Ning Chen rode hard to the palace.

The Xuan Emperor was in the Hall of Cultivated Heart, worrying over Qingzhou.

A young eunuch tiptoed in and knelt. "Your Majesty, the Prince Who Holds the Realm requests an audience!"

The Xuan Emperor paused. "At this hour? What's the brat doing here? Send him in."

"Yes!"

The young eunuch hadn't been gone long before Ning Chen walked in.

"Your child greets Father Emperor!"

The Xuan Emperor smiled faintly. "You have business with this emperor?"

"Father Emperor, your child has thought of a way to help the Qingzhou refugees."

The Xuan Emperor's eyes lit up. "Tell me, quickly."

"Father Emperor, your child wants to move the Qingzhou refugees to Xuanwu City and release some of the Xiliang men... That way we show Father Emperor's benevolence and help the Qingzhou refugees at the same time."

The Xuan Emperor thought for a moment, then smiled and beckoned. "Come here to this emperor."

Ning Chen came and stood in front of the Xuan Emperor, all good behavior.

The Xuan Emperor smiled and rapped him on the head. "How does that little head of yours work? You always come up with a good way to take this emperor's worries off his hands."

Ning Chen smiled. "Father Emperor, this idea wasn't your child's. It was Yudie's."

The Xuan Emperor paused, then nodded slightly. "That girl is as bright as she is pretty. Huai'an often praises this Yudie when she comes to the palace... Brat, you're a lucky man!"

"Your child thanks Father Emperor for the praise on Yudie's behalf!"

The Xuan Emperor laughed heartily. "This emperor will issue the decree at once, ordering the prefectures and counties along the way to escort the Qingzhou refugees to Xuanwu City."

"Father Emperor, your child would like to go to Qingzhou."

The Xuan Emperor frowned and thought it over. "No. It won't stop snowing in Qingzhou, and houses are collapsing under it. It's much too dangerous."

Ning Chen said, "Father Emperor, your child wants to get to the bottom of Shen Min's case... Shen Min was once Minister of Rites... Your…