I want to discuss the way of governing the country with him, so that he can grow continuously in practice and lay a solid foundation for inheriting the throne in the future."

"Furthermore, I am very concerned about the situation of those refugees. You must immediately send people to their hometowns to conduct an in-depth investigation into what kind of natural disaster has occurred, why I have not received any relevant reports yet, and whether there is any concealment by officials. I must know the truth and will not tolerate any deception or negligence."

"You must act swiftly and investigate this matter thoroughly. If any officials are found to have deliberately concealed the extent of the disaster, failed to act, acted slowly, or even engaged in corruption and embezzlement, I will show no leniency. They must be immediately dismissed from their posts, brought back to the capital for trial, and severely punished according to the law, as a warning to others. At the same time, a group of honest, reliable, and capable officials must be selected to replace these corrupt officials, ensuring that national policies are truly implemented, bringing benefits to the people and safeguarding the country's peace."

Upon hearing this, everyone's expressions hardened, and they all expressed their willingness to do their utmost to share the burden of the court and face this sudden challenge together. Their eyes revealed determination and resolve, as if they could already see the scene where, through everyone's joint efforts, the refugee problem would be properly resolved.

The meeting concluded in a warm yet solemn atmosphere. Afterwards, these loyal officials departed to receive their orders, their steps hurried yet steady, as if bearing a heavy burden. They knew that they carried the trust of the court and the expectations of the people, and therefore, they had to give their all without the slightest negligence.

Upon returning to their respective residences or government offices, they immediately began intensive preparations to deal with the refugee influx. Some were busy allocating food and medicine to ensure that the refugees' basic needs were met; others were working on arranging accommodation and sanitation facilities to prevent the spread of disease; still others were responsible for contacting officials in various regions and coordinating efforts from all sides to jointly address this challenge.

At the same time, Emperor Mingsheng quickly made a decision. He knew that the Crown Prince, as the future heir apparent, had to shoulder more responsibility and mission. So, he immediately picked up the phone, dialed the Crown Prince's number, and said with a hint of urgency and expectation, "Crown Prince, come to the palace immediately. I have important matters to discuss with you." Upon hearing this, the Crown Prince dared not delay for a moment, immediately straightened his clothes, and hurried to the palace. He knew that this summons must be related to the refugee problem, and he had to be prepared to share his father's burdens and alleviate the people's suffering.

The Crown Prince rode swiftly, but remained calm. He recalled the grim situation of the recent refugee crisis and had already made some plans. Upon entering the palace, the Crown Prince went straight to the Imperial Study, where he saw Emperor Mingsheng sitting upright at his desk, his brows furrowed, clearly also worried about the matter.

"Your subject pays respects to Your Majesty," the Crown Prince said, bowing.

"No need for formalities." Emperor Mingsheng raised his head, his eyes revealing determination and trust. "Crown Prince, you are already aware of the refugee situation. I wish to appoint you as Imperial Envoy to go to the disaster area to comfort the refugees and investigate the reasons behind this matter. Are you willing?"

Upon hearing this, the Crown Prince's heart tightened, and he immediately knelt down and said, "Your subject is willing to go. I will certainly not fail Your Majesty's trust, to relieve the people's suffering, and to share the nation's burdens."

Emperor Mingsheng nodded in satisfaction and handed the prepared imperial edict to the Crown Prince. The Crown Prince accepted the edict, secretly vowing to resolve the matter satisfactorily and live up to his father's high expectations.

Meanwhile, Chen Mengyao walked into the construction site, her gaze lingering on the faces of each craftsman, as if silently conveying gratitude and encouragement. Although the craftsmen were drenched in sweat, their eyes were filled with determination and hope. Their tools moved ceaselessly, as if painting a beautiful picture of the future.

There was also a group of volunteers on site, some carrying supplies, others delivering water and meals to the craftsmen. Their faces were also beaming with smiles, a satisfaction and happiness born from their dedication. Chen Mengyao was moved; she suddenly realized that the construction of this charity hall was not merely the rise of a building, but also a gathering and elevation of people's hearts.

She found the foreman in charge of the construction, a burly, dark-skinned middle-aged man directing his craftsmen busily moving among the scaffolding. She politely inquired about the estimated completion time. The foreman paused his work, frowned slightly, pondered for a moment, and replied, "At the current pace, it will take approximately three more months to complete. But…"

Upon hearing this, her heart tightened, and she pressed on, "But if we need to speed up construction, how many people will we need?"

The foreman of craftsmen held up his fingers and listed them one by one: "We need to at least double the manpower, and the supply of materials must also keep up, otherwise having more people will be useless. Furthermore, speeding up the process will inevitably affect the quality of the project, and you must keep that in mind."

After listening, she nodded slightly to express her gratitude, but in her heart she was already considering how to allocate manpower and materials without compromising the quality of the project. She knew it was a challenging task, but she believed that with proper planning and careful organization, she could definitely complete the project on time and with high quality.

After careful consideration, Chen Mengyao decided to pick up the phone again and dial that familiar number. She reported the dire situation facing the Charity Hall to Emperor Mingsheng in a clear and detailed manner, word by word. She knew that with the Charity Hall's current resources, it would be extremely difficult to properly resettle the homeless refugees. Therefore, with great enthusiasm and expectation, she asked Emperor Mingsheng if he could mobilize more manpower to provide support. As for logistical support such as materials and supplies, Chen Mengyao volunteered, stating that she would take full responsibility and would not allow these matters to become obstacles to the Charity Hall's work.

On the other end of the phone, Emperor Mingsheng felt an indescribable joy and excitement after listening to Chen Mengyao's detailed and well-organized report. He seemed to see a ray of hope shining before his eyes, and he was filled with anticipation for a bright future. Emperor Mingsheng knew that Chen Mengyao not only possessed a kind and steadfast heart, but also an indomitable and responsible spirit, a spirit that was especially precious in this era.

Chen Mengyao's generosity and great love deeply impressed and inspired Emperor Mingsheng. She always managed to see things from a higher perspective and embrace others with a broader mind. Her kindness and courage not only earned her the respect and trust of the people but also set an example for the nation. Emperor Mingsheng felt that such an outstanding woman should have lived a carefree and unrestrained life; instead, she chose a path full of thorns and hardships, shouldering heavy responsibilities and obligations.

Thinking of this, Emperor Mingsheng felt a deep sense of guilt. As the ruler of a nation, he should have shouldered more responsibility and commitment, creating a better living environment for the country and its people. However, reality made him feel somewhat powerless; many times, he could only watch helplessly as Chen Mengyao, a frail woman, bore such immense pressure and burden. This filled him with immense heartache and self-reproach.

Therefore, Emperor Mingsheng secretly resolved to bestow more rewards and care upon Chen Mengyao in the future to express his gratitude and admiration for her. He wanted her to know that her efforts and contributions were seen and remembered by the country and its people. At the same time, Emperor Mingsheng would do his utmost to support her business, providing her with more resources and support so that she could navigate her entrepreneurial path more smoothly and confidently.

In Emperor Mingsheng's heart, Chen Mengyao was not only a respectable and trustworthy daughter-in-law, but also a heroine capable of leading the nation to prosperity and strength. Her wisdom, courage, and sense of responsibility gave Emperor Mingsheng a glimpse of the nation's future and hope. He believed that under Chen Mengyao's leadership, the country would surely usher in a brighter tomorrow.

During the phone call, Emperor Mingsheng solemnly stated that he would dispatch capable personnel to the designated location as soon as possible to fully support Chen Mengyao's work. Chen Mengyao then raised a crucial request: to find a suitable courtyard to properly store the various supplies she was sending. Emperor Mingsheng immediately expressed his understanding and support. After hanging up, he quickly took action, sending WeChat messages to his sons to inquire if they knew of any vacant courtyards near the Charity Hall to store supplies and provide solid logistical support for the upcoming construction of the Charity Hall.

He also specifically gave them the detailed location information of the Charity Hall, hoping they could find a suitable courtyard as soon as possible. After receiving their father's inquiry, the sons all sprang into action, searching far and wide for a suitable courtyard. After some thought and comparison, Prince Wen was the first to respond, stating that he happened to have a courtyard near the Charity Hall, perfect for storing supplies. He then thoughtfully sent the courtyard's exact location information so that Chen Mengyao and the craftsmen could find it easily.

Upon hearing this news, Chen Mengyao breathed a sigh of relief. She immediately shared the good news with the foreman of the craftsmen, explaining the exact location of the courtyard and instructing them to send someone to that address to collect necessary supplies. She also revealed an important piece of information: the Emperor would soon send more people to help build the charity hall, and she hoped everyone could work together to complete this glorious and arduous task as soon as possible.

Upon hearing this series of good news, the foreman of craftsmen's face showed a determined expression. He stated that he would organize manpower as soon as possible, work overtime to ensure the construction task was completed within the stipulated time, and strictly control the quality to ensure that the construction quality of the charity hall reached the highest level.

After giving these instructions, Chen Mengyao boarded the carriage and returned home with peace of mind. On the way back, she sent WeChat messages to several princes, requesting them to send guards to protect the courtyard where the supplies were stored. She knew the importance of these supplies and therefore had to ensure their safety. The princes all understood her request and quickly dispatched a considerable number of guards to protect the area. Chen Mengyao was secretly grateful; she knew that with these guards protecting the supplies, they could safely wait until they were used.