Chapter 777 I have raised you since childhood, we are brothers
The officers of the Dali Temple acted quickly.
In just half an hour, Gu Lu had gathered all the available servants and mobilized a team of troops from the Jingji Guards, and marched towards the south of the city in a mighty manner.
Qian Zhenyun and Gu Lu rode side by side, the wind and snow blew in their faces, making their faces hurt.
"Brother Lu, thank you very much." Qian Zhenyun's voice was blown away by the wind, but it was sincere.
"What are you thanking me for?" Gu Lu's face remained serious. He tightened the reins, and the horse's hooves made a dull sound in the snow. "I've been watching you since you were a child. We are brothers."
He glanced at Qian Zhenyun and softened his tone, "Don't worry, I've already sent people to keep a close eye on the Imperial Household Department. If they dare to pretend to obey, I'll definitely report them!"
Qian Zhenyun nodded without saying anything more. He knew that Gu Lu would always keep his word.
When they arrived in the south of the city, the scene before them was even more shocking than they had imagined.
The once low-rise but relatively tidy houses were now mostly ruins, their broken walls crumbling in the wind and snow. Rubble, wooden beams, and mud, mixed with snow, filled the narrow streets.
Sporadic cries came from deep within the ruins, making people feel nervous.
Many victims, thinly dressed, huddled under the remaining eaves, their faces pale and lips purple. There were elderly people and children, their eyes filled with despair and numbness.
Qian Zhenyun's heart sank suddenly.
Without giving it much thought, he immediately dismounted and strode towards the nearest collapsed house.
"Someone! Clear the rubble immediately! Save people first!"
Gu Lu also immediately ordered the officers to take action.
The Dali Temple officials, who were usually responsible for investigating cases and arresting people, were now transformed into porters and rescue workers. Regardless of the dirt and fatigue, they moved the rubble with their bare hands and carefully rescued the trapped people from the rubble.
The cold wind was howling, but the snowflakes were still falling densely.
Qian Zhenyun personally helped the officers carry the heavy objects. His hands soon turned red from the cold and his knuckles became stiff, but he did not stop.
He saw an old woman trapped under a wooden beam, her face purple and her breathing weak. He immediately ordered several officers to carefully lift the wooden beam and rescue the old woman.
"Is there a doctor?" Qian Zhenyun asked loudly.
Gu Lu immediately sent someone to look for a familiar clinic in the city.
However, the disaster was far more severe than expected. There were so many injured that the clinic was short of doctors and medicine.
Qian Zhenyun thought of his father's medical skills and of Gu Qingchen's investigation into Gu Lanxin yesterday, and his heart moved.
He looked at Gu Lu and said, "Brother Lu, can I borrow the Qian Mansion's clinic?"
"Of course!" Gu Lu said without hesitation, "I'll send someone to notify Uncle Qian immediately and ask him to bring all the medicinal herbs he can use and come here immediately!"
He knew that Doctor Qian's medical skills were second to none in Beijing.
Soon, Doctor Qian rushed to the south of the city with his apprentices and a large amount of medicinal materials.
They ignored the cold and immediately started treating the wounded.
Qian Zhenyun also directed the officers to build temporary shelters in relatively open areas, and to use cotton clothes and cloth "requisitioned" from the Imperial Household Department to keep the victims warm.
The officers of the Dali Temple all have a background in martial arts, are strong and quick.
Under their leadership, some people who were less affected by the disaster also began to spontaneously join the rescue and construction work.
Gu Lu did not leave. He personally took charge of the situation and maintained order at the scene.
He saw Qian Zhenyun's busy figure in the wind and snow, he saw the sweat on his forehead mixing with the snowflakes on his face, and he saw his tired but determined eyes.
Qian Zhenyun is completely different from the inconspicuous companion who usually studies beside the prince.
He suddenly understood why Qingchen chose Qian Zhenyun to perform such a drama at the palace banquet.
This young man is responsible, courageous, and loyal.
At the same time, the East Palace.
Zhao Chen sat in the study, listening to the eunuch's report, a cold smile appeared at the corner of his lips.
"Qian Zhenyun went to the south of the city?" he asked softly, with a hint of nonchalance in his voice.
"Yes, Your Highness," the eunuch replied respectfully. "Doctor Qian has also gone with his disciples from the clinic. Gu Lu, the Junior Secretary of the Dali Temple, has also personally gone to the south of the city. He has also mobilized all the Dali Temple officials and requisitioned winter supplies from the Ministry of Internal Affairs."
The teacup in Zhao Chenan's hand suddenly paused.
Gu Lu?
He suddenly raised his head, a sinister look flashing in his eyes.
Gu Lu actually intervened?
This was beyond his expectation. He had thought that Gu Lu would ignore Qian Zhenyun's affairs in order to avoid suspicion.
"Lawyer Gu went to the south of the city?" Zhao Chen'an's voice suddenly turned cold. "He's a Junior Justice of the Dali Temple. Why is he not trying cases there but going off to provide disaster relief? Who does he think he is?"
"Your Highness, Gu Shaoqing said that the disaster in the south of the city is urgent. The Dali Temple has been ordered to handle the case and needs to maintain order and treat the wounded." The eunuch answered cautiously.
"Investigating the case by imperial order?" Zhao Chen'an sneered, "When did I ever order him to provide disaster relief?"
He stood up suddenly and paced back and forth in the study.
Gu Lu's intervention caused a slight deviation in Zhao Chenan's plan.
Gu Junze's nephew was taught by Gu Junze himself.
His personal appearance meant that the Duke of Zhenguo's Mansion was indirectly standing on Qian Zhenyun's side.
This made Zhao Chenan feel a little bit tricky.
He originally wanted to leave Qian Zhenyun isolated and helpless, to fend for himself in this desperate situation. But now, Gu Lu's appearance undoubtedly sent reinforcements to Qian Zhenyun.
"Is there any trouble at the Ministry of Internal Affairs?" Zhao Chen'an asked.
"Your Highness, Shaoqing Gu is holding the token from the Dali Temple and speaking in a firm tone. The Ministry of Internal Affairs dares not disobey and has already sent people to deliver the first batch of supplies." The eunuch replied in a low voice.
Zhao Chenan's face darkened completely.
He had thought that the Ministry of Internal Affairs would use various excuses to prevaricate Qian Zhenyun's actions, but he hadn't expected that Gu Lu would be so overbearing.
"Hmph!" Zhao Chen'an snorted coldly, "Gu Lu is really good at bullying others by taking advantage of his power!"
He walked to the desk, picked up the pen and wrote a few words on the paper.
"Go, send someone to tell the Minister of Revenue that the disaster in the city is severe and relief supplies are in short supply. Request that he fully cooperate with the Crown Prince and not let anything slip through the cracks."
The eunuch took the order and left.
Zhao Chenan put down his pen, a sinister gleam in his eyes.
Gu Lu, do you think you can save Qian Zhenyun in this way?
I want to see how long your Zhenguo Mansion can protect him!
He would not let Qian Zhenyun turn over easily. He wanted to make Qian Zhenyun a complete sinner in front of all the people!
He wanted to let Gu Qingchen see with his own eyes how the man with whom he was "in love" became disgraced and left with nothing!
He wanted to make the entire Zhenguo Mansion pay a heavy price for Gu Qingchen's willfulness!
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