He glared at Tiao Hong resentfully. "What right does a mere maid have to interrupt when adults are speaking?"
Tiao Hong, whose boldness was undeterred, retorted, "What this maid does, I fear, is more than what you, the Prefect, have accomplished!"
Even Mu Changxi raised an eyebrow slightly, glancing at Lord Gu. "What is it? Judging by Lord Gu's tone, it seems you are quite displeased with this King?"
He finally put down his work and looked at Lord Gu with a cold smile. "This King will give Lord Gu an opportunity. Why don't you speak your mind? What displeases you about this King?"
Lord Gu looked up at his advisor beside him. The advisor tugged at Lord Gu's sleeve, seemingly signaling that it would be best for Lord Gu not to speak rashly.
Lord Gu then cleared his throat, his attitude softening slightly. "This subordinate merely doesn't understand why Your Highness insists on being in a place like Ping'an County. Since Your Highness has come to Haizhou, why not go to Haizhou City? Everything was prepared for Your Highness in the Prefectural Office. Yet, Your Highness quietly came to this place alone. Is it possible that you are dissatisfied with our Haizhou City Prefectural Office?"
Was this question not deliberately asking the obvious?
Lord Gu probably felt that even if Mu Changxi truly thought this, he wouldn't say it.
Who knew that Mu Changxi was so different from the people he had interacted with before, especially compared to Prince Ning?
"Hmph!"
Mu Changxi sneered and retorted, "If this King found your Haizhou City Prefectural Office satisfactory, why would I have brought my people to Ping'an County? Lord Gu, think about it carefully! Have you not understood this King's intentions along the way? As the parent official of Haizhou City, how have you been doing your job?!"
Clearly, Mu Changxi's tone carried a hint of anger.
Even Han Da Ren had not expected Mu Changxi to speak so frankly!
He opened his mouth, truly at a loss for how to refute these words.
Seeing Lord Gu like this, Song Chaoyu said, "I don't know who Lord Gu has interacted with before. But our King's purpose in coming this time is solely disaster relief. The location and the people you speak with are not important. What matters is doing the disaster relief well. If Lord Gu cannot understand this, then you will not be able to fathom our King's thoughts."
Lord Gu wasn't incapable of understanding, he just found it unbelievable.
Could someone truly remain indifferent to so much disaster relief silver?
Could someone truly endure the hardships of Ping'an County and stay here, just to provide a better life for the disaster victims?
Lord Gu lowered his head, momentarily unsure whether Mu Changxi truly "understood" or was merely trying to make his achievements appear more impressive.
However, he did grasp one thing.
Mu Changxi would not return to Haizhou City with him. In fact, he might have to stay here himself to please Mu Changxi!
Lord Gu's eyes darted around, and he already had an idea: what was a little hardship? Only a fool would remain indifferent to so much disaster relief silver!
Having figured this out, he hastily knelt before Mu Changxi and Song Chaoyu!
Lord Gu put on an act of sudden realization and profound fear. "This subordinate understands, this subordinate was wrong! I never imagined that Your Highness and Your Highness's Consort would bear the world's burdens so heavily! This subordinate knows his mistake and has been enlightened!"
Mu Changxi then slightly raised his gaze and looked at Lord Gu. "Then does Lord Gu know what to do next?"
"Yes, yes!"
Thinking of the vast amount of disaster relief silver, Lord Gu steeled his heart. "This subordinate understands Your Highness's intentions. From today onwards, this subordinate will surely work alongside Your Highness, rising early and sleeping late, to manage the disaster situation. It was this subordinate's own overthinking that led to a loss of decorum. Now that Your Highness and Your Highness's Consort are here as the backbone, this subordinate understands! Please rest assured, Your Highness, this subordinate will do everything in his power to help the disaster victims!"
"Good."
With these words, Mu Changxi's eyes finally revealed a hint of a smile. "Since Lord Gu knows what to do, then this King has nothing more to ask of you. For many matters, Lord Gu, just proceed with them. Whether you do well or not, as long as you act, the people will see. Those who can help these disaster victims are truly doing things. Isn't that the truth?"
"Yes, Your Highness speaks the truth!"
Lord Gu inwardly scoffed, but outwardly he had to appear completely convinced. "This subordinate understands Your Highness's intentions and will surely not fail in his mission. Please rest assured, Your Highness."
Mu Changxi nodded, then said to Lord Gu, "Then, Lord Gu, shall we begin?"
Lord Gu was startled, feeling that he needed to "perform" now.
He quickly pulled his advisor down and began to help Mu Changxi's people liaise with the disaster victims outside.
He emulated Mu Changxi, starting to handle everything personally.
Seeing him work diligently, Song Chaoyu walked over to Mu Changxi and sighed softly. "Actually, this Lord Gu is quite capable at his work. It's a pity his intentions are not pure. Otherwise, how much less suffering would the people here have endured!"
In fact, Mu Changxi had always been afraid that Song Chaoyu would be uncomfortable living in such rudimentary conditions with him.
But now, seeing Song Chaoyu helping, as if radiating a halo, Mu Changxi felt a sense of peace. "If he were not capable at his work, he wouldn't have been able to hold the position of Prefect of Haizhou City stably. A impure heart is beyond saving."
Song Chaoyu covered her mouth and smiled. "Perhaps it's only for these two days? Can he really continue to work so diligently for long?"
"These one or two days are enough."
Mu Changxi already had his own plan. "He is familiar with Haizhou City. Let's use these one or two days to hand over the most difficult and troublesome matters to him. Once he sorts them out, the tasks ahead of us will not be so difficult."
This could be considered "making the best use of people," couldn't it?
Song Chaoyu nodded, instructing Tiao Hong to give the most difficult and exhausting tasks of the past two days to Lord Gu and his men, telling them to do as much as they could.
Initially, to "please" Mu Changxi, Lord Gu and his men would surely have done these things with all their might.
On the first day, Lord Gu was so exhausted he could barely stand.
He was eagerly awaiting a word of praise from Mu Changxi, so they could quickly distribute the disaster relief silver.
However, as days passed, Lord Gu discovered that things seemed to be "going wrong"!
How could Mu Changxi be so unhesitatingly pouring all the disaster relief silver into the hands of the disaster victims?
He set up porridge kitchens and opened several more temporary camps for the disaster victims. The money was being spent like flowing water.