123. Prince Ning

Yun Zhi's imperial guards rested in batches so that the search and rescue could continue day and night. However, manpower was ultimately limited, and by nightfall, they had only dug out eight people, and none of them were alive.

At the moment when the rubble of Yaoshan Mountain collapsed, the people who were sleeping were either buried alive or crushed to death.

Even though he knew this, Rong Se still felt disappointed. He was silent for a while, looked at Yun Zhi and said softly, "Thank you for your hard work."

Yun Zhi was also covered in dust and dirt. He lowered his eyes and was speechless for a while.

Xiao Mufeng, who came with him, asked in a low voice: "Then, Prince, what should we do now?"

Rong Se forced a smile, but his voice was firm: "Thank you for your hard work, brothers of the Imperial Guards. This matter is settled, and the king has rewarded you. Now... let's continue as planned."

Xiao Mufeng and Yun Zhi looked at each other and nodded in agreement.

But Xiao Mufeng couldn't help but ask, "My Lord, what if... there are no survivors?"

Rong Se looked at him with heavy and firm eyes, and spoke slowly.

"It's easy to kill a person, but it's hard to save him. I know that with your status, you may have been accustomed to life and death, but Prince Xiao should understand that life and death are serious matters. Before there is a conclusion, all speculations are in vain. Before the search and rescue is truly over, you only need to know that there are living people buried under the rubble and soil. You just need to believe that they are waiting for you to save them."

Rong Se said this, his eyes swept over Yun Zhi and Lan Ying, and he said softly: "You know best how tenacious people can be when they want to survive. I believe that even if there is only a glimmer of hope, they will hold on, and we are the key to whether they can survive."

Yun Zhi and Lan Ying had also experienced life-threatening situations. Lan Ying had also encountered dangerous situations while traveling around the world over the years. After Rong Se finished speaking, both of them had a slightly moved expression.

"The master is right."

Lan Ying suddenly spoke up, her charming face that usually always had a smile on it now looked serious, "What if there really is someone alive? He's waiting under those rocks. We have to dig him out. We can't let him be trapped to death."

After the three people left, Rong Se suddenly collapsed in the carriage, as if the string that had been stretched all the time had suddenly broken.

"You must be tired, my Lord." Liang Shenyu covered him with the thin blanket he brought with him, stuffed a bottle of soup inside, and whispered, "It's getting late, take some time to rest."

"You too." Rong Se grabbed his hand and pulled him towards him. "We are not made of iron. You have been busy all day. Take a nap, Sanlang."

Liang Shenyu came over, and the two snuggled together tightly. Rong Se suddenly laughed.

"What's wrong?"

Liang Shenyu asked in a low voice.

Rong Se sighed, "Since I came here, thanks to his legacy, I haven't had such a rough time in a long time. I really hope it will end soon."

The faster and earlier we get there, the more hope the victims have of surviving.

At the end of the speech, Rong Se was a little unclear in consciousness. Even the military officers felt exhausted, let alone Rong Se. If he hadn't been struggling all the time, he could have fallen asleep in the snow.

The snow stopped at dusk, and there was a bright moon in the sky at night.

Many people in the capital city could not sleep all night.

After Rong Zhan arrived in the capital, he did not live in the residence arranged by the emperor. The Ning Prince's Mansion naturally had private property in Jinjing. When he learned that Rong Se simply stayed overnight in Tong County, the Ning County Prince was so shocked that he was silent for a moment, and then he asked suspiciously: "Did he really go? Didn't he come back?"

The servant bowed his head. "Not only that, after the Regent arrived in Tong County, he worked with the imperial guards to rescue people from the collapsed houses. Our people saw it with their own eyes, it must be true."

Rong Zhan's expression was complicated for a moment. He clenched one hand into a fist and gently tapped the palm of the other hand.

"This Ninth Prince...hiss, this...Mu Xiao, although rumors cannot be trusted completely, this Ninth Prince is very different from the rumors."

Mu Xiao, who had been accompanying him the entire time, could not deny it and whispered, "An earthquake in Jinjing is rare in a century. Your Majesty, this is a coincidence, but also an opportunity. The Regent Prince will surely win the hearts of the people if he does this. We must be on guard against this person."

"Ah." Rong Zhan slumped in the chair with his head tilted, and said slowly: "You mean, he did it on purpose, hoping to take advantage of the opportunity to win the hearts of the people?"

Mu Xiao said in a deep voice: "Prince, don't forget our purpose. When the old prince passed away——"

"Okay, Mu Xiao, that's enough. You don't have to keep repeating it." Rong Zhan interrupted him, frowning impatiently, "I know what I have to do. I don't need you to remind me."

Mu Xiao bowed his head: "I have overstepped my authority."

"Now that you know you're overstepping your authority, keep your mouth shut!" Rong Zhan glanced at him coldly, "Grandfather didn't raise you to repeat his last words every day. Mu Xiao, remember, I'm your master. Get out."

"I will take my leave."

Mu Xiao bowed and walked out.

Rong Zhan was still lazily leaning on the chair, closing his eyes and saying softly: "The monarch is foolish, and the country is in danger... Oh, the country is in danger..."

.

The wind and snow had stopped, and the disaster situation in Tong County was not too bad. The imperial guards worked day and night in batches. By dawn the next day, they had searched most of the county and rescued many people.

After waking up, Rong Se left the organization and sent the disaster victims to the capital. The remaining seriously injured were treated on the spot. He also sent someone back to the capital to order the delivery of medicine. At the same time, he ordered all industries under the Regent's Palace to provide relief to the disaster victims.

It was not until after noon that the supplies from the city arrived. Rong Se heard the news and came, but saw an unexpected person.

"...Prince Ning?" Rong Se was slightly shocked.

Rong Zhan was wearing a narrow-sleeved martial robe, which did not give him the aura of a royal family, but rather a bit of sassiness. When he saw Rong Se, he was also surprised.

Rong Se no longer had the majestic and dignified look of the regent king in front of the palace that day. He wore a green robe over his jacket, and his body was dirty. His hair was a little messy, and even the corners of his clothes were tattered and torn. He looked as shabby as a disaster victim.

Only then did Rong Zhan discover that his uncle, who was rumored to be cold and cruel, actually had a very handsome face. Without the airs of a regent, he even looked a little weak.

"I was afraid that those officials would enrich themselves, so I went there in person. The food and medicine are in the car." Rong Zhan hesitated for a moment and whispered, "Uncle, what are you doing...?"

"It's okay." Rong Se didn't care, and even patted Rong Zhan on the shoulder and smiled at him, "Good job, it's good that the things are delivered. The disaster victims are waiting for them. It's hard for you to come here."

After saying that, without caring about Rong Zhan's expression, he turned around and said loudly: "The food and medicine have been delivered. Tell the doctors to prepare the medicine quickly and find a few people to cook--"

After he finished speaking, he said to Rong Zhan, "This isn't a good place. It's not that nice. I can't entertain you. Now that the things have been delivered, you can go back. I'll tell you another day."

After saying this, he hurried away.

"Hey! Imperial uncle!" Rong Zhan stood in front of Rong Se and asked in astonishment, "Imperial uncle, you also followed them to dig?"

"One more person is one more person." Rong Se frowned, "Don't block the road."

"...Oh." Rong Zhan made way for him and said, "The emperor's uncle has already taken action himself, how can a junior like me just stand by and watch..."

He turned to his companions and said, "You go back, I will stay and help."

Rong Se stopped in his tracks, turned around and looked at Rong Zhan, and said seriously: "Little Prince of noble status, human life is at stake and this is not something to be trifled with."

"Isn't the Imperial Uncle also a noble Regent?" Rong Zhan smiled and said cheerfully, "Besides, the Imperial Uncle just said that one more person is one more person. After all, my nephew also worked his way up from the Imperial Prosecutor's Camp and is a serious martial artist!"

Rong Se looked around.

He certainly doesn't have the physique of a scholar; he's young and strong, and a good laborer.

Rong Zhan was willing to help, and Rong Se's opinion of him changed slightly. After thinking for a moment, he nodded, "Okay, listen, there are no princes here, and saving people is the first priority."

Rong Zhan nodded repeatedly: "Yes!"

"and."

"What else?"

Rong Se said solemnly: "Be careful."

Rong Zhan was stunned.

"From yesterday to now, there have been nearly ten aftershocks, big and small." Rong Se pointed to the trampled snow on the ground. "The road is slippery in the snow, and there may be cracks underneath. People won't fall, but you still have to be careful."

Seeing him so serious, Rong Zhan couldn't help but become serious, "I remember it."

"That's good."

Rong Se turned and left, "Come with me."

The rescued victims were naturally taken care of by the imperial physician and the medical officers and pharmacists of the Imperial Hospital. Rongse had been moving the rubble for the entire morning and was extremely tired, but his steps were still steady, so that outsiders could not tell anything was wrong.

He took Rong Zhan to find a house that had not completely collapsed. The stove in this house could still be used. Rong Se sent someone to look for it in the morning.

Food is the most important thing for people. Both the rescued disaster victims and the Jinbei Cavalry who provided disaster relief all needed to eat.

"Unload the food here."

After Rong Se gave the order, he conveniently picked up the firewood and started to make a fire.

"Uncle Emperor, do you want to cook?"

Rong Zhan helped unload the grain, and when he entered the room he saw Rong Se burning firewood in the stove with ease.

His eyes were inquiring, and the closer he got to the Regent, the more he discovered something strange about this uncle.

If he didn't know Rong Se's identity, he would believe it if I told him now that Rong Se was a famous person with a broad mind.

"Well, don't just stand there, go out and help." Rong Se ordered in a natural, elder tone, "If you don't know what to do, go out and find Dingbei Hou, he will tell you."

Since we are staying here, we can't just sit there and do nothing.

Rong Zhan touched the tip of his nose, answered yes, walked out and asked, and finally found Marquis Dingbei who was busy in the ruins.

"Prince Ning, please help move these wood and stones." Liang Shenyu pointed to the ground below and said politely, "Be careful, there may be people underneath, just don't let them collapse."

Rong Zhan started to act immediately.

"My Lord."

Lan Ying approached silently, got close to Liang Shenyu, and whispered, "The master said to keep an eye on Prince Dian Ning."

Liang Shenyu nodded imperceptibly.

Lan Ying quietly left. Rong Zhan turned around and saw another girl. He raised his eyebrows and asked, "Who is this?"

"It's okay." Liang Shenyu responded kindly, "She's just a maid from the Prince Regent's Mansion."

Rong Zhan nodded, and then saw the seemingly slim girl pick up a wooden stake taller than a person with one hand and drag it away easily. His forehead jumped and his eyes drifted towards Liang Shenyu.

"She's..."

Liang Shenyu gave him a calm look that showed he was used to it, and reminded him, "Get to work, Prince Ning."

"Oh, yes, yes."

Prince Ning thought expressionlessly, what kind of people are gathered in the Regent Palace?