Chapter 3663: Can’t Survive Such a Winter
Wei Ying suddenly opened his eyes wide.
"Your Majesty? Your Majesty wants Lord Heyi to urgently summon His Highness back to the capital? What is the matter?"
“…”
"It can't be—"
Zhu Chengxuan was silent for a long time before he spoke solemnly, "The Imperial Concubine has always been kind to me, both in the past and after she gave birth to the Prince of Han. Even though my father had other ideas countless times, she never treated me badly. Even if she didn't contribute much to the journey I've taken over the years, she has certainly worked very hard."
Wei Ying hurriedly said, "I dare not criticize the Imperial Concubine."
“…”
"It's just that this time something is out of the ordinary, and there seems to be something fishy going on."
Zhu Chengxuan thought for a while, then said, "Although the imperial concubine treats me kindly, her teachings are always selfless."
Wei Ying asked, "Could it be something about His Majesty the Emperor?"
“…”
"But, matters concerning His Majesty should be addressed by His Majesty. Why is it the Imperial Concubine again this time...?"
“…”
This time, Zhu Chengxuan's silence lasted even longer, so long that Wei Ying even thought he might have given up on continuing the conversation. After a long moment, Zhu Chengxuan sighed softly, then slowly turned his head and reached out to lift the thick curtain hanging from the nearby window. As soon as he lifted a corner, he felt a cold wind, carrying snow foam, rush in. The biting chill was like a physical cold light, almost piercing their flesh.
Even Wei Ying couldn't help but shiver.
When Zhu Chengxuan spoke again, he talked about a completely different topic - "It's so cold this year."
“…”
Wei Ying didn't know what he was thinking. After thinking for a moment, he could only say, "Yes, this year is exceptionally cold. It's colder than all the winters I've experienced since I was a child. Speaking of which, it's been getting colder every year these past few years."
"It's more than what we've experienced,"
Zhu Chengxuan looked out at the pitch-black night. Although the journey was difficult, the people outside did not dare to stop, holding high torches that swayed in the wind to illuminate the way ahead. The journey was difficult, and Zhu Chengxuan, sitting in the carriage, was shaken from time to time. He said slowly, "I heard from people who came back from the Parthian Empire that even in the Western Regions, it has been extremely cold in the past two years, so cold that even crops can't grow in the fields."
“…”
"It seems like the whole world has turned cold."
"The whole world... isn't it?"
Mentioning this, Wei Ying said worriedly, "Otherwise, the disaster wouldn't be so severe this time, causing His Highness to be so exhausted."
Zhu Chengxuan asked, "Have all the food and cotton-padded jackets we collected been distributed this time?"
Wei Ying said, "It had already arrived at the provincial capital before leaving, and it must have been distributed today. Your Highness, don't worry about this. They would never dare to tamper with the things Your Highness has mobilized."
Zhu Chengxuan knew that the relief supplies mobilized by the imperial court would inevitably be exploited at every level after distribution, with only a tenth or a twelfth reaching the victims. Therefore, he traveled to the disaster area this time, personally overseeing all the supplies mobilized. He knew that the officials would never dare tamper with the supplies under the Crown Prince's watch. However, He Yi's letter urged him to urge him to return to the capital before the supplies could be distributed, and he was still worried about the matter.
Zhu Chengxuan sighed softly and said, "Food and grass are fine, but what I'm most worried about is clothing."
“…”
"It's too cold this year, and most of the victims are elderly."
“…”
"Old people have a hard time with cold weather, let alone this year's weather. Many elderly people can't survive such a winter..."
Wei Ying also nodded: "Yes, the most difficult thing for the elderly is——"
When he said this, his heart suddenly sank.
I looked up at Zhu Chengxuan again, only to see that he was still lifting the curtain and looking at the dark road outside. His eyes were deep, as if stained by the night, and all his emotions of joy, anger, sorrow, and happiness were unclear. I could only feel waves of chills invading not only from my limbs but also from deep within my heart, slowly seeping outwards.
Wei Ying's whole body was cold and he couldn't utter a word.
This winter is too cold...
Once you get out of the Great Wall moat, the thousands of miles of frozen grassland will only get colder.
How many people can survive in such a cold and bitter place?
Can you hold on?
Almost in the same pitch-black night, the biting cold wind also blew through his clothes, and he felt the coldness permeating his limbs. Standing outside the treasury gate, He Yi couldn't help but reach out and tighten his fur coat, but even so, the coldness continued to seep out from deep within his heart.
It’s so cold…
He had just finished counting the documents and weapons in the treasury. Because the treasury was filled with these things, they didn't dare to light a fire inside. It was as cold as an ice cellar. At this time, his hands were completely numb. He blew twice on them, but couldn't feel any temperature at all.
It’s already so cold even in the capital.
So, what will happen on the vast frozen grasslands?
Thinking of this, He Yi's expression grew even more solemn. He slowly raised his head and looked towards the dark sky above. Although it was already dark and pitch black, the sky was exceptionally clear because the wind had blown away the clouds overhead.
The sky is filled with stars, like countless pearls scattered on black satin. Although they are out of reach, each one seems to be imprinted in the eyes, and the dazzling light cannot be ignored.
He Yi couldn't say that he was well versed in astrology, but he could easily find the star he wanted just by looking up.
But this time, he put in a lot of effort.
He even needed to find the three stars in a line above his head, and then follow them to the southeast before he finally found the Sirius.
Every winter, even after spring, Sirius would shine exceptionally brightly and was the most conspicuous star during this period. But today, it took him some effort to find it. The starlight was dim and was almost drowned in the light of the starry sky.
He Yi couldn't help but frown.
At this moment, an old voice came from behind——
"Master Heyi..."
He Yi turned around hurriedly and saw a hunched figure slowly walking towards him from the night. His footsteps were light, a result of his cautious habit from years of walking. Only the heavy cane in his hand, leaning against the ground, made a clattering sound, letting people know he was approaching.
The person walking over in the night was none other than Eunuch Yu, the chief eunuch who had served Zhu Feng for many years and could be said to be the emperor's confidant.
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