As they were talking, Imperial Physician Qin came in carrying the medicine. Before he even got close, Gu Yuzhi smelled the bitterness of the medicine. His face immediately scrunched up, and he covered his mouth with his hands. Suddenly, a thought struck him: "Imperial Physician Qin, please put the medicine here first. I will drink it after I finish discussing things with Chief Secretary Xie."
His little thoughts were practically written all over his face, so how could Judge Qin not see them? He just stood there silently with the medicine in his hands, waiting.
Chief Secretary Xie smiled and advised, "Your Highness, I have already had candied fruit prepared..."
Even candied fruit couldn't stop him from not wanting to take his medicine!
Gu Yuzhi turned his head to one side, refusing to look at Judge Qin, as if that would exempt him from taking his medicine.
The Imperial Physician Qin was amused and exasperated by Gu Yuzhi's childish behavior, wishing he could smash the medicine: "Your Highness, even if you're being willful, please consider those of us who have traveled thousands of miles to follow you to the northern desert..."
"Judge Qin!" Chief Secretary Xie interrupted loudly, signaling with his eyes that he should not overstep his bounds, and then tried to smooth things over, "Your Highness, Judge Qin was just in a hurry, I hope Your Highness will not take offense."
Gu Yuzhi, without needing any persuasion, took the medicine from Judge Qin and drank it all in one gulp, forcing himself to swallow it.
His mouth was filled with the taste of medicine, so bitter that he almost vomited.
Because he understood that what Judge Qin said was true, and if something happened to him, none of the people who had come to the Northern Desert with him would have a good ending.
The Imperial Physician Qin took the bowl of medicine, which was now empty, and nodded in satisfaction: "Your Highness's courage has truly impressed me."
Gu Yuzhi blushed slightly at Qin Yuanjian's praise, and pursed her lips tightly to keep from laughing out loud: "Qin Yuanjian, you may leave now."
After Qin, the Imperial Physician, disappeared from the room, Xie Changshi said, "Your Highness, please don't be offended. Qin, the Imperial Physician, has always had a bad temper. Even if the Emperor doesn't drink his medicine, he will still give him a hard time. However, Qin is a disciple of a divine physician, and his medical skills are quite remarkable."
Gu Yuzhi didn't care about that. He knew that Judge Qin had offended someone because of his bad temper, which was why he had come to Mobei with him.
Seeing Gu Yuzhi remain silent, Chief Secretary Xie quickly changed the subject: "This morning, the Prefect of Changzhou came to request an audience, but I refused on the grounds that Your Highness was unwell. Before leaving, the Prefect of Changzhou inquired of me in the side about where Your Highness planned to build your Prince's Mansion."
Gu Yuzhi's little head was spinning quickly: "Before I came here, my mother told me that the most prosperous and safest place in the northern desert is Changzhou. My mother wants me to build a mansion near Changzhou."
But for some reason, he sensed from Xie Changshi's words that the prefect did not want him to establish a prefecture in Changzhou.
Although local officials cannot interfere with where a prince builds his residence, he is an unfavored prince!
Having spent so many years in the palace, Gu Yuzhi, at a young age, already knew how to seek advantage and avoid harm.
Chief Secretary Xie nodded and said, "Your Highness, would you like to conduct some research near Changzhou Prefecture? Also, princely territories are exempt from taxes. Changzhou is prosperous, and I'm afraid the surrounding lands may already be owned."
His point was simple: if you wanted to own land, you could only buy it from the local landowners.
Under normal circumstances, unless something unexpected happens to the landlord's family...
Gu Yuzhi thought for a moment and understood what Chief Secretary Xie meant: "Then what place does Chief Secretary Xie think would be more suitable?"
But where in the northern desert is safer than Changzhou?
Chief Secretary Xie nodded, then summoned the two advisors who were still healthy. The already small room instantly felt crowded. Chief Secretary Xie took an account book and spread it out: "Your Highness, last night we inventoried the treasury. Your Highness's treasury has very little cash left. Besides daily expenses, there are also the salaries and monthly allowances for the staff..."
Seeing Gu Yuzhi staring at him with wide, round eyes, Chief Secretary Xie suddenly remembered that Prince Wen would only begin his education next year, and since he was not favored as a prince, he probably had no one to teach him these things...
Her compassion grew stronger, and her tone became more gentle: "Winter comes early in the northern desert, so it's not suitable to start construction on the mansion. Once Your Highness has determined the location, we'll have to wait until next spring, after the ground thaws."
Gu Yuzhi now understood that the things in his storeroom were simply not enough to support him in building a prince's mansion!
He rested his chin on his hand, his face full of worry; he didn't know what to do.
Gu Yuzhi subtly observed the other two advisors, when one of them said, "It's not just what Chief Secretary Xie said; since His Highness's residence is not yet completed, we can't stay in the inn indefinitely."
This is a problem, that is a problem, there are problems everywhere.
Gu Yuzhi's face scrunched up like a bun, and after a while he said, "These two days, Granny Xu and the others need to rest, so they can stay at the inn for now. If the Prefect of Changzhou requests an audience tomorrow, Chief Secretary Xie, please let him in."
Chief Secretary Xie asked, "What are Your Highness's plans?"
Gu Yuzhi hesitated and said, "I want him to help us find a suitable house to rent or sell."
His mother said that unlike other princes who could choose their fiefdoms early and build their princely residences in advance, the first thing he had to do after arriving here was to find a place to live.
Seeing Chief Secretary Xie nod, his eyes filled with encouragement though he didn't speak, Gu Yuzhi was greatly encouraged: "Even if the prefect doesn't know, he will arrange for brokers. We've just arrived in the northern desert, and if we go to the brokers to inquire, we might not only be misled, but we might also be slaughtered like sheep. But with the prefect's intervention, the brokers won't dare to fool us."
Gu Yuzhi felt a pang of sadness; the closer it got to this moment, the more he missed his mother.
Gu Yuzhi scratched his head: "As for the lack of cash, I'll think of a solution. Of course, Chief Secretary Xie and the others should also think of a solution. If anyone has a good suggestion, I will reward them handsomely."
It was at this time that Gu Yuzhi realized the importance of money to him.
He may not be able to make money, but he can learn.
He suddenly thought of the agricultural and commercial system. If it were real, Wen Xiuzhu might have a solution.
Chief Secretary Xie put away the account book and reminded him, "Now that Your Highness has arrived in the Northwest, it would be best to write to the Emperor to let him know that you are safe and sound."
Gu Yuzhi nodded repeatedly. Although he was "exiled," his elder brother had secretly sent a capable man like Chief Secretary Xie to accompany him. Presumably, his younger brother was not truly meant to be killed.
Having figured this out, Gu Yuzhi smiled and gestured to his stomach with his hand: "I have a lot to say to my brother, so I'll have to trouble Chief Secretary Xie then."
Gu Yuzhi had just recovered from a serious illness and was a little tired after talking for so long. He couldn't help but cover his mouth and yawn. Xie Changshi and the others slowly withdrew.
As one of them descended the stairs, he lowered his voice and said, "Chief Secretary, has His Majesty made any arrangements for His Highness's current predicament?"
Chief Secretary Xie paused slightly, glanced back, and then smiled, "No matter what the Emperor arranges, Your Highness must stand up for yourself. You and I must remember our duties."
Gu Yuzhi was naturally unaware of Xie Changshi's conversation. He got up and casually closed the door, then sat back down in his chair, suppressing his drowsiness as he silently asked, "Wen Xiuzhu, Shu Xiaohan?"
Whether last night was a dream or not, we'll find out now!
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