Chapter 85

Li Chengqian was also forced to do so. It was already good if the prefecture soldiers didn't bully the commoners. If he wanted the soldiers to help the people with disaster relief, he could only use both soft and hard tactics.

Fortunately, at this time, face was more important than anything else. Even for the sake of their own face, the Eastern Palace Six Rate Guards would force themselves to do their best in disaster relief.

As long as he was shameless, he could use most people.

Gao Shilian stared blankly at Li Chengqian, and after a long while, he spoke slowly:

"This subject does not know whether to admire the Crown Prince for loving the people like his own children, or to advise the Crown Prince to pay attention to the influence of those above on those below, and not to ruin the atmosphere of the Great Tang."

"Will Uncle stop me?"

"No!"

Gao Shilian shook his head: "Since it is the Emperor's idea, I will not stop it."

"It's just that I won't help you either. The position of the heir apparent must still be decided by the Emperor. I believe he will make a fair and just choice."

"This subject will try his best to restore production in the Shannan Circuit as soon as possible. I will not care about other matters."

"Thank you, Uncle!"

Li Chengqian was really afraid that Gao Shilian would get involved. This was the biological uncle of Zhangsun Wuji and Empress Zhangsun, and the compiler of the 'Clan Records.'

If it weren't for Li Shimin's selfishness, the person presiding over the court during the regency would be him, not Fang Xuanling and Zhangsun Wuji.

In front of him, Zhangsun Wuji was not enough.

Just as the two were talking, inside the Hongfu Temple in Xiude Ward next to the Imperial City, Crown Princess Su Xi led Princess Changle, Princess Qinghe, Princess Gaoyang, and other royal female relatives to pray for the disaster area.

This was the first time Crown Princess Su Xi prayed for the disaster area in full view of the public, which represented Li Chengqian officially showing his goal to the outside world: the hearts of the common people in the world.

After praying, Su Xi came to the outside of Hongfu Temple. At this time, a large number of people had gathered outside, all of whom came because they heard there was charity.

Seeing Su Xi and the princesses appear, the square, which had been noisy, suddenly became quiet.

After Su Xi closed her eyes and took three deep breaths, she said loudly:

"Jingzhou and other places in the Shannan Circuit have encountered a flood rarely seen in a hundred years. Coming to Hongfu Temple this time is first to pray for the people of the Shannan Circuit through charity."

"Secondly, it is to hope that you can spread what I say throughout Chang'an."

Speaking of this, Su Xi pointed to the intersection leading to Hongfu Temple behind the crowd:

"Did you see the archway and stele at the intersection when you came?"

"We saw it! Your Highness the Crown Princess, what is that used for? It wasn't there yesterday."

"It's used to record good people and good deeds!"

Su Xi raised her voice: "The Shannan Circuit was hit by a flood during the autumn harvest. Grain was submerged, houses were destroyed, and countless people were homeless and had no food to eat."

"As people of the Great Tang, I really can't bear to see the people of the Shannan Circuit suffer such hardship."

"This palace has decided that starting from today, the Eastern Palace will cut half of its expenses to rescue the Shannan Circuit."

"I also appeal to all the people of Chang'an here: those who have the ability should also contribute."

"As long as you are willing to contribute to the people in the disaster area, I will order people to engrave your good deeds on the archway and stele, so that everyone who comes to Hongfu Temple can see your good deeds."

"After you die, your name will also be engraved inside Hongfu Temple, to enjoy the incense of the people of Chang'an forever."

As soon as these words were spoken, the square was so quiet that a needle could be heard, and everyone looked sluggish.

'What does it mean? Good deeds engraved on a stele? Enjoy the incense of Hongfu Temple forever? Isn't this becoming a god?'

'Is it true?'

A moment later, the whole square began to discuss, and a bold person shouted loudly:

"Your Highness the Crown Princess, if I donate money and grain, can I have my mother's name engraved on it?"

"Yes! If you donate first, I will record your mother's good deeds in the county annals."

"If your mother was born in Chang'an, it will be written in the Chang'an county annals; if your mother was born in Wannian, it will be written in the Wannian county annals..."

Before the words fell, the man shouted loudly: "Zheng Heng of Xingyang is willing to donate a thousand dan of grain and a thousand bolts of cloth to the Shannan Circuit!"

"Li Zhen of Pingkang Ward is willing to donate a hundred dan of grain to the Shannan Circuit..."

"..."

With Zheng Heng taking the lead, the sound of donations rose one after another. Su Xi's eyes lit up, but she didn't forget Li Chengqian's instructions.

Su Xi glanced at the servant beside her, and then the servant held up a copper gong high and struck it three times heavily!

"Dong... dong... dong..."

The sound of the gong resounded through the square, making the surroundings quiet instantly.

Seeing this, Su Xi said loudly again: "I know your hearts are good, but doing good also depends on your own ability."

"Those who have no surplus grain at home must not make their own lives difficult for the sake of doing good. This is not praying for the disaster area, but making the people in the disaster area suffer."

"The people of the Great Tang are so kind. You all want to contribute to the people in the disaster area, and I will not stop you."

"However, if you have no surplus grain, you have no surplus grain. You must not pretend to be fat by slapping your face."

"In order to let everyone contribute, the princesses of the Great Tang will collect cloth at the gates of each ward. As long as you are willing, you can contribute a piece of cloth the size of a palm."

"The Eastern Palace will specially invite people to sew them together and send them to the disaster area, and each piece will have the donor's name written on it."

"Let the people of the Shannan Circuit know that everyone in the Great Tang is one family, and even the people far away in Chang'an will not forget them."

Speaking of this, Su Xi's voice began to choke: "You all know that there was the chaos of the Five Barbarians, and many people in the north went south to avoid the war."

"Those people with the same surname are very likely our clansmen. Thinking that our clansmen are about to freeze or starve to death, I can't help but feel heartache."

"Today's move was specifically thought of by the Crown Prince and the princesses when they saw me sad every day."

"I hope everyone can spread it out, so that more people know that the people of the Shannan Circuit are not outsiders, but very likely our own clansmen."

"Do not do any evil, do all good! A family that accumulates good deeds will surely have surplus blessings!"

"I ask you all to contribute your strength, contribute your people, even if it's not for others, just to accumulate virtue for your own family."

"We don't know what will happen to our descendants, and whether they will encounter this situation in the future."

"I hope that today's good deeds can be passed down from generation to generation. If this can really happen, when our descendants encounter a flood in the future, there will also be people who will contribute their strength to help them like the people of Chang'an."

"Everyone, please pass on these good deeds from generation to generation!"

At the end, a tear slid down the corner of Su Xi's eye, and everyone who saw it was moved.

Added to the previous words, everyone in the square was moved.

"Your Highness the Crown Princess, don't worry, we will save the people of the Shannan Circuit. Even if I have to kneel down from house to house, I will not let one person starve to death in the Shannan Circuit."

"That's right! When I go back, I will find someone to run through all 110 wards of Chang'an, and I will definitely let the whole Chang'an know about the Shannan Circuit."

"..."

As more and more people spoke out, Su Xi was in tears and bowed repeatedly:

"Thank you all! Thank you all!"

The three princesses on the side were stunned, and Gaoyang couldn't help but ask in a low voice:

"Sister Changle, is sister-in-law acting or is it real?"

"I don't know! But she can shed tears as soon as she wants to. She demonstrated it once yesterday."

"I really want to learn! It would be easier to handle that bastard Fang Jun!"

Princess Qinghe was full of dissatisfaction: "Don't be satisfied after getting the benefit. Fang Jun has changed so much, don't be unsatisfied."

"That piece of shit Cheng Chuliang, others practice Taoism and he practices Taoism, he practiced until he became possessed."

"He holds the 'Classic of Changes' and studies it every day, saying that there is a way to immortality in it."

"It's all Big Brother's fault for letting Fang Jun practice Buddhism for no reason, which makes me unable to see Cheng Chuliang's figure all day long."

Princess Gaoyang touched her nose, and a blush flashed on her face. The culprit was her. If she hadn't asked Li Chengqian for help, there wouldn't be so many things.