Chapter 340: with translation of chapter title

This morning Gu Xixi and He Jinglan were having breakfast when Mu Nan Zhao appeared without warning, said only three sentences, and Gu Xixi followed him.

While waiting for An Qinghe to hurry back to the He residence, preparing to fetch both young ladies to go together to the site and witness the outcome.

But he only picked up He Jinglan.

At this moment, both of them looking at the high platform felt a sense of helplessness, as if gazing at the vast ocean and sighing.

An Qinghe gritted his teeth, 'What exactly did that guy say to Gu Xixi? How could Gu Xixi even let him use her?!'

On the high platform, two large oil cauldrons had already been set up, the firewood burning fiercely.

He Jinglan glanced left and right, then whispered, 'First, Your Majesty must not take risks; the plan you devised had best be carried out personally.'

'What?!' An Qinghe exploded in anger, 'Others can't take risks, but Gu Xixi can?'

'Gu Xixi said this trick is safe; if he doesn't believe it, why doesn't he try it himself? What kind of man is he?!'

This time He Jinglan couldn't whitewash things for her childhood friend, so she had to continue speaking,

'Second, Huo Jiang has already openly admitted that the Northwest Army opened wasteland to increase grain supplies; given my understanding of Your Majesty, he must have sent people to investigate the full story, including you.'

'Third, if you want to use today to gain an opportunity for yourself, I am willing to be a stepping stone.'

An Qinghe sneered, 'He as a stepping stone? Does he have that kind of good heart?!'

He Jinglan said, 'Perhaps he is the one who understands Gu Xixi best.'

'The valleys and hills hidden in Gu Xixi's heart may be far broader than what we see or imagine.'

An Qinghe gazed far off at Gu Xixi, and an inexplicable panic rose in his heart.

'Impossible, I am the partner Gu Xixi chose; if I didn't understand her, how would she let me open a fertilizer workshop, how would she pull me into co‑planting tea, and she only let me accompany her to the capital…'

'And you—you aren't like sisters with her? How could we possibly not understand her as well as that person does.'

He Jinglan glanced at him calmly, 'I'm just speculating, making a comparison; I haven't doubted our standing in Gu Xixi's heart—why are you panicking?'

The auspicious time arrived, and Minister of Revenue He Jinghui loudly proclaimed the 'Order to Exterminate Locusts.'

The crowd below erupted in an uproar.

Someone could not restrain an exclamation, 'Absolutely not! Offending the Locust God would bring unimaginable consequences!'

Someone said, 'They are merely locust eggs; we only need to seek the Locust God's forgiveness to receive protection for all.'

Someone echoed, 'The insect eggs are the Locust God's command; we should quickly prepare offerings, for worshipping the Locust God is proper!'

Someone else questioned, 'It's just a few locust eggs—whose fields don't have them? Why should we busy ourselves over a few words from the court? What if the locust plague doesn't come? Who would bear the responsibility?'

……

Fan Ge Lao and the other anti‑locust‑extermination faction all showed smug expressions, waiting to see the show.

He Jinghui was not at all surprised by this situation.

If the common folk could cooperate directly, he wouldn't have to go to all this trouble to set up this stage and invite so many people to watch the performance.

He Jinghui remained calm, continuing to present the findings of the Revenue Ministry's investigation, proving that the locust plague during this summer's wheat harvest was already a certainty, and he promised that the court's locust‑extermination method this time would pose absolutely no danger to the crops.

Upon hearing 'the entire capital region will have no grain,' the uproar below gradually subsided.

'Believing in the Locust God and leaving things to fate, yet likely starving the whole family' versus 'following the court's orders, we can be sure to preserve the summer harvest's grain'—how to choose between these two, everyone wavered in their hearts.

Having received a hint from Mu Nan Zhao, He Jinghui shouted to the crowd below, 'In every major locust plague in history, when has the Locust God ever protected you even a little? It's the same—locusts pass through and not a blade of grass grows.'

Some pondered thoughtfully, while others exchanged uneasy glances.

He Jinghui's tone rang out strong and clear, 'A true god! Should be one who blesses all beings and bestows blessings upon the people!'

'And the true god of our Great Undertaking Dynasty is none other than His Majesty the Emperor.'

'Now I will prove that this petty Locust God is utterly insignificant before the true dragon Son of Heaven!!'

The common folk still didn't know what was about to happen, and they stared blankly.

At this moment, the two oil cauldrons before the platform began to show movement.

Although called a high platform, it was merely built to a height of seven steps.

Those standing in the front could just see the surface of the oil cauldrons boiling.

Time was limited.

Gu Xixi closely followed the Emperor and Mu Nan Zhao as they approached the oil cauldrons.

She was about to walk toward the left cauldron when the Emperor, without leaving a trace, blocked her path.

Gu Xixi startled.

The Emperor did not look at her; his lips barely moved, his voice extremely soft, 'I trust you.'

Saying that, he directly plunged his left hand into the boiling oil cauldron!

Gasps and sharp intakes of breath rose and fell from the crowd below, while the timid dared not look directly, covering their eyes.

The attendant eunuchs beside the Emperor were shocked pale, their voices cracking, 'Your Majesty!!'

The officials behind also fell into chaos.

Fan Ge Lao ran forward, his robes trembling, then fell to the ground weeping bitterly, 'This humble official is willing to take Your Majesty's place!'

'Your Majesty has so injured the dragon body, my heart is bleeding!!'

Mu Nan Zhao glanced at him lightly, letting him lie there performing his loyalty.

When the sudden situation actually befell the Emperor, Gu Xixi had no choice but to adapt on the spot.

She swiftly snatched a tray from an attendant eunuch, displayed it to the crowd, and said, 'Look well—these are locusts I warmed and hatched early, all alive! Now let them likewise go into the oil cauldron!'

He Jinghui recovered from his shock and shouted loudly, 'His Majesty is benevolent and cherishes the people; to protect everyone from locust plague and famine, he does not hesitate to risk his priceless person!'

All the locusts were poured into the oil cauldron.

Mu Nan Zhao whispered behind the Emperor, 'Your Majesty, that is enough.'

The Emperor withdrew his left hand from the oil cauldron and raised it high to display to all the people.

Everyone was astonished.

There were no blisters bursting, no horrible sight.

The Emperor's left hand was unharmed; aside from being oily and shiny, nothing had happened to it.

The Emperor's expression showed no pain; instead, his eyes were full of a compassionate smile as he looked down upon the myriad people.

The common people were greatly shocked, silent as crows and sparrows, as if they had seen a true god descend to the world.

Grand Secretary Fan was still knocking his head on the ground, sensing that something was amiss in the surroundings.

He raised his head to look at the Emperor's raised hand, and his eyes suddenly widened.

Thinking his old eyes were blurry, Grand Secretary Fan rubbed his eyes again and then looked hard once more.

Really nothing wrong?

His lips trembled in disbelief, and his white beard quivered as well.

Mu Nan Zhao looked on coldly, his mockery undisguised.

"Grand Secretary Fan loyally protects the lord, but he must see if his old bones can withstand it."

"You all, why don't you quickly help the Grand Secretary down to rest?"

At this moment, Gu Xixi scooped up the fried small locusts with a large ladle and sprinkled them with a pinch of pepper‑salt seasoning.

Then, under everyone's gaze, she pinched one, lifted a corner of her face cloth, and sent it into her mouth.

She ate it?

She actually ate it!

The crowd was shocked again.

This time it also included Mu Nan Zhao and He Jinghui.

Gu Xixi gave a faint smile toward the crowd below and said, "The taste is not bad."

She handed the plate to a guard and said, "Please pass this plate of fried locusts down for everyone to see."

"Those who want to eat can also try a bite; just out of the pot, while hot."

The Emperor gave a slight nod to that guard.

The guard then received the order and departed.