Chapter 16 The sixteenth chapter describes a family now filled with children and grandchildren.
The Prince of Huaiyang ordered the opening of the treasury and granaries.
The crown prince was extremely unwilling, but under his father's orders, he had no choice but to decline the invitation from the son of the prime minister Cui Heng to listen to the new song composed by Hongxiu, the top courtesan of the music bureau, and go to the foot of Cuiwei Mountain to oversee the officials and soldiers who were building thatched huts and distributing porridge to relieve the disaster.
Xiao Jin pouted and went to Lin Yu to complain:
"My father sleeps until the middle of the night before getting up, but insists he has important business to attend to and sends me to oversee the disaster relief efforts. Isn't having the prime minister there enough?"
Lin Yu met with the Prince of Huaiyang last night.
Xiao Cheng was troubled by the matter of disaster relief and didn't know what to do, so he summoned the female musicians in his household.
The beautiful music continued until the third watch of the night.
Finally, in the line "That gentleman does not eat without working" from the song "Cutting Sandalwood," he understood Lin Yu's words:
Now that Qu Yang has fallen from power, the imperial court is deliberately withholding relief, wanting to test the loyalty of the Huaiyang Kingdom.
The Prince of Huaiyang immediately ordered the granaries to be opened and grain distributed, sparing no effort, even if it meant exhausting all the government's silver reserves, to appease the disaster victims.
After giving the order, Xiao Cheng gazed at the carved beams and painted rafters in the bedchamber, tossing and turning all night, and also grieving all night.
well.
Pillars of society.
A pillar of society.
But he shouldn't have been a pillar; he should have been a dragon on that pillar.
This was the first time Xiao Cheng had seen Lin Yu since the first year of the Jinghe era, when Lin Yu, then seventeen years old, came to Huaiyang from Chang'an.
He looks a lot like his father.
He was also like his mother.
He grew up peacefully in the blacksmith's farmhouse.
As he grew up, the blacksmith feared he would no longer be able to protect him.
Xiao Cheng then took advantage of Qu Yang's establishment of prefectural and national schools throughout the country. In just one month, he had the school buildings renovated into a scenic spot on Cuiwei Mountain.
Xiao Cheng had no ambition, yet his reputation was already established, so he could only send his son, Xiao Jin, to the academy multiple times.
Although Xiao Jin's reputation for being a playboy was widespread, it was for the best. The renowned scholars and virtuous men in the country couldn't teach him, so it was more appropriate for him to seek instruction from the teachers in the academies who taught children as young as ten.
If it weren't for the sudden snow disaster on Cuiwei Mountain, he would have maintained this ambiguous distance and perhaps never met Lin Yu.
When he learned from the steward that Lin Yu had come to the Prince's mansion and brought with her the entire family of the students, including the old woman in the kitchen, to stay there, he was furious. He slammed his fist on the table and immediately ordered someone to summon Xiao Jin.
He grabbed Xiao Jin's ear: "You took it upon yourself to bring A-Yu into the Prince's mansion. Do you know how many eyes are watching?!"
He spat and said, "If it weren't for A-Yu's quick thinking and careful actions, bringing along the students and their families, you could have easily harmed them, the Prince's Mansion, and your father!"
"Yes, Ayu is very thoughtful. She has earned Father a good reputation for respecting teachers and valuing education, hasn't she?" Xiao Jin touched her reddened ears, still feeling lingering fear.
Seeing that his father was still glaring at him, he quickly smiled and said, "Although the idea of the prefectural and state schools was Qu Yang's, the current emperor will not change the decree, so he must be happy about such a thing. Father, you have probably done something that pleases him."
Xiao Cheng glared at him and scolded, "Right now, the emperor has just regained power. We don't even know what his likes and dislikes are yet. How could you possibly guess?"
Xiao Jin said helplessly, "I know that His Majesty is fond of poetry and books. When I was a child, I studied under Grand Tutor Su, whose lessons were so engaging that they made people dizzy. Of all the people in Chengming Hall, he was the only one who could concentrate on his studies."
He then received another unexpected kick from his father.
"A snow disaster during the New Year is a major event. As the heir of the Prince of Huaiyang, if you can personally go to comfort the victims, those villagers will surely be comforted," Lin Yu said to Xiao Jin. After a moment, he added, "I have nothing else to do at the Prince's residence, so I can go to Cuiwei Mountain with you. Some of the villagers living at the foot of Cuiwei Mountain are students from the academy. Although there were no casualties, I am still worried about them."
These words were exactly what Xiao Jin wanted to hear, and he readily agreed.
Lin Yuan heard their conversation and came out from the inner room.
She bowed to the Crown Prince and pondered, saying, “In snow disaster relief, distributing porridge and grain is certainly important, but clothing, hay, and shelter are also extremely important. I heard that the disaster victims are currently taking shelter in the Prime Minister's office, and the corridors and courtyards are crowded with people. Although the snow has stopped, the days when the snow melts are far colder than when it was snowing. This is not a long-term solution. After New Year's Day, when the government offices reopen, they will no longer be able to accommodate these disaster victims.”
Xiao Jin stared at Lin Yuan, unable to look away, and even forgot to nod.
Lin Yuan blushed, took two steps closer to Lin Yu, and slowly said, "When I was little, I lived in a thatched hut that sheltered refugees. It was just outside Chang'an City. Although the hut was simple, it could accommodate quite a few people. In any case, it was much better than the wind-blown corridors and courtyards. Refugees could use this place as a temporary measure. If they had enough clothes and bedding, they could stay there until their own houses were rebuilt."
“You’re right.” Lin Yu smiled, praising Lin Yuan, and then looked at Xiao Jin. “If we were to build those thatched huts, it wouldn’t be much more difficult than building porridge huts. Once this snow disaster is over, these houses can be repaired and used as shelters for widows, widowers, and orphans. It’s a good thing that benefits the country and the people. Not only A-Yuan, but I’ve lived there too.”
Seeing the two smile at each other, Xiao Jin reluctantly shifted his gaze from Lin Yuan and clapped his hands in praise: "What a coincidence! My father also mentioned this to me, and this is also the matter he asked me to oversee today. Five hundred craftsmen have been recruited overnight in Huaiyang, and judging by the time, it will be completed before New Year's Eve."
He looked at Lin Yu with a sorrowful expression and couldn't help but sigh, "Those past years have really been tough on you." He trailed off as Lin Yuan looked over, "—You guys."
Lin Yu just chuckled: "That happened more than ten years ago. Now, let's think about the disaster victims in the city."
Xiao Jin said respectfully, "Then, I'll have someone prepare first, and then search the Prince's Mansion, the Prime Minister's Mansion, and the government offices of various counties for some warm woolen clothes and quilts. Once the carts are loaded, we'll head to Cuiwei Mountain."
Seeing the young master leave in a hurry, Lin Yuan moved closer to Lin Yu and said, "Brother, I want to go with him too."
"You've just recovered from a cold, and you were up all day yesterday, so you should just stay here quietly."
"My elder brother cares about his students, and I care about my younger sister too."
"Your younger sister?" Lin Yu asked in surprise. "How come I didn't know I had another younger sister?"
Lin Yuan laughed and said, "Lin Yu, have you forgotten? It's Yao, who called me 'elder sister' a few days ago."
Unable to resist her nagging, Lin Yu had no choice but to ask He Ji to come and take her pulse again.
When He Ji heard that the two were going to Cuiwei Mountain, he was taking pulses when his eyes lit up and he wanted to go too: "A doctor's duty is to heal the sick and save lives—that is true healing!"
Lin Yu laughed: "What kind of wine pot are you hanging on? You drank quite a lot yesterday, the wine pot is practically hanging from your mouth."
As everyone was laughing, He Ji suddenly gasped, "Hiss."
Lin Yu joked, "What's wrong? Still hungover? You felt two pulses?"
He Ji's face paled, and he hurriedly said, "Oh, it's nothing, it's nothing. I'll just... ...
His face grew paler and paler.
"Ah Yuan, you, you are—" he stammered, "Have you used anything, anything from the Great Cold?"
*
Lin Yuan is the variable in all of Xiao Xun's plans.
In Shanglin Garden, the assassin's cold blade was clearly aimed at Xiao Xun.
He watched as the blade veered off course, clanging in the wind.
It stabbed at his belt hook.
However, Lin Yuan rushed to his side.
He never intended to hurt her, but her blood, his grief, and his anger undoubtedly made this pre-arranged assassination attempt flawless.
The imperial physician repeatedly told Xiao Xun that "fortunately, no vital organs were injured," and that Lin Yuan was only unconscious due to excessive blood loss and would wake up soon.
Qu Qingru then stepped forward tremblingly and said to Xiao Xun, "Your Majesty, please rest for a while."
He saw his own reflection in her eyes.
His body was covered in blood, his hair was disheveled, and his face was smeared with blood.
In her eyes, he also saw concern, sadness, and... jealousy.
He looked up and caught sight of the Grand Marshal's wife, who was kneeling and bowing in front of the Yanqin Gate of Chengguang Hall.
Qu Qingru took a bowl of medicine from the maid and carefully handed it to Xiao Xun: "Your Majesty was frightened in Shanglin Garden. This is a calming soup that I asked the Imperial Physician to prescribe. Please take it."
Xiao Xun stared at the Grand Marshal's wife behind her, and suddenly raised his hand, causing the bowl of medicine to slip from Qu Qingru's hand.
The shards of the bowl fell to the feet of the Grand Marshal's wife.
Qu Qingru was startled and knelt down, followed by a large group of maids who also knelt on the ground.
"Your Majesty, please forgive me, it was me, I didn't hold it properly..."
Her wide sleeves were soaked with medicine stains, and a large red patch appeared on the back of her hand.
Xiao Xun only glanced at it.
His gaze remained fixed on the Grand Marshal's wife.
Qu Yan stared at the broken bowls and cups, his face reflected in the pool of medicine on the ground, dark and gloomy, his hatred spreading like black water.
He gritted his teeth: "Get out, all of you!"
He stayed in Chengguang Hall for three whole days, without changing his clothes or closing his eyes, and refused Qu Yang's request to move the emperor to Weiyang Palace three times, until Lin Yuan opened her eyes.
Lin Yuan is a variable.
A year ago, she drew her knife on him; a year later, she took the knife for him.
She made him draw his sword, and later, she became his sword too.
He casually mentioned to Lin Yuan, "Don't drink the soup, medicine, tea, or wine that the Empress sends. You can't touch anything."
Lin Yuan agreed quickly.
Xiao Xun felt that she didn't take it seriously, so he looked into her eyes and said, word by word, "You have to remember this."
Seeing how serious he was, Lin Yuan chuckled.
"What are you thinking about? Don't laugh."
Lin Yuan hesitated for a moment, then smiled and shook her head. "I wasn't thinking about anything."
After a short while, he said, "I've already taken the Empress's sleeping potion once. Can I take it a second time?"
Xiao Xun then said, "Even if someone forces you, you are not allowed to drink or eat, understand?"
Lin Yuan nodded: "The Empress has sent quite a lot of food and medicine this year. In fact, they are all tonics."
As she spoke, she pulled him to the window, “Your Majesty, look, the cats in this courtyard are already full of children and grandchildren.”
She smiled brightly, her voice like a silver bell, as she faced the sunlight streaming through the window.
Xiao Xun stood by the window of the Yingchuan County residence, gazing at the New Year's Eve sky. He closed his eyes, and then heard the sound of the blood-stained bowl from his dream shattering on the floor.
"Bang".
A knock sounded on the door.
Wang Lu quickly led Wang Fu to the county residence where Xiao Xun was staying.
Imperial land and houses are not hard to find.
When the two arrived in front of Xiao Xun, their eyes were red, and they looked like they had just had a good cry.
When Wang Fu served as a palace attendant, he treated his subordinates very well.
Xiao Xun was aware of this.
Lian Lin Yuan was originally a lowly palace maid in the Yeting Palace. Not long after she arrived in the palace, she was bullied by the eunuchs and had endless clothes to wash and undergarments to clean every day.
Li Shun pleaded with Wang Fu, who, out of kindness, transferred her to the Jiaofang Palace.
This was told to him by Lin Yuan when she pleaded for Wang Fu.
So when Wang Fu asked Lin Yuan to stay and serve in the side hall of Jiaofang Palace, Lin Yuan hesitated for a long time before finally agreeing.
This became Wang Fu's biggest regret.
A note from the author:
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I want to clarify here that this story does not involve any abuse of the female lead (highlighted). As for why the pulse diagnosis revealed a cold ailment and extremely cold substances, I'll leave that as a mystery and explain it in chapters 34 and 35 (this is not a sad story). The reason for the assassin taking the blow will also be explained in chapter 22. This section is from the male protagonist's perspective, so it will have limitations. But he definitely deserves to be scolded...
The next update will have to be on Tuesday. First, I'm hoping my collection will skyrocket to the VIP level, and I'll be on the leaderboard next Thursday, haha. Thank you all so much for your continued support.
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