Chen Ye went to the back of the carriage and took out the bundled stall equipment.

He set up a long table, erected a long canopy for shade, and placed three small stools.

Then, he and Jiang Zhi placed several large pots on the table one by one. They also brought out a water vat, large bowls, and hundreds of pairs of chopsticks.

During this time, the Black Wolf King led his pack of wolves and walked near the table.

They found a comfortable, shady spot and lay down, but their deep, dark wolf eyes never stopped watching the nearby refugees.

Shen Ningning called Jiang Zhi to her side and told her what to shout later.

After listening, Jiang Zhi scratched her head in confusion. "Ningning, you’re doing a good deed, but what does this have to do with the case?"

"It does have a connection," the little girl said firmly. "The mad scholar said that true rulers actually pay attention to all news in secret."

"If one person speaks out, their voice is small, and even if he hears it, he won’t care. But if many people say it, he will have no choice but to listen carefully."

"I need the ruler to hear about the Wu family’s matter. Only then will those powerful and noble figures not dare to conclude this case hastily."

Jiang Zhi’s heart skipped a beat. "The ruler you’re talking about... couldn’t be..."

The Emperor?!

Shen Ningning nodded slightly.

In an instant, Jiang Zhi understood. She immediately said, "I know what to do."

The sun had baked Shen Ningning’s fair, tender face to a rosy red, but her gaze was surprisingly resilient.

’My brother is coming back soon. What I have to do is make this incident a massive, well-known sensation before he returns!’

As the tables were set up and the aroma of food wafted out, the group of refugees huddled against the city wall was stunned.

They stopped their wailing and crying, staring blankly in Shen Ningning’s direction.

Until Jiang Zhi placed her hands on her hips, took a deep breath, and gathered her internal energy.

Then she abruptly opened her mouth and bellowed, "The kind-hearted Wu family of Xitai Village originally planned to use their grain to help you starving refugees!"

"Unfortunately, the three members of the Wu family died tragically at the hands of villains! We can only fulfill their last wish so they may rest in peace."

"All the food is free! Eat until you’re full!"

At first, the refugees just watched, frightened and suspicious.

’When has a noble’s carriage ever come by and not just tossed a few pieces of trash-like food before leaving?’

Even if it was covered in dust and rolled in the mud, they would fight until they were bloodied and bruised just for a mouthful.

In the eyes of the nobles, they had long ceased to be human.

’When had such a kind family ever used clean food to help them?’

Shen Ningning sat calmly on a stool, fanning herself as she watched the refugees.

Seeing that they didn’t dare to move, the little girl said to Jiang Zhi, "Shout it again."

So Jiang Zhi projected her voice even louder and repeated what she had just said.

That wasn’t enough. She picked up a large bowl and immediately filled it with food for herself.

Greasy braised pork, with clear texture, a perfect balance of fat and lean, melted in your mouth!

Stir-fried bok choy and mushrooms, with fresh colors and vibrant ingredients!

And shredded beef with chili peppers, each strand distinct, with more meat than peppers!

Stir-fried diced chicken with pickled greens, refreshing and mouth-watering, absolutely delicious! 𝕗𝐫𝐞𝕖𝕨𝐞𝗯𝚗𝕠𝘃𝐞𝚕.𝐜𝗼𝚖

In the large pot next to it, the spinach and egg drop soup was overflowing with aroma. The golden egg and emerald spinach complemented each other perfectly, making one’s mouth water.

Jiang Zhi began to wolf it down right in front of them.

She hadn’t eaten breakfast that morning, so she was hungry now and eating with gusto.

Finally, one of the refugees couldn’t hold back any longer. He was the first to run over and cautiously accept a meal.

Chen Ye immediately put two scoops of rice in his large bowl, covered it with dishes, and even added some delicious ice water!

Watching the refugee walk away with his bowl, Shen Ningning’s soft voice piped up, "If the food isn’t enough, come back for more. Eat until you’re full."

The refugee looked at Shen Ningning, overwhelmed by the unexpected favor.

’A young lady as fair-skinned, beautiful, and vibrant as her would normally never give them a second glance.’

But this young lady before him, though young and tender, had not a trace of contempt in her eyes.

It was as if she simply wanted them to have a full meal.

The refugee immediately set his bowl down, knelt on the ground, and kowtowed heavily three times to Shen Ningning. Only then did he pick up the bowl and desperately shove the food into his mouth.

"It’s delicious! So delicious!" he shouted, ecstatic.

The rest of the refugees could no longer resist and rushed forward like a crazed mob.

They had intended to snatch the food wildly, but upon seeing the chilling gazes of the wolf pack, they immediately and obediently formed a line.

The guards on the city wall watched, dumbfounded.

The aroma seemed to drift right under their noses, stirring the worms of gluttony in their stomachs. The bellies of many guards rumbled.

The Guard Commander cursed, "Useless! Keep a close watch. I’m going to report the situation to Shangguan."

Despite his words, he was muttering to himself in puzzlement.

’Someone is actually giving food specifically to the refugees? How strange.’

’These refugees have worthless lives. Their deaths are no loss. Who would care if they live or die?’

All the refugees received food. They ate standing or squatting; even those with missing hands knelt on the ground to lick their bowls clean.

Chen Ye saw this and brought two large, plump buns with thin skins and thick fillings over, placing them in the man’s bowl.

The man immediately broke into an ingratiating smile. "Thank you, sir! Thank you, sir!"

Chen Ye’s expression was incredibly complicated.

’If not for the heartless natural disasters and the court’s difficulties, how could these perfectly fine people have ended up in such a destitute state?’

Just then, not far away, a child was holding a bowl but not eating.

He knelt beside a woman. "Mother, there’s food. I got some food! Mother, eat..."

Shen Ningning tilted her head when she saw this and walked over, still fanning herself with her round fan.

As if by magic, she produced one of the red fruits, squatted down, and offered it to the little boy.

The child looked even younger than her, only a little over two, and was small and scrawny.

"Thank you..." the little boy said.

But even after taking the Red Fruit, he didn’t eat it. Instead, he held it to the woman’s lips. "Mother, a big sister gave me something to eat. Hurry and open your eyes to see."

The woman didn’t move at all.

Shen Ningning looked at the boy’s mother.

The woman had been dead for some time. Her open eyes were cloudy gray, her lips were cracked, and her body was so thin there wasn’t a patch of healthy skin on her.

Shen Ningning took out her own handkerchief and gently covered the woman’s face.

"Little brother, your mother has fallen asleep. You should eat first," she comforted the little boy.

Hearing this, the little boy finally began to eat. He didn’t even use chopsticks, just grabbed the food with his hands.

He was simply too starved.

Before, when food was scarce, he had always let his mother eat first. Now, he could finally have a full meal.

"Big sister, you’re so nice for giving me so much food!" The little boy smiled happily.

Shen Ningning gave a sad little smile. "It’s not me who’s nice, it’s the people of the Wu family. All this food belonged to them."

"Will they bring us more food in the future?"

"They won’t," Shen Ningning said, shaking her head. "They’re dead. There was a big brother who died by a villain’s blade, and his parents died in a raging fire."

When the little boy heard this, he burst into tears.

He cried out, "Those villains should die! Why do they bully good people?"

Shen Ningning murmured, "Yes, why? Is it because we’re easy to bully?"

The little boy cried his heart out.

Jiang Zhi kept repeating her earlier words, and the refugees came to understand how the Wu family had died.

It’s unknown who started crying first, but soon, everyone was wiping away tears, until the sound of weeping shook the heavens.

They didn’t know Wu Zuchang’s family, but they mourned for them with genuine sorrow, perhaps because they were reminded of themselves.

’This is the way of the world, where lives are as worthless as weeds. But... should it be this way?’

That very night, the Emperor learned of the strange event that had occurred outside the city.