The Seventh Prince's Manor

  The young lady knelt down in front of the old lady: "Mother, Qing'er knows she was wrong."

  The old lady shook her head and sighed: "Zhuang Qing, you're good in every way, but you're too narrow-minded and can't accommodate Lingyu. This isn't the kind of attitude a mistress should have." The big lady lowered her head and didn't say a word. The old lady looked at her and said: "Next time, remember to be fair to Lingyu. I don't want to see this situation again." After that, she left first.

  Although Madam was unhappy in her heart, she was constrained by the dignity of the elderly and personally led people to send some things to Song Lingyu.

  Song Lingyu appeared to be somewhat resistant on the surface, but in her heart, she had already taken these things to mind.

  In the following days, Song Lingyu stayed in the mansion all along until one day she unintentionally heard a few words from Zhi Lan and then had the idea of going out.

  That day she was sunbathing in the courtyard, then heard the fan wind beside her say: "Young lady, Master has been very busy lately, today he went to the imperial palace, and when he came back his whole face was pulled down, does Miss know?"

  Song Lingyu turned a page of the book and continued, "Oh? What happened?"

  Zi Lan saw Song Lingyu seemed to be interested, and also came with enthusiasm: "I heard it was because of the drought, refugees in the imperial capital are getting more and more, can be seen everywhere on the streets. The emperor seems to have given an order, saying that a solution must be found within this month to deal with the drought, but today is already the last day of this month, Master went to the palace early in the morning, and could only return with a sullen face."

  "Drought is a natural disaster, but as long as we open up water sources and divert them, it will be alright?"

  "It's easy to say that, but this time it's not just drought, there are also locusts all over the fields. Even if the crops don't wither and die, they'll be eaten away."

  Song Lingyu closed the book and looked at Zhi Lan, asking: "Is it that serious?"

  "Of course! But if all the crops die, next year's harvest will definitely be scarce, and then rice prices will rise again."

  Song Lingyu smiled and said, "Zhilan has had a hard time, so she's only worried about the price." Yes, if there's less rice, then the price will naturally go up.

  Zhilan said casually, "Now the emperor has posted an imperial edict, saying that he wants to find someone in the folk to solve this problem. If it's solved, there will be a lot of gold to be taken, and you can also be appointed as an official."

  Song Lingyu turned her head and looked at Zhi Lan: "Really?"

  Zhilan nodded heavily, indicating certainty: "Really!"

  Song Lingyu stood up, put down the book and said to Zhi Lan: "Accompany me out of the mansion, I'm going to the Seventh Prince's Mansion!"

  Half an hour later, the carriage arrived at the Seventh Prince's Mansion. The guards at the entrance blocked Song Lingyu and others. Huizhen stepped forward and said: "Go and report, just say that the eldest lady of the Song Prime Minister's mansion has come to visit."

  The guards exchanged a glance with each other, and one of them led them to the side hall before going off to report. Not long after, Lian Le walked over.

  Song Lingyu glanced at the Seventh Prince and said faintly: "In the mansion of the Seventh Prince, don't they teach their servants how to treat guests?"

  He furrowed his brow, then ordered someone to serve tea and water to Song Lingyu. After all the formalities were completed, he got down to business: "I don't know what Miss Song has come to see me about?"

  Song Lingyu picked up the teacup and used the lid to wipe away the floating tea leaves, but didn't drink it. "I heard that recently, the Emperor has been worried about the drought in the north?"