What's that sound coming from inside?
Shen Huaixu put down the book in his hand, his gaze passing through the window lattice and landing on the isolated area in the west of the city.
The faint sounds of commotion from there made his heart tighten.
Since the Ministry of Works sent people down to take over the Yellow River repair work, he started checking on the progress every few days and explaining the relevant matters of the mechanical arts.
He knew very well that professional matters should be left to professionals.
And he...
After being forced to send Shen Jintang to the west of the city, he couldn't sleep at night.
Perhaps out of guilt, or perhaps for some other reason, he simply wanted to be closer to the west side of the city.
So he moved all the official documents to the temporary government office set up in the west of the city.
"I'll go check right away." His subordinate immediately went to investigate.
Before long, Shishu walked back quickly, her face showing barely concealed excitement.
“Young Master,” Shi Shu took a deep breath, her voice trembling slightly, and said, “It’s Miss Biao who has woken up.”
"Smack—"
Shen Huaixu slammed the book in his hand heavily onto the table.
He froze on the spot, even his breath stopped for a moment.
"She...is awake?" His voice was so soft it was almost inaudible, as if afraid of shattering a fragile dream.
Shi Shu had never seen her young master look like this before.
Those pupils, which were always as calm as a deep pool, were now trembling violently, and his slender fingers unconsciously clenched and unclenched, his knuckles turning bluish-white.
"Yes, not only has the young lady woken up, but she has also created a water filtration system that can turn murky wastewater into clear, clean, drinkable water. Now the people of the west of the city are cheering and grateful for the young lady's great kindness!"
Before Shi Shu could finish speaking, Shen Huaixu suddenly stood up.
He bumped the table, causing it to shake and the teacup to tip over, soaking the pages of the book, but he was completely unaware.
“She’s awake…she’s really awake…” he murmured, his voice trembling slightly, as if he couldn’t believe it was true.
He suddenly chuckled softly, but as he laughed, his eyes welled up with tears.
The maid looked at her young master in shock.
The once composed and strategic eldest son of the Shen family was now crying and laughing like a child, his shoulders trembling slightly.
“Young Master…” Shi Shu stepped forward with concern.
Shen Huaixu raised his hand to cover his eyes, and glistening tears glistened between his fingers.
How many days and nights has it been?
Since her high fever persisted, he hadn't slept a full night.
Every time I go to the west of the city, I only dare to look at that tightly closed window from afar, afraid that if I look at it for too long, I will collapse.
Now, she has finally woken up.
"Is she... fully recovered?"
Shen Huaixu's voice was so low it was almost a whisper as he cautiously asked the question, his voice tinged with unprecedented vulnerability.
At this moment, he was no longer the court official who prioritized the overall situation, but just an ordinary person with concerns in his heart.
Shi Shu shook her head gently, her voice tinged with helplessness: "Miss Biao has only been awake for a short time, and we don't know how she has been these past few days."
Shen Huaixu's shoulders slumped slightly, as if weighed down by those words, but he quickly straightened up again.
He took a deep breath and muttered to himself, "It's okay, as long as she's alive, as long as she survived..."
His voice trembled slightly, almost imperceptibly, but he quickly regained his composure.
"Lord Siyan is merciful!"
Cheers could be heard from outside the window.
Upon hearing the sound, Shen Huaixu turned his gaze to the window.
He slowly walked to the window and gazed at the rising sun in the west of the city.
The morning light shone on his face, his tear stains still wet, yet he smiled genuinely.
“Go and prepare some clean gauze and medicine,” he suddenly turned and ordered, his voice regaining its usual calmness, though slightly hoarse. “Also, arrange for some people to stand guard outside the quarantine area at all times, ready to give her any orders. Whatever she needs, don’t report back to me, go and find it immediately!”
Shi Shu nodded, then cautiously asked, "Young Master, would you like to explain what happened to Miss Biao first?"
He knew in his heart that Xinghui and Liuhuo were very dissatisfied with the young master sending Miss Biao to the west of the city.
After the girl wakes up, they will definitely embellish the story and say things that are neither here nor there.
If the young lady hears this and becomes dissatisfied with the young master, then things will be terrible.
Young Master made this decision out of necessity. Miss is a smart woman and will surely understand. But I'm afraid she might not be able to withstand the gossip of others!
Shen Huaixu gently smoothed the wrinkles on his sleeve, a gentle light flowing in his eyes, his voice calm yet firm: "No, what she needs now is something that can help people solve practical difficulties, not romantic feelings."
His gaze was fixed on the quarantine zone in the west of the city, gentle yet firm.
He understood Shen Jintang's sense of righteousness and knew what she wanted to do.
Since that's the case, he will stand where she can't see him and pave every path for her.
The government office in the city.
Unlike the joyful laughter in the west of the city, a decadent and oppressive atmosphere permeated the halls of the officials in the city, with their blue bricks and gray tiles.
The tea on the sandalwood table had long since gone cold, but no one had the heart to sip it.
Inside the hall, the officials sat or stood, each with a different expression, but all carrying a hint of anxiety and unease.
Currently, the Yellow River construction is proceeding in an orderly manner, the epidemic has been brought under control, and even the condition of the affected people is improving.
These are all great achievements that will be remembered in history!
Logically, all officials should be commended.
However, the problem is that none of the officials in Yanzhou did any work; it was all done by Shen Jintang and Shen Huaixu. It was good enough that these people didn't cause any trouble.
"Have you all heard?" Zhao Dequan's obese body stretched his official robes taut as he said, "Shen Jintang just woke up and immediately came up with some kind of water filtration mechanism. Now those lowly people in the west of the city are practically worshipping her like a living goddess!"
Liu Wenqian, the chief clencher of the Ministry of Works, gripped the teacup in his hand so tightly that his knuckles turned white.
“I just received the news. All she used was some wood ash and coarse sand, but those ignorant people…” His voice trembled, “They actually said it was more effective than the water purification herbs allocated by the imperial court.”
"Given what they've done, their future prospects are guaranteed! I don't ask for any credit, I just hope they'll spare my life when they return to the capital for their official duties. Does anyone have any good ideas?"
Zhao Dequan glanced around at his colleagues, his voice betraying his barely concealed panic.
As soon as he finished speaking, the faces of the officials present darkened even further.
Shen Huaixu and Shen Jintang are both ruthless and vicious, so it's not easy to get them to let you off the hook!
Liu Wenqian, the head of the Ministry of Works, had a gloomy look in his eyes and a cold smile curled at the corner of his mouth.
These achievements, which should have been the basis for their promotions and wealth, have now become a sword hanging over their heads.
"Gentlemen, say something!" Zhao Dequan, the prefect of Yanzhou, slammed his hand on the table and stood up. His obese body stretched his official robes taut, and fine beads of sweat appeared on his forehead.
His voice, tinged with urgency and panic, broke the silence in the hall.
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