Chapter 71: Madam Ye, That Is Imperial Grain! (Please Follow!)

However.

A scene that left Jiang Fuling stunned occurred.

Just as she took a step, preparing to return to her room, her wrist was suddenly grabbed by someone.

Looking back, she saw Young Master Ning looking at her face.

Those pure, deep eyes immediately caused her to sink into them; despite her flustered state, she could not pull herself away.

"Young Master Ning..."

"Fuling, you don't need to change. You are more familiar with Yonghang City, so follow me to show me the way; there are still some matters I need to entrust to you."

Ning Mu said to Jiang Fuling, whose face had suddenly turned delicate and rosy, her beautiful eyes shimmering.

Jiang Fuling lowered her head, nervous and shy.

This was the first time she had ever had her wrist held like this by a man.

So much strength! That kind of heat was enough to melt her.

"O-okay, Fuling will follow Young Master's instructions..."

At the same time.

The Prefectural Office.

The back hall, side chamber.

Prefect Pi Taiyu, dressed in his official robes, walked in with a warm expression.

Before he had even crossed the threshold, his voice had already carried inside.

"Madam Ye has arrived; I apologize for not meeting you sooner. I was just handling two cases and could not greet you in person. I hope you will forgive me, Madam!"

Seeing Pi Taiyu enter, Liu Qingmei, who had been waiting patiently for a long time, immediately stood up and cupped her hands: "Prefect Pi, you are too kind. The Prefect is busy with a thousand tasks; it is the good fortune of us commoners that you govern Yonghang. The people of Yonghang are most fortunate."

As the wife of the Villa Master of the renowned Cangjian Villa, Liu Qingmei naturally had the confidence not to kneel when seeing an official.

The Imperial Court and the martial arts world complement each other.

Although they were commoners, they had received the grace of the Imperial Court, and officials naturally dared not offend martial arts magnates too deeply.

An official serves a term and governs a region.

Yet these magnates and titans are permanently hereditary, their influence shaking the martial arts world within their jurisdictions.

Strictly speaking, these transient officials even need to rely on the great martial arts families in some respects.

Therefore, even though Pi Taiyu was a State Governor, he dared not easily slight Liu Qingmei.

"Madam Ye is too polite, please sit."

Pi Taiyu gestured for Liu Qingmei to sit, then called for a servant to serve tea.

Only then did he look at Liu Qingmei and ask: "I wonder what brings Madam Ye here in person?"

Liu Qingmei said: "It is nothing of great importance. When I entered the city yesterday, I discovered disaster victims flooding into the area outside the city, only to be blocked by soldiers. I have come specifically to ask the Prefect: regarding the ever-increasing number of disaster victims, are there any relief and resettlement measures?"

"The Prefect is busy with official business, but those disaster victims are, after all, your people. If they are not relieved and managed, I fear chaos will ensue if this continues. My request today is for the victims, but in essence, it is also for the sake of the Prefect. If I have said anything offensive, I hope the Prefect will not take offense."

Liu Qingmei cupped her hands, her attitude neither humble nor pushy, her words tinged with a hint of flattery.

Pi Taiyu's brow furrowed slightly, but it quickly smoothed out.

He smiled calmly, gestured for Liu Qingmei to drink her tea, and said: "Madam Ye pleading for the people is a great act of righteousness; how could I take offense? It is just that..."

"I have already sent a memorial requesting disaster relief from the Imperial Court via an eight-hundred-mile urgent dispatch to the capital. It will take time for the relief grain and funds to be sent to Yonghang. Madam Ye, rest assured, they are all subjects of the Imperial Court; I will certainly not ignore them. Once the relief funds and grain arrive, I will definitely provide relief to the victims immediately."

Pi Taiyu spoke in official jargon, looking at Liu Qingmei with a smile.

Liu Qingmei raised an eyebrow. After hesitating, she could not suppress the anger in her heart and said as tactfully as possible: "Yonghang is a wealthy place, and I have heard a little about it. The Taihe Granary, Zhengji Granary, Yongning Granary, and others all have surplus grain. Why does the Prefect not open the granaries to distribute grain and provide relief to the victims first? Once the Imperial decree arrives, we will certainly speak well of you to the Prefect. By then, the Prefect will have performed a great service and be promoted to the capital—would that not be wonderful?"

Pi Taiyu's brow furrowed, his smile vanished, and his tone carried a trace of anger as he snapped: "Madam Ye, that is Imperial grain!"

However, he immediately put on a smile again and cupped his hands: "Madam Ye need not worry about the disaster victims. I have already consulted with the Head of the Grain Association, He Daqian, and many other merchants, along with local gentry. Everyone is lending a helping hand to tide us over this difficult time. I believe we should be able to sustain them for a while before the Imperial Court's relief arrives."

Hearing this, Liu Qingmei finally breathed a sigh of relief. "That is excellent. The Prefect has worked hard. This is a small token of my sincerity for the relief of the disaster victims; I hope the Prefect will kindly accept it. Consider it a small contribution from my Ye Family for the victims."

Liu Qingmei took out a silver note and handed it to Pi Taiyu.

Five thousand taels.

This was something she had specifically returned to the Ye Family Residence this morning to withdraw from the accounts.

Because of Ye Bonan's betrayal, the trading firms had all broken away from the Ye Family, and there was not much money left in the accounts of the Yonghang residence.

Pi Taiyu's eyes lit up, and he immediately cupped his hands and smiled: "Madam Ye is very thoughtful. On behalf of the disaster victims, I thank the Ye Family for their generous donation."

After some polite pleasantries.

Liu Qingmei stood up to take her leave.

Watching Liu Qingmei depart, Pi Taiyu tucked the silver note directly into his own pocket.

"Master, wasn't that given by Madam Ye for the disaster victims..."

At this moment, a graceful woman walked out from behind the curtain. Seeing her master pocket the silver note for himself, she could not help but ask.

Pi Taiyu turned his head.

Seeing that it was his favorite concubine, Yu Ji, walking toward him, he could not help but smile slightly and reach out to pull her into his arms.

This little enchantress was becoming more and more charming.

"What do you know? If her Ye Family wants to claim this moral high ground, they naturally have to pay for it. These five thousand taels are merely an entrance fee. Besides, there is the Imperial Court, the Grain Association, and the people of Yonghang City to provide relief. Why is she, a martial arts sect, in such a rush? Isn't it because the Ye Family is facing many risks recently and wants to use this as a breakthrough to earn some moral standing?"

"Do you all understand what I have taught you?"

Elsewhere.

The East Market.

In a private room on the second floor of a restaurant.

Ning Mu looked at the women standing in several rows, each one dressed gaudily and wearing revealing clothing.

One could even say they were dressed too vulgarly.

"Replying to Young Master, we all understand."

"Achoo..."

The infinitely charming Red Courtesans nodded one after another, their eyes filled with endless allure as they looked at Ning Mu.

But the ill-timed sneeze caused Ning Mu to shift his gaze.

"Did you catch a cold? Don't go; go back to Hua Man Ge to rest. The weather is still a bit chilly right now, and wearing so little will make the cold worse."

Ning Mu said to the Red Courtesan who had sneezed.

"You... Young Master, I'm sorry, I can do it. Please rest assured, Young Master, this servant will definitely not ruin things!"

That Red Courtesan's face instantly turned bright red, and she promised nervously.

"Be obedient!"

Ning Mu frowned, looked at Jiang Fuling standing beside him, and said, "Let her go back and rest!"

"Xiaoyan, listen to Young Master and go back!" Jiang Fuling nodded and said to the courtesan named Xiaoyan.

"Thank you, Young Master, for your concern..." Xiaoyan bowed gratefully and bade farewell to her sisters with some reluctance.

"Alright, everyone get moving!"

After Xiaoyan left, Ning Mu clapped his hands and said to the group of charming and bewitching women, who were all exuding a rich fragrance.

"Yes~"

The next moment.

One could only see nineteen women, holding flower-patterned silk fans, chirping like orioles and swallows, laughing and chatting as they went downstairs, then forming groups of two or three and merging into the bustling and prosperous long street market below...

(End of this chapter)