Beneath the city wall gate, the fire blazed fiercely.
Scouts had already gone ahead to notify the magistrate of Chiyan County.
After the initial formation separated, Qin Zhaoqiong spurred her horse forward.
"Your humble servant, Zhou Yanqing, the magistrate of Chiyan County, pays respects to Your Highness the Princess!"
"Magistrate Zhou, please rise. You've worked hard."
Qin Zhaoyue lifted the curtain and peeked out. After advancing to the fifth rank, her hearing and eyesight were even better than before, and she could see clearly even through the rain.
The magistrate's blue satin official robes were so worn that they were no longer legible.
The front of the garment was soaked through and turned a dark brown, with mud splashing from the shoulders down to the knees, and the wet hem hung heavily.
The rain was as fine as needles, and Qin Zhaoyue could clearly see that the water droplets falling down her clothes were murky, showing how dirty her official robes were.
A few stray strands of hair clung tightly to his cheekbones, mixed with bits of grass, forming clumps. His face was bluish from the moisture, his cheeks were sunken, and his eye bags were especially deep...
Qin Zhaoyue felt that he could at least say a couple of lines from Animal World.
"It's no trouble at all, no trouble at all..." Zhou Yanqing accepted the gift, his face full of excitement.
"The grain and medicines that His Highness dispatched have solved our urgent problem."
However, I discovered that although it was raining today, the water level of the Qingyao River was actually dropping.
It wasn't until His Highness's personal guards came to inform him that the downstream Mingyan County had completed the flood discharge dredging.
On behalf of the people of Chiyan County, Zhou Yanqing expressed their gratitude to His Highness for saving their lives!
As he spoke, he knelt down straight, his knees hitting the ground and splashing mud and water everywhere.
The moment I lowered my head, a pair of military boots appeared before my eyes.
Qin Zhaoqiong nimbly dismounted, grabbing his shoulder with one hand to prevent him from falling flat on his face.
"It's my duty; there's no need to be so formal."
"Yes, yes, yes..." Zhou Yanqing stammered, his expression embarrassed as he was helped to his feet.
"I am overwhelmed with emotion... Your Highness, please come into the city. A residence has been prepared for you to rest."
Qin Zhaoqiong frowned slightly upon hearing this. Wasn't she supposed to be staying at the county government office?
Zhou Yanqing noticed this and quickly explained:
"Your Highness, rest assured, it was the merchants in the city who voluntarily donated upon hearing that the disaster relief team had arrived."
The five-courtyard vacant house was spacious yet not luxurious, and it was not far from the county government office.
Qin Zhaoqiong instinctively wanted to refuse, but then she thought of the officials who had accompanied her and had been traveling for half a day without rest, and how everyone was exhausted in Mingyan County.
Most importantly... Sixth Sister must be very tired.
Thinking it over, she agreed, "Okay."
The disaster relief team entered the city in a grand procession. It was late and raining, but the rapid clatter of hooves still attracted the attention of the residents on the street.
Many people secretly spied on the scene, but not a single person came out.
"Your Highness, in order to prevent bandits from taking advantage of the flood, I have imposed a curfew."
Qin Zhaoqiong nodded. It was right to use extraordinary measures in extraordinary times.
Before long, the group arrived at the five-courtyard house.
Just as Zhou Yanqing said, the house occupies a considerable area, and the materials and colors used are all within acceptable limits.
However, the pavilions, towers, and winding corridors in the garden are quite well-organized, and do not look like they have been idle for a long time.
Not being in the military, Qin Zhaoqiong wasn't so intolerant of even the slightest imperfection, and thus did not object.
"Your Highness, hot water and meals have been prepared in advance."
"Thank you for your trouble."
"Of course, of course. Your Highness, please rest early and go to the government office tomorrow to oversee the flood control efforts."
Qin Zhaoqiong waved her hand, "No need, give us a couple of quarters of an hour to rest, we'll discuss matters during our meal later."
Zhou Yanqing quickly bowed and agreed, "Your Highness cares deeply for the people, then I will wait for you in the main hall."
"Yes, and there's no need for servants in the mansion; there are personal attendants."
"yes!"
In the backyard, Qin Zhaoyue was assigned the biggest and best room, and she did not refuse her elder sister's kindness.
Hot water was readily available; buckets of it were carried into the house.
"There's no time for that, let's just clean up first." With that, he closed his eyes, spread his arms, and ignored everything else.
Everyone else is used to it, but their princess avoids moving if possible.
Six members of the Mo Group were guarding the area, and there were still eight maids inside the house, not counting the Xuanji Guard they had just taken in.
The process was orderly: some people were taking off their clothes, others were preparing hot water and towels to wash their bodies, still others were drying their hair, and still others were using small charcoal stoves to dry their clothes.
Before the time it takes to drink a cup of tea is up, Qin Zhaoyue is already comfortably lounging on the couch.
"What are we waiting for? The two teams take turns cleaning. This awful weather is so sticky and uncomfortable."
No one else said it was inappropriate, but the Sixth Princess was a bit... strange.
They left everything to these "servants," truly cementing their reputation for laziness.
But there were no usual rules for the wealthy and powerful; it was common for them to eat at the same table with servants and to wash themselves in her bedroom.
Everyone quickly began washing up, while Qin Zhaoyue, who was lying on the couch looking exhausted, quietly raised her eyes slightly.
The maids washed each other, played around, splashed water, and frolicked...
Oh ho ho! Shouldn't we at least get a membership?
Sure enough, they took off their clothes, washed themselves... and each went their own way!
Where is the team spirit of the Qingluan Guard? Where is the camaraderie among the sisters?
If you don't even take off your underwear, wiping it off with it sticky on your body is pointless. How can it feel comfortable when it's sticky?
And why are they all turning their backs? Who are they trying to protect themselves from? She's a princess, you know!
In broad daylight... no, it was a dark and stormy night, with no spring light in the room whatsoever. It looked just like some short dramas where people are tricked into coming in to be killed.
The first fifteen episodes were full of hints and ambiguity, so I saved up my breakfast money and topped up my account, and guess what? I got a refund!
The Mo Group acted swiftly; before Qin Zhaoyue's resentment had even subsided, everything was already taken care of.
Just then, a guard came from outside, saying that the Princess had come to summon him.
Qin Zhaoyue reluctantly got up and walked out with her hands in her pockets.
Next door was his elder sister's bedroom, which she had just cleaned up, but Meng Jian was already inside.
Qin Zhaoyue understood what she meant, and had the other members of the Ink Group guard the area, while she only took Sui Mo inside.
Besides the group of four, there was another familiar face, the princess's deputy general, who had previously been in charge of escorting disaster relief grain with the garrison.
Chiyan County was the most severely affected area in Qingyao Prefecture, so naturally we stayed there.
After closing the door, Qin Zhaoqiong went straight to the point, "Tell me about the disaster relief situation in Chiyan County, and about that Magistrate Zhou..."
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