"You can't possibly believe that girl's words, can you?" Si Junlin looked at Su Wan'er with an amused expression.
Su Wan'er always felt as if her intelligence had been underestimated.
But she did seem to believe that the child was telling the truth. However... would a child like that really lie?
"Seems like you really do believe it." Si Junlin looked at Su Wan'er seriously.
"Fine. I'll go talk to Long Xiaojiu myself about this." Su Wan'er decided to have a talk with Long Xiaojiu.
To let her give up this thought, Si Junlin let her go to Long Xiaojiu on her own. After all, the people from Southern Border had come, and it was up to Long Xiaojiu to decide whether to meet the envoy.
Since they shared the same idea, Su Wan'er immediately took action. She left Si Junlin's palace and headed straight for Long Xiaojiu's.
As soon as she entered, she heard a quarrel.
"Who are you? Why are you in my courtyard?" It was Lan Tian's voice.
"What do you mean your courtyard? This is clearly my courtyard. Uncle Emperor assigned it to me." Long Xiaojiu argued.
To prevent them from fighting it out, Su Wan'er quickly pushed the door open and walked in.
"Uncle Emperor." Hearing the door open, the two people quarreling in the courtyard both turned their heads towards the door. When they saw Su Wan'er, they each showed different expressions.
Lan Tian bowed respectfully to Su Wan'er and said, "Your subject, Lan Tian, pays respects to Your Majesty. May Your Majesty live long!"
Long Xiaojiu, on the other hand, rushed straight up and hugged Su Wan'er's waist. "Uncle Emperor, he's bullying me."
"Hmm?" Su Wan'er looked up at Lan Tian.
Lan Tian immediately got a bit angry. "Don't make false accusations. When did I ever bully you?"
"I say you did." Long Xiaojiu stuck out her tongue at him.
Su Wan'er shook her head helplessly. She put her arm around Long Xiaojiu and asked Lan Tian, "How's the flood situation in Nancheng?"
Lan Tian said sulkily, "What else could it be? Once the people from my Heavenly Works Pavilion take action, there's nothing we can't accomplish."
Looking at his conceited look, Su Wan'er found it quite funny.
Previously, he always gave the impression of being a bit dull. Suddenly changing his demeanor almost made Su Wan'er wonder if the person in front of her was sent by the Rong family to impersonate him.
Su Wan'er shook her head helplessly and said to him, "I'm naturally at ease when you take action. I'm just curious. Did you encounter any difficulties during the flood control when you came back this time?"
Lan Tian was silent for a while, then said to Su Wan'er, "Your Majesty, some of the nobles in Nancheng. Your subject told them that the funds for building the dam were insufficient and wanted them to raise money together. I even showed them Your Majesty's imperial edict, but they just wouldn't listen. They said that the edict didn't mention asking them to donate money, so they ignored your subject's words."
"So, you came back this time for..." Su Wan'er roughly guessed what it was.
"Yes, Your subject came back this time to ask Your Majesty for a favor so that I can raise the funds for building the dam from those powerful and wealthy people in a proper way." Lan Tian bowed respectfully to Su Wan'er.
Su Wan'er frowned and asked Lan Tian, "Why didn't you submit a memorial to the court? The court can afford the money for building the dam."
Lan Tian sighed. "There are too many places where the court needs to spend money. Those nobles have countless amounts of wealth. This is for the peace of Nancheng. Since the local common people have all contributed their efforts, shouldn't they contribute some silver?"
Su Wan'er thought for a moment, then suddenly her eyes lit up. "I've got it."
"Is Your Majesty going to issue an imperial edict?" Lan Tian asked.
"Yes." Su Wan'er responded to him, then turned to Fang Xi and said, "Fang Xi, prepare the writing brush and ink."
"Yes, Your Majesty."
Then, Su Wan'er wrote an imperial proclamation.
It didn't say that the local gentry should be forced to give silver to Lan Tian. Instead, it said, "I intend to build a merit stele by the Nan River. All those who donate silver can have their names engraved on the dam. The top three donors will have their names painted in gold on it, to be remembered through the ages and praised by future generations."
Su Wan'er handed the imperial proclamation to Fang Xi and told Fang Xi to make several copies and give them to Lan Tian.
Lan Tian took a quick look at the imperial proclamation written by Su Wan'er and asked puzzledly, "Your Majesty, will this really make them voluntarily hand over the silver?"
Long Xiaojiu said disdainfully, "Uncle Emperor has already given you a favor. That's already giving you a lot of face. Don't push your luck. Who do you think you are?"
"Adults are talking. Kids shouldn't interrupt." Lan Tian glared at her, then turned to look at Su Wan'er, waiting for her answer.
Su Wan'er was just about to explain. Now that he was looking at her, she explained to him, "This is just an idea of mine. You can go and try it first. If those gentry and wealthy households are not willing to contribute money, you can write a letter and have the secret guards send it here. I'll give you another favor then."
"Why not just give it directly?" Lan Tian really couldn't understand.
Su Wan'er continued to explain, "I could indeed give you the favor directly. But in this world, suppression by force is always the inferior way. If we can make them willing to take out the money, isn't it a win - win situation?"
Although Lan Tian always felt that if the "Emperor" personally ordered them to contribute money, it would be faster than hanging up some imperial proclamation. But since the "royal family" had already given the order, he could only obey.
He was really curious to see if the "Emperor"'s conciliatory policy would actually work.
Su Wan'er wasn't really sure if it would work either, but she had to give it a try.
After getting the favor, Lan Tian couldn't wait to leave.
Now only Su Wan'er and Long Xiaojiu were sitting in the pavilion.
"Uncle Emperor, did you come to see me for something?" Long Xiaojiu could tell that Su Wan'er had come for something since she hadn't left.
Su Wan'er lovingly stroked her head. "Yes. This time I'm here to talk to you about your family."
"About my family?" Long Xiaojiu's eyes immediately lit up. "Did Uncle Emperor find my family?"
Su Wan'er shook her head. "No. Uncle Emperor found the princess of your country. She's coming here for a marriage alliance."
"I see..." Long Xiaojiu's eyes were filled with indescribable loneliness.
Su Wan'er thought her mood was a bit strange. "Xiaojiu, what's wrong? Don't you want your family to come and take you back?"
"They're not my family." Long Xiaojiu said very resistantly.
"Even if they're not your family, they're from the same country as you. Isn't it good that they can take you back?" Su Wan'er thought Long Xiaojiu's attitude was a bit strange and continued to ask.