Chapter 54 Heavy Rain
After her rank was promoted to Shuyi, the Imperial Household Department sent several more palace maids to Longyu Pavilion.
Lan Wu was listening to people read out names with a sense of boredom when she heard two familiar names below, so she slightly raised her eyes to look at them.
These two people, one named Lianqiao and the other named Mujin, were different from those in her previous life. Now that she had been promoted to the rank of Shuyi, these two people came to her palace.
They are hard to fault in what they do.
But in her previous life, she inexplicably fell asleep and ended up in Luoyingting, with neither of her two personal maids by her side.
She was either bribed long ago, or she was someone else's slave to begin with.
Lan Wu's gaze was deep and unsettling, especially when it fell upon the people below, making them tremble with fear. Even the eunuchs from the inner palace who had come to claim their reward were suspicious, looking at these palace servants and wondering who this lady was dissatisfied with.
So he cautiously asked, "If Your Majesty is not satisfied with them, please tell me, and I will immediately send someone to select new palace maids to satisfy Your Majesty."
Lan Wu watched quietly and said casually, "Let them be. I'm not a picky master. As long as they work well in my palace and behave themselves, they will be rewarded handsomely."
As soon as he finished speaking, the eunuch quickly reminded them, "Why don't you thank Her Majesty for her favor?"
Several palace maids and eunuchs thanked the emperor in unison.
Lan Wu looked at Lian Xi, gesturing for her to give a reward.
Since these people dared to come before her, she should naturally turn the tables on them. If she drove them away, who knew if she would let in some people she didn't know?
Even if Qiao and Mu Jin were to come together, she would also follow the clues to find out who these two maids were serving.
After all the palace servants had left, Lanwu summoned Lianxi.
"Have more people keep an eye on them, especially those two named Lianqiao and Mujin."
Lianxi's expression turned serious. Without asking any further questions, she simply said "Yes."
-
In early June, a clap of thunder on the horizon interrupted Lan Wu's thoughts as she was reading.
The sound came suddenly, like a clap of thunder, startling her so much that she dropped what she was holding, a feeling of unease and panic welling up inside her.
The palace servants were busy outside, sweeping up the leaves that had been blown down by the wind. The sky outside was overcast, and dark clouds in the distance were gradually approaching.
Lianxi was about to enter the hall to light the candles, since it was getting dark and the Empress might hurt her eyes if she wanted to read.
However, after she lit the candle, the Empress did not continue reading.
Lan Wu stood up at the palace gate. A strong wind howled outside, and the breeze dispelled the summer heat.
"Your Highness, be careful not to catch a cold from the wind." Lianxi said, going to get her a cloak.
Lan Wu gently shook her head.
She looked up at the sky with a slightly strange expression, as if she had forgotten something important.
Seeing this, Lianxi said, "It's probably going to rain heavily soon, Your Majesty, but summer rains usually don't last long, so please don't worry."
Upon hearing her words, Lan Wu's eyes widened suddenly, and she finally remembered what she had forgotten.
heavy rain.
It's been raining heavily for days.
In the previous life, in late August, Wenzhou and Shuozhou in the Qiunan region experienced half a month of heavy rain. The rain caused the riverbanks to rise, and the river water washed away the dikes that had just been repaired the year before. The flood caused great casualties, and the disaster victims were scattered to various places.
After the heavy rain came the plague. Fortunately, Chu Mingheng had foreseen this, and the imperial edict was issued quickly. The people sent out were also useful, so the plague was not allowed to spread and the situation was brought under control in time.
Lan Wu only knew that during that period in her previous life, she often heard His Majesty discussing matters with his court officials in the Imperial Study. Not only did she not dare to approach him, but everyone in the harem also dared not cause trouble during that time, and things remained peaceful for quite some time.
When the dust finally settled, Chu Mingheng held everyone accountable and issued an edict to behead many people, causing fear and insecurity throughout the court.
Perhaps it was because of this flood that Chu Mingheng went to Changyong Mountain to offer sacrifices to Heaven the following year.
Now, there are still more than two months until that flood.
If Chu Mingheng had been informed in advance, he could have sent people to prepare for the disaster sooner, and perhaps not so many people would have died in the flood. But the emperor's heart is unfathomable. How could she subtly tell Chu Mingheng about this?
If she tries to explain, she'll be accused of witchcraft and nonsense, and she won't be able to explain herself no matter what.
Seeing Lan Wu gripping the doorframe tightly, shivering, Lianxi whispered, "Your Highness, are you cold?"
Lan Wu snapped out of her daze, shook her head hastily, and paced back and forth in the hall.
Since she already knew about this, she had to do something. So many people had died; she wasn't heartless enough to just stand by and do nothing.
She knew nothing about court affairs, but she knew best how to make Chu Mingheng feel sorry for her.
Lan Wu stopped and stared intently at the dark clouds that were about to descend upon them.
"I need to go see His Majesty."
Lianxi followed her, puzzled, and anxiously advised her, "Your Highness, it's about to rain. If Your Highness gets wet, I will be guilty of a terrible crime."
Lan Wu shook her head and told Lianxi to stay in the hall. She glanced at Lianqiao, who was sweeping outside, and called her to come forward.
Since Lianqiao and Mujin entered Longyu Pavilion, they have been doing odd jobs every day. Now that the Empress has asked her to go out together, she is naturally more than willing.
"Your Highness, please wait a moment, this servant will go and fetch the umbrella."
Lan Wu nodded and told her to go quickly.
Lianxi looked at the sky again with unease. Although the Imperial Study and Longyu Pavilion were not far apart, it would still take some time to travel by ceremonial procession. Moreover, it seemed that the Empress did not intend to travel by ceremonial procession.
"Your Highness, shall we take the cloak?"
It was still summer, and although the wind had picked up, it wasn't that cold. Lan Wu didn't take the umbrella, and waited for Lian Qiao to return with it before leading her people out of the palace gate.
As we walked briskly along the palace path from Longyu Pavilion, the booming thunder overhead grew ever closer.
Lan Wu remained calm, contemplating how she should raise the issue of the flood in front of Chu Mingheng later.
There were fewer palace servants walking along the palace path.
Seeing Lan Wu walking hurriedly, they quickly stopped and bowed, but were also curious about where Lan Wu was going.
Such were the palace rules, and no one dared to look at them for long.
Almost as soon as Lan Wu arrived at the Imperial Study, the heavy rain started.
The wind carried raindrops, and Lan Wu couldn't help but sneeze softly.
Chen Kang'an, with his sharp eyes, recognized the person from afar and hurriedly went forward.
"This servant greets Your Majesty. Your Majesty is here to..."
Lan Wu stood under the corridor, her voice slightly breathless from walking so fast: "I've come to see His Majesty. Can His Majesty see me?"
"Your Majesty, please wait a moment, this servant will go and inform them." With that, Chen Kang'an quickly turned and headed towards the main hall.
Lian Qiao shielded Lan Wu from the wind and suddenly spoke up, gesturing to Lan Wu: "Your Highness, that is Yun Qing, a palace maid from Consort Shu's side."
Lan Wu followed her gaze and saw the palace maid Yun Qing waiting under the corridor on the other side.
Yun Qing, who was taller, stood to one side with a blank expression, her head bowed as she watched the raindrops fall.
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