Chu Jinjin also became serious. Before she came, she had specifically asked someone to inquire about the situation in the disaster area.
The drought lasted for three whole years. In the first year, the people had some food reserves, but they were still not full. However, apart from the elderly and the weak, not many people died.
It's normal that it's not raining.
The same thing happened the following year. The sporadic drizzle was of no use. By this time, every household was out of food. By this year, there was no harvest to speak of. The earth was riddled with cracks, and even getting water became a problem.
Chu Jinjin's idea also turned into a real desire to do her part, as long as she had enough money to spend.
After the princess said that, the noble ladies also shifted their attention and began to talk about the drought.
Li Xinzhi spoke first: "Madam, your family is from the north, right? What's the specific situation? As far as I know, the imperial court has already sent out several batches of disaster relief supplies."
Women were not allowed to participate in politics, but that was relative.
Today's banquet is themed around disaster relief donations, but unless this group of people emptys their pockets, they still have to rely on the imperial court to completely solve the problem.
Since last winter, the imperial court has been paying close attention to this issue, but now that summer is approaching, why is the situation getting worse?
“My nephew wrote that the number of people who have starved to death is unknown, there are corpses everywhere, and flies and mosquitoes are swarming. He is worried that there may be a plague.” The Duchess sighed, paused for a moment, and then said softly, “As for the relief supplies, that’s hard to say.”
With so many people around, there are some things that cannot be said. If they get out, it would be an undeserved disaster. Everyone should just keep that to themselves.
Chu Jinjin wasn't too worried. She frowned and asked, "Does the Duchess mean the disaster relief supplies haven't arrived?"
Based on the existing data, hundreds of thousands of people have been displaced, and the total number of people affected by the disaster is probably several million. It sounds like a lot, but if all that is guaranteed is that they don't starve to death, two meals of thin porridge a day will suffice.
The north has always been a major grain-producing region, so it's impossible that there wasn't any grain stored there. In addition, the imperial court's supplies have encountered this situation several times, which can only mean one thing.
Some people are profiting from the national crisis.
The noble ladies remained calm, and none of them responded.
I'm used to it by now.
Chu Jinjin turned to Princess Le'an and solemnly asked, "Princess, may I ask if it is possible to guarantee that all the silver donated today will be delivered to the disaster area?"
She's planning something big tonight, but if that happens, she doesn't want to donate a single cent.
It would be more appropriate to send people to the disaster area to transport some supplies.
The princess looked a little embarrassed: "Miss Jinjin, His Majesty has sent Eunuch Zhao to supervise this matter—the donations made by everyone tonight will be immediately sealed and sealed with tags, and handed over to a special official for management."
She could only guarantee that all the money would be handed over tonight; as for what happened afterward, that was beyond her control.
Chu Jinjin nodded, remained silent, and took a step back.
I'm not donating anymore!
Wang Ruoyun, who was just looking for an opportunity, sneered, "Chu Jinjin, are you perhaps questioning the court and the emperor?"
As a noblewoman, she was a hopelessly romantic person, but she was also intelligent. This statement was tantamount to sending Chu Jinjin to her doom.
She was certain that Chu Jinjin would deny it, but her goal of disgusting her had been achieved.
Princess Le'an frowned: "Ruoyun, that's enough."
Does having an older sister who is a concubine mean she doesn't respect her?
The Chu family is a major donor tonight, and besides, didn't they notice Li Xinzhi's expression?
Wang Ruoyun's momentum immediately vanished.
With the princess's words, everyone thought the matter was over, which is one of the reasons why they wouldn't donate more.
Who knows whose pocket it ended up in?
I came to the banquet for two reasons: first, for the sake of my reputation—it wouldn't do if everyone else donated and I didn't; second, of course, because of the princess.
No one expected that Chu Jinjin would not go.
Chu Jinjin looked at Wang Ruoyun and said with a smile, "What my sister said is right. I do have some doubts."
The noble ladies: "..."
Li Xinzhi hesitated, as if she wanted to say something but then stopped.
Feeling that she was about to lose her life, Wang Shi was terrified and turned pale, but dared not say anything.
“I question it because I have the right to question it.” Chu Jinjin suddenly turned around, bowed to Princess Le’an, and solemnly said, “Your Highness, I am willing to donate all the dowry I received when I married into the Xu family.”
All the noble ladies stared in disbelief.
All of them?
For women, the grandeur of their marriage depends on their husband's family and their dowry.
They knew how many there were before Chu Jinjin became famous, and even sent people to secretly count them.
It won't be less than 100,000 taels.
Everyone felt that money was no longer valuable. Tonight, apart from the princess, most of them planned to donate a few hundred taels. Normally, a few thousand would be considered a lot, since it was all their own private savings.
One hundred thousand taels?
Wang Ruoyun felt that either she herself had gone mad, or Chu Jinjin had gone mad.
Princess Le'an excitedly stood up abruptly: "Really?"
Chu Jinjin nodded earnestly: "How could I, a commoner, dare to deceive the princess?"
The donation was made for the disaster victims and also for the Chu family.
She wanted to use the money to attract the emperor's attention and buy a long-term insurance policy for the Chu family.
The Chu family is no longer the same Chu family it once was, especially considering the losses from the gold mine. As the head of the family, she cannot use the public funds to cover these losses.
Li Xinzhi was also stunned. On the way here, they had chatted briefly and she knew that Chu Jinjin would donate a lot, but that was 100,000 taels of silver. She didn't care what others thought and said seriously, "Jinjin, don't be impulsive."
She thought Chu Jinjin had been provoked by Wang Ruoyun.
Chu Jinjin also had one reason.
That money is too unlucky.
The dowry included a lot of custom-made furniture and jewelry. If she remarries in the future, will she still need these?
That's so unlucky.
Why not donate it to the disaster area?
Chu Jinjin smiled and looked at Wang Ruoyun: "How much does my sister plan to donate?"
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