Chapter 149: Chapter 148 Jinling City 20
Consort Yun scrutinized Honored Lady Xi with careful attention.
Her eyes were bright and clear, devoid of any impurity; her round face still retained a touch of baby fat.
Around her mouth were remnants of the snacks she had just eaten.
Her smile was so pure, so brilliant.
Yet, who knew how long this innocent smile could last.
Consort Yun slowly stood up, picked up a handkerchief, and gently wiped away the crumbs from Honored Lady Xi’s cheeks.
"Look at you, your face is all messy!"
Her movements were gentle, as if she were the most tender elder sister doting on a younger sibling.
Embarrassment suddenly overcame Honored Lady Xi upon this gesture.
"I’ve made Elder Sister Yun laugh at me!"
Consort Yun just smiled and, with the hand still holding the silk handkerchief, took both of their hands.
"If you treat me as your sister, and I treat you as mine, why be so formal?"
Honored Lady Xi was delighted. In contrast, Honored Lady Lan was more constrained. She felt timid, dared not move, and trembled with apprehension.
Consort Yun then reassuringly patted her shoulder.
"Don’t be afraid, dear sister!"
After saying that and taking another look at Honored Lady Xi, she returned to her seat.
In her heart, Honored Lady Xi felt that Consort Yun was truly a kind person and so nice to them. For a moment, she felt even more affectionate.
After eating two more pieces of snacks, she boldly said,
"Elder Sister Yun, it must be boring to stay in your room all the time. Wouldn’t it be wonderful to go out with us when the weather is nice!"
"I know of many fun places..."
She chirped joyfully like a lark.
Consort Yun then asked with a smile,
"And how do you know about these places?"
Honored Lady Xi thought for a moment and then replied,
"Some I saw when I went out for a stroll, and some were told to me by Elder Sister Xia!"
Upon hearing this, Consort Yun looked as if she had swallowed a fly.
She was internally seething.
I’ve given you two so much care and attention, and you still keep calling her Elder Sister Xia, Elder Sister Xia so sweetly! Are you doing this on purpose to offend me?
How I wish I could tear you apart!
But, alas, I can’t; they are still of use. I still have to deal with that bitch Lady Xia!
After thinking, Consort Yun then said,
"Silly sister, Lady Xia always accompanies the Emperor when she goes out. Of course, she would know many places!"
Her inner voice roared:
She’s more favored than you, more favored than you, more favored than you are! She gets the meat and the soup, and you’re happy just licking the bowl she left for you. What an idiot!
Honored Lady Xi seemed not to have thought so deeply.
After all, it wasn’t up to her to decide whom the Emperor took with him.
It was not like she would stop going out just because the Emperor didn’t take her along.
That’s why, after pondering, she still didn’t know what to say.
She just gave an awkward smile and called out, "Elder Sister Yun!"
Realizing she had been too harsh, Consort Yun quickly adjusted her mood, and the three of them changed the subject. Soon they were chatting and laughing again, making the atmosphere lively.
The rain outside grew heavier, and Xia Ruqing, leaning at the window, felt a trace of worry.
"Zi Yue, when do you think the Emperor will return?"
Zi Yue looked utterly bewildered.
"Mistress... I really have no idea!"
Who would dare to inquire about the Emperor’s whereabouts? Other than waiting, there was only waiting.
Xia Ruqing stared outside for a while longer; the rain was so heavy it blotted out the view.
She closed the window and went to bed.
"I’m going to take a nap. Wake me up immediately when the Emperor returns!!"
Zi Yue smiled gently.
"You can count on me, Mistress!"
She reached for a thin blanket as she spoke.
"Even though it’s the height of summer, it feels quite chilly when it’s raining, Mistress. You should at least cover yourself with this!"
Xia Ruqing squinted her eyes, taking that as a response.
She closed her eyes, and Zi Yue delicately placed the thin blanket over her.
Zi Yue then took an embroidery pattern and sat by the window, tracing it. All were fresh styles bought from the street. Whenever she found an attractive design, she purchased it.
Xia Ruqing quickly fell asleep.
She slept into the afternoon, well past noon.
"Mistress, Mistress, wake up, the Emperor has returned!"
Zhao Junyao rode his horse in the pouring rain toward the Wei River bank.
The Wei River starts in the west at Mount Tangkena and flows east into the sea, stretching thousands of miles across.
At its widest, it spans dozens of miles. Surging waves and huge whirlpools roared and churned by, so vast that crossing by boat might not be possible.
As it reaches the Jiangnan region, the Wei River becomes narrower due to branching off into tributaries.
But the rainy season in Jiangnan still caused a significant rise in the water level.
Zhao Junyao rode his horse along the bank, his gaze growing more and more grave.
The embankments, which should have been indestructible, were being eroded by numerous cracks. The roaring river water was like wild beasts caged for over a decade.
They beat crazily against their confinements. The embankments were on the verge of collapse, as if in the next second, they would be demolished with overwhelming force.
The more Zhao Junyao watched, the more his heart raced with fear.
A terrifying thought crossed his mind.
What would happen if the Wei River embankment broke?
Almost all the citizens of Jinling City would die! More than half of Jiangning Prefecture’s fertile land would be submerged, the losses immeasurable.
Yet, in just two more months, it would be the harvest season.
After half a year’s toil, it was time for the people to reap their rewards!
Zhao Junyao, clad in a straw raincoat, tore off his bamboo hat. He tilted back his head, closed his eyes, and let the ruthless rain beat fiercely upon his face.
It was eerily quiet around him. No one dared to approach.
Even Li Shengan didn’t dare to come closer, for fear of death!
The current Emperor was like a ferocious tiger, one capable of killing!
Suddenly, the Emperor stood upright, put his hat back on, and wiped the rain off his face with his hand.
He let out a thunderous shout.
"Where is my messenger soldier?!"
No matter where he went, he was always accompanied by many Hidden Guards. These were members of the Imperial Forest Army, dedicated to protecting him and sending messages at any moment.
As soon as he called out, several shadows landed before him.
"Your subordinates are here!"
Zhao Junyao’s gaze turned ice cold and piercing, like a sword of legendary renown!
Suppressing the turmoil within, he issued one decree after another amidst the relentless downpour.
"Send an order to the Ministry of Revenue, immediately allocate 100,000 taels of silver for the repair of the Wei River embankments!"
"Send an order to all garrison Defenders in Jiangning Prefecture: all troops within a hundred miles, at least half must be mobilized at once to guard the Wei River overnight!"
"Send an order to the Ministry of Works, immediately dispatch experts in construction to set off overnight for the Wei River!"
"Send an order to the Prefect of Jiangning, Hou Yaozu, to organize the civilians to sew sandbags through the night!"
"Send an order..."
"Send an order..."
With every decree issued, a messenger soldier departed.
By the end, out of more than ten messenger soldiers, only three remained.
Zhao Junyao finally stopped. He turned back for another look at the embankment, his determination unwavering.
Then, with a flick of his sleeve, he mounted his horse and galloped away.
Li Shengan hastily climbed into his own carriage.
Why did he ride in a carriage? Because he didn’t like riding horses.
(Reason: No explanation!)
When the Emperor issued a decree, especially one for disaster relief, it was usually sent with the utmost urgency.
Commands arrived in Capital City on the same night as if by unspoken agreement.
The Minister of Revenue, the Minister of Works, and others were all roused from their beds by messenger soldiers in the middle of the night. They were pulled out to work!