In front of the Gu Manor.
Carts of grain wagons passed by.
They were piled high with heavy grain.
They carried royal banners and were escorted by armed soldiers.
These soldiers were all fully armed.
They wore bronze helmets and black armor.
Quivers hung from their waists, and they carried bows and crossbows on their backs.
Such a large commotion naturally drew onlookers to stop and watch.
"What's going on?"
"How can there be so many grain wagons?"
"Have you all not heard?"
"Please, old sir, enlighten us."
The elder stroked his beard and whispered, "A few days ago, Jingyang suffered a locust plague.
Locusts covered the sky, and all crops and vegetation were devoured.
The disaster victims are eating grass and wood, and rice costs five hundred cash per picul.
Emperor Feng has already issued an edict to spare no effort in disaster relief, and Prince Ning's son is fully in charge.
Look, they've already opened the granaries to help the people!"
"Prince Ning's son?"
"Why him?"
"Shouldn't it be Prince Qi?"
The elder glanced at them and explained, "Jingyang is originally Prince Ning's fiefdom; it's currently only managed by Prince Qi, but all taxes and land rents go to Ning Royal Mansion."
"Hiss..."
They looked at each other, surprised.
On the surface, this was just disaster relief.
But upon closer thought, it seemed extraordinary.
Perhaps, Ning Que was about to inherit the princely title?
The elder secretly smiled.
He quietly disappeared into the crowd.
Soon, he reappeared elsewhere.
He repeated the trick, continuing to set the pace and build momentum.
Naturally, the news also reached inside the Gu Manor.
...
Prefect of the Capital Gu Mingzhi returned to the Gu Manor.
He looked tired and changed into his casual clothes.
"Son, greetings, Father."
Gu Mingzhi frowned.
"Yuan'er, why are you up?"
"You've just recovered from a serious illness; you still need to rest."
The young man smiled.
He was Gu Yuan.
The main general of Yumen Pass!
He severely wounded Western Liang's main forces!
He was conferred the title of First Rank General by the imperial court.
Moreover, he was exceptionally granted his grandfather's title of Tiger Marquis.
"Thanks to Xianhong's rescue."
"Don't mention that foolish woman."
Gu Mingzhi waved his hand in disgust, scrutinizing his eldest son, "Don't tell me you really like her?"
"How could I..."
Gu Yuan was utterly disgusted.
His handsome features, however, revealed a sinister malice.
"She's merely a used second-hand item; how could I possibly like her?
If not for some utilitarian value, I wouldn't even bother with her.
Just a few sweet words, and she's head over heels.
Such a woman, one mustn't waste."
"Hahaha, well said!"
Gu Mingzhi nodded in satisfaction.
This was his good son!
The Lin Family was nothing but a minor household.
How could they be worthy of entering his Gu Family's door?
Only Ning Que would like a foolish woman like Lin Xianhong.
Gu Yuan changed the subject.
"Then what is troubling Father today?"
"Lin Xianhong is foolish, but her younger sister is even more foolish!"
"She actually dared to cause trouble in front of Ning Royal Mansion!"
"So, she was given thirty planks."
Gu Mingzhi narrowed his eyes and whispered, "I heard people say that Ning Que was furious about Lin Xianhong having an abortion to save you, and even threatened to divorce her.
This time, when he punished Lin Qinghuan, could it be for real?"
"Impossible."
"Oh?"
Gu Yuan sneered contemptuously, "That good-for-nothing Ning Que spends his days revolving around women.
This time, punishing Lin Qinghuan is nothing more than a trick to catch her.
Such a trick is simply ridiculous!"
"Heh, that's true."
Gu Mingzhi couldn't help but smile.
What he said wasn't wrong.
Who doesn't know what Ning Que has been doing all these years?
Gu Mingzhi put away his smile and sighed, "There's another matter.
The Jingyang locust plague has erupted, and His Majesty has already issued an imperial decree.
Ning Que is to spare no effort in disaster relief, mobilizing the Chang'an granaries to continuously send grain to Jingyang."
"He's in charge?"
"Yes." Gu Mingzhi narrowed his eyes, analyzing, "There are also rumors among the people that this is an intentional move to elevate Ning Que and weaken Prince Qi's influence.
After all, the Four Princes guard the borders, and Prince Ning guards the capital, and Jingyang is originally Prince Ning's fiefdom.
Let's not worry about these for now, but our grain supply is in trouble."
The Gu Family's collateral branches included grain merchants.
They had hoarded tens of thousands of piculs of grain in Jingyang.
They took advantage of the locust plague to make a fortune from the national disaster.
They inflated the grain price to five hundred cash per picul!
It had increased tenfold!
As for the lives of the common people?
What did that have to do with them?
The common people belonged to Great Feng, but the money was theirs!
"Then we can only lower the price..."
"Yes."
Gu Yuan frowned in thought.
He hadn't expected Emperor Feng to be so decisive.
Even mobilizing the Chang'an granaries at all costs.
It seemed he truly intended to use this to build momentum for Ning Que.
But what of it?
Ning Que was a good-for-nothing after all.
The higher he stood, the harder he would fall!
...
...
Lin Manor.
"Wuwuwu..."
"Second Sister, you absolutely cannot forgive him this time."
"That bastard Ning Que actually sent me to the authorities."
"He made me endure a full thirty planks!"
Lin Qinghuan lay on the soft couch.
She was sniffling and weeping.
She had never suffered such humiliation in her life.
"He even specifically found Master Yu."
"He deliberately set a trap to make me look bad."
"To have Master Yu expel me!"
Lin Xianhong applied medicine to her, her face extremely grim.
Lin Mother by the side was wailing, constantly wiping away tears.
"That beast Ning Que!"
"How could he bear to treat Qinghuan like this?"
"Wasn't it just going to his door to ask for an explanation?"
"Scheming, shameless!"
"Mother, don't worry, Qinghuan is fine."
"This is all your fault!" Lin Mother said angrily, her eyes filled with hot tears, "Look at the man you married, your sister has been harmed like this by him!"
"I..."
Lin Xianhong was speechless.
Her heart was also filled with endless grievances.
She had never been liked by her mother since she was little.
And she always had to give in to Lin Qinghuan.
The only one who seemed good to her was Ning Que...
"Mother, don't talk about Second Sister like that."
"This is all Ning Que's fault, it has nothing to do with Second Sister."
"From what I see, he's deliberately trying to sow discord between us."
"That way, he can make Second Sister think he's even better."
Is that so?
Lin Xianhong was momentarily stunned.
Just a moment ago, she really had that thought!
Ning Que truly was as cunning as ever!
He would stop at nothing to achieve his goals!
He even wanted to sow discord within their family.
Using this method, he hoped she would change her mind.
If not for Lin Qinghuan's reminder, she really would have fallen for it!
"Hmph!" Lin Mother didn't care about any of that, she just said angrily, "Now I'm asking you what you plan to do?
Your sister was beaten, and even worse, she was expelled from the Six Arts.
If this gets out, her marriage prospects will be affected.
Also, what about her dowry? As her elder sister, you can't just ignore it!"
"I know."
Lin Xianhong stood up and said softly, "Over the years, the Empress Dowager has also given me many rewards.
A few days ago, I saved General Gu, and they took care of the Lin Family, giving us a good business deal."
"A good business deal?"
"Jingyang suffered a locust plague, and grain prices soared.
They sold our family one hundred thousand piculs of grain at a low price; as long as it's transported to Jingyang, we can earn two hundred cash per picul!"
"The Gu Family is truly good!"
Lin Mother immediately breathed a sigh of relief.
One thousand cash was equal to one tael of silver.
Which meant they could earn twenty thousand taels of silver!
Lin Qinghuan's dowry money would be enough.
"It's over!"
"It's all over!"
Lin Jiang, however, burst in.
He was flustered and stumbled.
He even knocked over the water cup on the table!
What happened?!