Chapter 133: Nothing Is More Satisfying Than Disciplining a Spoiled Brat

Disaster relief is, from every perspective, a formidable task.

"Your Majesty, it is more than that," Shen Fuyu said, glancing at Qin Zhiyi, whose expression had already turned heavy. "Where there is rioting, there is death. And it is not just because of accidents that occur while scrambling for grain."

"There are those who die because they are so starved they eat things they shouldn't, and even, in the struggle to survive, many resort to exchanging their children for food." Before a catastrophe, most people are terrifying, for kindness cannot keep them alive in the face of such ruin; it is a primal instinct.

Yet, one cannot blame them for such choices, especially in this ancient era. Faced with natural disasters, a wrong choice means death. What does it matter if one loses their humanity?

Qin Zhiyi fell silent.

"When many people die, the rules usually followed are cast aside. Bodies are left exposed, piled up in one place with no one to attend to them. Do you know what happens in such a situation?" Shen Fuyu looked at him.

Qin Zhiyi’s brow furrowed tightly. "...Plague?"

Shen Fuyu nodded without adding more. She vaguely remembered experiencing a plague following a natural disaster once before. The imperial court’s handling had been inept, and the relief grain had been compromised. The surrounding counties had been transformed almost overnight. Some had gone into the mountains to hunt animals, perhaps handled them improperly, and shortly after consuming them, suffered from high fevers and delirious speech before dying untreated. Then, the madness of trading children for food began, and the plague erupted in that very instant.

Even she had not been spared back then; her spatial storage had been of too low a level, and she had lacked the medicine to treat the epidemic, eventually succumbing to it.

Returning to the present, she watched Qin Zhiyi lost in deep thought. These were problems he had to solve; how to best prevent all of this from unfolding had become the most pressing issue. She gently pinched her hand. In truth, if she relied on her spatial storage, aside from the grain which required the court to provide, everything else could be easily handled...

"You should go to sleep," Qin Zhiyi said, suddenly rising as if he had hit upon an idea. "I still have things to do."

"Very well. Do mind your rest, and be careful not to suffer a sudden death," Shen Fuyu waved him off.

"Tsk." Qin Zhiyi’s face turned black instantly, yet these very words eased his taut nerves a little. In the end, he said nothing, heading straight for the Golden Throne Hall to summon his ministers for an urgent meeting in the middle of the night.

Seeing him hurry away, Shen Fuyu did not dwell on it. Regardless, this time, that unlucky fellow Qin Zhining would surely have to carry the banner of disaster relief. She had known about the locust plague earlier, but Qin Zhiyi had only spoken to her in generalities, complaining about the situation rather than detailing it.

Between the officials shirking their duties and the Empress Dowager’s relentless pressure, Shen Fuyu smiled helplessly. She understood why the relationship between Qin Zhiyi and his mother was so poor; anyone controlled by such a possessive mother would be driven to frustration.

However, Qin Zhiyi had not discussed the specific solutions with her, and she had not interfered. The child was grown and had his own ideas; it was best if he could solve it independently, not to mention that Qin Zhiyi was not without the capability.

Take today, for instance: when the brat Qin Yuanqi stirred up trouble, Qin Zhiyi immediately exploited the situation, taking him hostage in the palace. Now, the Prince of Ping’s estate would have no choice but to work themselves to the bone for the relief effort.

"Your Highness, are you going to rest?" Yin Ling walked in carrying a lantern. "I saw the Emperor leave in such a hurry."

"Mm. Is that brat Qin Yuanqi being obedient?" Shen Fuyu asked.

Yin Ling nodded. "He was quite agitated on the bed at first, but he is asleep now."

"Find someone to secretly apply medicine to him," Shen Fuyu said, pulling a medicine bottle from her sleeve. "The medicine from the imperial physicians is useless. From now on, whenever this stinking brat gets a beating, use this on him in secret."

"Your Highness is truly kind-hearted," Yin Ling said, feeling a bit indignant. "To be so vicious at such a young age—it is fortunate that you are unharmed, Your Highness."

Shen Fuyu brushed her hair. Kind-hearted? No, he must be healed so that he can be beaten again. She certainly would not leave the child permanently crippled, but she would ensure he felt the physical pain—and he would not escape it until he mended his ways!

The medicine from the spatial storage worked instantly upon application. By the next day, Qin Yuanqi was a lively, energetic little monkey again!

"I want to go home! I want to go home! None of you are allowed to touch me!" He started making a scene early in the morning.

Shen Fuyu, suffering from morning irritability, threw on some robes, gave Qin Yuanqi a sound thrashing, ordered the palace servants to dress him and feed him, and finally shoved a small bundle into his arms.

"From today on, you will go to the study to read every day. I will supervise everything Grand Tutor Cui teaches you; if you don't learn well, don't even think about going home," Shen Fuyu said, hands on her hips.

Qin Yuanqi sat directly on the floor and wailed, "I don't want to! I don't want to! I don't want to study! You evil woman! You’re bullying me!"

"So what if I am? Your father and mother won't know anyway," Shen Fuyu smiled like a demon. "Here, no one will pamper you or indulge you. I will count to three—if you don't get up, you can look forward to your little bottom suffering!"

Qin Yuanqi, who had intended to be recalcitrant, immediately turned obedient. Though he did not fully understand, he grasped that screaming and rolling on the floor was useless here; no one would indulge him like his family. He picked up his small bundle and became remarkably well-behaved.

"Wait. What should you do before leaving?" Shen Fuyu’s gaze turned cold.

The brat shivered and obediently bowed to her: "Virtuous Consort, I am going to study now."

Only then did she have the servants escort him to the study. Qin Zhiyi was efficient; after discussing the relief efforts with his ministers the night before, he had also invited Grand Tutor Cui into the palace.

As the Empress Dowager’s own younger brother, Grand Tutor Cui was quite arrogant, but since Qin Zhiyi had personally requested it, he could not simply refuse and had to grit his teeth to tutor the little brat. He had heard rumors about the Prince of Ping’s son and was, in truth, extremely unwilling.

As expected, after one day of schooling, Grand Tutor Cui was so infuriated that the brat had even plucked a handful of hair from his beard!

"You didn't listen, did you?" Shen Fuyu flexed her fingers, watching Qin Yuanqi return from the classroom. "Do you think I didn't hit you hard enough?"

Qin Yuanqi tried to argue: "The teacher told me to do it."

Yes, a ready-made excuse!

"You could have come up with a more ridiculous lie than that," Shen Fuyu said, ready to enjoy herself.

Following this, waves of wailing filled the air, accompanied by the sharp sound of palms hitting flesh, which only stopped once Qin Yuanqi promised he would never dare to do it again.

"Don't think about lying. These palace servants are all my people; not one of your movements escapes me," she said, her mood much improved after the thrashing. "Before you do anything, think about whether you would be angry or sad if it happened to you. Go apologize to Grand Tutor Cui tomorrow, do you understand?"