Chapter 6: Completing the first mission.
"His Highness is back!" "His expression is terrible..."
With the return of their master, the Second Prince's residence was filled with whispers—of course, hushed discussions outside the notice of the Second Prince, Xiao Dezi, and Xiao Chengzi.
The atmosphere was oppressive. Orange, a rough palace maid who was sweeping and cleaning, gritted her teeth and whispered to her friends, "I heard that the First Prince's concubine gave birth to a grandson, and they need help. I asked an acquaintance to put in a good word for me; maybe we can get through to her… Shall we go together?"
"We can't think about what's inside the hall, but as for sweeping... it doesn't matter where we sweep, right?"
Her best friend Sunzi was also tempted. She quickly grabbed Juzi's hand, pulled her back to the room, and offered her her savings. She then complained, "Haha, we've been in this hopeless place for so many years. Who would have thought that even the prince couldn't be trusted... I heard it's in Lingnan. If we go there, we'll lose our lives on the way."
“…!” Bi Shu, who heard this at the door, was furious and was about to rush in and yell at them when she was suddenly stopped by Xiao Dezi.
Xiao Chengzi shook his head, his expression quite meaningful.
He was angry at first, but His Highness was indeed His Highness. They wanted to see tonight—after the news of the Second Prince's enfeoffment spread—how many traitors there were in their palace, how many wanted to climb the social ladder, and how many wanted to stay.
"Your Highness, aren't you angry?" Xiao Dezi quietly observed the movements of the halls in front and behind from the corner of his eye at the door, and asked in a low voice.
"There's nothing to be angry about. Everyone gets what they need." Qi Chengming calmly picked up a book and opened it on the table by the window as a cover. In reality, he had opened the infrastructure system and was comparing the talent list with the list of palace servants that Xiao Dezi had reported to him.
Princes were not allowed to have palace maids.
Therefore, the palace maids in his palace are all rough maids sent by the Imperial Household Department, responsible for sweeping, planting flowers and grass, and doing rough work. They just rotate in this area and, strictly speaking, do not belong exclusively to the Second Prince.
But who could blame them when the Second Prince's residence was the most remote and isolated? The area was large and sparsely populated, so the palace maids assigned to work there seemed to belong to the Second Prince's residence.
The Second Prince had long been disliked, and now his future was ruined as he was to be "exiled." It was easy to imagine how much these palace maids and eunuchs had suffered and endured in the past. Their future was clearly going to be miserable; staying meant enduring loneliness and waiting to die.
In this situation, they were all eager to find new jobs, which Qi Chengming could understand. If he had been transmigrated into this body of a servant, he would also want to escape.
Similarly, it's normal for Sha Zi to want to transfer those spies who think he's worthless. As for those who originally belonged to his palace but are now restless and unwilling to suffer with him in Liuzhou, wanting to pave a better future for themselves, that's understandable too.
Everything is within reason.
Once you make a choice, you have to pay the price for it, that's all.
They disliked the Second Prince, and Qi Chengming also disliked their disloyalty. Before setting off, he didn't want a chaotic base of support.
Qi Chengming shook his head, so he wasn't angry.
He only felt that the palace servants who were willing to accompany him were very precious, such as Xiao Dezi and Xiao Chengzi, and that... Bi Shu, the palace maid who was originally in charge of planting flowers, but took the initiative to help him try planting beans in the back hall.
He gave the palace servants of the Second Prince half an hour to think.
Half an hour later, the list of talents was almost finalized, and they were actually divided into four categories according to [the Second Prince's Office], [the Imperial Clan Court], [the Imperial Guards], and [outside the palace].
"Alright, gather everyone." Qi Chengming threw down the book.
After the palace maids and eunuchs of the Second Prince had all lined up densely in front of the hall, he announced bluntly: "You should have heard about my current situation. Those who are unwilling to go with me to Liuzhou to take up their fiefdoms, go wherever your own future lies. We were master and servant, so let's part amicably. I won't hold you back."
"..." Just moments ago, the atmosphere in the Second Prince's residence was restless, but now the area in front of the hall is deathly silent. No one dares to speak, and the air is deathly still.
"Don't worry about me saying anything harsh or punishing you. Let's start packing up tomorrow morning." Qi Chengming's tone was somewhat lazy, as if he had been hit hard and was in low spirits. "Those who are willing to come to Liuzhou with me, please work hard these next few days, pack your things and get ready. I will do my best to protect you and will not treat you unfairly. Alright, disperse."
The crowd remained silent for a while before slowly dispersing.
Amid the discussion, the eunuch Xiao Suozi whispered to his companion, "...The Second Prince is too heartless. He didn't even give a token of appreciation to those who went to Liuzhou with him."
Xiao Suozi was still hesitant. He didn't have a good place to go in the palace anyway. If he followed the Second Prince, would it be considered... well, a timely help in a crisis? He was willing to grit his teeth and risk his life. Maybe he could make a good living in Liuzhou? But the Second Prince didn't offer any real assistance. He just said something dry: "You won't be treated badly?" That was too vague.
Little Lock couldn't help but back down.
"Let's try to find somewhere to go," his companion said, looking equally worried.
...
“I originally planned to give half a tael of silver to each of you who were willing to go to Liuzhou with me.” Qi Chengming was sitting in the hall talking about this with Xiao Dezi and Xiao Chengzi. “But I changed my mind later.”
“Your Highness, it’s the right thing to not send money. We don’t know how many times we’ll need money on the road,” Xiao Dezi said immediately, looking worried.
Their Second Prince had no private property, and their lives were already quite frugal. Although the Imperial Clan Court would provide him with the allowance for a prince's residence, that money was to be used in Liuzhou. The expenses for people and horses along the way were unpredictable, so they had to save wherever possible.
"The money isn't quite enough." Qi Chengming admitted he felt the pinch, but that wasn't why he wasn't distributing the silver. Those who were still willing to follow him at this low morale were loyal, and it wouldn't be right not to encourage them. But before setting off on his long journey, Qi Chengming felt... it would be better to do something that would increase their chances of survival than to distribute silver.
This is ancient times.
On the way to Liuzhou... He looked at the infrastructure map and estimated that it would take several months to get there, and who knows how many people would die along the way.
"I plan to go to the Imperial Hospital to ask for prescriptions and prepare a large batch of herbs. We also need to make winter clothes for everyone in advance," Qi Chengming said, listing the options carefully. It's June now, but the weather will probably start to get cold by the time they reach Liuzhou—or even halfway there. With so many people, there won't be enough time to find warm clothes later. And for those who get headaches or fevers along the way, they can brew some medicine to tide them over.
Since the palace wouldn't provide clothes and herbs for free, he had to buy them himself. Qi Chengming had to admit that he wasn't really wealthy. Much of the money the Second Prince had saved since childhood was imperial gifts that couldn't be sold. After distributing the remaining silver as rewards, there wasn't enough money left to make such a detailed arrangement.
After much deliberation, Qi Chengming decided not to distribute silver immediately, but instead to give everyone items to ensure their survival on the road. He would then subsidize these loyal palace servants once he had found a way to earn money along the way.
"I understand... I'll tell them tomorrow morning after all those traitors have left!" Xiao Dezi was so moved that his lips trembled slightly. He couldn't wait to explain, because he didn't want those who were willing to stay to think that their prince wasn't worth following.
Who else is as thoughtful and kind as our Second Prince? He actually considered every single detail and difficulty they might face. If he really gave them silver and didn't care whether they lived or died on the way, that would be so much easier.
"Wait, give this list to your uncle tomorrow, and then tell the people on the list." Qi Chengming blew on the ink on the list of people and luggage he had just written and carefully handed it to Xiao Dezi.
As for luggage, there were actually no valuable or famous items in his palace that he needed to take with him, and he wasn't attached to them at all. But Qi Chengming still wrote down some imperial gifts, thinking that they might have a miraculous effect when taken to Liuzhou.
"Your Highness...?" Xiao Dezi was both surprised and delighted. He suddenly realized that, regardless of whether those palace servants wanted to stay or seek better opportunities elsewhere, His Highness had already made a plan and had a list in mind.
Perhaps some in the inner palace are still wavering between staying or going to gamble for wealth and power, but His Highness has already left them far behind. To Liuzhou—without them!
"..." Xiao Chengzi also looked at the Second Prince with silent reverence.
He discovered that His Highness had completely changed after the devastating blow of being enfeoffed.
Instead of being devastated, he had a complete awakening and was no longer as self-conscious and sensitive as before. Going to Liuzhou didn't seem like a difficult setback for His Highness anymore. It appeared that he was disheartened and didn't stop the palace servants from leaving, but in reality, he had given up on them.
...And when those people hear the news tomorrow morning, and find out that their prince has not only been granted a hundred imperial guards by the emperor, but also has a senior member of the Imperial Clan backing him up and has stood up to the Imperial Kitchen, won't they regret it to the core?
...
Qi Chengming, on the other hand, accomplished a task.
He watched with satisfaction as the [Daily Task: Understanding Your Own Power] was completed. Three herbal recipes appeared on the infrastructure panel, with each step of the process and the appearance of the herbs clearly described.
The antidiarrheal formula and the antipyretic decoction are enough to deal with most minor illnesses and ailments on the road. In addition, since we're going to Liuzhou, a place in the south with many mosquitoes, the mosquito-repellent herbal remedy will help us get used to it more quickly.
...The next step is to find a way to purchase a large quantity of herbs!
Qi Chengming pondered that since the palace didn't have such a reserve, he might be able to secretly ask his maternal family, the Marquis of Weiyong, for help...
It also allows you to establish connections with your maternal family.
Qi Chengming hadn't forgotten yet; his list of talents included a prominent name: [Wang Shuo].
It was his little cousin.
Just how smart is he? Is he skilled in martial arts? Or does he have a talent in some other area? He's only ten years old, and he's already on his talent list!
Qi Chengming was very curious.
A note from the author:
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Qi Chengming: Let me see, let me go see! (Curious cat emoji)
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