A Cutie Spoiled by Her Seven Uncles-Chapter 579: Nobody Wants to Aid Disaster Relief
Chapter 579: Chapter 579: Nobody Wants to Aid Disaster Relief
The Emperor sat atop the towering Dragon Throne, remaining silent and waiting patiently for them to finish speaking. Only then did he cast his gaze down upon the important Courtiers of the Imperial Court in the Great Hall. His silence informed them that he had made a significant decision this time.
After what seemed like an eternity, a Courtier could no longer hold back, stepped forward, bowed, and asked the Emperor, "May this servant ask, what is the matter to which Your Majesty refers?"
"The relocation of the residents near the Yunhang Sea! Which one of you is willing to supervise this?"
As soon as the Emperor spoke, everyone in the Great Hall held their breath. The hall fell into a silence so profound a pin drop could be heard.
"What? No one is willing to go?" The Emperor dragged out the end of his question, his voice clearly laced with anger.
"This..." The Courtier who had stepped forward looked around hesitantly, seeking allies, but no one spoke up.
"So, no one is willing to go?"
"We deserve death!" the Courtiers exclaimed, resorting to their usual tactic of refusal.
"A death sentence? If killing all of you meant the people of Yunhang could be relocated, then I would indeed be willing to try."
"Left Chancellor, you lead both the civil and military officials. You should have a complete understanding of these Courtiers of mine. Who do you think is most suitable for this task?"
The monarch on the Dragon Throne cast a sharp glance over the Courtiers, his gaze finally resting on the Left Chancellor.
The Emperor’s current demeanor was a stark contrast to his usual jovial demeanor when presiding over the Imperial Court; he now seemed rather autocratic.
"Has Your Majesty already made up your mind?" The Left Chancellor, who was at the head of the officials, stepped forward. Unlike the other Courtiers, who bowed low and dared not meet the Emperor’s gaze, he stood ramrod straight, looking His Majesty directly in the eye.
The Left Chancellor, who had served under two dynasties, was rapidly calculating how to defuse this crisis. After all, disaster relief is thankless work, let alone persuading those reluctant to leave their homeland to relocate. Who would be willing to undertake such a perilous task?
The Left Chancellor thought this, but for a moment, he could not suggest a candidate.
The Emperor on the Dragon Throne did not press him, but said magnanimously, "If the Left Chancellor cannot think of a candidate right away, that is fine. Take your time. I have plenty of time to wait. The court session will adjourn only when you have found someone!"
When the Emperor finished speaking, many of the older Courtiers nearly fainted—not for any other reason than that they had just been thoroughly fleeced by the Grand Princess. They had been in the Great Hall for a full two hours, and it was well past lunchtime; everyone’s stomachs were rumbling.
The frail, elderly Courtiers had already secretly fixed their gazes on the Left Chancellor.
Only then did the Left Chancellor realize he was destined to play the villain today.
So, he turned his gaze to the crowd of Courtiers behind him.
The Courtiers, however, all lowered their heads, avoiding his eyes.
One even ducked his head and whispered a plea, "Left Chancellor, please! I am incapable of handling such a formidable task!"
The Left Chancellor was secretly annoyed. These men, who usually scrambled over each other for privileges, were now shrinking back like turtles in the face of difficulty. They were truly too pragmatic!
However, the Left Chancellor was no pushover. Having served two dynasties, he had his methods for dealing with those above and managing those below.
"Your Majesty! While I have no specific candidate to recommend for the disaster relief in Yunhang, I do have a proposal. I humbly request Your Majesty’s judgment!"
The Emperor, sitting on the Dragon Throne, nodded slightly. "Left Chancellor, speak!"
"Your Majesty, Yunhang has always been plagued by natural disasters. During the previous dynasty, there were proposals to relocate the nearby residents. But as the old saying goes, it is quite true, ’..."
The Left Chancellor deliberately paused there, leaving the saying unfinished.
The Emperor, having heard only half of what the Left Chancellor was saying, prompted him, "Called what?"
"Barren lands and treacherous waters breed unruly people!’"
The Emperor frowned.
The Left Chancellor paused again.
The Courtiers began whispering amongst themselves, generally agreeing with the Left Chancellor. The reality was just so: the people of Yunhang were exceedingly difficult to handle.
Initially, the Imperial Envoys sent by His Majesty were beaten unconscious and had to be carried back to the capital for treatment.
The second time, an Imperial Envoy brought disaster relief silver. After distributing the aid, he broached the subject of relocation. The people promptly tied him up and threw him out of the village. When he attempted to re-enter and discuss relocation with the villagers, they brandished knives, pitchforks, swords, halberds, and hoes, barring his way and refusing any communication!
The Emperor knew about these incidents. However, this matter could not be ignored and had to be resolved. Otherwise, after a few more such annual natural disasters, the National Treasury would be completely empty.
"Left Chancellor, why do you not continue?" the Emperor asked, seeing that those below had discussed the matter sufficiently and it was time to steer the conversation back.
The Left Chancellor swiftly replied, "Your Majesty, since Yunhang’s problem is one of natural disasters, there must be a Heaven-chosen individual capable of handling it all. Your Majesty, I boldly request that Your Majesty issue an edict: instruct the National Master to discern the Heavenly Will and seek divine guidance. To see who can perfectly resolve the matter of relocating the people of Yunhang."
The Left Chancellor’s words earned a chorus of approval from the Courtiers.
Before the Emperor on the Dragon Throne could voice his decision, the Courtiers had already knelt in a great wave.
"We implore Your Majesty to issue the edict! Request the National Master to communicate with the Heavens, find this capable person, and appoint them as the Imperial Envoy to Yunhang!"
Seeing the Courtiers’ actions, the Emperor knew they were merely passing the buck. He was extremely displeased, but lacking a suitable candidate himself, he dispatched Eunuch Ling to the National Master’s Mansion to convey the edict.
Unexpectedly, Eunuch Ling took nearly an hour for the round trip. His was that the National Master was not in his Mansion, and his whereabouts were unknown.
The Emperor, feeling he had no alternative, considered that the disaster relief silver had already been dispatched and personnel sent to procure grain. The relocation of Yunhang’s residents, therefore, wasn’t immediately urgent.
Thus, he decided to adjourn the court session.
After adjourning the morning court session, the Emperor rushed to the Imperial Kitchen.
In the Imperial Kitchen, Xiaosuisui was holding a large chicken leg in one hand, devouring it with gusto.
Princess Ata, seated opposite her, watched wide-eyed.
"Slow down, I’m not going to fight you for it. Besides, your foster father, the Emperor, hasn’t arrived yet. You’re eating and drinking so freely! Aren’t you afraid that when he adjourns court and sees you like this, he’ll blame you?"
Xiaosuisui, CRUNCH, CRUNCH, gnawed on the chicken leg, her mouth completely full, shaking her head repeatedly.
"Foster Father won’t blame me! He said I can eat whatever I want and drink whatever I want!"
"Yes, yes, yes! Your foster father, the Emperor, did say that. However, your table manners are atrocious! That Nanny I assigned to you—how on earth did she teach you? She has raised you as if you were a child from some commoner family—absolutely dreadful!"
The Emperor’s voice suddenly sounded from the direction of the eaves. Princess Ata immediately stood up and curtsied.
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Chapter 579: Nobody Wants to Aid Disaster Relief
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