Every day in Luxian was exceptionally busy, busier than ever before.
During the day, she wore coarse cloth clothes and worked alongside the people, so as to promptly resolve various problems encountered in the implementation process.
It wasn't until late at night, when all was quiet, that she returned to her room. But countless nights had passed, and even when she lay down, she tossed and turned, unable to fall asleep.
Because, to this day, I still can't figure out the solution to the current problem.
Tonight is no different.
Lu County is located in the westernmost border region of the Western Qin State. The days here are particularly long in summer, the environment is extremely harsh, and drinking water resources are especially scarce. This made it impossible for Yi Shangyun, who was already thin, to withstand the strain of a day's work.
No matter how the people tried to persuade her, she insisted on working together with them.
Finally, after another day of hard work, she returned home under the bright moonlight, accompanied by the cheerful chirping of insects. Her whole body ached, and she could only support herself by holding her waist with both hands until she closed the door.
Turning around, in a corner of the simple house, there was a wooden plank bed made from one of the best pieces of wood that the villagers had managed to find after the disaster.
Upon seeing this bed, which was probably the only one within a hundred miles, Yi Shangyun finally smiled, stopped in her tracks, and murmured gratefully, "Thank you!"
After saying that, he shuffled over to it with difficulty, slowly bent down and lay down on it to ease the pain in his body.
However, after only a short while, she got up again and moved to the table by the window to sit down.
On the table, a dim candle flame flickered in the wind.
She went through all the records related to desertification control again, but still couldn't find a clue.
I was very tired, but even after I got up and lay down to close my eyes, I couldn't fall asleep, so I got up again.
After thinking for a moment, he stepped out the door again.
Looking up, I was surprised to see a shooting star shining brightly in the sky.
Looking at the scenery before her, she couldn't help but exclaim, "If there is truly ten parts beauty in the world, then seven parts are here. The beauty here is truly unique."
Walking alone on this barren and scorching land, the stars in the night sky tonight seem exceptionally bright and dazzling.
There was even a Milky Way flowing, as if the sky above was cascading with a continuous stream of dazzling silver light.
The most beautiful night sky in the world is nothing more than this.
As you walk, your gaze falls upon the distant cliffs and mountains, their vibrant crimson and reddish-brown hues complementing each other and each displaying its own unique charm.
Its red sandstone and conglomerate have been weathered and eroded by water over a long period of time, forming isolated peaks and steep, strangely shaped rocks.
Everything was like a palette that had been overturned by a painting master, vibrant and breathtaking.
In this scene, with the vast and boundless starry sky before her, she imagined how exciting it would be if the area as far as the eye could see could one day become an oasis!
Before she knew it, she had arrived at the foot of an ancient tree on a high hillside.
I don't know what kind of tree this is. It doesn't have the graceful beauty of a willow or the upright stature of a poplar, but it is more likely to appear in the most barren land.
Just like the people here, who are indomitable in their fight against the sandstorms, they are writing equally wonderful stories of life.
Before the leaves appear, the flowers bloom.
Right now, clusters of flowers, resembling tiny golden bells, hang high on the branches, their sweetness seemingly wafting from a hundred meters away.
As the night breeze blows, the fragrance of flowers drifts far away, as if it were the true master of this land, witnessing its rise and fall, its prosperity and decline, silently enduring the ever-changing world.
Stubborn, lonely, humble, composed...
While admiring and contemplating, Yi Shangyun leaned against the ancient and massive tree trunk and slowly sat down on the ground.
Hugging her knees, she gazed tenderly at the distant eastern horizon, murmuring softly, "At this very moment, I wonder what Your Highness is doing? Does Your Highness know how much Yun'er misses you..."
Just then, she suddenly felt a pain in her chest. Yi Shangyun quickly reached out and touched her chest, but still couldn't help but gag.
In an instant, a guard rushed anxiously from a dark corner to her side and asked with concern, "Your Highness, are you alright?"
Yi Shangyun was startled by the man who suddenly appeared, but after seeing his face clearly, she exclaimed, "Guard Wei... it's you? It's so late, why aren't you resting? What are you doing here?"
Realizing that his sudden appearance had startled his mistress, the guard quickly clasped his hands in apology: "I'm sorry, Your Highness was frightened. I just saw Your Highness go out alone late at night and was afraid that Your Highness might be in danger, so I followed you."
Little did she know that the guard in front of her was the one whom Xuan Yuanhan had repeatedly instructed to protect Yi Shangyun, day and night, without ever leaving her side.
Seeing that he was also worried about her, Yi Shangyun explained, "Wei, you're overthinking it. I'm fine. I just couldn't sleep and wanted to get some fresh air. I'll go back in a bit."
The guard persisted, pleading, "Then let me accompany Your Highness!"
Yi Shangyun could only smile helplessly at him.
The guard suddenly asked, "Does Her Highness really not remember me?"
Upon hearing this, Yi Shangyun examined the person's face again under the moonlight, but still couldn't recall anything: "You are..."
The guard then reminded him, "During the Xiaolong Society, Her Highness the Princess treated my wounds in the dungeon and saved me."
Following the guard's prompting, Yi Shangyun finally remembered and exclaimed in surprise, "So it was you!"
The guard nodded and said with concern, "Your Highness, you work so hard day and night, neglecting your health. If His Highness finds out, he will surely punish me."
Yi Shangyun's lips curled up slightly, revealing a faint smile. "It's alright. I know my own body best. Right now is a critical moment. If we let our guard down, all our previous efforts will be in vain. At that time, I'm afraid the people's lives will become even more difficult."
The guard was silent for a moment, then said, "Lu County has always been like this, with endless yellow sand, it's simply not a place where people can live."
Yi Shangyun didn't understand why the guard spoke in such a tone, so she turned to look at his face. The guard then explained, "My hometown is Lu County. When Lu County suffered a disaster, His Highness Prince Qin was ordered to come and provide disaster relief. If I hadn't met His Highness, I would have been left to fend for myself here for the rest of my life. That's why I know this place so well, which is why His Highness specially sent me to protect the Empress. His Highness is truly very good to the Empress. I've been with the Prince since I was a child, and I've never seen the Prince treat any other woman so well."
Looking out at the vast, desolate land before him, Wei Ning sighed with a mixture of sorrow and anger, saying, "These selfish and self-serving disaster victims actually encouraged Her Majesty to come to this place, which is like a living hell. It's truly a disgrace!"
Yi Shangyun hurriedly explained, "Guard Wei, please don't say that. I came here on my own initiative, and it has nothing to do with the common people."
The guard was once again moved by Yi Shangyun's kindness. Then, thinking of how Yi Shangyun had led the people in their all-out efforts to control and prevent desertification after arriving here, he said with great gratitude, "Your Highness, thank you!"
Yi Shangyun said, "These are the desertification control strategies of the late emperor. I am just leading everyone to follow them together."
The guard scoffed, “No, if it weren’t for Your Majesty’s selfless act of finding for us in the Gobi Desert a plant with a more developed root system, suitable for growing in this saline-alkali land—a plant that can withstand drought, grazing by cattle and sheep, cutting by axes and knives, being buried by sand, and drowning by floods—we would have been able to make grass squares from it and embed them in the sand, half-burying and half-exposing them. In this way, the strong winds would be blocked by the grass squares, firmly securing the shifting sands. Your Majesty also taught everyone to scatter grass seeds in the grass squares, so that the seeds wouldn’t be blown away by the wind. When it rains, the seeds will germinate and grow. I believe that in the near future, this place will surely be lush and green, and the descendants of Lu County will no longer suffer from the wind and sand.”
The guard was clearly taken aback; he never expected that Yi Shangyun, a mere woman, could achieve something that even men had never been able to do. He was filled with admiration for her.
She paused, then continued, "Now the people not only praise Your Majesty, but also commend His Highness Prince Qin for finding the best woman in the world. Your Majesty and His Highness are the ones who can truly protect the people of Western Qin. Your Majesty has won the hearts of the people for His Highness this time."
Yi Shangyun said modestly, "I'm not that good. Guard Wei, you definitely won't believe me if I told you."
The guard asked timidly, "What does Your Highness want to say?"
Yi Shangyun pursed her lips and said, "Actually, I don't know why, but in my memory, these methods of desertification control seem to have been seen somewhere before."
The clouds on the clothes murmured softly.
The night wind was blowing, and Wei Ning seemed not to have heard what she said, so she asked in confusion, "What did you say, Your Majesty?"
Yi Shangyun snapped out of his daze and hurriedly said, "Oh, it's nothing..."
Seeing that Yi Shangyun seemed to have something on her mind lately, Wei Ning asked with concern, "Your Majesty, is something troubling you lately? What is troubling you?"
Upon hearing this, Yi Shangyun frowned, then sighed and said, "A few days ago, after a sandstorm, when I was checking, I found that the adhesive used to fix the straw was not strong enough. I went back and checked the strength of previous sandstorms, and I'm afraid it won't be able to withstand this one either. I have to find an adhesive with higher viscosity."
Upon hearing this, Wei Ning also felt worried.
After thinking for a moment, Sui encouraged Yi Shangyun, saying, "Your Majesty is incredibly intelligent and I believe you will find a way. Even if what we do now cannot withstand the next sandstorm, you have already done very well. Your Majesty has done everything you can. The rest is up to fate."
Upon hearing this, Yi Shangyun looked at the guard's face in surprise...
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com