RPAGF Chapter 387 Willing to Marry into the Family
Chapter 387 Willing to Marry into the Family
“Old ministers have their uses.”
Shen Yanzhou interrupted her, "It would be good for him to be a teacher and mentor the newcomers."
"It seems that officials in the Ministry of Finance will have to make some major changes."
“Sister Wanxia, compile these names into an official document and submit it to Father tomorrow. I will have the Ministry of Personnel review it.”
Summer was late, and he carefully put the paper away.
Lin Chuying then picked up her teacup and turned her gaze to Cui Zhihao: "Lord Cui, the fire on East Street yesterday was quite severe."
"This morning I heard that the houses of more than twenty households have collapsed."
When the fire was mentioned, Cui Zhihao's expression became serious: "Her Majesty is benevolent."
"It's all thanks to Her Majesty's timely delivery of relief food and clothing; otherwise, those disaster victims wouldn't have survived!"
"Fortunately, the soldiers on patrol evacuated the area in time, and no one was killed. However, more than 30 houses at the south end of East Street were completely destroyed. Now the disaster victims are crammed into the City God Temple and nearby dilapidated temples, and they may not even have breakfast."
Shen Yanzhou frowned.
Dongda Street is one of the most bustling commercial streets in Beijing. It is a densely populated area where small vendors and artisans live, making it easy for a fire to spread rapidly.
"Resettling the disaster victims is the top priority." He looked at Cui Zhihao, "Has the government allocated any grain?"
"Your Majesty has already instructed the Household Department to send fifty shi of rice and twenty bolts of cloth over, which should arrive this morning."
Shi Wanxia said, "The City God Temple is already small, and now it is crowded with nearly two hundred people, men, women, young and old, which may easily lead to an epidemic."
Shi Wanxia spoke up: "Your Highness, I have an idea."
“The abandoned post station in the west of the city was renovated last year. Although it is not spacious, it can accommodate a hundred people. The rest can be assigned to the granary in the north of the city, where there are a few empty rooms that can be moved into with a little renovation.”
"As for the epidemic, the imperial physicians of the Imperial Hospital can make daily rounds to diagnose the disease and burn some mugwort for prevention."
She paused, then added, "As for reconstruction, most of the houses on East Street are brick and wood structures, and reconstruction will require a large amount of timber and bricks."
"I checked yesterday and found that there is a batch of leftover blue bricks from last year in the Ministry of Works' warehouse. Perhaps we can transfer them over."
"As for craftsmen, there are more than thirty skilled carpenters in the south of the city. If the government pays them wages, they should be willing to help."
Lin Chuying listened carefully and added, "There is a pine forest in the estate that I brought with me as part of my dowry. There is a lot of usable timber, which can be cut down for emergency use."
"Also, there are many women and children among the disaster victims. There are some old clothes in the East Palace storeroom. Although they are not new, they are still wearable. Send them there as well."
Shen Yanzhou looked at Shi Wanxia with approval in his eyes: "Sister Wanxia has thought things through very well."
"Lord Cui, please assist Sister Wanxia in immediately having people arrange for the repair of the resettlement site, so that the disaster victims have a place to stay before noon today."
"As for timber and bricks, I will have the Vice Minister of Works give you a reply this afternoon."
He then looked at Lin Chuying, his tone softening, "Chuying, the matter of clothing can be handled by the eunuch department; there's no need to trouble your people."
Lin Chuying smiled and nodded: "I will listen to Your Highness."
Just then, Chen Ping'an hurriedly came in from outside and whispered a few words in Cui Zhihao's ear.
Cui Zhihao nodded and turned to Shen Yanzhou: "Your Highness, Shiqing said the dishes in the kitchen are almost ready. Why don't we have some snacks first?"
Shen Yanzhou glanced at the sun outside the window, stood up and said, "The important matters have been discussed to a sufficient extent, there's no rush to eat."
Seeing that the Crown Prince seemed to be leaving, Shi Wanxia quickly stepped forward, curtsied, and said sincerely, "Your Highness, Your Majesty, the sun is shining brightly outside, and the journey to and from the Eastern Palace is not short. Why don't you have lunch at my humble abode before you go?"
"Although Shuyun's cooking skills cannot compare to those of the imperial chefs, they still have some home-style flavors, which is perfect for Your Majesty to try some common folk dishes."
As she spoke, the silver tassels at her temples swayed gently, and her eyes held a genuine desire to keep her.
Shen Yanzhou looked into her clear eyes, recalling her organized manner during the discussion, and then glanced at Lin Chuying beside him, who was smiling gently.
He shook his head helplessly, his fingertips gently stroking a jade pendant in his sleeve: "Never mind, since I've been so kind to Sister Wanxia, it would seem unreasonable of me to refuse."
"Thank you, Your Highness!"
A smile instantly appeared in Shi Wanxia's eyes. She turned to Chen Ping'an and said, "Go and tell Shuyun to make two more baskets of those 'Jade Shrimp Dumplings.' His Highness hasn't tasted them yet."
Just as Chen Ping'an was about to leave, Cui Zhihao preemptively said, "I'll go and tell her, and while I'm at it, I'll see if she's warmed up that jar of ten-year-old peach blossom wine."
He turned around with light steps, clearly delighted that the Crown Prince was willing to stay for dinner.
Shen Yanzhou watched his retreating figure, then looked at Shi Wanxia, who was standing to the side with her hands at her sides, and suddenly laughed: "Your Brother Cui is even more eager to keep the guest than you are to do so."
Shi Wanxia's cheeks flushed slightly. Just as she was about to reply, she heard Shen Yanzhou turn towards Cui Zhihao and ask loudly, "Huai'an, have you been staying at Wanxia's residence all this time?"
Cui Zhihao was walking to the moon gate when he heard this and turned around, smiling, "Yes, I helped Wanxia organize the old files of the Ministry of Revenue a few days ago, and it was too late to go back."
"Oh?"
Shen Yanzhou drawled out his words, his gaze sweeping between the two of them, his tone deliberately serious.
"But Wanxia is still an unmarried young lady. If word gets out that you, a young man, are staying here for so long, it might not be good for her reputation."
The air in the hall fell silent for a moment after those words were spoken.
Shen Yanzhou paused in his teacup, then secretly glanced at Shi Wanxia. He saw that her ears were flushed and she was looking down, unsure how to respond.
Choi Jiho seemed to be awakened by these words, and suddenly stopped in his tracks. The smile on his face vanished instantly, replaced by an almost stubborn seriousness.
He strode back into the hall, knelt down with a thud before Shen Yanzhou, his back ramrod straight, his voice clear and firm: "Your Highness, please understand! My feelings for Miss Shi are far from ordinary; I will marry no one but Miss Shi in this life!"
“We have long been in love, but we have hesitated to mention marriage because Miss Shi’s ambitions have not yet been fulfilled.”
As he spoke, he turned to look at Shi Wanxia, his gaze so tender it could melt hearts, "If Miss Shi does not mind, I would be willing to marry into the Shi family."
The term "marrying into another's family" carried immense weight at the time, and ordinary men would never utter it lightly.
Choi Ji-ho comes from the Choi family of Qinghe, a top-tier aristocratic family and a respectable scholarly family. His words show the sincerity of his intentions.
Shi Wanxia stood there, her fingertips tightly gripping the hem of her skirt. The embarrassment she felt when the Crown Prince pointed it out had long since dissipated, replaced by a surge of warmth in her heart.
She looked at Choi Ji-ho kneeling on the ground. The outline of his profile was particularly clear in the light and shadow of the window frame, and his eyes, which always carried a gentle smile, were now filled with his deep affection for her.
Looking at Cui Zhihao's determined expression, and then glancing at Shi Wanxia's reddened eyes, Shen Yanzhou's teasing gaze gradually turned into a genuine smile.
He bent down and offered a helping hand: "Get up, the ground is cold."
"I was just saying it casually, and you're already in a hurry to show your loyalty."