She Rebuilt Her Fallen Country With Storage Space-Chapter 196: Tipsy Kisses

A grand group of people, heading for the grain warehouse in the city center.

The four huge grain warehouses stand before their eyes, with Jie Chen’s men guarding nearby entrances.

Before opening the doors, the Imperial Envoy asked, "Who is on duty here?"

Lu Hong, with a submissive bow, replied, "Vice General Jie and his soldiers."

The Imperial Envoy slowly nodded, "Let’s open the warehouse and inspect it!"

The Sixth Prince stood next to Jie Chen, squinting his eyes, anticipating the moment the Imperial Envoy would erupt in thunderous fury.

However, after the four warehouse doors were flung open, it was he who was taken aback.

The warehouses were full of rice and flour, bagged in burlap sacks as if they cost nothing, stacked on the ground.

The Sixth Prince felt a shock in his heart, "How is this possible!"

A few days ago when he had inspected the place, the warehouses were completely empty, not even a mouse to be seen. ƒreeωebnovel.ƈom

Not only him, even Lu Hong was staring blankly at the full granaries.

Only Jie Chen, with a calm demeanor, extended his hand, "Mr. Liang, please inspect."

The Imperial Envoy entered the granary, randomly chose several sacks of rice and flour, had them poured out, and examined them by rubbing in his hands.

He slowly nodded, "There is no dampness or mold, that’s good. Lord Lu must remember, the grain for disaster relief must not be of poor quality."

Lu Hong was sweating profusely, "Yes, you’re right."

King Yong praised from the side, "Vice General Jie is young and able. It seems simple to guard these four warehouses, but in reality, it’s not easy, and one must be careful of bandits raiding."

Jie Chen nodded, "Precautions have been taken."

A trace of a smile finally appeared on the stern face of the Imperial Envoy.

He then turned to Jie Chen, "Vice General Jie, your hard work is appreciated. These four warehouses are the most dangerous during the famine, please ensure they are well protected."

Jie Chen bowed, "I will dutifully take care of it."

Xiang Ying, watching through the drone, saw the Sixth Prince’s face turn as pale as a cabbage, laughing so hard she trembled.

Serves him right! Thinking of bullying her Jie Chen, no chance.

Just then, the Sixth Prince recovered, stepping forward to the Imperial Envoy, "Vice General Jie’s duty is to escort prisoners from Xizhou. Guarding the warehouse may be beyond his capacity, with not enough manpower."

"I think, starting today, my men will take responsibility for guarding the warehouse. Vice General Jie should be on his way to escort the prisoners to Shangjing by now."

After he finished speaking, Xiang Ying slapped her thigh hard, infuriated, and crushed a bag of chips in her hand.

"Damn the cunning Sixth Prince, thinking of reaping benefits without any effort?"

Before there was no grain, he placed the blame elsewhere, now seeing the full warehouse, he wants to snatch the guard duty.

Grinding her teeth, Xiang Ying thought, "Jie Chen, don’t agree to him!"

Yet, unexpectedly, Jie Chen on the screen, with a composed expression and thin lips, said, "Alright, since Your Highness wishes to help, I will gladly hand over this duty."

The Imperial Envoy watched the undercurrent between the two men and said nothing.

He simply stated, "It doesn’t matter who guards the warehouse, what’s crucial is opening the shed to distribute porridge every three days, be sure to let the people fill their bellies."

He then turned to ask Lu Hong, "Governor Lu, when is the next day for the porridge distribution?"

Governor Lu, initially still in shock, regained his composure and answered, "It’s the day after tomorrow."

The Imperial Envoy slowly nodded, "Good, then I will join you all the day after tomorrow in opening the shed for porridge distribution, to observe the well-being of the people."

Afterward, the Imperial Envoy followed Lu Hong back to the Governor’s Mansion.

Seeing the grounds littered with burnt-black houses, even the Imperial Envoy was taken aback.

"What’s this..."

Lu Hong, full of apologies, said, "A few days ago, a water leak occurred in my humble abode, inviting ridicule."

The Imperial Envoy stroked his beard, sighing, "Nowadays water is scarce, and with no rain from the heavens, fire incidents are more likely. You must be careful and remind the night watchmen to alert the citizens during nightly patrols."

"Yes," nodded Lu Hong.

Xiang Ying, looking through the drone at this scene, angrily crunched on the chips, causing them to crack aloud.

How could Jie Chen just hand over the control of the grain warehouse?

What a great opportunity for earning merit this was.

In the night, after entertaining Lu Hong and the others, Jie Chen returned to his tent.

As soon as he lifted the tent flap, he saw Xiang Ying lying on his cot.

Hearing the noise, Xiang Ying sat up straight.

Jie Chen hesitated: "Why didn’t you go back to sleep?"

Xiang Ying, with her arms folded and legs crossed, her beautiful and fair face carried a scrutinizing look.

"Why did you give away the grain warehouse, the one I just had filled?"

Jie Chen might have had some drinks, as his handsome face carried a light flush.

Hearing Xiang Ying’s words, he let out a light chuckle from his thin lips.

"I was just about to discuss this with you; your news is even faster than mine."

He walked over, his tall figure casting a long shadow in the light of the nearby candle, enveloping Xiang Ying within his shadow’s reach.

Xiang Ying frowned: "Speak lower, it’s hard for me to look up at you."

She didn’t like this posture; the way Jie Chen looked down from above made her feel too distant.

So, Jie Chen actually listened to her and immediately bent his knees to half crouch down.

Now Xiang Ying was comfortable.

Jie Chen’s voice was low and carried a lazy, husky tone, perhaps from the alcohol.

"My spy found out that the Sixth Prince intends to claim all the remaining grain after the food distribution pavilion—they’re for himself."

Xiang Ying knitted her brows: "What does a prince want with so much grain?"

Jie Chen smiled, perhaps because of the alcohol, he reached out and slowly, leisurely rubbed the back of Xiang Ying’s hand.

He was usually very restrained, and only at times like this would he dare to show such affectionate gestures.

"The famine has spread to four City Counties, and now the price of grain in Shangjing soars daily, with one dan of rice costing two hundred taels."

"That’s outrageous!" exclaimed Xiang Ying in astonishment.

Jie Chen nodded: "The Sixth Prince wants the grain because he has connections in Shangjing, surely planning to resell at a high price."

Xiang Ying clenched her teeth: "Despicable wretch."

"That’s why, you can put the grain back, but I also need you to take it all back."

"When do we take it back?"

Jie Chen looked at her seriously: "Before the food distribution pavilion, today in the presence of the imperial envoy, I handed over all the keys to the four grain warehouses to the Sixth Prince."

As he spoke, he leaned in slightly and kissed the corner of Xiang Ying’s lips.

Jie Chen smiled, the gleam narrowing in his pale eyes carried a trace of chill.

"Now the grain warehouse is no longer ours, and the grain need not be left for him."

"What about the food distribution pavilion then, what about the common people..." Xiang Ying pondered.

Jie Chen pinched her palm: "I have my ways."

Xiang Ying’s eyes lit up with a smile: "Turns out you had planned it all along, why not tell me earlier, making me worry for nothing—I even skipped dinner!"

Jie Chen looked at her enchanting eyes and eyebrows, those fluttering black lashes like playful butterflies, tempting him to lean in for another look.

Just as he was about to kiss Xiang Ying’s brows and eyes, Xiang Ying sprang up with a carp-like flip.

She gently pushed him away and headed straight out of the tent.

Jie Chen frowned: "Where are you going? It’s late, come back to sleep."

But Xiang Ying was quite excited and didn’t turn back, only waving her hand: "I have to take back the grain; the longer the night, the more dreams."

Saying so, she ran off, and Jie Chen rubbed his temple.

Should he really have waited until tomorrow to tell her?