After refusing marriage, she was pampered by the prince who acted as a shield.

Chapter 347: There's a Problem with the Grain Quantity

"They're here!"

Upon seeing the army, Li Jingyang's eyes lit up, and he unconsciously breathed a sigh of relief.

Seeing this, Lin Rusi smiled, and the seriousness in her eyes eased slightly.

"Your Highness, I will have someone move these grains inside."

When the general escorting the grain landed, Prefect Su couldn't help but show a look of joy and tentatively asked...

Looking at the amount of grain, Lin Rusi merely frowned: "Wait!"

As soon as she finished speaking, she quickly raised her hand to stop Prefect Su's actions and strode over to inspect the grain.

Prefect Su was immediately uneasy, wiping the sweat from his brow: "Your Highness, this is all life-saving food..."

His tone was cold and pointed.

Lin Rusi didn't seem to mind what he said. Instead, she circled around the grain and asked, "Your Highness, didn't you specify the amount of grain in your letter?"

When Lin Rusi got a clear look at the vehicles transporting the grain, she turned around and looked at them with some doubt in her eyes.

The Northwest region is neither a town nor a prefecture.

Rather, the entire region here has suffered a major disaster.

Nowadays, everyone is short of food. Apart from the food purchased from surrounding cities, there is no other source of food.

Even if all the grain in front of us were distributed, it would only be a drop in the ocean.

After Lin Rusi's reminder, Li Jingyang was taken aback and immediately stepped forward.

Almost instantly, his face turned cold: "The quantity is at least half less."

Li Jingyang spoke slowly and deliberately, then looked menacingly at the guards escorting the prisoners.

The guard instantly realized what was happening and quickly waved his hand, "Your Highness, it wasn't us. We're all traveling together as a team. We couldn't possibly have stolen food on the way!"

The man reacted quickly and immediately knelt down.

Li Jingyang simply kept a cold face and remained silent.

Lin Rusi tugged at his sleeve and spoke again: "Your Highness, indeed, unless it is a gang crime, no one can do it in front of so many people."

She lowered her voice so that only the two of them could hear her.

Prefect Su, who was standing beside him, also realized something and quickly stepped forward: "Your Highness, Your Highness, I think this matter needs to be discussed. Why don't we settle the soldiers first and then count the exact number?"

But Li Jingyang and Lin Rusi looked at each other, their eyes meeting, and for a moment they understood each other: "Men, lock up all the people escorting the grain. We'll make a decision after we've investigated the situation."

The guard panicked and hurriedly protested, "Your Highness! We did not steal any grain. Please investigate!"

Upon hearing this, those following behind him also realized what was happening and exclaimed, "Your Highness, please investigate!"

"We are truly innocent!"

Hearing the sounds rising and falling, Lin Rusi frowned, remained silent for a moment, and then sighed: "Don't worry, we will definitely investigate and find out the truth. As long as you really didn't do it, then there's nothing to worry about."

She waved her hand, trying to offer a few words of comfort.

But since it involved food, these guards could not escape being imprisoned.

Watching them scream as they were dragged away, Lin Rusi pulled Li Jingyang into the room: "Your Highness, they are right. If there is a problem with the grain, they will definitely be held responsible. If these people aren't fools, they certainly wouldn't do something like stealing from their own territory."

Thinking of this, Lin Rusi stared intently at Li Jingyang.

Their eyes met, and Li Jingyang spoke: "It's alright, I've already had Ye Qing investigate. I won't wrong them without cause."

His voice was somber and sounded particularly complex.

Lin Rusi could only sigh silently and offer no further advice.

Ye Qing quickly set off to search for clues.

Lin Rusi sensed something was wrong, so the next day when she delivered the food, she went with the person delivering the food to check on the guards.

"Your Highness! It really wasn't us!"

Upon seeing Lin Rusi arrive, more than a dozen people hurriedly stood up, their faces showing panic.

Lin Rusi raised her lips and said in a low voice, "I believe in you, but now I need your cooperation. I want to know more details about your journey from the capital, such as getting the provisions from the palace..."

Her gaze was sharp, and she spoke with exceptional seriousness.

Seeing this, the guards couldn't help but think: "We don't know either. The grain was brought to the outskirts by the Minister of the Imperial Secretariat."

"Minister of the Imperial Secretariat?"

Having keenly grasped this key name, Lin Rusi hurriedly asked a few more questions.

But as mere servants escorting grain, they had no idea what the truth was.

Left with no other choice, Lin Rusi could only leave first and then make further plans.

She had just stepped out when she ran straight into the person outside the door.

Lin Rusi was slightly surprised: "Your Highness, what brings you here?"

Seeing her, Li Jingyang wasn't surprised. Instead, he smiled and said, "What? If Asi can come, why can't I?"

Looking at his teasing expression, Lin Rusi felt somewhat helpless.

But she still had some things to say, so she hurriedly pulled Li Jingyang to a secluded place.

Her expression immediately turned furious: "How outrageous! So many people here have starved to death! And these people are even embezzling grain in the capital!"

She clenched her fists, making a gesture that suggested she could no longer tolerate it.

"No! Your Highness, the Emperor must know about this. I have some statements from the guards here!" Lin Rusi said urgently.

Li Jingyang stopped her, saying, "Even if we tell the Emperor now, what good will it do? Without evidence, the Emperor can do nothing whether he believes us or not."

Lin Rusi pursed her lips, her rationality returning in an instant.

Yes, without evidence, nothing you do will make a difference.

"Don't worry, I will definitely not let him be so arrogant again. I have already sent Ye Qing to collect evidence, so don't worry."

Hearing this, Lin Rusi finally calmed down.

"Yes, then I believe Your Highness."

Lin Rusi also knew that no matter how anxious she was, she couldn't do anything until she found the evidence.

Thinking this, she let out a long sigh.

……

Within two days, Lin Rusi received news that the miracle doctor she had sent out to find had appeared.

Upon hearing about the locust plague here, I rushed over immediately.

"Dr. Zhang, thank you so much for coming." Lin Rusi's eyes were full of gratitude.

"It's nothing. I'm a doctor, so it's my duty to treat the sick and save lives. But have you checked the city's water sources?"

With a serious expression, Doctor Zhang raised a very serious topic as soon as he opened his mouth.

Hearing this, Lin Rusi was stunned for a moment.

Water source?

She had no recollection of any water source or anything like that.

The locust plague was the first thing Lin Rusi hadn't considered; she hadn't imagined that the water source would also be affected.

"Thank you for your help with the people's affairs, Doctor. I'll have someone investigate the water source issue right away."

After saying that, Lin Rusi immediately led her people to inspect several water sources in the city.

Just as Dr. Zhang had predicted, there was indeed a problem with the water source.

On the other side, Li Jingyang also received the results. Ye Qing had secretly collected a lot of witnesses and physical evidence in the capital, and sent them to the palace along with the secret letter.

As for the Emperor, such a significant matter is unlikely to be ignored.

After the miracle doctor arrived, Lin Rusi immediately set up a medical clinic in the city, specifically for the people to see a doctor, and the medicine was also free.

What's delightful is that this legendary doctor lived up to his reputation, showing no regard for the status of those who came to treat him.

Seeing more and more people receiving treatment, Lin Rusi immediately felt relieved.

That day, he wandered around the city on his own and found many water sources to compare and check.