Chapter 491 Lucky Star
Li Jin escorted Fang Xiuran to the palace gate.
Eunuch Hong was waiting in front of the palace gate early in the morning.
Li Jin stepped forward with a smile, "How has Eunuch Hong been these days?"
Eunuch Hong stepped forward with a smile, "Steward Li, you look so radiant, is there some good news on your way?"
Li Jin stepped forward and approached Eunuch Hong, saying, "The good news from Chu has already come back, and my princess will be returning soon. I'm not exactly beaming with joy."
Upon hearing this, Eunuch Hong smiled and said, "Two years have passed since the princess left. His Majesty and the Empress must miss her terribly."
Li Jin slipped a gold ingot into Eunuch Hong's hand, saying, "Congratulations, congratulations! I'll be grateful if Eunuch Hong will take care of Mr. Fang once he enters the palace."
Eunuch Hong quickly pushed the gold ingot back, saying, "This person belongs to the princess. She doesn't need this. We still have to take good care of her, don't we?"
Li Jin pushed the gold ingot back, saying, "Eunuch Hong, it's too formal to say we're all family. The princess specifically instructed you before she left that you are an old man who watched her grow up. I was just following the princess's wishes."
After hearing this, Eunuch Hong put away the gold ingot. "I am very grateful that the princess thinks so much about this old servant. In that case, it is getting late. Let's take this Mr. Fang to see His Majesty and the Empress."
Li Jin bowed again, "Thank you for your trouble, Eunuch Hong."
Fang Xiuran followed Eunuch Hong toward the Imperial Study.
They happened to run into the Third Prince, who was preparing to leave the palace from the Imperial Study.
Upon seeing Eunuch Hong, the Third Prince immediately asked, "I was wondering why I only saw Lady Li and not Eunuch Hong. Where did you come from, Eunuch Hong?"
Eunuch Hong stepped forward and said, "Greetings, Your Highness. This old servant is here on Her Majesty's orders to bring this person to meet you."
The Third Prince's gaze fell upon Fang Xiuran, who stood behind Eunuch Hong.
Who is this?
Eunuch Hong said with a smile, "Naturally, it's the person His Majesty and the Empress want to see."
The Third Prince laughed heartily upon hearing this, "In that case, Eunuch Hong, hurry on your way, lest Father and Mother wait impatiently."
Eunuch Hong bowed and said, "This old servant takes his leave."
The Third Prince watched Eunuch Hong's retreating figure, a strange look flashing in his eyes.
This Eunuch Hong has served His Majesty for many years and holds an extraordinary position.
But over the years, I've never seen anyone who could befriend him.
The third prince turned around. No, there was someone else, someone far away at the border.
Eunuch Hong led Fang Xiuran to the Imperial Study.
"Your Majesty, Your Highness, the person has been brought."
Fang Xiuran stepped forward and said, "This humble subject, Fang Xiuran, greets Your Majesty and Your Majesty the Empress."
The emperor said, "Get up."
He looked at Fang Xiuran, who had stood up, and asked, "Are you Fang Ci's son?"
Fang Xiuran respectfully replied, "That's right."
The emperor looked at him and asked, "Why do you wish to see me and the empress?"
Fang Xiuran took a letter out of his sleeve and handed it to Eunuch Hong.
"This is the princess's letter. His Majesty and the Empress understood everything after reading it."
The Empress immediately looked at Granny Li, who could no longer be called Granny.
Instead, she was a maidservant, a female official serving the Empress.
The female envoy immediately stepped forward and took the letter.
Upon opening the letter, Qin Shi'an's bold, elegant handwriting leaped off the page.
The emperor also quickly came over.
After a long while, the two put the letter down.
The Empress looked at Fang Xiuran and said, "The destruction of your Tianshui City is inextricably linked to the chaotic wars among the feudal lords. Why are you willing to help the Jin Kingdom build city walls?"
Fang Xiuran smiled and said, "The princess said that if I don't repair, she will kill me."
The emperor immediately coughed twice.
Fang Xiuran continued, "However, the princess also gave my people a place to live. She said that as long as I lead my people to build city walls for the Jin Kingdom, she will give my people a fiefdom to live on."
The Emperor and Empress exchanged a glance. "Jinzhi, the Empress and I have agreed to what you promised. As long as all the city walls are completed, I will grant you and your people a fiefdom. I will also appoint you as a minor official. I hope you can lead your people to live in peace and prosperity."
Fang Xiuran knelt on the ground again, "This humble subject thanks Your Majesty and Your Majesty for your divine grace."
The Empress put the letter away. "I will have the Ministry of Works assist you. Effective immediately, Fang Xiuran is hereby appointed as an Assistant Minister of Works to lead the Ministry in the construction of the city walls."
Fang Xiuran moved his head closer to the Empress, "Your humble servant Fang Xiuran receives the imperial decree!"
After Fang Xiuran left, the Empress opened the letter again.
She touched the words on it and carefully put the letter away.
Fang Xiuran led his clansmen and the Ministry of Works to begin building the city wall.
With the support of the Ministry of Works, the process was swift.
The common people were also discussing this matter.
“Our Princess Zhenguo truly loves her people like her own children. Even though she is thousands of miles away, she is still thinking about building city walls for us to protect our safety.”
"That's right, I heard that the person who built the city wall was a capable person whom the princess paid a lot of money to hire."
"The princess even won a battle! I heard that the emperor of Chu died at her hands! She is truly a lucky star for our Great Jin!"
The Third Prince sat in the teahouse, listening to the crowd praising Qin Jinzhi.
Lucky Star?
Three years ago, Qin Jinzhi was known to the people as a demon, a wicked star, and a spoiled scoundrel.
Now, he has become their lucky star.
It wasn't just about building city walls.
Many of the things Qin Jinzhi promoted before leaving Beijing have already begun to be implemented quietly.
The army was about to return to the capital.
Qin Jinzhi could have waited until she returned to the capital to do these things.
All of this seems to be in a hurry.
The third prince put down his teacup.
That is, Qin Jinzhi may not have time.
The crown prince was assassinated two years ago.
The State of Jin launched a military campaign against the State of Chu.
But there were always some things that struck him as odd.
Through investigating various clues, he guessed that something terrifying had happened.
But he dared not guess anymore.
Because he had already figured out who the real murderer was.
But the person behind the murderer was someone he couldn't even imagine.
Everyone knew that Qin Jinzhi was poisoned by a strange poison.
Orchid grass is extremely rare.
The only remaining orchid grass has now been destroyed.
It seems there's no cure for Qin Jinzhi's poison.
Everything that happened in the capital during this period foreshadowed this.
Qin Jinzhi was using her last moments to accomplish what she wanted to do.
The Third Prince was very pleased to have figured this out.
If Qin Jinzhi were to return to the court, no one among the younger generation would be more powerful than her.
Even if the emperor and empress grow old, the crown prince will still be able to ascend the throne with Qin Jinzhi's assistance.
But now Qin Jinzhi can't get the cure.
Life is fleeting.
He only needs to secretly cultivate his power, and when the emperor and empress pass away, he can take their place.
Moreover, it was uncertain whether the grandson of the crown prince would even live to see that day.
In the Eastern Palace, Shen Liuying was sewing a long robe by hand.
She looked up at A Jing and A Ming, "When the princess returns to the capital, it should already be Linxia. This fabric is of moderate thickness, just right for the Linxia season."
Ah Jing was playing with the grandson when she heard Shen Liuying's words and came over.
"Liangyuan has such a good attitude now. Someone poisoned the young prince yesterday, but today she acts as if nothing happened and even remembers to embroider robes for the eldest son."
Two years ago, when Consort Shen had just given birth to the Crown Prince, she and the Crown Prince were almost smothered to death in their sleep.
Thanks to the princess leaving Ah Jing and Ah Ming in the East Palace before she left.
She was so frightened that she couldn't sleep for nights on end.
This was the first time I experienced the danger Qin Jinzhi faced in her childhood, and I deeply understood it.
She and Qin Jinzhi share a common destiny.
Shen Liuying looked at the Crown Prince and clapped her hands.
The grandson then ran towards Shen Liuying.
Shen Liuying picked him up.
“If he wants that position, this is something he has to go through, and as his mother, I naturally cannot back down.”
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com