Chapter 881: Unprecedented
Editor: Henyee Translations

Chu Qingzhi looked at the elder, “Do you have a household registration and a certificate issued by the village?”

The elder immediately started to cry, “I fled here because of the famine. I was severely ill back then, and my family abandoned me. Fortunately, I didn’t die. Now, I live alone in a cave without a household registration or any relatives…”

“It’s okay. If you are truly impoverished, we will also give you some silver.” Chu Qingzhi called over an official and whispered, “Prepare some rice and flour, and bring five taels of silver to send the elder back.”

The official bowed, “Yes, I will go immediately.”

Chu Qingzhi turned back to the elder, “Please wait a moment. I have asked someone to escort you back and bring you some food considering your situation. Just wait a little longer.”

The elder couldn’t help but cry even harder, knelt down to Chu Qingzhi, “Miss, thank you, thank you so much.”

Chu Qingzhi helped the man up, “Wait here for a moment. The official will come soon.”

“Okay, okay, I will listen to you.”

After the official made the preparations, he escorted the elder back to his dwelling.

Those who were prepared to pretend to be poor and take advantage saw this situation, helplessly dispersed. Chu Qingzhi was not so easily fooled.

Half an hour later, the official returned to the county government office, “Miss, the elder’s story is true. I have given him the goods and the money.”

Chu Qingzhi nodded, “Thank you for your hard work. Take a rest.”

The Emperor thought to himself, although this was a very minor issue, could he have handled it better himself? Could other officials have done it better?

Thinking of this, the Emperor couldn’t help but ask Chu Qingzhi, “Qingzhi, if given the chance, would you like to enter the court and become an official?”

Chu Qingzhi looked up and down at the Emperor. Becoming an official was akin to working for the Emperor. Performing well might not be rewarded, but mistakes could be fatal. She was not interested in such thankless tasks.

“There’s no such opportunity, and I’m not willing.”

The Emperor, “…”

Could you not be so straightforward and think about it?

The Emperor was curious, “Why not? Being an official is a matter of honor for the family, and for a woman to become an official, it’s unprecedented and a lifetime of glory!”

Chu Qingzhi tactfully responded, “I prefer freedom.”

The Emperor countered, “Being an official can also be freeing.”

Chu Qingzhi then asked, “The Emperor is the greatest official in this world, right? Are you free?”

The Emperor, “…”

The Empress laughed, “Qingzhi, you are wise.”

The court is a mess. It’s not easy to enter, and even harder to leave. A moment of carelessness and you could be boiled alive. It’s full of dangers. Freedom like this is better.

Chu Qingzhi raised her eyebrows, “I would never choose something that is not beneficial to me.”

The Emperor couldn’t help but comment, “You are indeed wise.”

As they chatted here, the county magistrate admired Chu Qingzhi from the side. Only she could speak to the Emperor on such equal terms.

By the time the annual silver distribution ended, no one came forward. Everyone packed up and returned to the village.

…

On the way back, the Emperor suddenly became serious, “Qingzhi, I have a favor to ask of you. Will you consider it?”

Chu Qingzhi said, “Tell me what it is first, then I’ll decide whether to consider it.”

The Emperor, “…”

“After the new year, I will send Jing Hong to the eastern border. Could you go with him to assist?”

“The issue in the eastern border can only be resolved by someone with your abilities. Sending others would mean either death or corruption, and the problem in the eastern border would never be resolved.”

“The situation in the eastern border is too severe. Jing Hong will be overwhelmed, and I fear he might fall into the traps of villains.”

Besides, Jing Hong is a military man and knows little about governance. If Chu Qingzhi were there, there would be no worries about these issues.

For the sake of the people in the eastern border, he had to ask Chu Qingzhi to go.

Chu Qingzhi was indifferent. She had already achieved success and fame. Staying in another place was also an option for her, but she couldn’t let the Emperor achieve his goals so easily.

Seeing Chu Qingzhi not responding, the Emperor added, “Whatever you want, just say it. As long as I can do it, I will comply.”

Chu Qingzhi said, “In the future, within your capabilities, I will make three requests, and I hope you will agree.”

The Emperor agreed very straightforwardly, “Okay, I agree.”

Chu Qingzhi continued, “Also, if I go to the eastern border, there might be a lot of killing involved. I hope you are prepared for that.”

The Emperor promised, “I will give you three blank imperial edicts. You can deal with the people in the eastern border as you see fit.”

Chu Qingzhi thought for a moment, “Arrange for someone to prepare more grain, medicinal herbs, seeds, and cotton clothes. I will take them to the eastern border with Jing Hong.”

The Emperor said, “I agree to all your conditions.” He paused for a moment, “It takes twenty days to travel from the capital to the eastern border. To catch up with the spring plowing, I will arrange for you and Jing Hong to leave on the third day of the new year. Is that okay?”

Chu Qingzhi nodded, “Okay.”

…

Back in the village, everyone was already performing the ancestor worship ceremony, so they did not go over.

The little crown prince saw Chu Qingzhi returning and ran over excitedly, “Sister Chu, where have you been?”

“I went to the county town.” Chu Qingzhi put a longevity lock around the little crown prince’s neck, “This is a gift for you, do you like it?”

The little crown prince held the longevity lock tightly in his hands, extremely happy, “I like it, it’s so beautiful.”

Chu Qingzhi smiled, “Wear it every day, it will bless you to live a long life.”

The little crown prince nodded obediently, “Mhm.”

The ancestor worship ceremony lasted for an hour, and people would not return for a while.

Chu Qingzhi invited the Emperor and Empress, “Come over and have dinner together. We’ll have a hot pot, I’ll cook it myself.” In the middle of winter, hot pot was the most suitable.

The Empress was quite interested, “Qingzhi, let me help you.”

Chu Qingzhi nodded, “Okay, let’s go.”

They had already discussed what to eat the night before, and now everything was ready: meatballs, fish balls, crispy fried meat, dried tofu, youtiao (fried dough sticks), lotus roots, winter bamboo shoots, boneless chicken feet, duck feet, chicken gizzards, etc.

In addition to that, there were pig hearts, pig livers, pig brain flowers, pig kidneys, etc., from the pig they killed and hadn’t finished eating.

A variety of dishes.

Chu Qingzhi only did one thing: preparing the hot pot base, spicy and non-spicy, two pots, some people liked spicy, some could not eat spicy, so they could choose accordingly.

First, she prepared the spices for the hot pot base. The broth was prepared the day before. Now, it was warming on the stove, made from old hens and lamb bones, very, very delicious.

The Empress entered the kitchen and immediately smelled the delicious aroma, “Qingzhi, it smells so good in the kitchen.”

Chu Qingzhi opened the cabinet, preparing the spices, “I’ve been cooking delicious food in the kitchen recently.”

The Empress looked around and asked, “What can I do?”

“You help me wash the vegetables.” Chu Qingzhi pointed to the colander next to the sink, filled with green onions, celery, large onions, garlic sprouts, and other side dishes.

The Empress was quite down-to-earth, rolling up her sleeves, “Okay, I’ll wash the vegetables.”

Chu Qingzhi asked, “Did you cook in the kitchen when you were at home?”

The Empress nodded, “Yes, during big festivals at home, my mother, I, and Yu Ru would cook, but maybe the cooking skills are not so good.”

Chu Qingzhi walked towards the stove with the spices, “I thought daughters of rich families didn’t do anything.”

The Empress laughed, “That’s a misunderstanding.”