One More Step

So their only days when they were kind of under big problem was when the snowstorm came and after that ice storm. Luckily the ice was over the snow so it was easier to clean it up, but it took them the whole day and a bunch of energy to do that and to be able to feed the animals.

When they arrived at the barn they saw the hungry eyes and this time they added more fodder.

Actually, they bought a lot of dried grass bales and from Chief Jafar and they already had a big amount of the wheat stalks that they used to warm the floor and leave the animals clean.

The days passed but winter seemed never to stop. The girls and everyone in the foreigner village had enough food and not a big worry even if the winter last lots longer. So they just enjoyed their vacations and family life.

But in city, the first signs of people not having enough food started appearing. Now more and more people started coming to the feeding points where they would be given porridge. And people started worrying as the warehouses started selling the stuff from last year and year before that they have stored as the most food was already finished up.

''Lord Jong, how long can we feed the people now?'' Lord Jiang was worried. His clan had not much but after seeing the hungry people they all together decided unanimously to give as much they could from their storages, but even his storages started getting thin, and he had to think about their own safety.

''Let's start trouble for those people. It is the right time.'' He smirked evilly while Lord Jiang just shook his head. What kind of idea does he have now?

The next morning he came to feed people as usually but few people made trouble as they were hungry and suddenly they made a fire in hungry people's hearts and attacked the team from Lord Jong. On the end, he was taken quickly back to his place all beaten up and bloody and the food stopped altogether.

Emperor started yelling and cursing again in the main hall. ''Wait, you want to say I hot that stupid Lord Jong for nothing the other time? He was feeding people this whole time and almost ruined his own family while only a few families helped him? Who is there to feed people?''

He looked at ministers that started averting their eyes from his icy expressions.

''Do you want to say that there is absolutely no one to feed the people by this cold? Why? Lord Jiang why are you not there?'' He sarcastically stared at the mn that turned so thin that his robe literally fluttered on his body.

''Your highest please punish me. I was not able to buy more food. I sold all our properties to the nobles so I could gather enough money for the food, but now we have nothing else to sell. Please, Emperor, forgive this unworthy servant. '' He knocked his head heavily couple times and then fainted.

''What are you all looking for? Get the doctor here, now!'' He roared at the servants that shook by his every yell.

Soon the doctor came and shook his head. ''Lord Jiang seems to be malnourished for quite a while. Looking at his face it seems he had nothing to eat for a couple of days. Your Highness, what is going on? If he continues like this he won't survive another week.''

He shook his head as he pressed his acupressure points. Soon after that Lord Jiang woke up and with dizzy eyes bowed again and again towards Emperor asking for forgiveness.

Emperor just waved his hand and send him home and looked at his personal guard. ''Go find out what is going on in Jiang household. Come back as fast as you can.''

He just bowed and rushed out. While he was running around and gathering some basic information the Emperor started talking bout new plans on how to feed the people.

Not long after his guard came back and with rushed voice kneeled in front of the Emperor.

''Speak, what is going on that our Minister looks like that. What is actually going on?''

''Your highness, its big trouble! Lord Jiang really sold everything to help bu the food. But now his family is almost starving. By my information, he gave his part of the food to his grandchildren so they could have a full meal. But that is not the biggest trouble. One noble seeing that Lord Jiang has no more power or any backer came to his home and wanted to steal his daughters away. To save their chastity the family gave the last thing they had to the noble, their home and are now literally on streets.''

His breath was still rushed as he continued.

''But that noble didn't stop on that. After evicting them out of their own house he went again and wanted to take the girls again. The fight erupted and now noble is trying to kill the whole Jiang family. Your Highness this...''

Emperor became red from rage. He slowly and steadily looked at his servant. ''Bring me my sword. It seems everyone forgot why I could sit on this throne. My past name everyone forgot. I am still the King of Death and Emperor of this country.''

While he spoke the servant brought his sword and when he unsheathed it he rushed out the big hall out and jumped on the nearest horse. The wind, the snow, the ice couldn't melt his rage as he rode as fast as he could with more and more riders joining him.

Suddenly he saw Lord Jong standing all bloody in front of the noble with just a handful of soldiers and tried to save the Jiang family. One of the nobles soldiers thrust the sword towards Lord Jong and he was stabbed in his shoulder but still fought back, while the blood splashed on the floor over and over again.

With a roar, the Emperor jumped form the horse vigorously slicing the soldier in two halves and started cutting all those that came at him over and over again. Soon more people joined the fight and the nobles people were all slaughtered making the streets and snow turn bright red.

''You dare? Do you even who I am? I am...'' But then he stopped realizing who is in front of him.

''Oh, who are you to dare to swing your sword at my people. Are you one of the traitors? It seems I need to make some winter-spring cleaning in my country. This is unacceptable. My edict. The noble will be sliced into death while still alive and his head will be the first on the wall of shame. It seems I will need to build a big wall as everyone forgot who I am.'' He laughed coldly and turned around to rush to the side of Lord Jong and Lord Jiang.

The two men were barely alive so he ordered to send the palace doctors to their homes and the best medicine to heal their wounds.

Then he looked at the old Jiang's house and smiled coldly. It was nothing but a small estate as he was actually a very simple person. He shook his head and smiled at the Jiang family.

''I am sorry you all had such big trouble. Lord Jiang is a good man and I feel pain seeing him live like this. I will send people now and transfer all your belongings to the Chou estate. From today on you will rise in ranks and your new family name will be Chou. From our famous literary family that was exterminated by my crazy cousin many years ago. Please accept my apologies. Soon you will be able to live normally.''

He bowed deeply as everyone went on their knees and bowed in reverence. This matter ended, but soon Emperor's people raided house by house and found so much dirty laundry that the Emperor again took his sword and raged trough half of capital.

Soon after that, all those that gave their food for the goodness of people were rewarded and those that didn't were punished and some even killed. Lord Jiang not only got his new home, food and precious things from Emperor, even Dowager remembered them as the things they invented for this winter helped her with her cold. She rewarded them as well quite well and added a lot of small things for their daughter's dowries and even rising their ranks to the noble ladies, which is rare.

''We got small fries. I still feel angry. We didn't catch even one of those big rats. My work is still not done. I need to clean the government before I don't become too old to fight. I want to give Crown Prince a peaceful country filled with happy people that love him. Sigh...'' the Emperor sat there and sighed while playing chess with Lord Jong.

''The time is not ripe anyway. He needs to learn so many things, but he is on a good way for better. I am glad.'' He destroyed the Emperor's defense and ate half of his army...

''You! I am Emperor, you have to close your eyes and just accept my mistakes. Why are you always so hardheaded?'' Lamented Emperor while looking at the board.

''Because only I can do this and survive. Hehehhehe'' Lord Jong joked with him while putting his last stone down and killing him completely.

The two people bickered in Emperor's study room while Lord Jung sat there straight just a couple days after he was stabbed and played chess. The things about happenings in the city were hushed down and just people forgot by the end of the day. After all, they have to survive.