It rained all night and didn't stop until noon the next day.
They both stayed up half the night, but others got up early and even had breakfast.
Hong Xiaoduo didn't wake up until lunchtime. After checking the forecast on her bracelet, she quickly washed up and learned from Yuheng that everyone had skipped lunch and was waiting for her.
Xiao Duo felt a little uncomfortable after hearing this, but not too much. She had already told them that in this situation, they should not wait for her, but go and eat by themselves first.
Lan Zechen said there was a small restaurant at the east end of town with good food and reservations had already been made, so Hong Xiaoduo and her people went there together.
Along the way, Hong Xiaoduo observed the six little ones' expressions without making a sound. They were doing well and their moods were not affected by Hu Jiawang.
Even if there was any, with half a night and this morning, it should have been mostly digested by now.
While they were drinking tea and waiting for their food at the small restaurant, Lan Zechen said, "Xiao Duo, with your ability to read the weather, you could work at the Imperial Observatory in the capital."
However, the Imperial Observatory was quite capable, as it actually predicted a snow disaster in the north in advance. The Emperor issued an edict ordering that the area should prepare for the snow disaster in advance, ensuring that the granaries were well-stocked with grain and that the granaries would be opened to sell grain at fair prices during the disaster. The people's homes also had enough firewood prepared. The local government supervised the inspection of dilapidated houses and guided the households to reinforce them to prevent them from collapsing under the weight of the snow.
The local military garrison and civilians were mobilized to clear major traffic arteries in a timely manner. Road signs and refuge areas were also set up along the roadside to provide temporary rest and rescue facilities for stranded pedestrians.
For merchants and civilians stranded on the road, the government would send people to provide rescue, food, water, and warm supplies such as quilts and cotton clothing.
Even after the snow disaster, the possibility of flooding caused by the melting of large amounts of snow was taken into account, and measures were taken to build drainage ditches and dredge waterways as quickly as possible.
According to my information, the Imperial Astronomical Bureau's prediction has indeed come true.
However, because of the well-prepared and proactive measures taken in advance, the number of people who died from the snow disaster did not exceed ten figures. Among them were several elderly people who were already frail or disabled.
The people are all grateful to His Majesty the Emperor for his compassion for the nation and his love for his people, and for the brilliance of the Imperial Observatory.
Lan Zechen talked a lot, and Hong Xiaoduo listened with a smile the whole time. "Oh, that's great!"
Seeing that Hong Xiaoduo was listening to him without any sign of annoyance, Lan Zechen was quite happy. However, when he looked up and saw the way Quan Jinghuai was looking at him, he felt that it was somewhat disdainful.
"Brother Quan, what do you mean by this?" Lan Zechen blurted out.
Quan Jinghuai waved his hand and said, "It's nothing, I just feel that the information from your Duobao Pavilion doesn't seem very reliable."
Huh? Unreliable? This is the first time I've heard someone say that Duobaoge's information is unreliable, especially since they said it to my face, and I heard it with my own ears!
However, he had heard of Quan Jinghuai before, and he was not the kind of person who spoke carelessly.
If he could say this in front of the owner of Duobaoge, wouldn't that mean he knows the real inside story of the court's early response to the snow disaster?
Looking at Hong Xiaoduo's expression beside him, Lan Zechen had a sudden inspiration and pointed at Hong Xiaoduo, saying, "Could it be that it was actually you?"
Hong Xiaoduo neither admitted nor denied it, and continued to sip her tea with a smile.
"My God, it was all thanks to you?" Lan Zechen was shocked, but he also felt that it shouldn't be surprising, since it was because she accurately predicted the rain.
He knew that many elderly people or old farmers would also look at the weather, for example, by observing the state and color changes of the clouds in the sky, the low-flying swallows and dragonflies hunting for food, the ants moving their nests, the earthworms emerging from their burrows, and the moon growing "hair" to judge whether it was sunny or rainy.
But he had never heard of any girl her age who could accurately predict when the rain would stop and when it would stop.
"Actually, it's not really my achievement. I just mentioned it to him, but if he didn't believe me or take it seriously, it would have been pointless for me to say anything," Hong Xiaoduo said casually. She didn't care about any credit or achievement, but it felt really good to be able to save the people from a disaster.
Lan Zechen pondered her words carefully, and then mentioned it to him? This "him"? "Xiao Duo, you know people from the Imperial Observatory, did you talk to them about it?"
“No, that’s not it.” Hong Xiaoduo was puzzled. Why was this Pavilion Master so easily startled? The longer she spent with him, the more she felt that he didn’t seem like someone his age!
"So you mentioned it to him, and this 'he' isn't from the Imperial Observatory. He must be some high-ranking person. Ordinary people, let alone have no chance to speak to the Emperor, even if they did, the Emperor wouldn't believe it, right?" Lan Zechen thought his analysis was spot on.
Hong Xiaoduo glanced at him and said, "Your Majesty, I told him directly."
"Wh-what? His Majesty? You directly? To him? You saw the Emperor? You can see the Emperor? Hey, no, Xiaoduo, who exactly are you?" Lan Zechen was completely bewildered.
What kind of status does the emperor have? He is the supreme ruler. Those who have the opportunity to see the emperor are only civil and military officials, imperial relatives, or the families of important ministers.
Ordinary people would never have the chance to see it, especially those in the martial arts world.
Just then, the dishes arrived.
Quan Jinghuai, thinking that Hong Xiaoduo hadn't eaten breakfast and that being disturbed at lunchtime would prevent her from enjoying her meal properly, spoke up again, which was quite unusual for him: "Pavilion Master Lan, if you want to know, go and investigate yourself. Is there any information that your Treasure Pavilion can't find?"
After spending a few days together, Lan Zechen had a general understanding of everyone's personality. This chivalrous man, Quan, didn't really like chatting with people.
The fact that he interrupted meant he was unhappy with the girl's constant questioning.
“That’s true, I’ll check it myself later. Xiao Duo, hurry up and eat, you haven’t even had breakfast yet,” Lan Zechen hurriedly urged.
He didn't try to curry favor with Hong Xiaoduo just because he heard that she could speak with the emperor.
It was simply that I felt she was unusual and I was curious about who she was!
Isn't that right? At such a young age, he mentioned speaking to the emperor so casually, even using the word "he." No one who heard that would have guessed it was the one on the dragon throne!
In her mouth, the ruler of a country was as casual as if she were talking about a random passerby.
The food at this restaurant was indeed very good, even better than the biggest restaurant I went to the day before.
Quan Jinghuai took a sip of the wine that Lan Zechen had ordered; the wine was mellow and fragrant, and warmed him as it went down his throat.
He glanced at Lan Zechen sitting next to Hong Xiaoduo. The mysterious owner of Duobao Pavilion, who was usually talked about by his fellow martial arts brothers, looked more and more like a sham!
If I hadn't met him once before, I would have seriously doubted whether this guy was an imposter.
"We're leaving tomorrow morning, so let's go shopping after we finish eating. Think about what you want to buy," Hong Xiaoduo said to everyone when she had almost finished eating.
No one questioned her words. Even though the sky was overcast and looked like it was about to rain, since she said she would leave tomorrow, it definitely wouldn't rain tomorrow.
After Hong Xiaoduo and the others finished eating and left, she stood outside the restaurant watching two men who seemed to be chatting, and followed them...
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