"Second Prince, are you planning to have Qian Ning discuss her life's happiness here?"
In broad daylight, with so many people in the palace, how could a young girl possibly say such a thing?
"Regent, Princess Qianning, please..." This matter can be discussed outside the palace.
This was the last conversation Su Luo overheard before entering the main hall. Judging from this, Su Luo knew that the Second Prince wanted to marry Ye Qianning.
Upon entering the hall, Su Luo saw His Majesty and the Imperial Advisor standing anxiously at the window, looking in the direction where Nangong Jingyao and Ye Beihan had walked out.
"Your Majesty, I pay my respects to the Imperial Preceptor."
Su Luo bowed, and only after the two of them saw Su Luo did they return to the high platform and sit down.
"Vice Minister of Agriculture, the safety of Nanning will depend on you and Prince Yu from now on."
Su Luo didn't know why the emperor would suddenly say such a thing. Aren't the two countries currently developing in a peaceful and harmonious direction?
"Your Majesty, I am filled with trepidation."
"The Vice Minister of Agriculture doesn't know yet; let the Imperial Advisor tell you."
Su Luo looked at the Grand Preceptor. She knew about the affairs of both countries and what the court officials knew. Judging from the way His Majesty and the Grand Preceptor were, the Grand Preceptor must have foreseen something bad.
"The Imperial Advisor!"
The Imperial Advisor asked her to sit down with him and said, "Junior Sister, the divination for this marriage alliance between our two countries indicates a very ominous sign, a calamity for Nanning."
Su Luo: "Now that we know it's a calamity, do the Imperial Advisor and His Majesty have a way to avert it?"
The two pondered for a long time before the Grand Preceptor finally spoke: "This is Nanning's destiny. Heaven has bestowed a great responsibility upon this person, so he must first endure hardship and toil. The same applies to the nation."
Su Luo understood immediately; it seemed this marriage alliance with Bei Liang wouldn't be peaceful.
What do you need me to do?
“Vice Minister of Agriculture, you are a lucky star for Nanning. With you here, everything will be solved. Nanning’s future needs your assistance.”
The emperor was in good health, yet his words carried such weight.
"Your Majesty, rest assured, I was born in Nanning, and I will die on the land of Nanning."
Su Luo didn't know when it started, but the emperor would occasionally say that she was Nanning's lucky star, but she didn't feel that she had done anything extra.
“Junior sister, last night I observed the celestial phenomena and discovered that our dynasty will face a severe drought next year, which is why I have summoned you to the palace today.”
When a country is underdeveloped, the greatest fear is natural disasters. Nowadays, people depend on the heavens for their livelihood. If there is no harvest, then there will be corpses everywhere.
The practice of exchanging children for food will reappear, and a series of diseases will occur. Natural disasters will be more terrible than war.
"Your Majesty, Imperial Advisor, I have cultivated a considerable amount of dryland rice this year, and it is growing very well. All of it will be used as seeds so that it can be planted in many places next year."
With the imperial advisor's advance prediction, we can purchase large quantities of rice this year to prepare for unforeseen circumstances.
The emperor had, of course, considered what Su Luo had said: “The Vice Minister of Agriculture is right. If we start preparations this year, it will probably only be a drop in the ocean.”
However, the drought-resistant rice mentioned by the Deputy Minister of Agriculture might still offer some relief.
Su Luo pondered. If a drought were to occur, they should take preventative measures beforehand.
"Your Majesty, I have a plan."
"Please speak, Vice Minister of Agriculture."
"Drought is nothing more than extreme water shortage. In the books I have read, I have not seen any reservoirs built in Nanning. Your Majesty may issue an edict to order the construction of large reservoirs so that we can store the water."
At that time, whether it's drinking water or using the reservoir water to irrigate farmland, it will help the local people get through this difficult period.
The emperor had never heard the word "reservoir" before, but in his understanding, it was probably similar to building a river dam.
"Could the Deputy Minister of Agriculture explain in detail how this reservoir was formed and how the water is stored?"
“A reservoir is similar to a pond. We find a place with a good water source, utilize the natural formation, and then build a dam to form a large reservoir.”
Su Luo explained all the knowledge she had learned to the emperor and the imperial advisor.
This can indeed help with drought relief, but building a reservoir is not a small project.
It will require a lot of money and manpower: "Vice Minister of Agriculture, I will issue an edict to have the Ministry of Works build the reservoir according to your instructions."
There are still several months before next year's rainy season, and Nanning needs to take precautions.
Seeing the emperor's troubled expression, Su Luo guessed that he was worried about the empty treasury.
"Your Majesty, when I was in Changping Village, there was a great insect plague one year. In order to raise funds to buy medicinal materials, I once offered a plan to the county magistrate, which was very effective."
In Yongle County, any commoner or wealthy merchant who donated money would have their name recorded by the county magistrate. At the end of the year, during the sacrificial ceremony, the magistrate would personally pray for the donor's success, hoping it would bring them good fortune and reach the ears of the emperor.
The emperor understood Su Luo's meaning immediately. If he, the emperor, were to personally perform the sacrifice, along with the Grand Preceptor...
In this way, wouldn't all the wealthy merchants in the capital be willing to donate money? Thus, the construction of the reservoir would be half successful.
"Deputy Minister of Agriculture, what a brilliant plan! The Imperial Advisor is right, you truly are the lucky star of Nanning."
I understand this matter, and I know what to do, hahaha…
The Imperial Advisor smiled without saying a word, then suddenly frowned and spat out a mouthful of blood.
"Imperial Preceptor, how are you?"
Su Luo went up to help him and took his pulse at the same time.
The pulse is weak and floating, and there is no illness, so why would someone suddenly vomit blood?
"Imperial Preceptor, you...you again..."
After hearing the emperor say this, it seemed that this wasn't the first time the imperial advisor had done something like this.
"The Imperial Advisor?"
The Imperial Advisor called himself her senior brother and took care of her both openly and secretly. Su Luo always reciprocated the kindness of others in kind.
"It's nothing. It's just revealing a secret of heaven, which will shorten my lifespan and make me addicted. I am injured, but I can save millions of people in the world. It's worth it."
Su Luo had never believed in superstition, but the mystery of her arrival here, coupled with the enigmatic nature of the Imperial Preceptor, sometimes forced her to believe in some unseen and intangible theorems.
"I have done too much for the Imperial Advisor, and I feel indebted to you. Since the calamity for Nanning and Beiliang is unavoidable, I accept it with equanimity."
Adding to the calculated natural disasters, I don't know how long you'll need to recuperate before your body fully recovers.
"Vice Minister of Agriculture, you and your fellow disciples should go back and keep a close eye on the Imperial Preceptor for me."
"Yes, Your Majesty."
Su Luo helped the Imperial Preceptor to the Imperial Preceptor's residence. With the Imperial Preceptor's health being so good that he was neither sick nor injured, even medicine could not be prescribed for him.
"Imperial Preceptor, please rest well. I'll have someone send you some tonics in the next couple of days."
The Imperial Advisor shook his head; His Majesty had given him so many tonics from the palace that he couldn't fit them all in his hands.
"It's no use, junior sister. This is the way of Heaven, and this is what I must bear."
As he spoke, he vomited another mouthful of blood. This was the first time Su Luo had ever felt helpless in the face of someone who wasn't sick.
All I could do was wipe him clean and help him lie down.
"Junior sister, the reason I summoned you to the palace this time is to give you something. I'm afraid that after I recover from this illness, I won't have the chance to give it to you again."
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