Nangong Cai's revenge on Jiang Muyun was far more potent than his petty schemes. Especially in a backdrop of female superiority and male inferiority, Jiang Muyun's reputation plummeted. The Jiang family's young master, who was still admired despite his family's decline, now found even common ruffians coming to his door to profess their love.
For him, it was an unbearable humiliation.
The Jiang family had initially pinned their last hopes on him, believing that if he could somehow get close to Nangong Cai, the family might still have a chance. Instead, they lost both face and fortune. Not only was his reputation ruined, but his cousin, Jiang Caiping, also had her engagement with a prominent family dissolved overnight.
Zhou Ting'er seized the opportunity. While she had once desired him as her primary husband and couldn't obtain him, she could now only be a concubine. This was her sister's demand and her revenge.
Having seen his true colors, she could no longer like him as she once did. Her proposal was more an act of humiliation.
The Minister of Rites had only her as a relative. The entire capital knew of her indulgence of her sister, so despite Jiang Muyun's tarnished name, she agreed to her sister's request.
The Jiang family was in a quandary. When the matchmaker informed them that the Zhou family was willing to take him in, they didn't hesitate. Without even consulting his wishes, they accepted the matchmaker's offer.
Upon hearing this, Jiang Muyun was so enraged that he fainted.
However, upon waking, he still had no choice but to agree to marry into the Zhou family.
Having dealt with Jiang Muyun, Nangong Cai then softened her stance and coaxed Qi Qianfan for several days before he finally forgave her and allowed her into his chambers.
Officials from the capital were dispatched to various regions, each under the constant threat of losing their heads. Thus, they worked diligently, following Zhu Que's relief plans. In the north, they diverted water to prevent floods and assisted in relocating residents. In the south, they channeled water for irrigation, constructing canals to bring water from the great rivers to areas that previously lacked them.
The south had been suffering from a prolonged drought, making cultivation impossible. The imperial court issued a decree: all men and women aged 16 and above could find work by responding to government notices. In addition to two meals a day, they would receive a small amount of silver each month.
If not for her campaign against corruption, no one would have realized how much wealth and grain their Zhu Que Kingdom possessed.
Hundreds of thousands of people were affected by the disaster. What should have been an unprecedented catastrophe was managed with orderly distribution from the capital. The granaries in various regions remained full. The populace, who were losing hope and contemplating fleeing the famine, were accommodated by government arrangements, ensuring they had enough to eat, could earn money, and saw a glimmer of hope for the future.
If they could complete the water conservancy projects, they would be able to mitigate minor natural disasters in the future. During droughts, they could open the sluice gates to release water, and during heavy rains, they could store it. This would allow for the reclamation of more farmland and the cultivation of more crops. Recognizing that this was not merely the court's relief effort but a endeavor for the benefit of all people, their enthusiasm soared to unprecedented heights. The thought that by repairing the water channels, future generations would benefit immensely, made enduring the current hardships and toil seem entirely worthwhile.
As the disaster in various regions abated, news of the whereabouts of those two individuals periodically surfaced across the country. Most reports spoke of the Empress appearing in various locations, performing acts of kindness, aiding the local populace, and punishing corrupt officials.
The movements of the pair were erratic. Initially, Nangong Cai could still inquire about their whereabouts from messengers, but eventually, even the messengers became elusive and appeared and disappeared like phantoms.
Mid-August.
The situation at Qiu Ling Pass suddenly became tense.
Zhu Que and Qing Long had always been at odds. A mountain range separated the two nations, with Qiu Ling Pass being the primary gateway. Normally, travel between the two countries was almost exclusively through Qiu Ling Pass.
However, not long before this, Qin Wang, who was guarding the pass, received an imperial decree from the Empress to close the pass. Qiu Ling Pass would be open for entry but not for exit. People from the other side could enter with valid travel documents proving their identity, but no one from this side was permitted to cross over.
Although Qin Wang did not understand the reason, she obeyed the order and closed the pass, simultaneously intensifying the search for spies within Qiu Ling Pass to prevent any information leakage.
After less than half a month of this, Qing Long became impatient. They directly dispatched an army of one hundred thousand soldiers to the front of Qiu Ling Pass, threatening to break in if passage was not granted.
Qin Wang, who had been stationed at the border for decades, was not one to be intimidated. Instead, the threat provoked her. She shot and killed two Qing Long soldiers who were shouting outside the city gate, startling the rest into a hasty retreat.
The rapid deployment of a hundred thousand troops within a few days convinced Qin Wang that Qing Long harbored sinister intentions. She had no qualms about Zhu Que's orders; Qiu Ling Pass was immediately placed under strict martial law.
Along with the imperial decree came a letter from the Empress, stating that they would arrive at Qiu Ling Pass soon. Qin Wang, assuming the Empress intended to lead the troops personally, was deeply moved.
When they had not arrived after half a month, Qin Wang's initial excitement gradually subsided. With Qiu Ling Pass garrisoned by one hundred thousand soldiers, ample provisions, and troop reinforcements only half a month away, she felt no panic.
After the flow of information from Qing Long ceased, they dared not act rashly. Although the Imperial Preceptor had long predicted a natural disaster for Zhu Que this year, and recent reports from spies confirmed it, making an invasion potentially twice as effective, they still hesitated.
Zhu Que was already a powerful nation. After integrating with Xuan Wu, its population was at least three times that of Qing Long. In normal times, they would never have dared to even consider military aggression.
This was a golden opportunity. The Emperor of Qing Long would certainly not give it up easily.
After over a month of deliberation, they received another secret message from Zhu Que. Its content was simple: Zhu Que was suffering severe disaster, the populace was in uproar, and capable individuals were planning an uprising. The Zhu Que court was overwhelmed, with no harvest this year. The garrison at Qiu Ling Pass was starving and would certainly not be able to defeat them.
This secret message greatly boosted the Qing Long Emperor's confidence. He immediately decided to personally lead the troops and fight Zhu Que to the bitter end.
In early October, thirty thousand troops were stationed at Qiu Ling Pass. Scouts sent out reported that the Qing Long Emperor was personally leading the campaign, bringing thirty thousand soldiers from their capital to join the hundred thousand troops who had been facing them for a long time. An all-out offensive was imminent.
The atmosphere at Qiu Ling Pass instantly became tense. Qin Wang had already evacuated most of the civilians, but some were unwilling to leave.
Qiu Ling Pass was located in the northern part of the country. By early October, frost covered the ground in the mornings. With the impending battle, very few civilians were on the streets. A carriage slowly drove by, heading towards the General's Mansion at the end of the road.
The two-horse carriage did not appear luxurious, hardly befitting the status of a monarch. A black-clad bodyguard served as the driver. Inside the carriage, the person who had been swaying and sleeping for half the night now opened her groggy eyes.
"Where are we?"
"Replying to Master, we have entered the city and will soon reach the General's Mansion."
Zhu Que nudged the person beside her.
It grew colder as they approached. They had been rushing for the past two days without adequate rest. Zhong Yan, still drowsy, waved her hand gently.
"What is it?"
"We've arrived."