The next day, in the court hall.
"Are you Pei Qihuan?"
Gu Qi knelt in the hall, held up the cloth bag in his hand, and said, "Your Majesty, Pei Qihuan, would like to pay homage to you."
The eunuch next to him quickly stepped forward and delivered the bag to Emperor Yuan Chengxi of Lan Kingdom.
"This is?"
"There are many rivers near Zezhou, which are affected by floods all year round. This is a river survey map of Zezhou drawn by Xiaguan."
"Get up and talk."
"Thank you, Your Majesty."
Standing up, he saw Yuan Zhe standing in the first row on the left, wearing a navy embroidered python court dress, a green crown on his head, and a white jade waistband. Out of the corner of his eye, he spotted Song Lian in the third row, wearing a dark red official uniform and a gauze hat, holding a wat tablet, standing motionless.
Turning his head slightly and looking to the right, Rong Di was standing in the second row, wearing a dark blue official uniform. As if aware of Gu Qi's searching eyes, he grinned at her.
"Let me ask you, the records you submitted state that the key to flood control is 'drainage' rather than 'blocking'. Is there any basis for this?"
Gu Qi respectfully replied: "Your Majesty, let's take the example of Zezhou where I am located. There is a vast plain and there is a lot of sand and silt in the river. If it cannot be dealt with in time, during the rainy season, the water level will easily rise and the river bank will eventually collapse. Or it may be possible to annihilate an entire city.”
"Then in your opinion, what should be done with the rivers in Zezhou?"
"It should be carried out in two parts. The first is to dredge, amend the ditches and actively divert the flow; the second is to remove the sediment deposited in the river and use it for tree planting. This can not only effectively reduce the water level, but also avoid sedimentation. Affected by rain, it was washed into the river again.”
After finishing speaking, there was a commotion among the people below, and an official behind him said: "I think it is inappropriate. This is a waste of time and money, and is time-consuming and laborious. If flooding occurs during the diversion process, wouldn't it affect a wider area? Border wars The situation is tight and the national treasury is empty, which is not a good time to carry out large-scale flood control.”
Song Lian asked loudly: "Then according to Master Li, when is the good time to control the flood?"
Yuan Zhe didn't say anything, turned his head to look at Song Lian, and then looked at Gu Qi meaningfully.
"This...at least we have to wait until the war subsides..."
Seeing that the other party's momentum had weakened, Song Lian raised his voice again: "Is the war calming down? If the floods cause people to be displaced and their lives are ruined, we may not have to wait for the war to calm down. The Lan Kingdom will be in turmoil!"
"yes..."
"Master Song is right."
"But the war is urgent, and we are already wasting people and money, so how can we distract ourselves from flood control?"
The ministers in the hall made rustling sounds and immediately started arguing.
Yuan Chengxi sat high on the throne, and the quarrel gave him a headache. "Everyone seems to have something to say. Why don't you submit a good plan for water control and let me see the talented people of Lan Country."
Suddenly no one in the hall spoke.
"Ha," Yuan Chengxi waved his hand, and the eunuch beside him put all the papers into his bag and handed them back to Gu Qi.
"Pei Qihuan."
Gu Qi knelt down again: "I'm here."
"Although there are strategies to control the water, there are always shortcomings. I give you three months to formulate a detailed and comprehensive plan."
Gu Qi's heart skipped a beat.
When he came, Han Zizheng only gave himself this.
But there is no room for hesitation at the moment, so I can only bite the bullet and answer: "I obey the order."
Yuan Chengxi stood up, and the eunuch next to him shouted "Retreat from the court", and all the officials knelt down.
After the emperor left, all the ministers walked out in twos and twos.
A young eunuch walked up to Yuan Zhe and said, "His Royal Highness King Zhe, Your Majesty invites you to have a chat in the study."
Yuan Zhe nodded: "Thank you."
Gu Qi looked at Yuan Zhe's leaving figure and suddenly remembered his expression when the ministers were arguing, and couldn't help but frown.
"Mr. Pei!" Just after leaving the palace gate and going down the steps, Rong Di's voice came from behind.
Gu Qi saluted and said, "General Rong."
Rong Di smiled and put his arm around Gu Qi's shoulders: "I didn't expect that Mr. Sir has such a great talent. He talks about water control in a very clear and logical way."
Gu Qi smiled awkwardly: "Thank you for your praise, General. I didn't think well today. I still need to go back and consult the classics to formulate a detailed plan as soon as possible."
Rong Di put down his arms and said seriously: "Throughout the ages, people have been affected by floods. Sir, just do your best."
Gu Qi nodded, then frowned after a while.
The package given by Han Zizheng only contained river survey maps, but he knew nothing about water control. What should he do about the next detailed plan for water control?
Seeing Gu Qi walking out of the palace without saying a word, Rong Di asked doubtfully, "Sir, aren't you going back to the Hanlin Academy?"
"I'm going to Mr. Liu's house. I didn't come to thank you yesterday. Since I have a new place to live today, I should go and express my gratitude and take my luggage back."
"If you walk like this, it won't be too late until it gets dark. Once the palace gate is unlocked, you will have to sleep on the street." Rong Di pulled Gu Qi toward the palace gate. There were two horses parked outside. "I'll lend you my horse."
"What about you?"
Rong Di handed the reins to Gu Qi's hand: "Your Highness will stay in the palace today. Just hand the horse over to the guards when you come back."
"How did you know that His Highness King Zhe is staying overnight today?"
Rong Di laughed loudly and got on another horse: "This has always been the case. Whenever His Highness returns to the capital, he will spend the whole night talking with His Majesty when he enters the palace."
"Thank you!"
After hearing this, Rong Di waved his hand and rode away.
Walking to the courtyard of Liu Mansion, on the green grass next to the pond, a small group of people were making noise around a big tree.
"Oh, why are you so stupid!" When I got closer, I saw the maid pulling a boy. There were three other boys climbing up the tree trunk, while two maids watched.
"Xiao Cui, forget it." The young lady not far away frowned slightly and signaled the maid to let the boy go.
The maid let go of her hand, saw Gu Qi not far away, raised her hand and shouted: "Mr. Pei!"
Gu Qi took two quick steps and stepped forward to salute: "Miss Liu."
"Mr. Pei." Miss Liu family held the fan handle and covered her face in return.
The maids and servants around him all stopped.
Gu Qi looked at the boys wiping sweat and asked, "What are you doing?"
Xiaocui raised her hand and pointed upward: "We were flying a kite, but it accidentally got hung on a treetop."
Gu Qi looked up in the direction and saw the kite stuck high in the branches of the tree.
How difficult is this? Gu Qi approached the tree trunk, bent down and picked up a stone, preparing to knock it down.
"Don't expose your martial arts skills unless absolutely necessary."
Suddenly remembering Han Zizheng's instructions, Gu Qi clutched the pebbles. He turned around and said with a smile: "It's hard to hug such a thick tree trunk, so it's normal that you can't climb up."
Miss Liu sighed and said, "In that case, let it go."
Suddenly, Gu Qi pointed at the door of the house and was surprised: "Who is there?"
Everyone turned to look.
Gu Qi took a little luck and flicked the stone out. With a "swish" sound, the kite landed solidly in his hand.
"Where is there anyone?" Xiao Cui muttered.
"I misjudged it." Gu Qi smiled, took out the kite from behind and handed it to Miss Liu: "Maybe he loves the object and misses his owner so much that he dropped it."
Miss Liu was overjoyed, took the kite and said, "Thank you, Mr. Pei."
"Thank you, Mr. Pei!" Xiao Cui took the kite in her hand and bumped her young lady forward.
"Miss Liu, is your father at home?"
Miss Liu's cheeks turned slightly red, she lowered her head and said, "Here, I'm in the side hall with a few gentlemen."
"Okay, please leave first." Gu Qi raised her feet and was about to leave, but was stopped by someone behind her.
"Mr. Pei, do you know where the side hall of my house is?"
Gu Qi looked back and saw several maids covering their mouths and laughing.
"Mr. Pei, I will take you there." After the joke, the young man approached and made a gesture of invitation.
"Are you asking for trouble?" Xiaocui stepped forward and pulled the young man aside, then pulled her Miss Liu forward: "Miss Liu just said she was thirsty and wanted to go back, so why don't we go together!"
"Xiao Cui..." Miss Liu blushed even more.
Gu Qi didn't notice anything wrong and bowed generously: "Thank you."
The young man led the way, a maid supported her young lady and walked side by side with Gu Qi, while Xiao Cui and the other two maids were chatting and laughing behind.
After the blush faded from her face, Miss Liu slowly opened her mouth and said, "I wonder why Mr. Pei came here today?"
"I was very disturbed yesterday. I came here today to say thanks and to pack my luggage properly."
"Master is leaving?" Xiaocui heard Gu Qi's words and hurriedly stepped forward to ask.
"It's just moving to the Hanlin Academy."
"Why? Isn't it good to live here?"
"Xiao Cui!" Miss Liu scolded her softly, and the maid stuck out her tongue and stopped talking.
When they reached the fork in the road, Miss Liu bowed slightly: "Just keep going forward and let them lead the way for Mr. Pei."
"Thank you. Farewell." Seeing Miss Liu turn and leave, Gu Qi followed the boy in another direction.
After coming out of the side hall, the boy led Gu Qi to the wing of the other courtyard.
"Mr. Pei, just ahead is the courtyard where you and Dr. Yan live."
"Okay, thank you." Gu Qi took out a small piece of broken silver from his sleeve and stuffed it into the boy's hand.
When they reached the corner, a maid ran towards her and bumped into her.
After identification, we found out that it was Miss Liu's maid, Xiao Cui.
"Xiao Cui? Why are you here?"
"Mr. Pei, I, I'm lost!" After Xiao Cui said that, she ran out with her face covered.
"Lost?" Zhang Er was confused.
Gu Qi walked forward and saw that Yan Churong's door was not closed. He raised his hand and knocked twice.
Yan Churong was packing his things when he saw Gu Qilai and said calmly: "Come in and talk."
Gu Qi opened the door lightly, walked to the table and sat down.
Yan Churong sat across from him: "How?"
Gu Qi poured a cup of tea, took a sip and said, "It went smoothly, but the emperor wants me to submit a detailed plan for water control in three months. I'm afraid I will have to find a way to escape in three months."
Yan Churong smiled and said, "That's not the case. The most urgent task now is to solve one thing."
"What's the matter?"
"Do you still remember the letter Yuan Zhe found when we were in the village?"
Gu Qi frowned slightly: "Remember, you are worried that the content on the letter will be detrimental to us?"
"That's right," Yan Churong sighed and said, "It's best to destroy it. If it can't be destroyed, we need to know what is written on it so that we can deal with it."
"I understand." Gu Qi put down the tea cup and stood up: "What are your plans next? I have bid farewell to Liu Jigang today and am going to the Hanlin Academy."
"I may need to live in Liu Mansion for a while."
Seeing Gu Qi's confused look, Yan Churong explained: "The maid from Gangliu Mansion is here."
Gu Qi blurted out: "Xiao Cui?"
"How did you know her name is Xiaocui?"
"I met him when I came here."
"Oh." Yan Churong looked at Gu Qi and said, "Xiao Cui came here and said that her old lady has been suffering from headaches and wanted me to stay here for a while."
Gu Qi raised his eyebrows and smiled: "That's fine, this is a good opportunity to get close to Liu Jigang."
Yan Churong smiled slightly and said, "I think so too."
Suddenly remembering Miss Liu's shy look just now, Xiaocui came to keep Yan Churong again. Gu Qi felt enlightened and began to look Yan Churong up and down: "I wonder if Doctor Yan is thinking about our plan or about Miss Liu?"
Yan Churong didn't know why, but when he saw Gu Qi's evil smile, he knew that she had something wrong. He smiled helplessly, stood up and grabbed Gu Qi's shoulders and asked, "I wonder if Mr. Pei is worried about the plan? Or is he worried about me?"
Gu Qi raised his chin and said seriously: "Of course I'm worried about you. If you were trapped in Wenrou Township, my master would cry to death. Hahaha..."
"Nothing right!" He feigned anger and knocked Gu Qi's hand off and turned around.
"Okay, I really have to go."
"Let's go, be careful. If I have any clues, I will find you."
"Yeah." Gu Qi went back to the room to pack her luggage, and then rode back home in the evening of the same day. She went to the room arranged by the Hanlin Academy to rest.
