Chen Shuyi was thinking about going to another farm to pick apricots tomorrow, so she went to bed early. Zhao Heng didn't dare to eat too much at night because he had made a fuss during the day, so he just hugged his beloved wife to sleep.

Late at night, both were awakened by a bolt of thunder, followed by the sound of heavy rain.

Chen Shuyi opened his eyes in a daze, and saw a pitch-black darkness, with occasional flashes of lightning in the rain.

"Is it raining?"

"Well, go to sleep. It rains heavily at this time every summer." Zhao Heng didn't fall asleep easily after waking up. When he was the crown prince, he had dealt with many memorials on disaster relief. He just hoped that the levees would be stable this summer so that the people could spend the summer in peace.

The next morning, it was raining heavily and the sky was gloomy. Shen Shuyi woke up and saw that Zhao Heng was still by her side, but the man next to her had already woken up.

She smiled and said, "It's rare that you haven't gotten up yet at this hour."

Zhao Heng held her in his arms, his face pressed against hers, "It's a pity that I couldn't go to the other farm with you to pick apricots today."

"It's a pity. It's raining so hard that a lot of apricots will probably fall down."

"But..." Shen Shuyi hugged his neck, snuggled into his arms and smiled, "Compared to eating apricots, I, I want to..."

The sweet breath was right in front of him, Zhao Heng kissed his black hair, "You can talk nonsense, but don't cry later."

Shen Shuyi kissed his Adam's apple, her beautiful eyes blinking and acting coquettishly, "Brother Yan Zhi..."

Her eyes were bright, and she was filled with Zhao Heng's handsome face.

Zhao Heng bit her lips lightly, then hugged her waist and bit the red lips in front of him...

Shen Shuyi hugged his lowered head and cried out, "Gentle..."

…

…

It rained heavily for several days. Shen Shuyi watched Zhao Heng become more and more solemn day by day, so he walked up to him and asked, "Is Yan Zhi worried about a flood?"

"Well, this morning there was an urgent report in Chang'an, saying that Qingzhou Prefecture was suffering from severe flooding. The river burst its banks and converged into the city, and many people were displaced."

Shen Shuyi frowned when he heard this, "Your Majesty, have you sent people to provide disaster relief?"

"The ministers who defected to the Queen's side recommended Zhao Qiyu to go to Qingzhou Prefecture to provide disaster relief." Zhao Heng frowned, "He has no experience in disaster relief, and the ministers he brought with him are also corrupt officials."

"Then aren't you afraid that the emperor will punish him for his failure in curing the disaster?" Shen Shuyi said coldly, "It will only make the people in the disaster area suffer."

Zhao Heng stood with his hands behind his back, "Zhao Qiyu wants to use this disaster relief to build up a good reputation so that he can become the crown prince smoothly."

"I cannot leave the safety of the people to such a short-sighted villain."

Shen Shuyi guessed, "You want to ask for permission to go to provide disaster relief?"

"Well, Shuyi, I want to go to the palace and ask for orders now."

"My staff suggested that I wait half a month and wait until Zhao Qiyu fails to cure the disaster before asking for permission to save the situation...but I refused."

Shen Shuyi held his hand, “I support you, but you must come back safely.”

Zhao Heng looked at her deeply and said, "I promise you."

On the same day, Zhao Heng contacted the ministers who supported him and detained Zhao Qiyu in Chang'an before he set off.

The people under Zhao Qiyu were not clean, and both the small and big officials were greedy. Zhao Heng had not originally intended to deal with this group of people so quickly, but he had to launch a counterattack plan in the face of emergency.

In the court, the emperor was furious and the throne room suddenly fell silent.

Emperor Zhao Yin slammed the memorial heavily on the palace floor, "Great! They are all my good subjects!"

His face was livid, and he pointed at Li Yong, the Minister of Revenue, who was kneeling in the hall, and said, "The people of Qingzhou Prefecture are displaced, and you are just thinking about lining your own pockets!"

Li Yong's legitimate daughter Li Yaer is about to marry the fourth prince Zhao Qiyu as his principal wife. This time he and Zhao Qiyu teamed up to provide disaster relief to Qingzhou Prefecture, but he did not expect that evidence of his past corruption was discovered before he even left Chang'an City.

He was trembling all over, kneeling on the ground with his forehead touching the cold floor tiles, not daring to look up. Behind him were several officials kneeling, all of whom were disaster relief workers recommended by Zhao Qiyu.

Zhao Qiyu, who was still standing, couldn't help but clench his fists. He didn't expect such a thing to happen at this critical moment.

At this time, the Minister of Justice stepped out, holding an account book in his hands, "I have found out that Li Yong and others took advantage of the flood in Jiangnan last year to embezzle 200,000 taels of disaster relief silver!"

“Here’s the evidence!”

The emperor took the account book and the more he looked at it, the rage in his eyes grew. He suddenly threw the account book at Zhao Qiyu.

"This is the person you recommended?!"

"Father, please calm down! I...I really don't know..." Zhao Qiyu knelt down.

"It must be these treacherous villains who deceived their superiors and subordinates..."

"You don't know?" The emperor sneered. "As the governor-general who went to Qingzhou Prefecture to provide disaster relief, what crime should you be punished for not checking the background of an official before recommending him?!"

The atmosphere in the hall was stagnant. Zhao Heng stood in the hall, watching everything calmly.

Prime Minister Liu Fu stepped out and said, "Your Majesty, the most urgent task is to select new disaster relief personnel. The disaster in Qingzhou Prefecture cannot be delayed."

The emperor took a deep breath and tried to suppress his anger. "My dear ministers, do you have any suitable candidates?"

Wang Mian, the Minister of Works, said, "Your Majesty, five years ago, when the Yellow River burst its banks, it was His Royal Highness Prince Su who presided over the disaster relief work, and the results were remarkable. I believe that Prince Su has extensive experience in disaster relief and can take on this important task."

Another minister stepped forward and said, "The drainage canal built by Prince Su in Jiangnan is still benefiting the people today. He is the right person to provide disaster relief this time!"

Zhao Qiyu suddenly looked up, a sinister look flashed in his eyes. He couldn't give the credit for disaster relief to others, especially Zhao Heng!

"Father, my brother..."

"That's enough!" The emperor was so angry that his chest heaved violently. He suddenly grabbed the paperweight on the desk and was about to smash it. "The person you recommended almost caused a disaster. How can you still have the face to speak?"

"Go to the clan house and receive your punishment!"

"Prince Su." Zhao Yin looked at Zhao Heng, who had a calm expression.

"Are you willing to go to Qingzhou Prefecture to provide disaster relief?"

Zhao Heng took a step forward, and the cloud patterns embroidered on his black python robe appeared and disappeared with his movements, and his voice was as steady as a rock.

"Your son is willing to follow your orders and go to Qingzhou Prefecture."

The emperor looked at Zhao Heng's face, which was somewhat similar to the late queen, and a complex look flashed in his eyes.

"The flood in Qingzhou Prefecture is worse than five years ago. Are you sure?"

"I dare not say that I am completely sure, but I will do my best to save the people from the dire situation."

"Okay!" The emperor nodded. "I appoint you as the imperial envoy to handle all matters related to disaster relief in Qingzhou. The Ministry of Revenue will allocate 500,000 taels of silver and select the troops to set off tomorrow!"

"If you can properly resettle the victims and successfully control the disaster... I will definitely reward you for your merits!"

"Your son obeys your order."

After adjourning the court, Zhao Heng was stopped by Zhao Qiyu as soon as he walked out of the hall.

"You are so cunning, my brother!" Zhao Qiyu lowered his voice, his eyes full of resentment, "Do you think you can regain our father's favor this way?!"

Zhao Heng's face was calm, "Fourth brother, you are worrying too much. I am going to provide disaster relief only for the innocent people who have been affected by the disaster."

"Oh, you are just pretending." Zhao Qiyu sneered, "Qingzhou Prefecture is a long way away, my brother, please be careful."

…