Chapter 24

Chapter 24: Acting as Heaven's Envoy in Jiangdong Prefecture (Part 2)

"Master," Feng Lan said somewhat flustered, hurriedly trying to get up from Si Cang Qing's embrace. He didn't 

expect the other person to pull him into their arms. For a moment, his mind was in a complete mess, and Feng 

Lan's face turned red and ears flushed with anxiety, "Master, please, please let go of me..."

"Don't move," Si Cang Qing said impatiently in a low voice, reaching out to pull the other person into his arms. 

He wasn't like Feng Lan, who would give up his spot to let others take shelter from the rain while he stood out 

in it. However, he didn't want to see Feng Lan squeezed among the refugees, exposed to the wind and rain. This 

scene made him somewhat displeased.

Looking at Si Cang Qing, who appeared unfazed, Feng Lan's hand hesitated for a moment, staring blankly at the 

other person. After a while, he finally realized that the space was too small and cramped, and Si Cang Qing was 

letting him sit in his lap to keep him from getting wet in the rain!

Master... 

Feng Lan sighed softly. He really does care about me! Clearly, he is always so cold and indifferent, showing no 

concern for anyone or anything, but he always cares about me without leaving a trace.

With his eyes slightly lowered, Feng Lan recalled the days when he had been depressed for a long time because 

of the Fourteen's words. He smiled, feeling relieved. With Si Cang Qing treating him this way, what more could 

he ask for?

Here, Feng Lan's thoughts were in disarray, while Si Cang Qing simply sat cross-legged, eyes closed in 

meditation, one hand naturally resting around Feng Lan's waist. Over there, the people in the dilapidated house, 

due to Si Cang Qing's invisible aura, were not like the refugees elsewhere who were crowding and making noise; 

they were all silent, occasionally stealing glances at the two.

Feeling dozens of gazes around her, Feng Lan, no matter how dull he was, couldn't pretend to be oblivious. He 

glanced around, then looked at Si Cang Qing, his face slightly flushed, and whispered, "Master, we still have 

some dry rations, can we...?" 

"Do as you wish!" Before Feng Lan could finish, Si Cang Qing said calmly.

"Thank you, Master." Feng Lan, feeling a surge of emotion, opened the bundle beside him. He felt relieved that 

he had prepared quite a bit of dry food just in case. Although it wasn't tasty, it was very filling.

Picking up the bundle, Feng Lan suddenly remembered that there were still two umbrellas. He had forgotten 

them for a moment. Looking at Si Cang Qing, who was still holding him tightly, Feng Lan pondered for a 

moment, then turned his head to the drenched crowd and said, "There are two umbrellas here, you can squeeze 

in."

"Thank you very much, sir!" The people quickly expressed their gratitude. 

Feng Lan's face showed a hint of embarrassment as he took out more dry rations, slightly troubled: There are so 

many people, how can the rations be divided among them?

When Feng Lan was in trouble, everyone's eyes in the room were fixed tightly on the bundle in his hand, 

occasionally swallowing saliva, all of them itching to make a move. 

At that moment, Si Cang Qing suddenly opened his eyes and looked at the crowd, his cold gaze immediately 

instilling a bit of fear in everyone, making them dare not act rashly.

After hesitating for a moment, Feng Lan finally made up his mind and said with some difficulty, "Our rations are 

limited, so we can only share them with some of you." 

Upon hearing this, the refugees all stared intently at Feng Lan's every move. If it weren't for Si Cang Qing's icy 

cold gaze, they probably would have rushed forward to grab the food.

"I'll do it," Si Cang Qing suddenly spoke up, taking the bundle from Feng Lan's hands. Then, he scanned each 

person one by one, occasionally tossing the allocated rations accurately into someone's arms. 

The eager gazes of everyone made Feng Lan feel uncomfortable, so he averted her eyes and just looked down 

at Si Cang Qing's clothes.

Before long, Si Cang Qing finished distributing the rations and said calmly, "In a few days, the government will 

open the granary. Just hold on for a few more days!" 

"Really?" Upon hearing this, everyone was overjoyed and began to ask questions all at once.

"How do you know?" one of the bolder men asked, staring intently at Si Cang Qing. 

However, Si Cang Qing did not respond, closing his eyes again and ignoring the somewhat restless refugees.

Looking at the handsome face right in front of him, the complex emotions that Feng Lan had almost forgotten 

surged back into his heart. Just now, it was because of him that Si Cang Qing meddled in "other people's 

business," right?

Night is gradually deepening. The rain has also stopped.

The originally crowded and noisy refugees have all fallen into a deep sleep, exhausted. Inside the dilapidated 

house, there is complete silence.

Feng Lan, who had been stiffly sitting in Si Cang Qing's arms, slowly relaxed. Looking at Si Cang Qing, who 

had his eyes closed the whole time, he hesitated for a moment, then cautiously reached out his hands and gently 

hugged his waist.

Feeling that the other party had no intention of stopping him, Feng Lan slowly leaned his head on Si Cang Qing's 

shoulder, his hands unconsciously tightening as he hugged him tightly. 

Si Cang Qing, like an old monk in meditation, remained completely still from beginning to end. 

In the night, inside the dilapidated house, among the refugees, the two clung to each other.

◇Cang Huan◇Seven Palaces◇

Leaning in Si Cang Qing's embrace, inhaling the familiar and comforting fragrance, Feng Lan's lips curled 

slightly, revealing a satisfied, gentle smile. Although he was a grown man, sitting in the arms of a man five or 

six years younger than him felt a bit strange.

But... the feeling in his heart is overwhelming and cannot be suppressed.

"Master..." 

With his eyes closed, Feng Lan gently called out, knowing that Si Cang Qing was definitely not asleep. 

"Hmm."

"I," Feng Lan's voice was very low, so low that even he himself could not hear clearly, "can I stay by my master's 

side like this forever?" 

Si Cang Qing heard it and replied faintly, "Mm."

The smile gradually widened, Feng Lan opened his eyes again, slowly lifted his head, leaned on Si Cang Qing's 

shoulder, and gazed at the handsome face before him, perfect and cold. He murmured softly, his voice barely 

audible, "Master, I like you..."

The timing and place were all wrong, but in such an atmosphere, Feng Lan felt a wild impulse rise within him, 

making him involuntarily speak the words that lay deepest in his heart.

...Even if it results in the destruction of heaven and earth, there will be no regrets!

Si Cang Qing finally opened his eyes, slightly lowered his head, and saw the familiar, clear, gentle eyes right in 

front of him. "Do you like me?" 

Meeting Si Cang Qing's gaze, the courage he had just mustered vanished in an instant. Feng Lan, somewhat 

flustered and embarrassed, lowered his head, not daring to look at Si Cang Qing's reaction.

Quietly watching Feng Lan, who had his head bowed in front of him, Si Cang Qing couldn't deny that when he 

heard him say he liked him just now, a faint happiness rose in his heart. Although he didn't quite understand 

the meaning of "like," it didn't mean Si Cang Qing was foolish. He clearly knew that Feng Lan was different; 

his importance in his heart might even outweigh that of Lu Huan and the others.

He doesn't know if this feeling is what liking someone is like.

Looking at Feng Lan, who was at a loss for words, Si Cang Qing no longer pressed for answers. He simply said 

coldly, "Since you said you like me, you can't go back on your word."

If it were someone else, he wouldn't care at all about whether they liked him or not, but Feng Lan is different. 

Since he cares and the other person has openly said they like him, he can't possibly let go.

A bit taken aback, Feng Lan suddenly raised his head and stared straight into Si Cang Qing's eyes. There, the 

coldness remained, but it was clearly tinged with a hint of gentleness.

"Master..."

"Lan," Si Cang Qing's tone remained somewhat casual, "I don't know if I like you, I don't understand these things, 

but if it's you, I'm willing to give it a try."

His body trembled slightly, eyes slightly reddened, and a faint smile curved the corners of his lips. With a firm 

tone, he said, "Feng Lan likes the master and will never regret it." After saying this, he tightened his arms even 

more and buried his face deeply in Si Cang Qing's shoulder.

"Mm." Si Cang Qing raised his other hand, gently patting the slightly trembling body in his arms. The arm 

wrapped around Feng Lan's waist also tightened a bit. After a long while, he slowly spoke, "Rest for a bit." 

Nodding silently, Feng Lan closed his eyes with a smile, nestled in Si Cang Qing's arms, and gradually fell into 

a deep sleep.

……

Inside Zhaoyang City, the former prosperity is gone, and the streets are filled with refugees who had arrived 

recently, creating a scene of chaos.

Inside a spacious restaurant, every corner is packed with people.

In the study of the backyard, a man in his fifties, with a mournful face, said to the young man sitting at the desk 

calculating with an abacus, "Boss, we've spent all the money we earned last year in just half a month. The number 

of refugees is increasing day by day. This can't go on!"

The young man smiled gently, "Uncle Fu, money is meant to be spent. If it runs out, we can earn more!" 

"Boss..." Uncle Fu's face fell, cautiously looking at him, "Have you been stimulated in any way?"

The implication is, are you out of your mind?

Hearing this, the young man was not angry and smiled gently, "Uncle Fu, don't worry, this boss is in very good 

shape!”

"I don't understand, little old man..." Uncle Fu murmured. This couldn't be blamed on his stupidity; even the 

other staff in the restaurant couldn't figure out the boss's intentions. Throughout the vast expanse of Canghuan, 

who didn't know that the richest man in the world, Qiu Ping Tian, the owner of Qiu Luo Mountain Villa, was a 

miserly old man who wouldn't part with a single coin? He carried his abacus with him everywhere, even to bed.

Nowadays, Qiu Ping Tian, who came to Jiangdong to inspect the shops, happened to encounter this refugee riot. 

Zhao Yang City was sealed off, making it impossible to leave. It's unclear what was going on in the mind of this 

young master of the Qui family, but upon seeing the refugees on the streets with nowhere to stay and nothing to 

eat, he insisted on letting them stay in this restaurant, which is usually hard for even ordinary people to glance at. 

At this time, weren't other merchants taking the opportunity to inflate prices and make a big profit? How come 

this usually shrewd boss ended up making a blunder?

Qiu Ping Tian smiled and shook his head, looking at Uncle Fu, who had been wearing a pained expression for 

the past few days. He said lightly, "A gentleman loves wealth and seeks it through proper means. Taking 

advantage of chaos to profit, our Qiu Luo Mountain Villa is not so lowly as to stoop to that!"

"But," Uncle Fu insisted, "even so, there's no need to hand over the restaurant to the refugees!"

"Uncle Fu," Qiuping Tian sighed, "The flood in the South River has left countless people homeless, and now 

they are all pouring into Zhaoyang City. If there is no place for them to stay, and all the shops raise their prices, 

do you think Zhaoyang City can be saved? A cornered rabbit will even bite. If a riot breaks out, the government 

won't be able to catch them all, and all the shops will suffer."

Understanding a bit, Uncle Fu still felt somewhat uncomfortable, "Boss, I do pity those refugees, but... saving 

one is one thing, saving them all is another. Besides, at this rate, our Qiushui Restaurant won't be able to hold on 

either!"

The Qiu family has a lot of business in Zhaoyang City, but they have not opened a rice shop. The local rice shops 

are all colluding with each other, especially after Qiu Shui Restaurant took in these refugees, they even asked for 

extravagant prices!

Speaking of this, Qiuping Tian gave a faint smile, "There are rumors that the court has sent an imperial envoy 

to inspect the situation. By then, things should improve!" His Royal Highness, the Crown Prince, has made 

outstanding achievements in the past year, and has been highly praised by the people.

"Really?" Uncle Fu doubted. 

"It should be!" Qiu Ping Tian wasn't very sure either. 

"Forget it, it's already like this, what else can I do," Uncle Fu sighed, then changed the subject, "Boss, it wasn't 

until today that I realized people outside have misunderstood you!"

What "only take the world's profits"? Look, besides their Qiu family, which merchant is so generous as to give 

up their territory and spend silver to support wave after wave of refugees?

Hearing this, he was slightly startled, and Qiu Ping Tian chuckled lightly, a hint of intrigue at the corner of his 

mouth: "Hehe, Uncle Fu, what people outside say isn't entirely unreasonable."

Uncle Fu had no idea about Qiuping Tian's convoluted thoughts. This time, although he genuinely intended to 

help the refugees, he was, after all, a businessman and couldn't engage in a losing deal. He was merely sacrificing 

a small profit now for a larger one in the future!

There will always come a day when the flood disaster is resolved. By then, the already reputable Qiuluo 

Mountain Villa will be even more renowned, and this will be a good deal for him.

Moreover... 

Qiu Ping Tian put down the ledger in his hands, walked to the window, and looked at the crowded refugees 

outside. 

If he hasn't deduced incorrectly, the current crown prince seems to have the intention of developing commerce. 

Over the past year, he has issued quite a few regulations to relax commercial controls. 

Perhaps, this is an opportunity for Qiuluo Manor to become the imperial merchant of the Canghuan Kingdom.
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