There were only a few days left until the New Year, and the victims displaced by the snow disaster had no place to settle. On the Crown Prince’s suggestion, a refugee camp was set up outside the city to temporarily accommodate the victims. Once the snow disaster passed and spring arrived, the refugees could return ho on their own, garnering imnse praise for the Crown Prince’s benevolence, which was extolled to the heavens by the Crown Prince Faction.
As for the selection of the imperial envoy for the disaster relief, after several days of discussion, the Saint finally designated soone to go to the most heavily affected Northern region to provide relief. To everyone’s surprise, this person was neither the Crown Prince nor any Prince, but Qi Qian, the Prince Rui, who had been quite criticized before.
Once the order was given, Qi Qian accepted it and led the disaster relief team on their journey, aning they wouldn’t be in the capital for the New Year, and might only return in the spring.
With Qi Qian gone, he naturally wouldn’t hear the undercurrents of the Imperial Family in the capital, and everyone was curious as to why the Saint suddenly thought of appointing Qi Qian as the imperial envoy.
Upon investigation, it turned out that the State Preceptor had calculated him as the best choice. It was said that this year’s severe snowstorm was a warning from the heavens—Jupiter had entered the Dragon Vein, causing yin to flourish and yang to decline. To harmonize yin and yang and ensure the prosperity of the nation, it required soone from the Imperial Family with the solar Mars attribute to suppress it.
And among the current fire signs in the Imperial lineage, only Qi Qian fit the requirents.
A couple of years ago, the affair between the Princess Consort Ning and the Saint didn’t beco public, but among powerful people, there were naturally those who discovered Qi Qian’s identity. Even if it wasn’t openly proclaid, since he was the Saint’s illegitimate son, it ant he shared the Saint’s bloodline, being a Prince in essence.
Even if not, his nominal father, Prince Ning, was of the Imperial Family, making him share that bloodline, thus fitting the State Preceptor’s description of possessing the solar Mars attribute.
However, the fact that the Saint so straightforwardly bestowed the title of imperial envoy to Qi Qian, did it not indicate that he had never overlooked this son?
This inevitably made his legitimate sons think and ponder deeply.
"Brother Boyin, what do you think is Father’s intention in doing this? Qi Qian’s identity is sensitive, yet he insists on appointing him as the disaster relief envoy—does he wish to elevate him?" Prince Zhao looked at Yu Linglan beside him, frowning, "Or perhaps, is Eldest Imperial Brother trying to draw this illegitimate son close?"
Yu Linglan, draped in a moon-white cloak, said softly, "No matter what the intention is, the Saint believing in the State Preceptor is true; he will do as the State Preceptor says. The matter of disaster relief and the halting of the Immortal Palace construction are both like this."
Prince Zhao’s face darkened, "The State Preceptor is Eldest Imperial Brother’s man. If he controls the State Preceptor, isn’t it equivalent to controlling Father? If he persuades us, who have already been given a fief, to move there, then..."
Yu Linglan laughed lightly, "If the Saint were that easily controlled, he wouldn’t be pursuing the way of eternal life. Isn’t his pursuit of eternal life simply a clinging to power? Prince, if you think the State Preceptor is the Crown Prince’s man, isn’t that a good thing for you? Ever heard of the saying that water can carry a boat and capsize it too?"
Prince Zhao’s eyes narrowed, and his hand stopped playing with the Buddha Beads.
"Furthermore, going to the fief isn’t entirely a bad thing. Prince, in serving in front of the Saint, even though there’s special favor, that’s when the Crown Prince hasn’t been established. Once the Crown Prince is established, Prince will have more capabilities and can develop power more effectively at your fief, and fighting requires troops. If you remain solely in the capital, once... the Crown Prince ascends, it will be rightful, but you will need strength to contend."
Prince Zhao pondered.
Going to the fief would naturally make him a Vassal King of a region, allowing him to have soldiers under his Prince Mansion, and with proper arrangents, holding a strong army would be the key to ’clearing the Emperor’s side’ in the future.
But if he stayed here, training soldiers would be sowhat restrictive.
Thinking of this, Prince Zhao’s heart began to warm.
He said to Yu Linglan, "Then according to your advice, shall we request to move to the fief next year?"
Yu Linglan smiled faintly, "There’s no need to request. With the snow disaster now and the challenges of spring planting next year, and as they say, a major disaster often brings great plague, with continuous minor disasters and an empty national treasury, it’s likely the issue of each Prince managing their fiefs will arise."
Managing a fief ans relying on one’s ability and financial strength, as the national treasury will not provide for you.
Prince Zhao nodded and suddenly paused, his gaze turning ominous as he looked at soone coming out of Changsheng Hall, as well as the carriage stationed at its entrance, bearing the emblem presumably of the Great General’s Mansion.
Qin Liuxi also glanced over, noticing Prince Zhao and Yu Linglan, with a slight lift of her brow.
Upon seeing her, Yu Linglan’s eyes glead brightly, "She’s truly back."
Prince Zhao snorted and recalled Qin Liuxi’s identity and her connections, unable to resist walking over with a smile, greeting, "Elder Sister."
Yu Linglan was stunned.
Qin Liuxi was equally shocked, thinking, what is this? What did he just call ?
Seeing her stunned expression, Prince Zhao felt a sense of satisfaction. Avoiding him and distancing herself from that fool Qin Mingyue, he intended to disgust her to her face.
See, I called you Elder Sister. Do you dare respond?
Whether you dare or not, I will call you that, just to disgust you.
Prince Zhao’s smile grew sweeter and more genuine, as he called again: "Elder Sister, previously when I went to the Qin family, we missed seeing each other. Unexpectedly eting you here, it’s such a coincidence. Your younger sister Yue’er misses you often; why not co to my mansion for a gathering?"
Qin Liuxi laughed coldly inside, this bastard is trying to disgust !
She looked at Prince Zhao, her eyes showing pity and sympathy, moving aside, "Seeing you so handso and dignified, I didn’t expect your brain to be caught in a door. Go inside quickly; the doctors in Changsheng Hall have excellent dical skills and effective dicines. As long as the right dicine is prescribed, it’ll clear the water in your brain, and you’ll surely return to normal!"
Prince Zhao: "..."
Is she calling him an idiot?
Prince Zhao angrily shouted, "You audacious wench, how dare you insult this prince?"
"Pray tell, which word of mine insulted you?" Qin Liuxi cheerfully replied, "I, the humble Taoist, don’t even know you, yet you ca right up to calling Elder Sister as you did. I did not expect you to have such a quirk."
A quirk of voluntarily getting insulted!
Qin Liuxi, still feeling unsatisfied, added, "While personal preferences are personal, seeking out an elder sister uninvited is a condition that needs treatnt!"
Everyone: "..."
You didn’t openly insult him, but every word was indeed beneath the surface!
"You!" Prince Zhao, provoked by the surrounding stares, looked at Qin Liuxi with murderous eyes. A re Taoist, how dare she disdain the Imperial Family so lightly.
He raised his hand to summon his n, but Yu Linglan stepped forward, slightly turning her head to give him a warning glance.
Prince Zhao’s heart skipped a beat, and he pursed his lips slightly.
Yu Linglan faced Qin Liuxi, cupping his fists, "I greet Master Buqiu. Many years have passed, yet you remain as spirited as ever, Master."
Qin Liuxi smiled, "It’s been many years, Yu Sharen, and your eyes don’t seem to have improved much. Are you sure you chose the right person?"
With intention, she glanced towards Prince Zhao, her eyes filled with disdain and ridicule, almost saying: This... and you think you could select the talented to support, are your eyes blind?
Prince Zhao was furious!
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