How did she and Fulong meet back then?
Actually, they had simply shared hot pot and experienced life and death together.
Then, Fulong had, just like that, become her confidant.
A confidant until death.
Chu Qianli sometimes felt that the world was unfair to her, with so many people wanting to harm her, so many people wanting her life.
Yet, the world was also so good to her, giving her so many precious friends.
She looked at Fulong.
She looked for a very, very long time.
It seemed like she had finally made up her mind about something.
"There is something I have never told anyone."
She took a deep breath, exhaled slowly, and then said, "I... am the princess who was lost for over a decade by the Emperor of Nanming. Chu Jiangnan... is Nan Chu, my biological father."
...
The city moat collapsed.
Of the five villages not far outside the imperial city, three were now ravaged by the floodwaters.
One of these villages suffered the most severe damage.
It was located between the city moat and the Qing River. The water from the breached city moat flowed through this village and into the Qing River, finally releasing the floodwaters there.
The two villages on either side were also affected, and their damage was severe. However, at least the people in those two villages had places to retreat to.
But the village in the middle, Baijing Village, had completely become a living hell.
In the time it took for a single stick of incense to burn, the entire village was submerged.
The people had nowhere to flee.
Their lives were devastated.
Late at night, a large group of people stormed the Emperor's sleeping quarters.
Prince Yu led the way.
This time, they were aggressive, with half of them appearing to have ill intentions, and the other half looking solemn.
"Your Majesty, the city moat has collapsed, and Baijing Village has been completely submerged, with countless casualties. Your Majesty, shouldn't you personally go to Baijing Village to assess the situation and comfort the people?"
"The countless souls of Baijing Village are waiting for the National Master to perform rites for them! Your Majesty, this matter cannot wait!"
But the Emperor had not summoned them, and they had already been waiting impatiently outside the sleeping quarters.
This time, even Chu Lingyang found himself in a difficult position.
He took two steps forward. He knew that Prince Yu intended to make things difficult for the Emperor, but this matter was indeed extremely urgent.
The current Baijing Village had suffered heavy casualties and could no longer be saved.
However, there were still many survivors in the two surrounding villages.
Although relief teams had already been dispatched, this disaster was truly too tragic. Without the Emperor and the National Master personally attending, the people's hearts could not be appeased.
These were the villages closest to the imperial city. If even the people under the Emperor's direct rule suffered, all the people in the entire empire would lose faith in the royal family.
At that time, neighboring countries could take advantage of the chaos, and the morale of the army and the people would waver, leaving Nanming in a precarious state.
He knew that his imperial brother was not in good health, but at this moment, he should at least come out and discuss the matter with everyone.
Or...
"Yang Xun, let this prince in to hear what explanation my imperial brother has, alright?"
Unless, the Emperor was truly as rumored, unconscious and gravely ill in bed.
But at least, he shouldn't keep everyone in the dark!
Even he was kept in the dark, and this feeling was truly powerless.
Yang Xun did not know how to respond.
The guards of the sleeping quarters had formed a formation that could withstand attacks from assassins, but they could not hold back these high-ranking court officials.
Chu Wang came out.
The gazes of the officials immediately locked onto Chu Wang.
Chu Lingyang also stared at him, "Fourth Imperial Brother, what is the Emperor's current situation?"
Prince Yu immediately stepped forward, appearing anxious, but in reality, a hint of a smile flickered in his eyes.
He said in a deep voice, "Fourth Imperial Brother, the souls of the three villages of Baijing need the Emperor to preside over a ceremony for their transcendence. If it is inconvenient for the Emperor to appear, then at least provide an explanation to everyone. The ceremony must be held, and someone must preside over it!"