Capítulo 1813: Chapter 1820: Xiang Yun Visits Her Family (1)
This disaster affected the capital most extensively. The suburbs and surrounding areas were relatively better off, but most of the people were from poor families with scant possessions, owning only a few houses which were destroyed by the earthquake. This has been a significant blow to them.
To soothe the people’s hearts, Nangong Yi has issued an order to open the granaries, release grain from the national treasury, and help the people rebuild new hos. Fearing that the people would go hungry, he also ordered officials to distribute porridge and give out so stead buns and pickled vegetables at major road intersections. He and Cai Wei also used their private funds to open dozens of porridge shops, distributing food alongside the officials.
“Madam, Duke Li Guo’s wife requests an audience!”
Standing outside the curtain, Huan Qiu reported softly to Cai Wei inside. Now all the palaces inside the palace have collapsed; the remaining few buildings, though not fallen, are on the verge of collapse, with no one daring to live in them. Cai Wei and Nangong Yi brought the children to live in the pavilion of the Waterside Pavilion, surrounded by curtains. It was midsumr, and living in this ventilated pavilion was a cool and economical choice. However, being near water, there were many mosquitoes. The eunuchs who served were often puzzled as to why there were no mosquito bites on the Empress and Emperor’s body or face. Why didn’t the mosquitoes bite them? Not only did they not bite them, but not a single mosquito bite was found on the smooth faces of the little princes!
It’s truly strange!
“Let her co in.”
At this mont, Cai Wei was sitting in the space, calculating accounts. She had been almost sleepless these past few days, leaving faint dark circles under her eyes, and her cheeks had thinned, making her eyes appear even larger. She wore an ivory beizi, as a sign of mourning for those deceased, to express her condolences.
The Old Mada ca in, her face full of sorrow. In just a few days, her once plump cheeks had beco sunken, and her usually kind and gentle eyes now appeared sowhat distressful.
“Paying respects to the Empress Dowager, long live the Empress Dowager a thousand years, a thousand years, a thousand thousand years—”
Upon entering, the Old Mada properly knelt down to pay her respects to Cai Wei. The Old Mada was known for her decorum and propriety. Even though Cai Wei and Nangong Yi had told her several tis that such grand rituals were unnecessary, she would not heed them and insisted on kneeling and saluting at every eting.
“Maternal grandmother, please rise quickly. Aren’t you going to wear Wei’er down with your actions?”
Cai Wei personally helped the Old Mada up, saying, “What wind blew you here? Is everything at ho settled? I heard that the eldest sister-in-law has passed, what a pity…”
“Ah, who wouldn’t say so!”
At the ntion of the eldest grandson’s wife, the old woman’s eyes imdiately reddened, and she said, wiping away tears, “Here I am, this old person still alive, yet pity her, so young and now gone. Ah, why does the heaven have to be so blind? If only it would take , these old bones, back instead and leave her, so young, here…”
“Oh, don’t say such things!”
Cai Wei hurriedly comforted her, saying, “Everyone has their own destined life span. Perhaps the eldest sister-in-law’s ti had co, and she has gone to heaven to beco a fairy!”
“Ah, let’s hope so!”
The Old Mada held back her tears, continuing, “When so people die, it’s not necessarily a bad thing. When so people live, it’s not necessarily a good thing. Take our Li’er for example; his legs are now crushed. Court Judge Yao said he’ll never stand again in this lifeti. He has always been proud, and now, crippled, might as well be dead than endure such suffering. The boy doesn’t say it aloud to spare us worry, but we can see he’s collapsing. Often he sits silently for an entire day, and an action can last several Shi Chen. When no one calls for him, he absolutely doesn’t call anyone. Both your Maternal Grandfather and I are worried to death.”
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