The princess was ordained by Heaven.

Chapter 233 Persuasion and Arrangements

Zheng Xun untied the purse at his waist and placed the medicine inside into his palm: "Your hand is injured, put some medicine on it."

Dazhuang looked at his palm.

A white porcelain bottle lay on top.

Although the porcelain vase is not large, it is decorated with a cluster of orchids, which is simple, charming, and very beautiful.

His hands were rough, cracked, with thick calluses and deep lines, which seemed out of place with such an exquisite bottle.

However, it is indeed in his hands now.

After a long silence, he finally spoke, "Okay."

Zheng Xun nodded slightly and waved goodbye to him.

Dazhuang remained crouched in place, still in a daze, until her figure gradually disappeared at the end of the long street.

Bai Xiaohu shook his head; he also had to deal with important matters.

……

Zheng Xun seemed to be just wandering around aimlessly, but she could talk to anyone.

Those soldiers who had become dispirited because they couldn't persuade the people quickly regained their energy and confidence after listening to her advice and guidance.

However, there were quite a few unexpected incidents along the way.

Wu Zongyu counted, and on this one street alone, there were more than a dozen people who came to question her.

Normally, ordinary people wouldn't have such courage, but at this moment, most of them were blinded by rage.

"Princess, if you insist on making us leave, what if my family's valuables are stolen? Who will be responsible?"

"I will not take responsibility, but I have given you a choice. It is your freedom to choose which path to take."

"Princess! I don't want to leave! Please!"

"I am having people persuade you to leave, not forcing you to leave."

Zheng Xun's attitude was to neither explain nor force anything, adopting a "let them have their way" attitude.

But the more she acts this way, the more suspicious people become.

Once you hesitate, you'll naturally start trying to convince yourself.

Yes, the princess had no grudge against them, so what was the point of driving them all away?

This doesn't do the princess any good, and if it's just fooling around, her attitude is far too casual.

At this point, the soldiers in charge of this area would take the opportunity to persuade the enemy.

During the day Zheng Xun wandered around, more than half of the people were persuaded.

Wu Zongyu watched in amazement.

"If only the princess could be in two places at once, the efficiency of the people below would be so much higher."

Not every common person is so gentle.

Along the way, they have heard countless insults, both overt and covert.

Wu Zongyu trembled with fear, terrified that Zheng Xun would be angry.

However, Zheng Xun did not react at all, because she was thinking about something else.

"Have the first group of people who agreed to leave today already set off? Tell them not to delay on their journey."

"Yes."

"Although they agreed to move to Pingbo Mountain, life after the move will definitely not be as comfortable as it was at home. If anyone changes their mind, remember to appease them in time."

She didn't want the person who had been following the plan to suddenly slip out of her control.

Zheng Xun narrowed her eyes, her tone cold and sharp: "Since you've already embarked on the path I've laid out, then behave yourselves. If I find out that anyone has opened a loophole and caused others to rebel as well..."

Wu Zongyu's expression turned slightly grim: "Yes, Your Majesty, I will certainly give the order."

After touring the entire prefectural capital, Zheng Xun, with his hands in his pockets, walked back with Wu Zongyu.

"Wu Zongyu, how many wealthy families are there in Tingzhou?"

After she asked the question, she saw cold sweat starting to pour from Wu Zongyu's forehead.

Well, there's no need to ask anymore; he definitely doesn't know.

"Within half a day, remember how many wealthy households there are and how many have left. Spread the word so that the people can hear it clearly."

Although most wealthy families moved away obediently because they dared not disobey Zheng Xun's orders, if she said they had received inside information before fleeing, no one would dare to deny it, right?

The common people might not believe Zheng Xun's empty words, but once they saw the powerful and wealthy who valued their lives leaving in a hurry, they would inevitably have some doubts.

After all, if they didn't know something, why would they abandon such a large family business and run away?

No matter how valuable their possessions are, can they be more valuable than those of wealthy families?

Once they start thinking that way, they will naturally waver, and it will be easier to persuade them then.

Wu Zongyu wiped the cold sweat from his forehead and, upon hearing Zheng Xun's detailed instructions for the next task, felt a sense of shame for the first time.

He has always been extremely selfish and has been a cold-hearted bystander his whole life, so how could he feel ashamed?

He clutched his chest, looking bewildered.

After returning, Wu Zong spent a day completing the tasks Zheng Xun had assigned him.

The next day, when the night was quiet and my busy mind was at rest, the thoughts I had set aside returned to my mind.

He tossed and turned, unable to sleep, and finally took a jar of wine and went into the courtyard.

Today, the sky is full of stars and the ground is bathed in moonlight, so much so that you can see the path ahead even without a lantern.

He sat down on the stone bench in the courtyard and removed the mud seal from the wine jar.

"By the way, isn't your butt cold?"

Wu Zongyu was almost startled by the sudden sound.

He searched for a while before finally spotting Pang Yunyi standing in the shade under the tree.

Wu Zongyu: "What are you doing hiding there?"

"Just kidding."

"You are childish!"

“Pretty childish,” Pang Yunyi said casually as he sat down on another stone bench, picked up a wine jar from the table, and took a swig. “I must say, this wine is pretty good.”

The stool was too low, making Pang Yunyi uncomfortable. He stretched out his legs before looking up at Wu Zongyu: "Lord Wu, you seem to be in a bad mood? Is something on your mind? Why don't you tell me?"

"What could possibly be on my mind?" Wu Zongyu said, but still sat down opposite Pang Yunyi.

He snatched the wine jar back and gulped down a mouthful.

The liquor was strong, and he wasn't used to it. As soon as it went down his throat, it made his face turn red, and he coughed for a long time before he recovered.

Pang Yunyi shook his head and muttered, "Weakling."

Wu Zongyu did not hear it.

He was a little dizzy, and that's how he started talking.

"Pang Yunyi, what do you think is the purpose of everything the princess is doing now?"

"Right? You also think the princess's prophecy about the earthquake is nonsense, right?"

Wu Zongyu ignored him and continued, "She did it to save someone, but why?"

She was the emperor's most beloved princess, getting whatever she wanted. She didn't need to do much; people would adore and fawn over her.

To be honest, everything she's doing now is thankless work.

If there really is an earthquake, some people will be grateful to her, but those whose family members and belongings cannot be saved will inevitably hate her, hate her for not being able to do a good deed to the end when she knew there would be an earthquake.

It may sound ridiculous, but that's the reality.

These past two days, when Zheng Xun went out, the things people said to her were unbearable to hear.

He thought she would be tired and heartbroken, but she wasn't.

Wu Zongyu was puzzled.

He just couldn't understand what she was after.