Yin Shuangshuang furrowed her brow, trudging along the Qingyang River’s embankment under the torrential rain, as the distance between the water surface and the riverbank narrowed once again.

Unsuccessful in persuading Yin Shuangshuang, Heng Yue and Ying Chang’an followed behind her, one with a cold expression and the other looking displeased, ready to provide immediate treatment should Yin Shuangshuang fall ill.

In her heart, Yin Shuangshuang was very anxious; the water level was rising rapidly. The Qingyang River was a large river with a wide surface, and if it overflowed, the consequences would never be minor. 𝒻𝑟ℯℯ𝑤𝑒𝑏𝑛𝘰𝓋𝑒𝓁.𝒸𝑜𝘮

Fortunately, after returning, Yin Shuangshuang did not fall ill, thanks to the medicine prescribed jointly by Ying Chang’an and Heng Yue. As soon as she returned from the embankment, she was given a bowl of medicine, and the slight symptoms of fever were quickly suppressed.

Pan Xifan and Lv Xiucheng had also returned and were currently in the study with Yin Shuangshuang, burning the midnight oil, searching through various flood control materials and methods used by previous Magistrates of Qingyang Prefecture.

Unfortunately, nothing useful was found, but according to the records, the continuous heavy rains before each flood were very similar to this time.

Yin Shuangshuang pinched the bridge of her nose, her headache pounding from lack of sleep. After pondering for a while, she said to Pan Xifan and Lv Xiucheng, "Although the flood hasn’t arrived, we can’t wait any longer to be on the safe side.

You two, immediately send someone to relocate the common people living along the river into the city for temporary settlement, and also mobilize the county soldiers to dig several diversion channels to guide the water towards the great lake.

The embankment of the Qingyang River is too low. The only diversion method I can think of now is to channel the water into the great lake, which could reduce damage to the fields along the Qingyang River."

Yin Shuangshuang paused and sighed, still worried, rubbing her throbbing forehead: "Forget it, you go settle the common people and convince them to leave their homes for refuge, I’ll go check on the lake."

The wind and rain were harsh, and the carriage trudged through the muddy roads with difficulty. The common people by the lake had been relocated, and those working now were county soldiers transferred from nearby counties.

Yin Shuangshuang was indeed a formidable magistrate, skilled and well-supported. Her orders were followed without delay or evasion, so the county soldiers promptly arrived.

The county soldiers, wearing raincoats, braved the rain to work. Due to the large number of people, the massive lake was nearly complete, with a huge mound of earth on the side, all excavated from the ground.

Now, the county soldiers were rushing to complete the section connecting the Qingyang River and the Jing River beside the great lake. With the heavy rain, considerable water had accumulated in the lake’s position, and the working soldiers were all secured with ropes.

However, it was still too dangerous. Yin Shuangshuang walked along the excavated area, observing the remaining thickness; the impact of the rising Qingyang River might open it naturally.

Since that was the case, there was no need to waste time here. Yin Shuangshuang immediately ordered the county soldiers from various counties to stop digging the lake and focus on reinforcing the embankments near the Qingyang River.

After issuing the orders, Yin Shuangshuang hurriedly took a carriage back to Qingyang Prefecture to check on the evacuation status of the common people and ensure the tents for their settlement were set up properly.

These were military tents, and by the time Yin Shuangshuang returned, they were already housing people.

Constables of Qingyang Prefecture rode horses specially granted by Yin Shuangshuang to patrol in shifts, preventing any fights among the common people due to nervousness or other reasons.

Yin Shuangshuang took a tour around the places where the common people were settled, calming them. Her status as magistrate indeed eased the common people’s worries significantly.

After soothing the common people, instead of returning to the government office, Yin Shuangshuang went straight to the embankment. She wanted to personally defend the embankment, leading the people to reinforce it.

As a magistrate, being on the front line of flood prevention greatly boosted morale. To Yin Shuangshuang’s surprise, Pan Xifan and Lv Xiucheng were also there when she arrived.

This indeed made Yin Shuangshuang see them in a new light. Her impression of the two was that they were slippery, clever, and capable but lacked official luck.

Unexpectedly, they appeared here in such a dangerous time, and judging by their skilled command of their subordinates, it was clearly not their first time; everyone was accustomed to it.

Seeing Yin Shuangshuang personally arriving shocked Pan Xifan and Lv Xiucheng greatly since they knew about her poor health and hadn’t expected her to brave the rain to come to the embankment.

The two stepped forward to pay their respects, Pan Xifan filled with admiration: "Though your health is poor, you still came here in the rain to boost morale. Truly, you love the people as your own children. I admire you deeply."

"I’ve served under several magistrates, and it’s the first time I’ve seen such a courageous and selfless magistrate like you who leads by example. It leaves me in utmost respect," Lv Xiucheng echoed Pan Xifan’s praise of Yin Shuangshuang.

Yin Shuangshuang twitched the corner of her mouth. The admiration was real, but this level of flattery was clearly sycophantic. She didn’t have time for such idle diplomatic talk.

With a calm expression, she said, "This is merely my duty and not deserving of such commendation. Let’s promptly check on the embankment. How is the heightening progress? Are the foundations solid?"

"Everything is done according to your previous instructions. When heightening the embankment, we ensured a solid foundation to prevent it from collapsing in the water’s force. We’re also attentive to the safety of the county soldiers, not daring to slack off," Pan Xifan said loudly, wiping the rain off his face, which was blown on by the wind.

Lv Xiucheng, standing beside him, added, "Following your advice, we also have people preparing ginger tea, ensuring the soldiers remember to drink a bowl while reinforcing the embankment to prevent cold from entering the body."

"That’s good!" Yin Shuangshuang nodded in satisfaction, striding forward against the strong winds. The wind and rain were fierce, sapping the warmth from Yin Shuangshuang’s body continuously.

By the time Yin Shuangshuang, aided by those around her, struggled to climb onto the embankment, she was shivering with cold. Immediately upon arrival, Ying Chang’an gave her a bowl of ginger tea, and Heng Yue put several pills into her mouth.

The embankment was now buzzing with activity, with the county soldiers busily heightening it. Yin Shuangshuang’s task was to patrol around the embankment, showing her solidarity with the county soldiers, facing the danger together.

In truth, Yin Shuangshuang’s presence here served mainly as a spiritual support to these people.

As long as Yin Shuangshuang, the most authoritative magistrate in Qingyang Prefecture, remained in this most dangerous area with everyone facing the flood, these soldiers wouldn’t feel fear, and their hearts would be at ease.

After completing a patrol round, Yin Shuangshuang went to the temporary tent nearby to change into dry clothes, as her clothes were soaked from the heavy wind and rain outside.