Chapter 79.1 - Recognising One’s Kin (Part I) (1/2)
The rainy condition was progressively becoming heavier than before.
The common people that resided close to the hillsides had met with difficulties as large mudslides rushed downwards. The Bo Chang reservoir was the capital’s largest reservoir and the farmlands in the capital completely relied on this area to draw water via irrigation for their fields. So with the rising trend of ferocious rainfall upon their lands, the water level became unrestrained in the reservoir. There seemed to be a risk of the reservoir being crushed by the immense volume of rainfall and the potential for a hazardous overflow. Xuan Li had led his subordinates to manage the waters in an attempt to temporarily suppress the momentum of the rising water level.
In the top-scorer’s fu, the young zhuangyuan gentleman was standing by the window, frowning in contemplation as he looked at the rainwater .
Just then, Liu Furen came in holding a bowl of dark brown sugar and ginger soup and placed it on the table. Seeing Liu Min so, she then sighed, “What sort of disaster is this to have harmed so many families in this way.” They had initially been part of the common people and had only recently risen to such a status, therefore, they were extremely sympathetic to the sufferings of the common people. If not for the fact that Liu Min had entered the imperial court to become a government official, perhaps they would be similarly destitute and homeless just like these commoners, in desperate poverty whilst beset by hunger and cold.
Liu Min patted Liu Furen on her shoulder as he consoled her, “Mother, you don’t have to worry, soon all will pass.”
“If it wasn’t for General Zhao who has distributed provisions as disaster relief, who knows how many of the common people would starve to death.” Liu Furen lamented, “General Zhao is a good official; when you are in the imperial court, you should certainly try to get closer to him.”
Liu Min nodded. Thus, the rainfall continuously poured down without the slightest sign of stopping. However, eventually, there would be a day when the wealth of Zhao Guang would also be completely spent. This matter could merely just be a splash of water on the fire that burns one’s eyebrows, a quick fix for a desperate situation in an extreme emergency. It was not a long term plan. As he recalled how Eighth Prince had actively and in a friendly action asked him about his opinions with regards to this flood a few days ago, it seemed that Eighth Prince was planning to exert himself to keep this flood in check. Verily, if this person genuinely harboured thoughts to cherish the people of the land under the heavens then how could such an esteemed individual possibly ruminate over resolving such a precarious situation with him, out of all other possible officials at his disposal, in such a casual manner?
Almost imperceptibly, Liu Min sighed. The waters in the imperial court were not shallow and only those who had placed themselves in its midst could understand that discerning the underlying currents and hearts of those in power was extremely difficult too.
In a steady succession of a dozen or more days, the act of bestowing congee to the common populace never seemed to cease as the capital gradually quietened down. If one could speak of any fresh news, then it would be that the capital’s garrison army caught a group of bandits that pretended to be refugees in the area of the east of the city’s Chong Xin farmstead. The manpower of that day’s capital garrison troops was insufficient and the daren who was on garrison duty had sought out the Capital Magistrate to borrow some men. They had then gone to Chong Xin farmstead which soon after became a ground of a fierce battle. With great difficulty, they had managed to subdue these bandits and had locked them up in the prison, yet in the span of a night, those bandits had all committed suicide to escape punishment.
Whilst the populace in the capital had clapped their hands in applause for such a satisfying resolution to the problem, at the same time, they were similarly concerned. In this manner, if the capital was not too peaceful and secure, then the days ahead would be even more challenging. Contrary to what one might expect, with this situation, the capital city’s garrison army morale was high after extricating themselves from the pressure dealing with a prolonged and stressful situation concerning the captured bandits.
* * *
In Ruan Ju, Jiang Ruan was currently leaning against the divan whilst embroidering. In the past while she was in the rural residence, due to Zhang Lan’s family’s coercion, she had embroidered day and night until she had developed dead calluses on her hands. In this lifetime after being reincarnated, she hated that in her past life; she had died with her body being badly damaged and riddled with scars. In this life, she was not willing to have any of those scars remain on her body. Now that she had returned to the Jiang fu, the embroidery needlework that had once been her livelihood was thrown aside without a care. Yet these days, once the dead calluses on her hands had completely peeled off and her skin had once more become delicate, now one could see that these hands of hers seemed like a young lady’s of an influential family. Only then, did she pick up these things once more.
Lu Zhu entered from outside and surveyed her surroundings to make sure there was not a person in sight around them. Then, she walked close to Jiang Ruan and quietly remarked, “Miss, a person from the General fu has come. They want to see the person who has bestowed congee in their name.”
Jiang Ruan smiled lightly, “Is it truly someone from the General fu?”
“There is an official seal and looking at it, it does not seem like a fake.” Lu Zhu commented, “Miss, how do you plan to reply to them?”
Jiang Ruan then put down the embroidery in her hands as she picked up the celadon teacup at the side. Lightly stroking the rim of the teacup in her hands, she continued, “Then tell them that tomorrow early in the morning, I will personally visit them at their own residence and call on them.”
“Miss?” Lu Zhu was stunned.
Jiang Ruan said, “Go then.”
The Zhao family, since they had already brought up such a request, had likely fixated on the idea of definitely having a meetup face to face. This too was good, the days of Jiang Xin Zhi’s return to the fu were steadily closing in. Just relying on her own strength was truly too difficult and now that she had placed the bargaining chip clearly in front of them, she would carefully see if the Zhao family was willing to give this favour in return.
* * *
Within the capital, once the Zhao family received this news, Zhao Guang’s complexion had become profoundly solemn. A few days ago Zhao Yi had arrested a group of refugees in the Chong Xin farmstead and based on Zhao Yi’s retelling, those people were bodyguards adept in martial arts. He swore that they were absolutely not ordinary refugees. Yet within a night’s span in the imperial prison, all of them had committed suicide to escape punishment. It could be assumed that this was no simple matter. After all, it was unknown who was the mastermind in this whole affair. Yet, Zhao Guang was still able to make a few possible guesses. After listening to hearsay in the capital that Eighth Prince’s fu had recently tightly closed their gates, some had said that a large number of bodyguards had been executed.
The young lady that Zhao Yi had mentioned bumping into, both the Zhao father and son had thought that the person behind it and the one bestowing the congee were definitely one and the same. Based on Xuan Li’s methods of handling things, this person ought to have set themselves against Xuan Li. However, the unknown person in question had also helped the Zhao family several times. Only now, one could not speak too much in fear that what is said can not be unsaid. After all, the other party’s identity was still uncertain and what if it was Xuan Li’s stumbling block for them? They had gotten someone to go to the venue where they had been giving out congee and instructed their subordinate to put forward the request for meeting the person behind this operation face to face to sound them out. Yet, the opposite party had then said they would pay them a visit at their residence tomorrow. This sort of conduct, it truly made one unable to clearly fathom their intentions.
Zhao Yuan Jia asked, “Father, since that person dares to pay a visit to our residence, then they must have done adequate preparation. Shouldn’t we also make our own arrangements?”
“No need,” A spark of contemplation flashed through Zhao Yuan Ping’s astute eyes as he replied, “rather, I think the other party has done so to express that they have no ill-intentions: at least, they will not raise a dispute with us in the General fu.”
“Even if he (they assumed the gender of the mastermind) does not have a conflict of interests with us,” Zhao Yuan Feng seemed wholly unconcerned as he remarked, “we, the people brought up in the General fu, what could we possibly be afraid of? Whether it is a god, or a ghost, we can just ruthlessly beat them up until they become round like a pig. Then, wouldn’t they be honest?”