Soon after, Mu Rongjing returned and told Hong Xiaoduo that it was very simple if she wanted to see the envoy alone.
Because after leaving the palace, he always acted alone, and liked to wander around and eat everywhere.
"Oh, that's great!" Hong Xiaoduo immediately had an idea.
At noon, a banquet was held in the palace. Among all the guests, Hong Xiaoduo and Kaiyang ate the most attentively and casually. Watching the two of them eat made one unconsciously relax.
However, when the braised chicken was served, everyone's expressions towards Hong Xiaoduo were somewhat complicated.
This was an imperial banquet, with all the finest dishes. On the table for two people, there was a whole braised chicken. However, after she tore off a chicken leg for the child, she herself ate the chicken feet.
That's the least appealing part of the chicken; if it weren't for the need to make the dish look nice, the chef would probably cut off the feet and throw them away.
Her clothes and demeanor don't suggest she comes from a poor background!
Furthermore, eating like this on such an occasion would be embarrassing for His Majesty.
Or is she trying to gain sympathy from His Majesty the Emperor? Is she implying that she's having a hard time and needs more money as a reward?
Seeing everyone watching Xiaoduo munching on chicken feet, Murong Jing, who was sitting at the next table, thought for a moment, put down his chopsticks, reached out and tore off a chicken foot, and started eating.
Hong Xiaoduo felt the gaze that had been fixed on her shift. She turned her head and saw what was going on. She chuckled softly, "Young Master, you don't need to do this. You know I don't care what others think of me."
“I saw you eating so deliciously, so I wanted to try it myself. And it really is delicious. Look, that guy named Sony is eating it like you too.” Mu Rongjing gestured for Hong Xiaoduo to look.
Hong Xiaoduo looked across and, sure enough, the other person was enjoying their food.
"In their country, the surname comes last, and the given name comes first," Hong Xiaoduo casually explained to Mu Shizi.
Just as Mu Rongjing was about to respond to her, he saw her suddenly look down at the bracelet on her wrist, her gaze fixed on it.
Thinking that the bracelet reminded her of some special memories, she didn't speak or disturb her.
Hong Xiaoduo looked at the text displayed on the interface above the bracelet, which only she could see. According to the weather summary and analysis over the past few months, there will be a snow disaster north of the capital of Fengliang Kingdom this winter. There was also a parenthesis that said "white disaster".
Has this bracelet been upgraded? Otherwise, how come it suddenly has this function?
Hong Xiaoduo pondered for a moment, then looked at the adults sitting around her, and then at the emperor sitting in front of her, eating a couple of bites before having his food taken away.
If we're going to tell someone about this, we should just tell them directly.
Since he's not a tyrant, and we already know, let's tell him. Whether he believes it or not is up to him.
Hong Xiaoduo felt that she didn't have the ability to warn the people on her own that there might be a snow disaster this year, and that everyone should quickly stock up on food, firewood, cotton clothes, and repair their roofs.
We can't just leave this problem to Lord Wei or Murong Jing. They trust themselves and have been urging the emperor to prepare for the snow disaster, but what if the weather forecast is wrong? Wouldn't that harm them?
As the emperor ate, he wondered why Hong Xiaoduo was gnawing on chicken feet. Then he saw her looking at him, her expression seemingly troubled. Could it be because he hadn't rewarded her yet?
But the exchanges with the foreign missions haven't ended yet, so rewards must be given!
I am not a stingy monarch. Even if the national treasury is not full, I can still give her a few thousand gold pieces!
Several thousand taels of gold don't even need to be taken from the national treasury; just expose two corrupt officials, say a few sarcastic words, and you've got it.
"Alright, I'd better be frank with this girl," the Emperor instructed his attendant, Fu Gonggong, to tell Hong Xiaoduo not to rush out of the palace after the banquet, but to go to the Imperial Study to discuss something with her.
When Hong Xiaoduo heard what Eunuch Fu had conveyed, she immediately nodded and said she understood. It just so happened that she also had something to say to the Emperor.
Soon, the palace banquet ended. Hong Xiaoduo watched the foreign delegation leave and thought for a moment before saying to Murong Jing beside her, "His Majesty has something to discuss with me and wants me to go to the Imperial Study. As for John, would you please arrange for someone to keep an eye on his whereabouts?"
When Eunuch Fu relayed the message to her, Mu Rongjing heard it and nodded in response.
Inside the imperial study, the emperor looked at Hong Xiaoduo, who had come in with a little tail, without any surprise, and offered her a seat.
Hong Xiaoduo did not sit down: "Your Majesty, what brings me here? I also have something to say to Your Majesty."
"Oh, you also have something to say to me? Then tell me what it is?" The emperor assumed that she wanted to talk about the reward.
So, I wanted to hear whether she would hint at it indirectly or ask for it directly.
"Well, I was actually quite conflicted about this matter at first, but after thinking it over, I felt that Your Majesty is a wise ruler, and I would feel guilty if I didn't tell you." Hong Xiaoduo didn't like beating around the bush, but she still had to lay the groundwork a little.
Upon hearing this, the emperor suppressed a laugh, thinking to himself, "The reward was originally promised by me, so it's normal for you to ask for it back. And you're even praising the Ming Emperor, saying you feel bad about it? What do you feel bad about?"
"Speak freely," the emperor said seriously.
"It's just that I recently did some calculations when I was bored, and I figured out that there will likely be a white disaster this winter. However, I'm not very good at this kind of weather calculation, so I'm not sure if my calculations are wrong."
The area affected by the White Disaster was the region north of the capital.
"I don't know how to deal with this disaster, but Your Majesty should know how to handle it. Whether it's preparing sufficient winter food by transferring grain from the south to the north in advance, or some other measure, I've said what I needed to say. Whether you believe me or not is up to Your Majesty." Hong Xiaoduo felt much more at ease after saying this.
"A white disaster? You've already predicted a white disaster before winter has even arrived, yet the Imperial Observatory hasn't made a single move." The emperor frowned slightly.
It's not that I'm questioning Hong Xiaoduo's words, but rather that, as the ruler of a country, the last thing he wants to see is a natural disaster.
Upon hearing the word "disaster," his mood began to sink.
"Then can you calculate the exact time?" the emperor asked.
Hong Xiaoduo shook her head, also surprised. Judging from the Emperor's reaction, did he believe what she said?
“Your Majesty, there is something I must say. Regarding the prediction of the White Disaster, could Your Majesty keep it a secret? You have the Imperial Observatory; perhaps they can also predict it,” Hong Xiaoduo added, thinking of something.
The emperor was puzzled: "Isn't it a good thing that you have this ability? Why keep it a secret and be afraid that others will find out?"
"Didn't I tell His Majesty that this commoner is not good at this? Your Majesty, I have important matters to attend to, so I will take my leave now." Hong Xiaoduo was preoccupied with John's matter and did not want to linger here any longer.
Hong Xiaoduo forgot to ask why the emperor had originally summoned her, and the emperor himself had also forgotten.
After Hong Xiaoduo left, the Emperor wondered whether he should summon the Imperial Observatory...
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