Chapter 72 73. Old Prime Minister

Gu Wenheng was just about to have a good talk with Jin Qianqian, as he felt that her idea was very dangerous.

Gu Yuantu came over with a bag in his hand. "Since you two are here, I'll give you this."

"What is this?" Jin Qianqian was a little curious.

Hong Daya looked guilty and said, "This is not a good thing. It is the grass roots that your fifth brother and I dug these two days. It can be used to replenish water and fill the stomach.

If you find it hard to swallow, just absorb the water.”

Jin Qianqian patted the bundle that had been tied to her back and said, "Fifth sister-in-law, it's not easy for you to find these things. Besides, my husband and I also took the opportunity to buy some food when we came to the city this time, so we won't starve for the time being.

We appreciate your kindness, but we don't know what will happen in the future, so you should prepare more for yourselves!"

"What can I do? I've taken such a big bamboo tube of water from you for nothing." Gu Yuantu stubbornly stuffed the bag into Gu Wenheng's hand.

Gu Wenheng stretched out his hand to block it back, "Alright, we are just brothers, so we have to be polite. Besides, the water is not for you, but for my nephew."

Jin Qianqian looked at Gu Leshun, who had lost weight again. His dark face and skinny body made him look like the little African refugees she had seen on TV before.

Jin Qianqian squatted down and took Gu Leshun's hand. "Does our little Leshun miss his uncle and aunt?"

Gu Leshun nodded, "I thought about it, but my parents said you guys were out for something, why did you take so long to come back?"

Jin Qianqian touched his head and said, "Aunt went to look for water and found a lot of water. Our little Leshun will have water to drink from now on."

"Really?" Gu Leshun's eyes, which seemed particularly large because of his thinness, stared at her with piercing eyes, "Then can my parents drink as much as they want, too?"

"Yes," Jin Qianqian imitated his previous behavior and nodded vigorously, "Then everyone can drink as much as they want."

Touching his bony hand, Jin Qianqian felt a pang of heartache. This child was only a few years old, but he had already experienced so many hardships.

Seeing the milk slices suddenly appear in his palm, Gu Leshun's first reaction was to clench his palm. He recognized this delicious candy and hadn't eaten it for quite a while.

"Thank you, auntie," Gu Leshun still remembered his parents' instructions that he should thank others first when they helped him.

Jin Qianqian touched his head lovingly, but didn't dare to give more.

&

In the prosperous and peaceful Shangjing, Hua Shunming sat on the throne and accepted congratulations from the officials. This was also his first birthday out of mourning. Looking at the officials kneeling on the ground, Hua Shunming clenched his palms and said lightly, "Stand up."

"Your Majesty, I have a report to make." The old Prime Minister Liu Donglai knelt down tremblingly.

"Old Prime Minister Liu, it's the emperor's birthday, so don't make yourself unhappy." General Xiao Liwei beside him said in a low voice.

"Old Prime Minister, if you have anything to say, please stand up and speak. You are already very old, so don't hurt your body by kneeling." Hua Shunming was willing to be more tolerant towards these old ministers, especially those who knew when to advance and when to retreat.

"Thank you, Your Majesty, but I am guilty."

No one expected that Liu Donglai was so short-sighted that he chose today to cause trouble.

"What crime has the old prime minister committed?" Hua Shunming squinted his eyes and looked at the people below, wanting to know what was going on.

“Your Majesty, the three provinces in the northeast have been experiencing drought for several years. The fields have not yielded any crops, and even daily water supply is not guaranteed. Many people cannot make a living there, and have come out together to escape the famine.

However, some people have concealed this news for their own selfish interests. Now there is widespread grief outside, and refugees are blocked outside the city walls. They are destroying your majesty's foundation and ignoring the lives of the people. They deserve to die!"

The entire court fell silent. Hua Shunming looked at everyone and asked, "Is what the old prime minister said true?"

“…”

"I'm asking you a question. Are you all mute?" Hua Shunming slapped the table and stood up. "Prime Minister Kuang, now tell me, is the old prime minister lying?"

Looking at Kuang Yujun, whom he had promoted, Hua Shunming's eyes were gleaming with anger. He didn't believe that the old prime minister would speak nonsense and lie on such an important day.

"This," Kuang Yijun turned his head to look at the other ministers, but unexpectedly, the other party turned their heads away.

"Is it difficult to answer my question?"

"Your Majesty, please allow me to report this!" Kuang Yijun gritted his teeth, "I also received a memorial from the three northeastern provinces before, but the memorial was not as serious as Prime Minister Liu said."

"Humph, not serious?" Liu Donglai stood up angrily, pointed at his nose and cursed, "Go to Daocheng and see, all the people are stopped there, I don't know how many people can hold on after so many days?

I know what you are thinking, but you are fighting for those few positions in the harem, and you are afraid that the emperor will delay the selection date again, which will affect your next generation's struggle for power and profit. You are selfish and unworthy of being a minister."

Hua Shunming looked at all the court officials kneeling on the ground with sharp eyes, and he had already made up his mind.

“What Prime Minister Liu said seems to be true. I never thought that you would put the people in danger just for a few concubines in the palace. Don’t you think you are worthy of the official positions you wear?

If you don't stand up for the people, what's the point of me keeping you around?"

"Your Majesty, please calm down," the same voice was heard in the court, which made Hua Shunming even more annoyed.

"Calm down? You dare to deceive your superiors and subordinates, are you afraid that I will be angry?" Hua Shunming pointed at the crowd below, "Besides these four words, what else can you say?

What else do you do in court every day besides singing praises and picking up trivial matters to perfunctorily appease me?"

"Lord Kuang Yi, it seems that I have let you be the Prime Minister and you feel that you are wasting your talent. Aren't all your calculations just to pave the way for your daughter who is about to enter the palace?"

"I dare not."

"No, you dare not. You rely on my trust and want to climb higher. I see that you are not doing your job as prime minister satisfactorily. You have only been the prime minister for a few days, but you are already so proud of yourself.

Then go to Taiyue Mansion and be a book editor. This time, we will have a new group of candidates for the talent show."

"Your Majesty, please think twice!"

"Your Majesty, please think twice!"

"Your Majesty, please think twice!"

Hua Shunmin, "..."

"It seems that our Prime Minister Kuang is really popular with everyone. They are actually coming to refute me for him. His words are more useful than mine. Do you want me to abdicate and let someone more capable take over?"

"I dare not!"

"I dare not!"

"I dare not!"

"Okay, very good," Hua Shunming directly called the chief eunuch Le San, "Draft an edict for me. Kuang Yujun is a person who is greedy for power and does not care about the lives of the people. He is not worthy of being the prime minister of my glorious dynasty..."

(End of this chapter)