Chapter 154: Reciprocity is Essential in Social Interactions

aining that she really didn't want to hear "boo hoo" anymore, lest they attract the tiger tribe orcs.And the three orcs, who had been listening to Ripples' explanation, all paused their movements and...The eldest princess was deeply moved after hearing this. After all, money was a very sensitive matter; too much or too little wouldn't do. Everyone was watching, and she privately didn't want her younger sister to profit either. She immediately smiled and said:

"Perhaps the Empress Dowager was more thoughtful. I was only focused on preventing the people from suffering, but I also overlooked some issues. I will go back and think about it, write a decree, and then ask the Empress Dowager for her advice."

"Alright, you handle it!"

Ripple nodded.

"Empress Mother"

The Great Princess hesitated to speak.

Just say what you have to say.

"Sanmei's Imperial Princess mansion has been closed for so long, and she has also learned her lesson. You can't always keep her locked up."

She's the youngest, and when she gets into trouble, she relies on you two older ones to cover for her. You're both married now, yet you're still being swayed by someone who's nothing but a cheap facade and low-class trash. While you might be able to protect her for a while, you can't possibly shield her forever. This is the perfect opportunity to set her straight.

Even if she doesn't inherit the throne in the future and becomes a carefree noblewoman, she won't hold you back. You don't need to plead for her.

Liàn yī was very decisive in her statement.

"Your Majesty, please calm your anger. Your third sister will definitely learn from this lesson. Please don't be upset."

The Great Princess immediately smiled and soothed.

Having expressed her deep sisterly love, the eldest princess had her attendants present two scripture books, saying with a smile:

"Your Majesty, this is a scripture copied by Rong Shijun. Since your last fainting spell, he has been copying scriptures to pray for you. The scriptures have been enshrined before the Buddha for eighty-one days, and Shijun offers incense every day. Today, he specially asked me to bring it to you."

He's interested, why doesn't he just come over himself.

"Lady Rongshi sent this scripture to you because, due to the continuous rain over the past few days, she caught a cold and cough. She didn't want to pass on her illness to you, so she asked me to deliver it."

The Great Princess patiently explained.

He must have been enjoying the breeze and got carried away. I'll send Mei Yuan over to take a look in a bit. You go ahead and get on with your work!

The ripples shoo people away.

These royal children, each one is a mastermind. The eldest princess came to see her this time, plotting for disaster relief, showing sisterly affection, and even trying to boost their father's presence. Truly, she wastes no opportunity.

"Yes, Your Majesty. Please be careful and prioritize your health."

The Great Princess achieved her goal, leaving Nannan behind to return and consult with her advisors about fundraising. If this were done well, it would be a great accomplishment, enhancing her reputation among the people even further.

Ripples took the scriptures and began to flip through them. Rong Shijun's handwriting was neat and orderly, rounded yet not sharp, just like his personality. However, as she kept flipping, Ripples' face grew increasingly grim.

Because the two scriptures were indeed placed in front of the Buddha, there was still the scent of incense and candles on the paper. However, Ripples, who had already reached the third level of Qi cultivation, could smell that besides the fragrance of incense and candles, there was also a hint of other smells. After carefully smelling it, she snorted coldly and slammed the scriptures onto the table.

Because the words in this scripture were written with a special ink, as time passes, some of the special ingredients in the ink will evaporate. This causes people who inhale it to feel like they have a cold, starting to cough. In reality, it's slowly destroying their lungs, which eventually develops into tuberculosis and becomes incurable.

Ripple's eyes narrowed. It seemed that even after he relinquished power, Rong Shijun still wanted the original owner dead. He wasn't as restrained as one might expect.

"Phoenix head."

Let me know if you have any other text you'd like me to translate!

"My subordinates are here."

With a flash, the phoenix-headed figure appeared before Lianyi.

"Place these two scriptures in Rong Shijun's room, as close to him as possible without him noticing."

"Yes!"

The Phoenix head received two scriptures, placing them in its bosom before disappearing once more.

Ripples is not a passive person who takes beatings. Since the other party has made a move, she will return it in kind.

She immediately summoned Lanxin and instructed her:

"Master Rong was feeling a bit under the weather from a cold, so I sent Mei Yuan over to take his pulse and prepare some cough-relieving soup for him."

"Yes."

Lan Xin immediately went to invite Mei Yuanzheng, and they accompanied each other to Rong Shijun's courtyard.

The ripples attracted another refined soul, who asked directly:

"Before the flood, I told you to have people go to the other three kingdoms to purchase grain. But is it all stored now"

"As you instructed, the grain has been delivered to your private estate and stored. When you want it moved into the granary, just let me know."

"Haven't alarmed the other three countries, have we"

"No."

After completing her report, she quietly and discreetly left.

Then ripples stretched, feeling that this flood should be easy to overcome.

After accepting the plot, she knew the severity of this disaster. So, taking advantage of the enthronement ceremony of the Sixth Prince of Panlong Kingdom, she secretly sent people to purchase grain from the other three kingdoms in three separate routes. Of course, they offered three to five more wen per unit than the market price. Then, through water and land transportation, they transported the grain back to Fengqi Country in batches. This essentially drained half her private treasury.

To avoid attention, each purchase was small and always made in remote locations. After all, prices were higher than market value, and there was no need to transport them personally. Most importantly, transactions were settled in cash, so the food was gradually accumulated bit by bit.

On the second day, Mei Yuan came to give Lian Yi a pulse reading for her health. Only after finishing did she quietly say

"Your Majesty, yesterday I was ordered to check the pulse of Rong Shijun. He doesn't seem to have an ordinary cold and cough."

"It's alright, just treat it as a cough and prescribe a cough suppressant. When I return to the palace, other imperial physicians will take over."

Lianshan said in a soft voice, this Mei Yuanzheng still has some skills. He could actually notice something was wrong.

Mei Yuan, upon hearing this, was startled. She realized she couldn't ask any further questions. Knowing too much wouldn't benefit her, and the Empress clearly wanted to protect her.

"The old minister understands."

With the Empress's words, Mei Yuan felt a sense of reassurance. She now knew what she had to do and breathed a sigh of relief.

The departure of Xian Shi Jun was very low-key, because Lian Ri helped cover it up. Zhao Huang Fu and Rong Shi Jun did not temporarily notice anything amiss.

The two of them, one busy securing power for their own daughter and the other plotting against the Empress while accumulating merit for their own offspring, naturally paid far less attention to the deposed Third Princess and the Advisor.

The wise servant worried about his daughter, so he hardly rested along the way, rushing all the time. After fifteen days, he arrived at Feng Xuan City, which had already been sealed off.

All along the way, checkpoints were set up to prevent people from the city from running around and spreading the plague.

The army was mostly stationed in tents outside the city. The physicians sent by the capital and those recruited along the way were all concentrated here. Because of the Empress's order, the attendant had been able to reach the outskirts unimpeded. However, he was stopped at the city gate when he tried to enter.

"Please do not make things difficult for us. If something were to happen to you, we would be unable to explain."

The female general guarding the pass frowned and said.

"If there are any consequences, I will take full responsibility. You may let me into the city."

"There's a plague in the city. If you go in, I'm afraid..."eadfastly loyal.The sunny weather didn't make the departing followers any less regrettable to the two who stayed. For them to abandon themselves under the pressure of this tribe leader's son, what if...