Outside Duke Dingguo Manor.

A carriage and over a dozen Imperial Guards were waiting.

Seeing this, Gao Yang immediately got into the carriage with Lüluo, but was taken aback when he saw Shangguan Wan'er's exquisite face.

"Why is Lord Shangguan here?"

Shangguan Wan'er sat upright, her face cold. "Her Majesty has decreed that I accompany you to Linjiang City."

Gao Yang thought for a moment and understood.

He sat down confidently and nodded, "Indeed, with the lives of an entire city at stake, there's no room for error."

Shangguan Wan'er was a bit surprised, her beautiful eyes falling on Gao Yang.

She hadn't expected Gao Yang to so quickly grasp why Wu Zhao had sent her along.

"Young Master Gao is indeed clever, no wonder Her Majesty values you so much," Shangguan Wan'er said slowly.

"Values me? Why?"

"It seems Her Majesty's evaluation isn't just about me. If I'm not mistaken, there's also Top Scholar Cui."

At these words, Shangguan Wan'er's expression changed dramatically.

She instinctively asked, "How do you know?"

Seeing Shangguan Wan'er's reaction, Gao Yang understood everything.

He calmly asked, "How much authority do I have on this trip?"

Shangguan Wan'er replied solemnly, "As Investigating Censor, you are to inspect the realm on behalf of Her Majesty, with the power of life and death. In Linjiang City, from the County Magistrate to the common people, you have full command!"

"Including you?"

Shangguan Wan'er hesitated for a moment, then nodded.

According to the edict, unless Gao Yang went too far, she had to follow his lead.

"Lord Shangguan, look at the legs," Gao Yang suddenly said.

At these words, Shangguan Wan'er's face changed drastically, and the temperature inside the carriage seemed to drop by eight degrees.

"Young Master Gao, aren't your words a bit presumptuous?"

Gao Yang rubbed his nose, confirming his suspicions.

Shangguan Wan'er held the Imperial Sword from Wu Zhao, but as long as he was in Linjiang City, he was the boss.

This matter would be easier to handle.

A group of grain merchants profiting from the national disaster, raising grain prices excessively.

His eyes showed a hint of coldness.

Lüluo felt the atmosphere in the carriage, her face pale, and cautiously turned her two straight, slender legs towards Gao Yang.

"Young Master, would you like to make do with looking at your servant's legs first?"

The few of them fell silent.

The carriage soon left Chang'an City. After glancing a few more times at Lüluo's beautiful legs, Gao Yang lifted the carriage curtain and gazed at the distant, towering Chang'an City.

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"..."

Two days later.

Linjiang City.

County Magistrate Du Jiang stood at the county office entrance with a group of officials.

"When will the Censor from the court arrive?" Du Jiang asked solemnly.

Beside him, a bearded advisor looked into the distance and said, "County Magistrate Du, don't worry. The Censor should be arriving soon."

"Grain prices are soaring. The Four Great Grain Merchants—Qian, Zhao, Han, and Lin—are each more cunning than the last, all pretending to comply while defying orders. Grain prices have risen from forty wen per dou to one hundred wen per dou, an increase of sixty wen. The people can no longer afford it. How can I not be anxious?"

As Du Jiang spoke, his eyes couldn't hide his exhaustion.

In recent days, he had exhausted all means, but even opening the granaries hadn't stopped the relentless rise in grain prices!

He was nearly in despair.

Merchants, driven by profit, wouldn't miss the chance to make a fortune during the continuous torrential rains and disasters in Linjiang City.

Now, he could only pin his hopes on the Censor sent by the court.

Otherwise, the tens of thousands of people in Linjiang City might face starvation!

"Lord Du, someone is coming from afar."

Suddenly, the advisor's voice rang out.

Du Jiang looked up to see, at the end of the road, a carriage slowly approaching, surrounded by dozens of armored soldiers on horseback.

When the carriage stopped, Gao Yang lifted the curtain, stepped down, and took a deep breath of fresh air.

"Finally here!"

Gao Yang's gaze fell on Du Jiang, who appeared to be in his forties, wearing a blue robe, his eyes bloodshot from the recent busyness.

Beside him, Shangguan Wan'er held the Imperial Edict and said coldly, "Lord Du, this is the Investigating Censor appointed by the Empress, responsible for the disaster in Linjiang City. From this moment on, all affairs in Linjiang City are under Young Master Gao's control!"

Du Jiang took the Imperial Edict, confirmed its authenticity, and was shocked.

Gao Yang, so young, was responsible for the lives of tens of thousands in Linjiang City. Was this a joke?

But with the edict in hand, even if Du Jiang was dissatisfied, he could only endure it.

"Your humble servant, Du Jiang, County Magistrate of Linjiang, greets Young Master Gao."

Du Jiang bowed respectfully, unable to hide the fatigue on his face.

"Lord Du, no need for formalities."

Gao Yang waved his hand with a smile and asked directly, "I've been delayed on the road for two days. What's the current situation in Linjiang City?"

Du Jiang felt slightly reassured. At least Gao Yang's attitude was decent upon arriving in Linjiang City.

"Please, Young Master Gao, come inside." Du Jiang gestured for Gao Yang to enter the county office.

As they walked, he explained, "In recent days, the torrential rains have just stopped. Linjiang City, being near the river, is prone to heavy rainfall. This year's harvest was poor due to the rains."

"In Linjiang City, the major grain merchants have seized the opportunity to hoard grain, causing prices to skyrocket from forty wen per dou to one hundred wen per dou in just ten days. If I hadn't ordered the granaries opened, prices would have soared even higher."

"Additionally, the heavy rains have destroyed farmland outside the city, leaving many homeless. A large number of refugees have entered Linjiang City, urgently needing resettlement, or there could be unrest..."

Hearing this, Shangguan Wan'er furrowed her brows and couldn't help but look at Gao Yang.

The situation in Linjiang City was far more severe than the memorials had indicated. Not only did they need to quickly lower grain prices, but they also had to properly resettle the disaster victims. It was no easy task!

"Young Master Gao, how should we resolve this situation?" Du Jiang asked.

Gao Yang remained expressionless, listening quietly. Only when Du Jiang spoke did he smile and say, "This situation isn't difficult to resolve."

At these words.

Not only was Shangguan Wan'er shocked, but Du Jiang was also astonished.

"Please, Censor Gao, enlighten us. On behalf of the hundred thousand people of Linjiang City, I thank you."

Du Jiang bowed respectfully.

This showed that Du Jiang was truly a parent official devoted to the people!

Gao Yang looked at the emaciated refugees outside the county office and said slowly, "First, close the Linjiang City granaries."

At these words.

Shangguan Wan'er was stunned.

Du Jiang was bewildered, then angrily said, "Young Master Gao, are you joking with me?"

"Even with the granaries open, grain prices in Linjiang City are hard to control. Closing them would surely cause prices to exceed one hundred wen per dou instantly!"

"At such exorbitant prices, how could the people afford grain?"

Du Jiang felt that Gao Yang must be mad. What a ridiculous idea.

Shangguan Wan'er was also puzzled but remained silent.

Wu Zhao had instructed that all affairs in Linjiang City be left to Gao Yang, and she was not to interfere unless absolutely necessary.

Gao Yang's expression was calm as he said, "In recent years, Great Qian has faced either drought or continuous rain, and our grain harvests have been poor."

"How much reserve grain is left in Linjiang City's granaries? Enough to feed the city's hundred thousand people for five days?"

At these words, Du Jiang was momentarily stunned.

"No... not enough. But if we close the granaries, grain prices in Linjiang City will surely soar again, making it even harder for the people to afford grain."

"Young Master Gao, I cannot agree with your proposal."

Gao Yang looked directly at Du Jiang. "Even with the granaries open, at one hundred wen per dou, how many people do you think can afford it, Lord Du?"

Du Jiang's expression changed dramatically.

Before he could speak, Gao Yang continued, "And I'm not explaining to you; I'm ordering you!"

"You have no choice!"

These words were domineering and left no room for doubt.

Du Jiang clenched his fists, but with the Imperial Edict in Gao Yang's hand, if he dared defy orders, Gao Yang could even execute him!

"I will immediately order the closure of Linjiang City's granaries and post a proclamation."

"But Young Master Gao, think carefully. If grain prices in the city soar uncontrollably, the responsibility..."

Du Jiang's voice carried a hint of threat, reminding Gao Yang to consider the consequences.

Gao Yang stood with his hands behind his back and said calmly, "If grain prices in Linjiang City don't drop within seven days, I will bear all the consequences!"

"Even if it costs me my life!"