Sī tú Chuán Qióng went to court smoothly, and the entire harem knew that he had departed from Cold Consort Xian's Jìn Lè Palace wearing dragon robes that day.
"Clang, clang, clang!" Noble Consort Qin Míng Zhū started smashing things again, yelling as she did, "Cold Yuán Xiāng, you bitch! What kind of seductive trick did you use to almost delay His Majesty's morning court! This is too much!"
Little Ju quickly closed the door to the inner hall, shielding her mistress.
"That's not right! Before, besides Empress Chǔ Yǔ Lán, His Majesty valued me the most. Although this Cold Yuán Xiāng holds the title of Consort Xian, His Majesty never showed any affection for her. Even Zhào Xuě Wēi, who has a lower rank in the harem, seems to be favored more than her. How did she suddenly catch the Emperor's eye this time?" Qin Míng Zhū, for once, was using her brain.
Little Ju lowered her head and replied, "This servant doesn't know."
"Slap!" Qin Míng Zhū turned and slapped her, "You don't know? If you don't know, can't you go find out? Go chat with the palace maids from other palaces."
Little Ju quickly knelt down, kowtowing, "Your Ladyship, please calm your anger. This servant will go now!"
"Wait a moment!" Qin Míng Zhū stopped Little Ju, "You clean up this place first. Later, I will write a letter, and you can help me send it out to my mother."
"This servant obeys!" Little Ju resignedly got up and began to clean up the shattered remnants on the ground. After she finally finished tidying up, she took Noble Consort Qin's personal letter and rushed to the palace gates to deliver it to one of the guards arranged by the Qin family.
Meanwhile, the court was still in heated debate. Officials were divided into two factions regarding the locust plague in some regions.
One faction believed that aiding the people and opening the granaries was not a long-term solution. Moreover, the distributed grain was already insufficient, and after layers of exploitation, very little reached the common people. Therefore, the best course of action was to find a way to eliminate the countless locusts so that the people could eat their own harvested grains next year.
The other faction argued that while contemplating plans, the people without food would starve to death before any solutions could be devised. There were already isolated beggars appearing near the capital, indicating how difficult life was for the people in the locust-stricken areas. Therefore, the best course of action now was to open the granaries and placate the people's emotions.
The two factions argued fiercely, each with their own valid points, neither willing to concede.
Sī tú Chuán Qióng's head began to ache. He took a deep breath to suppress his anger and said, "Stop arguing! Since neither side can convince the other, you will both proceed simultaneously!"
"Prime Minister on the Right, Cold Guǎng, step forward!" Sī tú Chuán Qióng commanded, "You will be responsible for continuing the distribution of grain, ensuring that you personally oversee every level, and no one is allowed to withhold grain from the people. Can you ensure that the people receive imperial grain as soon as possible?"
"Your humble servant obeys, and will not fail His Majesty's trust!" Prime Minister on the Right, Cold Guǎng, quickly accepted. This was a difficult task, but successfully completing it would be a great contribution. The people would be grateful to him, and Cold Guǎng knew that the Emperor's son-in-law was giving him an opportunity!
Sī tú Chuán Qióng then turned his attention to the Prime Minister on the Left, Qín Fēng, preparing to instruct him to organize manpower to combat the locust plague. However, the latter spoke first: "Reporting to Your Majesty, this humble servant also believes that grain distribution should come first. Prime Minister on the Right bears a heavy burden and a difficult task alone. This humble servant requests to accompany him in escorting the grain."
Qín Fēng thought to himself that since they were both the Emperor's father-in-law, this act that would win the hearts of the people should not be enjoyed solely by Cold Guǎng.
Sī tú Chuán Qióng's words were cut short, but after some thought, he nodded in agreement, "Very well, then I shall trouble both the Prime Ministers on the Left and Right to pay close attention to this matter." He thought that since the two of them were already at odds, it was better to let them continue to check and balance each other!
"Then, regarding the matter of eradicating the locust plague, which of my ministers is willing to volunteer?" Sī tú Chuán Qióng looked at the officials who had been speaking so vehemently earlier. However, at this crucial moment, they all became as quiet as quails, lowering their heads and daring not to move.
An awkward silence suddenly fell over the court…
Just as Sī tú Chuán Qióng was about to lose his temper, Lǐ Bù, the top scholar of this year's imperial examinations, stepped forward and said, "Reporting to Your Majesty, we have observed the local populace trying several methods to eliminate the locusts, but none have been effective. The speed at which we kill them cannot match their reproductive rate. Therefore, this humble servant dares to propose: why don't we post notices and invite wise individuals from all regions of the empire to offer their suggestions? With collective wisdom, perhaps more effective methods can be discovered?"
"This is a good idea. More people thinking will lead to more methods," Sī tú Chuán Qióng said with a satisfied smile. "Then this matter will be entrusted to you. If a successful method emerges, I will personally reward the contributor from my private treasury."
"Your humble servant obeys! Your Majesty is benevolent and cares for all people under heaven. I believe good news will arrive soon," Lǐ Bù also stepped forward to accept the task.
"Court dismissed!" Sī tú Chuán Qióng waved his hand and stood up.
This morning's court session had been quite long, and his legs were starting to feel numb. Sī tú Chuán Qióng said to Wáng Yòu, who had wisely stepped forward to assist him, "We will have lunch at Jìn Lè Palace. I promised her yesterday."
"Yes, Your Majesty. This servant will immediately have the palace staff prepare the meal and send it over!" Wáng Yòu was also very efficient.
Jìn Lè Palace, lunchtime.
"His Majesty is true to his word today, saying he would dine with me and actually doing so. A true gentleman!" Cold Yuán Xiāng was very happy. She slept until the sun was high in the sky, and ate breakfast and lunch together. This was exactly like her life during her modern vacations!
Sī tú Chuán Qióng nodded perfunctorily as he ate, "I wouldn't dare lie to you. If you throw a tantrum, you'll call me a scumbag again."
"I only said it once, why do you keep bringing it up!" Cold Yuán Xiāng pouted, then asked, "Your Majesty is eating so little today. Are you troubled by something?"
"Nothing! These are court matters, and you, as a woman, cannot help," Sī tú Chuán Qióng did not want to elaborate.
"What's wrong with being a woman? Women can be very knowledgeable too," Cold Yuán Xiāng retorted indignantly. She could recite many famous poems.
Sī tú Chuán Qióng remembered that before she married him, she was indeed very talented. Hadn't he been attracted by her poetry in the first place? So, he tentatively asked, "Then, little Xiāng'er, do you know how to exterminate locusts?"
"Locusts?" Cold Yuán Xiāng racked her brain, but couldn't recall any famous poems about locusts. She only remembered that locusts were like grasshoppers, and in some places, people liked to eat them. So, she tentatively said, "How about... boiling all these locusts and eating them?"
Sī tú Chuán Qióng imagined eating those disgusting creatures, and the meal in front of him immediately lost its appeal. "Little Xiāng'er, can you say something practical and reliable?"
"Then I don't know!" Cold Yuán Xiāng gave up, as she herself had only heard of eating grasshoppers, never actually done it.
Sī tú Chuán Qióng shook his head, regretting that he had actually believed a woman could come up with a good idea. He had even felt a moment of anticipation for her answer!