The young lord knelt in heartfelt submission and begged for punishment; the princess consort distributed porridge as rice prices soared

Red lanterns have already been hung in the front yard. When the wind blows, the lantern tassels gently sweep across the pillars of the corridor. Several servants are standing on stools pasting New Year pictures. There is a smell of paste from newly pasted window paper in the yard.

Gu Moran sat down by the stove and had just picked up her ginger tea when Uncle Fu led Pu Yunshan in through the side door.

Pu Yunshan changed into a coarse cloth outfit and his hair was neatly tied up, but his complexion was still not very good.

He stood a few steps away from the stove, his shoes covered in mud from the back alley in the south of the city, and he rubbed his fingers on his sleeves repeatedly, clearly having been pondering this for a long time.

Gu Moran blew on the ginger slices in her cup and looked up at him.

" Pu Excellent, are you not required to report to public toilet number twelve today?"

Pu Yunshan's ears were burning, but he still straightened his back.

"Your Highness, I would like to request a job."

"Don't you have enough work to do these days?"

"It's not a job in the south of the city."

Pu Yunshan paused, his gaze falling on the courtyard. He rambled on with the prepared words, but ultimately spoke them somewhat awkwardly.

"Several people who broke into the workshop at night are imprisoned in the dungeon of that palace. They haven't seen the light of day for a long time, and the place is filthy and difficult to clean. If no one cleans it up, they might get sick."

Gu Moran held his teacup without making a sound.

Pu Yunshan's throat was dry, and he continued with his hands clasped in front of him, "I've gotten used to doing these things lately, and I'm willing to clean their chamber pots, and also bring them some hot water and food, so that no one gets killed before the New Year and the festive atmosphere of the Prince's Mansion is ruined."

"You're quite kind-hearted."

"A human life is a human life."

Gu Moran at him for a while, then suddenly smiled and clapped twice.

The side door opened with a click.

Pu Yunshan's gaze first fell on the threshold, and then he froze.

Eight Green City assassins emerged one by one from the side door. They had already taken antidotes and could freely circulate their internal energy, yet none of them made a move.

They had changed into clean cotton clothes, carried bundles on their backs, and had no weapons at their waists, yet their faces showed no signs of torture.

The leader walked into the courtyard, clasped his hands in a fist salute to Gu Moran, and spoke in a very low voice.

"Thank you for sparing my life, Your Highness."

Gu Moran waved his hand, as if he was annoyed that he was blocking the heat from the heater.

"The year is drawing to a close, and this prince's manor dislikes bloodshed. I've prepared travel expenses and provisions for you; now go home."

The assassins didn't move.

Gu Moran raised her eyes and glanced over.

"What? You don't want to leave? Are you waiting for me to invite you to stay for New Year's Eve dinner?"

The lead assassin gripped the bundle's strap, stealing a glance at Pu Yunshan. His eyes held a mixture of surprise, doubt, and guilt. In the end, he said nothing, but led the rest of the group to kneel before Gu Moran.

Eight people bumped their foreheads on the ground.

"Thank you, Your Highness!"

Pu Yunshan stood still, his arms hanging at his sides, but his palms slowly clenched.

He had already prepared for the worst.

Those eight men who broke into the Prince's mansion at night were fully equipped with weapons, grappling hooks, and poison sacs. If they fell into the hands of any faction, they would have been chopped up and thrown into a mass grave.

Gu Moran didn't use them to force confessions or threaten her. She even cleaned them up, gave them travel expenses, and offered to let them return to the mountain gate.

What is this person after?

Gu Moran placed the teacup by the stove, his tone indifferent.

" Pu Hua, you did a good job picking out night soil these past few days. You don't need to go to the public toilets in the south of the city anymore. The shantytowns in the south of the city need people to repair the roofs before the end of the year. If you're free, go and lend a hand."

Pu Yunshan raised his head, his eyes reddened by the wind.

"Your Highness."

"Um?"

He swallowed hard, then suddenly lifted his coat and knelt down in the snow.

" Pu Hua previously believed the rumors outside and had many misunderstandings about Your Highness. I beg Your Highness to punish him."

Gu Moran looked at him.

Pu Yunshan slammed his forehead down hard, leaving a clear wet stain on the ground.

"From now on, if Your Highness has any requests, as long as they do not violate morality, Pu Hua is willing to do his best."

Gu Moran didn't wake him up immediately.

The charcoal fire in the heater crackled once, and the system panel appeared before my eyes.

[ The Son of Destiny Pu Yunshan, has had his hostility level reduced to zero.]

[Received a reward for plundering Qi: Increased Martial Arts Perception.]

[Special Physique Reward: Hundred Meridians Clear ]

[The host's cultivation progress will double in the future, allowing for battles against opponents of higher levels for a short period.]

A warm sensation spread from his dantian. The internal energy, which had been slightly agitated after the breakthrough, gradually sank down along his meridians. Gu Moran raised his hand and grasped the teacup, even the temperature emanating from the cup became exceptionally clear.

He looked down at Pu Yunshan, unable to suppress the smugness in his heart.

Young Master of Mount Qingcheng, Fourth Rank swordsman.

First they picked up manure, then they killed Zhao Wuxu, and finally they kowtowed to me.

This deal was incredibly profitable.

Get up.

As Gu Moran spoke, the eight assassins had already reached the courtyard gate.

"I don't lack people to kowtow to me; what I lack are people who can accomplish great things."

Pu Yunshan slowly stood up.

Gu Moran raised her chin at him.

Is your lucky piglet still around?

"Exist."

"Feed them up well, then the Prince's Palace can take them in later."

Pu Yunshan's lips twitched.

Am I a piglet too?

Gu Moran picked up the ginger tea, took a sip, and then slowly added a sentence.

"Price will be the market rate, don't say I'm taking advantage of you."

On the 28th day of the twelfth lunar month, it snowed all night in Anyang City.

Soup porridge stalls were set up outside all four city gates, with thick oilcloths covering the roofs. The stoves were burning brightly, and white steam mixed with firewood smoke rose into the air. The names of the donors were densely written on the wooden signs.

Standing in front of the soup kitchen at the west gate, Lady Lü was wearing a fox fur coat and holding a hand warmer. The old woman beside her was loudly announcing the donations from each household.

" Xu Grain Shop in the East of the City donated five hundred taels of silver."

" The Zhou Clan Cloth Shop on South Street donated three hundred taels of silver."

" The Anyang Meat Guild donated 200 jin of meat."

People lined up to receive porridge, some rubbing their hands, others holding children. Upon hearing the words " Prince An's Consort prays for blessings," they would shout auspicious phrases.

Lady Lü nodded to the crowd, her posture extremely composed.

She was pregnant, but she still had to pretend, so she slowly walked to the porridge stall and personally added a spoonful of porridge to an old woman's bowl.

The old woman knelt down and kowtowed.

"Your Majesty is benevolent--"

The constables nearby quickly helped the man up.

"Grandpa, drink your porridge quickly, don't get cold."

With a smile on her face, Lady Lü turned around, but her eyes were fixed on the names on the wooden plaque.

The money has been deposited into the account.

Fame is also gathering at the Prince An's Residence.

The snowfall was just right; the colder it got, the more precious her bowl of porridge seemed.

But just as the second batch of porridge was being served outside the West Gate, someone from the city came running up, cursing all the way.

"Prices have gone up!"

Rice prices have all gone up!

"Damn it, last night a bushel of rice was only eighty coins, but today it's one hundred and sixty coins! How are we supposed to live?!"

The crowd in front of the soup kitchen quickly descended into chaos.