Chapter 57

Chapter 57

Collecting rice was not as smooth as expected, but not too difficult either.

Su Huaijing bought ten thousand stones of japonica rice at a price slightly lower than the market rate, which was all the grain the merchants were willing to sell.

Rong Tang calculated that for thirty people, one stone of rice per day, and during the disaster period, one portion of porridge could be divided into three, each stone could cover ninety people. With a total population of five hundred thousand in Suzhou Prefecture, excluding those with surplus grain and the wealthy, the affected population was about one-fourth, amounting to one hundred and twenty-five thousand people.

That many people would require nearly one thousand four hundred stones of rice per day. Even all ten thousand stones, if only used for porridge, would last only seven days, not to mention the impracticality of dividing one person's ration into three.

After calculating this, Rong Tang stood silently, frowning deeply, without speaking for a long time.

And this was just Suzhou Prefecture.

It barely addressed the basic food issue, let alone the countless ensuing problems like illnesses, rebellions, property damage, and lands left uncultivable.

There are a total of 12 prefectures and hundreds of counties in Jiangnan, with a population exceeding twenty million...

Standing in front of the granary, looking up at the seemingly endless white rice, he felt a wave of helplessness.

Rong Tang couldn’t help but wonder, what did those machinations he orchestrated for Cheng Chengli in the court and harem over his past two lives amount to, compared to the lives of millions?

Unable to comprehend, he felt the evening breeze disperse the summer heat. Su Huaijing approached, took his hand, and asked softly, “Shall we go home?”

Rong Tang paused for a moment, then turned and nodded, “Yes.”

He originally wanted to store the grain in their newly bought mansion, but Su Huaijing firmly stopped him, reasoning that in times of natural and human disasters, people might resort to desperate measures for survival.

Their mansion was already opulent, and stockpiling so much grain, even with guards, couldn't guarantee safety.

Thus, all the rice was secretly transported to the estate under Rong Tang's name in Suzhou, guarded by trustworthy stewards, and monitored covertly by Su Huaijing's men from Liuyun.

Rong Tang walked with his head down, and Su Huaijing didn't interrupt his thoughts, until the young lord suddenly called him, “Huaijing.”

“I’m here,” Su Huaijing responded softly.

Rong Tang's voice was muffled, “I’m hungry.”

“What would you like to eat?” Su Huaijing asked, then offered options, “The squirrel-shaped mandarin fish from Furong Tower? You tried it the day before yesterday and said it was good. Or the chopped chili fish head from Zuiyue Pavilion? It’s spicy, might suit your taste.”

Rong Tang shook his head. The setting sun's afterglow spread across the sky, clouds rolling like fish scales, falling on the misty realm of Jiangnan, stunningly beautiful. In the distance, the pond was full of blooming lotuses, both clear and flourishing.

“I want lotus pastries,” he mumbled, “and also Furong cake, Longjing tea cookies, osmanthus glutinous rice lotus roots, along with a small pot of green plum wine.”

At the last item, Rong Tang's voice dropped a little, finishing somewhat uncertainly, then looking up at Su Huaijing, he asked softly, “Is that okay?”

Su Huaijing paused, then laughed softly, “Yes.”

He had always thought Tang Tang disliked sweets, only to realize it was because he didn’t find life too bitter.

How could someone who tastes bitterness in normal speech and has endured hardship not like sweets?

His little Buddha, who could gulp down several large bowls of bitter medicine a day, only wanted a bit of candied fruit to soothe his throat, yet asked for a list of pastries after seeing the full granary.

Su Huaijing shook his head inwardly, his heart softening once again, marveling at how he had married such a pure-hearted beauty.

Having walked in the darkest depths for many years, he still couldn't help but be drawn to such clean, pure light.

-

June 9th, the peak of summer heat.

Rong Tang woke up feeling dizzy and preferred not to go out. Su Huaijing had ice prepared in advance and placed in corners of the study. They spent the whole day playing chess in the deep courtyard of their Suzhou residence.

As usual, there was no winner or loser; the black and white pieces crisscrossed like countless grains of sand in the Ganges, scattered across the mortal world.

Until someone knocked on the courtyard door and, against the evening sun, a visitor arrived, clad in apricot-yellow finery but covered in dust from the road, standing outside with a smile, “Cousin, you didn’t even tell me you were in Suzhou. If I had known, I would have arranged for you to come down with me.”

Rong Tang blinked, looking at Cheng Chengming, who seemed more disheveled than when he last saw him at the flower gathering, yet his eyes were bright.

Behind him were several officials, and among them, Rong Tang recognized some talented newcomers from the Ministry of Works. They might not yet be prominent, but in a couple of years, once Su Huaijing took charge of the Imperial Censorate, each would be a pillar of the Dayu court.

Rong Tang involuntarily looked back at Su Huaijing, who smiled lightly, performed a courtesy, and welcomed Cheng Chengming inside.

Rong Tang noticed at the end of the group, a small figure in a gray-brown scholar’s robe.

He paused, then approached Lu Jiaxi, “Why are you here too?”

Lu Jiaxi was pale, whether from being unaccustomed to the local conditions or from the long journey. He weakly smiled, “Lord Tang, long time no see…”

Hearing Lu Jiaxi's feeble voice, Rong Tang was extremely worried he might faint right there in his courtyard and, dazed for a moment, hurriedly led him to a side hall.

Cheng Chengming borrowed a hall to discuss matters, and Rong Tang didn't follow. Su Huaijing said he would check on the dinner preparations in the kitchen. Rong Tang, not caring what he was really up to, went to find Lu Jiaxi.

After a cup of hot tea and a few pastries, Lu Jiaxi finally felt a bit better, sitting hunched over in the chair, his hands uncontrollably reaching for his legs.

Rong Tang understood and asked directly, "Is it very sour?"

Lu Jiaxi paused for two seconds, then lifted his head with a mournful expression, "I've been traveling for a very long time."

He was only sixteen, and until April this year, he was just a merchant's son, accustomed to scholarly studies. In just two months, he had been in the Imperial Academy, navigated through officialdom, attended banquets, and traveled thousands of miles from the capital where he grew up to Jiangnan, brought by the Second Prince.

Rong Tang stood up and went out to have Shuangfu bring in a few moxibustion sticks, preparing them for Lu Jiaxi's use.

Lu Jiaxi, shocked and flattered, asked how his family came to have such things.

Rong Tang smiled and explained, "I'm not in good health. Sometimes I get tired from just going out. Huaijing learned moxibustion from a doctor and taught Shuangfu. I use it occasionally."

Lu Jiaxi felt his fatigue slowly dissipate under the warm moxibustion treatment.

But he felt a bit awkward lifting his trouser legs. Though Rong Tang didn’t mind, he still had someone bring a low screen to cover the legs, and they talked across the screen with the fragrance of mugwort filling the room.

Rong Tang asked how they ended up in Jiangnan. Lu Jiaxi replied, "In early May, before the rain started, the Second Prince handled several cases in the capital and trained a personal troop in the Ministry of War. The Emperor, seeing his progress these days, asked if he wanted to inspect any area as a representation of his father."

Hearing this, Rong Tang paused for a moment, not for any other reason but the preferential treatment the Second Prince received from Emperor Renshou, which even hinted at the possibility of him being named heir.

Compared to Cheng Chengming, Cheng Chengxing, who had just started participating in court politics last month, seemed utterly overshadowed.

Rong Tang knew that Cheng Chengming's trip to Jiangnan was likely suggested by Su Huaijing, but the Emperor himself initiating the concept of "inspection" was quite shocking.

He couldn't help but suspect that Su Huaijing might also have influence within the imperial harem.

Rong Tang slightly furrowed his brow, then heard Lu Jiaxi say, "The Second Prince openly stated that he grew up in Jiangnan with his father and mother and now, turning eighteen, he yearns for his homeland. He also claimed he was too crude and foolish to bear the honor of inspecting on behalf of his father, so he only asked for a personal guard and a few officials from the six ministries to accompany him south."

Rong Tang: "..." When did he become so eloquent?

Lu Jiaxi looked around to ensure there were no eavesdroppers, then leaned toward the screen, whispering, "Though he said it was a light trip, just before leaving, the Emperor still gave the Second Prince an imperial decree, stating that if he encountered corrupt officials along the way, he could punish them on the spot."

Rong Tang sipped his tea and murmured, “That’s indeed considerable power.”

Lu Jiaxi nodded hurriedly, "Before the prince set off, the whole imperial court was discussing it. Even the Hanlin Academy colleagues mentioned it during their shifts. I thought it had nothing to do with me, but on the 17th last month, the prince suddenly visited the academy and chose me to accompany him south."

Rong Tang raised his eyebrows, smiling, “That’s good news.”

This way, if Lu Jiaxi, despite being inexperienced, could contribute to a better outcome for the flood, all the officials accompanying Cheng Chengming would be rewarded without exception. Lu Jiaxi, who started in the Hanlin Academy as a commoner and played a role during the disaster, would surely have a smooth and rapid rise in his career.

Ke Hongxue's junior might indeed be able to ride this wave all the way up to a doctoral advisor.

Rong Tang smiled gently, while Lu Jiaxi’s face reddened, seemingly realizing his own good fortune.

After a pause, Lu Jiaxi continued, "We left on May 18th. Everyone thought the prince would take his time inspecting, especially with the imperial decree, but we traveled day and night. Despite getting carsick and vomiting several times, the prince didn’t stop for rest, as if something was chasing us."

“…” Rong Tang thought, with the impending downpour looming overhead.

Lu Jiaxi continued, “We traveled along rivers, with Zhou Zihai from the Ministry of Works skilled in water management and mapping. At each location, the prince would first visit the embankments, having Zhou lead the measurements. We mapped 17 large and 32 small embankments along the way. Even today, on our way from Hangzhou Prefecture to Suzhou, we first went to map the riverbank before coming to your residence.”

Rong Tang listened, stunned for a moment, his eyes widening in disbelief.

The Jiangnan governor, Lu Junxian, is a student of Minister Zhang. This flood was initially a blow to the Second Prince’s faction. In the past lives, influenced by Su Huaijing, Cheng Chengming and Minister Zhang quickly reacted and tried to make amends, but in no other life did they prepare this much in advance.

The great villain’s character setting never included loving the people of Dayu. Rong Tang never thought to impose his own ideas on Su Huaijing, but Su Huaijing had changed on his own.

Taking the initiative to store grain and having Cheng Chengming come to Jiangnan with an imperial decree, regardless of how many people they can save after this disaster, at least everything is progressing in a positive direction.

Rong Tang felt a slight sting in his nose, glancing at the door. Outside, dusk had passed, stars took the stage, dim light spilled in, and the summer cicadas were chirping.

He suddenly wanted to see Su Huaijing, wanted to hug him.

Rong Tang pinched his hand and asked, “Why did you go to Hangzhou Prefecture?”

Lu Jiaxi slowly recovered, his eyes shining, boasting like a child who had just done something grand, “To capture Governor Lu!”

“What?”

Lu Jiaxi: “The prince didn’t hide his intentions from the officials on his journey south, but we barely passed through the major prefectures. When we reached Hangzhou, Lu Junxian thought we were still far away. The prince directly led men to the mansion, coincidentally catching officials delivering bribes. The prince, enraged, ordered them all to be arrested and thrown into prison.”

“？”

“！”

Just like him!

Cheng Chengming truly lived up to being the most impulsive character in the story. Even with Su Huaijing, the strategist, behind him, he acted recklessly, utterly indifferent to the consequences of stirring up a hornet’s nest.

Without much thought, he just acted. If Lu Junxian wasn’t doing his job, then arrest him. As for what charges to use—

Just pin whatever fits; when debts are many, one more doesn’t matter.

Rong Tang was speechless for a long while, then asked, “So who’s sitting in the governor’s mansion now?”

"That's the very reason we came to Suzhou," Lu Jiaxi said, "We met Prefect Jiang Shanxing at the dam this morning, and the prince sent him to temporarily manage the governor's office."

He frowned, a touch of world-weariness crossing his young face, and said with a sigh, "I heard from Master Zhou all the way that the situation at the river mouth is unusual this year, and a flood is feared. Before coming, the prince issued orders with his royal authority to the county yamen, instructing soldiers to organize the evacuation of people in low-lying areas, but I’m not sure how well it’s been implemented."

Despite being exhausted and needing moxibustion for recovery, he became visibly worried discussing this, patting his face to revive his spirits, bending down to remove the moxibustion sticks, and getting ready to leave.

Rong Tang: "Where are you going?"

Lu Jiaxi, bashfully scratching his head and a bit proud, said, "I’m going to see if there’s anything I can help with at the prince’s side. I’ve drawn many maps on this journey, and some details might be clearer to me than to them!"

Rong Tang stared for a moment, then softly laughed, "You’ve worked hard, Lord Lu."

Author's note:

Hard work, impetuous people. - Just a heads-up, there will still be casualties in the disaster. What we’re doing now is just to minimize the loss. It’s still Huaijing’s words: as long as we can save one person, it’s not meaningless. This little fish cares. Wish everyone happiness every day!