The regent is determined to get the daughter of a minor official.

The next day, Xu Keke was fully recovered. Sometimes she even admired herself.

No matter what the Dog Prince demands at night, she can recover her full energy after a good sleep.

Today, she put on her gorgeous palace dress again and brought the young prince into the palace to pay her respects to the Empress Dowager.

The accompanying crew is of course the same original group.

The guards include Nanny Wang, Dingdang, Anxiang, and Sheng Er.

Xu Ke was allowed to teach the young prince while sitting in a luxurious carriage.

"My dear son, when you see the Royal Grandmother, you should call her Grandma, not Grandma!"

Young Master Chu Mingxuan blinked his eyes and grinned at her.

"Grandfather..."

Xu Ke was speechless and wanted to teach it a few more times.

Nanny Wang on the side said with a smile.

"Princess, the young prince is still young. When he meets the Grand Empress Dowager, he will naturally learn to address her correctly. Don't be too anxious."

Xu Ke nodded helplessly and continued to tease the young master.

Soon, the carriage stopped at the palace gate.

The group got off the car and walked towards the Empress Dowager's bedroom in a mighty procession.

As soon as he entered Changxin Palace, the Empress Dowager came up to him with a loving face and held the young master in her arms.

"My dear grandson, you must have missed me so much."

The young master was smart this time and called out in a baby voice.

"grandmother."

The Empress Dowager couldn't stop smiling and kept praising the young master for his intelligence.

Xu Ke smiled and followed the Empress Dowager to sit beside the phoenix couch.

After they sat down, the palace maids brought them exquisite snacks and tea.

The Empress Dowager took out a piece of cake suitable for the young master and handed it to him.

The young master held the food in both hands and started eating.

"Mother, I went out of the city yesterday to check and found that quite a few refugees had indeed gathered outside the capital.

They brought their families with them, and some were from the same village. I heard that some people were killed or injured on the way here.”

Xu Keke said softly.

After hearing this, the Empress Dowager looked solemn.

She was mentally prepared for the flood in the south.

Otherwise, he wouldn't have mentioned it at the birthday party a few days ago.

In the past few days, the Empress Dowager also asked the palace maids around her to go to the front court to understand the situation.

The flood in the south is like a national disaster, so she naturally will not take it lightly.

The Empress Dowager thought for a moment and then spoke.

“The people of the south are suffering, the court needs to provide assistance, and our harem cannot sit idle either.

I have decided to gather all the concubines and ask them to donate some money and property to help the refugees."

Xu Ke nodded in response.

"This is a very good plan, mother. I believe the concubines will respond positively."

The Grand Empress Dowager nodded slightly and gave instructions to Rong Mama and others beside her.

"Inform the concubines in the palace that there is a flood in the south.

We, the noble ladies in the harem, should also contribute some strength to the Great Chu Dynasty.

Tell them to prepare their money, no matter how much, and gather at the theater in half an hour.

A record officer will then carefully record the amount of their respective donations."

Rong Mama and others took the order and quickly went to various palaces to convey the Empress Dowager's order.

Half an hour later, concubines from all palaces came to the theater.

The Empress Dowager and Princess Xu Keke of Prince Sheng had already been waiting here.

The Empress Dowager stood beside the table on the stage, her expression solemn as she glanced at everyone.

"My lords, the floods in the south have caused suffering to the people. Although we live in the harem, we should also care about the country.

Today's action is not for comparison, but to bring warmth and hope to the people affected by the disaster."

The Empress Dowager's voice was steady and powerful.

The concubines all responded with expressions that were either sincere or reluctant.

Concubine Shu spoke first.

"The Empress Dowager cares deeply about the people. I am willing to donate two thousand taels of silver and several precious jewelry."

Then, other concubines also expressed their opinions one after another.

Some are generous, while others are a bit stingy.

At this time, a concubine of lower rank spoke timidly.

"Grand Empress Dowager, I am not well-off, and can only offer one hundred taels of silver. I hope the Grand Empress Dowager will not blame me."

The Empress Dowager said gently.

"The intention is what matters most, just do your best."

After everyone has donated, the recording eunuch will record the amounts clearly.

Xu Ke quietly handed over the 100,000 taels of silver to the recording eunuch.

The eunuch recording the amount was about to shout out the amount.

Xu Keke shook her head at him.

The eunuchs were very perceptive and only recorded the accurate information in the books.

The former dynasty and the harem are closely related.

The donation campaign organized by the Empress Dowager was in full swing in the harem.

This news soon reached the ears of the ministers in the front hall.

Some officials praised the good deeds of the Empress Dowager and the concubines in the harem.

It is said that this move fully demonstrates the royal family's benevolence.

However, some officials expressed concerns that the harem's donations were made with good intentions.

But I am afraid that this will set a bad example, causing the common people to mistakenly believe that the court is unable to provide disaster relief.

After hearing this, Chu Musheng said sternly:

"The concubines in the imperial harem are trying to set an example. The imperial court has never slacked off in its disaster relief efforts.

If anyone uses this to cause trouble, I will punish them severely!"

As soon as the Regent said this, the court suddenly became quiet.

Those officials who were originally somewhat shaken also expressed their opinions.

We will fully support the court's disaster relief efforts.

Later, businesses in the capital also followed suit, launched fundraising campaigns, and presented the proceeds of money and materials to the court.

Xu Keke’s uncle Xie Jia was also among them.

Xie Jiye donated 100,000 taels of silver at once, and received high praise from the regent of the dynasty.

"Xie Jiye, with his heart for his country, made such a generous donation. This is truly a blessing for the Chu State and the people. Such a righteous act should serve as a role model for all."

This news set a good example.

Rich businessmen donated generously, and ordinary merchants also did their best.

The officials in the court could no longer sit still.

Whether you are willing or not, you have to show it.

For a time, the capital was filled with love and warmth.

There were also some minor incidents during the fundraising process.

Some businesses falsify the amount of donations in order to gain reputation.

Others took the opportunity to sell inferior goods as good ones and pass off the accumulated goods as donated supplies.

The officials in charge discovered these problems.

Immediately reported to the Regent Chu Musheng.

Chu Musheng was furious and ordered a strict investigation and punishment, and would never allow such corrupt behavior to undermine the goodwill of fundraising.

After some reorganization, the fundraising activity was carried out smoothly.

The materials and money raised flowed into the disaster areas in the south like water.

The people in the disaster-stricken areas felt the care from the capital, and their confidence in rebuilding their homes became even stronger.

Thanks to the efforts of all parties, the floods in the south have gradually been brought under control.

Farmland was reclaimed, and villages and towns gradually regained their former vitality.

Of course, this is a later story. Everything is still proceeding step by step.

The young civil servants in the palace library also compiled a lot of information about ancient wizard spells.

The officials compiled it into a file and presented it to Chu Musheng on his desk.

Chu Musheng browsed through them one by one.