Chapter 75 The Sky Curtain Made Me a White Moonlight in History The Sky Curtain, for publicity...

Chu Feng took a big gulp of wine, and out of the corner of his eye, he saw his father, the emperor, dressed in a bright yellow dragon robe, appear. He stood up and, along with a group of ministers, bowed to the emperor.

The emperor spotted his son and Si Qi sitting at the head of the table, and his smile grew even brighter. He said, "Please sit down!"

His Majesty is known for his good character, so the ministers and their families can relax a bit more at this time, instead of having to be on edge even while eating, for fear of losing their manners in front of the emperor.

The banquet not only featured exquisite wines and dishes, but also a variety of songs, dances, and activities. Knowing that this was Si Qi's first time attending such an event, the Emperor kept a close eye on him while watching the performances. He was quite pleased to see Chu Feng sitting beside Si Qi, occasionally raising a glass to him and introducing some of the dishes on the table to Si Qi.

Just then, servants streamed in from outside, carrying plates of food that had been simply steamed and boiled to retain their original appearance, placing them in exquisite bowls and dishes. Each person received only a small portion, which was then placed before the ministers one by one.

A group of people quickly recognized the items and exclaimed in surprise, "These must be the high-yield crops that Tian Mu mentioned!"

"Corn, sweet potatoes, and... potatoes!"

The food was freshly cooked, and after its long journey from the imperial kitchen to here, it still exuded a faint warmth and a delicate fragrance.

This year's Dragon Boat Festival banquet not only featured zongzi (sticky rice dumplings), but also included grains that the ministers had never eaten before, grains that could save many lives.

Some ministers were so old that their teeth were so loose that they could hardly eat pastries, but they found that steamed sweet potatoes were just right. After taking a bite, they couldn't help but exclaim, "Soft, sticky, sweet, and delicious!"

Despite having no added sugar, it tastes like a pastry, rich and honey-like, with a lingering aftertaste. Even Beijing locals, accustomed to fine dining, are quite satisfied with it.

They exclaimed, "Such high yield and such great taste, it's truly a blessing from heaven!"

"This potato is also delicious; it's quite smooth and flavorful when dipped in sauce!"

"This is called corn, right? It's sweet and sticky, not bad, not bad!"

Some people didn't forget to praise Si Qi's contributions, cupping their hands and saying, "It's all thanks to our Prime Minister Si!"

Yes, it is.

The officials flattered Si Qi with smiles, but Si Qi waved his hand and said, "This is all thanks to the local prefect and the officials of the Ministry of Revenue."

"You are too modest, Prime Minister."

Everyone knows that if Si Qi from the "future" hadn't searched for these crops all over the country, Tianmu wouldn't have mentioned their existence at this time, so that everyone could follow the clues.

And thanks to Si Qi for remembering what these crops looked like and drawing them in their entirety, they were able to find the food so quickly and plant them immediately.

Si Qi's modesty is something people take with a grain of salt; they don't really believe that Si Qi did nothing.

The nobles sat to the side, watching the group of people flattering each other, staring at Si Qi's unparalleled glory, exchanging glances but smiling without saying a word.

Just as everyone was toasting and the atmosphere was at its most lively, a disheveled man, covered in sweat, rushed in from outside the hall, instantly attracting the attention of the ministers.

Everyone stared at him in astonishment, but he paid no heed to the cheerful atmosphere he had interrupted. He knelt on the ground and kowtowed heavily to the emperor above him: "Your Majesty! Songzhou has been flooded, the people have rioted, and all the officials in the government office have been killed!"

As soon as he finished speaking, the scene fell silent. The eyes of the dozen or so nobles gleamed, and they quickly covered their excited expressions with their sleeves.

The emperor put down his cup, his face darkened, and he said sternly, "Explain yourself clearly!"

The official who had rushed all the way from Songzhou wiped the mess of sweat and mud from his face, knelt on the ground, and recounted how Songzhou had been flooded, people had been displaced, and how officials had failed to act, instead forcibly taking away able-bodied men from people's homes to salvage their private property.

It is said that the gold and silver treasures transported from the officials were loaded onto cart after cart, but the wheels got stuck in the muddy ground halfway there and could not get out, thus blocking the road.

Countless people tried to escape but were blocked from their path. Officials, swords in hand, forbade them to approach, fearing they might steal in the chaos. The people knelt on the ground, pleading for their lives, but to no avail.

As the elderly man's face turned blue from the waist-deep water, and the short child nearly drowned, a conflict inevitably broke out between the two sides during the scuffle.

An official who pointed at the people and cursed them, saying that their lives were not worth as much as his jade pendant, was beaten to death on the spot by the swarming crowd. The officials, in a state of panic, took out their knives and killed many people on the spot, and the situation became completely out of control.

Because Songzhou is at least ten days away from the capital, even by the fastest horse. Ten days may seem like a short time, but for the starving and freezing people, with no food, no place to rest, soaking wet, sick and exhausted, and their hands stained with the blood of officials, it was nothing short of the end of the world.

They risked being held accountable if they fled, but staying meant certain death. The panic and physical torment drove them to extremes. Waiting for the capital to react and send people would take another ten days, and who knew what they would face upon arrival.

After hearing about the tragic situation, the emperor lost all interest in continuing the banquet. His ministers, quick to understand, immediately rose and took their leave, leaving only a few officials whose names the emperor had specifically mentioned to discuss how to proceed.

"What have the common people done wrong!" The emperor's words immediately determined right and wrong, exonerating the offending people. "Send money and grain to the disaster area, mainly to appease them."

“We must send troops to suppress them.” A minister reminded, “The people are ignorant and easily swayed by rumors. Rumors are spreading widely, and it will be difficult for Your Majesty’s decree to be conveyed.”

Even if they shout "His Majesty pardons you" in one place and appease the people there, when they go to the next place, the people are still terrified when they see the government's procession.

The panicked people couldn't listen to reason. They either fled on empty stomachs or rushed over with knives to rob the government of its money and grain, completely turning into a mob.

Moreover, the road conditions and the transportation of supplies were difficult. The grain convoy was slow and needed to eat; of the ten cartloads of rice delivered, only five would remain. Furthermore, the grain would be subject to layers of embezzlement by the government, with much of it being skimmed off. By the time the convoy reached Songzhou, there would likely be only a pittance left—plenty of left, hardly of any use.

Chu Feng volunteered, saying, "Your subject is willing to go personally to relieve the people of Songzhou."

With the Crown Prince personally escorting the relief supplies, no one dared to try and profit from the situation. Moreover, the people, seeing the banners embroidered with the royal dragon, would understand that these were not soldiers coming to kill them, thus avoiding an excessive reaction.

The emperor was very pleased: "Good!"

He truly deserves to be called his prodigy; he is never afraid of hardship when it is time to lend a hand, and he is always the first to step forward and relieve his father's worries.

Seeing this, Si Qi stepped forward and said, "Your Majesty, I also request to go along."

This time, however, the emperor hesitated: "Minister Si is not yet fully recovered; it would be better if you remained in the capital."

Si Qi: "I am in good health, and I have some knowledge of the disaster relief efforts."

The emperor was immune to Si Qi's "some understanding" of him. Basically, if Si Qi said he could do something, then no one in the court was better at it than him. The emperor knew that as long as Si Qi was sent over, the disaster relief would definitely be a sure thing.

But he was still worried that if something went wrong and Si Qi encountered danger, then his Great Qi would suffer heavy losses.

The emperor was in a dilemma for a moment. Seeing this, Chu Feng considered for a moment and said, "Your subject will protect Lord Si."

He was certainly worried about Si Qi's safety, but he wanted to fulfill all of Si Qi's requests as much as possible.

As long as he is by Si Qi's side, he will do everything in his power to protect Si Qi, even at the cost of his own life, to ensure that Si Qi does not encounter any mishap.

Since Si Qi won't be in danger, why not go along with Si Qi's wishes?

Si Qi had never made any requests before, so it was hard not to feel compelled to agree the first time he did.

The emperor was an easy-going person. Seeing this, he looked at Si Qi again. Seeing that Si Qi was determined to leave, he sighed and said, "Then I'll have to trouble you, Minister Si."

Disaster relief is not a very serious matter; it happens every few years. This time, with Chu Feng personally leading the team and heavy guards around, Si Qi shouldn't encounter any problems.

He drafted an imperial edict, telling Chu Feng and Si Qi that they were in charge of all matters, and that they could mobilize any manpower, resources, or even military force as needed, showing them great trust.

After Chu Feng and Si Qi left, they discussed countermeasures overnight. The next day, they hurriedly bid farewell to their families and led their men to leave the capital at top speed.

Meanwhile, the nobles, who hadn't slept all night, hurriedly gathered at the Zhao residence to inquire about the situation.

"The arrangements have already been made." Father Zhao stroked his beard leisurely and said with a smile, "Everything is within my son's plan."

Whether it was breaking the axles of the carts transporting money, sneaking into crowds to kill officials, or shouting that the government was going to kill them, these traitors, and calling on everyone to resist, all of these were done by Zhao Ren's father.

They sent people to Songzhou well in advance, made all the preparations, and were just waiting for the Crown Prince to appear so that they could present him with the "grand gift" they had been preparing for so long.

It was just like when they prepared a trap in the capital, waiting for Si Qi to take the bait.

This time, they will definitely not fail again.

...

Yellow sand filled the sky, and the dust kicked up by the wheels of vehicles shrouded the entire road in a hazy color.

Chu Feng, riding his steed, glanced worriedly into the carriage, watching the bumpy ride and wondering if Si Qi would be uncomfortable sitting inside.

Soon, Si Qi poked his head out of the window and said to Chu Feng, "Your Highness, it's stuffy inside. May I borrow a horse to ride?"

Chu Feng: "It's not safe to ride alone."

In ancient times, horses were comparable to sports cars in the modern world; although not rare, they were definitely a luxury item that only the wealthy could afford.

Si Qi came from a poor family and had hardly ever ridden a horse before—he only received extra training from the palace when he passed the imperial examination and was paraded through the streets as the top scholar. Even if he knew how to ride, with so much money and provisions they were carrying on the road, if they encountered some unsuspecting bandits who might suddenly shoot an arrow at them, Si Qi certainly wouldn't be able to dodge it with his skills.

Si Qi: "Your Majesty..."

Chu Feng knew how unbearable it was to ride in a carriage on such a bumpy road; after a day of jostling, one's bones would be shaken to pieces. After thinking for a moment, he said to Si Qi, "You may ride with me."

Out of a little selfishness, he didn't want Si Qi and the other soldiers to be crammed together on one horse, body to body.

He didn't know what others thought, but at least he wouldn't deliberately take advantage of Si Qi; he would behave himself.

The soldier who had been eavesdropping nearby said regretfully, "Your Highness..."

"Your escort team is safe, so please be mindful of your surroundings," Chu Feng casually explained, "I can still discuss matters with the Prime Minister on the road."

The reason was so irrefutable that the general sighed slightly and remained silent.

Chu Feng dismounted and went to the carriage to help Si Qi down.

Taking Si Qi's hand, Chu Feng helped the "unskilled rider" and "frail" Si Qi onto the horse's back, easily mounting himself in the stirrups. He then walked around Si Qi from behind and grabbed the reins, asking with concern, "Lord Si, are you feeling unwell?"

The horse's back is over a meter high, and sitting on it feels like your feet are suspended half a floor above the ground. People who aren't used to it might feel a little scared looking down.

Si Qi's voice came from the front: "I know Your Highness is here, so I have nothing to fear."

Chu Feng's breath hitched, his lips pressed tightly together, and it took him a long time to utter a few words: "That's good."

Lord Si is always so upright and honest, speaking and acting with such grace and generosity that it makes this person with ulterior motives feel ashamed, as his frank words always lead him to have all sorts of wild thoughts.

The group, which had paused briefly, set off again. This time, Chu Feng looked over Si Qi's neck at the road ahead. Inadvertently, he was still touched by Si Qi's hair blowing in the wind and their bodies bumping into each other during the bumpy ride. He felt light and airy, as if he were floating on a cloud.

Although traveling is a very tiring thing, with Si Qi by his side, he didn't feel tired at all.

Si Qi, on the other hand, endured the arduous journey, a hardship even for soldiers accustomed to daily training. Yet, he never uttered a discouraging word. Despite being a frail scholar who couldn't lift a finger or carry heavy loads, and having enjoyed months of delicacies in the capital, he suddenly found himself eating dry, hard flatbread and drinking water that had been sitting for days. Yet, he adapted remarkably well, much to the relief of the soldiers who had been silently worrying about him. Their admiration for Si Qi only grew stronger.

During this time, Si Qi also helped the team find several clean water sources through observation, and picked and made medicinal herbs on the spot to repel mosquitoes and wild animals, which greatly reduced the suffering during the journey and eased the burden on the night watchmen.

Everyone was prepared for Si Qi to add a lot of burdens, but instead of causing them any trouble, he kept helping the team, even doing things like bandaging wounds and cooking for the team.

The soldiers were both heartbroken and moved, only regretting their lack of education and inability to express their gratitude.

They traveled day and night without stopping, and successfully arrived in Songzhou with supplies in the shortest possible time.

Even before reaching the disaster-stricken city, the surrounding ground already showed signs of being wet, soft, and muddy after being submerged by water.

As they ventured deeper, a puddle of water formed on the barren ground. They waded through the water, the air thick with the stench of decaying plant matter. The smell grew stronger the further they went. Si Qi glanced up and saw a swollen, bluish-gray corpse floating on a distant ridge. Then, his vision was abruptly blocked by a hand covering him from behind.

"Don't be afraid," Chu Feng said. "If you're afraid, just don't go."

"I am fine," Si Qi said. "Your Highness, please rest assured."

Chu Feng hesitated for a moment, then slowly lowered his hand, leaning forward to look at Si Qi's profile, wanting to confirm whether Si Qi was really alright.

Si Qi explained, "I know what will happen after the flood."

As if to prove it, Si Qi raised his voice and said to the soldiers in front and behind him, "Water that has been soaked in rotting corpses is not drinkable, even seemingly unpolluted streams. It will cause illness! From now on, all drinking water will be from the water we brought beforehand!"

Upon hearing this, the soldiers loudly replied "Yes." Only then did Chu Feng recall that half a day earlier, Si Qi had specifically ordered the troops to stop and bring several cartloads of heavy and laborious water from the well in the abandoned village to Songzhou, which was flooded and filled with water everywhere.

It turns out they had anticipated this all along.

Si Qi explained to Chu Feng, "Plagues are prone to occur after floods because the corpses are soaking in the water, and the people have no choice but to drink the water. At this time, they are all wet, their body temperature drops, their resistance decreases, and they are very susceptible to infection after drinking unclean water."

The best solution would be to divert the floodwaters and allow the environment to dry out, but in those days, where could one find sound urban infrastructure and a complete drainage system? The people could only endure and bear it.

"Therefore, in addition to distributing relief grain, water and medicine are also important disaster relief supplies. When I was in the capital, I wrote to the towns near Songzhou to prepare the supplies in advance, and they will be sent over later..."

Chu Feng listened as Si Qi recounted in detail everything that might happen after the flood. Many things that Chu Feng had never heard of before and could not even imagine without actually seeing them were described clearly by Si Qi.

He couldn't help but admire Si Qi's extensive knowledge, as he knew so much about things that wouldn't even be tested in the imperial examinations.

After explaining the relief arrangements, Si Qi added, "The refugees have no food, no water, and not even firewood to dry themselves. They may also have relatives or friends who have perished, separated by life and death. The physical and mental torment they endure can make their emotions extremely uncontrollable."

Chu Feng understood Si Qi's meaning, summoned the general in charge, and instructed, "Have everyone be on high alert."

The general accepted the order and flicked the reins to relay it.

Soon, the soldiers donned their armor, took up their weapons, and stood ready to escort the money and supplies to the nearest town.

They saw the city wall in the distance, but standing outside it were not soldiers guarding the city, but rather a group of disheveled and dejected civilians.

The people's reaction to the soldiers was undoubtedly strong. They quickly stood up from the ground, their dirty faces showing terrifying expressions, like trapped beasts who had lost their minds, or like people who had finally seen hope at the end of their rope.

The soldiers were on edge, instinctively gripping their weapons. The flag bearer waved a banner embroidered with a coiled dragon, shouting, "His Highness the Crown Prince has arrived!"

The shouts were deafening, and the people were immediately terrified. They cowered and tried to back away, but some stared intently at the sacks full of grain, drool dripping from their mouths.

The soldiers shouted the Crown Prince's name to indicate their purpose of going to provide disaster relief, while remaining vigilant of the surrounding people to prevent them from losing control and rushing forward to rob or do anything rash.

Within the city, just a few hundred meters away, the people who had gathered in the former government office, having dismantled the entire office and used it as firewood, watched a scholar in the crowd with bated breath.

Previously, it was this scholar who led them to defeat that damned county magistrate and save the people who were nearly drowning. It was also he who organized people to pull countless people from the flood, find the grain hidden by the magistrate, and demolish the government office buildings so that they would not freeze or starve to death during this time.

He told them that the government would not let them, these unfortunate people, go unpunished, and that they had to save themselves and find a way to survive for themselves and their families. He also personally guided them in making weapons for self-defense, finding escape routes through the mountains, and placing spies in various places outside the city to gather information, bringing them a sliver of peace from their endless fear.

Now, the government officials have finally arrived. These people, whose hands are stained with the blood of imperial officials and who are destined to have their families wiped out, must fight to save their lives.

At this man's call, they gripped their machetes tightly, stood up, and shouted with fervent fervor, "Kill the corrupt officials of the imperial court!!"

The scholar nodded with satisfaction, watching as the group of people, their eyes red, shouted slogans, hid their weapons in their clothes, disguised themselves as ordinary refugees seeking relief, and rushed out of the government office in unison.

The scholar watched them leave, then glanced sideways at several men in the crowd who were dressed in ordinary villager clothes, yet whose movements were remarkably efficient and fierce.

The two exchanged a few glances and nodded to confirm the situation.

Someone whispered, "The Crown Prince has arrived. We must make sure he leaves here with his life!"

Those refugees were merely pawns used by the soldiers to create chaos and shield themselves from the swords and blades of the government troops. The real threat wasn't the bewildered civilians, but these well-trained assassins.

No one could have imagined that in such a time, when even survival was a struggle for ordinary people, there would be a group of people whose only thought was killing. Upon seeing the crowds approaching, pleading and begging, the relief team's first reaction would have been to appease or warn them, not to immediately draw their weapons and begin the slaughter.

When the crowd of people suddenly draws their weapons and attacks at close range, the group will definitely fall into chaos. If they can take the opportunity to get close to the prince, they can use a poisoned dagger to slightly pierce the prince's flesh. The poison will then seep into the prince's body through the wound. The potent poison will definitely kill the prince, and even if he survives, he will not live long.

Their plan was meticulous, and barring any unforeseen circumstances, this would be a fatal blow to the emperor from the nobles.

Unfortunately, some things are beyond human control; Heaven (the supreme deity) is simply not on their side.

Just as the scholar revealed a smug smile of confidence, imagining the scene of Chu Feng falling, the sky suddenly went dark, and a familiar voice rang out from the sky.

A sense of foreboding instantly overwhelmed the scholar, his expression blank. Then, the sky above him spoke in a deafening voice: "Let's review the ten most devastating natural disasters throughout history that have changed the course of history, starting with the disaster relief efforts following the assassination attempt on Crown Prince Chu Feng!"

The scholar: "…………"

Disaster victims: "…………"

assassin:"…………"

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Author's Note: --

Xiuxiu, a model worker who used a little robot to take a stroll in and check the disaster situation beforehand, and then worked overtime to make videos: Didn't they say before that it was poisoning?

Si Qi: Assassinate first, then poison.

Chu Feng, always getting hurt: ...As long as Xiao Qi is happy. [Pitiful]