AWB Chapter 694 Whoever cures the flood will be the next crown prince
Chapter 694 Whoever cures the flood will be the next crown prince
A lady wiped her tears and said to the people around her with a choked voice:
"This Dou E is so pitiful! She was framed like this, and those officials were so blind that they didn't even give her a clear name...
Ultimately, it’s because the higher-ups don’t care that these injustices happen. This world…”
Before he could finish his words, his eyes were red with tears because of Dou E's lyrics.
The people around her patted her on the back and echoed, "That's right! Look at the oath she swore. Snow falling in June, blood splattered on white silk. How wronged must she be to dare to swear such a curse!"
Qi Guangheng nodded and said, "This is really good. I didn't expect opera to become like this nowadays. The people are really suffering!"
Sun Quan said, "Isn't it? Fortunately, the people of Qi live and work in peace and contentment."
Qi Guangheng shook his head and said:
"Where can we truly live and work in peace and contentment? I heard a lot of people died in this year's floods, but the actual number of deaths reported was only over 30.
Gu Sinian, everyone is here today, can you tell me how the flood situation is going?
Gu Sinian said:
"Father, the flood in the southern border is really serious right now.
Three levees upstream have collapsed, and half of the county downstream is submerged in water. Reports of casualties have exceeded a thousand."
He paused, his Adam's apple rolling:
"Tens of thousands of acres of fertile farmland were flooded, refugees were crammed into the valleys, and even porridge was scarcely available.
But up to now, the court has not sent any officials to pacify the situation. I beg your Majesty to allow me to personally go to the southern border to provide support."
Qi Guangheng glanced at the ministers below him, his expression darkening a little bit:
"The floods have reached such a critical point that thousands of people have died and refugees have nowhere to go.
Why didn't I ask today, and why didn't anyone come forward to raise a question? Why didn't anyone stand up and say a word?
His voice suddenly rose, filled with uncontrollable anger:
"Don't you know? Or do you know but pretend to be deaf and dumb?
The people of the southern border are drowning and starving in the mountains, and you just watch helplessly?"
The Sixth Prince suddenly stepped out of the group, raised his chin and said:
"How could the flooding in the southern border have reached this level? Our caravan from the southern border just sent us a message.
It's just a normal flood situation. The government has already prepared food. I'm afraid my Eighteenth Brother has just listened to someone's lies."
He glanced at Gu Sinian, his tone a little sarcastic:
"Eighteenth brother, where did you get this information?
Could it be that he took the trick seriously? His worried look makes it seem like we are indifferent."
Gu Sinian's face darkened. He didn't rush to argue, but shouted outside the hall, "Come in!"
As soon as he finished speaking, a dozen ragged men walked in with their heads down, their trouser legs stained with mud, and two of them were holding pale and skinny children in their arms.
As soon as he entered the hall, he knelt down with a trembling voice:
"Your Majesty, please help! The southern border is truly flooded! We are the only ones left in our village, and the government's grain has long been seized by those in charge.
We had nowhere to turn to, and it was you, the noble man, who saw us on the road and brought us here!"
Gu Sinian looked at Qi Guangheng, his voice deep and steady:
"Father, I went to the outskirts of the city to relocate the refugees to their shacks the other day.
I happened to see them clinging to a grain cart and begging, and when I asked, I found out they were escapees from the southern border. How could this be false?"
The Sixth Prince sneered:
"Maybe this is someone you picked on purpose. Look at their fingernails, they are all clean.
They don't look like disaster victims at all. Could it be that you are colluding with them?"
Gu Sinian suddenly said, "I'm colluding with them? What do I want?"
"You want merit and disaster relief supplies. Everyone knows that as long as you go to provide disaster relief, you will be given a lot of supplies." The Sixth Prince said loudly.
Gu Sinian looked at him and said:
"Then I don't need the court's supplies this time. I am doing this for the people of this world.
I have also experienced years of disaster, and I know firsthand how horrible such a disaster is. I don't want the people to be like Dou E, with nowhere to turn for help."
Bai Yin, who was standing at the end of the train, shouted, "Your Majesty! I dare to say that the Eighteenth Prince's breadth of mind is truly unmatched by any other prince!"
He turned to the people in the hall, his tone becoming more earnest:
“The southern border is ravaged by floods, and he’s only in his teens, yet he’s brave enough to volunteer to wade through the muddy water.
He always thinks of the people and the country first. Our dynasty is so lucky to have such a prince!"
An old minister stroked his beard and nodded:
"Master Bai is right. Although His Highness the Eighteenth Prince is young, he is more steady than many adults in his actions.
Just now, when the Sixth Prince questioned him, he calmly asked for witnesses and spoke clearly and logically. How could he be a teenager?"
Another official next to him said:
"That's right! Normally, a prince of this age would still be thinking about cricket fighting and watching acrobatics.
He, on the other hand, was completely focused on the refugees from the southern border. Just now, those people from the southern border were kneeling and crying.
He stood nearby, his eyes red, and he truly felt the suffering of the people.
The old censor in the lead bowed and said:
"Your Majesty, we have observed that the Eighteenth Prince is kind-hearted, values righteousness, is calm and composed in the face of difficulties, and puts the country and the people first. He is truly a good choice for the crown prince.
We implore Your Majesty to appoint the Eighteenth Prince as Crown Prince to reassure the people of the court and the country!"
As soon as these words were spoken, the hall suddenly exploded.
The officials who had just praised Gu Sinian all echoed him, and one of the ministers said loudly:
"Your Excellency the Censor is absolutely right!
The Eighteenth Prince has such a broad mind and bearing. If he is made the Crown Prince, there will be no worries about the prosperity of our kingdom in the future!"
The people around nodded and said, "Yes, it's time to appoint a reliable crown prince."
"Your Highness the Eighteenth Prince is indeed worthy of this responsibility."
The Dowager raised her teacup and took a sip before speaking calmly, "The Crown Prince's matter concerns the foundation of the nation. It is a matter of great importance to the foundation of a century-old dynasty."
She put down the teacup, her eyes fell on the ministers, and her tone was a little solemn:
"How can you just casually decide this by saying 'he deserves it' or 'he's reliable'?
I think the Sixth Prince is a good person. He often comes to Ci'an Palace to pay his respects. He is a filial and sensible person.
He has a lively personality and gets along well with the court officials."
Some people below exchanged glances quietly, their lips pursed tightly. Who doesn't know this Sixth Prince?
Relying on the favor of the Empress Dowager, he spent all day in Beijing fighting cocks and running errands. Last month, he ordered his men to beat a street vendor half to death because the vendor bumped into his horse. He was notorious for his cruelty.
He never paid attention to the affairs of the court. Apart from paying his respects to the empress dowager, he was thinking about where to find new things. He was a complete slacker.
Su Daji looked at the Eighteenth Prince and said, "Your Majesty, what do you think?"
Qi Guangheng said calmly:
“Isn’t the flood problem still unresolved?
It's a good opportunity for them to gain some experience while you two find a way to cure the flood.
Whoever can cure this flood will be the next crown prince."
The Sixth Prince frowned and said, "Father, you mean for us to go and treat the flood directly, but there's nothing. How...how can we treat this flood?"
Qi Guangheng said calmly: "That depends on your own ability. If Eighteen can do it, you can do it too."