In the Taiji Palace.

  After reading Nuomi’s letter, Emperor Huilin said, “What do you think of this matter?”


  Lu Chen said, “I was in Lin’an for three years. Although it is rainy in spring and summer, I never saw the river in front of Myriad Taste getting level with the road.

  “I think we should send someone as an imperial envoy to supervise this matter, and then send officials of the Ministry of Works and the Ministry of Revenue over, firstly to check the dams, and secondly, if there is really a serious flood, to help the refugees resettle.

  “Many of the people in Myriad Taste were separated from their parents when they were young because of a flood and became displaced. I think we should be prepared earlier.”


  Emperor Huilin said, “Who do you think is suitable to be the imperial envoy?”


  Lu Chen said, “I’m willing to go to the South with the Crown Princess!”


  Emperor Huilin said with a dark face, “No way! I will never let you go to that place again!”


  Lu Chen thought for a while and said, “The imperial envoy should know the South well and be familiar with the waterways and rivers in the South. We are the most suitable candidates.”


  “No.” Emperor Huilin refused flatly.

  He didn’t want to experience the pain from four years ago again.

  Lu Chen said helplessly, “Father, the lives and safety of the people in the South are more important. Lin’an is still upstream, and County Yin that is downstream has just recovered a few years ago. If it is flooded again, I’m afraid the whole county of people will be displaced again.”


  However, Emperor Huilin said, “It’s not that there is no one else in the court. Don’t think about it anymore!”


  “Your Majesty, the Crown Princess has brought you wontons by the order of Her Majesty.”


  Emperor Huilin said, “Let her in.”


  When Qiao Jinniang came in, she noticed the dark faces of both Emperor Huilin and Lu Chen, and put the wontons on Emperor Huilin’s desk.

  Walking to Lu Chen’s side, she asked in a low voice, “What’s wrong?”


  Lu Chen said to Emperor Huilin, “Father, I’ll take the Crown Princess with me, and I will definitely protect myself and Jinniang well, and Xi’er will stay in Chang’an.”


  Qiao Jinniang really missed Lin’an, especially at this time, the bayberries on the tree should have turned red.

  Myriad Taste in the South was still closed, but she actually had a lot of things to do in Lin’an.

  But Emperor Huilin said, “You don’t have to think about this matter anymore. You two can leave now!”


  Qiao Jinniang left the Taiji Palace and asked Lu Chen, “Why didn’t Father allow you to return to Lin’an?”


  Lu Chen said helplessly, “I think he was afraid that I would disappear in Lin’an again.”


  Qiao Jinniang sighed. “I had thought that I could go back and eat bayberries in Lin’an, but it’s raining a lot in Lin’an this year, so the bayberries there are necessarily sweet.”


  Lu Chen said, “But the flood in the South has to be tackled as soon as possible. Do you want to let Qiao Lu go to Lin’an to gain some experience? When I was his age, I went to a disaster area and gained a lot of experiences that I wouldn’t have been able to gain in Chang’an. I bet this trip will do him a lot of good.”


  Qiao Jinniang nodded and said, “But I think he can’t go there alone. It’s better to have someone accompany him. I have a good candidate, Xie Yun!”


  The Xie family was in the South. If the South was flooded, the Xie family would suffer a lot of losses. And Xie Yun knew the South well…


  But when Lu Chen just returned to the East Palace, a secret guard came to report, “Your Royal Highness, after you left, Prince Huai took Consort Huai to see His Majesty, and then volunteered to go to the South to deal with the flood and disaster relief.”


  Lu Chen asked, “Has my father agreed?”


  The secret guard nodded lightly: “Yes!”


  Qiao Jinniang comforted Lu Chen. “Disaster relief is not a good job, tiring and dirty. Besides, I don’t want to be separated from Xi’er.”


  Lu Chen was very curious about why his eldest brother, who had always been forbearing, would volunteer to go to the South to deal with the flood and disaster relief this time?

  This was a thankless task. Lu Chen wanted this job not just for the sake of the people, but mainly because Qiao Jinniang and him still have a lot of unfinished things to do in the South.

  Besides, now it was the season for bayberries to ripen.

  Although Prince Huai didn’t know what was so good about the job of flood control and disaster relief, after hearing from the Emperor that Lu Chen wanted this job, he decided to snatch it. Besides, if he could properly solve the flood, he would gain the hearts of the people in the South.

  There were many literati in the South. Winning the support of the South was equivalent to winning the hearts of literati. As it happened, he could also take the opportunity to go to the South and help the second young master of the Xie family seize the power of the Xie family……

  In the afternoon, Lu Chen reviewed memorials in the study, and Qiao Jinniang counted the silver taels beside him. She had a lot of business in Lin’an, and some of her subordinates were also in the South.

  She had to settle them well, and she must be well prepared in case the refugees seize her properties……

  She had to write a letter to the South to make arrangements in advance and give her subordinates there enough money.

  “Your Royal Highness, Miss Xie Yun is here.”


  When Xie Yun entered, he saw Qiao Jinniang, who was sitting beside Lu Chen’s desk and absorbed in the abacus. She was still dressed in bright colors but now with a touch of nobleness of a royal family member. She was now a lot different from the little sister he remembered.

  That little girl who always came to deliver him cakes and loved to secretly gaze at him was like a lifetime away.

  Noticing Xie Yun’s gaze, Lu Chen said coldly, “I’ll dig out your eyes if you look at her again!”


  Xie Yun retracted his gaze and saluted Lu Chen. “Your Royal Highness, have you heard that Prince Huai and my cousin went back to the South together to deal with the flood?”


  Seeing that Xie Yun and Lu Chen were discussing official businesses, Qiao Jinniang put down the abacus and the ledger and said, “I’m going to pick up Xi’er. I’ll take my leave first.”


  After Qiao Jinniang left, Lu Chen warned Xie Yun. “If you dare to look at the Crown Princess like that again, I will definitely gouge out your eyes!”


  Xie Yun said, “I treat Jin’er as a younger sister.”


  How could Lu Chen possibly believe in Xie Yun’s words? As a man, he could tell what kind of feeling Xie Yun had for Qiao Jinniang.

  Xie Yun said, “If I really wanted Jinniang, it would have been impossible for Your Royal Highness to marry her. Since I didn’t stop you from marrying her, I will never disturb her, unless Your Royal Highness doesn’t treat her kindly.”


  Xie Yun said very sincerely because he didn’t want Lu Chen to suspect Qiao Jinniang. “She doesn’t even know my feelings for her.”


  When Lu Chen was in the South, he had discovered that Xie Yun had a crush on Qiao Jinniang. Hearing what Xie Yun said, he said, “How could I not treat her well?”


  Xie Yun said, “Prince Huai and my cousin have reached a cooperative agreement. What do you think of this matter, Your Royal Highness?”


  Lu Chen handed Xie Yun a cup of tea and said, “I can also cooperate with you, but I want the Xie family’s ancestral collection of books.”


  The Xie family’s status in the literati world had been unshakable for all these years because the Xie family had a collection of books that was passed down from thousands of years ago, including precious lost ancient books. Lu Chen saw them when he was in Lin’an, and many of the books were never lent outside.

  Xie Yun frowned and said, “This is impossible.”


  Lu Chen said, “Prince Huai is even willing to marry Zhou Sisi and Fourth Miss Qin, so it won’t be difficult for him to marry you. Two Consorts Huai are not enough, and three Consorts Huai are the best!”


  Xie Yun said calmly, “Lu Chen, I helped you a lot when you were in Lin’an.”


  “Each of us just took what we needed.” Lu Chen said, “It’s you who taught me that businessmen never traded at a loss. Now that the imperial power has already represented the general trend, how long can your Xie family resist this trend?

  “Why not share the Xie family’s collection of books with the literati of the world and gain a good name. With your talent and ability, you can be a high-ranking official.”