It was a bank note of fifty taels with the symbol of Huixing Bank, which was commonly
used throughout the whole country.
Gu Yundong's eyes lit up involuntarily, and she heard Nie Cong say, "This is a reward from the Magistrate, your portrait was very useful, we took it and went to search, but we didn't expect that more than one person had seen this person. Just last night, he was captured by us, and several of his men were arrested too."
Nie Cong was very excited saying this. Even though he had been busy for the few last days, he was in high spirits, "The magistrate said that you have made great contributions. You don't know, but those rebels had entered the city, and if they had not been caught quickly, something would have happened. Keep the fifty taels of silver and buy something good for yourself. Look at you. You are quite good looking, but this dress…"
They were no longer strangers to each other, so Nie Cong was speaking more casually.
Gu Yundong pretended not to hear anything, and happily took the bank note, looking at it again and again.
She had to find an opportunity to exchange it for silver ingots. Anyway, she had her space so she was not afraid of carrying it around.
Unexpectedly, Nie Cong took out twenty silver ingots, "I'll give you this to you too. This is the entrance fee you paid when you entered the city. The Magistrate said that it should be returned to you."
Gu Yundong was surprised, and hurriedly took it, "The Magistrate is really a good person, and he will live a long and blessed life."
"..." Nie Cong looked at his empty palms, this move of grabbing money was so quick and efficient.
He shook his head and laughed, "I can see that you are a money-grubber. Well, the money has been given to you, so it's time for me to go."
Gu Yundong waved her hand, letting him do as he pleased.
However, after Nie Cong took just a few steps, he suddenly turned back. After hesitating for a while, he lowered his voice and whispered, "There is something else I need to tell you first."
Hearing his serious tone, Gu Yundong finally looked away from the bank note, "What's the
matter?"
"I just came back from the Yamen, and I saw people coming from the capital. I vaguely heard, news from the capital..." His voice became even lower, almost inaudible, "The Emperor as died."
Gu Yundong was taken aback, "The Emperor." That word was so foreign for her.
Moreover, she didn't have a good impression of the Emperor. There was a famine in Yongning Prefecture, and many people died of starvation.
For so long, she had waited for the Imperial court support to deal with the disaster, but no one ever came to provide relief.
She heard that the Emperor was still drinking and having fun in the palace, that he kept taking in concubines after concubines, and he even coincidentally set up a plan to increase the taxes.
He was a throughout fatuous Emperor. Him dying was a good thing.
Nie Cong reminded her, "The announcement should be posted soon and spread throughout the city. The city might be a little chaotic during this period. Please, try not to go out and walk around, don't wear red and green clothes, don't drink and have fun. The previous emperor has just passed away and the new emperor just ascended the throne. Their will definitely be some actions, just wait for the news."
"Thank you for reminding me." Gu Yundong knew that he was referring to the famine. The previous emperor did not act, and the new emperor did not know yet what regulations should be implemented.
She just hoped that he was not someone who regarded human life as nothing.
After Nie Cong left, sure enough that afternoon, a notice was posted at the city gate.
The emperor had died, the world was grieving, and the people had to mourn for three months.
During this period, they were not allowed to wear red or green, and they were not allowed to get married or entertain themselves.
Two days later, another notice was posted at the city gate. The new emperor ascended the throne as Emperor Wu of Jin.
The following year would be changed to the First year of Xingtai dynasty.
Whether it was the death of the previous emperor or the enthronement of the new one, those news were irrelevant for Gu Yundong, she didn't care too much about it.
She didn't expect that the first edict of the new emperor would be about Yongning Prefecture.
The imperial court had finally dispatched imperialofficials to Yongning Prefecture for disaster relief.