Chapter 59

Xiao Xixi nodded obediently: "I have seen him."

Lu Qinghan: "Do you know why he came to seek an audience with me?"

"Yes, my mother and my younger sister fell ill after falling into the water. My father wants to request your grace to allow the imperial physicians to leave the palace to treat them."

"Do you hope I will help him?"

Xiao Xixi nodded: "I do."

Lu Qinghan's gaze was probing: "You don't like them, do you? Why do you still hope I will help them? Are you planning to repay evil with kindness?"

"I indeed don't like them much, but I don't wish for them to die, especially my younger sister. She is just a child, innocent, and I don't want her to die young; it would be too tragic. Putting aside these personal feelings, my father has some talent in leading troops into battle. At this moment, he is in need of help. If Your Highness can extend your grace to him, he will remember it deeply. In the future, when you ascend the throne, he might become a valuable ally."

Lu Qinghan looked at her steadily.

Xiao Xixi blinked: "Why are you looking at me like that, Your Highness?"

After a long pause, Lu Qinghan finally spoke: "You see things quite clearly."

Xiao Xixi said modestly: "Thank you for your praise, Your Highness."

In fact, when Xiao Lingfeng came to seek help, Lu Qinghan had already prepared to assist him. However, he understood the principle that a small favor can turn into a grudge, so he had Chang Gonggong put on a show.

Chang Gonggong deliberately acted very troubled in front of Xiao Lingfeng, going back and forth three times, delaying as much as possible. It wasn't until Xiao Lingfeng was at his wit's end and knelt down to beg that he finally agreed to his request.

This way, the prince's favor seemed extremely hard-won, and Xiao Lingfeng would naturally value it even more.

Lu Qinghan did not tell the woman in front of him about these manipulative tactics; she didn't need to know about these complicated matters.

Lu Qinghan said coolly: "I have already sent Chang Xi with your father to the Imperial Medical Bureau. As for whether your mother and sister can survive this time, it will depend on the grace of heaven."

Xiao Xixi said lightly: "I have already divined for them. They should not be in mortal danger this time, but they will suffer some physical pain."

"Are your divinations usually accurate?"

"Pretty good, I guess."

"Can you help me divine when it will rain in the south? Four counties in the south have been suffering from drought for almost three months."

Xiao Xixi asked: "Do you have a map? The southern region is quite large, and I need to know exactly which area you are referring to."

Lu Qinghan happened to have a map of the Great Prosperous Dynasty. He had someone bring it out and spread it on the table.

He pointed to a circle on the southern part of the map and said: "It's this area that is suffering from the drought."

Xiao Xixi extended her right hand, placed it on the circled area, closed her eyes, and began to sense.

After a moment, she opened her eyes and frowned: "If my divination is correct, these four counties will not see rain until the end of this year."

Lu Qinghan did not speak, a hint of disappointment appearing in his eyes.

There are still about six months until the end of the year. If it doesn't rain, the people in the south will likely have no harvest this year.

In that case, they won't be able to pay their taxes, and they will struggle to even feed themselves.

How many more people will starve to death then?

Xiao Xixi stared at the map, her fingers tapping on it, muttering to herself.

Lu Qinghan couldn't hear what she was saying and asked directly: "What have you discovered?"