The main courtyard's lights were not extinguished until the hour of Hai.
The lights in the west courtyard, however, still glowed faintly.
Ji Renran had initially intended to mock Ji Zizhao, but instead, she heard that Jin Xueyan had been beaten into a pig's head and taken away by her family.
However, today's events made Ji Renran understand her grandmother's thoughts.
It seemed her grandmother truly intended to abandon Jin Xueyan. This was perfect; the fewer people around her grandmother, the more important she would appear.
With Jin Xueyan as a stepping stone, Ji Renran's mood improved considerably.
She stood up, walked to her desk, picked up her brush, and wrote a letter, informing the Fifth Prince that she had already established herself in the Ji family.
The letter was sent out by Granny Song. Soon, Zhang Ji delivered the message to Ji Zizhao.
Ji Zizhao didn't pay much attention. Even if Ji Renran was eager to share the good news with the Fifth Prince, the Fifth Prince probably wouldn't have the time to share her joy at this moment.
However, thinking about it, the Fifth Prince should have already arrived in Luoyi County by now…
If that was the case, her meeting gift would soon be put to use.
At this very moment, Xie Jingzhou, dusty and weary, arrived in Luoyi with his entourage. The moment he stepped into the county town, he was stunned.
Dust swirled everywhere, dilapidated walls and broken wells. Weeds as tall as a man grew all over the town.
Faced with such a shocking scene, even though Xie Jingzhou had prepared himself, he was still somewhat dazed.
This was hardly a county town!
It could be described as a desolate wilderness.
But since he had come, Xie Jingzhou couldn't just turn back. He could only stand on the spot, bracing himself for what was to come.
Chen Gang had already received the news and was now telling the Seventh Prince, "Your Highness, the Fifth Prince has arrived in the county town."
Xie Jingqi, who was busy helping Han Jingyu set up the clinic, frowned impatiently. "He's here, so he's here."
Chen Gang truly admired the Seventh Prince's dismissive attitude, but remembering his master's instructions in the letter to take good care of the hardworking Fifth Prince, who had willingly dedicated himself to public works, he remained standing. "I heard that the Fifth Prince came on his own accord, requesting from the Emperor to assist Your Highness. If Your Highness does not personally lead the Fifth Prince, how will the Fifth Prince know where to begin helping?"
Xie Jingqi scoffed. He didn't believe that Xie Jingzhou would be so kind.
However, Chen Gang's words reminded him. Since Xie Jingzhou came under the guise of offering help, there was no reason for Xie Jingzhou to stand by and watch him work.
Having figured this out, Xie Jingqi immediately handed over his task to Han Jingyu. "You continue with the work, and I'll bring some laborers to help you."
Han Jingyu was speechless.
Only the Seventh Prince would dare to refer to the Fifth Prince as a laborer.
Xie Jingqi, true to his word, immediately headed towards the county town gate.
It was noon, and there were quite a few commoners on the streets. Xie Jingzhou was about to put on his princely airs when, before he could even do so, he was grabbed by the collar and dragged away by Xie Jingqi.
Sa Meng was speechless.
Seventh Prince, why are you acting so impulsively!
Chen Gang stepped forward to block Sa Meng, who was about to chase after them. "The Seventh Prince said that they are short-handed for building the clinic. You've arrived just in time."
Sa Meng naturally disdained such manual labor, but seeing that their own prince had been dragged away by the Seventh Prince, he had no choice but to follow Chen Gang with his men.
Han Jingyu and the others watched as the Fifth Prince and his entourage, who had just arrived in the county town, were dumped by the Seventh Prince in front of a pile of lumber. Some carried wood, some built houses, and in the blink of an eye, they were all covered in dust and dirt.
However, with the Seventh Prince watching closely, no one dared to slack off. Even the Fifth Prince, in his fine silk robes, had to help carry bricks alongside the Seventh Prince.
After a day of hard labor, the Fifth Prince's hands were raw and peeling. While eating dinner, his hands trembled uncontrollably as he held his chopsticks.
Looking at the Seventh Prince opposite him, who was wolfing down his food, Xie Jingzhou said, "I didn't expect my seventh brother to be so devoted to the well-being of the people. Father Emperor would surely be pleased. Unlike you, I have limited abilities, though I wish to do my best."
Xie Jingzhou's words were clearly intended to curry favor with Xie Jingqi, so that he could speak well of Xie Jingqi to their father when they returned to the imperial city.
Although Xie Jingzhou didn't want to speak up for Xie Jingqi, the thought of repeating today's work tomorrow made him grit his teeth and accept it.
He was a prince, perhaps even the future crown prince. It wasn't that he couldn't do the work, but even if he could, he disdained doing such menial tasks.
Anyone else hearing these words would have been lenient, as Xie Jingzhou had already spoken so eloquently. But Xie Jingqi's thought process was never aligned with that of a normal person.
"If you want to do your best for Father Emperor, mere words won't suffice. Fifth Brother, don't get upset. I'll continue to work with you tomorrow."
Xie Jingzhou coughed several times before saying, "Seventh brother is skilled in martial arts, and I, as your elder brother, am ashamed of my inferiority. Building the clinic and pharmacy is a matter of great importance to the court, and Father Emperor is very concerned about it. It would be bad if I delayed it."
This matter was originally proposed by Xie Jingqi. Xie Jingzhou's intervention to their father was merely to gain some credit.
Moreover, the reputation of the Seventh Prince was being praised all around Luoyi County for his efforts. It had nothing to do with him, the Fifth Prince. Why should he work so hard?
Xie Jingqi frowned and looked up, his eyes filled with disdain. "I've said it before, I asked you all to practice martial arts with me, but you've all become as weak as women. It's not that I want to make things difficult for Fifth Brother, but even if other princes came today, they would have to work with me."
Xie Jingzhou wanted to laugh, but he couldn't.
Although he came here to gain some credit, being treated like a fool by the Seventh Prince was simply infuriating.
"Fifth Brother, it's not that I, your younger brother, want to criticize you, but you really need to strengthen your body. Otherwise, not only will your first wife run away, but your future wives might also leave you." Xie Jingqi felt his words were valid. Who would want to live with a cowardly weakling?
Just thinking about it was upsetting.
Xie Jingzhou was speechless.
Was this a negotiation?
This was a personal attack!
"Seventh Brother…"
"If Fifth Brother doesn't want to work, then leave quickly. I don't keep pretty boys here."
Xie Jingzhou had been at odds with Xie Jingqi since childhood, and he knew that Xie Jingqi disliked him.
Over the years, Xie Jingzhou had regretted not drowning Xie Jingqi during that incident in the back garden.
Xie Jingqi was the prince favored by their father, and his mother was the concubine favored by their father. If Xie Jingqi had truly died, no one would have been able to shake his position.
In fact, this wasn't a big deal. Their father had so many sons, and weren't they all smiling on the surface while harboring turbulent undercurrents beneath?
But Xie Jingqi was an oddity among the princes. He had a temper, spoke frankly, and resorted to fists when unreasonable. The other princes disdained to bicker with Xie Jingqi, considering it beneath them. Over time, this led to everyone avoiding Xie Jingqi.
After all, arguing with someone as vulgar as Xie Jingqi in public was undignified.
Looking at Xie Jingqi, who was eating and drinking heartily opposite him, Xie Jingzhou's face turned as dark as charcoal with anger.
But since Xie Jingqi had already said those words, what else could he say?
Currently, countless eyes in the imperial city were watching this lucrative project of building the clinic. Who wouldn't want to seize this opportunity to gain favor with their father? Xie Jingzhou certainly couldn't just give up such a good opportunity.
Xie Jingzhou could only…
Continue carrying wood and building houses tomorrow.