The heavy rains in Shandong caused continuous disasters, and tens of thousands of people were displaced. After receiving their orders, Prince Zhi and the Eighth Prince went back and packed their bags before setting off for Shandong. They were accompanied by many guards and ministers, so it was impossible for only Prince Zhi and the Eighth Prince to set off.
After having lunch at Yonghe Palace, the Fourth Prince originally planned to send his two younger brothers back to Ganxi Fourth Residence first, as it was hot and the Thirteenth and Fourteenth Princes would need to go to the Imperial Study for their studies after their afternoon rest.
Consort De knew the disaster was urgent. Although her son didn't need to travel all the way to Shandong, it would be a difficult task for the Ministry of Revenue to prepare disaster relief grain.
She waved her hand: "Go and do your work. Your mother has some free time today and will personally take the thirteenth and fourteenth back to the Fourth Ganxi Institute."
The Fourth Prince was moved by these words. He had originally planned to take charge of the Thirteenth Prince's marriage himself, but it would be inappropriate for him to choose a wife for his younger brother, as that would be even more improper. He hadn't said anything when his mother brought it up earlier, but he was also filled with mixed feelings.
How could he not see that his mother was also thinking about Yinxiang because of his close relationship with the thirteenth prince?
The Fourth Prince saw this and understood it as well. He bowed deeply and said, "Thank you, Mother."
Consort De wiped her eyes with a handkerchief, then waved it to shoo them away: "Go quickly, it's getting hot, have Su Peisheng hold the umbrella properly, be careful not to catch heatstroke. Go quickly."
Fourteen and Thirteen stood to the side, arms around each other's shoulders, both with smiles in their eyes: "Fourth Brother, you must keep an eye on the fine horses on the estate for me. When you have time, Thirteen and I will come to your manor for a drink."
Consort De turned around and glared at him: "All you do is drink. Go on." The last half of the sentence was spoken by Consort De to the Fourth Prince after turning around.
A smile appeared in the Fourth Prince's eyes. He bowed again before walking out of Yonghe Palace.
Su Peisheng quickly held up his umbrella and followed.
With the disaster situation in Shandong being of utmost importance, attention in the capital city regarding Prince Yu's funeral arrangements diminished considerably.
However, given the five days His Majesty stayed at Jingren Palace and the importance he placed on Prince Yu's residence, at least no one in the Imperial Household Department dared to neglect the remaining arrangements for Prince Yu's funeral.
The day Prince Yu was buried was July 23rd. The weather in the capital was unbearably hot. Even a short walk under the corridor to digest her food would leave Li Chenjiao drenched in sweat. On the same day, however, the heavy rain in Shandong never stopped.
Li Chenjiao had already received the news. Fourth Master was busy and didn't want Li Chenjiao to worry, so he kept it a secret from everyone. Although Xiao Luzi had heard a little bit of the news, he still kept it a secret for several days.
However, although Li Chenjiao's father was usually upright and old-fashioned, his political achievements were always outstanding, and he was wholeheartedly devoted to the people.
Naturally, he handled the disaster situation in Jiaozhou quite well this time.
After news of the improved situation in Jiaozhou reached back, Fourth Master then had Su Peisheng personally deliver the message.
In the past few days, the Ministry of Revenue has raised a total of 300,000 taels of silver, and together with 50 shi of grain from various places and the capital, it has provided disaster relief to Shandong by waterway.
The Fourth Prince has been extremely busy these past few days, with all the accounts being audited dozens of times by the Ministry of Revenue. He now gets a headache just looking at those ledgers.
Li Chenjiao's father was indeed capable. After the disaster struck, he first settled the disaster victims at the city gate to prevent them from causing trouble in the city. He also personally visited the homes of wealthy families in the city to discuss raising food for disaster relief.
In addition, the harvest in Jiaozhou last year was good, which finally stabilized the disaster situation.
In addition, Li Chenjiao's father did not let the merchants' efforts go to waste. He personally erected a monument to commemorate the kindness of the merchants in the city, which satisfied the vast majority of the merchants.
It was one of the best-handled cases among the other prefectures in Shandong.
When Li Chenjiao received the news, she was naturally shocked and frightened. She believed her father's words, as children naturally think that their father and mother are the most upright and honorable people in the world.
Li Chenjiao was no exception.
Hearing Su Peisheng talk about how well her father had handled the disaster, she naturally felt proud and happy. However, after Xiao Luzi saw Su Peisheng off, she couldn't help but pace back and forth.
"Prepare pen and ink, I will write a letter home."
The disaster has been brought under control. Li Chenjiao is not worried about her father's official duties. She is only afraid that her father will ruin his health because of this. However, with her mother around, Li Chenjiao suddenly felt less worried when she was halfway through writing the letter.
She then focused on writing about her days at home. She realized that this year, apart from writing to her family during the New Year holidays, she hadn't had time to send any more letters home.
After writing a letter home, Li Chenjiao also wrote a letter to her brother who was far away in Yunnan Prefecture.
During the New Year holidays this year, my brother also sent some medicinal herbs from the south. The ginseng soup that Li Chenjiao has been making for Fourth Master recently is made with the herbs sent by my brother.
However, she didn't dare to take too much tonic, so she had Pingniang and the others cut ginseng rootlets for her.
The older brother also sent these things to his father and mother, so Li Chenjiao didn't send any back and instead picked out some medicinal herbs and tonics from the storeroom.
She slipped some silver notes into the envelope she was writing to her father and mother.
The disaster in Jiaozhou has likely depleted Ama's savings, aside from asking merchants to open granaries.
Furthermore, if there were to be a monument erected to commemorate merits, the money would naturally still have to come from the government.
After becoming a concubine, Li Chenjiao accumulated a considerable amount of savings. Although she still had to spend money on social engagements, her income always exceeded her expenses.
Li Chenjiao didn't stuff too much in, otherwise her mother and father would worry again.
Li Chenjiao, after receiving the letter of conferment, leaned back in her armchair and said, "Have Xiao Luzi deliver it later."
It's incredibly hot in the capital right now, and with August just around the corner, the heat is getting hotter every day.
It is said that His Majesty originally planned to tour the border regions, but ultimately abandoned the plan due to concerns about the disaster in Shandong.
As August progressed, the disaster situation in various parts of Shandong was gradually brought under control, but the weather was still uncooperative, with rain continuing to fall.
On the first day of August, disaster victims poured into the capital city.
The residences of princes and dukes were all located in the inner city, so no matter how much the disaster victims made a fuss, it would not reach the ears of the nobles.
Li Chenjiao only found out about this after returning from paying her respects at the main courtyard.
This summer was really hot, so a few days ago the Fourth Master exempted the children from going to school in the front yard. When Li Chenjiao returned to the east yard, the two siblings were braiding their hair on a mat.
Oh, Ah Man is the one who's braiding Wanwan's hair.
Li Chenjiao watched from behind the screen for a while but didn't go in: "Now that disaster victims have arrived in the capital, what are the arrangements for them?"
Whenever there is a natural disaster or man-made calamity, people who are close to the capital will always flock to the capital; this is not surprising.
Xiao Luzi was waiting for a reply: "His Majesty has arranged for the Crown Prince and our master to come and comfort the disaster victims."
Upon hearing this, Li Chenjiao's first thought was, "Your Majesty has forgotten about Third Master again?"
Then the second thought had nothing to do with the Fourth Prince either. The Crown Prince had been neglected for so long, and His Majesty was no longer bothered by it.
As for the Fourth Master? Oh, the Fourth Master has another assignment, so he'll be busy again. I wonder how many days he'll be busy this time.
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