sjar Chapter 776 What a scoundrel! Such a young age and already so delinquent…
Chapter 776 What a scoundrel! Such a young age and already so delinquent…
That night, Gu Qingchen ultimately couldn't sleep well.
The sound of wind and snow outside the window was like a war drum being beaten in her heart by Song Ruyan, one beat after another, disturbing her peace of mind.
She pulled the blanket over her head, but her mind kept replaying Song Ruyan's every word and every look.
Just accept it.
Let's just accept it.
She and Qian Zhenyun, their fake relationship turned into a real one, and they made do for the rest of their lives.
improvise?
Gu Qingchen lay awake in the darkness, silently pondering the word.
Throughout her life, she was unrestrained, free-spirited, and willful; she never considered using the word "make do" to define her life's most important matter.
But she had to admit that Aunt Song was right.
The Crown Prince will not let her off the hook, nor will the Empress. She has ruthlessly trampled the dignity of the royal family underfoot. Their current silence is merely the suffocating calm before the storm.
She dragged Qian Zhenyun and the entire Qian family into this mess.
What right does she have to enjoy the protection he provides, and then push him away with a clear conscience, saying "we're just friends"?
This is not fair.
That's so unfair to him.
Gu Qingchen turned over and buried her face in the soft pillow.
Qian Zhenyun's figure reappeared clearly in her mind's eye.
He was always so gentle and calm, like a deep pool. No matter how big a stone she threw in or how big the waves she stirred up, he could eventually return to calm, embracing all her sharp edges and willfulness.
Would marrying him really be a "makeshift" situation?
she does not know.
She felt as if her heart was a tangled mess of yarn that she couldn't untangle.
This heavy snowfall lasted for three days.
The entire capital was shrouded in a vast expanse of white. Thick snow had accumulated on the eaves and treetops, bending the branches low.
At first, people were immersed in the joy of the auspicious snow promising a bumper harvest. But gradually, this continuous heavy snow turned into a sudden disaster.
Many old houses in Beijing could not withstand the heavy snow that had been falling for days.
On the morning of the fourth day of the lunar new year, a loud crash was heard in the slums in the south of the city, and a long-neglected courtyard wall collapsed.
Immediately afterwards, like the first domino falling, the sound of houses collapsing began to echo throughout the capital.
Cries and pleas for help mingled with the howling wind and snow, casting a heavy shadow over what should have been a joyous and peaceful New Year.
The atmosphere in the Duke of Zhenguo's mansion grew heavier day by day.
Gu Junze was summoned out by the housekeeper early in the morning, and when he returned, his face was ashen.
"Father, what's going on outside?" Gu Qingchen had just gotten up when he saw his father, shivering with cold, stride in through the wind and snow.
“Many houses in the city have collapsed, injuring many civilians.” Gu Junze took off his snow-soaked cloak. “I just received an urgent report that several tents at the winter camp have also collapsed under the weight of the snow!”
"What? Where is Xuan-ge'er?" Chu Ruohan came out of the inner room upon hearing this, her face full of shock. "Aren't the tents in the military camp all reinforced? How could this be?"
"This year's snow is too heavy." Gu Junze walked to the charcoal brazier and stretched out his hands, which were a little stiff from the cold, to warm them by the fire.
"The new recruits' tents were hastily set up, and then the officials in charge of the construction cut corners. Now that something has happened, there's not even anyone in charge!"
"Don't worry, Brother Xuan, everything should be fine!" he said, turning around and walking out.
"No, I have to go there myself. The soldiers have risked their lives with my Duke Zhenguo Mansion; we cannot let them be stranded in this freezing weather without even a place to shelter from the wind and snow!"
Chu Ruohan quickly caught up with him and draped a thicker fox fur coat over his shoulders. "Slow down, take care of yourself!"
Gu Junze nodded, but his steps did not falter at all, and he quickly disappeared into the wind and snow.
Gu Qingchen stood under the eaves, watching his father's departing figure, his heart heavy.
For the first time, she truly felt that the suffering of ordinary people and the safety of soldiers were closely related to her.
But she could only stand there, unable to do anything.
The heavy snow blocked the roads of the capital, but it could not stop the transmission of news.
Crown Prince Zhao Chen'an seized the opportunity immediately.
In his capacity as Crown Prince, he ordered the granaries to be opened and grain distributed to appease the disaster victims. In an instant, the reputation of the Crown Prince's benevolence spread throughout the streets and alleys of the capital.
Immediately afterwards, an order from the Crown Prince's Palace was delivered to the Qian family at top speed.
The Crown Prince ordered his tutor, Qian Zhenyun, to immediately go to the south of the city to take charge of the disaster relief efforts following the snowstorm.
This order sounded like the Crown Prince entrusting Qian Zhenyun with an important task, a great favor.
When Song Ruyan heard the news, she was so angry that she smashed the teacup in her hand on the spot.
"Damn it, he did it on purpose..."
In the study, Qian Zhenyun looked at the order stamped with the seal of the Eastern Palace, his expression calm, but his eyes were cold and clear.
He knew that the Crown Prince's revenge was coming.
He was sent to provide disaster relief, but he was not given any military token to mobilize any battalion of soldiers, nor any official token to command any department. In fact, not even a single tael of silver for disaster relief was approved.
This is hardly a mission to provide disaster relief.
This clearly leaves him alone to face tens of thousands of displaced, hungry, and cold disaster victims in the south of the city.
If it's done well, the credit will go to the Crown Prince.
If he doesn't handle it well, he will bear all the blame and condemnation alone.
At that time, the crown prince only needs to follow the "will of the people" to easily send this "incompetent" official to the execution ground.
What a ruthless and bloodless scheme!
"Gungun, you can't go!" Song Ruyan paced anxiously around the room. "This is a trap! What a spoiled brat! He's so young, yet he's already learned so many ways to harm people..."
Qian Zhenyun neatly folded the order and put it into his sleeve.
He raised his head and looked at his mother, his voice as steady as ever: "Mother, the emperor's command cannot be disobeyed. I must accept this order."
"But……"
"Don't worry." Qian Zhenyun interrupted his mother. He stood up, his eyes calm but with a sharp edge lurking beneath. "He wants me dead, but I just can't die."
After saying that, he put on his cloak and walked out of the room without saying a word.
Song Ruyan watched her son's resolute back as he walked away, her heart aching terribly.
Qian Zhenyun did not go to the south of the city.
He spurred his horse, braving the wind and snow, and galloped all the way to the gate of Dali Temple.
The Dali Temple is the highest judicial body in charge of criminal cases nationwide, but at this moment, its gates appear somewhat deserted due to the heavy snow.
He dismounted, tossed the reins to the guard at the gate, and strode inside.
"I'm looking for Lawyer Gu, or Shaoqing Gu."
The messenger, not daring to delay, jogged into the inner hall.
Before long, a handsome young man in a scarlet official robe, with a tall and upright figure, strode out to greet them. It was Gu Qingchen's cousin, Gu Lu, the Vice Minister of the Court of Judicial Review.
"Zhenyun? What brings you here?" Gu Lu was quite surprised to see him, and noticing the serious look on his face, he immediately pulled him to a side hall. "What happened?"
There was no one else in the side hall. Without saying a word, Qian Zhenyun took out the order from the Crown Prince from his sleeve and handed it over.
"Brother, look."
He addressed Gu Lu as the affectionate "brother".
Gu Lu took the paper, glanced at it, and his face instantly darkened.
He knew perfectly well why the Crown Prince was targeting Qian Zhenyun. Ultimately, it was because of his cousin, Gu Qingchen.
This debt was naturally attributed to their Zhenguo Duke's Mansion as well.
"What do you plan to do?" Gu Lu asked Qian Zhenyun.
“I need manpower.” Qian Zhenyun’s voice was clear and calm. “What the south of the city needs most right now is not food, but people. Digging people out from under the rubble, building temporary shelters for them, cooking hot porridge, calming their emotions, and maintaining order—all of this requires a lot of manpower.”
"The Crown Prince won't give me the person, so I have no choice but to come to you, brother, to ask for the person."
Gu Lu looked at him, a hint of approval flashing in his eyes.
Even at a time like this, he can still analyze the situation so calmly and clearly. This composure alone is far beyond what ordinary young people can achieve.
"How much do you want?" Gu Lu asked bluntly.
"The more the better," Qian Zhenyun said. "I also need the name of the Dali Temple. I want to use your name to requisition all the medicines from all the pharmacies in the city and all the grain from all the rice shops. All the accounts will be initially recorded under the name of the Duke of Zhenguo's mansion, and I will take full responsibility for them afterwards."
Gu Lu glanced at him. "Since this matter originated from Qingchen, there's no reason for you to bear the burden alone!"
"I'll give you the man! I'll give you all the constables that the Dali Temple can mobilize! I'll give you the title too! Just take my Dali Temple's token and go. Let's see who dares to disrespect you!"
He turned around and shouted loudly towards the door, "Someone come here!"
A clerk dressed in black robes immediately pushed open the door and entered, bowing to receive orders.
"Issue my order!" Gu Lu's voice rang out. "Summon all on-duty servants in the temple to assemble in the front courtyard immediately! All those on leave are to return to their posts!"
"Furthermore, take my token and go to the Ministry of Revenue—no, go directly to the Imperial Household Department!" A cold glint flashed in Gu Lu's eyes. "Tell them that the disaster situation in the south of the city is urgent, and the Court of Judicial Review is handling a case by imperial decree, requiring a batch of cotton-padded clothing for warmth. Tell them to prepare it immediately!"
"Tell them that if there is any delay, resulting in the freezing deaths of disaster victims and causing a popular uprising, neither the Court of Judicial Review nor the Imperial Household Department can bear that responsibility!"