Not just a few thousand or a few hundred-this time, the merit points totaled over twenty-three thousand!
The chance to buy the antidote was just around the corner!
Xu Zhen felt quite pleased and looked at her main quest.
The rescue mission had been completed; it had changed from (0/1) to (1/1), and next to it was a "Exceeded Expectations" stamp in red.
Xu Zhen clicked on the stamp, and to her astonishment, she saw that the number of people she had saved was... sixty thousand???
The total population of Chang'an was about five hundred thousand. She had saved sixty thousand people, far exceeding her expectations!
However, she couldn't understand why she had only received slightly over twenty thousand merit points. The system was quite a letdown!
Moments ago, Xu Zhen had been laughing, but now she felt like crying without tears. She held Xu Qianchun's hand, seeking comfort.
Students from the academy rushed over, eager to ask Xu Zhen questions about exam topics or to find out where she had previously taught and how she became so skilled.
Xu Zhen was happy to hear their interest, but feeling a bit lazy, she managed to send them away.
On the third day, when Xu Zhen was set to meet the Emperor, she was picked up early and taken to a side hall to change into a clean outfit.
The rain had stopped, and a bit of sunlight peeked through. Although the ground was still damp, much of the standing water had drained away. Nearby, three small drainage ditches were being dug to assist with the effort.
Chang'an was gradually being rebuilt, with higher grounds revealing broken walls and a stark landscape.
The palace also showed signs of desolation, but efforts to organize were underway. Palace maids hurried about, carrying items with care to avoid bumping into anyone. Xu Zhen followed a young eunuch, observing her surroundings. She noticed that only the outer hall of the palace had suffered leaks, causing discoloration on the walls.
The rest of the palace still boasted vibrant, festive decorations. In the distance, the sound of morning bells echoed, and someone stood on the rooftop, facing the wind.
When they reached the palace entrance, the young eunuch informed Xu Zhen that they couldn't enter directly; he needed to announce their arrival first.
However, as he opened the palace door, a person with disheveled hair, wearing a bright yellow robe, dashed out.
This person, wearing mismatched shoes with one foot bare on the floor, ran up to Xu Zhen, excitedly grabbing her hands and exclaiming, "Beloved Minister! Beloved Minister!"
The young eunuch was so startled that he fell to his knees.
Xu Zhen felt more at ease, having already experienced the audience process once before. Familiar with the procedure, she knew what to do.
After respectfully greeting the Emperor, she entered the inner hall and took a seat on a soft couch adorned with aromatic spices and golden silk threads.
The Emperor was exceedingly enthusiastic.
He first praised Xu Zhen for her foresight and commended her ability to save so many people during the disaster while also promptly planning for the drainage.
Xu Zhen felt her ears redden from the compliments and quickly responded, "Your Majesty, this is not just my achievement alone."
The Emperor interrupted, "Xu Aiqing, I seldom admire someone this much."
Chapter 43: Forty-Three Treasures ?
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