readsfreenovel Chapter 338 The Crown Princess Disappears
Chapter 338 The Crown Princess Disappears
Chapter 338 The Crown Princess Disappears
Unfortunately, she didn't get to watch for long before the Emperor summoned her away.
"Greetings, Your Majesty!" Ji Xuan arrived to find the Crown Princess already there.
"Xuan'er, an official has reported that there has been a flood in the Jiangnan region, and some dams have breached. I plan to send you and the Crown Princess to Jiangnan for disaster relief. Do you have any questions?"
Oh, so you just want me to assist the Crown Princess and boost her political achievements, right?
"Your Majesty, I will obey your commands!"
"Alright, then you and the Crown Princess should pack your things and set off soon!"
"Yes!"
Ji Xuan and the Crown Princess walked out of the palace together. "This time, we will have to rely on my younger sister!"
"Your Highness, you jest. His Majesty has given the order that Your Highness will be in charge of this operation!" Ji Xuan said nonchalantly.
The Crown Princess breathed a sigh of relief after hearing this. She was afraid that Ji Xuan might not listen to her on the way, which would be quite awkward.
After returning to their respective residences, Ji Xuan quickly ordered people to inquire about the floods in Jiangnan, and at the same time began to prepare her own luggage.
It turns out that there has been a lot of rain in the Jiangnan area recently. At first, people didn't pay much attention, thinking that it would stop after a while, just like in the past.
Unexpectedly, a dam broke, causing panic and displacement among the people.
Seeing that the truth could no longer be concealed, the officials in Jiangnan had no choice but to submit a memorial requesting disaster relief.
Ji Xuan felt something was wrong. Wasn't the dam built every year? How could it be destroyed so easily? Also, Jiangnan is a granary. How could there be no food for disaster relief?
It seems there are some big rats involved. Now she knows why His Majesty wanted her to be with the Crown Princess.
It's probably because they were afraid the Crown Princess would threaten those people's interests, and someone would try to harm her, so they sent her to protect the Crown Princess.
Tsk, this mission is going to be a bit tough. Hopefully, the Crown Princess will be more obedient.
Ji Xuan had figured everything out, but the Crown Princess seemed somewhat lax, only symbolically arranging for a few subordinates to pack their luggage.
I didn't inquire about anything else, but I heard that the Crown Princess was even thinking of inviting Ziyun to go on a trip.
For once, Ji Xuan also felt a hint of dissatisfaction with the Crown Princess.
Soon after, the two led a disaster relief team on their journey to Jiangnan.
Along the way, the Crown Princess was still fantasizing that this disaster relief effort would establish a wise and virtuous image in the hearts of the people, thus adding weight to her future ascension to the throne.
However, when they arrived in Jiangnan and saw the vast expanse of water, the countless displaced people, and the tragic scene of widespread suffering, the Crown Princess's illusions were instantly shattered.
She started to panic and didn't know how to deal with it.
Fortunately, Ji Xuan was there at the critical moment. She remained calm and quickly organized people to build temporary shelters, distribute disaster relief supplies, and arrange for doctors to treat the wounded.
The sky in Jiangnan was still a bit overcast, but Ji Xuan consulted a local farmer who said that the rain had stopped.
That means waiting for the floodwaters to recede, but even after the floodwaters recede, the resettlement of these displaced people will still be a problem.
They didn't bring this much relief grain when they came all the way from the capital.
"Royal sister, what should we do?" Upon hearing this report from her subordinates, the Crown Princess panicked again.
“Your Highness, now is the time for you to take action. Jiangnan should be a granary, but now there is not a single grain left. There must be some big rats stealing it. The only way to make up for the losses caused by this flood is to catch those big rats.”
"This isn't a good idea!" the Crown Princess said, somewhat displeased.
Ji Xuan sneered. Don't think she didn't know that these days, her servants had been sending the Crown Princess a lot of good things in order to save their lives.
"Since Your Highness is unwilling, I have no other choice. Let's just wait together for His Majesty to blame us!"
Upon hearing that Ji Xuan was going to back down, the Crown Princess immediately changed her mind.
"Your Highness, it was my oversight. Let's do as you say, catch the big rat, and make up for the losses!"
"Then I'll have to trouble you, Your Highness!"
After speaking with the Crown Princess, Ji Xuan went back to her work. She had to keep an eye on all those people and make sure they didn't gather together like that.
Otherwise, if someone with ulterior motives stirs things up, an unpredictable riot could break out.
She needs to arrange for those people to dig some irrigation ditches or something; she can't let them sit idle.
The Crown Princess was somewhat unwilling to be pressured by Ji Xuan. After all, she had just accepted the person's gifts and then turned around and arrested them for punishment. If word got out, who would dare to serve her?
However, when faced with the Emperor's reprimand or the punishment of those people, she chose to target them.
"Go, arrest all these people!"
The Crown Princess wasn't stupid; she knew perfectly well what those people had done. It was just that they had sent her a pledge of allegiance.
Now she has no choice but to target those people.
When the guards reported what they had taken from those people, the Crown Princess regretted that she hadn't acted sooner.
These people are incredibly audacious! The Crown Princess is still gloating, thinking that these people are so afraid of her, sending her so many good things.
Now look at the coral ornaments confiscated from this prefect's residence; they are much larger than the ones given to her.
"Copy it! Copy it carefully, don't miss a single detail!"
The Crown Princess was furious; it turned out these people were trying to fool her!
Ji Xuan immediately arranged for people to sell the confiscated items in exchange for grain. Following this method, there was finally enough grain for disaster relief in Jiangnan!
Ji Xuan finally breathed a sigh of relief. As long as there was food, people wouldn't think about anything else.
She also had the Crown Princess's actions spread, and sure enough, everyone knew that the Crown Princess had confiscated the homes of corrupt officials and bought them grain, and for a time everyone was grateful to the Crown Princess.
The Crown Princess's fame spread quickly throughout the Jiangnan region, and the people praised her highly.
Having tasted the benefits, the Crown Princess was no longer as lazy as before and began to actively cooperate with Ji Xuan's arrangements, participating in subsequent disaster relief efforts.
Ji Xuan felt that she had really gone all the way to the end, and thankfully the Crown Princess knew how to cooperate.
However, just when everything seemed to be going smoothly, news came from the capital that a minister had impeached the Crown Princess for being too ruthless in her disaster relief efforts in Jiangnan. The confiscation of her property had aroused dissatisfaction among local officials and might affect the court's foundation in Jiangnan.
Upon hearing this, the Crown Princess panicked and hurriedly sought advice from Ji Xuan.
Ji Xuan calmly replied, "Your Highness need not worry. We act with integrity and have only confiscated the property from corrupt officials. Those who impeach us are merely colluding with them. We only need to report the details of the confiscated property and the results of our disaster relief efforts to His Majesty, and let His Majesty judge right and wrong."
The princess felt somewhat relieved after hearing this and did as she was told.
As the waters of Jiangnan gradually receded, just when Ji Xuan thought her mission was finally about to be completed, an unexpected incident occurred.
"What? The Crown Princess has disappeared!"
Ji Xuan wondered if she had misheard. Didn't the Crown Princess always travel with guards?
"So, the Crown Princess was separated from the group of refugees during her inspection tour? And then she couldn't be found?"
Ji Xuan was so angry she almost laughed. Are all the guards in your Crown Princess's residence just freeloaders?