Li Zhi was completely stunned when he heard this. He wondered what Li Jue's trip to Xianyang to treat the disaster victims had to do with him. Why should he be asked to copy scriptures to pray for them?

"Uncle Zhang, could this imperial edict have been delivered incorrectly?"

Zhang Anan smiled mischievously upon hearing this.

"This old servant also hopes it was a mistake, but unfortunately, that's exactly what His Majesty said!"

"Must we copy?"

"must!"

When will you finish writing?

"Tomorrow!"

"ah?"

"Uncle Zhang, I definitely won't be able to finish writing by tomorrow. Even if I break my arm, I still won't be able to finish this much!"

"Then the day after tomorrow?"

"It's the day after tomorrow, we can't be any later, or His Majesty will be angry!"

"oh!"

In fact, Li Shimin did not specify a date at all; he simply did not want to see Li Zhi too idle and deliberately gave her something to do.

However, as the eunuch who conveyed imperial edicts, Zhang Anan had a certain degree of discretion, so he naturally tried to squeeze Li Zhi as much as possible.

After conveying Li Shimin's oral decree, Zhang Anan returned to Ganlu Hall refreshed, where he saw Li Shimin receiving officials from the Ministry of Revenue and the Ministry of Works.

"Whatever Xianyang needs, whether it's people, money, or goods, we must do our best to meet its needs!"

"Your Majesty, we have no shortage of money, but we truly lack medicinal herbs. Even if we were to search every pharmacy in Chang'an, we probably still wouldn't find many medicines!"

"Stop complaining about being poor in front of me!"

"I will only state my demands; how to resolve them is your business!"

"If you can't even handle this simple matter, I'll replace you with someone more capable!"

The two were stunned upon hearing this, quickly agreed, and then went out to think of a solution.

"Yes, yes, yes!"

"We'll go back and figure something out..."

Before long, the two came out of Ganlu Hall, both with bitter faces.

"His Majesty is furious; this matter can no longer be delayed!"

"What about Lord Changsun?"

"What else can we do? No matter how great Lord Changsun is, he can't defeat the Emperor!"

"If we want to keep our positions, we still have to listen to His Majesty!"

In fact, Chang'an had no shortage of medicine; it was just that some people didn't want to send medicine to Xianyang.

Li Shimin dismissed the two officials and then locked himself in the Ganlu Palace. The following days felt like an eternity, until the tenth day when he finally received good news from Xianyang.

"Your Majesty, you are so happy!"

"The magistrate of Xianyang County has come to report that the epidemic in Xianyang has been brought under control!"

"What?"

"Quickly, show it to me!"

"promise!"

Li Shimin took the report from the magistrate of Xianyang County and read it word by word. He saw that the epidemic in Xianyang had not only been brought under control, but many people had also recovered.

As for the final death toll, it was less than one hundred!

Seeing this, Li Shimin jumped for joy.

"Very good!"

"May Heaven protect us! May Heaven protect us!"

"Immediately issue an imperial edict ordering Li Jue to return to see me at the last minute!"

"promise!"

Li Jue received the imperial edict the next day, but after the eunuch delivered it, Li Jue ignored Li Er's words.

There's no way around it; he still has a lot to do.

The current epidemic in Xianyang was largely caused by the aging and blockage of the city's sewers and canals, which trapped the city's wastewater and prevented it from being discharged.

Therefore, he redesigned the drainage canal route and, drawing on later sewer designs, redesigned the sewage pipes for Xianyang.

It's construction season now, how can he, as the chief commander, leave so easily?

Li Jue abandoned the eunuch who was delivering the imperial edict and went off to direct the craftsmen to work. Seeing this, the eunuch could only send someone back to inform the emperor of what was happening with Li Jue.

Li Jue was so busy that he didn't eat until the afternoon. He had only taken two bites when he saw a tall figure appear in front of him.

"Grandpa?"

Li Shimin snorted coldly upon hearing this.

"You still recognize your grandfather, huh?"

Upon hearing Li Shimin's unusual tone, Li Jue quickly put on a fawning smile.

"Grandpa, please calm down. I really can't go back for the time being. I'll go back to apologize to you after I finish repairing the drainage canal in Xianyang!"

Li Shimin did come with a belly full of anger, but when he saw Li Jue squatting in a shabby, simple prefab house, eating cold food, his resentment had long since dissipated, leaving only a heart full of heartache.

"Is this all you're eating in the dead of winter?"

"Grandpa, you don't know this, but Xianyang has been under lockdown for more than ten days. Food from outside can't be transported in. We're lucky to have this to eat!"

"What?"

"Didn't I order the Ministry of Works and the Ministry of Revenue to collect supplies? Didn't they send them over?"

"It's been delivered!"

"However, all that was delivered were medicinal herbs, cloth, straw ropes, and other supplies; not a single grain of food was seen!"

"This is outrageous!"

"I'll kill those two as soon as I get back!"

Li Shimin sat down angrily, then snatched the rice bowl from Li Jue's hand.

Stop eating!

"Eating this in this cold weather will make you sick!"

"I will immediately order someone to prepare something new for you!"

"Oh oh oh..."

"By the way, is there anything else you need?"

"Grandpa, we don't lack anything for now, except for food!"

"Easy, I'll have someone deliver it to you right away!"

Fifteen minutes later, Li Er and Li Jue sat around a hot pot, eating mutton hot pot.

Beside the two, there was a skilled chef who was expertly slicing mutton.

The two ate too quickly; the chef had just finished cutting up a plate, and they devoured it in no time.

My dear reader, there's more to this chapter! Please click the next page to continue reading—even more exciting content awaits!