Liu Liu finished speaking, and Chu Feng immediately nodded happily. The money they had earned over the past eight years could finally be put to good use, enough to buy an entire Yuehai City.
Moreover, the boss already had a plan: to purchase a small island as the base for the Seven Stars Tower.
They had heard of that island before, but no one had ever seen its true appearance. They wondered how the boss managed it, especially the old ferryman who always wore a hooded cloak and black robes, obscuring his true face. xxs1
Seeing the reverent expressions on Chu Feng and Dai Mei's faces, Liu Liu didn't know how to explain it. She had met the old man by chance when passing through Yuehai City.
The old man called himself the ferryman. As soon as he saw her, he sold the island to her at a very cheap price. Duan Mu, seeing that the other two were occupied and he had nothing to do, couldn't help but exclaim.
“Boss, why don’t I have anything to do while they are both busy?”
“I’m afraid you wouldn’t do a good job, and your nature hasn’t changed. I don’t dare to assign you tasks carelessly.” Liu Liu deliberately made things difficult for Duan Mu. The man immediately raised his hands and promised that he would handle everything perfectly. Only then did Liu Liu soften her expression and speak.
“Alright, there are many people who practice martial arts in Black Street. See if they are interested in joining the Seven Stars Tower. You are not allowed to force them. If I find out?” Liu Liu didn't finish her sentence, but Duan Mu quickly replied.
“Boss, rest assured, I won’t make things difficult for them. But I guess they will all be willing to follow us.” Duan Mu narcissistically scratched his long hair.
“From now on, you three will be the three chief stewards of the Seven Stars Tower. Chu Feng will be the eldest. You two must obey his orders. There are some matters that I cannot frequently oversee. You must reach a consensus and not act arbitrarily, understand?”
As soon as Liu Liu finished speaking, Chu Feng was stunned. The other two naturally had no objections and nodded in unison, “Yes,楼主 (Louzhu -楼主 can be translated as Lord or Leader depending on context, but since it’s a title of leadership for a faction, “Lord” or simply keeping the Chinese title is often preferred in Xianxia translations. Given the overall context and the need for fluency, a suitable translation like “Leader” or “Master” would be more appropriate. However, strictly following the no-Chinese character rule unless for specific terms, and aiming for elegance, we will lean towards a direct translation of the title’s implication.)”
Liu Liu’s starry eyes flowed, her gaze dazzlingly bright, a hidden glint of resolve flashing at the corner of her lips. She finally had something to do. A new gang would be created in the martial arts world, neither strictly righteous nor evil. She had never been someone to play by the rules.
The expressions of the three subordinates were exceptionally spirited. None of them were the type to stick to conventions; rather, they preferred to act according to their own natures. Liu Liu glanced at them and waved her hand, gesturing, “Go and attend to your tasks.”
“Yes,” the three responded in unison. Seeing Liu Liu stand up, Dai Mei asked with concern, “Is the楼主 returning?”
“Yes. Oh, by the way, I’ve noticed many beggars on the street. Where did so many beggars come from?” Liu Liu asked casually, recalling her earlier observation.
The capital had always been peaceful. Why had so many beggars suddenly appeared? Had some place suffered a disaster? Doubt flashed through her mind.
“I heard that there has been continuous heavy rain in the middle and lower reaches of the Yangtze River, which has destroyed many houses, leaving bodies everywhere, and many people are displaced. Everyone has fled in all directions, which is why there are so many beggars in the capital.”
Dai Mei had already noticed this, but she had been busy with Chu Feng and Duan Mu’s affairs and had forgotten to tell the楼主. She hadn't expected the楼主 to have noticed it.
Liu Liu's expression darkened upon hearing this. Jiangnan had suffered a flood. She had heard that the Emperor had allocated a large amount of disaster relief funds, so how could so many people still be displaced?
“It seems someone has tampered with the disaster relief funds, otherwise there wouldn’t be so many beggars,” Liu Liu murmured. Thinking of Feng Xie's detestable nature, she didn’t want to bother with these matters.
However, those beggars were innocent. Perhaps they had lost loved ones. Already in pain, if they also had no food, it might lead to riots.
“Tomorrow morning, we will start distributing porridge. At the very least, they will have a meal. Also, organize the abandoned warehouses in Black Street to provide temporary shelter for those people. The Emperor will soon know about this matter.”
“Yes,” the three subordinates immediately nodded. Liu Liu stood up and walked out. The sky had already darkened, and she had to return to the palace. They could discuss any matters tomorrow.
In the imperial study of the palace, Emperor Feng Xie’s presence was filled with a chilling aura. His phoenix-like eyebrows twitched a few times, and his eyes gleamed with the coldness of the night, as profound and chilling as frost.
“You say someone tampered with the disaster relief funds?”
Another person stood before the imperial desk. It was Jin Shaoyuan, who had been frustrated during the day. Upon hearing the Emperor’s question, he immediately lowered his head.
“Yes, there are many beggars on the streets. There were no beggars in the capital originally, but so many have appeared in the past few days. Therefore, I suspect that someone has tampered with the disaster relief funds. Although Your Majesty allocated two million taels for disaster relief, very little has likely reached the local areas, which is why the disaster victims have fled in all directions. Besides the capital, I suspect there are many in other places as well. If these people are exploited by those with ill intentions, they might become a mob.”
“A mob?” Feng Xie was taken aback, but more so by anger. How dare someone embezzle disaster relief funds right under his nose? These were life-saving funds, and yet someone was even greedy enough to do this.
At this thought, his eyes were filled with a tempestuous storm. With a wave of his hand, the tea set on the imperial desk shattered. The little eunuch standing in the imperial study trembled and cautiously hid aside.
“Yes. If those beggars have nowhere to go and nothing to eat, and if they are hungry, they will do anything. They might steal and kill, and do anything. The capital will be in chaos. Therefore, I suggest that we immediately lure those beggars to the outskirts of the city, provide them with food, treat their illnesses, and help them find housing. During this interim, we must immediately devise a plan to drain the floodwaters.”
As soon as Jin Shaoyuan finished speaking, Feng Xie immediately nodded in agreement. It wasn't that he was frightened by the word "mob," but rather that those people were his subjects. As Emperor, he had a responsibility.
“Tomorrow, we will distribute porridge in the outskirts of the city early in the morning. In addition, send imperial physicians from the palace to treat the sick. I will go and see them.”
“Your Majesty, absolutely not. If those people do not understand, Your Majesty could be injured!” Jin Shaoyuan quickly stopped him. His Majesty was of imperial blood. If something happened to His Majesty, the world would be even more chaotic, and there would be more displaced people.
“Do not stop me,” Feng Xie waved his hand. His handsome face drooped, buried in his snow-white, jade-like hands. He took a few deep breaths, adjusting the violent urge to kill within him. Those detestable individuals.
If he found out who had tampered with the disaster relief funds, he would not let them off lightly. It seemed he had been too preoccupied with quarreling with the Empress recently, and had neglected many matters.
Tian Feng had been established for twenty years, and its foundation was not yet stable. If any unfavorable news about the imperial family spread, it would likely become a focal point for those with ulterior motives.
“Xiao Wanzi, immediately summon Prince Yan.”
“Yes, Your Majesty,” Xiao Wanzi accepted the order. He knew how angry the Emperor was at the moment. If he angered him further, he would likely face dire consequences.
After Xiao Wanzi left the imperial study, Jin Shaoyuan turned to look at Feng Xie, “Reporting to Your Majesty, I saw Qi Ye today. No, he later said he was not Qi Ye.”
“Black Street Qi Ye, what is his background?” Upon hearing Jin Shaoyuan’s words, Feng Xie immediately spoke in a deep voice. Rumor had it that this person was very powerful.
Although it was just a small Black Street, it was said to be filled with desperate outlaws. To command a group of outlaws to his will was not something an ordinary person could achieve.
Moreover, it was located in the capital, at the feet of the Son of Heaven. Since he knew about this, he naturally could not underestimate him. At the very least, he had to keep this person firmly under control.