The husband I snatched halfway through his life is strange.

Chapter 485 What should we do?

The sky was dark and gloomy, as if a storm was brewing.

An eerie undercurrent enveloped the capital, as a fierce wind whipped up withered branches and fallen leaves, swirling wildly through the streets and alleys, causing the windows to tremble violently.

Someone's clothes, left uncollected, were torn by the wind and swept high into the air, then slammed against the old locust tree. From a distance, they looked like ghosts hanging in mid-air.

Gu Fuju, dressed in official robes with a jade belt lightly fastened at his waist, walked hurriedly, his eyes holding a deep, calm gaze. After being summoned, he entered the palace.

"Grand Tutor, you've finally arrived."

The young eunuch looked around and, upon seeing him, quickly stepped forward to lead the way.

Gu Fuju kept walking.

The young eunuch beside him said, "Several princes are here, and the six ministries and nine ministers are gathered. Oh, and Lord Zhu from the Hanlin Academy is also here."

Gu Fuju lowered his gaze, concealing his emotions.

Zhu Wei, the head of the Hanlin Academy?
Responsible for drafting confidential edicts.

That was Emperor Yingqian's man.

Since Yang Changzheng was imprisoned, Zhu Wei has become the top official by Emperor Yingqian's side.

Although the head of the Hanlin Academy did not have a fixed rank, these people could decide the life and death of officials with just a stroke of their pens.

Emperor Yingqian would not have placed him in the Hanlin Academy if he did not have absolute trust in him.

However, with Yang Changzheng in trouble, the position of Minister of the Imperial Secretariat became vacant, and various factions were eyeing it covetously, each wanting to promote someone close to them to fill the vacancy.

Emperor Yingqian would not do as they wished.

I'm just afraid...

Gu Fuju's eyes flickered.

Inside the inner sanctuary, the tense atmosphere was on the verge of exploding.

Ying Yin knelt on the ground: "The imperial court is about to open the granaries and distribute grain. People are in a state of panic. Officials must be sent to the areas most severely affected by the disaster immediately, firstly to provide disaster relief, and secondly to appease the people and let them know that the imperial court will not abandon them, so as to prevent people from rioting."

"The situation is serious. If conditions permit, the disaster victims may be allowed to temporarily take refuge in the official granaries."

“Government offices and temples were requisitioned and used as disaster relief facilities for temporary resettlement.”

Ying Zhi also hurriedly expressed his opinion.

"The bodies of the drowned must be buried within three days. I believe that if officials are to be sent, the Imperial Medical Academy should also send personnel to accompany them, carrying medicinal herbs such as Atractylodes lancea and realgar. They should also prepare large pots of plague-preventing soup and distribute them."

To avoid plague.

Emperor Yingqian paced back and forth, his eyes deep and thoughtful.

It's clear he was very anxious.

He finally stopped in front of the man who had bowed his head and remained silent in agreement.

"Is there anything you'd like to say?"

It's difficult to agree.

"Your subject is foolish and dull."

Emperor Yingqian, disappointed, angrily rebuked: "The people of Ji and Zhuo prefectures, and the four cities of Yu prefecture are imprisoned! Do you know how many people will die?"

"I...I don't know."

"What do you know! You don't even know how to fight floods and provide disaster relief! As a royal heir, you have no sense of responsibility whatsoever. I have personally raised and educated you by my side! Yet you have not improved at all! You are an ignorant fool who only knows how to cower in the face of trouble!"

He got angry just looking at it.

It's okay if you don't know something; just observe and participate more, and you'll always learn something.

But Emperor Qian hated Yingcheng; he had no intention of competing with his brother!
After the crown prince died, none of his sons won his favor!
Emperor Yingqian seemed to have forgotten that when the crown prince was still alive, he didn't seem to care much about him.

But once he died, and there were no more conflicts of interest, he began to remember the Crown Prince's good qualities.

Emperor Ying Qian roared with all his might, which made him dizzy and a dark shadow flashed before his eyes. Even so, he still did not forget to kick Ying Cheng.

He staggered backward, but Zhu Wei quickly caught him.

But as soon as you get close, you can smell the putrid stench emanating from Emperor Yingqian, which even incense can't hide. Zhu Wei, however, remains unfazed, as if he can't smell it at all.

"Your Majesty, please calm your anger and take care of your health."

Yingcheng's body swayed from the kick, and he fell to the ground. He was as timid as a mouse and quickly knelt down again.

Such demeanor was not only beneath Emperor Yingqian's notice, but even the ministers beside him shook their heads, disregarding him.

"Please come inside, Grand Tutor."

The sound of my father-in-law speaking could be heard from outside.

Emperor Yingqian composed himself and, with the help of the steward, sat down. Gu Fuju strode into the hall from outside, his robes brushing against the kneeling Yingcheng, and stepped forward to pay his respects.

“Fu Ju, ah.”

Emperor Yingqian's voice was filled with sorrow, and he held his forehead with one hand, unable to hide his deep weariness.

"What should we do?"

He leaned back, remaining silent, and no one knew what he was thinking.

But Gu Fuju knew that if Emperor Yingqian truly cared about the people, so many people wouldn't have died during the famine.

He was only putting on a show for the court officials and for the common people.

what?
The ministers of all six ministries have been summoned; don't you know what's going on?
However, Gu Fuju clearly understood Emperor Qian's intentions.

Gu Fuju cupped his hands and said, "Previously, in order to prevent floods, many important officials in the court put forward solutions, including many suggestions on post-disaster resettlement."

"I have also pondered this for some time, and in conjunction with the historical records, the first priority should be to draft a disaster relief decree."

Emperor Yingqian straightened up slightly, as if listening intently.

Gu Fuju glanced at it.

"Shang Shu of the Ministry of Finance."

"The subordinate is here."

"The Ministry of Revenue is responsible for coordinating the allocation of funds and grain, and calculating the amount of disaster relief funds and tax reductions."

The man did not respond.

It sounds simple, but it's not easy to do.

Gu Fuju then looked at Minister Zhou of the Ministry of Works.

"The Ministry of Works is responsible for the emergency repair of river embankments, conducting on-site inspections of post-disaster reconstruction, and prioritizing flood diversion to reduce losses."

The Minister of Works, who was Zhou Yurou's father, remained silent after hearing this.

Gu Fuju's voice continued.

"The Ministry of War will assist in transporting disaster relief supplies, mobilize manpower to maintain order, and prevent peasant uprisings. The Ministry of Justice will supervise the distribution of disaster relief funds and grain, and investigate and punish embezzlement. Each provincial administration will set up soup kitchens."

"Reduce or exempt taxes, exempt severely affected areas from taxes and grain for three years, and reduce the burden on neighboring areas. Stabilize grain prices and crack down on hoarding."

"..."

He continued speaking, word by word.

No one inside the hall responded.

Gu Fuju didn't care.

He only slightly raised his eyes after saying the last word.

"Do you have any objections?"

The six ministers exchanged glances, and finally, Minister Yao of the Ministry of Justice stepped forward.

"Grand Tutor, you have put in a lot of effort. We should also do our utmost, but the national treasury is empty, and disasters are raging everywhere. It seems difficult to obtain disaster relief funds..."

Emperor Yingqian remained motionless, simply watching.

Gu Fujiu: "Transfer silver from the treasuries of six provinces to reduce expenditures."

The six provinces refer to the six prosperous regions within the Great Jin Dynasty.

Expenses included the royal palace and the salaries of officials.

He said calmly, "When Yang Changzheng went to prison, the amount of money confiscated from the Yang family was no small sum. It's clear that corrupt officials are guarding their gold mines."

He willingly became the blade in Emperor Yingqian's hand.

"The national treasury has been empty since His Majesty ascended the throne. Shouldn't the Six Ministries reflect on their own actions?"

"Putting everything else aside, Wei Zhao alone is responsible for the military pay of the Wei family army. The Ministry of Revenue is known as the central authority for all the money and grain in the country, so why are the supplies of grain and fodder and the clothing for the soldiers to keep warm being delayed again and again? Has the Ministry of War done anything about this?"

"Yang Changzheng's case remains untried. Are the Ministry of Personnel and the Ministry of Justice suspected of embezzlement, abuse of power, and protecting corrupt officials?"

Sigrún has taught at the Iceland University of the Arts as a part-time lecturer since and was Dean of the Department of Fine Art from -. In – she held a research position at Reykjavík Art Museum focusing on the role of women in Icelandic art. She studied fine art at the Icelandic College of Arts and Crafts and at Pratt Institute, New York, and holds BA and MA degrees in art history and philosophy from the University of Iceland. Sigrún lives and works in Iceland.

"You mean, the Grand Tutor got into an argument with the people from the Six Ministries in the palace?"

Yu Tingwan had just woken up from her afternoon nap when she learned of this from Wei Zhao, and she was shocked.

"It's not that noisy."

Wei Zhao brewed tea with a silver spoon, scooped up the finely ground tea powder and gently sifted it into the porcelain. The tea soup gradually rose like fresh snow, and white mist rose: "He was calm and composed, and with just his words, he made those old geezers in the Six Ministries blush with anger."