Soon, Helian Zhicheng had dispatched all his men. He believed Zhao Jiaqi's assurance that their lives were safe within the inner city.
Seeing that the Emperor of Dingbei Liao had sent his people out, Baili Kai'en was not to be outdone and naturally sent his men to Zijing Town as well.
In a short time, several groups of people arrived in the small town. The newcomers even outnumbered the local residents.
At the town entrance and on the city walls, the guards had been replaced. They were no longer the former town constables. The town mayor, unaware of what was happening, had received orders to cooperate.
Just as the inner city had calmed down, Zijing Town began to stir again. Some of the bolder residents bought grain from the streets, assuming a war was imminent. The more timid ones simply stayed home, bolted their doors, and refused to open them for anyone.
This very act of the common people inadvertently exposed the assassins. Fan Zehao's actions became even more decisive.
For the first time, Fan Zehao found the town's residents rather endearing.
The assassins, who had been secretly searching for Yu Meng, realized the situation had turned for the worse and scrambled to flee, escaping under the cover of night.
Night fell, and the sounds of fighting and clashing swords filled the air incessantly.
At that time.
On the second day, it rained again in the inner city. This time, the rain was even more torrential. It poured down without ceasing for the entire day, and the water on the streets rose to calf-level.
Zhao Jiaqi saw that this would not do. The conditions at the posthouse were far inferior to those of the royal mansion. She instructed the steward, "Send someone to inform the prefect to have Helian Zhicheng and Duan Yao, as well as Baili Ji Kai'en, sent to the royal mansion's auxiliary residences. Ensure they are well cared for and that some ginger soup is brewed for them periodically."
Steward Wang glanced at the dark, heavy clouds overhead, lowered his head with a sigh, and respectfully replied with a "Yes" before departing.
What a calamitous year it was. It seemed the inner city had offended someone this year, leading to such misfortune.
Just as Zhao Jiaqi was contemplating whether to evacuate the residents, the steward returned with three distinguished guests.
Seeing them, she was somewhat bewildered.
Steward Wang, unable to voice his grievances, explained, "The people I sent reported that the Emperor and Empress of Dingbei Liao did not wish to reside in the auxiliary residences. They found this royal mansion quite agreeable and decided to come."
"Emperor Xuanyuan..."
The steward was about to report when Baili Kai'en interrupted him, stating righteously, "The Emperor of Dingbei Liao will not stay in the auxiliary residence, and neither will I. It is good to stay and keep them company."
Whether it was truly for companionship, Zhao Jiaqi dared not say. The minds of these high-ranking individuals were as intricate as a beehive, full of complexities.
Zhao Jiaqi smiled faintly, "That is also fine. The royal mansion has many courtyards, making it convenient to look after you all. I will have someone prepare courtyards for you, and you may reside here with peace of mind."
Regarding the matters of the two princes, she believed they had received news through their guards. A large portion of the assassins had been eliminated, with some still at large.
As for the children, they had already reunited with the Prince. They were all unharmed and full of energy. Otherwise, they would have been pestering her incessantly for the past few days.
Upon receiving her consent, the three individuals clearly became much happier. Conversely, the Princess Consort appeared troubled, her eyes constantly fixed on the sky.
Seeing this, the two emperors understood the situation. Baili Kai'en let out a light scoff, making a sarcastic remark, "If this rain continues like this, this place will surely be flooded within five days."
Helian Zhicheng and Duan Yao exchanged glances but remained silent, though they implicitly agreed with Baili Kai'en's words.
The rain was too fierce. If it continued, flooding would inevitably occur. Whether this area would become a vast expanse of water remained to be seen.
However, remembering that their kingdoms relied on purchasing grain from this inner city, Helian Zhicheng couldn't help but worry.
If the inner city was submerged, would they not be forced to return to a life of subsisting on seafood year-round?
The thought of those fishy-smelling things made their stomachs protest and threaten to revolt.
Helian Zhicheng inquired of Zhao Jiaqi with concern, "Princess Consort, the situation does not look optimistic. Should we not send some people to clear the roads and dig some ditches to drain the water?"
Duan Yao nodded repeatedly in agreement, "Every bit that can be drained will help. If the houses are left to soak in the water, they will collapse within days."
Zhao Jiaqi was not worried about the houses collapsing, but rather about the common people living in the low-lying areas nearby.
What was the point of having a house if one's life was at risk?
Zhao Jiaqi beckoned the Head Official, "You accompany me to inspect the low-lying areas. I want to conduct a field survey."
The Head Official was skilled in martial arts and possessed a sharp mind. With him by her side, Zhao Jiaqi felt reassured.
Helian Zhicheng and Baili Kai'en were stunned to hear that the Princess Consort intended to personally inspect the people's conditions.
Duan Yao, being a woman, understood a woman's physical limitations. Venturing out in this weather could easily lead to catching a cold, which would be quite uncomfortable.
She said with concern, "Princess Consort, this matter can be investigated by the local officials. Why must you go yourself? The rain outside is too heavy. If you fall ill, and the Prince is not here, the inner city will truly be without a leader!"
Zhao Jiaqi could see that Duan Yao was genuinely worried about her. She smiled and shook her head, indicating it was fine, "Regarding this disaster, I will not feel at ease unless I see it with my own eyes. Only after I have seen it can I formulate corresponding countermeasures. Not all matters can be handed over to local officials."
Even if local officials knew the danger, they dared not make any decisions. They would still choose to report it, await approval, and then execute it. The time lost in this process would be critical for rescue efforts.
Therefore, in such situations, she and her husband would personally handle things and would never entrust them to others.
The three individuals present fell silent upon hearing this. If it were them, they would not have chosen to inspect themselves, as they had subordinates to do such tasks.
However, witnessing the Princess Consort's actions today filled those who had long held positions of power with shame. It was no wonder that rumors circulated about the inner city's prosperity and its people's happiness.
With such a ruler, how could they not be happy?
Helian Zhicheng stepped forward voluntarily, "I will go with you."
"I'll go and see as well," Baili Kai'en also wanted to go. His primary objective was to observe how this woman would handle a disaster.
He didn't quite believe in women. The old saying goes, "A woman's hair is long but her knowledge is short." To have a woman manage the inner city and be on par with the Prince, he honestly found it hard to believe.
Zhao Jiaqi looked at these two esteemed guests and felt a headache coming on, "I am not going out for leisure. Although it appears to be raining outside, it can be quite dangerous in the low-lying areas. I do not wish for any accidents to befall you in the inner city. Therefore, I appreciate your kind offers, but I ask that you both remain comfortably in the mansion."
She had just assured them a few days ago that she would protect their safety within the inner city. She couldn't afford for them to encounter any accidents out of mere curiosity.
She could not bear the responsibility for such an outcome.