"I just hope that these officials can still have some conscience," Lu Zhishan took a sip of tea and said to Du Heng, "I can't control the rest, but this time Jiangnan is fighting a drought, no one is allowed to enrich themselves. Just keep your eyes open and watch."
"Yes, I obey my orders." Du Heng bowed.
"It's easy for Zhou Chi to keep an eye on it," Lu Zhishan said calmly, "The drought in the southwest is worse than that in the south of the Yangtze River. The people's lives are in dire straits, but there is no guarantee that there won't be people who take advantage of the opportunity to make money, so keep an eye out."
"Yes, I obey."
~~~~~~~~~~
Jiasheng 24th November 18th
Mount Wutai.
Jade Zen Temple.
After breakfast, the Queen Mother read "Manjusri Prajna Sutra" in the Nuan Pavilion, and Princess Jing'an also accompanied her.
The palace maid came in with two cups of maple dew tea and said with a smile: "Long live the maple dew tea that I just sent up the mountain. The Queen Mother and the princess should try it quickly."
Princess Jing'an put down the scripture in her hand, took the tea bowl, bowed and brought it to the Queen Mother: "Your Majesty, please have some tea."
"Has the princess been peaceful recently?" The Queen Mother took a sip of tea and asked Princess Jing'an slowly.
"Returning to the Queen Mother, the princess has always been at peace," Princess Jing'an said respectfully, "The princess has been attending morning classes with her servants since Yin time every day. Now she has read through the "Manjushri Treasure Dharani Sutra" and her calligraphy is also good. I have made a lot of progress. I have copied two new volumes of scriptures and have submitted them to the Queen Mother for review."
The Queen Mother thought about Mu Nanzhi's handwriting and couldn't help but snorted: "That's all, even if the princess's calligraphy is practiced for another ten years, it will be difficult for the Ai family to appreciate it."
"To the Queen Mother," the palace maid came in to report, "The steward of Prince Ning's Mansion is here, saying that he was ordered by Prince Ning to send some fruits and snacks to the Queen Mother as a sign of filial piety."
The Queen Mother took a sip of tea and then said slowly: "Tell the things to stay and let people go down the mountain first."
"Yes, I obey my orders." The palace maid bowed and retreated.
After a while, several palace maids came in carrying three large boxes and three food boxes.
The Queen Mother didn't look much, she just raised her eyelids and asked the palace maid to unbox and inspect them one by one.
"To the Queen Mother, these are some fruits and snacks," the palace maid opened the boxes and food boxes one by one. "There are oranges, tangerines, pomeloes, and various snacks. There are no prohibited items."
The Queen Mother looked at the three large boxes of oranges, tangerines and pomeloes, and immediately licked her lips coldly: "It looks like they were sent from Jiangnan."
The palace maid said: "What the Queen Mother said is absolutely true. At this time of year, only Jiangnan has these fruits."
The Queen Mother said coldly: "Long live my Lord, I ordered Prince Ning to go to the south of the Yangtze River to cure the drought. He was good. As soon as he entered the south of the Yangtze River, he complained that he was sick and lazy. That's all. Now he ignores the drought in the south of the Yangtze River and wastes money and people by sending these rare things to the capital. ! You really live up to the divine grace and are extravagant!”
Princess Jing'an hurriedly knelt down and said: "Queen Mother, please calm down! Today is the birthday of the princess, and the prince probably just misses the princess, so that's why..."
"Absurd!" The Queen Mother interrupted Princess Jing'an with a cold shout, "The princess went to the mountains with Ai's family to practice cultivation. What she wants is to cultivate her mind and cultivate her nature. She meditates on Buddhism every day. How can she be confused with the secular world at the bottom of the mountain?!"
Princess Jing'an was startled: "But the princess still wants to go down the mountain?"
"After coming down the mountain, the Ai family is too lazy to take care of it, but as long as we are still on the mountain, no one can be arrogant!" The Queen Mother said to the palace maid with a cold face, "Throw all these things down the mountain!"