Quick Wear: The Heirless Boss Wants to Get Close to Her Every Day

Chapter 489 The General's Daughter vs. the Deposed Crown Prince with No Heir (26)

Shen Shuyi was thinking about picking apricots at the villa the next day, so she went to bed early. Zhao Heng, having made a fuss during the day, didn't dare to eat too much at night and just held his beloved wife as they fell asleep.

Late at night, both of them were awakened by a clap of thunder, followed by the sound of torrential rain.

Shen Shuyi opened her eyes in a daze and saw only darkness, with the occasional flash of lightning streaking across the rain.

Is it raining?

"Hmm, go to sleep. It rains heavily every summer around this time." Zhao Heng doesn't fall back asleep easily after waking up. When he was the crown prince, he had handled many memorials on disaster relief. He only hoped that the dikes would be stable this summer so that the people could get through it safely.

The next morning, it was pouring rain and the sky was gloomy. When Shen Shuyi woke up, she saw that Zhao Heng was still beside her, but the man beside her had already woken up.

She smiled and said, "It's rare that you're still in bed at this hour."

Zhao Heng pulled her into his arms, his face pressed against hers. "It's a pity we couldn't go to the villa to pick apricots today."

"It's a bit of a pity. With such heavy rain, many apricots will probably fall."

"However," Shen Shuyi wrapped her arms around his neck, snuggled into his embrace, and laughed, "compared to eating apricots, I... well, I'd rather..."

A sweet scent wafted from him as Zhao Heng kissed his dark hair. "You're always spouting nonsense. Don't cry later."

Shen Shuyi gave his Adam's apple a quick kiss, her beautiful eyes blinking sweetly as she said, "Brother Yanzhi."

Her eyes were bright, filled with Zhao Heng's handsome face.

Zhao Heng lightly bit her lips, then readily embraced her waist, lowered his head, and bit the rosy lips in front of him.
Shen Shuyi hugged his lowered head and cried out softly, "Be gentle."

……

……

The heavy rain continued for several days. Seeing Zhao Heng's increasingly grave expression, Shen Shuyi walked up to him and asked, "Is Yan Zhi worried about a flood?"

"Yes, an urgent report came to Chang'an this morning, saying that Qingzhou Prefecture was severely flooded, the floodwaters had broken and the river had breached its banks and flowed into the city, leaving many people homeless."

Shen Shuyi frowned upon hearing this, "Has His Majesty sent anyone to provide disaster relief?"

"The ministers who sided with the Empress recommended Zhao Qiyu to go to Qingzhou Prefecture for disaster relief." Zhao Heng frowned. "He has no experience in disaster relief whatsoever, and the ministers he brought with him were corrupt officials."

"Isn't he afraid of being punished by the Emperor for failing to control the disaster?" Shen Shuyi said coldly. "It's just that the people in the disaster area are suffering."

Zhao Heng stood with his hands behind his back. "Zhao Qiyu wants to use this disaster relief effort to build a good reputation so that he can smoothly become the crown prince."

"I cannot entrust the safety of the people to such a short-sighted and opportunistic person."

Shen Shuyi guessed, "You want to volunteer to go to the disaster relief effort?"

"Yes, Shuyi, I would like to go to the palace now to request permission."

"My advisors suggested that I wait half a month until Zhao Qiyu failed in his disaster relief efforts before requesting to take up the post, so that I could turn the tide, but I refused."

Shen Shuyi held his hand. "I support you, but you must come back safely."

Zhao Heng gave her a deep look. "I promise you."

That same day, Zhao Heng contacted his ministers who supported him and managed to keep Zhao Qiyu in Chang'an before he could set off.

Zhao Qiyu's men were corrupt, both low-ranking and high-ranking officials were greedy. Zhao Heng hadn't originally planned to deal with them so quickly, but given the urgency of the situation, he had no choice but to launch a counterattack plan.

In the imperial court, the emperor was furious, and the Golden Palace fell silent.

Emperor Zhao Yin slammed the memorial onto the hall floor, exclaiming, "Fine! They're all my good ministers!"

His face was ashen as he pointed at Li Yong, the Vice Minister of Revenue, who was kneeling in the hall, and said, "The people of Qingzhou Prefecture are displaced, yet you are thinking of enriching yourselves!"

Li Yong's eldest daughter, Li Ya'er, was about to marry the fourth prince, Zhao Qiyu, as his principal wife. This time, he and Zhao Qiyu joined forces to provide disaster relief in Qingzhou Prefecture, but unexpectedly, before they even left Chang'an City, evidence of his past corruption was discovered. He trembled all over, kneeling on the ground with his forehead pressed against the cold floor tiles, not daring to raise his head. Behind him knelt several officials, all of whom were disaster relief personnel recommended by Zhao Qiyu.

Zhao Qiyu, who was still standing, clenched his fists involuntarily, never expecting such a thing to happen at this critical juncture.

Just then, the Minister of Justice stepped forward, holding an account book in both hands. "Your Majesty," he said, "I have ascertained that Li Yong and others took advantage of last year's floods in Jiangnan to embezzle 200,000 taels of disaster relief funds!"

"This is the proof!"

The emperor took the account book, and the more he looked at it, the angrier he became. He suddenly threw the account book at Zhao Qiyu.

"This is the person you recommended?!"

"Father, please calm your anger! Your son truly did not know!" Zhao Qiyu knelt down with a thud.

"It must be these treacherous and wicked people deceiving their superiors and subordinates."

"You didn't know?" The emperor sneered. "As the governor who went to Qingzhou Prefecture for disaster relief, you didn't check the background of the officials you recommended. What is your crime?!"

The atmosphere inside the hall was tense. Zhao Heng stood in the hall, calmly observing everything.

Prime Minister Liu Fu stepped forward and said, “Your Majesty, the most urgent task is to select and dispatch new disaster relief personnel. The disaster situation in Qingzhou Prefecture cannot be delayed.”

The emperor took a deep breath, barely suppressing his anger. "My esteemed ministers, do you have any suitable candidates?"

Wang Mian, Vice Minister of the Ministry of Works, reported to Your Majesty: Five years ago, when the Yellow River breached its banks, it was Prince Su who presided over the disaster relief efforts, which were remarkably effective. I believe that Prince Su has extensive experience in disaster relief and is capable of undertaking this important task.

Another minister stepped forward, saying, "The drainage canals that Prince Su built in Jiangnan are still benefiting the people today. He is the only one who can provide disaster relief this time!"

Zhao Qiyu suddenly looked up, a sinister glint in his eyes. He couldn't just hand over the credit for the disaster relief to someone else, especially Zhao Heng!

"Father, my brother..."

"Enough!" The emperor's chest heaved with rage. He grabbed the paperweight from the desk, ready to smash it. "The person you recommended almost caused a disaster. How dare you speak again?"

"Get out of here and go to the Imperial Clan Court to receive your punishment!"

“Prince Su.” Zhao Yin looked at Zhao Heng, whose expression was calm.

"Would you be willing to go to Qingzhou Prefecture for disaster relief?"

Zhao Heng took a step forward, the cloud patterns embroidered on his black python robe appearing and disappearing with his movement, his voice steady and calm.

"Your subject is willing to obey the order and go to Qingzhou Prefecture."

The emperor looked at Zhao Heng's face, which bore a resemblance to the late empress, and a complex emotion flashed in his eyes.

"The floods in Qingzhou Prefecture are worse than they were five years ago. Are you confident in your ability to handle this?"

"Your subject dares not say that he is absolutely certain, but he will do his utmost to save the people from their suffering."

"Very well!" The Emperor nodded. "I hereby appoint you as Imperial Commissioner, in full authority to handle the disaster relief affairs in Qingzhou. The Ministry of Revenue will allocate 500,000 taels of silver, and the selected personnel will depart the next day!"

"If the disaster victims can be properly resettled, I will certainly reward those who have made contributions to the successful disaster relief efforts!"

"My son, I accept the decree."

After the court session ended, Zhao Heng was stopped by Zhao Qiyu as soon as he stepped out of the main hall.

"Brother, what a clever trick!" Zhao Qiyu said in a low voice, his eyes filled with resentment. "You think you can regain Father's favor like this?!"

Zhao Heng remained calm. "Fourth brother, you are overthinking it. I am only going to provide disaster relief for the innocent people who have been affected by the disaster."

"Ha, putting on airs." Zhao Qiyu sneered, "Qingzhou Prefecture is a long way away, Your Majesty should be careful."

……