Yuan Yao tidied herself up and went out.
Today is another sunny day.
Da Shan and his men were already waiting outside the Li residence.
More than fifty people stood outside the Li residence, and not a single passerby dared to approach.
Those unaware of the situation might think the Li family had offended someone...
When Madam Li saw Yuan Yao in the courtyard, she quickly bowed and said, "This concubine greets the Princess."
“Madam, there’s no need for such formalities.” Yuan Yao offered a slight helping hand to Madam Li.
After speaking, she looked towards the door.
Everywhere you look, there are crowds of people.
Yuan Yao said to Madam Li, "These people were brought by me from the Huai River. I am truly sorry for disturbing your peace and quiet, Madam."
Madam Li hurriedly said, "Your Highness is too kind. I heard my husband say that these people were brought by Your Highness from the Huai River to help with disaster relief."
"Your Highness's actions are of great righteousness. On behalf of my husband and the people of the Huai River region, I am deeply grateful for Your Highness's kindness."
Yuan Yao is not used to speaking in a formal, literary style, and she dislikes dealing with people in a complicated manner.
However, Madam Li was a sensible person and quite likable...
Yuan Yao glanced at the sky and said to Madam Li, "Madam, please go ahead. I'll take some people out first."
"Princess, please proceed with caution." Madam Li curtsied again.
Upon leaving the Li residence and seeing Yuan Yao, a group of burly bandits exclaimed in unison, "Greetings, Princess!"
The sound was deafening.
Yuan Yao's scalp tingled from the shock.
She smiled and waved her hand, saying, "No need for such formalities."
Da Shan stepped forward and asked in a deep voice, "Princess, we have rested for more than a day and have regained our energy!"
"Princess, when will you assign us tasks?"
As soon as he finished speaking, a cacophony of voices erupted behind him: "That's right, Princess! We're not going to eat your food for nothing! Hurry up and find some work for the brothers!"
Others are too busy being lazy to even think about it.
These bandits are something else; they actually want to find work to do.
Yuan Yao chuckled.
They are clearly a group of kind-hearted and hardworking people...
Yuan Yao pondered for a moment and then asked Madam Li, "Madam, may I ask, where is the nearest river embankment?"
“River embankment?” Madam Li hesitated for a moment before replying, “Princess, Huaishui City is built along the river, and this river is called Huaishui.”
River...
Yuan Yao asked curiously, "Since it's a river, why not call it the Huai River or the Huai River?"
Looking into her bright, sparkling eyes, so clever and adorable, Madam Li was momentarily stunned.
A moment later, Madam Li realized that the young princess was just joking.
Madam Li said gently, "Your Highness, you may not know this, but originally, this Huai River should have been called the Huai River. However, every summer, the river would flood, causing great suffering to the people."
Later, an old Taoist priest who happened to be passing by cast a divination and said, "The name 'Jiang' (江) is too grand; the city can't contain it, so the character 'Jiang' (江) was changed to 'Shui' (水)..."
Yuan Yao was stunned.
Superstition!
Will changing the river's name stop the floods from harming the people?
Look, there have been floods this year, haven't there?
Yuan Yao thought for a moment and said to Madam Li, "Madam, please find me a guide. I'd like to go to the riverbank to take a look first."
Go to the riverbank?
“No,” Madam Li immediately refused. “The riverbank is now filled with men building dikes and local imperial guards.”
Princess, of such noble status, how could you go to such a place?
What if someone offends the princess?
She's not that delicate!
Yuan Yao said earnestly, "Madam, I'm just going to take a look. It's nothing."
She went to scout out the situation first before assigning tasks to the bandits.
Madam Li hesitated repeatedly: "The riverbank is such a dangerous place, it's really not appropriate for the princess to go there..."
"Madam." Yuan Yao tilted her little head up, her childish voice carrying a hint of seriousness: "Although I am young, I know that disaster relief is of utmost urgency."
No one knows when the next wave of flooding will arrive.
If we don't act quickly and take precautions in advance, how many more people will suffer?
Upon hearing this, Madam Li was momentarily speechless.
She seemed to be subtly persuaded by the young princess before her.
Yes, natural disasters, who can predict them?
It's the height of summer now, who knows when the next floods will arrive...
After hesitating for a long time, Madam Li said, "I have called a carriage and will go with the princess."
Bring along the prefect's wife?
inappropriate.
There will be a lot of trouble then.
Yuan Yao said, "Madam, Yao'er can go by herself. If Madam has nothing else to do, please make Yao'er some food."
Her expression held a hint of coldness and a touch of intimidation.
Madam Li's worries turned into obedience.
She beckoned to two guards and whispered, "Take the princess to the riverbank, take a quick look from afar, and then come back."
Remember, the princess must come first in everything…
The group set off in a grand procession toward the riverbank.
After leaving the city, we traveled south for about three miles and arrived at the riverbank.
Yuan Yao rode on horseback, while Can Feng led the horse from the side.
Dashan and the others followed on foot.
When they were about 300 meters from the river embankment, a guard from the Li family said, "Princess, the madam instructed that you should stop here."
Further ahead, the area was filled with civilians and imperial guards building the river embankment; it was quite chaotic.
It's only when things are chaotic that you want to take a look.
Yuan Yao said calmly, "You all wait here, I'll go see for myself."
The two guards, being of low status and little influence, dared not utter another word.
Seeing this, Danqing said, "Princess, shall I go and investigate first? If it's safe, then you can go over."
Yuan Yao glanced at the sky and decisively said, "Don't waste time, let's go take a look first."
There were many people on the river embankment.
Apart from the common people who had contracted the plague and were undergoing isolation and treatment, all the healthy young people along the Huai River were gathered on the riverbank...
Everyone was dressed in shorts and shorts, with their trousers and sleeves rolled up, and they were working hard with great enthusiasm.
Covered in mud, they looked incredibly tired...
The rolling river flows right beneath our feet.
The water level in this section of the river was much higher than the fields along the riverbank.
If the floodwaters rise, I fear Huai River City will be submerged again...
Yuan Yao lifted the hem of her skirt and carefully walked onto the river embankment.
A tiny baby, whiter and softer than the best steamed bun, appeared on the riverbank, causing many people to look up at Yuan Yao.
A voice called out from afar: "Princess!"
Princess?
This little baby is actually a princess?
Princess, what a noble status!
Could it be that she is the daughter of that peerless beauty but aloof and cold-blooded lord?
For a moment, many people on the river embankment stopped what they were doing and tried to bow: "This humble subject greets the Princess..."
Many people looked at each other, unsure whether they should kneel down.
Upon seeing this, Yuan Yao quickly said, "Please don't stand on ceremony, everyone. Please rise."
She didn't come here to show off her status.
At this moment, a dark-skinned man walked up to her: "Your subordinate greets the Princess!"
He knelt on one knee to pay his respects before standing up.
"Who are you……"
Yuan Yao stared at him for a long time, but still didn't recognize him.
The man gave a kind smile: "Princess, this is your subordinate, Li Chang."
Li Chang?
ah……
"It's you!" Yuan Yao exclaimed in surprise. "Guard Li, you're so tanned I almost didn't recognize you!"
Li Chang touched his nose, smiled, and then asked, "Princess, the riverbank is dangerous, why did you come here?"
Speaking of this...
"You've come at just the right time!" Yuan Yao said. "Perfect timing, I need to talk to you!"
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com