Chapter 487: Everyone Likes to Hear Kind Words

487. Chapter 487: Everyone Likes to Hear Kind Words

Upon hearing this, Shi Qing, with a smiling expression, said to the Emperor: "Your Majesty, my younger brother has rendered meritorious service, but if it were not for your willingness to believe in him and promptly ordering notices to be posted, he would not have achieved this merit. Therefore, all of this is still thanks to Your Majesty's wise decision…"

Nobody dislikes hearing kind words.

The Emperor is likewise.

He smiled, raised his hand, and flicked Shi Qing's nose bridge, saying: "You, you, you're good at talking, making me happy."

Shi Qing took the opportunity to lean into the Emperor's embrace.

"I'm not flattering you, Your Majesty; I'm speaking the truth."

Not long after.

The eunuch sent by the Emperor to fetch Shi Lin into the palace brought him back.

Before Shi Lin could perform his salute.

The Emperor then waived his salute.

They exchanged a few words.

Not seeing the Sixth Prince and the Sixteenth Princess, Shi Lin spoke up: "Sister, brother-in-law, where are my nephew and niece?"

That's right.

Shi Qing's later-born child is a daughter.

Originally some people could not tolerate her having this child, but after discovering she liked spicy food, they stopped doing anything about it.

After she gave birth.

Upon seeing that it was indeed a girl, they completely abandoned any ideas about the child.

There are few princes in the palace, but many princesses.

Shi Qing replied calmly: "Hui'er is currently reading in the side hall, and I had the wet nurse take Ying'er to her quarters to play with toys."

Shi Lin's brows furrowed.

"Sister, there are still aftershocks."

The Emperor said beside them: "Don't worry, nothing will happen; we've already instructed them to go outside at the slightest sign."

Although he had previously ordered tents to be set up in each courtyard, due to the earlier violent shaking many tents were toppled, so they are still being repaired now.

If it weren't for that.

They wouldn't have to stay inside the houses.

The Emperor had just finished speaking.

Shi Qing inquired about Qiao Sheng and the others; upon learning they were unharmed, she was not surprised at all.

She then asked where they were now.

Hearing they were in the suburbs, Shi Qing couldn't help but worry: "Is it safe out there? Isn't it cold? You…"

She hadn't finished speaking.

Shi Lin interrupted her: "Outside is actually safer than staying at home; it's definitely cold to some extent, but it's okay because we have tents—staying in a tent by the fire isn't that cold."

They hadn't chatted long before another aftershock came.

This time.

They no longer dared to stay inside the houses.

After confirming that Shi Qing and the others were safe, Shi Lin didn't linger in the palace, went out to help rescue people, and this rescue effort lasted until evening.

It was heard that even in the outskirts of the Imperial Capital, some people were buried in their own homes.

Shi Lin went back to check on Qiao Sheng and the others, grabbed a quick bite, then rode with An Yi and the others, helping village by village.

After tallying.

In this Earth Dragon Reversal, a total of fifty-one people died, over ten thousand were injured, most of them minor injuries.

Casualties were not many.

But the number of damaged houses was not small.

Disaster relief.

The Emperor ordered Shi Lin to lead people to the earthquake disaster area.

Shi Lin first distributed clothing and blankets to everyone, then had people cook porridge to distribute; those with bowls brought their own, those without were given bowls, they drank on the spot, and returned the bowls afterward.

At the same time.

The Emperor also dispatched five Imperial Doctors, who together with other physicians from the Imperial Capital accompanied Shi Lin everywhere to treat the injured civilians.

All free of charge.

These actions made everyone acclaim him as a wise ruler who is good to these commoners.

These matters settled.

What remained was to help them rebuild their homes.

Over the years the treasury had accumulated considerable funds, but plans could not keep up with changes; war and natural disasters could strike at any time, so the Emperor only allocated funds and dispatched troops to help each household repair thatched earthen houses for habitation.

Of course.

The Emperor was not overly stingy either.

Besides these.

The Emperor also gave each household two taels of silver, and furthermore, for families of the deceased, five taels of silver were compensated per death.