Li Weiyang smiled: “Thank you for eldest sister’s concern.” Ever since suffering a loss at the Lotus Fragrance Court last time, Li Changle seemed like a changed person. Not only was she gentle and amiable toward her, she yielded in every way and no longer showed any loss of composure.

As one would expect, the Great Madam must have taught and instructed her thoroughly.

Compared to Li Changle, Li Weiyang lacked luxurious adornments, appearing very young and immature. But the moment Tuoba Zhen saw her, he recalled her aggressive, radiant appearance in the hall that day. He couldn’t help but pay her three parts more attention. At this moment he smiled: “Third Miss, please sit.”

Li Weiyang didn’t decline. As if she couldn’t see Li Changxi’s cold face, she sat down beside Li Changxiao. Li Changxiao quietly cast her a friendly smile. Li Weiyang was somewhat surprised.

In her previous life, Li Changxiao had been just as weak and kind, obedient and sensible. Later the Great Madam married her to the Fifth Prince, but since the Fifth Prince’s birth mother was noble, Li Changxiao could only be relegated to secondary consort. The primary consort was domineering by nature, so her days were very unsatisfactory. Later she lost two children in succession, her mind gradually became disturbed, and she became a discarded chess piece of the Li family. Now seeing Li Changxiao’s friendly smile again, Li Weiyang couldn’t help but feel a bit sad. She couldn’t change everyone’s fate, but if one day the Great Madam and the others were all eliminated, would this younger sister’s fate improve somewhat—

Looking at the other side where Tuoba Zhen was smiling and talking with Li Changle, Li Weiyang couldn’t help but smile. Back then, the Great Madam had placed half her bets on the Crown Prince and half on the Seventh Prince. After weighing the options, she still betrothed Li Changle to the increasingly powerful Seventh Prince. Who knew that later the Seventh Prince lost the right to compete for the throne due to Tuoba Zhen’s false accusations. The Great Madam immediately used the excuse that Old Madam’s death required mourning to obstruct the marriage. It wasn’t until Tuoba Zhen ascended the throne that Li Changle was brought back, but in the capital she was already a twenty-five-year-old old maid. Everyone mocked the Li family for keeping this beauty who could topple kingdoms, only to keep her until she became an old woman.

At that time, she had greatly sympathized with her. At the Great Madam’s request, she often invited her to the palace to relax, never imagining that the truly foolish person was herself. The other had already secretly developed feelings long ago, but because of the tense situation in the capital, still needed her as a shield in front of Li Changle… Later when she thought it through carefully, in fact Tuoba Zhen had his eye on Li Changle from the start, but was rejected by her father due to his low status, so he settled for second best by marrying her. According to his personality, he must have harbored resentment. Once he achieved success and fame, naturally he could win the beauty and wash away his former humiliation.

Tuoba Zhen noticed that Li Weiyang’s gaze was wandering, looking absent-minded, and immediately felt this was strange.

Li Changle suddenly said: “Actually, Changle does have an idea that could resolve this natural disaster.”

Tuoba Zhen was shaken, several traces of interest floating up in his deep eyes.

Li Changle said in a clear voice: “Actually, snow disasters are heaven’s calamity and truly unavoidable, but they can be resolved through human effort. First is to open the granaries to distribute grain, and set up porridge stations at the gates of all major government offices to resolve the disaster victims’ urgent needs.”

Opening granaries to distribute grain again—disappointment appeared in Tuoba Zhen’s eyes, though his face still maintained an expression of listening attentively.

Li Changle continued unhurriedly: “Second, is to request His Majesty to hold a heaven-worshipping ceremony, inviting all the civil and military officials of the court and the high officials and nobles of the capital to go pray for blessings together. With the imperial family leading donations and the officials responding accordingly. With the imperial family and officials setting the example, the high officials and nobles of the capital naturally won’t dare to be negligent. At that time, countless riches can be collected, which can also resolve urgent needs, and moreover can display to the people of the world His Majesty’s benevolent heart and virtue, his love for and closeness to the people.”

A trace of admiration flashed through Tuoba Zhen’s eyes: “Well said! Eldest Miss has truly come up with a good idea this time.” He thought for a moment and said, “At that time, we’ll need to ask Prime Minister Li to lead the donations.”

Li Changle and Li Minfeng exchanged a glance and simultaneously revealed smiles: “Naturally.”

Tuoba Zhen smiled: “Of course, I will ask the Crown Prince to submit a memorial to Father Emperor, informing the world that this is the virtuous act of the Li family’s eldest miss. Presumably Father Emperor will certainly reward you, and Eldest Miss’s beautiful reputation will spread throughout the world. At the same time, the wealth belonging to Prime Minister Li after the donation will naturally be returned intact.”

Li Weiyang smiled slightly. Tuoba Zhen’s reaction was very quick. Right now he still depended on the Crown Prince, so naturally he couldn’t bypass the Crown Prince to make suggestions. But if he indicated this was the merit of the Li family’s eldest miss, first, the Crown Prince would consider the Li family and definitely wouldn’t take all the credit. Second, it was a perfectly appropriate way to show goodwill to Prime Minister Li. Third, Tuoba Zhen would definitely find ways to prevent the Crown Prince from going, then personally rush to the disaster area to claim this good deed that would earn the admiration of all people under heaven.

This calculation was too loud. Li Weiyang couldn’t help but smile coldly.

Li Changxi saw Li Weiyang’s thoughtful appearance and sneered: “Looking at Third Sister like this, could it be you have some idea even better than eldest sister’s?”

Li Weiyang glanced at her and said calmly: “Eldest sister’s idea is naturally good, but this cannot resolve the people’s urgent needs. What His Majesty currently lacks most is not silver, but strategies for disaster relief.”

“Oh? What strategy do you have? Speak up and let’s hear it.” Li Minfeng raised his eyebrows. This third sister had grown up among the common people, and her skills in music, chess, calligraphy, and painting were all mediocre—one could say there wasn’t a single thing she could show off. He didn’t believe she could think of any good method.

Li Weiyang deliberately showed a troubled expression.

Li Changle furrowed her brows, pressed her lips together, looked at her deeply, and spoke with a pained expression: “Every time we enjoy our luxurious food and clothing while those common people are displaced and suffering hardships, I truly cannot sleep or eat peacefully. Younger sister, if you have any good strategy, speak it for His Highness to consider. Don’t keep it to yourself.”

Li Weiyang smiled faintly. What sympathy for the common people, what unable to sleep or eat peacefully—you Li Changle eat blood swallow’s nest worth five hundred taels of silver per meal, yet here you shamelessly pretend to be virtuous? It’s nothing but wanting to establish a reputation of virtue to await the highest bidder.

She sneered inwardly but didn’t reveal it on her face at all. Instead she smiled and said: “To provide disaster relief, there are nothing more than a few essential strategies. First is to register the disaster victims who need relief. Thereafter, provide relief according to the registered roster, ensuring His Majesty’s grace reaches every disaster victim, especially focusing relief on the widowed, orphaned, and ill, avoiding scrambling or unequal distribution. Second is to implement persuasive distribution. Have wealthy families provide relief to disaster victims without compensation, or sell grain to disaster victims at reduced prices, and give all wealthy households who provide relief to disaster victims rewards of protecting their children, while punishing wealthy people who don’t participate in persuasive distribution. Third is to establish porridge factories. Have all major government offices establish places to cook porridge and distribute porridge to provide relief to disaster victims. This is also the court’s consistent practice, but officials are not devoted to it. If the disaster relief results are linked to officials’ annual evaluations and promotions, they cannot help but care—”

Everyone had originally been waiting to watch her make a fool of herself. Hearing this, they couldn’t help but reveal shocked expressions.

Seeing Li Changle reveal a look of jealous hatred, Li Weiyang smiled slightly. The fish was about to take the bait.