Chapter 1494 - 1492: Danger
Chapter 1494: Chapter 1492: Danger
Jiachen Third Year, late October.
After more than two months on the road, the two finally arrived safely at Guangnan.
By this time, Zhao Qichen’s party had arrived more than a month earlier.
Upon hearing that Father Emperor and Mother Empress had arrived safely.
While delighted, Zhao Qichen promptly sent people to settle them in a separate courtyard on the outskirts of the city.
This temporarily rented courtyard was not large, but it had already been cleaned thoroughly, just waiting for the two to move in.
Opening the courtyard door, one could see that although the small yard was compact, it had everything necessary for living.
Xia Ruqing was very pleased.
However, she still felt somewhat uneasy.
"Chenchen, what’s the situation in Guangnan City now?"
Originally staying in the city should have been expected, but now being arranged on the outskirts suggested that the city was likely inconvenient.
Zhao Qichen hesitated for a moment before responding.
"The citizens in the city are still well, and I have brought enough food supplies, set up porridge stands and medicine tents, and currently the situation is stable!"
Upon hearing this, Xia Ruqing sighed.
"Stability is good, I hope the natural disasters pass soon so our people suffer less!"
These words absolutely came from her heart.
The ancient times are not like modern times, with advanced technology, medical methods, and relatively superior economic conditions.
In ancient times, managing to ensure the basic needs of the citizens in each state county was already no easy task (Jiangnan being a prosperous place, there was only one like it in the entire Great Chu, which was not the norm).
They rarely had surplus grain to support others.
So once a natural disaster occurred, a country with strong national power would fare better, with abundant national reserves, there would be spare resources.
If the national power was weak, hungry citizens would lead to desperation and rebellion was common.
Many historical changes of dynasties stemmed from this.
Fortunately, the national power of the Great Chu Dynasty was currently quite strong, especially with Jiangnan being a major granary.
With consecutive bumper crops for several years, the national reserves had surplus grain, allowing their emperor to rest assured in offering porridge and medicine; otherwise...
If the disaster victims rioted, the consequences would be unimaginable.
...
Zhao Qichen hurriedly left after settling them.
Leaving the two staring blankly at the empty courtyard.
As night fell, Zhao Junyao’s cough worsened slightly.
Worried, Xia Ruqing asked someone to prepare medicinal food against dampness and personally cooked a fine batch of medicine for him.
She carefully brought the cooled medicine bowl to his bed and fed him spoon by spoon.
Not until she saw Zhao Junyao finish drinking the medicine did she truly relax.
"In your condition, can you manage?"
"If not, let’s leave!"
"I think Chenchen can manage alone! You’re old, why join in the commotion?"
Zhao Junyao put down the medicine bowl.
He casually flipped through the documents in hand while casting a faint glance at her.
"What do you know?"
"Guangnan’s disaster is a once-in-a-century event, and the situation here is always complex!"
"If it were only local citizens, it would be manageable, but the main issue is that it’s coastal..."
Being coastal means there would be outsiders stirring up trouble, simultaneously indicating that all citizens of Guangnan are in crisis.
Once someone provokes war, regular citizens suffer first.
Having already endured disaster, when instigators stir up rebellion, internal and external collusion, Jiangnan could fall into danger, possibly even the Great Chu Dynasty...
He had never forgotten the affair when the Southern Ocean Kingdom and Lvsong Island allied with Zhao Junqi intending rebellion!
Narrowing his eyes slightly, Zhao Junyao would never allow such events to occur again.
Remembering the past situation, Xia Ruqing refrained from speaking further but grew increasingly worried about his health.
She felt helpless, unable to do anything more for him.
Rendered idle, she picked up small scissors, trimming the lamp wick a bit brighter so he could read without straining his eyes.
...
Late at night, in the small courtyard, the only sounds were leaves rustling in the wind and the sound of pages turning.
Initially, Xia Ruqing rested her face in her hands waiting by the side.
Eventually, unable to resist sleepiness, she tilted her head and dozed off.
Zhao Junyao shook his head helplessly, rose to wrap her in a blanket, and carried her to the bed.
She had grown thinner.
Since arriving in Guangnan, her health often faltered, sweating frequently, with poor appetite.
During the half-month in Jiangnan, she had barely gained a pound or two, but it was probably gone again, perhaps more than before.
Anxiously he frowned deeper.
Sighing, he tucked her in securely before returning to the documents.
He needed to resolve the current issues quickly and take her away as soon as possible.
Hoping he could manage to take her away, hoping... to spend more time with her.
...
While Zhao Junyao was full of worries here, Zhao Qichen was faring no better.
He stayed within the city.
The reason for arranging Father Emperor and Mother Empress outside the city was because the city itself was too chaotic.
The outer citizens suffered from disaster.
To survive, to secure some food, and to ensure they wouldn’t be hit again by sudden storms.
They could only leave their small villages and fishing settlements, rushing into the city en masse.
On the one hand, the imperial court provided porridge, on the other, there was medicine; why not?
But...
Disaster victims were ultimately disaster victims.
They came empty-handed, possessing nothing, in tattered clothes, looking like refugees.
Having nothing to lose, they weren’t afraid of causing trouble.
After entering the city, they plundered wherever they could, robbing any food from remaining citizens.
When Zhao Qichen arrived at Guangnan City, it was already a scene of devastation.
Initially, they’d kill over a half-bag of rice.
Eventually, with food supplies dwindling rapidly, even half a pancake could incite murder.
If Zhao Qichen had arrived half a month later, the consequences would be unimaginable.
Even after the imperial court began offering porridge, the need to suppress the city’s refugees with soldiers persisted.
Any complacency would lead to deadly conflicts.
Regarding this, Zhao Qichen had no choice but to act regretfully.
Had he not seen it with his own eyes.
He couldn’t have imagined his country’s soldiers would one day face their citizens with swords and spears.
Yet this was reality, and he had to accept it.
...
That night.
Zhao Qichen returned from the suburban courtyard to handle things until late.
At midnight, after washing up and lying down clothed, he still wasn’t sleepy.
After tossing and turning several thousand times, he helplessly got up.
"Li Deming!"
"Your servant is here!"
Li Deming, with panda eyes, desperately pretended to be alert.
Zhao Qichen didn’t have time to mind him and just instructed.
"Bring me the memorials submitted by several Imperial Physicians today!"
He suddenly remembered this morning that several Imperial Physicians collectively submitted memorials, claiming urgent news.
At that time, he was occupied with other affairs and forgot, but since he couldn’t sleep and happened to recall it.
He might as well get on with it.
Li Deming had wanted to advise ’Emperor, please rest early,’ but seeing the Emperor’s grim face, he swallowed his words and turned to fetch the memorials.