"The waters of the Yellow River come from the heavens, rushing to the sea never to return..."
Hearing these lines now, there was no longer any doubt—it wasn’t about the original poem’s artistic conception but its literal meaning.
"Water from the heavens" referred to rain, and "rushing to the sea never to return" meant that once the water was diverted into the sea, it would not flow back.
As Xiao Changyan pondered this, Zhong Pingzhi’s voice sounded from outside: "This old minister requests an audience with His Highness the Crown Prince."
"Please invite Lord Zhong in," Shen Xihe said, her tone softening slightly.
Zhong Pingzhi was ushered in and paid his respects to Shen Xihe and Xiao Changqing.
Shen Xihe said, "Lord Zhong, His Highness is unconscious. Is there urgent business? Prince Xin and Jing Wang are here. Please speak frankly."
"Why is His Highness the Crown Prince unconscious?" Zhong Pingzhi first inquired about Xiao Huayong.
Shen Xihe hesitated, unsure how to begin.
Xiao Changqing said, "It’s a strange matter..."
From beginning to end, Xiao Changqing recounted the events to Zhong Pingzhi, omitting the Book of Strange Dreams and replacing it with rumors circulating among the people.
Zhong Pingzhi was over sixty. Although the Zhong family was not a prominent aristocratic lineage, they had been scholars for generations, upright and proper. If he were to learn that such unsightly matters were involved, Xiao Changqing feared the old man might be so angered that his health would suffer.
Having served as an official for decades, Zhong Pingzhi understood perfectly well that this was a scheme devised by Shen Xihe and Xiao Huayong, intended to convince the people and motivate them to wholeheartedly follow the plan to dig channels and waterways.
He couldn’t help but silently praise the idea—there was no method more persuasive to the people than this.
With any other approach, even if the people reluctantly united to dig the channels, they would harbor hidden worries. With so many people working, it was inevitable that some might slack off out of fear.
It was crucial to remember that they weren’t constructing permanent waterways yet—only digging temporary channels to divert the increasingly severe floodwaters. If the digging was even slightly careless, the diversion could fail.
Originally, Zhong Pingzhi had been pondering how to persuade the people. If all else failed, he and Tao Gong, two old bones, would personally inspect every inch of the channels before diverting the water, hoping that Heaven would grant them enough time.
Now, this method offered a permanent solution. It was easy to imagine that once today’s strange events spread, not only the people but even the county’s officials would work with reverence for the divine, putting in extra care and effort.
This way, once the channels were completed, he and Tao Gong would only need to inspect the critical sections, and the water could be diverted on the same day!
Thinking of this, Zhong Pingzhi felt a surge of excitement and quickly spoke up: "What a coincidence—the strategy Tao Gong and I devised to resolve the flood aligns perfectly with His Highness’s plan..."
Zhong Pingzhi took out a simplified map and spread it before Xiao Changqing and Xiao Changyan, explaining in detail how to resolve the flood, the subsequent repairs required for this method, and the long-term benefits it would bring.
Xiao Changqing had already been mentally prepared. As he examined the matter further, his eyes grew brighter. He had no reservations or worries—all he saw were the benefits once the plan succeeded and the welfare it would bring to the people.
As for whether it would succeed, at this stage, it was no longer a concern for him. Since Xiao Huayong and Shen Xihe had taken action, it was bound to happen, and no one would be allowed to stand in the way.Xiao Changyan was caught off guard, and his first thought upon seeing it was the severe consequences if it failed. His sword-like eyebrows gradually furrowed: "This matter is of great importance. We must report it to His Majesty and let His Majesty decide."
For such a major matter, if they made a decision without notifying the Emperor, failure would mean they could never atone even with ten thousand deaths. Even if they succeeded, they would still have to plead guilty before the Emperor.
"Your Highness, this matter can no longer be delayed." How many years had Zhong Pingzhi served the Youning Emperor? How could he not understand the Emperor's temperament?
If the Youning Emperor were here in person and witnessed the dire situation, he might take a desperate gamble. But the Emperor was not here. No matter how urgently they described the circumstances, since there had been no floods or casualties yet, compared to previous years' floods, this could be considered insignificant. The Youning Emperor would not easily give his consent.
However, this situation was different from before. In the past, the floods came fiercely, and they fought back resolutely.
Although there were damages, it was not devastating. Now, the situation appeared gentle and harmless, but that was only because it had not yet erupted. Once it erupted, it would be a catastrophic disaster!
They would be utterly defenseless, forced to watch helplessly as the entire city was swallowed by water.
"Such a major matter—if we do not report it to His Majesty, do we still have the Emperor in our eyes?" Xiao Changyan insisted.
"Your Highness, this method is feasible. However, while digging the channel, we must temporarily block the accumulated water in these areas and release it only after the channel is completed." Zhong Pingzhi continued to urge Xiao Changyan earnestly, "The heavy rain has not ceased. Based on the current rainfall, Minister Tao and I estimate that we must start digging the channel within two days at the latest. Otherwise, if the channel is not completed in time, we will suffer from the backlash of the blocked accumulated water, and this method will become impossible to accomplish!"
"Lord Zhong, I understand your concern for the people. I will immediately send a message to His Majesty." Xiao Changyan said, cupping his hands in a salute.
As soon as he took a step, Mo Yuan blocked his path. Xiao Changyan shot a sharp glance at Mo Yuan before turning to Shen Xihe: "What is the meaning of this, Sister-in-law?"
"The Crown Prince is in critical condition. Since I know a method to save him, I cannot refrain from trying it." Shen Xihe met his gaze calmly, "The common people may still have a day to wait, but I do not know how long a living person without a pulse can last. Or... if something were to happen to the Crown Prince, would Prince Jing atone with his death?"
"Sister-in-law!" Xiao Changyan's expression darkened, "The Master did not speak of supernatural phenomena. The claim of divine guidance is baseless. Why are you causing trouble with this?"
"Divine guidance is baseless?" Shen Xihe's tone was half-mocking, half-sarcastic, "Your Highness, Prince Jing, it seems you are saying this a bit late. Before the Crown Prince and I came to Dengzhou, I never heard you so righteously declare that the Master did not speak of supernatural phenomena."
Xiao Changyan was left speechless.
He had forgotten why Xiao Huayong had come to Dengzhou in the first place—was it not because of the Strange Stone that fell from the heavens?
The Emperor had tacitly allowed Xiao Huayong to come to Dengzhou based on the meaning of the Strange Stone. At that time, no one found the supernatural phenomena absurd. Now, to claim that such things cannot be believed would be self-contradictory.
For a moment, Xiao Changyan found himself unable to refute Shen Xihe.
"The Strange Stone that fell from the heavens was reported to the capital by Prince Jing and acknowledged by His Majesty, which is why the Crown Prince was ordered to come. With this precedent, it is by the Emperor's decree that we follow the will of Heaven. Now, I am also acting under imperial orders." Shen Xihe declared with unwavering confidence.After casting a glance at Xiao Changyan, she turned to Xiao Changqing and Zhong Pingzhi: "The flood control matter brooks no delay. Prince Xin shall assist Lord Zhong in deploying personnel and act immediately."
Pausing briefly, her eyes shifted sideways toward Xiao Changyan: "Should anyone obstruct this endeavor, they shall be dealt with as defiers of imperial decree—executed without exception!"
The error-free chapters of "When My Flower Blooms, All Others Wither" will continue to be updated on the new novel website. There are no advertisements on the site, so please bookmark and recommend the new site!
If you like "When My Flower Blooms, All Others Wither," please bookmark: () "When My Flower Blooms, All Others Wither" new updates at the fastest speed.
OpenNovel