The official was so enraged that he trembled all over, "Don’t you feel ashamed saying these words?"

"Ashamed? Why should I feel ashamed? Isn’t it your responsibility and duty to provide disaster relief? When did it become the responsibility of us common people?"

"Are you common people? Your Holy Water Manor encompasses the Four Countries, with plenty of Silver and food, you—"

Before they could finish speaking, Shui Yixuan laughed, "So what? So we deserve to be taken advantage of? Every year, we pay so much in tax silver and tax grain, where does it go? We pay what we should, and what we earn is rightfully ours. The tax burden is heavy, and we have to support people too. Thousands follow our Holy Water for sustenance. Should I neglect my own family and take care of outsiders? Moreover, if the sky falls, it’s up to you to hold it up, because what you eat, drink, and use all comes from our tax payments. Whether the national treasury has money, whether it’s empty or not, does it have anything to do with me?"

The Shui Clan has grown stronger, daring to challenge the Emperor, thanks to three generations of effort. The Shui Yuntian Doctor is unmatched in poisons, Shui Wuhen’s martial arts are superb, possibly the next Martial Arts Dominator. Shui Yixuan has surpassed them all, with business flourishing across the Four Countries. Now the Holy Dynasty implores them to stay rooted here, it’s not their desire to stay. If this place doesn’t retain us, others will. Should they fear the mere Holy Dynasty?

Moreover, the current Holy Dynasty is like fish on a chopping board, ready to be carved at will. These officials dare question him here?

"Hence, not only do we not feel ashamed, but we also feel gratified!"

"You, you all," the Prime Minister was so furious he almost spat blood, nearby officials quickly supported him, with a blackened face, they asked Shui Yixuan, "Why say such things?"

"Simply put, one jin of rations can be exchanged for three jin of bran. This means, rations originally able to save one person, can now save three."

The official was enraged, "But bran is for animals, not people!"

Shui Yixuan smirked coldly, looking at them with disdain, "People? Are the disaster victims even considered people now?"

"Don’t look at me so aggressively, I’m not insulting them nor lacking conscience. I just ask you, can those on the verge of starvation still be called people?"

"To put it bluntly, they’re like animals. As long as they can live, what’s wrong with bran or fodder? That’s good stuff. Even roots, bark, and dirt can be eaten. You officials, scholars, you only stay in these grand mansions, holding sage books, doing theoretical work. Have you seen vast plains where all roots and bark are eaten away? I walked out from disaster areas, even participated in multiple relief efforts, among all present, who has done more than me?"

"Not having been to disaster areas, you naturally do not know how pitiful those commoners have become. I’ve understood from this, no matter how much relief grain the court allocates, it’s never enough. If we don’t find a way to adapt, you’ll see not victims, but bones in disaster areas, bones!"

Shui Yixuan’s words rendered the officials silent, none dared suggest if relief funds and grain weren’t sufficient, they could request more from the court!

None of them dared to say it, not even the Emperor could utter it, for the way the national treasury is depleted is clear only to those in high positions.

Even the daily meals of royal relatives are continuously reduced, so, how can you commoners ask for white rice or flour?

The Old Prime Minister harbored a breath, always wanting to vindicate the court somewhat.

"Even though the treasury is already an empty shell, the court has still issued relief grain funds!"

Shui Yixuan took a deep breath, laughed, "Have you seen their ledgers? Do you know that these various officials are embezzling these grain funds!"

The Old Prime Minister, having spent a lifetime in office, understood these matters as commonplace, he even dared say it before the Old Emperor.

"Saving the people starts with saving officials, if officials can’t survive, how can the people be saved? This issue, not only do I see clearly, everyone present is well aware!"

Even if Shui Yixuan found their words absurd, he couldn’t deny this Old Prime Minister truly sees through things profoundly, daring to say these things in front of the Emperor proves the Old Emperor understands too. People are inherently divided into hierarchies, for those at the lowest level, does it matter what they eat as long as they survive?