Chapter 288 Outrageous
Qin Jinzhi placed the diary on the table.
"Now the Jiangnan region is plagued by floods. The prefect of Suzhou is an idiot, and the other prefectures and counties are even worse. No one can match Old Master Wang's ability to govern. Thirty years ago, it was under your governance that the floods in Jiangnan were brought under control. Now that the Jiangnan region is plagued by floods, does Old Master Wang intend to just stand by and watch the people of Jiangnan suffer?"
Old Wang shook his head. "I am nearing the end of my life and have no ability as you claim. If there is nothing else, I will take my leave."
Qin Jinzhi's smile faded. "Back when my grandfather ascended the throne, the Du family forced him to take a concubine. For the sake of the court, my grandmother personally wrote the imperial edict for the selection of concubines. Several old officials resigned in anger because of this, and you were one of them."
Old Wang said coldly, "Since you already know the reason, I will tell you that I will no longer enter the Xiao family's court."
Qin Jinzhi looked at Old Wang and laughed with a hint of sarcasm.
"The Xiao family's court? Have you forgotten that this empire was conquered by my grandmother and my grandfather? This empire belongs to both the Xiao and Zhao families! The emperor's subjects are also my grandmother's subjects."
Old Wang looked at Qin Jinzhi with some shock, then fell silent.
Neither of them spoke to clarify the matter.
Because both of them were trying to protect the Empress's reputation.
After Emperor Jin abducted the bride, Wang Lao did not harbor any resentment towards the empress.
In order to give the empress something to rely on, Wang Lao resigned and became a civil official of the Jin Emperor.
After Emperor Jin ascended the throne, Wang Lao was appointed as the Chief Water Conservancy Commissioner for his meritorious service in controlling floods, and was in charge of water conservancy for the entire Jin state.
But on the third day after he took office, the imperial edict to select a concubine was issued.
After Wei Cha vehemently criticized the emperor, he and Wei Cha resigned from their official posts and returned to their hometown in Jiangnan.
He felt sorry for the Empress, but there was nothing he could do to change the situation.
He had no choice but to leave, and there was no news of him for many years.
Qin Jinzhi accidentally discovered a remarkable book on flood control in the imperial study.
When it was shown to the emperor, he curled his lip in disapproval.
"Take a look and see if the author of that book is named Wang Yongchang."
Qin Jinzhi was somewhat surprised, "Grandfather also read this book?"
The emperor's expression was not good. "Wang Yongchang was the chief waterway commissioner of the Jin state back then. He and Wei Cha resigned from their posts and then disappeared without a trace."
After learning the whole story, Qin Jinzhi sent people to search for him for a whole year.
She only found Wang Yongchang's trail a month ago.
Qin Jinzhi stood up and looked down at him.
"It seems that the Empress Dowager has overestimated you. Senior brother, send the person back."
Qin Jinzhi turned around and went back into the house.
Old Wang glanced at the closed door and left the courtyard.
When Yuecheng returned, Qin Jinzhi was already looking at the diary again with a normal expression.
"Junior sister, you sent people to look for him for so long, and you just let him leave like that?"
Qin Jinzhi calmly said, "He will come back."
Yuecheng sat down next to her and poured her a cup of tea. "I think that old man is very stubborn."
Qin Jinzhi simply continued flipping through the logbook.
"That old man never married."
Time excels at beautifying things.
And one can never truly let go of this beautiful memory.
The idea of the emperor and empress jointly ruling the country is no longer just empty talk.
Wang Yongchang couldn't possibly be unaware of this.
Because of His Majesty, he will no longer enter the court.
However, for the sake of his grandmother's power, Wang Yongchang would certainly become an ally.
He resigned from his post back then out of resentment at his powerlessness, and if given the chance, he would not want the Empress to fall into the same predicament as before.
Yuecheng raised an eyebrow at Qin Jinzhi, "Are you sure the Empress won't punish you?"
Qin Jinzhi put down the logbook. "The situation is under control. My grandmother will only be proud of me."
Yuecheng put his arm on the table. "If I had your brains and methods back then, none of my 131 family members would have died."
Qin Jinzhi looked at Yuecheng, "Senior brother, you were just a child back then."
Yuecheng turned to look at Qin Jinzhi, took out a packet of pine nut candy from his pocket and placed it in front of her.
"After you joined the sect, Yue Shu and I always forgot that you were the junior sister."
Qin Jinzhi opened the oil paper and put the candy in her mouth.
She raised an eyebrow. "Thank you, senior brother."
The next day, Qin Jinzhi inspected several more sections of the river.
All of these were temporarily blocked by human effort.
As evening approached, Qin Jinzhi finally returned to her residence.
There was an old man sitting at the door.
He also had a vegetable basket slung over his shoulder.
Qin Jinzhi walked up to him.
The old man complained, "You brat, you don't even say hello before you leave! I'm an old man, and I have to wait for you at the gate!"
Qin Jinzhi raised an eyebrow. "Did you need something?"
The old man snorted and slung the vegetable basket over his shoulder.
I'm hungry!
Qin Jinzhi, ?
Wang Yongchang pointed to the amaranth in the vegetable basket and said, "You are the Empress's granddaughter, so you should be able to cook her signature dishes, right?"
Qin Jinzhi raised an eyebrow, then took the vegetable basket and walked into the yard.
Wang Yongchang looked at the beautifully presented amaranth and felt a sense of emotion.
"I haven't eaten this in decades."
He picked up his chopsticks to grab the amaranth.
Qin Jinzhi grabbed his hand.
"Senior brother!"
Wang Yongchang frowned, "What are you doing, you brat!"
Yuecheng walked out of the house, holding a bright, gleaming imperial edict in his hand.
She gave Wang Yongchang a meaningful look as he looked at the dishes Qin Jinzhi had prepared.
Qin Jinzhi placed the imperial edict in front of him.
"You can only eat after receiving the imperial decree."
Wang Yongchang shouted angrily, "Do you think I, an old man, would cheat on you?"
Qin Jinzhi smiled slightly and pushed the imperial edict away again.
Wang Yongchang rolled his eyes in anger and took the imperial edict.
The River Conservancy Commissioner was in charge of all the waterways in the State of Jin.
Wang Yong sighed; this was considered a reinstatement.
"I answered, can I eat now?"
Qin Jinzhi released his hand and looked to the side with a somewhat unnatural expression.
Wang Yongchang picked up a large chopstickful of amaranth and put it in his mouth.
He had only chewed a couple of times when he froze on the spot.
He then spat out all the food in his mouth.
"Pah! Pah! Pah! You brat, are you trying to poison this old man?"
Yuecheng kept shaking his head.
Even dogs wouldn't eat Qin Jinzhi's cooking!
This old man actually wanted to eat the food she cooked.
That's really reckless.
Qin Jinzhi is known as a prodigy.
But the Wizards have one fatal flaw.
The food is so bad it's outrageous!
Qin Jinzhi touched her nose. "Isn't this what you wanted to eat?"
The reason I stopped Wang Yongchang from eating his chopsticks earlier wasn't because I was afraid he would cheat me.
She was afraid that he would eat the food she cooked and then run away with the carriage.
Wang Yongchang pounded his chest and stamped his feet in anger, "I should have known sooner! That man is a scoundrel! And his granddaughter is naturally a little scoundrel too!"
Qin Jinzhi clapped her hands, and several embroiderers came out from the inner room.
She stood up and said, "Lord Wang, there is no time to lose. Please take up your post as soon as possible tomorrow."
Wang Yongchang was pulled up to have his official robes measured.
His mind raced, wondering if he had been tricked.
Qin Jinzhi walked up to Wang Yongchang and said, "Lord Wang, the people of Jiangnan are counting on you."
Although she took advantage of Wang Lao's feelings for his grandmother, her desire for Jiangnan to be governed was genuine.
Wang Yongchang looked at Qin Jinzhi with a dark expression.
"You are just like him."
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