Chapter 73 Setting Off

Chapter 73: Setting Out

In the Chonghe Hall, heavy drapes hung down, and the scent of sandalwood curled and dissipated in the air.

Though it was not yet night, the hall was already plunged into gloom.

The three of them stood there, the silence pressing down on them like a mountain, making it hard to breathe.

Xiao Yan stared intently at the memorial that had just been presented in court, the fire in his eyes seeming to smolder.

Since the start of summer, Lingnan had been hit by days of relentless rain. The dikes, unable to withstand the fierce assault of the rising river, had finally collapsed.

It began with a small crack, but no one noticed.

Until it finally created a breach, the floodwaters swamping the farmland and houses along the banks, even resulting in civilian casualties.

Moreover, these past few days had seen a relentless drizzle. Although not as heavy as before, it added another layer of gloom to an already dire situation.

The local officials, realizing they could no longer conceal it, reported the matter to Zhaojing in a panic.

This unexpected flood had caught Xiao Yan completely off guard.

He was currently at a critical stage in his standoff with Chang Wenji. Here he was, feigning illness to lure Chang Wenji into making a move, while Chang Wenji's various actions might also be probing moves that couldn't be fully trusted.

Furthermore, the stances of the court officials were still unclear. He didn't dare send anyone lightly to inspect the disaster area.

If it were truly a loyal, public-spirited official, there would be no problem. But if they were from Chang Wenji's faction, the disaster victims in Lingnan could very well become a pawn to tie his hands.

Yet, he also could not simply abandon these disaster victims.

As the emperor, his duty was to provide a stable life for all the people under heaven, ensuring they were well-fed and clothed.

Xiao Yan frowned deeply, and he remained silent, his fists clenched tightly at his sides. Worry, anxiety, and indecision warred within him, relentlessly assaulting his already strained nerves.

Jiang Wang's heart was also wrenched by this news. Although what lay before his eyes was just a single sheet of paper, he could imagine the scene in Lingnan at this moment—a landscape of ruin...

At the same time, he understood Xiao Yan. He knew Xiao Yan would not stand idly by, but he also understood the difficult choice weighing on Xiao Yan's heart at this moment.

Now, if Xiao Yan took even one wrong step, even a small one, he would plunge into an abyss from which there was no return.

And the price of falling into that abyss would not only be himself, but also the imperial family of the Great Jing Dynasty, and even all the people of Dajing...

Chang Wenji was a cruel and ruthless man who thought nothing of human life. Jiang Wang did not believe he would genuinely consider the welfare of the people.

Fang Fengshi was also beside himself with anxiety.

His brother had come so far with such difficulty. Just when dawn seemed within sight, wasn't this pushing Xiao Yan back into the fire pit?

"Perhaps I..."

Fang Fengshi spoke without much thought. Since no one suitable could be sent, perhaps he should just go himself.

Although he was a military officer and his mind might not be as agile as a civil official's, he could at least go to pacify the people and stabilize the situation.

But as the words left his mouth, he realized that Zhaojing was the main battlefield of this confrontation.

And he, holding the position of Imperial Guard Commander, was responsible for the security of this city of power.

Here resided not only ordinary people, but also the princes and ministers of the court, and, more importantly, the imperial palace.

If something went wrong here, the consequence could very well be a change of dynasty...

He could not leave, nor dared he leave. It would not be an exaggeration to say he needed to be firmly rooted in Zhaojing.

The Imperial Guards were the final layer of armor protecting Zhaojing; they were its impregnable fortress.

Fang Fengshi's unfinished sentence was like a small stone thrown into the stagnant, anxious pool of silence within the Chonghe Hall, sending ripples across its surface.

At this moment, Jiang Wang, who had been motionless, bowed in salute.

"Your Majesty, I am willing to go to Lingnan to provide disaster relief."

Upon hearing this, Xiao Yan looked up, a flicker of hope flashing in his eyes before dimming again.

It wasn't that he thought Jiang Wang incapable of handling the task, but because this relief mission would inevitably be fraught with hardships along the way.

Setting aside the challenges Jiang Wang would face upon reaching Lingnan, the journey south from Zhaojing to Lingnan alone was extremely long and arduous. The suffering endured on the road would be enough for anyone.

How could someone who sought cool air from him when it was merely hot endure such hardships in the scorching summer heat?

"No. I will think if there is someone else."

Jiang Wang was momentarily taken aback, but in the next instant, he seemed to understand Xiao Yan's well-intentioned concern.

A relieved smile touched his lips. He took two steps back and performed a full kneeling bow.

Jiang Wang's voice was not loud, but it was firm enough, its echo lingering in the hall.

"I, Jiang Wang, am willing to go to Lingnan for disaster relief. I humbly request Your Majesty's approval."

At this critical juncture of life and death, he could not allow himself to stand by idly, nor could he allow himself to be a passive observer when so many others needed help.

Although he had no experience facing such a situation, as a modern person who had come here, he had seen many such examples through media, even more than the ancients with their limited information flow.

Moreover, he had the System. It was a sophisticated intelligence that could help him devise solutions to many problems.

This was his greatest trump card.

Although the System was unreliable, its fundamental nature wasn't bad. It certainly wouldn't joke with him about something like this.

Jiang Wang could foresee encountering numerous difficulties and problems along the way, but he believed he would ultimately overcome them.

After all, there were still so many people waiting for his help.

"Does Your Majesty have a more suitable candidate than I?"

Jiang Wang looked up, his eyes bright with certainty and also with entreaty.

Xiao Yan opened his mouth, but not a single word came out.

At present, he truly had no more suitable candidate than Jiang Wang.

Jiang Wang was someone from the same faction whom he could trust. In terms of identity, Jiang Wang also had the added layer of being a "Chang Wenji informant," which might serve as a cover for him.

After a moment of silence, Xiao Yan finally spoke.

"Very well, I grant permission. Return and rest well. Depart in three days."

Jiang Wang scrambled up from the ground. The heavy stone in his heart had fallen, but his shoulders now bore the weighty responsibility tied to the lives of thousands of common people.

"Your Majesty, we can't delay helping the disaster victims. I want to leave tomorrow."

*

By noon the next day, Jiang Wang set out from the imperial city by carriage.

Of course, it wasn't just him. Changle, who was determined to go no matter what, was there, as well as Eunuch Wu, who had disguised himself.

Eunuch Wu was Xiao Yan's addition—someone Xiao Yan knew was loyal to him.

Eunuch Wu was clever and knew some disguise techniques. Having him by Jiang Wang's side put Xiao Yan at ease.

In addition, two assistant ministers from the Ministry of Works accompanied them to survey the situation, draw up plans, and oversee the repair of the embankments.

Neither of these two held high-ranking positions, so Jiang Wang held absolute authority and leadership among this group.

Even if these two assistant ministers harbored ill intentions, Jiang Wang had enough leverage to suppress them.

Along with several guards and some attendants, the group came to nearly twenty people.

The relief funds and grain were still being prepared; they would be sent off the next day to catch up with the main group.

The carriage lurched into motion. Just as it moved farther from the palace walls, Jiang Wang lifted the curtain and glanced back.

On the city wall, there was indeed a figure in black.

It was Xiao Yan.

To avoid potential spies from Chang Wenji noticing his suspicious actions, Jiang Wang only took a quick look before hurriedly sitting back down.

His unsettled heart calmed, but his face grew inexplicably warm.

Seeing this, Changle also lifted the curtain to look back, but aside from pedestrians on the street, he saw nothing.

He was baffled, scratching his head in bewilderment.

"Young master, what were you looking at just now?"

"I... just... uh..." Jiang Wang stammered, unable to form words, his face growing even redder. Finally, he managed to blurt out, "Just looking around!"

Inside the carriage, only Eunuch Wu beside him wore a faint, almost imperceptible smile that seemed to see through everything.

What else in the palace could cause that reaction? It was obvious.

Meanwhile, Jiang Wang was filled with both excitement and confusion, his mind too occupied with complex emotions to think of anything else.

That hug from Xiao Yan just before he boarded the carriage—what exactly did it mean?

Well, to be honest, he had previously felt that Xiao Yan treated him quite well, and he himself seemed to harbor some indescribable, ambiguous feelings toward Xiao Yan.

But since they were indescribable and ambiguous, he hadn't wanted to figure them out, to avoid adding unnecessary trouble for himself.

However... what exactly did that deep, forceful hug mean...

Xiao Yan had also said, "Don't get hurt. Come back safe."

Jiang Wang wasn't clueless about love. Even before crossing over, his so-called friends had their own ever-changing 'partners,' with new faces every few days.

Yet Jiang Wang seemed to be the odd one out in that crowd.

He had stumbled upon a clear understanding of his own sexual orientation but had never actually been in a relationship with anyone.

When it came to emotions, he was very picky.

He would offer advice when others were confused, help analyze the pros and cons of a relationship, and tell them how to make choices.

But when it came to himself, he was completely at a loss.

The blush on Jiang Wang's face faded, but his heart continued to race like a startled deer.

What exactly did Xiao Yan mean...

*

"Hey, brother, stop looking." Fang Fengshi elbowed Xiao Yan, who was still gazing into the distance from the city wall. "Why do you always do things like this?"

He had done the same before at Longquan Tower, and now he was doing it again. What was with his brother? Was this the demeanor an emperor should have?

If you love someone, you should say it out loud.

But with things so unstable and danger possibly anywhere, keeping quiet was understandable.

"Don't worry. Haven't you sent everyone you could? Don't you trust your personally selected, top-notch shadow guard?"

As far as he knew, Xiao Yan had openly dispatched the clever Wu Zhong, while in the shadows, there was also the highly skilled martial artist Ling Hai.

Xiao Yan hadn't told anyone about Ling Hai's existence, not even Jiang Wang himself.

Ling Hai would protect Jiang Wang's safety at all times but would not act lightly.

This was Xiao Yan's final line of defense for Jiang Wang's safety.

Xiao Yan had given Jiang Wang the best of what he could do and what he had.

Jiang Wang's eagerness to leave hadn't given him much time. Originally, he had wanted to give thorough instructions in the evening, but Jiang Wang was called away by Chang Wenji.

As Xiao Yan had expected, Chang Wenji didn't give any other orders. He only told Jiang Wang to report every detail of the post-disaster situation in Lingnan to him and instructed Jiang Wang to maintain timely communication and follow his arrangements.

"So, Chancellor, your meaning is..."

Should he save the disaster victims or not?

Chang Wenji didn't say much, only offering a faint, expressionless smile, a hint of ruthlessness flashing in his eyes.

"If they can be of use to me, that is their value, their fortune."

Author's Note:

Jiang Wang's journey is destined to be fraught with difficulties, and things won't be calm on Xiao Yan's side either... The young couple needs to work hard!

Also, the chaotic days on my end are finally coming to an end. I'm going to resume a regular update schedule!