Chapter 161 - 162: Green Hat
Li Ji spoke at a leisurely pace.
"The funds and provisions the Crown Prince and I brought have already been sent out for distribution.
But this will only provide temporary relief. To prevent floods in the coming year, we must build canals and dikes."
Luo Yun’s eyes lit up.
Ever since taking office in Fu’an County last year, he had wanted to build canals and dikes.
He knew it was the only way to fundamentally solve the problems caused by the floods.
Unfortunately, County Magistrate Gao was unwilling to spend money on something that offered him no personal benefit. Everyone in the county government sided with County Magistrate Gao, so his orders as the County Magistrate were never carried out.
As a result, the plan to build the canals and dikes was repeatedly shelved.
This had always been a source of regret for Luo Yun.
Now, Prince Zhao’s words gave Luo Yun a chance to remedy that regret.
He eagerly chimed in.
"The Prince is absolutely right!
Building canals and dikes will not only greatly reduce the losses caused by floods, but it will also help the local people irrigate their fields.
Once the canals are completed, they will be a great blessing to the people!"
This benefit wouldn’t be short-lived; it could last for a long time—for a century, even.
Li Ji slowly laid out his plan.
"The 500,000 taels of hidden silver we recovered from the Gao, Deng, and Cao families should be enough for Fu’an County to build the dikes and canals.
This project cannot be completed quickly, and I cannot stay here for long.
I am entrusting this task to you. I hope you will not disappoint me."
Luo Yun was overwhelmed with excitement.
It was an excitement even more intense than when he had been exonerated and escaped death.
He kowtowed heavily to Prince Zhao.
"Everything Your Highness Prince Zhao has done for the people of Fu’an County, I will remember in my heart and never forget for the rest of my life!
When the dikes and canals are completed, I will be sure to erect a stone monument in your honor to commemorate your great virtue!"
Anyone else would have surely refused such an offer.
They would have had to consider the Crown Prince’s feelings.
What if the Crown Prince grew jealous?
But Li Ji had always done as he pleased, never caring for others’ feelings. And now that he and the Crown Prince had completely fallen out, he cared even less about what the Crown Prince might think.
He even felt a flicker of anticipation.
’I wonder what kind of face the Crown Prince will make when he learns the people of Fu’an County want to erect a monument to thank Prince Zhao? It’s sure to be a spectacle.’
Li Ji said with a grin, "Then it’s settled."
Once Luo Yun had been helped out, Hua Manman emerged from behind the screen.
She had heard the entire conversation between Prince Zhao and Luo Yun.
She looked at Prince Zhao with eyes full of adoration.
"My Prince, you’re a really, really good person!"
’To think Prince Zhao, who’s usually so cold and heartless, would take the initiative to care about the people’s livelihood in Fu’an County.’
Li Ji glanced at her and instantly knew what she was thinking.
He leaned back and said languidly.
"I was just too lazy to haul all that silver back to Shangjing. It’s too much trouble."
Hua Manman didn’t care about his reasons. The result was that Prince Zhao had done a great deed that would benefit the people.
She said with a beaming smile, "The people of Fu’an County will be very grateful to you."
Li Ji was rather indifferent to this.
’Those people are only grateful because they’re getting something out of it.’
’If the day comes when I can no longer provide them with benefits, they’ll cast me aside like a worn-out shoe.’
’Seeking gain and avoiding harm—that’s just human nature.’
The Crown Prince had originally planned to take the 500,000 taels of silver back to Shangjing.
He wanted to use it to showcase his achievements. He wanted the Emperor Father and all the court officials to see that he had not only solved the corruption case but also recovered the illicit funds. He wanted to prove how capable a Crown Prince he was.
But Prince Zhao hadn’t even consulted him, directly allocating the entire 500,000 taels to Fu’an County.
When Li Cheng learned of this, he flew into a rage.
He stormed off to confront Prince Zhao.
At that moment, Li Ji was checking Hua Manman’s schoolwork, and the two were standing quite close.
When she saw the Crown Prince burst in, Hua Manman tactfully scooted aside, preparing to rise and greet him.
Li Ji, however, reached out and wrapped an arm around her waist, preventing her from leaving.
Hua Manman: ???
’What is Prince Zhao trying to do?’
Li Ji’s intention was simple: he wanted the Crown Prince to see with his own eyes that Hua Manman was his woman, and to stop getting any ideas about her.
Li Cheng’s anger flared even hotter at the sight.
He was already furious about the 500,000 taels of silver, and here was Prince Zhao, with the audacity to be dallying with a woman?
How outrageous!
Li Cheng’s first words were a merciless accusation.
"Have you forgotten your place?
You were only sent by the Emperor Father to protect me! What right do you have to make decisions without my authority?!"
Li Ji had clearly anticipated the Crown Prince’s fury.
He replied, unhurried.
"Those 500,000 taels were funds originally allocated by the court to Fu’an County for building dikes and canals. Now they’re being used for the people of Fu’an County again. What’s the problem?"
Li Cheng sneered.
"You make it sound so noble. How could a butcher like you, who kills without a second thought, possibly care about the lives of common people?
You’re just using this to win a good reputation among the people! You’re just chasing fame! You hypocrite!"
Li Ji was long accustomed to being cursed at. He’d heard far worse.
He wasn’t the least bit angry. His demeanor remained nonchalant and leisurely.
"So what if I’m chasing fame? What can you do about it? If you’ve got the guts, go and take back that 500,000 taels of silver."
The silver had already been given away, and the people all knew about it.
Everyone was celebrating.
If the Crown Prince were to take the silver back now, what would the people think of him?
Would his reputation survive?!
Li Cheng gritted his teeth. "You know perfectly well I can’t take that silver back."
Li Ji grinned broadly. "Then there’s nothing I can do about it."
Li Cheng pointed a finger at him.
His finger trembled with rage.
"Don’t get too cocky. Sooner or later, I’ll make you pay for this arrogance!"
Li Ji arched an eyebrow with a smirk. "Are you three years old? Making empty threats like a child."
Li Cheng knew making threats was pointless.
But right now, besides making threats, there was nothing else he could do.
Only then did he seem to notice Lady Hua’s presence. Desperate to regain some ground, he lashed out recklessly.
"You think you’re any better off than me? You can’t even control your own woman. You don’t even know she’s cuckolded you!"
Li Ji looked down at Hua Manman, his tone dangerous.
"You cuckolded me?"
Hua Manman never expected to be caught in the crossfire.
She immediately went into full-on drama mode, transforming into a master of crocodile tears. Her eyes reddened instantly, welling up with a misty sheen.
She choked out, her voice thick with emotion.
"I have served you for so long, my Prince. Don’t you know what kind of person I am?
How could you doubt my loyalty just because of what someone else said?"