Chapter 111: He Who Wins the Hearts of the People Wins the World

Chapter 111: He Who Wins the Hearts of the People Wins the World

The people had lined up, each receiving a cotton-padded jacket, regardless of size, one per person. Some children even received larger jackets, which their parents wrapped them in, leaving them utterly amazed.

"So warm!" the children exclaimed.

"Why aren't you wearing them?" After distributing the clothes, Auntie Jin looked at the people holding the jackets and said, "Put them on quickly, it's snowing and it's cold!"

Despite the long time spent distributing the clothes, Auntie Jin still shivered when she finally had a moment to rest.

She hurried over, took the little princess from the emperor's arms, and wrapped her in a small cloak more tightly.

Baby Ruo Xi was asleep.

Although she had gained much virtue recently, leading to significant improvement in her cultivation,

she was still just a two-month-old baby, so after using the Heart-Bewitching Spell, she immediately felt drowsy.

Xiao Yin and his party entered the village.

Yuan Hui directed everyone to start helping repair the houses.

"No, no, those trees cannot be cut down," the people quickly stopped Yuan Hui's men who were about to chop down trees on the nearby mountain.

"Why not? Those trees can serve as beams for the houses. Why leave them there?" Yuan Hui was puzzled.

"You don't understand. There are military officers at the border, and they have various wild animals trained on this mountain. If we cut down the trees, the military officers will come and take our lives."

The people stood trembling before Yuan Hui, even with their noses and faces frozen blue, they were determined to protect the trees.

"Just go up the mountain and cut them down; if anything happens, we'll take responsibility!" Yuan Hui said.

"Sir, good sir, please don't! The military officers are very cruel. We don't want these coats or food; you can take them back!" The people pushed the items back into Yuan Hui's hands.

"Do you know who I am?" Yuan Hui stomped his feet in frustration.

"It doesn't matter who you are, sir, please don't, don't do it!"

"It seems we need to deal with the issue at the border first." Xiao Yin's expression turned cold as he looked around and asked, "What is that place at the foot of the mountain?"

The people turned to look and said, "That's where the military officers rest before and after going up the mountain."

"Yuan Hui, take them to stay there. When the weather improves, we'll return to repair the houses," Xiao Yin said.

"No, no!" The people retreated in fear.

"Ah, these people must have been frightened out of their wits. It seems the border needs to be cleaned up. Uncle, show the same resolve you used against Prince Kang." Baby Ruo Xi, who was about to sleep, was awakened by the noise. She sighed, thinking to herself.

"Look, our little princess is sighing!" Auntie Jin smiled.

"Little princess?" The people widened their eyes, looking at the swaddled baby in disbelief.

"Yes, this is our little princess, here to inspect the people's conditions!" Xiaoyue's eyes twinkled as she quickly said.

"Heaven! Quickly, kneel!" The people, who had never seen someone of such high status, immediately knelt down.

"Ah, poor people. Uncle, take good care of them. Win the hearts of the people, win the world!" Baby Ruo Xi looked at her uncle and made cooing sounds.

"The little princess is saying that everyone should get up and follow her to stay at the foot of the mountain!" Xiaoyue said.

"Good, good, we'll listen to the little princess. The military officers will surely obey the little princess." The people agreed.

"Yes, they all have to listen to the little princess." Xiao Yin looked at the little girl in Auntie Jin's arms and smiled.

Baby Ruo Xi wriggled to make herself more comfortable in Auntie Jin's arms, accepting this interpretation happily.

"Hmph, if those people at the border are not good, I will deal with them." Baby Ruo Xi thought.

Those who oppress the people will not have a good end!

Although the people were still afraid, they were led by Yuan Hui and others. Seeing these grand lords with their dignified demeanor, their courage grew.

There were several dozen barracks at the foot of the mountain, and families or clans were assigned to different ones.

Though there was some chaos and fighting, with Yuan Hui's intimidation and persuasion, within an hour, everyone was settled.

The barracks had kitchens where meals could be prepared.

The women busied themselves cooking, while Auntie Jin handed the little princess to the princess and went to help the women prepare the meal.

"Don't eat too much even if you're hungry; it should be gradual," Auntie Jin advised everyone.

Yuan Hui personally served the food, and even though the people were starving, they did not dare to snatch any.

This man, who looked like he had fought countless battles, exuded an intimidating aura.

"Tell us about the situation at the border," Xiao Yin sat down, picked up his bowl and chopsticks, and said.

"Your Majesty..." Yuan Hui, seeing Xiao Yin eating the same food as the people, started to speak but was silenced by Xiao Yin's glance, swallowing the rest of his words.

He chuckled to himself.

Indeed, this young man, who was once disliked by the emperor and stationed at the Western Border for years, lived and ate with the soldiers. Sometimes, during intense battles, they would subsist on hard bread and dirty river water for a month.

What hardships has this emperor not endured!

If not for those hardships, he would not have been able to eliminate the princes and royal descendants who used the people as shields and fought each other during the chaos in the Imperial City.

For their own selfish desires and the struggle for imperial power, they disregarded the lives of the people. If such a person were to ascend the throne, Xiao Yin couldn't imagine how much suffering the people would endure.

So, he held his long sword and charged into the palace.

Of course, he did not personally kill any of the princes; it was they who slaughtered each other in their mutual bloodlust.

By the time he reached the Hall of Eternal Life, his father, the emperor who had never truly loved him, had already taken his own life on that throne.

The world accused him of fratricide and patricide, yet all he had done was walk from outside the city walls to stand before his father.

But these matters, he never explained, nor did he dwell on them.

For three years, he relied on his reputation as a god of slaughter to intimidate those within and without the court who harbored restless ambitions.

In the end, he stabilized the empire, and everything fell into order.

However, it was only now that he discovered the suffering of the border people.

Xiao Yin stuffed food into his mouth, feeling somewhat guilty.

"Alas, for many years, the emperor in the capital has changed, but no one has cared about the hardships of us border people. The soldiers say that the emperor does not provide them with pay, so they joined the army to protect us, which means we must provide for their needs, and thus they come to our village to take what they need!"