A Foodie Transmigrated into the Palace

The issue with the Imperial Medical Bureau has yet to be clarified, and already a major event has occurred in the court.

Guangnan was hit by fierce storms and torrential rain, causing frequent floods and countless casualties.

The disaster is unprecedented in a century, and the people are suffering terribly.

Disaster reports were urgently sent overnight to the Capital City and appeared in the Emperor’s study in the Eastern Palace early the next morning.

Before Zhao Qichen rose to attend court, a Little Eunuch had already presented the report to him.

He quickly picked it up and browsed through it, and his expression rapidly turned grim.

He knew the situation was not that simple.

The fierce storms and torrential rain have caused countless casualties and displaced people, which is just the immediate situation.

Dive deeper.

If the disaster is not controlled properly, epidemics and famine will follow.

The refugees, seeking survival, will move north, causing disturbances in the relatively affluent Jiangnan.

If they seek food, and the local Government Office is willing to shelter them, all is well.

If not, should any conflict arise, there is an eight or nine chance of riots among the refugees.

More severely, they could spread epidemics, and the consequences would be unimaginable!

Thinking of this.

Zhao Qichen couldn’t care about anything else, he pushed aside the Palace Maid helping him dress and left swiftly.

”Emperor! Emperor!”

Li Deming grabbed the clothes from the Palace Maid’s tray and hurried after him.

”You haven’t finished dressing yet!”

Zhao Qichen hurried on, his face dark, taking the clothes and putting them on hastily.

Li Deming was almost in tears, what was so urgent, and would you even know how to wear them?

Zhao Qichen indicated: He really didn’t.

Who made this thing so complicated? He truly wanted to cut it to pieces.

...

In the small room behind Taihe Hall, Zhao Qichen had to stop to dress.

His face was frighteningly dark.

The Palace Maid helping him dress was trembling nervously.

Li Deming watched from the side, breaking out in a cold sweat.

The three identities, three thoughts, surprisingly were thinking the same thing: to give the craftsman of the Ministry of Internal Affairs who made the clothes a severe beating.

After what seemed like an ’eternity’, the Emperor’s Dragon Robe was finally donned in its complicated entirety.

Zhao Qichen couldn’t wait to leave.

The group of Palace Attendants in the rear hall finally breathed a sigh of relief.

Just about to complain a bit, suddenly the Emperor turned back with a grim face and instructed.

”Have people modify the Dragon Robe, it shouldn’t be so troublesome in the future!”

The hearts of the Servants instantly tightened again, quickly responding.

”Yes!”

...

After this long ordeal, Zhao Qichen’s mood had turned extremely sour.

The Imperial Court Officials were initially discussing.

Seeing the Emperor’s expression, each one instantly returned to their positions.

Mentally preparing for criticism.

And acting with an air ’Today I won’t speak, don’t involve me in anything.’

Zhao Qichen glanced sharply, grasping everything, scoffing internally.

’These people! Rush forward in good times, but one wrong move and they retreat eight hundred miles, haha!’

’Not shrinking, are you? Let me see who shrinks most!’

Seeing the moment arrive.

Li Deming shouted ”Attend court!” in his distinctive voice with a prolonged, powerful tone.

Imperial Court Officials immediately stood up, heads raised.

Zhao Qichen switched to a different expression.

He maintained his usual indifferent demeanor and brought up the disaster in Guangnan lightly, then asked.

”How do you propose we address the disaster, my ministers?”

No one responded, so Zhao Qichen began naming individuals.

”Minister Liu of the Ministry of Revenue, what are your thoughts?”

Minister Liu nervously stepped forward and shared his idea, simply to gather Silver for relief efforts.

The Great Chu Dynasty is prosperous, having been stable for many years, with a well-stocked national treasury. Such a minor disaster poses no issue.

Hence he believed his idea was completely viable, utterly flawless, with others nodding in agreement.

Indeed there is no issue, and we’re not to wait for people to starve or revolt, right?

Yet, Zhao Qichen was clearly dissatisfied.

”Minister Liu, are there any other ideas?”

Minister Liu shook his head in confusion.

Zhao Qichen was somewhat disappointed, though not surprised.

He waved him back to his place and called another person.

”Minister Zhou of the Ministry of Works, what are your thoughts?”

Minister Zhou appeared much more confident, stepping out to respond with a fist salute.

”Reporting to the Emperor, in my opinion, apart from relief, we should assist the people in rebuilding their homes!”

Zhao Qichen nodded in agreement, indicating for him to continue.

Minister Zhou was pleased internally and went on.

”While it’s true the people live by food, can any of the necessities of clothing, food, housing, and transportation be neglected? People are not beasts to be soothed with a full meal!”

”Helping the people rebuild their houses and homes is to provide them the hope to live anew...”

Minister Zhou’s lengthy discourse lasted for half a stick of incense’s time, Zhao Qichen didn’t interrupt.

On the contrary, he felt this person was somewhat insightful.

When he finished speaking, Zhao Qichen smiled lightly and praised him, then continued questioning others.

However, after asking around, listening to every single minister, he hadn’t heard a comprehensive and detailed solution.

Either too one-sided, too extreme, or sounds good but unrealistic.

Hence Zhao Qichen was quite vexed.

After court was dismissed, he gathered several close ministers in the study to discuss the disaster.

Finally deciding on a clear relief plan.

’First find a place to settle the refugees, with the Imperial Court providing soup and provisions!’

’Then recruit manpower to organize disaster areas, burn the bodies of those who perished, and build simple huts and fences for refugees to live in!’

’Finally relocate the refugees back!’

This solution is currently the most feasible, yet equally the most challenging to implement.

Zhao Qichen is not one to fear difficulty, but there’s one issue that can’t be avoided.

That is...who to send?

Tremendous power and wealth accompany enormous life risks, who can rise to this task?

An imperial envoy carrying vast amounts of grain and Silver Tael always faces the risk of robbery by mountain bandits; this is one aspect.

Guangnan’s forces entrench, intrigue each other, refugees suffer greatly and may transform into rebels; the envoy may become a target, this is another aspect.

Finally, under storms and torrential rains, landslides and mudslides could erupt, coupled with hot weather, bodies scattered everywhere, corpses left uncremated rot entirely, epidemics are nearly inevitable.

Under such conditions, such an environment.

Going there is tantamount to seeking death.

No minister can undertake such risks.

No one can resist the great temptation (not embezzling relief Silver) either.

Nor can anyone escape a local tyrant’s attacks, controlling all matters at hand.

At least for now, no one in the Imperial Court possesses this ability.

Silence, the study is deathly quiet.

No trusted minister speaks.

The answer is clear, the Imperial Court...has no one to use.