Naturally, the task of making such proclamations wasn’t for these noble young n to handle. In reality, the governance of the dynasty always operated in layers, which allowed directives to be communicated with just a few people.
In other places, there might be delays with directives, but in the capital, due to its proximity to the Emperor, decrees were quite efficiently disseminated.
The Prince’s petitions had just passed through the Central Secretariat and the Imperial Secretariat, and then were rapidly issued as edicts. Yin Li conveyed them to the magistrates of the two counties within the capital. In less than a day, they had gathered all the village chiefs to relay the ssage.
However, the dicinal herbs specified by the Imperial Hospital were unfamiliar not only to the villagers but to many officials within the County Governntal Office as well.
To say they had to gather and dry the herbs was all well and good, but who knew what those dicinal herbs even looked like?
From what the officials suggested, these herbs could be found everywhere, but which herbs were they exactly?
Therefore, although the village chiefs passed the ssage along to the village heads after leaving the County Governntal Office, not many took it seriously.
They never imagined that soon after they inford the village heads, soone would co to them with a bunch of wild grass.
They looked at the ubiquitous wild grass and hesitated, asking, "Is this a dicinal herb? Isn’t this just Copperweed? People usually chew it up and apply it to wounds for hemostasis."
The officer delivering the sample was montarily stumped before replying, "What does it matter to you? As long as it’s a herb, it’s fine. Tell the villagers to find more like this and dry them."
"This..."
Bai Shan, who had co along to observe the situation, imdiately said, "Old man, we’re not taking these herbs for free; we’ll pay for them."
He kindly added, "Five copper coins per pound. With the current good weather, drying them for two or three days should suffice. By then, these herbs will be distributed to the people to combat the sumr heat."
The village heads were a little puzzled, "You’re buying them from us only to sell them back to us?"
"Not selling, distributing for free," Bai Shan replied. "This sumr’s heat has been intense, and as of today, nine people in the capital have already died from heatstroke."
The village heads were also aware of this as the chief had earlier advised them to avoid working between lunchti and late afternoon.
But...
Can Copperweed really be that effective?
Regardless of their doubts, they eventually went to collect the herbs.
This year’s harvest was poor, with only half the usual yield. With the weather this hot and the autumn harvest looking even bleaker, even five copper coins per pound was sothing, right?
By now, weeding was futile. Watering was done in turns, and even if they wanted to water daily, there wasn’t enough water for everyone.
So many people started collecting the grasses following the noblen’s samples; so didn’t even need them and just ntioned Copperweed, and an adult in the know would lead them to it.
Bai Shan divided their group into two. He assigned Feng Zongping to head the team in Wannian County, while they stayed in Chang’an County.
Their tasks weren’t many - just patrols to ensure the funds allocated by the Ministry of Revenue for purchasing herbs were given to the gatherers by weight. They also collected data, supervised the return of herbs to the Imperial Hospital, where they were selected, weighed, and re-dried if necessary.
Once each area prepared a sufficient quantity of herbs, Bai Shan and his team distributed the selected herbs from the Imperial Hospital, from county to village, and they continued focusing on data collection and supervision.
However, when local officials couldn’t handle everything, Bai Shan and his group lent a hand. From purchasing to distribution, by the end of this relief effort, they were all several shades darker.
Even Yin Huo, who stayed in tents or rooms handling accounts, got a little tanned, not to ntion those who were out running around wearing a hat.
On the way back to the city, Zhao Liulang repeatedly took a small bronze mirror out of his sleeve, lanting, "I seem to be even darker than yesterday."
Hearing this, Bai Shan turned to seriously look at him and nodded, "You are a bit darker; did you not wear your hat?"
Zhao Liulang replied, aggrieved, "I did, but it doesn’t seem very effective."
Bai Shan said, "It does help. Just look at Liu Huan for example."
Zhao Liulang turned to see Liu Huan riding alongside, and instantly felt consoled.
Liu Huan: ...
Bai Shan extended his hand, "Let see."
Zhao Liulang sighed deeply before handing over the mirror, "We’re going straight back to the palace, right?"
Bai Shan replied affirmatively, examining his face with the mirror while riding, "Yes, let’s report to the Prince first, then we can rest."
Zhao Liulang exhaled deeply, touched his face, and finally felt a little happy.
Returning to the Eastern Palace, Bai Shan and Feng Zongping went to report to the Prince. The teams sent to Shangzhou and Yongzhou hadn’t returned, but it was said they were almost done, probably within a day or two.
This ti, they handled the mission well. As the Prince was in charge, he managed to restore so of his reputation in court, particularly as Mr. Zhuang had been giving him lessons focusing on the filial piety of vassals to the sovereign.
Though the Prince still liked to find fault, Mr. Zhuang never argued against his views and sotis even confird so of his less favorable ideas.
According to Mr. Zhuang, the world isn’t black and white. Every person has a good and bad side.
Even he had acted unjustly in his life, but doing good is the aspiration of most people in this world;
And as the Prince, he should aim to be a wise ruler.
As long as he had the desire, the path was set. Even the current ruler made mistakes during governance; he wouldn’t expect the Prince to be infallible. As long as he harbored a care for the people and had ambitions of rulership, it was enough for now.
Mr. Zhuang, aged, lived more calmly. Although the Prince couldn’t help but be sarcastic at tis during these small lessons, his mindset gradually softened.
As he cald, his deanor beca less sharp, which didn’t go unnoticed by the ministers, who grew quietly satisfied.
Mr. Zhuang often reminded the Prince that children follow their father’s example, and if he wished for filial children in the future, he should be filial to the Emperor and Empress.
Thus, though the Prince seed reluctant, he proactively offered his father dishes or inquired more about the Emperor’s health.
Lately, the Emperor was worried about Prince Gong. With the Prince expressing concern, he couldn’t maintain his forr sternness. So, with the Empress diating, the father-son relationship surprisingly grew closer.
anwhile, Prince Gong was kept busy by Zhou Man, Mingda, and Changyu. When he finally got used to walking back and forth twice without tiring, Zhou Man conspired with Matron Shang to have him join them for mountain hikes.
For this, Manbao even changed her schedule of visiting Daming Palace as they found it more pleasant to hike after late afternoon. The sun was less intense, a gentle breeze blew, the mountain was covered in forests providing shade, which was the best.
Still, despite the shade, exposure to the sun persisted, so Manbao, Mingda, and Changyu all tanned. If they tanned, even more so did Prince Gong, who faced the sun twice daily on top of that.
He beca as dark as a black bun when he originally was a white stead bun.
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