Chapter 554 Extra: The Emperor Wants to Be Lazy Again

"Very well, Prime Minister Qin is right. As members of the Crimson Flame Dynasty, we should unite as one. Wherever there is a need, we should set aside our prejudices and face natural disasters together..."

Xiao Jingchen was both amused and exasperated to see the united discussion in the court.

When things happened in Beijing before, these old foxes weren't this united. Now that Quanzhou is experiencing drought and flooding, they're even more proactive than him. Lin Luoxi really wins people's hearts!

It seems that his long-held desire for Lin Luoxi to become emperor might actually come true this year or next.

"Seeing how united everyone is, I can't fall behind. I will personally go to Quanzhou."

"Prime Minister Qin, Wenqian, you two guard the capital. With you in charge, I feel very reassured..." Xiao Jingchen was planning to quit.

"What?" Lin Wenqian was shocked by Xiao Jingchen's shameless words.

“Your Majesty, Quanzhou is my hometown, so it is only right that I personally lead the disaster relief funds.”

“I was born and raised in Quanzhou, and no one knows Quanzhou better than me, so it is most appropriate for me to go to the disaster relief this time.”

"Your Majesty, rest assured, I will definitely convey your concern for the people of Quanzhou."

Just kidding, how could I let Xiao Jingchen snatch such a good opportunity?

"Your Majesty, Quanzhou is our hometown. Now that our hometown is suffering from natural disasters such as drought and floods, we should do our part for our hometown. It would be most appropriate for me to go back with Minister of War Lin." Lin Wenjin saw that Lin Wenqian was making a fuss about going back, so he naturally couldn't fall behind.

“Your Majesty, we grew up in Quanzhou, so it is most appropriate for us to go.”

“We will help convey His Majesty’s love for his people, and the common people will always remember His Majesty’s kindness. His Majesty is in perfect health, and the capital cannot do without him…” Yang Xiaofeng also stepped forward to speak.

"You, you..." Xiao Jingchen didn't expect Lin Wenqian, Lin Wenjin, and Yang Xiaofeng to be the first to stand up and refute him. He was so angry that his fingers trembled as he pointed at them.

"Your Majesty, I believe that Lord Lin and Lord Yang are right."

"Previously, the disasters in Wangzhou, Wanzhou, and Chuanzhou were so severe, with even earthquakes, yet the Emperor didn't personally visit. Now he says he's going to Quanzhou, which inevitably makes the people of those prefectures suspicious..."

"Everyone understands the principle of distributing rain and dew equally. Since you didn't go to those previous states, Your Majesty, you can't go to Quanzhou now either."

"Since Lord Lin and Lord Yang are from Quanzhou, it would be most appropriate for them to go back."

As the head of all officials, Prime Minister Qin stood up and spoke out when he saw that the emperor and Lin Wenqian wanted to go to Quanzhou.

Lin Wenqian, having heard Qin Xiang's irrefutable words, couldn't help but give Qin Xiang an approving look, indicating that he appreciated this favor.

When Qin Xiang received Lin Wenqian's gaze, he stood up straight, as if he were the most impartial and without any bias.

"Very well, since Prime Minister Qin has said so, then I will not go."

"Minister of War Lin Wenqian, Minister of Revenue Lin Wenjin, and Hanlin Academy member Yang Xiaofeng, I hereby order the three of you to take ten million taels of disaster relief funds and proceed to Quanzhou immediately."

"Yes, Your Majesty, we obey your decree." The three men whose names were called were overjoyed. They exchanged glances, stepped forward, and knelt down before Xiao Jingchen.

"Dismiss the court!" Seeing the glaring smiles on the faces of Lin Wenqian, Lin Wenjin, and Yang Xiaofeng, Xiao Jingchen had no mood to attend court and ordered the court to adjourn.

After Lin Wenqian, Lin Wenjin, and Yang Xiaofeng finished their work, they went to the Ministry of Revenue to collect the ten million taels of disaster relief funds belonging to Quanzhou, and then quickly headed home.

After quickly packing some belongings, I rode a fast horse towards Quanzhou.

Meanwhile, Lin Luoxi, along with villagers from both sides of the river, was constantly inspecting the condition of the river embankment.

They also hired people to build resettlement houses in high-lying areas, so that villagers whose homes were not flooded but whose houses leaked badly could move into these houses by paying some money.

When lives are at stake, ordinary people should be provided with free housing. However, there are too many people who need resettlement housing, and we fear that these people might take it for granted.

Lin Luoxi followed the modern method of building resettlement houses for disaster victims, with the villagers contributing half the money and her contributing the other half.

In this way, those who didn't live in the resettlement housing felt comfortable, while those who wanted to live in the resettlement housing had to pay for it, knowing that there's no such thing as a free lunch.

However, in recent years, under Lin Luoxi's leadership, every household in Quanzhou has been able to eat their fill and is no longer worried about not having enough money to buy a house.

Lin Luoxi and her men continued patrolling the riverbanks on both sides of the river, even when their clothes were soaked.

No one dared to relax even for a moment, for fear that if they were not careful, the homes of the villagers on both sides of the river would be submerged.

At the same time, the villagers living at the lowest point were also relocated to prevent the river embankment from breaching at night and flooding the villagers at the lowest point.

Just as Lin Luoxi, Xie Hanchuan, and the local magistrate were struggling to stay afloat in their makeshift shed, Lin Wenqian and his group arrived.

"Big brother, what brings you here?" When Lin Luoxi saw Lin Wenqian appear, she was overjoyed, happy, and excited, and tears involuntarily fell down her cheeks.

“Silly sister, what are you saying? Our hometown has suffered a natural disaster, and as a member of Quanzhou, it is only natural that I have to come here.”

Lin Wenqian could tell from the dark circles under Lin Luoxi and Xie Hanchuan's eyes that the two of them hadn't slept well.

"You all go and rest first. We're here!" He thought to himself that since he was here, he should let Lin Luoxi and the others get some rest.

"Good, thank goodness you guys came, we can finally catch our breath."

Lin Luoxi gave her homemade anti-drowning swimsuits to Lin Wenqian, Lin Wenjin, Yang Xiaofeng, and the officials behind them to wear in case the floodwaters swept them away.

Wearing a swimsuit that prevents drowning gives you a chance of survival even if you are swept away.

"Second sister, I can swim, so I don't need this!" Lin Wenqian felt a little reluctant to wear the anti-drowning swimsuit because it made him look bulky.

"I know, but you haven't seen how the river is churning right now, so you think this outfit is unnecessary. Once you see it, you'll know I made the right preparations."

Lin Luoxi ignored Lin Wenqian's protesting gaze and insisted that Lin Wenqian put it on for her.

Seeing that they had all put on the clothes she had given them, Lin Luoxi and Xie Hanchuan spurred their horses and rode towards the other courtyard.

"Mother, you're back?" Xie Zhili heard the sound of horses' hooves, immediately put on a raincoat, and ran over to open the courtyard gate.

When she saw Lin Luoxi and Xie Hanchuan, a look of joy appeared in her eyes.

Since Lin Luoxi and Xie Hanchuan ran away, they haven't come back even once.

The hot water in the house was heated again and again, and the five children eagerly awaited it under the eaves every day.