It's unclear whether Helian Jue has a knack for jinxing things, but no sooner had he given Xie Yuan his instructions than Prefect Cui Boyong arrived at Crescent Moon Village.
"Your Highness, this is quite a grand affair!"
Cui Boyong, who was not wearing official robes but a long, wide-sleeved, moon-white robe, wooden clogs, and a feather fan, had the demeanor of a famous scholar from the Wei and Jin dynasties.
However, his words were not elegant or refined at all; instead, they revealed obvious hostility.
"Fortunately! It's all thanks to Governor Cui's active cooperation!"
Cui Boyong spoke sarcastically, and Xie Yuan didn't hold back either, directly responding with irony.
Cui Boyong was momentarily speechless. He suddenly realized that he shouldn't have argued with Xie!
He went straight to the point, "Your Highness, I understand your desire to rebuild the palace as soon as possible!"
"However, Yuezhou has just experienced a hurricane, and the people have suffered severe damage. It is a time when we need to rebuild our homes and rush to plant crops."
"You are undertaking large-scale construction projects, occupying the labor of hundreds of people. This...this seems inappropriate."
Building palaces for princes and repairing city walls and hospitals were both public duties, and it was permissible to conscript laborers.
However, even in a society ruled by imperial authority, there must be consideration for the people's plight, and people should not be conscripted for corvée labor during busy farming seasons or disaster areas.
"Is there something wrong?"
Xie Yuan raised his chin high and asked arrogantly.
Cui Boyong: ...Just like the deposed crown prince, both of them are eccentric and arrogant.
Then, Xie Yuan added, "They provide the labor, and I provide the money! It's just that I don't need so many people, otherwise, there would be thousands of people crying and begging to build a palace for our Highness!"
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