Chapter 362: I will not give this decree

At dinner time, the family finally sat down neatly together after half a day’s work.

Liu Yusheng asked the old man, “Grandpa, how did you think of going to the village chief to discuss helping the affected villages and people?”

“Xinghua Village belongs to Xiangshan County. Now that the whole Xiangshan is affected, we must do something at this time. If we stand by and do nothing, once the storm passes, Xinghua Village will probably usher in man-made disasters.” The old man did not shy away from it. “Moreover, we really should take action. We are all people of the Nanling Kingdom. Our help this time is the same as helping Axiu and Xiao Feng. We can help them as well as our own people. Isn’t that the so-called two beauties?”

“Grandpa, that’s called the best of both worlds.” Liu Zhiqiu taught his grandfather the idiom.

“Yes, the best of both worlds.” Liu Yusheng’s smile spread, and the clouds under her eyes dispersed, revealing clarity.

After eating, taking a shower and going to bed, Liu Yusheng slept very soundly that night.

After nightfall, the wind and snow that had stopped for half a day outside began to invade the land again.

In the next few days, Liu Yusheng followed Kang Shiming, rushing to one village after another without stopping.

She went to visit the disaster-stricken places and treated the people affected by the disaster.

It was also the effort of these few days that made Liu Yusheng’s fame spread wider and higher among the people, and she began to gain fame.

The Liu family did not stop there either, and started to give a helping hand to the nearby villages.

They helped rebuild, donated supplies, and distributed soup and medicine.

Xinghua Village, which originally was a model in eight villages in ten miles and eight towns, has begun to be looked up to, and in the eyes of the villages, has shed its unattainable trappings and gradually eased relations with them.

Half a month after the disaster, the capital received the message from the village.

Feng Qingbai looked at the secret letter in his hand, and his brow furrowed extremely tight.

Snow disaster in Xiangshan.

Regional disasters.

A large number of victims.

This was dire news to those in power.

If not handled properly, the people would accumulate grievances and cause social instability. Political enemies would seize this reason to attack.

The consequences of the slightest misstep could be continuity.

“Imperial Uncle, how do you plan to handle this matter?” Feng Mohan, who was lying next to him, asked. He was frowning just as tight. “Aid relief must be done, not to mention that it is still Aunt Liu’s hometown. But if you want to go in person, I’m afraid you can’t. The frontier officers and soldiers will soon return to the court, and you will be responsible for bestowing them rewards and commendations. You’ll also have to make the final decision for the royal merchant screening in March. The spring exams are in April, and you can’t be absent from the final examination. The end of April is a critical period for the draft. We need to prevent that old witch from any last minute plots. You can not leave the capital.”

The only way out was to send an inspector-general official. 

Feng Qingbai knew very well that he couldn’t get away, but he couldn’t blindly appoint an inspector-general. When the court was like raging fire, he should be cautious in appointing the governor. If he accidentally appointed his enemy’s minion, it was akin to stabbing himself.

A tiny damage from his enemies could lead to unimaginable consequences.

Feng Qingbai tapped his fingers on the desk and filtered the candidates he could use in his mind.

Feng Mohan also braced his little head to help think, then his eyes rolled twice and suddenly glowed. “Imperial Uncle, why don’t I go?”

Feng Qingbai raised his eyes and looked at him lightly.

“Imperial Uncle, I’m the most suitable to go! You can manage the affairs of the palace, so it doesn’t matter if I’m present or not. But if I contribute disaster relief, think about how sensational it would be to the people. The emperor personally participated in disaster relief; I must have attached great importance to them. My reputation will soar with a whoosh. Moreover, I will never betray you. Whatever means those people want to use under the table and what chips they use to instigate rebellion will be in vain. You don’t have to worry about that at all. What do you think?”

He crumbled and narrated a long speech, exaggerating the benefits of going in person. Feng Mohan blinked his eyes and looked at his Imperial Uncle expectantly.

Of course, he looked serious.

He must let his uncle feel that he was truly conscientious and diligent in dealing with the matter.

He was definitely not faking it.

After a while, he heard his uncle faintly reply, “If I let you go, do you want the whole world to gossip that you robbed someone from your uncle afterwards?”

Feng Mohan was a bit confused at first. Rob someone? What kind of person?

When a face flashed in his mind, Feng Mohan jumped up in shock. “Imperial Uncle, I definitely did not mean that! Don’t get me wrong. I just want to help you solve the problem. I can gain fame and also see Grandpa and Grandma Liu in passing. That’s three birds with one stone. I absolutely have no ill will towards Aunt Liu!”

This was really wrong!

“You don’t have that thought, but others don’t know. As long as someone with ulterior motives releases a little wind, the fake can become true. You can’t go this time.” Feng Qingbai stopped tapping his fingers on the table and said, “Prepare a decree. County magistrate of Xiangshan, Kang Shiming, must spare no effort in disaster relief. In addition, appoint Ruyi County Lady as the ambassador of disaster relief. Collaborate with the County Magistrate, Kang Shiming, and contribute together.”

“Imperial Uncle?” Feng Mohan was a little confused. This kind of thing could become a raft for political opponents to attack each other at any time, so Aunt Liu shouldn’t be involved.

If she did a good job, it was just one more compliment.

If she performed badly, she would become a target of public criticism.

“Do as I say.”

“Tell me your real intention first, otherwise I won’t issue this decree!” For the first time since he was enlightened, Feng Mohan refused to obey whatever Feng Qingbai said. His little face became tense and extremely serious.

He couldn’t let Aunt Liu step into the vortex!

After gazing at the little boy for a moment, Feng Qingbai hooked his lips and raised his hand to rub a hand on his head.

“Believe in your Aunt Liu and also believe in me. I will never let your Aunt Liu suffer a tiny bit.”

The warmth on the top of his head eased the sullenness on Feng Mohan’s face. He subconsciously rubbed his head under the man’s large palm, squirming and muttering, “Then you also have to make things clear to me. What do you want to do when you pull Aunt Liu into political affairs?”

Feng Qingbai smiled. He looked at him sideways, exuding unparalleled strength and arrogance.

“Create a God,” he said.

On the same day, an imperial edict prepared from the palace was sent at top speed to the Xiangshan in Yunzhou by a special channel.

In addition to what Feng Qingbai said, Feng Mohan also added an additional clause on the decree, ordering officials at all levels in Yunzhou to fully cooperate with the disaster relief. During this period, anyone who dared to obstruct disaster relief so that it wouldn’t be carried out smoothly would be beheaded without mercy!

At the same time, Feng Qingbai summoned Qian Wanjin at the royal residence.

When Qian Wanjin received the imperial decree, his eyes almost popped out.

What was that guy Feng Qingbai planning? He could have just visited their house if he wanted to say something. Why was he scaring him with this imperial decree?

This was too formal and made someone panic.

The concierge of the King’s mansion was too familiar with Qian Wanjin. When he saw him at the door, he basically didn’t need to announce him and directly let him in.

Qian Wanjin marched all the way to the King’s palace hall. “Feng Qingbai, what the hell are you doing? If you have anything to say, just get right to it. My time is precious. If it weren’t for your imperial decree that I had to come, I would have been on my way to Yunzhou by now!”

He celebrated the New Year and the Lantern Festival at home. This was the longest he has been at home in the past few years.

So after the New Year, he left clear instructions in the capital and was ready to set off to Xinghua Village.