CHAPTER 132: CHAPTER 132: A GOLDEN OPPORTUNITY

The Taiyin Star moves east, and Hedong is experiencing a great drought.

Observing the stars to detect calamities is a common practice of the Qingzhou School.

Lv Xia, being the direct disciple of Mr. Yuan Ming, the founder of the Qingzhou School, and a fellow disciple of Prime Minister Zheng Shidao, presented the news, to which even the emperor would give some credence, immediately summoning the two Prime Ministers and the Astronomical Official.

However, after hearing this news, the Secretary of the Imperial Secretariat Wang Maozhao took out a scroll from his sleeve: "This morning, the former Winter Official Spirit Platform Lang Lin Xujiji also submitted a report, stating the Taiyin’s eastward shift and Hedong’s drought——"

...

"So how come the officials at the Observatory didn’t notice the Taiyin Star’s eastward movement?" How could she not believe it?

Lv Xia observed it, Lin Xujiji observed it, yet the Observatory, part of the Central Meteorological Bureau, couldn’t observe it?

Tang Ziqian smiled but said nothing.

"Then...did the Taiyin Star really move east?" Tang Xiaobai asked softly.

Tang Ziqian replied with a smile, "The focus isn’t on whether it did or didn’t, but on whether it’s believed or not."

Tang Xiaobai didn’t understand.

"This morning, the Crown Prince submitted a memorial, expressing belief in Lin Xujiji’s judgment, and requested Your Majesty to send an Imperial Censor to investigate Hedong Dao!"

Tang Xiaobai’s heart skipped a beat, and she quickly asked, "Is there really a drought in Hedong?"

Earlier, she suspected Lv Xia’s appearance was related to her brother, but there wasn’t any solid proof.

Now that the Crown Prince has stepped in, wanting to initiate an investigation into Hedong Dao, there must be something amiss in Hedong Dao.

Could it be that there’s indeed a drought?

Tang Ziqian, however, didn’t answer, "We’ll know once the Imperial Censor returns——" Finishing this, he glanced at her, "Why are you so idle, don’t you have homework to do?"

As soon as she got home from school, Tang Xiaobai eagerly came to ask about the news.

Without learning anything definite, how could she focus on her homework?

After leaving Tang Ziqian, Tang Xiaobai went to the Book Collection Pavilion.

She wandered around the pavilion several times, trying to find some information, but after a long search, she realized she didn’t even know what she was looking for, and couldn’t help but let out a long sigh.

At this moment, a hand reached over her from the top of the bookshelf and took down a volume.

Tang Xiaobai turned her head.

The dim indoor light cast an indescribable gentle depth over the boy’s delicate brows and eyes.

He brushed off the dust on the volume and handed it to her, "Is the Second Miss looking for this?"

Tang Xiaobai instinctively lowered her head to glance at it.

It was the "Hedong Record."

Tang Xiaobai didn’t take it; she just looked at the book and asked softly, "What does the Crown Prince want to investigate in Hedong? Is there really a drought in Hedong?"

When she was talking to Tang Ziqian earlier, he was standing at the door.

Since her brother mentioned the Crown Prince, she thought he might know something as well, so she made a signal as she left.

He indeed came.

Li Mu took back the book, casually flipped it open: "The Hedong area is prone to spring droughts; now it’s late August. If there was a drought, even without the Observatory’s warning, the state mansions along the Hedong Dao should have already reported the disaster."

Tang Xiaobai stared at his long fingers turning the pages, cautiously speaking, "So...there’s no disaster in Hedong?"

"There is," Li Mu noticed she had no intention of reading the "Hedong Record," so he put the book back on the shelf, "The seven state mansions of Hedong Dao haven’t seen a drop of rain since February 7 of this year; this autumn there will be no harvest."

The Taiyin’s eastward movement is false; the disaster in Hedong is true.

If it wasn’t for having someone take Lv Xia to Hedong to see the disaster there firsthand, how could Lv Xia, who has deep attachments to his school, be persuaded to cooperate with Lin Xujiji to falsely claim the Taiyin’s eastward movement?

"The disaster signs emerged as early as February, yet over a hundred officials in the seven states of Hedong reported nothing."

Now, as the autumn harvest approaches and with the Imperial Censor’s inspection imminent, the over hundred officials of Hedong are leaving him room to exploit.

"When did you find out about the disaster in Hedong?"

Li Mu sensed something was off in her tone and glanced at her.

The girl’s eyes were dark, not as clear and bright as usual, making him inexplicably uneasy: "It was... April 15."

"April 15..." she murmured, then asked, "the day before the fall from the cliff?"

Li Mu nodded.

The news was brought by Li Xingyuan.

Li Xingyuan came to the capital, passing through Hedong.

At that time, the drought wasn’t apparent, but experienced elders had noticed the signs; however, the local officials not only disbelieved them but also forcefully expelled them, which happened to be witnessed by Li Xingyuan.

Later, deciding to stay in the capital, he sent someone to Hedong to investigate and confirm.

"You’ve known about the drought in Hedong for some time, and you waited until Mr. Lin’s fame soared to expose it?" she asked a bit urgently, almost like a cross-examination, "And Lv Xia, was he placed by my brother or the Crown Prince Mansion?" she paused, "Or were you always in cahoots?"

"I learned of the news on April 15, but it wasn’t confirmed yet. Droughts in Hedong are common in spring; it wasn’t until mid-May that it was confirmed that the spring and summer droughts were severe, missing the spring planting, dooming this autumn to no harvest. Yet, the officials of Hedong concealed and did not report it, thus we devised this plan——" As he spoke, he hesitated for a moment, "Lv Xia...is my——"

"Ah Xiao!" she suddenly interrupted him, her gaze returning to its usual clarity and burden.

"I know, the disaster in Hedong is a great opportunity for you all; those corrupt officials in Hedong deserve to be punished, but——" She lowered her head as if choosing her words carefully, her tone even heavier, "You’ve read more books than I, you should know how terrifying a drought can be, even a slight oversight could mean..."

"Perhaps now, in your eyes, the nation is your enemy’s nation, and the people are your enemy’s people, but when you eventually achieve what you wish for, the nation remains that nation, and the people are still those people;

"Help comes to those aligned with righteousness, abandonment to those who stray; a gentleman does what must be done, and doesn’t do what shouldn’t be done, I hope you don’t forget the books we read together."

Li Mu quietly watched her for a long time, then suddenly turned, walked to a nearby bookshelf several steps away.

His fingers glided over a row of books, pulling out a volume, flipping it open to a certain page, gave it a look, then lifted his head to glance at her.

Tang Xiaobai looked at him puzzled.

Li Mu walked back to her side holding the book, presenting it to her upside down.

Tang Xiaobai glanced down —

"Of the twelve relief measures to rally the people: One is distribution of benefits, two is reduction of taxes, three is..."

Before she finished reading, she jumped up and threw herself into Li Mu’s arms, tightly hugging him.

Li Mu’s face turned crimson instantly, he lifted his arms, yet dared not touch her, just loosely enclosed her.

"Ah Xiao! Ah Xiao!" Tang Xiaobai was both excited and moved, only wanting to give him a big hug.

The twelve relief measures are the twelve policies for managing famine.

He may have harbored thoughts of exploiting the disaster, but also didn’t ignore people’s livelihoods.

"Ah Xiao, you’re wonderful!" Her nose ached, and she buried her head in his chest, quietly taking a breath, speaking earnestly, "Ah Xiao, I’m proud of you!"

The girl’s soft, fragrant little body nestled in his arms, and Li Mu quietly curved the corners of his lips, his heart pounding like a drum.

This drought in Hedong truly is a great opportunity for him.

Grain, money, public favor, even military forces could be acquired.

But——

He lowered his head, inhaling the scent of the girl’s hair.

In truth, there’s no rush...