Marrying a treacherous official

Yunji left Huachao behind to handle the aftermath and, under Huo Xi's escort, successfully arrived at the Gu residence.

She was ushered into the mansion, where the courtyard was adorned with colorful peachwood charms, red curtains and embroidered screens, and laughter and chatter filled the air with the joy of the New Year. The pitiful sight of beggars kneeling and begging for food on the roadside paled in comparison to the luxurious life of the aristocratic family.

No one cared about the refugees who were about to starve to death.

It was the same in my past life, and it is the same in this life.

Yunji vaguely remembered the historical records that the great drought in the first year of the Qingli era starved more than 80,000 people to death.

What she used to see in history books was just a line of insignificant words, but now she sees pairs of eyes pleading desperately because of hunger.

How could she possibly let this go?

Gu Jinyu noticed her preoccupation, took the bronze hand warmer from her arms, and added a little silver frost charcoal to it.

"What is my eldest sister thinking about?"

"I wonder when this heavy snowfall will finally stop."

Yunji stood on the corridor, looking up at the dense, white snow falling from the eaves, and her face, covered with a fox fur scarf, gradually lost its color.

Gu Jinyu placed the hand warmer into her hands.

"The snow will stop in another month or two after spring arrives. What's wrong, elder sister?"

"Let's test your knowledge."

After deep thought, Yunji asked him, "The nine provinces along the Huai River are suffering from a severe drought, resulting in a sharp decline in the harvests of tenant farmers. Ten thousand refugees are begging to flee north. How should the local officials respond?"

"After the great desolation, there will surely be a great plague."

After pondering for a long time, Gu Jinyu said cautiously:

"Few die of starvation, but many die of plague and disease. The counties and prefectures above Huaibei take in 100,000 refugees. Local gentry and merchants provide grain relief, and pharmacies and clinics treat diseases. By including disaster relief in the three-year performance evaluation of officials, we can certainly help the refugees to the greatest extent possible."

Yunji then asked him, "What are the hidden dangers brought about by the famine?"

Gu Jinyu bluntly stated, "At best, there will be countless deaths and injuries; at worst, there will be riots and unrest."

"What you're saying is just the superficial appearance; you haven't gone to the root of the problem to see the underlying essence."

Yunji had once ridden alongside her father throughout the entire Huai River basin, and she had heard the most in-depth analysis of this age-old problem that had appeared repeatedly in history books.

"Father said it's land consolidation."

Gu Jinyu suddenly turned to look at her, his eyes filled with shock and disbelief.

"In years of famine and crop failure, farmers cannot pay their taxes and grain. In order to survive, they will sell their wives and daughters, or even sell their land at a low price. When they have nowhere to beg, they eventually freeze to death in the wind and snow."

Yunji said coldly and quietly:

"And the gentry and landlords you are hoping for will not only fail to generously donate grain for disaster relief, but instead exploit farmers even more severely, acquiring land at extremely low prices. This cycle repeats itself, shaking the very foundation of the nation."

Gu Jinyu was quite shocked, feeling that all the years he had spent studying at Bailu Academy had been in vain.

"Did Father say that?"

"Father said much more than that."

"Did Father say how to stop the gentry from seizing land?"

Seeing him looking at her with such eager curiosity, Yunji remembered his firm refusal to become a historian, and a wicked smile crept across her face as she mocked him:

"Who told you not to read your father's handwritten notes and historical materials, letting his treasured ancient books gather dust in the library? If you really want to know, I'm not going to tell you."

"Eldest sister—"

Gu Jinyu humbled himself and begged her, "I was wrong, please forgive me, elder sister."

Seeing that he bowed deeply, Yunji, considering his sincere inquiry, granted him a chance.

"Come with me tomorrow. I'm going to Lijia Village in Cao County. I'll tell you when I get back."

"Elder sister, this is Shengjing, not Qianzhou."

Upon hearing this, Gu Jinyu did not stop her from traveling, but instead advised her against it.

Yunji said without room for argument, "I am now in the Gu family, not the Cui family of the Marquis's mansion."

At her parents' home, she was not bound by etiquette and family rules; she could ride horses and travel far and wide, a behavior her father had tacitly approved of while he was alive.

But after her father died, no one allowed her to do as she pleased.

Gu Jinyu felt an indescribable heartache and asked her softly, "Why did you do this, elder sister?"

Yunji insisted, "I only know that if my father were alive, he would have done the same."

Gu Jinyu turned to the side, blocking the cold wind that swept through the corridor.

"I'll be waiting for you in the stable at 3:45 AM tomorrow."

"I'll listen to you."

"She dressed me up as a man, and covered my head and face completely with a cloak."

"I'll listen to you."

"You must return on the same day you leave; do not even think about lingering in the suburbs."

"I'll listen to you."

Yunji would agree to anything as long as she could go out.

When Chunxuan and Huachao heard that Madam was going on a long trip, and that she would be riding a horse with the young master, they objected and tried to dissuade her in every way, but they could not sway her in the slightest.

Instead, they had to cover up and protect her transgressions.

At dawn, Hua Chao pushed open the door and went out.

She instructed the maid on duty to fetch water to prepare for the First Madam's hair combing and washing, and also sent the cleaning lady in the courtyard to deliver a note to the kitchen, preparing the pastries the Madam wanted in advance.

After all the servants in the courtyard had left, Chunxuan led the guards behind her out the door.

Fortunately, it was still early, and by stopping and starting along the way, they easily avoided the passing maids and servants.

Chunxuan led the person to the outer courtyard. Looking at the guards standing outside the courtyard wall, she thought to herself that she could only send the lady here.

"Madam is sending you to accompany the young master to Bailu Academy. You must ensure his safety on the way."

"Your subordinate obeys."

After bowing to Chunxuan in greeting, Yunji strode towards the western stable.

Gu Jinyu had been waiting in the stable for a long time. Seeing her approaching from afar, he led out a gentle chestnut horse, tightened the reins for her, and said:

"Wrap yourself up in your cloak before going up."

Yunji did as instructed, putting on the cloak to completely cover her face and head.

She hadn't ridden a horse for many years, but her movements as she gripped the reins were still practiced. Stepping into the stirrups, she strode onto the horse with her long legs and was about to head out when Huo Xi suddenly emerged from behind the haystack and blocked her way.

"Where is the First Madam heading?"

Now that things have come to this, Yunji has nothing left to hide: "Lijia Village, Cao County."

Huo Xi immediately thought of the refugees who were stopping his carriage on the road and sternly refused:

"Your subordinate is ordered by the general to protect the safety of the First Madam. Without the general's permission, the First Madam may not leave the house."

Yunji spurred his horse back a few steps, smiling as he discussed the matter with him:

"Guard Huo is on orders, and I can't make things difficult for you. But in this urgent situation, we must act expediently. You should go to the Marquis's residence and report this matter to the master. After obtaining his approval, I will then set off on horseback, how about that?"

How could Huo Xi believe the First Madam's words?

He had just gone to the Marquis's residence to inform the Lady that she had ridden out the door. If the General investigated, he would also be held responsible.

"Madam, please don't flatter me."

No sooner had he finished speaking than a horse galloped forward, its hooves thundering. With a long neigh, Yun Ji spurred his horse past Huo Xi.

Gu Jinyu followed closely behind on horseback.

Huo Xi dared not hesitate any longer. He grabbed a spirited horse, mounted it, and chased after the two.