Chapter 660: Retired
Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios
Two million taels of silver was definitely not enough.
Millions of people in six counties were to be compensated. Resources were needed to provide food relief, treat illnesses with medicine, rebuild after the disaster, preventing the epidemic, and so on. Less than five million taels of silver was not enough.
The most terrifying thing was that far more than six counties had been affected.
After returning to the Jade Courtyard, Yu Youyao immediately wrote a letter to Nanny Yue and asked her to take her token and make a trip to Zhejiang. She would transfer all the food and medicinal herbs in all the grain and medicinal shops in Jiangnan to Ningbo, Shaoxing, and Taizhou to help Ye Hanyuan resist the disaster and save the people.
This was all she could do.
That night, Yu Youyao tossed and turned, unable to sleep at all.
The next day, it was the Dragon Boat Festival.
The residence was filled with mugwort, calamus, and portraits of Zhong Kui.
It was a lively scene.
Yu Youyao had a five-colored silk sachet at her waist and a calamus sword. Her arm was also tied with a colorful rope. After breakfast, she went to An Shou Hall.
Old Madam Yu had also not slept for the entire night. Her eyes were dark and listless. “The emperor has long arranged for a carriage to go to the moat to partic.i.p.ate in the worship of the dragon and the water G.o.d. He will pray for the wind and rain to be smooth and the country will be safe.”
Yu Youyao was stunned for a moment. “The dragon boat race today has to be held as usual?”
Old Madam Yu nodded. “There’s a flood in Zhejiang and a drought in the north. At this time, the dragon boat race has to be more grand.” For a moment, Yu Youyao couldn’t tell what she was feeling.
It was not wrong to hold the dragon boat festival to pray for smooth wind and rain.
However, she thought of the flood in Zhejiang and the commoners’ sorrow and displacement. In contrast, the capital was peaceful. The scene of dragon boats playing made her feel uncomfortable.
Old Madam Yu waved her hand. “I won’t be going to the dragon boat compet.i.tion today. I’m old and can’t stand the commotion. It’s better to have peace at home.”
Yu Youyao was no longer in the mood. “Since Grandmother isn’t going, our family won’t go either.”
Old Madam Yu did not insist.
After returning to the Jade Courtyard, Yu Youyao looked for Concubine Jiang and said that Matriarch Jiang was not feeling well, so she did not go to the moat to watch the dragon boat race.
It was a good Dragon Boat Festival, but it was cold and deserted.
The family did not even hold a banquet. They only symbolically ate the dumplings, realgar wine, Wudu cakes, and so on rewarded by the palace. They celebrated the festival this way.
When it was dark, Yu Zongshen came over. His eyes were dark. He had not slept the entire night yesterday and had listened to the Ministry of Revenue’s plan.
“Not long ago, the palace received news that the Xie family had deployed 20 ships of food to Zhejiang. Zhejiang probably doesn’t lack food anymore, but there are too many things to do after the early disaster.”
Old Madam Yu sighed with emotion. “The Xie family is quite benevolent. It’s not easy to gather these 20 ships of food. I think they prepared it long ago as relief for the drought.”
Yu Zongshen tightened his grip on his teacup. “The Xie family alone has almost resolved half of the food that Zhejiang lacks. Moreover, the Xie family has not only donated food, but also showed their stance. All the merchants in the world follow the Xie family’s lead. As long as the government comes forward and interacts with the local merchants, they can also prepare the remaining food.”
Old Madam Yu felt much more at ease. She only sighed again. “The disaster relief matter has been settled, but there should be an explanation for the thousands of people who died from the water disaster. This matter has just begun…”
Yu Zongshen said, “Elder Xia is retiring.”
Old Madam Yu was suddenly shocked. “At this juncture?”
Yu Zongshen nodded. “The memorial has already been handed over, but the emperor hasn’t said anything. He’ll have to wait until the flood in Zhejiang is Old Madam Yu did not know what to say. “Then you…”
Yu Zongshen said, “It’s already decided. I’ll be the Grand Secretary.”
Old Madam Yu did not feel happy. “The Grand Secretary has also become a hot potato.”
The matter of the water disaster in Zhejiang would definitely implicate the cabinet. Elder Xia was definitely involved. After all, he was an elder of three dynasties. No matter how dissatisfied the emperor was with him, it was impossible for him to really punish him. If he retired, he would still retain the dignity of a minister.
His retirement would also cause most of the Xia Party in the court to lose power.
Things in Zhejiang were much easier.
It also made things easier for the emperor.
However, there was still chaos in Zhejiang. Second Brother had taken over as the Grand Secretary at this time, and his situation was very difficult.
Yu Zongshen nodded.
Old Madam Yu sighed softly. “Tomorrow, get your wife to block the side door from the West Residence to the East Residence. In the future, don’t come to the main house too often. Just get your wife to give you some things every month. Since we’ve split up, let’s split up cleanly. Don’t worry about your eldest brother. If you have the time, take care of the clan more. I’m old. In the future, the rise and fall of the residence and the clan will be your own doing. It has nothing to do with me.”
Yu Zongshen said nothing.
Old Madam Yu thought of Madam Xie in a daze, and her face turned ashen. “I’m the one who let you down for what happened back then. The Xie family helped the Imperial Court lift the sea ban, and the Imperial Court rewarded the Xie family. Roujia followed everyone from the Xie family into the capital. I held a banquet at home to entertain the Xie family. Roujia was bright and generous, and we hit it off especially well. Later, 1 had no objections. I realized that you were looking at Roujia, and for some reason, I mentioned marriage to
Old Master Xie.’
The Xie family did not agree at that time.
However, they did not refuse immediately. There were only two brothers in the Yu Residence, and she did not have many brothers. Their backyard was also clean. Eldest Son had just entered the royal court and still had some talent. As the Xie Residence and the Yu Residence had a relationship, the Xie Residence did not have to worry that their daughter would suffer when she entered the Yu Residence.
After all kinds of considerations, the Yu Residence was indeed a good choice for Madam Xie.
Second Brother did not know.
It wasn’t until the two sides exchanged invitations that Second Brother found out the truth and had a big fight with her. However, at this point, what was done was done.
At that time, she had tested Roujia.
She also realized that Roujia and Second Brother did not have a relationship. It was all because Second Brother was hot-headed. How deep could this one-sided relationship be?
Only then did she decide to give Roujia to Eldest Son.
On the other hand, he was also worried that Roujia would get married and Second Brother would not give up. If Roujia became his sister-in-law, Second Brother would probably not let her go.
Yu Zongshen suddenly put down his teacup and the bottom of it fell onto the table with a thud. He stood up from his chair. “I’m tired, I’ll go back first.” With that, he strode out without waiting for Old Madam Yu to speak.
Old Madam Yu felt dizzy and collapsed on the couch, panting heavily.
“Matriarch…” Nanny Liu was shocked. She quickly took out the medicine and fed it to Matriarch.
After taking the medicine, Old Madam Yu cried. “He hates me. Even if I die, he won’t forgive me. All these years, he’s been playing the role of a good son, husband, and father, but his heart is cold.. In front of me, he doesn’t even want to mention Madam Xie because he thinks that anyone in the Yu
Residence can dirty her name by mentioning her, including himself…”