Ning Xiang smiled broadly. Outside, everyone said that Madam was a ruthless and venomous woman, but she didn’t think so. She thought Madam was very nice.
Kind, gentle, intelligent, and very understanding.
Where could one find such a good master?
Ning Xiang felt her days in the Li Mansion were even more pleasant than in the Su Mansion. In the Su Mansion, she was just a cleaning maid, often scolded and reprimanded by the stewards above.
The Su Mansion had many maids and servants. Mrs. Yang was very nice, but she couldn’t always help with the servants’ disputes.
But it’s different in the Li Mansion.
Long Yue didn’t need too many maids by her side to serve her. The servants were honest craftsn who took good care of her, so there were far fewer disputes.
"Madam, this servant has one more request, hoping for your approval!"
"What is it?"
"This servant wishes to go ho for a visit, our family is in the countryside of Shengjing City..."
Speaking, Ning Xiang looked at Long Yue expectantly.
Long Yue recalled that it was the Mid-Autumn Festival recently, but due to issues on Consort Li’s side, the holiday just slipped away in a daze.
Just thinking about it left her speechless; they had planned to spend it with her husband and child!
"How many days do you need?"
"Three days," Ning Xiang cautiously replied, "Madam, don’t worry, this servant will return right after three days!"
"Alright, go take so silver later to buy so food and necessities to take back."
"Madam, this... isn’t appropriate, is it?"
Ning Xiang’s big eyes blinked with so anticipation. Her family’s situation was average; otherwise, she wouldn’t have been sent to a wealthy family as a maid. Although she receives monthly wages working for Long Yue, being a girl, she needs to save so for herself.
Now that Long Yue ntioned giving a reward, she could save so silver for ergencies in the future.
"Let’s do it this way, go take fifty taels of silver later."
"Thank you, Madam!"
Fifty taels is indeed quite a sum, Ning Xiang bowed in thanks.
"How strange, the Mid-Autumn Festival has passed, why is it still so hot?"
Long Yue fanned herself and approached the dressing table, looking into the copper mirror. Could it be that having a child made her slightly plump, making her afraid of the heat?
But in fact, Long Yue looked truly beautiful now. She had been too frail before, but now she was perfectly well-rounded and stunningly beautiful.
"Madam, this year is indeed hot!"
Ning Xiang giggled slightly and helped Long Yue loosen her clothing. It was afternoon—perfect ti for a nap.
In the evening, Li Qingmu returned from the office, and his first words were that there might be a drought this year.
Long Yue imdiately recalled her past life. That year, it was an autumn drought, followed by an epidemic in winter, and the winter of the following year was the ti of her past life’s death.
Thinking about it, the day had indeed arrived unknowingly.
However, one thing was different from her past life. Li Qingmu seed to have been the Vice Minister back then, so why in this life is he still just an Imperial Envoy?
Although this position is also a high-ranking official, it seems Li Qingmu’s trajectory is different in these two lifetis.
This probably has to do with her rebirth; subtly, it not only changed her destiny but also that of those around her.
"How did you figure it out?"
Long Yue actually knew that Li Qingmu’s judgnt was correct and that a drought would indeed follow, but she shouldn’t appear too indifferent, so she asked casually.
Li Qingmu responded, "This sumr, there was very little rainfall. In previous years, there would be thunderstorms and showers in the afternoons and evenings, but this year, Yue’er, do you rember? How many thunderstorms and showers actually occurred?"
Long Yue thought for a mont and really couldn’t recall.
But it could be said that there indeed were few.
"Except for the ti at Nanyuan Palace, while you were resting, I counted only three to five days of rain. I was alert at the ti, and upon returning to Shengjing City, I checked the records of past years and found that this year’s rainfall was indeed much less than previous years."
Li Qingmu’s expression was stern, "Initially, everyone didn’t pay much attention because sumr generally feels dry. So towns built along water could fetch water from the river to irrigate, but over ti, the rivers would dry up.
These days, during my visits, I found several tributaries had significantly decreased water levels, so even dried up. Previously, in sumr, there would be occasional thunderstorms to ease the dryness, but after entering autumn, Yue’er, have you seen any rainy days?"
Long Yue thought carefully and shook her head, "I don’t think so, it’s been clear and sunny."
"Yes, clear and sunny... autumn is crisp and clear, and golden autumn is dry. This drought is probably unavoidable. Moreover..." Li Qingmu paused silently before continuing, "After prolonged drought, a locust plague is inevitable. Next year will be hard to endure."
"Locust plague?"
Long Yue rembered there was an epidemic next year, or did she rember it wrong?
But now that the future path has changed, perhaps it’s indeed uncertain.
"We have to get through this drought first."
"Actually, today in court, people from the Ministry of Industry already ntioned it. Ministers are trying to find solutions; currently, the ideas given are mostly about digging waterworks, wells, and ditches..."
"A Mu, why are you telling this?"
Long Yue rolled her big eyes and looked at him warily; this man definitely wouldn’t speak without reason, and suddenly telling her this must have so reason.
"The Emperor has assigned to an external post." Li Qingmu looked sowhat depressed, thinking about leaving his little wife and mischievous child, making him feel unhappy, "The Emperor orders to go to Kaiyang to oversee local officials, build waterworks, and collectively mitigate the drought."
After saying this, he secretly glanced at his little wife.
Previously ntioned so much just to emphasize that doing this was for justice and the wellbeing of all people, so even if he beca an irresponsible father and husband, at least he could feel at peace. But when faced with his little wife’s big, innocent eyes, that helpless look made his heart ache.
The child was so small, crying for food, and the little wife had just left postpartum rest not long ago; her body should still be weak. As a man and the pillar of the household, he should take care of his wife and child, but...
"Pfft!"
Seeing the man’s resentful eyes, Long Yue finally couldn’t hold back her tenderness and laughed out. She gently caressed the man’s chest and spoke softly, "What are you worrying about? I should be congratulating you. Our Emperor is nurturing you, don’t you know?"
Li Qingmu, of course, knew this.
The Imperial Censorate supervises all officials, which carries a kind of hostility, but when you are in high positions, everyone has to look up to you. After all, for officials, too clean, and there will be no fish; many officials, if you want to check, will surely reveal so issues.
Doing the job of scrutinizing others’ privacy is not good when done too much, so Qi Yun found other tasks for Li Qingmu.
For example, partnering with Zhao ngran to make connections with reliable ministers, or like this ti, during the drought, relocating him to perform tasks.
Sending the Imperial Envoy to supervise local officials seems a bit wasteful, suggesting a smaller significance, but actually, it’s giving him experience. Saying it nicely, it’s gilding and gaining qualifications.
When the qualifications are built up and age grows so more, he will be able to take on higher positions.
Although it’s unclear what position Qi Yun ultimately wants to arrange for Li Qingmu, the effort in paving the way for him, really... the Emperor is really going to great lengths!
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