The new year has come, spring has arrived, the weather is particularly good, and the weather is clear every day. Many nobles in Luojing invite them to go out for an outing to enjoy the beautiful spring scenery.
However, some people were happy and some were worried. The officials in charge of farming in the DPRK looked at the sunshine and almost turned gray in worry. There was little snow last winter, but it hasn't rained yet. If this continues, it will be difficult to grow crops this year. The farmers were even more worried. Everyone looked at the sky with a look of sadness on their faces.
It finally rained once, but it stopped after half a day. When the sun came out, the water vapor quickly evaporated, and the earth became dry again.
"This year... I'm afraid it will be a disaster year... "
Drought is beginning to appear in various places, and the court finally begins to pay attention. However, there are few effective ways to deal with it. Every few years, there will be a calamity year like this, with major and minor disasters happening one after another. After all, it is the ordinary people who suffer.
Liao Tingyan is in the center of the highest power in this era, surrounded by flowers and prosperity, and the sufferings of the people are far away from her. If she is an ordinary person who knows nothing like others, then she can laugh and talk with this harem. Like all the beauties, even if they have troubles, they are only troubles that this palace can accommodate. But she is not. She knows that the drought will come, and she also knows that if the drought is not handled well, many people will die, and then the plague will definitely continue to break out like in the original work.
So Sima Jiao found that when the spring sun was shining brightly, his imperial concubine became inexplicably worried again.
By the beginning of summer, all the fat she had gained had gone back—only her breasts had not lost weight.
Sima Jiao couldn't stand it anymore, and got angry in the court with a irritable look. He went back and pinched Liao Tingyan's chin and asked: "What are you worried about?"
Liao Tingyan said honestly: "I'm worried about drought." He's also worried about the country's subjugation.
Sima Jiao: "So I ask you why you are worried about drought?" That obviously has nothing to do with her. Sima Jiao did not understand this worry, because to him, the world was his, and it was just like the treasures in the inner treasury that were of no use. Ever since he was a child, he has never cared about what happened to the people, or in other words, he has never cared about what happened to other people, so what does that have to do with him
He liked Liao Tingyan, and he just wanted to see Liao Tingyan living carefree and lazily beside him, preferably like before. But now, she was so worried about a mere drought, which made him think of the flood that had happened before.
Is she worried about the country and the people? Sima Jiao keenly felt that this was not the case. She was usually lazy and only became so nervous about specific things, as if she was hiding something. This is what really makes Sima Jiao feel unhappy.
He wanted to force him to ask a few questions, but Liao Tingyan was not like those people who would say anything when he was frightened. Sima Jiao wanted to get angry with her, but she came close to her and acted coquettishly, hugging and kissing her. Sima Jiao just... couldn't get angry.
The result is getting more and more angry.
"Don't lose weight anymore." Sima Jiao ordered.
Liao Tingyan: "..." This is not something she can control. Autumn and winter are close to each other, and spring and summer will naturally lead to weight loss. She has long said that she will lose weight when summer comes. It is not just about the drought. There is also a reason for the weather.
Rain is scarce and several states are suffering from drought this year. Urgent reports are coming in one after another. Because Liao Tingyan was so worried that he had lost weight, Sima Jiao unconsciously became concerned. At least he took the time to look at it, and then ordered officials from various places to build water conservancy projects. Seeing that he, the emperor, was suddenly interested in this matter, the officials below looked at each other and followed suit, becoming equally concerned about this matter.
Compared to the original, the current situation is much better. However, as the weather gets hotter and the drought lasts longer and longer, large areas of the crops that were finally planted in the fields die because they do not get enough irrigation. Even if the family carries water all day long and works hard at night to irrigate, No care can withstand the scorching sun in the sky.
Fortunately, the situation near Luojing was the worst. After the beginning of summer, the ground was already covered with bare ground. Large fields were cracked and no weeds could grow.
"Your Majesty, the disaster in Tuzhou is serious and we need to deal with it as soon as possible. I would like to ask your Majesty to open a warehouse to stock up on food and help the victims!" Li Sikong looked solemn and solemn as he stepped out of the queue and bowed.
Before Sima Jiao spoke, Prime Minister Du frowned and refused flatly: "No! The Jidi granary is prepared for war. How can it be used for such things easily? If foreigners outside the pass take the opportunity to invade, our army's food and grass Where are you?"
Li Sikong said angrily: "Is it possible that the lives of a state are not more important than the shadowless war! Nowadays, Tuzhou is short of food, and the official warehouses can no longer support it. In a few areas, people have even exchanged their sons for food..."
Du Xiangguo sneered, "It's just a few people who died. Why should Li Sikong be so nervous? I don't think the drought will last long, so there is no need to use the Jidi granary."
After saying this, he cupped his hands to his superior, Sima Jiao, and said loudly: "What do you think, Your Majesty?"
Sima Jiao always relied on him in everything and rarely refuted his words. The ministers had long been accustomed to it. Now seeing the determination on Du Xiangguo's face, Li Sikong and other ministers who were anxious for the people of Tuzhou couldn't help but feel a sinking heart. , Li Sikong even called His Majesty with some despair.
Sima Jiao had a sullen face, was silent for a moment, and then said: "Open the granary of Jidi, a place where the disaster is serious, and relocate the people. When the disaster is over, let them return to their place of origin."
Unexpectedly, he would make such a decision. Li Sikong's eyes suddenly lit up, and he immediately knelt down and said: "Your Majesty, you are wise!"
Du Xiangguo's expression froze, and he took a step forward, "Your Majesty, think twice, the Jidi Granary is..."
"Du Xiangguo." Sima Jiao interrupted him, his face expressionless, his eyes cold and lonely, "I want to open a position."
Du Xiangguo's cheek twitched, and he stood back with a dark face without saying a word.
Sima Jiao named Taifu Duan again. Since the death of his second son last year, he has behaved more low-key in the court and almost ignored everything. At this time, Sima Jing focused on him and said, "We need the help of the Grand Tutor in all disaster relief matters."
There are many major nobles, and there are branch families in several state capitals. If you want to stabilize the situation, nothing is more convenient than those families that have been rooted in the local area for a long time. Sima Jiao's intention is to order Taifu Duan to take the lead in controlling the disasters in various places, and he also gave a hint The big families are offering relief.
Taifu Duan raised his eyelids and glanced at His Majesty, then answered yes. At this time, he, like the Prime Minister, felt very strange about Sima Jiao's unusual behavior.
- The last flood was almost always dealt with by Gao Taibao. All the ministers thought that Shen Shi, who was named the fourth-level water envoy of the city, was released by His Majesty because he asked Gao Taibao to deal with it again. The flood made up for it, and no one knew it was Sima Jiao who ordered it. So this time, all the ministers couldn't help but think more about Sima Jiao's sudden behavior.
Why did His Majesty, who had ignored political affairs for many years, suddenly change his attitude? Is it really because of the disaster, or... Remembering that His Majesty vetoed Prime Minister Du in public, everyone felt that this matter might not be simple. When has His Majesty ever cared about the sufferings of the people? Now, I am afraid that dealing with the drought is a lie, but not being able to bear the Prime Minister's country is the real thing.
Even Prime Minister Du himself thought so.
As soon as the court came, Prime Minister Du returned to his mansion and summoned many of his close friends to discuss the matter.
"He's getting older now, so I'm afraid he won't be able to tolerate me anymore." Du Xiangguo's expression was complicated, a little resentful and a little sad. When the late emperor entrusted the young emperor to him, he also supported the young emperor wholeheartedly, but man is not a rock, how can he never change. Although he had no thoughts of rebellion, after all, because he had held great power for many years, he had other thoughts and did some selfish things.
Over the years, despite Sima Jiao's tyrannical nature, he had never opposed any of his decisions. As time went by, Prime Minister Du felt that it was natural. Today, when he was suddenly refuted, he was shocked and angry, and there was also a trace of unknown fear in his heart. .
Could it be that His Majesty is really prepared to deal with him? There was nothing strange about him before, so how could he have such thoughts
Upon hearing his doubts, a counselor turned his eyes and said: "Your Majesty has indeed changed his behavior. The Prime Minister may wish to think carefully. Is your Majesty any different since Concubine Liao entered the palace?"
Du Xiangguo: "You mean, His Majesty was bewitched by a woman?"
"Since ancient times, beauty has always been a source of disaster. I am afraid that someone has deliberately sowed a relationship between Your Majesty and the Prime Minister."
Du Xiangguo's expression was uncertain. He snorted and thought of another thing, "Sima Jiao insists on opening the Jidi granary. It is very likely that what happened there will be discovered. For the current plan, we can only find a few scapegoats. Let’s settle this matter first.”
"Don't worry, Prime Minister, we will definitely get this matter done!"
…
In the Duan family, Taifu Duan and his eldest son were sitting together drinking tea. A subordinate came to the door asking to see them.
"How, do you know why His Majesty is so abnormal?" Taifu Duan asked.
The man kneeling below spoke in a calm voice and did not raise his head. "According to the reports from the spies in the palace, the reason why His Majesty paid attention to the drought was because of Concubine Liao. It is said that Concubine Liao became depressed after learning about the disaster. His Majesty couldn't bear to see her like this, so he I will intervene in this matter to comfort the imperial concubine.”
Taifu Duan: "..."
He took a sip of tea, put it down and said, "I thought he was just a toy for fun, but never thought that he would become a love interest now, for a beauty? I really can't believe it. Songxue, what do you think?" "
Duan Taifu's eldest son is named Duan Songxue. When he heard his father's question, he looked calm and said, "There are many madmen in the Sima family, but there are also many love affairs. Regardless of whether this is true or not, we just look at it. Now It’s not us who should be worried.”
"However, Concubine Liao in the palace is really good at it. She can force our Majesty to do such a thing patiently, which should not be underestimated."
Concubine Liao, who should not be underestimated, had no idea what Sima Jiao had done. She was currently holding the quilt and feeling dizzy. Because she was afraid of the heat in summer, ice was used in the palace early. As a noble concubine who could get whatever she wanted, ice was of course enough. Liao Tingyan put a lot of ice basins in the palace without any scruples. The result of such uncontrolled behavior was that she caught a cold and fell ill.
In the middle of summer, I actually got wind-chill again, which was even worse than the previous time in winter.
When Liao Tingyan drank the bitter medicine in pain, he couldn't help but think, why did he sleep with Sima Jiao, but he was the only one who got sick, and Sima Jiao was still fine? It stands to reason that her health is much better than that of Sima Jiao. This shouldn't be the case.
After drinking the medicine and holding a preserved fruit in his mouth, Liao Tingyan fell back on the couch and wrapped himself in a brocade quilt.
Next time, don’t use so much ice just because you are greedy for coolness. Greedy for too much will not end well in anything.
While sleeping in a daze, Liao Tingyan felt someone sitting next to her, and a cold hand touched her forehead. After a while, the man took back his hand and walked out.
Liao Tingyan woke up with a start and heard someone talking outside.
"Nowadays, everyone is speculating on the reason why Your Majesty handled the drought. I didn't understand it before, but now I know that it was because of the imperial concubine." Gao Taibao said with a smile.
Sima Jiao's voice was not very happy, "She got so sick just because of this... Tsk, it's really troublesome."
Liao Tingyan: "..." No, she really didn't get sick because she was worried about the drought, it was because she used too much ice.