Inside the Golden Palace, a commotion erupted as each minister argued over who should be sent to assist in dealing with the locust plague.
So how should we deal with these locusts?
Who has ever controlled locusts? And who has the methods to control them?
A whole host of questions were thrown out at me.
Just when everyone was at a loss, a loud voice suddenly rang out, "Your Majesty, I have a memorial to present!"
In an instant, all eyes in the court were focused on the man in the blue official robe.
Shen Zhongchangshi, also known as Shen Congzhi, stepped out from the crowd, bowed respectfully with his hands clasped, and looked at the emperor high on the platform. He said calmly, "Your Majesty, I have a candidate to recommend."
Li Qiji asked, "Minister Shen, what insightful opinion do you have?"
Shen Congzhi said, "My ministers, do you know that there is a particularly powerful person in our palace?"
The ministers were all talking at once, wondering who it was. How come they didn't know?
"Oh, I wonder who you're referring to, Minister Shen?" Li Qiji asked.
Su Xu, who was standing below the stage, now knew who Shen Congzhi was talking about. How dare that old man!
Shen Congzhi then slowly spoke, "That is our current Empress."
Upon hearing this, the ministers exclaimed, "Good heavens! Isn't that a major grain producer?"
I heard that they even managed to grow a high yield of grain this year!
Moreover, it's not just one type of high-yield grain, but many kinds!
"We agree!"
After the ministers finished their discussion, they all felt that the Empress was the best person to be sent to the disaster area to provide relief and control the locusts. She was truly a talented individual!
"Your Majesty, I object!" Su Xu said.
Li Qiji finally heard someone object and quickly said, "Then what does Minister Su mean?"
"Your Majesty, the Empress is merely a woman. How can she go to a disaster area a hundred miles away to provide relief? If word gets out, what will other countries think of us?"
"Wouldn't we be putting our problems on display for other countries to laugh at?"
"Does our country have no men left? How could we send a woman to do disaster relief and control locusts?"
Shen Congzhi was displeased and directly retorted, "Lord Su, this old minister does not agree with what you have said!"
"Our queen is the reincarnation of a true phoenix. She can not only research high-yield grains, but also create exquisite and beautiful glass."
They even knew so much, and created the multiplication table, keeping our country's accounts perfectly organized.
"If we don't send Her Majesty the Empress to deal with this locust plague, who else in our court can manage it?"
"Therefore, I believe that Her Majesty the Empress is the only one suitable to be the imperial envoy for this disaster relief and locust control. Furthermore, sending the Empress there will appease the people and allow us to reassure them that she is working alongside them to control the locusts. This is also a time to demonstrate the benevolence of the royal family."
"We, your humble servants, second this proposal and request that Her Majesty the Empress be dispatched to Sihuang Prefecture to provide disaster relief and control the locust plague!"
"We, your humble servants, second this proposal and request that Her Majesty the Empress be dispatched to Sihuang Prefecture to provide disaster relief and control the locust plague!"
"We, your humble servants, second this proposal and request that Her Majesty the Empress be dispatched to Sihuang Prefecture to provide disaster relief and control the locust plague!"
Immediately, all the ministers in the court agreed, thinking that Shen Congzhi was right and that the Empress should go.
Su Xu was displeased and looked at Shen Congzhi, saying, "Lord Shen, is it because of Consort Shen's matter that you are targeting the Empress like this?"
Shen Congzhi, however, said calmly, "Lord Su, be careful what you say! This old minister does not agree with such words!"
"Your Majesty, what do you think? This old minister's suggestion is very much in line with the actual situation."
"If Her Majesty the Empress can grow high-yield grains, she must also have a way to control locusts!"
Li Qiji, sitting in his high position, was put on the spot, caught in a dilemma. After all, Shen Congzhi was right. From a personal point of view, he didn't want Guan Zhiyue to go, but from the perspective of people's livelihood, Guan Zhiyue was very capable and could grow high-yield grains.
"Alright, let's discuss this matter later. Don't say any more. Let me consider it!" Li Qiji stood up and said to the ministers below.
Hua Quan quickly said, "Court is adjourned!"
The ministers had no choice but to clasp their hands in greeting and bow, shouting in unison, "Respectfully seeing off Your Majesty! Long live the Emperor!"
After court, Li Qiji headed towards Guan Zhiyue's cold palace. Hua Quan and Ji Wu followed behind him, not knowing what to say. The ministers in the court were just a bunch of rabble.
How could they send the Empress to such a place? It's utterly disrespectful to her!
"Lord Ji, what do you think?"
Ji Wu, sword in hand, shook his head indifferently and said, "What else can we do? Just do as they say!"
"Besides, I think what the ministers said makes some sense!"
Hua Quan rolled his eyes at Ji Wu and said disdainfully, "No wonder you're single; no girl likes you."
Ji Wu was embarrassed—what had he said wrong again?!
Hua Quan smiled and ran forward, catching up with Li Qiji's pace!
"Your Majesty, have you decided how you will approach the Empress once you arrive at the Cold Palace?" Hua Quan asked tentatively.
Li Qiji glanced at Hua Quan but didn't reply. Instead, he started to think to himself, "Yes! How should I explain this to her when I see her later?"
Tell her that there is a locust plague in Sihuang Prefecture, and the ministers have recommended you to go and provide disaster relief, while also controlling the locusts.
Or is it that I know you are very good at managing crops and hope you can go to Sihuang Prefecture to help with this?
As Li Qiji walked and pondered, he arrived at the Cold Palace where Guan Zhiyue was.
Just as the eunuch at the door was about to kneel down and loudly proclaim his rites, Li Qiji raised his hand to stop him and quietly walked in.
Guan Zhiyue looked at Li Qiji entering through the main gate with some surprise. Shouldn't he be in the Imperial Study reviewing memorials at this time?
How did I end up here?
"Why are you here?" Since Guan Zhiyue was released from confinement, she no longer bowed respectfully to Li Qiji. At first, Li Qiji took it to heart, but later he gradually stopped caring.
"I wanted to come and see you. I wonder what the Empress's decision is?" Li Qiji asked.
Guan Zhiyue turned her head and looked at Li Qiji with an expression as if he were a monster, and said, "Not so good? Your Majesty, please tell me! What is your ultimate purpose in coming to see me?"
Li Qiji touched his nose somewhat awkwardly, then made a small, barely audible sound in his throat: "The minister wants you to control the locusts."
"What? What did you say? I can't hear you!"
"You're tasked with controlling the locusts!"
"What? You want me to leave the palace to control the locusts? Which idiot said that?"
“Shen Congzhi, Minister Shen, is also Shen Na’s father!” Li Qiji explained.
Guan Zhiyue laughed and said, "I thank his ancestors for eight generations!"
Li Qiji said, "Don't worry, I'll handle it. I won't let you go."
Guan Zhiyue was so happy she almost danced for joy, laughing as she said, "Stop, stop! Who said I wasn't going? I'm going! It's just dealing with locusts, no problem! I'm going!!!"
"When will you get up?"
Guan Zhiyue thought to herself that she could finally leave this awful place, even if it was only temporary. But the sky's the limit, and she could enjoy herself while she could!
Li Qiji was already petrified. Shouldn't women stay far away when they hear about this?
He was contemplating suicide; didn't he want to? Why was his empress so different from everyone else?
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