A Good Country Wife-Chapter 604 - 598_1

The incessant rain turned the crops in the fields into a waterlogged mess, but Lin Yue’s family was lucky that most of their land, except for a few acres near the river with lower elevation, remained largely unaffected, as most of their land consisted of reclaimed wasteland and barren hills.

Originally, they had thought that wasteland and barren hills were exempt from taxes, hoping that within ten years, someone in the family would surely attain scholarly honor, thereby exempting them from taxation. What’s more, the wasteland and barren hills claimed large areas suitable for cultivation of crops such as sorghum and sweet potatoes. Additionally, their plots were situated halfway up the hill, making them conveniently closer to their home.

Thus, it’s hard to predict one’s fortune, for now under these conditions, what everyone usually considered infertile and challenging lands held a tactical advantage due to their elevation. Plus, after two years of cultivation, these barren lands had become fertile and were very suitable for planting crops. Also, thanks to the teachings and experience shared by Lin Yue, the trenches dug on their property were comparatively deep, ensuring that even if the rain got heavier, it wouldn’t pose a problem for the time being, as the crops wouldn’t drown from being soaked in water. However, if the rain continued, the crops would still not flourish.

The rain had persisted for so long that there was no farm work to be done, and most of the villagers were wearing a gloomy expression, hoping for the rain to stop soon. But the heavens still hadn’t heard their prayers. The area around Lin Yue’s home was relatively better off, but some downstream villages closer to the water had already been flooded, not to mention some cities in the Jiangnan region. freeweɓnovēl.coɱ

"Your Majesty, you haven’t had proper rest for several days now, and it is already the third watch of the night. You should rest early, or I fear your health may suffer," urged Huangfu Jing, who had been frantic these past few days, staying awake through the night discussing solutions with the ministers, without getting a good sleep for several days. The servants by his side didn’t dare to advise him much and had no choice but to report to the Empress Dowager, who came in person to persuade him.

"The flooding in Jiangnan has caused so many commoners to suffer and become displaced, and still, there are those who dare to embezzle the relief funds from the Ministry of Household, showing no consideration for the life and death of the people. This has led to dire conditions in Jiangnan, where the people are desperate and rebellious. I wish I could chop down these treacherous ministers with one blow. And yet, those old scholars have the audacity to speak up for them and ask me to be lenient. It is utterly absurd!" Huangfu Jing showed no pleasure when speaking to the Queen. Although his position as Emperor had stabilized, he still faced many constraints in the Court. The Queen was certain to have come from one of the Aristocratic Families, and it was improbable for her to please Huangfu Jing. He gave her some favor, considering that over the years, she had been well-mannered, diligent, and helpful in managing the affairs of the harem.

"These scoundrels are trying to anger me to death!" As Huangfu Jing spoke, he swiped the memorials off the table, scattering them across the floor.

Huangfu Jing’s fury was not solely directed at the wandering and destitute commoners in the disaster areas or the greedy officials. It also targeted those old scholars in the Court who, in his eyes, repeatedly opposed him with their self-righteousness and influence, intent on serving their personal and familial interests instead of showing loyalty to the state. To him, these obstinate elders were no different than corrupt ministers, even more detestable, and he was determined to one day purge them all and cleanse the Court. If only his power base were not so recent and his arrangements within the Court more secure, he wouldn’t have endured them thus far.

"Emperor, regardless of everything, you must take care of yourself," the Empress said with a sigh. She did not argue who was right or who was wrong. Although she understood the Emperor’s helplessness and anger, some matters were not for her to comment on or manage. As the harem should not involve itself in politics, and considering her own background, these past years she had been caught between her family and her husband, her only choice was to manage the harem well so that the Emperor need not worry about domestic affairs.

Huangfu Jing had not completely lost his reason in anger, but merely vented his inner rage under the guise of the issue at hand. Seeing the Empress as gentle and virtuous as ever, with that hidden sorrow and helplessness between her brows, his heart softened a bit, and he did not continue to vent. He let the Empress pick up the memorial from the floor. Even though the Empress came from an aristocratic family, and her father was among those old fellows, she had not chosen her birth. As a suitable Empress, she had done quite well these years, and even if he sometimes felt like finding fault, he could not point out anything wrong with her.

"You may return first. I still have some matters to attend to before I rest. Empress need not worry about me, I have matters well in hand," Huangfu Jing, while accepting of the Empress, couldn’t help but be reminded of the vexing matters when he saw her. Not wanting to endure the irritation, he asked the Empress to leave first.

"Yes, this servant shall take her leave," the Empress replied. Hearing the Emperor’s promise, she felt reassured. After all these years of living together, regardless of what lay between them, the Emperor still held some affection for her. Otherwise, he could have simply sent her away, instead of telling her these things. The Emperor was a man of his word, and even in minor matters, once he agreed to something, he would not go back on it. She no longer needed to worry that the Emperor would exhaust himself with state affairs, and she had a good explanation for the Empress Dowager.

Watching the Empress leave, Huangfu Jing somehow found his thoughts turning to that bright, lovely smiling face. He sighed and continued to focus on state affairs. The matter in Jiangnan still required choosing the right person for disaster relief, there were too few capable people in the court. He decided that, once the flood was over, he would hold an imperial examination to select talented scholars.

Lin Yue was unaware of the movements in the capital and within the Imperial Palace, but at this time, Xin’an City was already in chaos. Refugees who had nothing to rely on were pouring into the city. Under the governance of Magistrate Ceng Lu, with corrupt officialdom and poor security, ordinary people tried to avoid going out to prevent themselves from suffering unforeseen calamities. Now, with refugees entering the city and fighting to survive, all kinds of thefts occurred, even brazen robberies in people’s homes. The city was in utter disarray.

Although the Zhao Family Village appeared peaceful and tranquil, quite a few refugees had come to the village. However, with Lin Yue there, and so many servants and guards at home, the refugees knew better than to cause trouble there. No one dared to bully their way in. The village chief was also a manager, organizing villagers to form patrols, ensuring the safety of homes. For a while, the refugees only dared to linger around the outskirts of the village or came politely asking for assistance. Many approached Lin Yue for help, especially since their family was wealthy and capable of providing it.

Despite her sympathy and compassion for these people, Lin Yue knew that during such a crisis, one must act cautiously. Distributing porridge or bread was not so simple. If the refugees learned of it, and all flocked here, the situation could become unmanageable.