Chapter 221, exclusively published on Jinjiang, is finally back!
Three days later, the imperial court will send people to local cities in the flying chariots provided by Marquis Yunxian to reclaim lost territory.
The announcement of this news has further excited the people who were already quite shaken today.
Why is it that even though the people of the capital are living under the emperor's nose, their lives are getting harder and harder?
It's not that other supplies can't be delivered because of the underground fissures; even if the imperial court sends people out, it will come at a great cost, making it a losing proposition.
If the celestial chariot can truly fly across the underground fissures, re-establish contact with various places, and bring back their scarce resources, even if the catastrophe continues, they will certainly not be worse off than other places.
Having just witnessed a true miracle, almost no one doubted the authenticity of the celestial procession, and everyone was overjoyed at the prospect of a bright future.
Many people spontaneously began shouting "Long live the Emperor! Long live the Emperor! Long live the Emperor!" and some even yelled "Lord Yunxian!" their voices filled with admiration and gratitude.
...
In the afternoon, the new emperor and his ministers returned to the palace to discuss sending people out of the capital.
Lu Xuan, the newly appointed marquis, found the Yunxian Marquis's residence in the east of the city according to the address mentioned in the imperial edict.
Accompanying them were Bai Xuefeng and Xie Yun, the youngest son of Marquis Xie and the second legitimate son of Marquis Weiyuan.
Since Xie Hou was an elder, he couldn't accompany Lu Xuan every day. Xie Yun, the eldest son of the Xie family and the heir apparent, was busy with official duties and couldn't spare the time. Xie Yun, who was neither good at literature nor martial arts, was a good choice to be a guest.
Xie Yun led the way while introducing Lu Xuan to her.
"The mansion His Majesty bestowed upon you was originally the residence of a prince. The last person to live here was a prince of a different surname during the reign of the late emperor."
The prince was wounded on the battlefield when he was young and died before he turned fifty. He never married and had no other relatives. After his master's death, the prince's mansion was left empty, and it was never given away as a reward until the late emperor passed away.
Now, it's actually Lu Xuan who benefits.
The Prince's Mansion has more than a dozen different courtyards, with red walls and green tiles, carved beams and painted rafters everywhere. There are also several beautiful gardens with rockeries, ponds, and rare flowers and plants. Although the ponds and flowers and plants have withered and are somewhat dilapidated due to the disaster, the mansion has always been maintained. Except for one remote courtyard that collapsed in the earthquake, the rest of the mansion has been well preserved.
If Lu Xuan's situation hadn't been so exceptional, and the new emperor hadn't made an exception to win him over, the princely residence, which was at least two ranks lower, would never have fallen into the hands of this newly appointed nobleman.
The three of them walked for an hour but still couldn't explore the entire Prince's Mansion, only managing to walk around some of the main courtyards.
The nobles of ancient times were truly wealthy, living in such huge mansions. Someone with a poor sense of direction would probably get lost inside.
Although many members of the Star Alliance own private planets with mansions and estates that are no less grand than this place, they just don't feel as impressive as the ancient residences.
After all, ancient mansions embody the architectural aesthetics of top contemporary craftsmen and represent cultural heritage, making them incomparable to ordinary luxury homes.
Compared to the excitement of the viewers in the live stream, Lu Xuan, the owner of the house, only felt that he had just visited a tourist attraction after touring around.
He had absolutely no sense that this place was about to become his home in the capital.
The mansion certainly looks luxurious, but as for how comfortable it is to live in, that's probably not the case.
To live comfortably, a variety of modern appliances and furniture are essential.
After touring the Yunxian Marquis's residence, Bai Xuefeng gained a lot of knowledge. Then, as if remembering something, he asked Xie Yun, "The Marquis's residence is so big, it must require a lot of servants to maintain it. Will Young Master Lu buy the servants himself, or will the higher-ups arrange for them?"
Xie Yun glanced at Lu Xuan, "My father said it depends on Marquis Yunxian's own wishes. If needed, the higher-ups can send someone."
Lu Xuan said, "I will leave the capital with the hovercar in three days. This place will only serve as a temporary stop. There is no need to hire people here. Please ask Young Master Xie to convey that the Emperor will continue to send people to maintain the area. As for the person in charge, I will make the arrangements myself."
I've opened several black gold blind boxes and gotten several robots for different purposes. I don't need that many at home, so it's good to keep a few in Beijing.
Back in the side hall of the main courtyard of the Prince's mansion, Lu Xuan brought out some food, and the three of them ate and chatted.
They talked about the various supplies Lu Xuan brought, the addictive holographic game, and the response in the capital after the disaster. In particular, the emperor's announcement that he would send someone out of the capital in three days aroused Xie Yun and Bai Xuefeng's desire to confide in each other.
Xie Yun said, "In fact, the capital had tried to find a way to cross the underground cracks that appeared after the earthquake a long time ago, but those cracks were too wide for people and horses to cross. There were no trees or boulders on the other side of the cracks that could be used to throw ropes across. The only way to cross was to walk along the cracks and look for the edge of the cracks."
As long as the underground fissures don't tear the entire Central Plains in two, give them a little more time, and they'll eventually find a way to close them.
But what they lack is time!
Even the soldiers who were sent out, though willing to continue their efforts, couldn't withstand the extreme heat, torrential rain, and freezing temperatures that followed one after another. They were already exhausted just trying to protect themselves, let alone help the disaster victims.
Furthermore, there is another consideration that is not easy to mention openly.
The capital city itself cannot obtain supplies from the outside world. If the grain in the granaries is used for disaster relief, what will the people in the capital eat?
We can't just ignore the lives of people in the capital in order to provide relief to disaster victims from other places, can we?
Bringing back all the disaster victims who can't survive outside won't work either.
The problem remains the same: the capital city can't support so many people.
It was only after Lu Xuan provided the floating bus and greenhouse that the idea of restoring the lost land re-emerged.
The hoverbus allows them to cross the rift more easily and reach any city they want to go to as quickly as possible, making it much more convenient for rescuing people or collecting supplies.
After more than a month, when the mutated crops in the greenhouse matured on a large scale, Jingzhong was more confident and could gradually begin to regain control of the nearby areas.
Bai Xuefeng was actually feeling a bit restless at this moment, wanting to go back to the prefectural city to see what the situation was like there.
However, he knew in his heart that even if the higher-ups had traded many hoverbuses with Lu Xuan, they would initially prioritize the use of officials or soldiers, and would not allow other unrelated people to use them.
Asking Lu Xuan to give him a ride might be feasible, but it would inevitably be too much trouble for others.
In the end, Bai Xuefeng could only suppress this idea for the time being, thinking he would wait and see how things went.
After lamenting the initial setbacks of the capital city in providing relief to foreign countries during the early stages of the disaster, Xie Yun turned to talking about her experiences during other disasters.
For example, the beast attack, which left a deep psychological scar not long after it ended.
Thanks to the regular clearing by the garrison outside the city and the city walls that were higher than those of any other city, the capital city did not suffer much damage during the polar night due to attacks by large wild animals.
However, the snakes, insects, and rodents that crawl out from underground caused people considerable suffering.
Xie Yun said with lingering fear, "At that time, a lot of insects and ants also ran into the Marquis's mansion. Those insects and ants would bite anyone they saw. The big ones could even bite off a piece of flesh in one bite, which scared the women in the family quite a bit. My grandmother was so frightened that she fell down, and her physical and mental condition is still much worse than before."
Bai Xuefeng's expression was also somewhat moved.
Although my great-aunt had been married to a man in the capital for decades, they only exchanged letters during festivals and holidays, and met only once every two or three years.
In Bai Xuefeng's memory, this great-aunt was always very kind to the younger generation and had a very tolerant and open-minded personality.
Therefore, he felt very bad because his great-aunt was in poor health.
Lu Xuan asked the old lady what exactly was wrong with her. He learned that she had broken a bone, and after being frightened, she had been feeling chest tightness, insomnia, and constant fatigue.
Lu Xuan said, "If you trust me, I can restore the old lady to her health."
"Really!?" Bai Xuefeng and Xie Yun both perked up at the same time.
Xie Yun said, "Actually, after Grandmother used the little pills you provided, her chest tightness and insomnia were gone. It's just that it takes a hundred days to recover from a broken bone, and Grandmother doesn't like to stay cooped up in the room all the time, so she's been in a bad mood."
Bai Xuefeng pressed further, "Do you have any better medicine?"
Lu Xuan: "I have a way to restore the old lady's bones to their original state immediately."
Upon hearing this, Bai Xuefeng and Xie Yun became even more excited.
After confirming that Lu Xuan was not teasing them, the two of them pulled him towards the Marquis's residence without saying a word, and then asked him about the treatment method along the way.
Upon arriving at the Marquis's residence, Xie Yun told the rest of her family about the matter.
The masters of the Marquis's mansion were naturally overjoyed.
Because of the difference between men and women, Lu Xuan did not operate the medical pod himself this time. Instead, he taught Madam Hou how to operate it and let them do it themselves after confirming that she understood.
The old lady's fracture was not too serious, nor was it a comminuted fracture. The subsequent treatment was also very good, and the treatment time was not long.
So when Xie Hou returned home in the evening, he found his elderly mother, who had broken her leg, walking briskly in the yard. She even looked more than ten years younger and radiant.
Lord Xie was both surprised and delighted. "What's going on?"
Lady Hou, beaming with joy, told her husband what had happened.
Upon hearing this, Xie Hou was overjoyed. "Good heavens! So Marquis Yunxian had such a treasure! Our family owes him a huge favor."
As he spoke, he looked around and asked in bewilderment, "Where is he?"
Lady Hou said, "They have already returned to the Bai family with Jinzhi."
"Why didn't you invite him to have dinner with us?" Xie Hou asked regretfully.
Lady Hou smiled and said, "Marquis Yunxian is not familiar with our family. He would not feel comfortable if we forced him to stay. He has helped us so much, I can't very well force him."
Upon hearing this, Xie Hou agreed, saying, "Then I will personally thank him at the Bai family tomorrow."
When Xie Hou finished eating, he saw that his mother, who hadn't eaten much in the past two days, had a hearty appetite, and his gratitude towards Lu Xuan deepened.
Before falling asleep at night, he was still talking to his wife about how to thank Lu Xuan the next day, marveling at the miraculous effects of the medical pod.
After listening for a while, Lady Hou suddenly said, "I asked Marquis Yunxian today, and his medical pod can not only treat fractures, but also other ailments. Do you think we should tell His Majesty? You know, the Empress Dowager..."
Xie Hou suddenly slapped his forehead, "That's right, how come I didn't think of that!"
After the late emperor passed away, the princes fought fiercely for the throne. The new emperor, who was then the third prince, had the support of most of the ministers, but he could not withstand the other princes' desperate and underhanded tactics.
The Empress Dowager was accidentally poisoned while protecting the new emperor. Although her life was saved, she was severely weakened.
If the medical pod can cure the Empress Dowager, it will indeed be a great joy.
Xie Hou said solemnly, "I will ask Lu Xuan tomorrow if he is willing to help."
If the other party is willing to help their family, they probably won't refuse to save the Empress Dowager. This is a good opportunity to make His Majesty owe a favor, which is only beneficial to Lu Xuan.
·
The following day, after arriving at the Bai family, Xie Hou presented Lu Xuan with a large quantity of precious medicinal herbs and gold and silver as a token of his gratitude, and then brought up the matter of the Empress Dowager.
Lu Xuan had no reason to refuse, so he readily went to the palace with the other party.
After he left, the Empress Dowager, who had been very weak since being poisoned and could only recuperate, reappeared in public for the first time.
After receiving both treatment and beauty treatments, not only did her damaged body fully recover, but her haggard appearance, ravaged by illness and disaster, also returned to its best condition.
Despite being nearly forty, she looked like a young woman in the prime of her life, and standing next to the new emperor, they looked like siblings of similar age.
After seeing her new look, the Empress Dowager's goodwill towards Lu Xuan increased greatly, and she wished she could adopt him as her godson.
The new emperor also remembered this great favor and sent a large amount of gold, silver, jewels, silks, satins, and home furnishings from his private treasury to the Marquis of Yunxian's residence.
Lu Xuan accepted everything without question.
The high-ranking officials and nobles in the capital were extremely well-informed, and they received news of the changes in the old lady of the Marquis of Weiyuan's mansion and the Empress Dowager on the same day.
When it comes to patients, which family doesn't have one or two?
It's not just the elderly or children who are weak; quite a few unfortunate young adults were poisoned or injured during polar night attacks, leaving them with long-term effects.
Knowing that Lu Xuan possessed a treasure that could restore their health, the nobles immediately went to invite him with generous gifts.
So, in the days before leaving the capital, Lu Xuan spent his time traveling between various marquis's mansions, earl's mansions, and high-ranking official's residences with his medical pod to earn extra money.
Besides patients, there were also many people who simply wanted to book beauty packages after hearing about the Empress Dowager's 'reverse aging' appearance, and Lu Xuan accepted them all without hesitation.
Some people were envious of the medical pod and wanted to buy it for a large sum of money, but Lu Xuan, who did not yet have the right to purchase it, refused. However, Xie Hou later helped send several medical devices to the palace.
·
Three days later, at the military training ground in the suburbs of Beijing.
Ten two-section hoverbuses stood side by side, with selected soldiers standing in front of them.
The new emperor, who had personally attended the event, gave them some words of encouragement. He then handed over a spatial ring filled with supplies to the general leading the group and watched them board the vehicle.
Not far from the ten hover buses, there was also a hover campervan, which was Lu Xuan's private car.
Having already said goodbye, Lu Xuan waved to the people outside through the window, started the RV, and flew out first.
The soldiers operating the other ten hoverbuses also quickly followed.
In an instant, all the buses sped out of the military camp amidst the astonished gazes of the crowd, and effortlessly crossed the underground fissure that had trapped them for more than half a year.
The ministers present had actually experienced the hoverbus a couple of days earlier, but they were still amazed when they saw it again today.
Another person looked disappointed: "They're leaving already?"
Someone nearby comforted him, saying, "He'll be back in two months at most."
Although Lu Xuan had only been in the capital for less than ten days, the impression he left on everyone and the help he provided were immense. Almost everyone benefited from the supplies he provided, making it hard not to develop a new fondness for him.
But when they actually left, they suddenly realized that they had been so excited about the amazing supplies and engrossed in the holographic game that they hadn't even bothered to learn about Lu Xuan's background.
Those with inside information knew that Lu Xuan had left his own people at the Yunxian Marquis's residence. On the one hand, they were puzzled as to where he had come from when he arrived alone. On the other hand, they thought that while he was away, they might be able to find a way to win over his confidants in advance.
It wasn't that they had any bad intentions; they were just thinking that if someone could put in a good word for them and pull some strings next time they came, they might be able to get more valuable supplies from Lu Xuan.
For example, evolution fluid, protective shield.
The ministers glanced at the new emperor, who was still watching the direction Lu Xuan had left in, as he watched the soldiers.
I wonder how His Majesty plans to distribute the few vials of evolution fluid that were traded with Lu Xuan.
Before the ownership of the potion is decided, they might as well try their best to fight for it.
Outside the military camp.
Because of his identity, he was unable to enter, but Bai Xuefeng, who was also present, watched the floating bus fleet leave. He ran his fingers over his spatial ring, probed inside with his spiritual power, and looked at a golden potion. His expression was both moved and wistful.
...
The hovercar is not as fast as the aircraft, but it's not much slower.
Skipping over the sights of the drastically changed terrain outside the capital, the ubiquitous underground fissures, and the ruins along the way, the convoy arrived at Huo's army camp that evening.
The city guards from the capital successfully rendezvoused with Huo Tiankuo, who had received prior instructions.
According to the above plan, Huo Tiankuo will go to the Northwest with them to ascertain the situation there.
If the situation in the Northwest stabilizes and the Huo family army is still intact, Huo Tiankuo will lead the Northwest Army to visit each of the disaster-stricken areas.
If there is any trouble in the Northwest, Huo Tiankuo will remain in the Northwest to oversee the situation, while the capital's city guards will take over the task of recovering the lost territory.
However, these were matters of the imperial court, and Lu Xuan had no intention of getting involved. He left after delivering the person.
Yunlu Village.
The Lu family members and villagers, who had received the news early, waited at the village entrance. When they saw a black hover motorcycle speeding towards them from the direction of the Huo family's camp, their eyes lit up.
You're finally back!
-----------------------
Author's Note: Special thanks to the following:
"Changyushan" launched one rocket at 19:16:35 on May 31, 2025.
"Eastern Tears", Irrigate with nutrient solution +16
Thank you to "Wenwen" and "Tianxuanzhisuo" for the nutrient solution!
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com