Zhu Su was not fully focused on his work since he should recover his health first. He had got the best therapy in this country, however it could not be maximized due to the strain of his overwork. But he could no longer bear the hurt in the end, and was forced to have total rest and left everything to his subordinates, by then he could get the expected result for his treatment.
Just when he almost recovered, that news spread to his ear.
"Salute to Your Highness, salute to Mr. Chen! There is an urgent problem occurring in the disaster area. Some Dao Priests as well as a strange physician provoke the people to hate you, Your Highness!"
"We all know that problem. Why do you report it again?" Being in Zhu Su's private room at that time, Chen Xinyi replied sharply.
"Things get worse, Sir. Besides distributing food, they also treat the sick with the help of that strange physician, and they attempt to heal many sick people. After that, they said that The Government did nothing, whereas not only did they distribute food, but they also healed the sick. They even asked whether the people still should respect the government..."
"I have diminished the tax collecting and all of us have even given a donation to them, then how come they still accuse us?"
"That's the problem, Your Highness... The people don't get the donation, and the tax collecting still continues."
"What?!?" Zhu Su soon got wrath. "So someone has corrupted the government's fund?!"
"It should be."
"Take all officials who do the tax collecting to face me! I want to interrogate them right now!"
It took only a few minutes for the polices to drag the officials into the presence of Zhu Su. Being forced to kneel down, the officials seemed unafraid, they just kneeled down with showing serious and rigid expression, and said in a servile manner, "Greetings to Your Highness. Is there something you want to ask from us?"
"I hear you have corrupted the donation and keep collecting the tax from the disaster area, is that true?"
"Absolutely not, Your Highness. We do as you order us."
Chen Xinyi's men shouted angrily. "How dare you lie?! All Kaifeng people have witnessed it!"
"They lie! They have received the donation! How dare they lie?!" An official growled angrily.
"Exactly! Your Highness, please make sure that the news is reliable! Otherwise, you will punish innocent people!"
"But if they have really received the donation, how can the provocateurs speak-ill of His Highness, and say that His Highness does nothing to them?!"
"They are provocateurs, of course they will distort the facts. It is they who must be arrested for vilifying His Majesty and slandering us!"
They did not show any trepidation, it made Zhu Su begin to have a slight doubt about the report from Chen Xinyi's men. "Is it... true?..."
"Your Highness, be careful! They are shrewd in using their tongues and expert in showing innocent faces. Don't let their deceit fool you!" Chen Xinyi's men warned.
"We are really innocent, Your Highness! We have no heart to deceive you in the slightest." The officials defended themselves.
"But..."
"Alright." Zhu Su raised his hand. All of them turned silent. "You may retire. This case is closed."
"So, we are proven to be innocent?" The officials widened their eyes.
"Yes. There is no strong evidence to ensnare you... so, you are innocent. Now, you may retire."
All officials prostrated themselves deeply and made their foreheads touch the ground. "Your grace is immeasurable!"
"Your Highness!..." Even after all officials went out, Chen Xinyi and his men still shouted in dissatisfaction as Zhu Su seemed not to believe in their report. "You should believe in our report, they are corrupts!..."
"You don't have any strong evidence instead of the eyewitnesses, you may not arrest them. If you keep arresting them, we will be labeled as an oppressive authority," Zhu Su replied with a grim face.
The polices were silent, faces were filled with disappointment and anger, as if they were forced to release the starving lions back to the village to eat the residents.
Zhu Su took a deep breath. "Whom he must deal with is the provocateurs." He gnashed his teeth, shouted furiously, "Last time I fell sick and thus couldn't investigate it thoroughly... but this time is different. I will investigate all this thoroughly, and I will make the vandals regret what they have done!"
Therefore, by assuming that his nearly recovered body had regained perfect vigor, Zhu Su went out of his palace and investigated Kaifeng people in blind haste.
***
Once again, Zhu Su visited the disaster area, and once again, he disguised as a commoner and only got accompanied by Wu Qi, Liu Ku, and Qu You. Beyond his expectation, that area had changed. People's expressions when they were walking did not appear miserable - they were very healthy and vigorous. Nobody moaned because of starving, they even could work normally, to farm or to sell goods or to do something else.
Zhu Su approached a farmer plowing on his farm. "You can plant in here again?"
The farmer turned his gaze at him, said cheerfully, "Yes! The soil has been fertile again! The flood disaster has been solved!"
"Really? How can it be solved so fast?!"
"This disaster will not be solved for sure if we still rely on the government. But because they are here, things become different!"
"They? Who are they and what have they done?"
"Geez! You don't recognize them? You must have come from another city, right? They have been very famous all around Kaifeng, only strangers know nothing about them!"
"Yeah... like you say, we come from Fengyang. So, can you tell me in more detail, what is actually going on here?"
"So here's the thing. A little while ago, a group of Dao Priests tamped down the Yellow River and distributed the food to the starving people." Zhu Su and the others nodded - they knew this part very well. "And they are so enthusiastic in helping people. Not only for one or two days, they kept giving help until everything turns normal again and we can work as usual. And another thing. Many people get sick due to the disaster, but a genius man can heal all of them, so nobody gets sick anymore."
"Many people get sick during the flood disaster? The residents are not just starving?"
"Many people get sick, Sir. But they have recovered."
Zhu Su and his men looked at each other.
"Where do the Dao Priests and the physician live?"
"There." The farmer pointed to a very large and luxurious mansion standing on a hill.
"Such a luxurious resident! Who build it?" Wu Qi asked.
"It is we, all villagers, who build it! It is our reward for them since they have helped us!" The farmer said proudly while puffing out his chest.
Once again, Zhu Su and his men looked at each other.
"We must go there," Zhu Su said briefly. His men nodded.