Chapter 26 The General Who Pacifies the North? He's the Emperor!
The girl's voice was soft.
"This question is clearly simpler," Old Master Qiao asked in surprise, "Why don't you know?"
Chirp raised its head.
"Because not all of that money goes to the common people. For example, my mother gave me five coins to buy soy sauce. I was very familiar with the aunt at the grain shop, and I could buy a pot for four coins. I could save one coin and buy myself some candy."
In just a few simple sentences, one can draw an analogy to the corruption in officialdom.
The disaster relief funds were distributed layer by layer, embezzled by officials at various levels who colluded with each other, and by the time they reached the disaster victims, they were lucky if even half of it reached them.
It's astonishing that such a young child has such insights.
Qiao Menghan became interested and asked, "In your opinion, is there a way to solve this?"
Chiu Chiu scratched her head, sidled up to the old man, and whispered, "If Mother needs soy sauce, just ask the manager of the grain store to send it over, and that will solve the problem."
Ji Qingwu didn't hear what she said, but he saw Old Master Qiao show a satisfied smile.
He then offered his assessment: "This child is a bright and insightful individual with keen observation skills."
Ji Qingwu felt relieved, stepped forward, and asked, "Elder Qiao, did Qiuqiu pass the entry test?"
Qiao Menghan stopped putting on a stern face, took out a wooden plaque, and said with a smile, "You will officially come to the study tomorrow, but you can come and listen in today."
Ji Qingwu stared intently at the elderly man with graying temples before him and gave him a deep bow.
"Thank you very much, Elder Qiao."
The old man changed his serious expression and said with a smile, "Little Wu, why don't you call me maternal grandfather?"
Qiao's father was Qiao Menghan, the Grand Tutor of the Crown Prince. The Qiao family had four sons and one daughter, and Qiao was the youngest daughter.
“Grandfather, I was just trying to avoid suspicion.” Ji Qingwu smiled sweetly.
Qiao Menghan nodded. This granddaughter was well-behaved. He sighed, "Come home and visit when you have time. Your grandmother misses you very much."
Old Master Qiao led Qiuqiu inside, and Ji Qingwu looked at the little figure with reluctance, her heart filled with mixed emotions.
"Miss Ji."
A voice came from behind; it was the little eunuch, Xiao Dongzi.
"If you are planning to return to your residence, I will move this chair back to the palace first."
Ji Qingwu, realizing where the chair came from, thanked him awkwardly, "Thank you, sir."
Xiao Dongzi, who had overheard the conversation between the Emperor and Chief Eunuch Li at the door, cleverly remarked, "If Miss Ji wants to express her gratitude, she should go and thank His Majesty in person."
"Can......"
Xiao Dongzi advised, "You've been granted a seat today, and everyone's watching closely. Now is the perfect time to express your gratitude."
Ji Qingwu walked to the front of the Hall of Diligent Governance, and looking at the slightly ajar vermilion door, her legs began to go weak.
She stood there, looking troubled, and said, "Father-in-law, I will come again in the future. Perhaps I can come to express my gratitude next time. I'm afraid it will disturb His Majesty's handling of state affairs right now."
Xiao Dongzi disagreed, saying, "Miss Ji, you're already here, so please go in."
Ji Qingwu thought about it for a while, then shrank back: "Let's do it another day."
Just as she was about to slip away, the red gate was pushed open.
Li Yuzong sternly rebuked, "What are you all making such a racket at the door? His Majesty is reviewing memorials. Watch your heads!"
Upon seeing that the other person was Ji Qingwu, he immediately stopped making a sound.
At this moment, Xiao Dongzi replied meekly, "Eunuch Li, it is Miss Ji who insists on seeing His Majesty."
Ji Qingwu: ?
Does she have any truth to it? Isn't she being dishonest about saying that...?
Upon hearing that it was she who had come to see him, Li Yuzong darted back inside and hurried to report, his movements faster than a gray rabbit running in the field.
Ji Qingwu: ? ? ?
What would happen if she explained it to me...?
Now the knife was really at her throat, leaving her no room to back down.
Ji Qingwu lowered her head and followed carefully behind Steward Li into the hall.
Incense was burning inside the Hall of Diligent Governance. She didn't know what kind of incense it was, but the scent was refreshing and pleasant.
Ji Qingwu knelt down and performed a grand salute, saying, "This humble woman greets Your Majesty."
She dared not raise her head, remaining silently prostrate on the ground, waiting for the person on the high seat to call her to rise.
Having not heard any sound for a long time, Ji Qingwu's neck began to ache.
"Get up."
His tone was completely flat.
Ji Qingwu stood up. Because she had been kneeling for a while, the hem of her skirt was wrinkled. She wanted to reach out and smooth it out, but she didn't dare to move. Her brows furrowed.
"Miss Ji, is there something you dislike about me?"
A deep voice came from not far away. Ji Qingwu replied carefully, "Your Majesty, I have come to express my gratitude. How could I have any complaints?"
Emperor Wusu's throne had five steps, from which he looked down at the woman standing in the hall.
The last time I saw her, she was soaking wet and kneeling on the ground, trembling, like a begonia flower battered by a rainstorm.
Today, her beautiful figure is concealed, her clothes are neat, and her exposed neck curves gracefully. Her fair earlobes make the jade hairpin on her head appear earthy.
Emperor Wusu waved his hand, signaling everyone in the hall to leave.
Although Ji Qingwu did not look up, she saw out of the corner of her eye that the palace maids and eunuchs around her bowed and retreated.
She followed along too?
Ji Qingwu shifted her feet slightly and said softly, "This humble woman takes her leave." As soon as she finished speaking, she noticed that the gaze above her was growing even stronger.
“I didn’t tell you to leave, so look up and talk to me.”
Ji Qingwu's palms were sweaty, and she took a deep breath.
Looking up, I saw a pair of bright, dark eyes, their depths unfathomable.
he......
he?
he!
He looked exactly like the cold and aloof man she remembered!
With prominent brow bones, eyes like cold stars, and a handsome and refined appearance, he exuded the aura of a supreme ruler who could shake the world.
Almost at the same instant, a piercing buzzing sound rang in Ji Qingwu's ears.
"Come forward."
There was a hint of something peculiar in Emperor Wusu's tone.
But Ji Qingwu's mind was blank, and she couldn't perceive it at all. She subconsciously followed the person's instructions, and her steps were unsteady as she stepped up the steps and walked to the front.
She wanted to cry but couldn't.
Isn't this the very same General Dingbei, whom she planned to avoid as far away as possible?
How come he's now on the throne after just a few years?!
Huh? Is becoming emperor so easy?
Ji Qingwu saw the thick, coiled dragon pillar to the side and thought that maybe if he ran headfirst into it now, he could die a quicker death.
Emperor Wusu was very patient and did not urge her.
The woman's face was deathly pale, as if she were terrified.
Her watery eyes looked like they were about to burst into tears. She lightly lifted her foot to step onto the stairs, her skirt trembling with each step.
The soft, fluffy blue clouds shattered into individual pieces.
Ji Qingwu walked to a spot a meter away from Emperor Wusu and managed to stand still.
The distinctive ambergris scent belonging to emperors wafted to her nose, causing her delicate nose to twitch nervously.
Having imagined a hundred ways to die, Ji Qingwu decided to take a gamble for a chance at survival in order to avoid becoming a miserable human pig.
Just as she had prepared her apology and was about to kneel down to beg for forgiveness...
"Why are you here to thank me?"
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