sjar Chapter 777 You're someone I've watched grow up, we're brothers.
Chapter 777 You're someone I've watched grow up, we're brothers.
The constables of the Dali Temple acted swiftly.
In less than half an hour, Gu Lu had gathered all the available servants and also mobilized a troop of men from the Imperial Guard, and they marched in a grand procession to the south of the city.
Qian Zhenyun and Gu Lu rode side by side, the wind and snow hitting their faces and stinging their skin.
"Brother Lv, thank you." Qian Zhenyun's voice was carried away by the wind, but it was sincere.
"What are you thanking me for?" Gu Lu's expression remained serious. He tightened the reins, and the horse's hooves made a dull sound in the snow. "I've watched you grow up since you were a child. We're brothers."
He glanced at Qian Zhenyun, his tone softening slightly: "Don't worry, I've already sent people to keep a close eye on the Imperial Household Department. If they dare to disobey, I'll definitely report them!"
Qian Zhenyun nodded without saying anything more. He knew that Gu Lu always kept his word.
When they arrived at the south of the city, the scene before them was even more shocking than they had imagined.
The once low but relatively tidy houses are now mostly ruins, with crumbling walls teetering in the wind and snow. Rubble, wooden beams, and mud, mixed with snow, fill the narrow streets.
Scattered cries echoed from the depths of the ruins, sending chills down one's spine.
Many of the disaster victims, dressed in thin clothing, huddled under the remaining eaves, their faces pale and their lips purple. There were elderly people and children, their eyes filled with despair and numbness.
Qian Zhenyun's heart sank suddenly.
Without thinking twice, he immediately dismounted and strode toward the nearest collapsed house.
"Someone! Clear the rubble immediately! Save people first!"
Gu Lu immediately directed the constables to take action.
The bailiffs of the Dali Temple, who were usually only responsible for investigating cases and arresting people, had now become porters and rescuers. Ignoring the dirt and fatigue, they moved the rubble with their bare hands and carefully rescued the trapped people from under the ruins.
The cold wind howled, but the snowflakes continued to fall densely.
Qian Zhenyun personally joined the constables in moving heavy objects. His hands quickly turned red from the cold, and his knuckles became stiff, but he did not stop.
He saw an old woman trapped under a wooden beam, her face purple and her breath weak. He immediately directed several constables to carefully lift the beam and rescue the old woman.
"Is there a doctor?" Qian Zhenyun asked loudly.
Gu Lu immediately sent people to find a familiar medical clinic in the city.
However, the disaster was far more severe than imagined. There were many injured, and the clinics simply did not have enough doctors and medicine.
Qian Zhenyun thought of his father's medical skills and Gu Qingchen's investigation of Gu Lanxin yesterday, and a thought struck him.
He looked at Gu Lu: "Brother Lu, can we borrow the clinic at the Qian family's residence?"
"Of course!" Gu Lu said without hesitation. "I'll immediately send someone to inform Uncle Qian to bring all the available medicinal herbs and come over right away!"
He knew that Dr. Qian's medical skills were second to none in Beijing.
Soon, Doctor Qian arrived in the south of the city with his apprentices and a large quantity of medicinal herbs.
Ignoring the cold, they immediately threw themselves into treating the wounded.
Qian Zhenyun then directed the constables to set up temporary shelters in a relatively open area. Cotton-padded clothes and cloth "requisitioned" from the Imperial Household Department were used to keep the disaster victims warm.
The constables of the Dali Temple all had a background in martial arts; they were strong and fast.
Inspired by them, some residents who were less affected by the disaster also began to spontaneously join the rescue and reconstruction efforts.
Gu Lu did not leave; he personally oversaw the operation and maintained order at the scene.
He saw Qian Zhenyun's busy figure in the wind and snow. He saw the sweat on his forehead mixed with the snowflakes on his face. He saw his tired but determined eyes.
This Qian Zhenyun was completely different from the unassuming companion who usually served the Crown Prince.
He suddenly understood why Qingchen had chosen Qian Zhenyun to stage such a performance at the palace banquet.
This young man is responsible, decisive, and loyal.
At the same time, the East Palace.
Zhao Chen sat in his study, listening to the eunuch's report, a cold smile curling at the corner of his lips.
"Qian Zhenyun went to the south of the city?" he asked softly, his voice carrying a hint of nonchalance.
"Yes, Your Highness," the eunuch replied respectfully. "Doctor Qian also went with his medical students. Gu Lü, the Vice Minister of the Court of Judicial Review, also went to the south of the city in person, mobilized all the servants of the Court of Judicial Review, and requisitioned winter supplies from the Imperial Household Department."
Zhao Chen'an paused abruptly in his teacup.
Gu Lu?
He suddenly raised his head, a sinister glint in his eyes.
Gu Lu actually got involved?
This was unexpected. He had assumed that Gu Lu would ignore Qian Zhenyun's matter to avoid suspicion.
"Gu Lu went to the south of the city?" Zhao Chen'an's voice suddenly turned icy. "He's a vice minister of the Court of Judicial Review, why isn't he presiding over cases at the Court of Judicial Review, instead of running around doing disaster relief? Who does he think he is?"
"Your Highness, Minister Gu said that the disaster situation in the south of the city is urgent. The Court of Judicial Review is handling the case by imperial decree and needs to maintain order and treat the wounded," the eunuch replied cautiously.
"Operating under imperial decree?" Zhao Chen'an sneered. "When did I issue an order for him to conduct disaster relief?"
He suddenly stood up and paced back and forth in the study.
Gu Lu's intervention caused Zhao Chen'an's plan to deviate slightly.
Gu Junze's nephew was personally trained by Gu Junze.
His personal intervention was tantamount to the Duke of Zhenguo's mansion indirectly siding with Qian Zhenyun.
This made Zhao Chen'an feel a little tricky.
He originally intended to isolate Qian Zhenyun and leave him to fend for himself in a desperate situation. But now, Gu Lu's appearance has undoubtedly brought reinforcements to Qian Zhenyun.
"Has the Imperial Household Department made things difficult for us?" Zhao Chen'an asked.
"Your Highness, Minister Gu, wielding the Dali Temple's token, spoke with great force, and the Imperial Household Department dared not disobey. They have already sent the first batch of supplies," the eunuch reported in a low voice.
Zhao Chen'an's face darkened completely.
He had assumed that the Imperial Household Department would make excuses and prevent Qian Zhenyun from making any progress. He hadn't expected Gu Lu to be so forceful.
"Hmph!" Zhao Chen'an snorted coldly, "That Gu Lu certainly knows how to bully others by abusing his power!"
He walked to the desk, suddenly picked up the pen, and wrote a few words on the paper.
"Go, send someone to convey a message to the Minister of Revenue. Tell him that the disaster in the city is severe and relief supplies are in short supply. Ask him to cooperate fully with the Crown Prince and not to overlook anything."
The eunuch took the order and left.
Zhao Chen'an put down his pen, a sinister glint in his eyes.
Gu Lu, do you think you can protect Qian Zhenyun like this?
I want to see how long your Duke of Zhenguo's mansion can protect him!
He wouldn't let Qian Zhenyun turn things around so easily. He wanted to make Qian Zhenyun a complete sinner in the eyes of all the people!
He wanted Gu Qingchen to witness firsthand how the man she was "in love with" would be utterly disgraced and left with nothing!
He wanted to make the entire Duke of Zhenguo's mansion pay a heavy price for Gu Qingchen's willfulness!