Shangguan Wanning smiled and drank her tea before saying, "I will be leaving in two days. When I return home, I will report to my father the disaster here and what I have seen and heard."
No one quite understood what Shangguan Wanning meant by this and they looked at each other in confusion.
"Mr. Chen, thank you for the jewelry and clothes you sent me a few days ago. However, the disaster is so severe now that I dare not be too extravagant. So, I have already exchanged my clothes and jewelry for silver at the pawnshop and bought food for disaster relief, a total of 145 taels."
Shangguan Wanning made a gesture, and the servant standing beside her handed her the notebook.
She smiled and continued, "I have recorded this amount of money and will report it to my father when I return to the capital. Next year, your second son will come to the capital to take the imperial examination. Please ask him to come to my house as a guest. I will do my best to entertain him."
When everyone heard this, a strange light immediately shone in their eyes.
With only one hundred and forty-five taels of silver, one can get a pass to enter the Prime Minister's Mansion. It is simply the best deal.
The education level in the Northwest region is not as good as that in the wealthy and prosperous capital, and very few people can pass the imperial examination every year.
But if you have the support of the prime minister, it will be different.
"Miss Shangguan, how can you leave so soon? I have just prepared 500 taels of silver and plan to donate it to help the victims. I don't trust anyone with this money, so I hope Miss Shangguan can stay and support the overall situation."
"That's right."
Several other wealthy officials and rich men also began to follow suit.
"I have also prepared six hundred taels."
"I have prepared eight hundred taels. Next year, my son will also go to Beijing to take the imperial examination. I will definitely visit Lord Shangguan and Miss Shangguan again then."
Shangguan Wanning did a quick calculation and found that even though a few words brought in some more donations, it was still a drop in the bucket and seemed far from enough.
She looked embarrassed and said with her head down, "Actually, I also want to stay and do my part. But... my father sent a letter to urge me to go back. After all, the city is not safe right now."
"How could that be? I heard that the person who recently took over the city's guards was General Mu from the Shenji Camp. With his abilities, your safety will definitely be no problem."
Shangguan Wanning took a sip of water from the cup and said worriedly, "Everyone, you can't say that. There are disaster victims everywhere outside the city. Although you have donated money, I believe everyone knows how much this money can buy and how many days it can last."
"What if the relief food from His Royal Highness the Crown Prince hasn't arrived by this time? Once people can't guarantee food and clothing, they will do a lot of crazy things. Just like they attacked the city at all costs a few days ago."
"What if it happens again? General Mu is indeed capable and skilled in martial arts, but his weapon should be used against the enemy, not to harm the unarmed civilians. If the city gates are breached and a large number of victims pour into the city, then... there will be no peace."
Shangguan Wanning's words caused the people present to start whispering.
In fact, they understood the problem, but no one was willing to spend more money and suffer losses.
Now, Shangguan Wanning put the interests in front of them.
In the face of disaster, no one can protect themselves.
In addition, being able to establish a relationship with the prime minister was also profitable, so those who had no one in their families who needed to go to Beijing also began to waver.
"Then... I'll give you one thousand taels."
"I'll give you eight hundred taels."
"I'll add another five hundred taels."
Shangguan Wanning watched the donation figures gradually increase, and she finally felt a little comforted.
She also kept her promise and recorded all the names and donation amounts of these people, hoping to have the opportunity to repay them in the future.
"I didn't expect you to be so much better than me."
When Mu Jingrui walked into the hall, he saw Shangguan Wanning counting silver with a smile on her face.
"I just understand a little bit of human nature." Shangguan Wanning asked the servants to carry the silver out and instructed, "Use it all to buy rice and noodles and send it to the warehouse outside the city."
She let out a long breath and said softly, "I hope... I can hold on until His Royal Highness the Crown Prince arrives."
Mu Jingrui frowned and said with a wry smile: "I'm afraid I'll disappoint you."
Shangguan Wanning's heart skipped a beat.
"I just received news that His Royal Highness the Crown Prince was blocked by heavy snow on the road, and the grain transport vehicle could not move forward."
"Then... isn't that a long way off?"
"It's not like it's a long way off, but... I can't be sure when it will arrive."
Shangguan Wanning sat on the chair somewhat lonely, thinking of the homeless and displaced victims, and felt a little reluctant in her heart.
Mu Jingrui looked at her, took off his cloak and put it on her, and said softly: "Don't think too much, go back to your room and rest, I will take care of the rest."
Shangguan Wanning gently grasped the cloak that carried Mu Jingrui's body temperature, raised her head and looked into his eyes.
At this moment, he is so gentle and warm, like a warm spring breeze in the cold winter.
But in the future, will he become the same as what she experienced in her previous life?
"If you keep looking at me like this..." Mu Jingrui's heart was burning. He tried his best to suppress the urge to kiss Shangguan Wanning and deliberately avoided her gaze. "I'm afraid I can't control myself."
Shangguan Wanning quickly withdrew her gaze, smiled faintly and stood up.
"Thank you for the cloak. I will... return it to you when I'm done with it."
After saying that, he turned and ran out.
In the next few days, there was no news from Xiao Yujue.
Mu Jingrui felt that the situation might be worse than he had imagined.
He saw that the food donated by the wealthy officials was about to run out, while the number of disaster victims outside the city was increasing.
It was already dark when Mu Jingrui returned from his patrol outside the city.
From afar, he saw a thin figure wandering in front of the gate of the government office with a lantern.
The cold wind, mixed with ice and snow, brushed across my cheeks, and it felt as painful as a steel knife cutting bones.
Mu Jingrui hurriedly jumped off the horse and ran over.
He looked at Shangguan Wanning's face, which was red from the cold, and felt an inexplicable surge of anger.
"It's so cold, why are you doing here instead of staying in the house?" Mu Jingrui growled.
"I'm waiting for you."
Shangguan Wanning handed over the heater hidden in her arms. "Warm your hands first."
Mu Jingrui didn't answer it, but stared at her in a daze.
At this moment, Mu Jingrui's heart was completely melted. He took a deep breath and secretly made a decision.
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