Doted By The Regent King
Chapter 153: On National Conditions

Chapter 153: Chapter 153: On National Conditions

A young girl who knows a little about crafts is quite impressive, considering her age, but it is not as if she is defying the heavens after all, since geniuses do exist.

However, for such a young girl, especially one from a peasant background, to predict that a place will be in chaos after a drought—now that is what people would call defying the heavens.

Shopkeeper Lin became somewhat interested and ordered Jin Xi to bring two more bowls of chilled mung bean soup. He asked her, "What do you mean by that?"

Wufu grabbed a large palm-leaf fan and fanned herself, saying, "Whenever there is a disaster, it’s always the common people who suffer. When they can’t get enough to eat and can’t survive, they naturally rebel. Just as you said, if the imperial court does nothing, and disaster relief is inadequate, then chaos will surely ensue. After all, everyone wants to live."

Shopkeeper Lin nodded his head.

"Compared to being promoted or getting rich, the common folk yearn more for a peaceful and prosperous life, one filled with flavor and zest, because that’s easier to achieve. But if there is a disaster and they can no longer live, what wouldn’t they do to survive?" Wufu sipped her tea and sighed.

Listining to her solemn words, Shopkeeper Lin couldn’t help but laugh lightly, "Young girl, you have such grave thoughts for your age, as if you have been through all the hardships of life."

Wufu smiled and did not speak.

She might not have witnessed the ancient disasters, but even if she hadn’t seen them, she had heard about them, right? Moreover, she had actually seen them.

In her previous life, she had experienced all sorts of calamities, both natural and man-made. Regardless of the type, survival is a human instinct. For the sake of survival, what wouldn’t one do? If death awaits either way, by fighting for survival, perhaps one might just win.

Not to mention the disaster-stricken people, even she herself, once in such a situation, would fight for survival.

However, she did not yet understand the government or the state of affairs in the Nanyue Kingdom, where she was. For the past two months, she lived as if she were just visiting for a few days. Now, she realized that she understood too little and that she had to learn more about it.

Otherwise, if something really happened, it would be difficult for her to respond adequately on the spot.

Wufu looked at Shopkeeper Lin and asked quietly, "Shopkeeper Lin, is the imperial court of our Nanyue Kingdom really inactive?"

Shopkeeper Lin’s expression became serious, and he glanced outside before speaking in an even lower voice, "The current emperor pursues immortality, has no interest in political affairs, and leads a life of extravagance. Just the construction of another palace alone has cost millions of taels. The princes have their own ambitions, and the factional strife within the imperial court is becoming more intense by the day, with few truly advocating for the people..."

Upon hearing this, Wufu deeply furrowed her brow. It seemed that this country was not in good shape.

Shopkeeper Lin picked up the mung bean soup and sipped it slowly, sighing, "In such a situation, even if there were disaster relief efforts, they are likely to be stripped away layer by layer. By the time it reaches the common people, there wouldn’t be much left."

It seems that wherever one goes, one encounters corrupt officials.

Wufu said, "With the imperial court sitting idly by, over time, there will surely be internal and external troubles, leading to tumultuous times."

Shopkeeper Lin was greatly alarmed, "Miss, watch your words."

Wufu, slightly embarrassed, fanned herself vigorously with the palm-leaf fan making a rustling sound.

"But you don’t need to worry. The Northwest is thousands of miles away from here. Even if there is chaos, it will not reach us." Shopkeeper Lin added, "It’s the common folk over there who will suffer. They are facing a drought and unrest, with bandits rampant... what a pity."

"They can only rely on their own luck!" Wufu said indifferently.

The well-being of the common people comes down to the state and the imperial court, and it is not something that small folks like them can influence. So, one can judge whether a country is doing well by looking at the lives of its common people.

As for her own life, it was time to start planning. In times of disaster, there will always be merchants who take advantage of the situation to profit from the calamity, and it seems she needs to store more food and daily necessities.