At noon, the scorching sun engulfed everything with its fiery rays. In previous years, the garden of the Regulation Departnt would be filled with floral aroma at this ti, but now the flowers and grass are scorched, and even the leaves are curled.
The maid poured out the water used by Mingzhu to wash her hands, and as soon as it hit the ground, it emitted a sizzling sound, fine yet clear, imdiately absorbed without a trace, leaving only a faint circle of shadow which quickly faded, leaving almost unrecognizable marks.
Mingzhu wiped her sweat and complained: "When will it rain already? How can people live in such conditions?" From May until now, a month and a half has passed, and apart from one bout of drizzle in the middle, she hasn’t seen a drop of rain.
Mingzhu was naturally afraid of heat, and now with a big belly, she felt increasingly uncomfortable, wishing she could shrink into an ice cellar.
Nanny Zhou’s expression turned heavy upon hearing: "Madam, I’ve heard that the crops in the fields are dying from lack of water, and many people in various places don’t even have water to drink." Nanny Zhou worried that if this weather continued, there might be riots.
Mingzhu’s face imdiately darkened. In truth, upon hearing Yueyao ntion the drought in Jiangnan, she considered returning to the Capital City, but being heavily pregnant, neither Niu Yanghui nor she felt at ease.
In the evening, when Niu Yanghui returned, Mingzhu quickly asked: "How are things outside now?"
Niu Yanghui had to be relieved he was not in the Magistrate’s position at the mont, or else he wouldn’t be able to return ho under such conditions: "For now it’s still okay, but if it continues not to rain, it will certainly affect sowing." Currently, there’s no harvest at all, and if it doesn’t rain soon, the autumn crop will be ruined, leading to inevitable chaos.
Mingzhu’s hand trembled slightly: "Yueyao has already submitted a morial to the Emperor, why hasn’t the Imperial Court taken any action?"
Niu Yanghui smiled wryly: "It’s a natural disaster, even if the Imperial Court knew in advance, it wouldn’t help." This drought is unlike a flood, where knowing the timing can lead to relocation. This drought, even if known in advance, cannot be avoided.
Mingzhu looked at the vibrant flowers in the room and murmured to herself: "What can be done then? If the common folk can’t survive, wouldn’t there be unrest?"
Niu Yanghui imdiately shushed Mingzhu, saying: "What nonsense? What unrest? As long as the governnt arranges things properly, there won’t be any unrest."
Mingzhu was very worried: "Dear husband, should I return to the Capital City?"
Niu Yanghui looked at Mingzhu’s big belly and said: "Don’t be afraid, I will ensure your safety." If Mingzhu were not pregnant, he would have already sent them back to the Capital City.
While the couple was talking, the maid outside said: "Old Master, Old Grand Master has sent soone from the Capital City."
Old Grand Master Niu sent his trusted aides to take his two young grandsons back to the Capital City. Niu Yanghui was an official in the region and could not leave Suzhou without an imperial edict, and Mingzhu, pregnant, couldn’t move, so he had to send his grandsons back to the Capital City since the Old Master was not at ease leaving them in Jiangnan.
Niu Yanghui also wanted to send his two sons back to the Capital City: "Mingzhu, the situation is still under control for now, but I worry that if it continues this way, the governnt won’t be able to manage it. Let Ying Yao and Ying Yao go back to the Capital City, so we can have one less thing to worry about." Niu Yanghui started to have doubts about Yueyao’s words, and he hadn’t anticipated the drought would be this severe. Otherwise, he would have sent Ying Yao and Ying Yao back to the Capital City with Yueyao.
Although Mingzhu was reluctant, given the circumstances, she could only tearfully agree. In just one day, she managed to pack up, and the next day, more than a dozen guards escorted the two children back to the Capital City.
Every ti the Emperor received reports from the Jiangnan officials, describing the disaster, he felt a wave of annoyance. Being prepared was one thing, but facing the situation was another. Moreover, the coastal areas were continuously harassed by Japan and several smaller countries, and in the Northwest, there were ongoing battles with the Barbarian Tribes. Everything was piling up.
At just this mont, a report from the Northwest arrived, revealing a defeat in battle, with tens of thousands dead or wounded. Upon reading the report, the Emperor’s face turned extrely grim.
The ministers standing below were trembling with fear, wishing they could turn invisible so the Emperor wouldn’t see them. Given the Emperor’s poor mood, they would certainly suffer. Fortunately, the Emperor didn’t summon them, instead calling Luo Shao and Duke of Lu to enter the palace.
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