Transmigrated into the Scumbag Ex-Wife of the Prime Minister - Chapter 91.1

Approaching noon, the red sun was scorching and dazzling like fire. There was no wind in the courtyard, making Lu Sheng feel a bit stuffy and hot.

Due to the arrival of Prefect Ruan, most guests gathered in the courtyard, completely surrounding the tables.

Lu Sheng was not tall and could only catch a glimpse of Qi Zhenshu’s clothing through the gaps in the crowd.

In the crowd, Qi Zhenshu heard Prefect Ruan’s question and answered, “In addition to building dams and dredging channels in the middle and lower reaches, water storage should also be increased in the upper reaches to solve the flooding problem downstream.”

Among the many students who had answered the question just now, everyone only saw how to solve the problems appearing in the middle section of the river, but no one considered that every river is a whole, and corresponding measures should be taken one by one, starting from the source, to jointly solve the problem.

Prefect Ruan nodded approvingly and asked again, “Have you considered how to solve the water storage problem?”

Qi Zhenshu pondered for a moment and slowly said, “First, we must strengthen the governance of silt in the upper reaches of the river, relocate nearby villages to return farmland to forest, and perhaps we can also reopen channels to connect the Danlan Lake and Banjia Lake upstream, and build dams for water storage. This way, we can both increase flood storage upstream during the rainy season and reduce silt deposition caused by river drying up during the dry season.”

Hearing her words, Prefect Ruan first looked sideways at Princess Changning with a meaningful glance. Princess Changning also looked at Qi Zhenshu with a beaming smile.

Qi Zhenshu nodded slightly, a faint smile also gracing her brows.

Having worked with her for two months, Qi Zhenshu could guess what Princess Changning’s smile meant.

The method of governance she had just mentioned must be the same as Princess Changning’s, meeting her approval.

Lu Sheng finally found a spot where she could see Qi Zhenshu, but unfortunately, she caught the sight of her exchanging smiles with Princess Changning.

A surge of sourness rose in her throat. Lu Sheng pouted, turned her gaze away, and no longer stood foolishly in place. She walked to the covered corridor in the courtyard and sat down, staring blankly at the flowers and plants in the yard.

Prefect Ruan turned to Qi Zhenshu and said with a smile, “What Zhenshu said is indeed good, but have you considered that this method is time-consuming and laborious, and will take at least thirty to fifty years to accomplish?”

The method Qi Zhenshu mentioned could indeed solve the problem from the source and was a good strategy that benefited the country and the people.

There were many capable people and important officials in the court, but few mentioned it. The reason, besides the time-consuming and laborious nature of the project, was mostly because although this method would benefit future generations, for the officials in power seeking political achievement, without visible immediate benefits, naturally no one was willing to promote it.

The imperial court never lacked talents for governing the country, but most people, after reaching high positions, often indulged in factional disputes and power struggles, losing some of their compassion for the world.

“This student’s humble opinion, please forgive me, Prefect,” Qi Zhenshu said humbly, bowing her hands.

Prefect Ruan waved his hand. Talented people with a pure heart are the most precious, but in front of everyone, she did not want to praise Qi Zhenshu too much, so as not to cause jealousy.

“The best political strategies require thorough consideration. Whether it is a method of governance or other matters, remember to trace the roots and be comprehensive, and not simply address the problem by treating the head when the head aches and the foot when the foot hurts,” Prefect Ruan then turned to all the students and instructed.

“We are enlightened by your teaching,” the students responded.

Waving his hand for the crowd to disperse, Prefect Ruan called Qi Zhenshu to walk with him. Qi Zhenshu exchanged a few words with Prefect Ruan, who smiled and glanced in Lu Sheng’s direction, then walked away with Princess Changning along another small path in the courtyard.

“The Prefect called me to the study to discuss matters,” Qi Zhenshu walked up to Lu Sheng, looking troubled.

She brought Lu Sheng to the banquet but could not accompany her.

Lu Sheng felt sour inside, but she also knew that this was not the time to be petty. She forced a smile, “It’s fine, you go take care of your business, I can take care of myself.”

“The banquet is in the central hall. Follow this path inside, and you’ll reach the Shanyatang. I’ll come find you later,” Qi Zhenshu directed Lu Sheng.

“I know,” Lu Sheng nodded, trying not to let her emotions show.

Qi Zhenshu didn’t notice anything unusual. She squeezed Lu Sheng’s hand, then followed the direction Prefect Ruan had left.

There was still some time before the banquet, and Lu Sheng didn’t want to join the crowd, so she walked towards a less crowded garden in the backyard.

The Prefect’s residence was built against the mountain, and the courtyard was lush with flowers and plants.

The cassia flowers were just starting to bloom in July, emitting a faint fragrance.

A small snail slowly crept up the tree trunk. Lu Sheng stopped to watch the snail.

Suddenly, a chirping sound arose. The snail was pecked up by a bird’s beak and became the bird’s lunch.

Lu Sheng couldn’t help but frown.

“What are you looking at, so engrossed?” Lin Shuqing’s gentle voice sounded by her ear.

Her brows relaxed, and Lu Sheng smiled, “Nothing.”

Lin Shuqing smiled gently and asked, “When did Xiaosheng come to Qingzhou?”

“A few days ago.”

“After the Fifth Month Festival, I wanted to invite you for a meal, but when I went to look for you, I found that you had already returned to Binhe County,” Lin Shuqing explained with a smile, “Do you have time tomorrow? You’ve been to Qingzhou a few times, and I haven’t been able to properly treat you to a meal.”

On the fifth day of the month, Lin Shuqing was provoked by Shen Jiaying and began to work on breaking off the engagement with the Shen family, so she didn’t have time to contact Lu Sheng.

In recent months, the amount of wine ordered by Qingfeng Restaurant has been increasing month by month. Now, with a demand of three thousand catties per month, it is the largest customer besides Yuchun Tower.

Lu Sheng had wanted to find an opportunity to properly thank Lin Shuqing, but she went to the Lin family in Binhe County twice and couldn’t find anyone.

“Sounds good,” Lu Sheng replied with a smile, “Tomorrow…”

“I’m afraid that won’t work.”

Lu Sheng’s words were interrupted by a delicate female voice before she could finish.

Shen Jiaying, dressed in a smoke-purple silk dress, walked lightly to Lin Shuqing’s side, gracefully hooking her arm, and said with a smile in her eyes, “Did you forget? We are going home to eat with Father tomorrow?”

Seeing the scene before her, Lu Sheng suddenly realized that Shen Jiaying must be the fiancée Lin Shuqing had mentioned was supposed to be engaged to.

No wonder she felt that Lin Shuqing and Shen Jiaying were somewhat different during the Dragon Boat Festival last time. So this was it, but they didn’t seem close last time.

Seeing Lin Shuqing’s slightly furrowed brow, Lu Sheng immediately thought of a phrase: commercial marriage alliance.

While feeling emotional, she also felt pity and sympathy for Lin Shuqing.

Born into a large family, marriage was probably not up to her.

And being in the world of the book, she feared some things were also arranged long ago.

Lin Shuqing was displeased but did not shake off Shen Jiaying’s hand. She just said indifferently, “I forgot.”

She had never agreed with Shen Jiaying to go to the Shen family for dinner. Just saying she forgot instead of directly exposing her was already giving her enough face.

“Then we can only reschedule,” Lin Shuqing said gently to Lu Sheng.

With Shen Jiaying present, she did not want to set another date directly.

“Your memory is really not very good,” Shen Jiaying smiled and chided her.

Her slightly curved phoenix eyes were full of smiles, but the meaning in her words was subtly veiled, admonishing her.

Last time, Lin Shuqing tried to break off the engagement but failed, and almost lost control of the family business. Everything returned to normal only after the betrothal gifts were smoothly exchanged on the twenty-first of June.

Lin Shuqing didn’t want Shen Jiaying to interact too much with Lu Sheng, so she found an excuse to take her away.

After wandering alone in the courtyard for a while, Lu Sheng ran into Fang Jing, Ruan Peng’s wife. Fang Jing had seen Lu Sheng and Qi Zhenshu together before and recognized her.

After exchanging a few pleasantries, Lu Sheng followed Fang Jing to the Shanyatang and was arranged to sit at a table with the female relatives of the Ruan family.

Lu Sheng occasionally glanced towards the door, recognizing the white figure the moment it appeared at the corner of the corridor.

Her eyes lit up for an instant, only to dim immediately.

At the end of the corridor, Princess Changning passed through the moon gate one step ahead of Qi Zhenshu. Then her pace paused slightly, and she walked side-by-side with the catching-up Qi Zhenshu.

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