Senior Green Tea Turned Into an Abused Heroine Chapter 9
Chapter 9: The Dispute
Later on in the banquet room:
The City Lord reclined on Concubine Tao Ji’s lap, enjoying the dancers’ graceful movements. Meanwhile, Concubine Tao Ji was peeling grapes and delicately delivering them to his mouth.
Right then, his eyes fell upon a young girl draped in light green gauze elegantly walking into the room.
It was just Xiaocha, the refugee girl he met before.
He reflexively lost interest and carried on eating grapes from Tao Ji’s hand.
However, a sudden recollection of her calling him a ‘wise hero’ prompted him to sit up straight and take a dignified composure.
He slapped Tao Ji’s hand away, knocking off the peeled grapes in her hands. Tension instantly gripped her heart, and Tao Ji feared that he would suddenly become angry.
Fortunately, he just waved in hand with an annoyed expression, signaling the dancers to retreat.
Lin Xiaocha bowed respectfully to him from a distance. And while her posture was aesthetically pleasing, it did not adhere to standard protocol. Though given her refugee status, the City Lord pardoned her lack of elegance.
After bowing, Lin Xiaocha took her seat at the end of the banquet table, settling in among the other guests.
Feng Ziying found the banquet devoid of meaning without any dancing or singing.
However, he reluctantly suppressed his desire, mindful of the “Wise Hero” image he wanted to project in front of Lin Xiaocha. Gritting his teeth, he endured the lack of extravagance, concealing his disappointment under a facade of composure.
He stared at the girl in the distant green dress, gracefully savoring her meal. And her beauty captivated him as she dined with leisurely elegance.
Who knows which idiot with no eyesight placed her so far away from him.
He knocked on the table and said a few words to the waiter.
And soon enough, Lin Xiaocha's table was moved right next to his.
Feng Ziying studied her closely, with his hazy eyes hovering all over her body.
It seemed that despite their proximity, he still couldn't see through her clearly.
But he definitely noticed her petite frame, her very thin wrists suggesting that he could easily hold her with just one hand.
The mere thought made his Adam’s apple twitch with excitement.
it‘d be good to let her sit closer to him and serve him wine.
As Feng Ziying was about to call Lin Xiaocha over, a loud voice was heard.
"My lord, will the porridge distribution start tomorrow?"
It was General Zuo, the one who carried Lin Xiaocha on a horse before.
Displeasure swelled in Feng Ziying's heart.
He didn’t care about the subject of porridge. On top of that, this charity was supposed to last for a hundred days.
But since he agreed in public to give the refugees free food, it would be inconvenient for him if he took his own words back.
He thought about it for a while then looked up and winked at his confidant eunuch.
The eunuch immediately stood up and walked around his banquet table. He then dropped to his knees and said, "City Lord! We shouldn't"
Feng Ziying raised his eyebrows and narrowed his eyes, "Oh? Why not?
"The City Lord will soon start the construction of the Vermilion Terrace in Dongling City. It is going to take a year and at least a thousand people to finish the work. At that time, it will cost a lot to feed that many people. How can we possibly feed all refugees, and a thousand workers within the same year?"
General Zuo's face was full of purple and blue veins, but he couldn't speak.
The eunuch continued his aggressive remarks, "The Vermillion Terrace symbolizes the imperial majesty in Zhu Yun Country. How can there be any step back?"
General Zuo then asked angrily, "The City Lord promised this in front of the refugees. Are you asking the City Lord to withdraw his words?"
The atmosphere of the banquet immediately became tense.
Feng Ziying's face twitched violently when he heard the words "withdrawing his words."
Concubine Tao Ji knew that Feng Ziying was reluctant to provide porridge to the refugees, so she came over with a golden bottle filled with wine and said:
"I, Tao Ji, recall receiving porridge in different cities. However, I also remember how many bullies disguised themselves as refugees to get the porridge, leaving the real refugees hungry.."
The eunuch hurriedly said, "Ms. Tao Ji is right. If porridge is really distributed for a hundred days, there’s a risk of people pretending to be refugees, leading to unrest and potential riots. If that happens, will the general bear the consequences?”
General Zuo stood up, "According to you, should we do nothing and let everyone starve to death? Should we ask the City Lord to break the promise he made in front of so many people?"
Feng Ziying glared at General Zuo, his narrow eyes filled with killing intent.
At this time, a soft voice was heard, "The City Lord is a wise hero. He will definitely not break his promise."
Everyone was taken aback, and Lin Xiaocha softly smiled at Feng Ziying.
Feng Ziying was also rendered speechless.
Being admired by others was undoubtedly a pleasant feeling. But apart from his reluctance to give free food to those untouchables, the eunuch’s statements were very true even if he was willing to keep his promise.
He calmly said to Lin Xiaocha, "If you don't understand the subject, don't talk."
Lin Xiaocha nodded, "Answering back to the City Lord, Xiaocha indeed doesn't understand these important things. I only know that when I'm hungry, whatever the person giving me food wants me to do, I am willing."
Feng Ziying hysterically laughed when she said this. He asked with curiosity, "Really willing to do anything?"
Lin Xiaocha nodded innocently, as if she couldn't understand the hidden meaning behind his words.
"If I am hungry and you give me food, I would be very willing to repair the Vermillion Terrace if you were to ask me."
Everyone silently considered her words.
If there is food, would others really be willing to repair the Vermillion Terrace?
Feng Ziying’s initial unkind expression towards Lin Xiaocha also eased.
Although he was heartless, he was not foolish.
In order to repair the Vermillion Terrace, money and labor are necessary. However, people would complain if they were forced to become free laborers.It was not that he didn't know this.
He just never cared.
But these refugees were in a really bad shape. They might die of starvation at any time. However, if they are given a chance to survive and someone takes care of their meals every day, they would be very grateful and work without making any troubles. Also, by making sure that only those who work receive food, we wouldn’t need to worry about people pretending to be refugees.
In this way, there would be no need for him to break his promise and no need for the citizens to be forced into labor. The best of both worlds!
"Naturally, this City Lord will not break his promise. And as long as they are willing to repair the Vermillion Terrace, they will have three meals a day." he declared.
When his words came out, the civil servants and generals at the banquet broke out in a hushed commotion. It was extremely surprising for Feng Ziying to have come to such a philanthropist-like decision.
The eunuch who opposed it at the beginning knelt down at the rudder and exclaimed, "There are nearly two thousand refugees in the city, the project will be completed in less than a year. The City Lord is truly smart and wise! How resourceful!"
General Zuo, himself, thought that even though the refugees might have to do some hard labor, they would have food and a place to live for a year. They can't ask for anything better than this.
He also knelt down and said, "The City Lord is wise!"
Feng Ziying, who was receiving great praises at this time, suddenly felt that it was not bad to be a wise city lord.
On the other hand, Lin Xiaocha, who guided Feng Ziying to make such a decision, had no intention of taking any credit for it.
She just placed her two plain hands on her chest and gave him a bow.
A pair of shining eyes looked at him with a smile, and her whole body was full of praise and admiration for him. It was as if she was saying, "It is not that the City Lord lost the argument, you are just wise enough to see the bigger picture!"
Feng Ziying's heart swayed slightly.
There was a trace of scorching heat in his gaze towards Lin Xiaocha.
Then he waved his hand, ordering to bestow Lin Xiaocha a pot of wine.
If you are not reading this on puretl. com, then this chapter has been stolen
If you enjoy this novel, please consider removing adblock! Thank you~