Chapter 155: Doing Good and Creating Momentum, Tattooing the Heart
Kyoto is the most prosperous capital of Dayu, but it is inevitable that there are beggars who cannot afford to eat and beg on the streets, and not all people live in luxury.
Xiao Qinggu not only set up porridge stalls at the east and west gates of Kyoto, but also invited doctors from the clinic.
She used the silver bills she received in exchange for the gifts to cover the expenses of the five clinics for three months, as well as a large amount of medicinal materials. Xiao Qinggu asked the doctors to set up stalls in less crowded areas, providing free treatment and free medicine.
For a time, good stories such as "The Fifth Princess is beautiful and kind-hearted" and "The Fifth Princess is a fairy from heaven" were spread all over Kyoto. However, these praises about Xiao Qinggu alone soon turned into praises such as "Heaven's grace is vast, and the sun and the moon shine together."
Following Xiao Qinggu, the same news came from Prince Qi's Mansion.
Porridge stalls were set up at the north and south gates, and people were hired to steam buns. Many medical clinics had their expenses contracted for several months, and were invited to go to the streets to provide free medical treatment and medicine to the people.
Baili Pu heard the noises after leaving court. He remained silent for a long moment, but ultimately said nothing. Whether it was out of frustration or something else, he didn't seem angry, but he snorted coldly and left with a flick of his sleeve.
Yuan Ji followed Bailipu with a smile on his face, and Bailipu glared at him several times.
Just wait, sooner or later he will expose those fence-sitters!
Those who had given gifts were really surprised by what Xiao Qinggu and Xiao Qingxu did, and they all went to inquire carefully.
Qiu Bo Ke was no exception. After waiting in the Prime Minister's Mansion for half an incense stick, the servant brought him an unexpected news.
"They just revealed the name of the gift giver?!"
Qiu Bo Ke had been an official for so many years, and this was the first time he had seen such a strange method.
Aren’t they afraid of being suspected by the emperor at all?
Qiu Boke waved his hand, telling the servant to leave. He paced a few steps, then sat down on the main seat and took a sip of tea to calm his nerves.
Is he acting so blatantly because of his youthful vigor, or is he hiding some kind of immunity from death ticket?
With Xiao Qinggu and Xiao Qingxu doing this, it's no wonder that the rumor in Kyoto changed from "The Fifth Princess is beautiful and kind-hearted" to "Heaven's grace is vast, the sun and the moon shine together". Among those who gave gifts, there were high-ranking officials as well as low-ranking officials. Once this got out, wouldn't it be like the officials were paying out of their own pockets to invite the people to celebrate together?
The emperor must have learned the news faster than those under him, but he showed no sign of anger in the court. What does this mean? It means that he is favoring Xiao Qingxu and Xiao Qinggu!
Qiu Bo Ke gradually calmed down.
This is so open and aboveboard, they are definitely not simply luring people on board.
Officials exchanged gifts privately. To put it nicely, it was out of concern for Xiao Qingxu and Xiao Qinggu's health. To put it bluntly, it was bribery to curry favor with each other, hoping to get a share of the benefits in the future. Those two people did this, let alone recruiting people, and it was a blessing that they didn't make enemies.
Is this just a publicity stunt? Or—could it be that they are conspiring with the emperor to eliminate those officials who are just sitting there doing nothing but eating and drinking?
The more Qiu Bo Ke thought about it, the more frightened he became. He decided that he must never become enemies with Xiao Qingxu and Xiao Qinggu in the future.
To be their enemy is to be the enemy of Emperor Chengming!
Xiao Qinggu didn't know how shocked and uneasy Qiu Bake and those gift-givers were. After she checked around the porridge stalls and doctor's stalls, she met the clever Shang Yuwan and others.
“…”
“…”
The people on both sides looked at each other in silence. If Xiao Qinggu hadn't been concerned about the large number of people here, he would have burst into tears.
Why didn't anyone tell her that she wanted to be Mr. Baili's student again?!
This wasn't in the original plan!
Bailipu's ruler hits people with great pain!!! He also speaks very harshly!!!
Xiao Qinggu's face turned slightly blue.
"Your Highness the Princess! It's Your Highness the Princess!" Some people noticed that Xiao Qinggu had come quietly and shouted.
As soon as these words were spoken, the people knelt down and saluted.
Except for Xiao Qingxu, Shang Yuwan and the others all bowed to Xiao Qinggu and said, "Greetings, Her Royal Highness the Princess."
Xiao Qinggu pulled the corner of his mouth, revealing a smile, helped Shang Yuwan up, and then said to the others: "Get up, everyone get up."
Although Xiao Qinggu was a princess, she had been living among the people for many years and had long forgotten the etiquette that common people had to kneel and kowtow in front of the royal family.
Now that she has come back and received such great gifts from so many people, it is inevitable that she feels a little uncomfortable.
Xiao Qingxu looked at her with a smile on his face, "Is Fifth Sister okay?"
Xiao Qinggu chuckled twice, "I'm so safe."
She is so "happy" that she almost collapses.
Shang Yuwan couldn't help but smile when he saw this.
She and Xiao Qingxu hadn't planned to spread the list of gift givers; it was Xiao Qinggu who took the initiative. Whether it was to build momentum or to intimidate certain people by using Emperor Chengming's name, it was a good trick.
Xiao Qinggu took the opportunity to pretend to chat with Shang Yuwan, but actually secretly slipped the small note hidden in his sleeve to her.
Shang Yuwan raised his eyebrows, and Xiao Qinggu just chuckled and said nothing more.
In order not to arouse suspicion, they did not talk too much. They chatted for a few words and then parted ways.
Xiao Qinggu returned to the princess's mansion, but before she could even have a sip of tea, the imperial edict for the examination to become king arrived.
After Eunuch Kang finished reading, he handed the imperial edict to her with a smile.
"Your Highness has returned to the capital in less than three days and already has such a glorious life. How enviable!"
"No, no, your words are too serious."
Xiao Qingxu expressed his gratitude repeatedly on his face, seemingly nothing unusual, but in fact he had been gone for a while.
After Eunuch Kang left, Xiao Qinggu turned around without hesitation, returned to his room, and threw himself onto the bed.
"Your Majesty, Your Majesty?"
Xiao Qinggu raised his arms weakly and shook them twice.
"Let me get some sleep..."
She won't be able to sleep when Bailipu comes tomorrow.
The maid wanted to say something but stopped herself. Seeing that Xiao Qinggu was in a bad mood, she shut her mouth and left, and asked the other maids to leave with her.
The room was quiet. After an unknown amount of time, Xiao Qinggu's closed eyes suddenly opened.
“…”
Her elder brother and sister-in-law were being held hostage, unable to help her, nor could they guarantee their support forever... How could she resolve the crisis at Bailipu? And what about that extra mother-of-pearl box in the warehouse...
That seal on it is Big Brother's private seal. There's nothing wrong with the deed, so why did those people show it to her?
Xiao Qinggu was pondering in the room. At this time, Emperor Chengming was in the study, changed into casual clothes, and sitting alone in front of the chessboard playing chess.
"That's all?"
The secret guard knelt on one knee and bowed his head and said, "Yes."
Emperor Chengming was silent for a while, then suddenly laughed deeply, with a hint of joy in his eyes.
In a moment, Emperor Chengming's expression turned gloomy again.
"As expected, she's his only child."
In the East Palace, Xiao Qingji was soaking comfortably in the hot spring, with a white towel covering his face and his long arms resting on the edge of the pool.
Mist lingered around him, and water droplets dripped down his hair. The maid, with soft hands like catkins, knelt beside the hot spring and gently massaged his shoulders.
The water in the hot spring just covered Xiao Qingji's chest. If someone looked closely, they would notice that there seemed to be something on his heart.
"...There's all this commotion over there, but His Majesty hasn't taken any action."
After the person who asked for the news finished speaking, Xiao Qingji gently pulled away the white towel covering his face, revealing a pair of eyes.
He stared directly at the maid, "Does it look good?"
The maid blushed, "Your Highness..."
Xiao Qingji's lips, hidden under the white towel, curled up slightly.
He pressed his hands on the edge of the hot spring, pushed hard, and stood up suddenly. Turning around, water droplets splashed everywhere, and the tattoo on his heart was clearly reflected in the maid's eyes.
The white towel fell into the hot spring, floated for a moment, and then sank. Amidst the mist, the maid's face suddenly turned pale.
Camellia...The tattoo on the prince's heart is a large blooming camellia!
Camellia is the eldest prince——"Come here."
While the maid was stunned in shock, Xiao Qingji had already put on a thin layer of white clothes.
He walked out of the hot spring step by step along the steps. His cold voice echoed in the room for a long time.
"Kill him and feed him to the dogs."
These four extremely simple words caused the maid to die in the next second.
Blood spurted out from her neck, and she fell down twitching. The blood flowed into the hot spring pool, dyeing the water red.
The guard wiped the blood off his sword and sheathed it. Xiao Qingji slowly put on his clothes, and the two of them ignored the dead maid.
"Have the deeds been delivered?"
"It was sent in, and the princess found it."
"That's good."
Xiao Qingji grinned.
"That's good..."
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