The warm room quieted down.
Gu Moran flipped the note over, read it again, and rubbed the edge of the paper with his fingertip.
The emperor did not die, but he could not stand up either.
The people in the palace won't quiet down just because the emperor has woken up. Instead, they'll keep an eye on his still-movable hand, whether he left a will, and who can speak for him.
Gu Moran threw the note into the brazier.
The flame caught on the corner of the paper and quickly burned the ink into black ash.
"My poor father."
Uncle Fu lowered his eyes and did not reply.
Gu Moran his hand, signaling Uncle Fu to read the second one.
" In Anyang City, Prince An's Consort, under the guise of being pregnant and praying for the Emperor's grandson, distributed porridge to raise funds. Rice shops, cloth shops, and butcher shops all followed suit and raised their prices. The price of coarse rice nearly doubled per dou (a unit of dry measure), and coarse cloth also increased in price."
Uncle Fu paused.
"Merchants said the donations were too high, while the displaced people said they lined up outside the soup kitchen all morning and only received half a bowl of thin porridge. People in the south of the city have already smashed the doors of grain shops."
Gu Moran tapped his fingers twice on the table.
In Anyang, the family had previously used the porridge distribution to build their reputation, and the Lady Lü had pocketed the charitable funds. To cover their losses, the merchants had no choice but to pass the money down to the people.
Those who could previously earn a living through manual labor can now not even afford coarse grains.
Su Yao emerged from behind the screen, carrying the account books; she had clearly overheard.
"Your Highness, if prices continue to rise in Anyang, the refugees outside the city gates will soon be fleeing to the surrounding areas."
Gu Moran looked up at her.
How much old grain do we still have in our granaries?
Su Yao opened the account book.
"Last year there was a lot of rain, and the two granaries in the west of the city had more than 3,000 shi of old grain stored up. The good-looking ones have already been processed, but the remaining batch was uneven in grain and mixed with broken rice, so the people of Yi Prefecture didn't like to buy it."
"Rough cloth?"
"The weaving workshop has over seven hundred bolts of cloth piled up; some are dyed with lace, and some aren't woven tightly enough, but it's enough to make undergarments and foot bindings for the disaster victims."
Gu Moran placed the note from Anyang on the table.
"Shunt the train."
Su Yao looked up.
"Send it to Anyang?"
"Right."
Gu Moran picked up the teacup and took a sip of the tea that had cooled down.
"Rice is expensive in Anyang now, so we'll sell our old grain in the city at the market price, and we'll also sell our coarse cloth at the same price they have there."
Pu Yunshan was taken aback.
"Your Highness, those refugees are barely getting enough to eat, and you're still selling them at high prices?"
Gu Moran looked at him.
Do you think those grain merchants in Anyang would give things away for free?
Pu Yunshan opened his mouth.
"Can..."
Su Yao picked up the conversation, flicking the abacus beads in her palm.
"Grain prices have doubled. If we sell too low, the grain shops won't let us into the city. Before our convoy even reaches South Street, our rice bags will be confiscated."
Gu Moran nodded.
Prices will be set at market rates.
He pointed to the note in Anyang.
"Secretly spread the word that any refugees, blacksmiths, carpenters, or coachmen willing to bring their families to Yi Prefecture for work would be given grain and coarse cloth to cover their travel expenses, along with a three-month work contract."
Su Yao's eyes lit up.
"Exchange goods for manpower."
Blacksmiths preferred.
Gu Moran spoke very decisively.
"It's tough to keep shops open in Anyang City these days. Many blacksmith shops are going out of business. We're short of people who can make farm tools, hammer nails, and repair axles."
"They even accept refugees?"
"We need to recruit those who can work, including the elderly, women, and children. The shantytown in the south of the city is short of people to repair roofs, build stoves, and repair drainage ditches."
Gu Moran looked at Su Yao.
"The contract is clearly written, wages will be paid as usual, and you may choose to stay or leave after three months."
Su Yao closed the ledger, a slight smile appearing on her face.
"I'll go find Uncle Fu to arrange a carriage, and then have the caravan put up recruitment signs."
But Uncle Fu did not move immediately.
"Your Highness, if the Prince An's Residence finds out we've come into the city to recruit people, I'm afraid..."
Gu Moran raised his hand, picked up the fire tongs, and poked the brazier.
"We're going there to sell grain and cloth, not to rob people."
"Whoever wants to go with the car can go."
Who can stop the will of the people?
Uncle Fu agreed.
Su Yao carried the account books and walked out, but just as she reached the door, she turned back to look at Pu Yunshan.
"Your Highness, the entrance, partitions, and hot water room of the Foot Care Hall all need to be completed quickly, and I'm afraid Young Master Pu won't be able to handle it all."
Pu Yunshan finally remembered the important reason he had rushed in and quickly put the food box on the table.
"Your Highness, Hongxiu has returned the sword tassel."
Gu Moran looked up.
"So what?"
I don't want to accept it.
"Then what brings you here to see me?"
Pu Yunshan straightened his back, but then stopped speaking.
"I... I want to ask, if the girl returned the things, does it mean she thinks there's something wrong with me?"
Murong Xue had followed us there at some point, and was now leaning against the doorframe, laughing so hard she was slapping the wall.
" Pu Excellent, you're not even afraid of the thugs at the Flower-Between Pavilion, but you're afraid of the young lady dropping her sword tassel?"
Pu Yunshan's ears were burning hot.
What do you know?
Gu Moran picked up the chopsticks from the food box lid and tapped them on the table.
"If she really disliked you, she wouldn't have cooked for you today."
Pu Yunshan looked down at the food box.
"Then why did she withdraw?"
"Because she's afraid of being a burden to you."
After Gu Moran finished speaking, he pushed the blueprint forward an inch.
"If you can't even figure this out, then you'll have wasted ten years repairing the walls of the Foot Care Hall."
Pu Yunshan stared at the blueprints for a long time before picking up the food box.
"I see."
He turned and left.
The warm room was quiet for a moment.
Xie Wanqing listened in the back room for a long time, then couldn't resist and came out.
"Your Highness, do you truly understand the feelings of every young lady?"
Gu Moran picked up his teacup.
"How could I possibly understand?"
He took a sip of tea and pulled Xie Wanqing into his arms.
"I still need my beloved concubine to teach me more."
Xie Wanqing's ears turned red.
The early spring sun shines on the back alley in the south of the city.
Two donkey carts were parked outside the back Flower-Between Pavilion, and about a dozen women stood at the bottom of the steps with bundles, wooden basins and old clothes chests at their feet.
They were all quite old; some wore makeup that couldn't hide their fatigue, some were carrying children, and some were folding and refolding old clothes, afraid of getting them muddy on the road.
Qin Hongxiu stood in the middle of the crowd, holding a list in her hand, checking the names one by one.
Pu Yunshan changed into a tight-fitting outfit, with his sword hanging at his waist. His left hand was always on the hilt of the sword. He stood at the front of the steps, looking wary.
The Flower-Between Pavilion employs many thugs.
If the madam suddenly turns hostile and tries to take the person back, he would have to block the door first before letting Qin Hongxiu bring the person into the car.
He even planned his escape route.
The west end of the alley leads to the South Market, and the east end has a narrow path that leads to the backyard of the pharmacy; if all else fails, you can climb over the wall.
Qin Hongxiu looked up and saw him standing ramrod straight, and couldn't help but walk over.
" Young Master Pu, there's no need to be so nervous."
Pu Yunshan did not turn back.
Don't stand near the door.
"Mom has agreed to release them."
I'm afraid it might be a trap.
" Sister Liu has spoken with her."
"It's always good to be cautious."
Pu Yunshan stared at the dark back door.
"If she changes her mind when so many of you leave together, I'll just tear the door down."