What good news?
Li Qi thought of the Empress's veiled questions about recent rumors and the marriage of the Third Princess, and felt that his years of hard work had not been in vain and that there was hope for further progress.
She has climbed from a poor scholar to where she is today, and what supports her is her endless ambition.
She was always thinking about taking a step further, so she kept guessing the Queen's intentions and also thought about several princesses in detail.
The biological father of the third princess and his "ignorance" by the empress caught her attention. She inquired about a lot of information indirectly, and combined with the fundraising matter, she vaguely guessed what the Queen wanted.
She made bold contact, and Her Majesty did not disappoint. She even invited several princesses to the court, and even the third princess came to the Ministry of Revenue...
She suppressed her joy and looked at Li Yuxin: "You have great potential as the Third Prince, and you may have a chance to become the Queen in the future."
As for her, she will become the father-in-law of the emperor, and her title will be hereditary in the future. Then their Li family will truly have a new status!
Li Yuxin's heart skipped a beat and he almost couldn't keep the smile on his face.
Not to mention how much thought and planning you put into your daily life, and how you comfort yourself to accept your fate and reality. He is just an ordinary man in the boudoir. He has the same dream as many young men: to meet a good person and spend the rest of his life together.
He also wants to marry someone he loves and who loves him.
Maybe he had told too many lies and had been deceived. When he thought of this, the first person that came to his mind was Gu Jinke, whom he had mentioned to Xue Luan.
He didn't know how he came out of the study. He wandered around the house in a daze, and saw his mother's other illegitimate girls, her beautiful concubines and servants. Finally, he came to his father's yard and saw him from afar through the window.
He looks 70% like his father. His father is naturally very handsome. Even though he has a child, the smile on his face is still innocent and endearing.
"Do you think Qi Niang will like this dress when I wear it?" He held up a beautiful dress and let the servant compare it, his pretty face full of admiration.
The waiter nodded quickly.
"Will that be better looking than the new servant Wan?" he asked again?
The servant nodded repeatedly. In fact, if he were to say, the husband of their family was naturally the most handsome, but he was too naive and too attached to his wife. He also didn't have a supportive father, which annoyed Lord Li.
Li Yuxin saw this scene from afar through the window and suddenly laughed.
Well, what should I do with someone I like?
Become his father in the future?
But deep down, I always feel unwilling. If I could give him a chance... that would be great.
Unlike Li Qi's joy, Master Jiang returned home worriedly.
Jiang Mo brought her dinner, and after eating with her, he casually mentioned, "Grandma, didn't they say there would be an earthquake in the Qingcheng area recently? Is there any news now?"
Jiang Taifu took a sip of tea. She didn't think much about it. Children usually pay attention to these things. She said immediately: "I don't know. Her Highness the Princess has taken people there, and there is no other news."
Jiang Mo heaved a sigh of relief, but before he could completely relax, he couldn't help but feel anxious again.
"But at that time, I saw the Third Princess and the Fifth Princess swearing solemnly in the court, and His Majesty also looked worried. I'm afraid Qingcheng Mansion can't escape this disaster." said Master Jiang.
She could vaguely sense that the Third and Fifth Princesses had recently been paying attention to Qingcheng Mansion. Even Prime Minister Gongzhong, who had just returned to the court not long ago, was also looking there.
The teacup in Jiang Mo's hand shook, and the hot tea spilled on his hand.
Although he knew deep down that Gu Jinke was willing to make a trip for this, it meant that there was a great possibility of an earthquake in Qingcheng, he just had a lucky glimmer in his heart. Now, after hearing what his grandmother said, he could no longer control the worries that he had suppressed on a daily basis, and he lost his composure.
Master Jiang frowned. Her mind was still on the Queen's question. She didn't pay much attention to Jiang Mo. When she saw Jiang Mo spill the hot tea on his hand, she couldn't help but mutter, "Why are you so careless?"
She hurriedly called the servant over to clean up Jiang Mo. Jiang Mo also took the opportunity to calm down, then sat down and looked at Master Jiang. He found that she was frowning, and couldn't help but worry: "Grandma, why are you worried?"
Master Jiang glanced at him and said, "Your marriage."
The child has grown up now, and since he asked, Master Jiang was not reluctant to explain.
"The Queen summoned me to have a private conversation today. The hidden meaning in her words was that for a man, getting married is the most important thing in life. I also want to ask you what you think."
Jiang Mo was now completely out of control of his emotions. All the tea in the cup he had just picked up spilled onto the ground. The cup also slipped out of his hand, rolled on the ground for a few circles, and then broke into pieces somewhere it hit.
Jiang Mo's face was as pale as the inside of a teacup that had fallen and broken into pieces.
His obvious abnormality made Master Jiang frown: "What's wrong with you?"
Jiang Mo was stunned and didn't hear her words clearly for a moment: "Ah?"
Master Jiang looked at him and asked, "You don't like the Third Princess?"
Jiang Mo came back to his senses and nodded instinctively.
Master Jiang frowned at him, then he relaxed his brows and smiled, "Then you don't have to worry, I wanted to refuse it in the first place. From what I can see from your majesty, it's because the Third Princess is interested in this matter. I was worried that I didn't know your feelings and might hinder your future. If you don't like it, that's the best. Then you can pick up the painting page again and choose one you like, and the royal family won't pay attention to it anymore."
She paused and said, "That's right. I don't want you to be associated with the royal family."
Especially the three princesses.
Tutor Jiang has been an official for decades and can be considered an old man who has accompanied the Empress all the way and has taught several princesses to grow up. She understands the Empress and also has a general understanding of the princesses. Except for the Crown Princess Gu Jinke, whom she cannot quite figure out, she feels that she sees through everything else.
For example, would the empress be indifferent to the child left by the "unfavored" Third Princess and her beloved servant Yuan?
not necessarily!
If you really care about Xian Guijun, will he raise this child without any reservations? No barriers, like treating your own children? Could the third princess grow up safely and smoothly?
For example, the princess. When Jiang Mo was a child, she sent him to the palace. Jiang Mo and the princess were close, so as the tutor, she naturally observed them.
Her Highness is quite intelligent and seems to be favored, but for a child that young, studying, calligraphy and martial arts are like training in the coldest days of winter and the hottest days of summer. He is also particularly good at knowing when to stop.
A spoiled child who has not yet matured is so thoughtful and hardworking. Is the princess really living a good life?
Not necessarily.
She had seen clearly that several princesses had entered the court this year, and she did not want her beloved grandson to be caught up in the struggle in the future.
She touched Jiang Mo's head and said, "Your mother and father are both mediocre in talent and officialdom, and I am also old. If I am gone and you marry into the royal family, I will not be able to protect you. The influence and reputation of my connections left over these years may become a handle for ambitious people to hinder you."
If she died, her students and friends would take care of her beloved child, but this was both a blessing and a curse. If she fell into the hands of an ambitious person with great power, he would definitely use Jiang Mo to the utmost.
She sighed, and Jiang Mo's lips had to stop moving.
He naturally knew his grandmother's concerns and worries about him. But, is he going to give up on Gu Jinke?
Just thinking about this hypothesis, Jiang Mo felt like he couldn't breathe. How could he let go of the person who was engraved in his heart and accompanied him through so many years?
He looked up at Master Jiang, his eyes firm: "Grandmother!"
"Hmm?" Master Jiang looked at him.
…
The storm in the capital passed and the sun came out. However, the sun only stayed high in the sky for a few days and it was not able to generate any warmth in the late autumn.
The empress sat high on the phoenix chair, looking at the memorial she had just received that had been delivered to Kyoto via an express route of eight hundred miles, and listening to the words of the dishevelled postman below.
But as he spoke, the adults who were attending the morning court could not help but concentrate and frown.
The young general's voice was dry and hoarse. "Five days ago, a heavy rainstorm hit the Qingcheng area, followed by an earthquake that stretched for thousands of miles. Cracks appeared in the ground, and the city walls, temples, government offices, and houses collapsed. Many people were killed or injured."
The letter in the Queen's hand trembled.
The Third Princess immediately stepped forward, looking worried: "Mother Queen, the earthquake has been going on for five days, and we don't know what the situation in Qingcheng Prefecture will be like today. We must speed up the allocation of money and food for disaster relief."
The fifth princess also stepped forward and said, "Mother, I am deeply saddened by the disaster in Qingcheng Prefecture. I am willing to go and provide disaster relief."
Her words were sonorous and powerful, and her face was full of grief and a sense of duty.
The queen glanced at them, then looked at the other ministers: "What about you, do you have anything to say?"
Li Qi looked around and immediately stood up: "Your Majesty, immediate disaster relief is indeed the top priority."
The queen nodded and rubbed her brows. She suddenly looked at the messenger on the ground: "Where is the princess? What did the princess do when you came from Qingcheng Mansion?"
Tutor Jiang thought of what Jiang Mo had said to her two days ago, and her gaze shifted over.
The eyes of the ministers in the court were focused on her again. Yes, the princess went to Qingcheng Mansion in advance.
The postman knelt on the ground in shock, "Her Royal Highness?"
But she didn't dare to look up. She just licked her lips which were cracked and bleeding from the rush of travel. Her mind was still a little dazed, and she blurted out without thinking: "Your Highness... When I set out, Your Highness was saving people."
When Lord Wu handed her the memorial, it was raining heavily. Lord Wu took a raincoat and hurriedly told her, "Go to the capital quickly to report the news. His Highness is still rescuing people. I will also go to help."
When she ran out to get the horse, she looked back for some unknown reason and saw Her Royal Highness the Crown Princess and Lord Wu and others carrying the collapsed stone beams and pillars with their bare hands in the rain to save people.
Her eyes welled up at that moment, and most of the fear of the earthquake disappeared. She was also deeply impressed, and when the Queen asked, she almost blurted out the answer.
The ministers in the court were all surprised for a moment. Did the princess actually go deep into Qingcheng Mansion?
Three, the fifth princess lowered her eyes. The Queen paused holding the memorial.
The postman's mind suddenly came to a head, and he continued, "After His Highness came to Qingcheng Prefecture, he not only informed us of the possible earthquake, but also stored medicinal materials and food, and even taught all the people how to escape..."
She became more and more excited as she spoke, and finally concluded: "The earthquake in Qingcheng Prefecture happened in the middle of the night, and the greatest credit for our escape should go to Her Royal Highness the Princess!"
After listening to bad news for so long, the corners of the queen's mouth finally lifted slightly, revealing a little smile.
The ministers in the court were even more shocked. What Gu Jinke had done was not reported to the emperor, so they didn't know about it. However, if she really submitted a memorial, she should have been reported to the censor before the earthquake.
The princesses also felt the reaction of the ministers in the court. The third princess couldn't help but regret. Why did she remain silent at that time? She was the first one to spread the news of the earthquake, so if anyone in Qingcheng Prefecture wants to thank someone, they should thank her! And if she insisted on speaking, and the Queen sent her, she could also do these things, these merits...
The third princess concealed her heartache and other uncomfortable feelings in her heart and pursed her lips.
The fifth princess also had mixed feelings, sometimes regretful and sometimes confused. She knew about the earthquake before anyone else, and in her previous life, Gu Jinke did a terrible job of disaster relief in Qingcheng Prefecture, and the people were complaining. Why is everything different now that she has left early?
The Queen's gaze swept across the two of them indifferently, and her eyes were complicated for a moment. She suddenly said, "Third Brother, you are in the Ministry of Revenue now, so you and Minister Li will arrange for disaster relief supplies to be delivered to Qingcheng Prefecture."
The third princess was stunned for a moment, then she got rid of her complicated emotions and was ecstatic. She and Li Qi stepped forward: "Your son/minister, accept the order."
The queen nodded slightly. The houses collapsed, and only one in ten survived... She looked at Li Qi and said, "Give me more money. The specific amount will be determined and I will review it later."
Li Qi agreed and looked at the Third Princess, both of them had a gleam in their eyes. After the court session, they hurried to the Ministry of Revenue.
…
During the five days, the disaster relief process that Gu Jinke had arranged in advance was still proceeding in an orderly manner, gradually getting on the right track, and being improved in practice.
The wounded are treated according to the severity of their injuries. Those with minor injuries that do not affect their ability to move are also required to do some miscellaneous chores, such as sanitation and disinfection, and meals.
The people outside were divided into several groups, and provided work in exchange for relief and reconstruction.
One group is still looking for rescue efforts, while the other is already responsible for reconstruction and repairs.
Due to the forceful takeover of medicinal herbs and food previously, the past few days have been relatively peaceful. Anyone who had tried to trade them at high prices privately was reported to the authorities and their stocks were confiscated.
What made Gu Jinke feel helpless was that she seemed to be entangled, for example, now?
She had just walked out of the tent for the seriously injured when a water bag was handed to her: "Your Highness, drink some water."
When Gu Jinke raised his head, he was stared at by a pair of burning eyes. It was Qiao Xi, the young master of the Qiao family. Qiao Chen was standing next to him, his eyes struggling and dazed for a moment.
Gu Jinke paused slightly. She had become familiar with these two looks in the past few days.
She looked to the other side.
As expected, Sang Yi came over, bowed, and also held a water bag, smiling gently: "Your Highness has been on patrol for a day, so you should have some hot tea."
Qiao Xi looked over, his eyes flickered slightly: "It was Qiao Xi who was inconsiderate. He has never served anyone before, so what he did was not thoughtful and considerate enough."
Sang Yi's smile froze slightly.
Gu Jinke took the water bag from Sang Yi, unscrewed it and took a sip, then looked at Qiao Xi: "Mr. Qiao, you can go do something you are good at."
Seeing her protecting him like this, Sang Yi felt sweet in his heart and his eyes were full of tears as he looked at her.
Now it was Qiao Xi's turn to smile awkwardly, but he was not an ordinary person after all, and in a moment, there was no abnormality on his face: "Qiao Xi has already dealt with the affairs of the Qiao family, and has also sent the surplus food to Your Highness. It's just that Qiao Xi admires Your Highness's style, is grateful for Your Highness's life-saving grace, and is impressed by Your Highness's erudition and disaster relief measures. He wants to learn more from Your Highness. Your Highness... won't refuse Qiao Xi, right?"
As he spoke, the expression on his face changed with his words, sometimes confident, sometimes admiring, sometimes grateful, sometimes respectful and longing, and finally his face looked nervous, which was very real.
Gu Jinke: ...Yes, that's right. He never makes mistakes and even cooperates with Gu Jinke's work very well. He donates money, materials and food. The reasons he gives are legitimate and reasonable. His feelings are sincere and he is very positive. He is eager to learn and ask questions. His purpose is to stay by Gu Jinke's side, which makes people feel guilty if they refuse him.
Gu Jinke could only nod slightly, and saw the young master smiling with his eyes curved, his eyebrows and eyes shining, like a child who got candy. Now he didn't look like an eloquent and capable manager of a noble family at all.
However, when Gu Jinke looked at the smile on his face and then at the dilapidated scene around him, the depression he had just felt after walking out of the wounded's tent dissipated a little, and he felt a little more relaxed.
Sang Yi looked at this scene and suddenly felt a sense of crisis.
The reason why Gu Jinke allowed Qiao Xi to stay by his side was of course not just because of Qiao Xi's words.
As a famous family manager in Qingcheng Prefecture, Qiao Xi actively cooperates with all of Gu Jinke's actions. Naturally, Gu Jinke also needs to set an example and give reassurance and hope to other aristocratic families in Qingcheng Prefecture who are waiting and watching.
After all, Qingcheng Prefecture was affected by the earthquake. Although Gu Jinke tried his best to reduce the losses, some losses were still inevitable.
Moreover, it rained in Qingcheng Prefecture for several days in a row, and the food and medicinal materials she stored were limited. After eliminating some of those that were affected by moisture and earthquakes and could not be used, a large number of them were reduced. She now needs to rely on the remaining supplies and the support of other families to hold on until the food and medicine allocated by the surrounding areas and the court arrive.
The failure of the princess in the original book sounded a wake-up call for her, and she had to think more carefully. Otherwise, the people of Qingcheng Prefecture, who were hungry and had their homes destroyed, would surely riot, and would scatter from Qingcheng Prefecture and flock to other prefectures.
But winter is here, and it will not be easy for the hungry and cold refugees to travel to other cities. By then, there will probably be starving people everywhere.
She couldn't help but look towards the direction of the capital.
I just don’t know who will be responsible for allocating disaster relief supplies this time?
Will everything go smoothly?
The author has something to say:
If you have time on Sunday, how about 10,000 yuan a day?
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