sjar Chapter 778 What truly constitutes a "golden branch and jade leaf"?
Chapter 778 What truly constitutes a "golden branch and jade leaf"?
The snow in Beijing shows no signs of stopping.
On the ruins south of the city, Qian Zhenyun and Gu Lu led the crowd in their struggle against natural disasters and the invisible pressure from the Crown Prince.
Dr. Qian's clinic has now become a temporary treatment center, with a constant stream of wounded people arriving.
Gu Qingchen was restless in the mansion, finally receiving the news that Huanran brought back.
"Miss, I've found out. Young Master Qian and Young Master Gu are both in the south of the city, and Doctor Qian has also gone there with his clinic staff. They are treating disaster victims, building shelters, and have even requisitioned supplies from the Imperial Household Department." Huanran said breathlessly, her face beaming with joy.
Gu Qingchen felt a little relieved.
"It's good that they're alright," she said softly.
But then, her brows furrowed tightly again.
How much supplies does the Imperial Household Department have? And how many disaster victims are there in the south of the city?
This is just a drop in the ocean.
She remembered what her father had said that morning: the tents in the military camp had all collapsed, and the officials in charge of the construction had cut corners.
This snow disaster is not only a natural disaster, but also a man-made one.
She suddenly remembered what Qian Zhenyun had said yesterday—"a reason that forced her to give up."
She didn't know what the reason was.
But she knew she couldn't just sit and wait to die any longer.
She had to do something, for Qian Zhenyun, and for those innocent people.
Gu Qingchen's gaze fell on the thick ledgers on the desk.
Those were the income and expenditure accounts of the Duke of Zhenguo's mansion over the years, which she also used to practice arithmetic on a daily basis.
She picked up a book, opened it, and her eyes gleamed with thoughtfulness.
The Duke of Zhenguo's mansion has both money and grain.
She wanted to use the power of the Duke of Zhenguo's mansion to help Qian Zhenyun.
She wanted the Crown Prince to know that she, Gu Qingchen, was not a pushover he could manipulate at will.
She wanted everyone to know that she, Gu Qingchen, was not a good-for-nothing who only knew how to cause trouble!
"Huanran." Gu Qingchen's voice carried an unprecedented firmness and determination. "Prepare the carriage. I'm going out."
"Miss, where are you going?" Huanran asked worriedly.
“Go to the south of the city,” Gu Qingchen said, her eyes gleaming with an undeniable determination. “I need to see how Qian Zhenyun is doing.”
Huanran was startled: "Miss, the snow is so heavy outside, and the south of the city is in chaos. You can't go!"
"Stop talking." Gu Qingchen's tone left no room for argument. "I have to go. And I'm not going alone."
She glanced at the ledger on the desk, a cold smile playing on her lips.
She was going to take the money and grain from the Duke of Zhenguo's mansion to the south of the city.
She wanted to make the Crown Prince shoot himself in the foot!
She wanted to show those who were laughing at the Duke of Zhenguo's mansion what a true "golden branch and jade leaf" really looked like!
As Gu Qingchen's carriage slowly drove towards the south of the city through the wind and snow.
Zhao Chen'an, far away in the Eastern Palace, was summoning his advisors to discuss the next steps in his plan.
What can he do to completely ruin Qian Zhenyun's reputation?
How can he get Gu Qingchen to obediently return to his side?
Unbeknownst to him, the "good-for-nothing" Crown Princess he had looked down upon was now leading him step by step into the trap he had set for Qian Zhenyun, with unexpected power.
That trap, perhaps, will ultimately become his own grave.
The heavy snow continued to fall, covering all the hustle and bustle and intrigue of the capital.
However, beneath this vast expanse of white snow, an even more intense struggle has only just begun.
Gu Qingchen's carriage stopped on the outskirts of the southern part of the city.
This area is still some distance from the worst-hit areas, but the crowds are already starting to get dense.
Many homeless disaster victims are flocking to the outskirts of the city with their families, trying to find a glimmer of hope.
"Miss, the road ahead is too difficult to walk on." Huanran lifted the curtain and looked at the muddy and snow-covered road with some worry.
Without hesitation, Gu Qingchen pushed open the carriage door and stepped off the carriage through the thick snow.
She was dressed in dark winter clothes today, with a thick fox fur cloak over it, and a hood covering most of her face.
Her outfit made her stand out in the crowd.
"Don't worry about the carriage," Gu Qingchen instructed the driver. "You and Huanran wait here. If anything goes wrong, drive away immediately. I can go in alone."
"Miss!" Huanran exclaimed anxiously, "How can this be? The south of the city is in such a chaotic state right now, it's too dangerous for you to go in alone!"
"It's alright." Gu Qingchen's tone was firm. "I know what I'm doing."
She took out a waist token from the Duke of Zhenguo's mansion from her sleeve and handed it to Huanran: "If anyone questions you, take out this. Remember, do not reveal my identity unless absolutely necessary."
Huanran took the waist token, her eyes filled with worry, but she knew that once her young mistress made a decision, no one could change it.
Gu Qingchen took a deep breath, braved the wind and snow, and strode towards the depths of the southern part of the city.
The further you go in, the more shocking the scene becomes.
Many more houses collapsed, and the air was filled with the smells of mud, sawdust, and blood.
The sounds of crying, coughing, and wailing rose and fell, weighing heavily on one's heart.
She saw a young mother, holding a lifeless child in her arms, sitting blankly beside the ruins, her eyes vacant.
She saw several ragged beggars huddled around a campfire, fighting over a moldy bun.
Cold, hunger, and despair, like a giant net, enveloped this region.
Gu Qingchen's heart felt as if it were being tightly gripped by an invisible hand, causing him intense pain.
She quickened her pace, following the direction of the crowd and the sounds, and finally arrived at the area where Qian Zhenyun and Gu Lu were.
The order here is much better.
The constables of the Dali Temple, dressed in uniform black robes, were maintaining order.
They divided the disaster victims into several groups: some were responsible for clearing the rubble, some for building shelters, and others lined up to receive hot porridge and medicine.
Qian Zhenyun's figure was particularly conspicuous.
He was wearing a blue robe, which was now covered in mud and snowmelt, making him look somewhat disheveled.
His hair was disheveled by the wind, and his face was covered in dust, but his eyes remained bright and resolute.
He was bent over, working with several constables to lift a thick wooden beam from under the rubble.
Gu Lu, standing beside him, was also disheveled, his forehead covered in fine beads of sweat. He was loudly directing the crowd and assigning tasks.
Gu Qingchen stood not far away, watching Qian Zhenyun's busy figure, and a complex emotion welled up in his heart.
She saw him personally rescue a child whose leg was trapped under the rubble, saw him carefully bandage the wounds of the injured, and saw him patiently comfort a weeping woman.
He was neither like a pampered young master from a noble family, nor like a weak and scholarly tutor to the crown prince.
Like a true battlefield general, he calmly and decisively rebuilt order amidst the chaos.