The daughter of the emperor was reborn and was spoiled by the sickly prince.

"Lord Wang, why didn't you tell me such an important thing before?" Gu Mingzhao looked at Wang Tingzhi with dissatisfaction.

Wang Tingzhi met his gaze and said confidently, "I just found out the truth yesterday. I was planning to report it to His Highness early this morning, but I unexpectedly ran into His Highness and Miss Ruyan..."

Thinking of Wang Tingzhi's sudden visit in the morning, he didn't know what to say.

After a long silence, he suddenly asked, "So your previous confrontations with me weren't out of personal grudges?"

Wang Tingzhi smiled slightly, like the gentle breeze and bright moon: "I am paid by the emperor and I must be loyal to him. How can I sacrifice public service for personal gain?"

"In that case, I misunderstood you. You did a great job this time. I will ask for credit for you when this matter is over."

"Your Highness was the first to discover the abnormality of the river embankment. I was only following orders and dare not take credit for it." Wang Tingzhi declined.

"Don't be too happy yet. This matter is very serious and must be handled with caution."

Wang Tingzhi nodded.

The two of them kept some distance between themselves and walked into the government office separately.

Gu Mingzhao would go to the riverbank every day without fail.

The sun shines obliquely, and busy figures are interlaced on the shore.

Gu Mingzhao's eyes were focused on the laborers.

"Lord Liu, there is a saying that goes 'After Laba it's the New Year'. Now even the Little New Year has passed, so let these laborers go home and reunite with their families earlier." Gu Mingzhao spoke casually.

"It is my fault for not thinking it through. I will arrange it right away. You don't need to come starting tomorrow." Liu Yu responded hurriedly.

"No!" Wang Tingzhi frowned and retorted, "The construction of the river bank is tight. If we let the workers go home now, it will probably affect the progress of the construction."

It starts again...

Liu Yu silently took a step back, fearing that the war would affect him.

"I have been ordered to be in charge of all matters concerning the river embankment construction. I have the final say here! If the progress is delayed, I will be responsible. Let them go back to celebrate the New Year!" Gu Mingzhao's voice was firm and unquestionable.

"You! If you insist on doing this, I will impeach you and rectify the situation!"

Wang Tingzhi looked unhappy and left in anger.

Gu Mingzhao also had a cold face and said nothing.

Liu Yu looked at Liao Zhendong for help: "Prime Minister, what do you think we should do..."

Liao Zhendong signaled Liu Yu not to say more, and then looked at Gu Mingzhao approvingly: "Your Highness the Prince of Qin is kind-hearted and considerate of the people. It is a blessing for our dynasty."

Seeing this, Liu Yu also went with the flow: "Your Majesty is right. I would like to thank Your Highness on behalf of the people of Jizhou!"

"Lord Liu, you have worked hard during this period. Let's talk about the river embankment issue after the New Year," said Gu Mingzhao.

Liu Yu was as if he had been pardoned. He sang praises to Gu Mingzhao and then turned to Liao Zhendong: "Does the Prime Minister plan to return to the capital before the New Year?"

"No, His Majesty ordered me to stay here until after the Lantern Festival." Liao Zhendong said.

"I see that Your Excellency came in a hurry and hasn't even packed his luggage. Why don't I accompany Your Excellency to buy some daily necessities so that you can spend the New Year here with peace of mind." Liu Yu suggested.

Liao Zhendong nodded in agreement.

Liu Yu then asked Gu Mingzhao, "Does His Royal Highness the Prince of Qin want to go with us?"

"The king has other important matters to attend to, so it is inconvenient for him to come with us."

When Gu Mingzhao returned to the government office, it was already past noon.

He first went back to his room to change out of his official uniform, then strode to Liao Qinglan's residence.

When Liao Qinglan arrived in Jizhou yesterday, she rushed to see him without even having time to put down her luggage.

Her bag was empty, obviously she had left in such a hurry that she only took very few items with her.

That's why she always wears so thinly.

When he heard Liu Yu was going to buy supplies for Liao Zhendong, he suddenly realized that Liao Qinglan also needed these.

So I planned to take Liao Qinglan out to do some shopping.

When Gu Mingzhao arrived, Liao Qinglan was worrying about the food on the table.

Although she was not very picky about food, the food in front of her was really hard to swallow.

——Hard steamed buns, cold white porridge and a dish of pickles.

Such food obviously couldn't fill her stomach.

Gu Mingzhao's face turned stern, and he asked in a deep voice, "Who sent these meals?"

"It was brought by the yamen runners. They said it was lunch."

Gu Mingzhao immediately ordered someone to call the yamen runner who delivered the meal.

"Miss Liao has come from far away, and you just give her these?" Gu Mingzhao's voice was intimidating without being angry.

The yamen runner knelt down hurriedly: "Your Highness Prince Qin, this really can't be blamed on me, these are the only dishes in the government office!"

Gu Mingzhao didn't believe it and said, "Such a big prefectural government office can't even provide a decent meal?"

"This..." The bailiff lowered his head, hesitating and not daring to speak.

"It seems that you are deliberately neglecting Miss Liao." Gu Mingzhao said coldly.

The yamen runner was so frightened that he dared not hide it any longer: "Your Highness, this is really not my fault! The cook in the government office is the sister-in-law of Lord Liu. She is only responsible for Lord Liu's food on weekdays. The meals for ordinary officials and prisoners like us are all these steamed buns and pickles."

"Is this true?" Gu Mingzhao frowned.

The yamen runner hastily assured: "It is absolutely true. If Your Highness does not believe it, you can ask other people in the government office!"

"Bring the cook here!"

The officials of the Jizhou prefectural government had long been treated coldly by the cook, and now that someone finally stepped forward, they naturally cooperated fully.

After a while, a woman in her thirties came over, escorted by two yamen runners.

The woman had a round face, eyes that were a little shrewd, and a slightly bloated figure. The first impression she gave was that she was vulgar and unkind.

Before I even got close, her shrill voice reached my ears: "Let me go! I can walk by myself!"

When she saw Gu Mingzhao, a flattering smile instantly appeared on her face: "Your Highness, I thought that the masters in the mansion were all out, but I didn't expect that there was still a distinguished person here. I was really guilty of neglecting Miss Liao before. I will go and prepare a table of good wine and food for her again."

"No need." Gu Mingzhao pointed at the food in front of Liao Qinglan, "Eat all of this."

The cook's expression suddenly turned ugly: "This... these are for the servants in the mansion, how can I eat them!"

Gu Mingzhao frowned and asked in a cold voice, "Servant?"

The cook said confidently, "Yes, aren't these officials servants of the Liu Mansion? They have such a good job thanks to Lord Liu!"

The officers all lowered their heads and dared not argue.

Gu Mingzhao sneered, "They are officials of the imperial court, and they receive salaries from the imperial court, not servants of your Liu Mansion!"

The cook was extremely vulgar and shouted, "My brother-in-law is the prefect, and they are officials from the prefect's office, not my servants!"

Gu Mingzhao didn't want to explain more.

For this ignorant and fearless country woman, she could only teach her a lesson in her own way.

"Since you don't want to eat it yourself, I will ask someone to do it for you."

He raised his hand and motioned the bailiff beside him to come forward.

After receiving the order, the yamen runners immediately took action, ignoring the cook's frightened and unwilling struggle, and stuffed the leftovers into her mouth.

After watching her finish eating, Gu Mingzhao said calmly: "From now on, you are not allowed to step into this government office again."

The cook yelled, "This is my brother-in-law's house! Why are you chasing me away? I won't leave!"

Gu Mingzhao waved his hand, and the bailiff immediately understood, covered her mouth and dragged her away.