"What's wrong with Prime Minister Wang?" Ji Weiqiu rested his chin on his hand, his eyes slightly closed. "Scowling at me like that..."

Eunuch Xiao Zhuo followed beside the sedan chair and said upon hearing this: "This servant doesn't understand the affairs of the court, but I imagine with Your Highness's esteemed position, probably no one would dare be disrespectful to Your Highness. However, this servant sees that Prime Minister Wang has a naturally imposing air even when not angry, perhaps he is like that with everyone?"

Ji Weiqiu quirked his lips: "Then I'll have to ask my Imperial Elder Brother."

After a short while, they arrived at the Imperial Study. Eunuch Xiao Zhuo helped Ji Weiqiu alight from the sedan chair. This was Ji Weiqiu's first time here—he usually went directly to Qingning Hall. The Imperial Study was a place only used when Ji Su was discussing important matters with the Grand Secretariat. Ji Su himself didn't like to stay here.

Ji Weiqiu thought about what he had heard in the grand court session today. It must be to discuss the Jiangnan floods, right? Or was it because this was his first day joining the Grand Secretariat, so they were opening the Imperial Study once to call everyone over for a bit of ceremony?

This time, Eunuch Xiao Zhuo did not stop outside but followed Ji Weiqiu in. He was originally someone who served before the Emperor, so entering this place was like returning to his own hometown. He could clearly call out the names of the palace attendants who came to greet them and made arrangements in just a few words.

Ji Weiqiu was first led to a side hall to change his clothes. He changed out of the somewhat heavy and thick court robes and into light, everyday attire. After also washing his hands and face, this whole process made Ji Weiqiu feel much more relaxed.

Eunuch Qingxi arrived at some point. He was waiting outside the side hall. When Ji Weiqiu saw him, he asked, "Eunuch, what brings you here?"

At this hour, he should be serving by Ji Su's side.

"Aiyo, Your Little Highness!" Eunuch Qingxi bowed, smiling so much his eyes narrowed into slits. "The Empress Dowager learned of the happy news of Your Highness joining the Grand Secretariat and had the palace attendants send some pastries for the Emperor and Your Highness. So, after delivering them to the Emperor's side, the Emperor told this old servant to quickly bring them to Your Highness!"

Ji Weiqiu understood in a second. This was his old mother telling him and Ji Su to go to Ci'an Palace for a meal after they were done with business! After all, once you accept the old mother's pastries, you have to go thank her. If she didn't want to see them, the messenger would have added a phrase like 'no need for thanks' or 'rest well when you have time.' Since there was no such phrase, it meant they had to go.

Ji Weiqiu had eaten a little before attending court just now, but that food wasn't really filling, and he was a bit hungry again. He didn't stand on ceremony, immediately beckoning for a palace attendant to open the food box. Seeing it was filled to the brim, he said, "This is too much, I can't finish it all. Leave the goose-fat crisps, milk puffs, and poria cakes. Eunuch, please dispose of the rest for me."

Eunuch Qingxi said with a smile, "Then this old servant will bask in Your Highness's good fortune."

Ji Weiqiu and Ji Su had to be up by the third watch, so the serving palace attendants had to be up even earlier. This was especially true for personal attendants like Eunuch Qingxi, who really had to be on watch all twelve double-hours of the day. Ji Weiqiu felt hungry even after eating a little just now, let alone him.

Seeing that Eunuch Qingxi was still here, Ji Weiqiu knew it would be a while before Ji Su arrived. He immediately returned to the side hall. Since there was no one in the side hall anyway, it was better to eat there than to have the three Grand Secretaries arrive and watch him eat and drink. At least it was more comfortable.

A palace attendant brought tea. Ji Weiqiu ate two goose-fat crisps and said to Xiao Zhuo, "Send the poria cakes and milk puffs to Prime Minister Gu."

Just now in the Wenyuan Pavilion, Prime Minister Gu had shown him around the place, which delayed his rest time. He probably hadn't eaten either. These poria cakes were not large, just a mouthful each. It could be considered a thank-you gift.

Eunuch Xiao Zhuo nodded in assent, picked up the plate, and went out.

And so, when Ji Weiqiu went to the Imperial Study, he happened to come face to face with Ji Su. Ji Weiqiu looked at Ji Su and guiltily touched the corner of his mouth, feeling the pain of running into the head teacher outside the classroom after the school bell rang.

The only good news was that he had connections with the head teacher.

"Follow." Ji Su's lips moved. Ji Weiqiu obediently followed, staying one step behind to observe the proper etiquette. Ji Su asked nonchalantly, "Are you accustomed to it yet?"

If it were anyone else, they might have thanked him with fear and trepidation, but who was Ji Weiqiu? He blurted out, "Prime Minister Wang gave me a nasty look!"

Ji Su paused almost imperceptibly and said without turning his head, "En."

Ji Weiqiu: "?"

'What does 'en' mean? Does it mean he's washing his hands of it? Or does it mean something else?'

Ji Weiqiu once again cursed in his heart how unreliable this elder brother of his was. Couldn't he at least offer a couple of words of comfort?... Oh, forget it, he wasn't his real brother, he was physically picked up.

Eunuch Qingxi happened to catch the sight of Ji Weiqiu glaring at Ji Su. He couldn't help but sigh. Usually, His Highness was quite clever, so why did he act so silly in front of the Emperor? If Prime Minister Wang gave His Highness a nasty look, His Highness could give Prime Minister Wang a nasty look right back! If the Emperor couldn't reprimand Prime Minister Wang over such groundless trivialities, could he reprimand His Highness for them?

They were both Grand Secretaries; who was afraid of whom?

Upon entering the Imperial Study, the three Grand Secretaries all rose to bow. Ji Weiqiu, following beside Ji Su, calmly accepted their salutations. He glanced around the hall and saw four chairs placed below the throne. He naturally went to sit in the last one, wishing he could write 'I'm just here to be a decorative vase' on his face.

The three Grand Secretaries all gave him an impassive glance.

Ji Weiqiu slowly formed a question mark in his mind... Oh right, Ji Su hadn't granted them permission to be seated yet, so how could he have sat down? Ji Weiqiu silently stood up again. Only then did he hear Ji Su say, "Be seated."

"Thank you, Your Majesty." The three Grand Secretaries, along with Ji Weiqiu, expressed their thanks before taking their seats.

Ji Weiqiu crossed his legs, dusted off his robes, and put on an air of 'this has nothing to do with me, I'll just hang high above it all,' wishing he could write the words 'I'm just here to make up the numbers' on his face. Ji Su raised a hand slightly, and Eunuch Qingxi led the palace attendants to distribute several scrolls, one for each person.

Ji Weiqiu opened it and scanned through it. Well now, the matter of the Jiangnan drought was actually real. A stack of evidence included meteorological records from the last three months, compared with meteorological data from previous years. In addition, there were related secret memorials that detailed the drought situation, who had concealed it and not reported it, leading to such and such consequences in the region under their governance.

The names on the secret memorials were all crystal clear. Ji Weiqiu was somewhat dumbfounded. He looked up and saw the three Grand Secretaries were all pensive and silent, as if they were concentrating on thinking of a countermeasure. He didn't speak either. It was his first day, so what right did he have to speak? One key costs three coins, three for ten. How many did he deserve?

However, the official who concealed the report had the surname Wang... Ji Weiqiu couldn't resist sneaking a few more glances at Prime Minister Wang. Unexpectedly, this attracted Prime Minister Wang's attention. Ji Weiqiu was eager for a confrontation, thinking that now would be the time for Prime Minister Wang to jab him with a few words or give him a few 'you are trash' looks. If that happened, he couldn't be blamed for going all out.

If he got into a shouting match with someone in front of Ji Su, Ji Su would definitely help him!

Unexpectedly, Prime Minister Wang said nothing at all, merely pretending not to have seen him. Ji Weiqiu felt the stifling frustration of being ignored. At this moment, he heard Ji Su say, "My dear ministers, do you have any countermeasures?"

Prime Minister Gu immediately said, "This matter is of great importance and cannot be taken lightly."

Ji Weiqiu thought to himself, 'Obviously.'

Prime Minister Gu was Ji Su's confidant, after all. He thought Prime Minister Gu would stir up some conflict, but he ended up saying this? If this wasn't important, would they have avoided the grand court session to discuss it in the Imperial Study? Normally, this kind of thing should be discussed in the grand court session, but it had been lightly sidestepped at the time. One could imagine there was a problem here that Ji Su wanted to handle behind closed doors.

Prime Minister Liu, with a gentle and mild demeanor, said, "What a pity. With this delay, the rice harvest for this season in Yunzhou is a total loss."

A drought isn't impossible to mitigate, but one must act in advance. Jiangnan was inherently rainy with abundant groundwater. Encountering a temporary drought would inevitably lead to reduced production, but the moment the words 'total loss' were uttered, it meant that the local county magistrate had not made preparations for the drought in advance, thus leading to an unsalvageable situation.

Prime Minister Wang said, "The magistrate of Yunzhou, Wang Liuyao, concealed a major disaster and failed to report it. He should be punished with a heavy sentence."

Prime Minister Gu smiled, "Prime Minister Wang is absolutely right. However, this drought came suddenly. It is only natural that the officials of the Jiangnan Prefecture system were caught unprepared."

Ji Weiqiu listened for a while and was a bit bewildered. No, he thought this person was related to Prime Minister Wang, so Prime Minister Wang should be defending him, and Prime Minister Gu should be calling for his head. Why was it the complete opposite now? He looked up at Ji Su, whose expression remained placid and indifferent, as if these matters had nothing to do with him.

Besides, while an incompetent county magistrate should be punished, shouldn't they be discussing how to deal with the reduced yields and total crop failure brought on by the drought? Jiangnan Prefecture was the nation's granary. To put it bluntly, if production was reduced there, the entire Nanzhu would suffer.

Prime Minister Liu said, "How to deal with this county magistrate can be decided according to the laws of the nation. We should still discuss how to respond... Your Majesty, this subject believes that the drought has already occurred. Saying more is useless. The plan for now should be to mobilize grain and supplies early in preparation for what's to come, to appease the hearts of the people, and to prevent the common folk from being displaced and unable to survive the winter."

What's to come? What is 'what's to come'?

Ji Weiqiu thought, 'It must be the aftermath of rising grain prices.' After all, with reduced yields and total crop failure in Jiangnan, grain prices were bound to rise. The common people were already struggling. In this era, farming families had no surplus grain, and those who wove silk could never afford to wear silk clothes their whole lives. An increase of even one or two wen would require them to scrimp and save. If prices really rose severalfold, who could afford to eat? If they couldn't afford it, then the subsequent trouble would be huge.

Ji Weiqiu tried hard to recall cases he had read about before transmigration. But Jiangnan was relatively well-off. That place didn't have many disasters, and it was rare for it to be hit by disasters for several years in a row. This year was bad, but as long as they could hold out until next year, they should be able to catch their breath, right?

"What does the Prince of Rui think?" someone suddenly asked.

"Hm?" Ji Weiqiu abruptly came to his senses, his gaze first meeting Ji Su's. What were they just talking about? What should he do, he wasn't listening? It seemed he had started spacing out while looking at Ji Su.

Ji Su was watching, and no one dared to prompt him. He thought for a moment and said, "This Prince believes that the Emperor is right."

The three Grand Secretaries were silent for a moment. Prime Minister Gu quietly prompted, "It was Prime Minister Wang who asked Your Highness."

Ji Weiqiu breathed a sigh of relief. Oh, so it was Prime Minister Wang who asked him! Then there was nothing to fear! He said magnanimously, "I'll have to trouble Prime Minister Wang to say it again. This Prince was momentarily distracted and didn't hear clearly."

Prime Minister Wang said coldly, "Could it be that the Prince does not hold the Emperor in his regard? A Grand Secretariat meeting is of utmost importance. Does the Prince think the Grand Secretariat speaks of nothing of substance?"

Ji Weiqiu retorted, "Is Prime Minister Wang dissatisfied with this Prince?"

Prime Minister Wang said, "This subject would not dare."

Ji Weiqiu dusted off his robes. "Then why did you ask this Prince? This Prince grew up in the deep palace, and has not experienced the hardships of worldly affairs. You ask this Prince about matters of farming? Prime Minister Wang, if you don't ask the Ministry of Revenue, if you don't ask the Ministry of Granaries, and if you really don't know who to ask, you could ask the old farmers in the fields. They are all seasoned experts. Don't they know more than this Prince?"

Ji Weiqiu said faintly, "Prime Minister Wang, this is bullying this Prince!"

"Imperial Elder Brother!" Ji Weiqiu looked at Ji Su. "I implore Imperial Elder Brother to seek justice for your younger brother!"