The Aloof Lord's Mysterious Wife
Chapter 209: The Approaching Storm

Chapter 209: The Approaching Storm

Nanli walked in gracefully, her steps light. Ye Siheng went up to her and noticed the beads of sweat the size of beans on her forehead, her cheeks flushed from the heat. "It’s so hot today, why did you come?" he asked.

"I came to tell you that a heavy rain is imminent in the next few days, and I thought you should be prepared," Nanli replied. Ye Siheng was taken aback. Minister Prime Lu felt the same.

"The Ninth Princess’s words are quite strange. Rain is just rain; what’s there to prepare for?" remarked Elder Zhang, one of the cabinet ministers.

Elder Zhang, a young but outstanding scholar, looked down upon Nanli and her manipulation of Daoist magic. His tone sounded somewhat disdainful.

Ye Siheng usually held Nanli in high regard and never dared to speak harshly to her. Hearing Elder Zhang’s sarcastic tone, he felt a chill in his heart.

"If Elder Zhang can’t speak properly, perhaps you should keep your tongue," Ye Siheng said coldly.

Elder Zhang was angered by Ye Siheng’s words. "The Ninth Prince is so powerful. Is he going to protect his wife to this extent over a simple question?" he retorted.

Minister Prime Lu quickly intervened. "Elder Zhang, please calm down. The prince naturally dotes on his wife since they’re newlyweds."

"But still, there’s no need for the Ninth Princess to come and inform us about a simple rain. The Astrology Observatory has already reported it," Elder Zhang said, his gaze contemptuous as he appraised Nanli. His implication was clear: Nanli wasn’t the only one who understood celestial observations in Mu Nation’s capital.

However, Nanli remained unruffled. "Did the Astrology Observatory mention how long this rain will last?" she asked.

Elder Zhang was momentarily speechless. The report from the Astrology Observatory didn’t specify; it only mentioned that heavy rain was imminent.

Nanli wasn’t surprised. "This rain will last at least half a month, which is why I hurried here to discuss countermeasures with the prince and all of you," she explained.

"What countermeasures do we need for a half-month-long rain?" Elder Zhang asked, his words sharp and critical, echoing the thoughts of the other cabinet ministers.

"If it were just a light rain, we wouldn’t need to worry, but this is a heavy rain. Imagine the consequences of continuous rain for half a month," Nanli said seriously.

Ye Siheng’s expression changed. He remembered the warnings about the hazards of the slums from the last time Rong Zhiyun sent people to buy longevity in the area.

Those houses were haphazardly constructed, and the terrain was the lowest in the entire capital. Even if it rained heavily for just three days, those poor people’s houses wouldn’t hold up.

He immediately ordered someone to bring the map of the capital and pointed out the locations where houses might collapse.

Then he asked the Ministry of Public Works about the progress of the canal adjustments.

The Minister of Public Works hurriedly replied, "Since the prince’s orders, the Ministry of Public Works has been working non-stop. All the blocked drains have been cleared, but the construction of the new canal will take at least another half month."

Although Elder Zhang was stubborn, he admired those who truly worked for the country and the people. He remembered the last heavy rain in the capital, which submerged the slums in less than a day, leaving many people homeless and countless casualties.

His face suddenly softened, and his tone became more respectful. "The prince is indeed forward-thinking."

"But if heavy rain continues for half a month and the water can’t drain away, half of the capital will be flooded," Ye Siheng said, his expression grave.

Minister Prime Lu hesitated for a moment before asking, "Ninth Princess, will this heavy rain truly last for half a month?"

As soon as these words were spoken, everyone stared at Nanli, waiting for her answer. Ye Siheng tightened his grip on Nanli’s hand, wanting to tell her that if she wasn’t sure, she didn’t have to answer or could give a vague response. If there were any discrepancies later, the cabinet ministers could easily turn against her.

But Nanli’s eyes were clear, and she nodded. "That’s right." She trusted her abilities and was confident that her divination wouldn’t be wrong. Ye Siheng glanced at her deeply, applying a bit more pressure with his right hand. "Alright, then let’s proceed with plans for the next half-month."

Many of the cabinet ministers had initially been skeptical, but since Ye Siheng had spoken, they naturally had to follow his orders. After all, if anything went wrong later, it wouldn’t be their responsibility. Tasks were assigned one by one, and the discussions in the cabinet continued through the night.

Nanli couldn’t intervene much in court affairs, but she didn’t idle either. Qing Feng and Chu Shuo managed several inns, which could be used to shelter the homeless. When Sixth Sister offered, Chu Shuo readily agreed without hesitation. As for the Qian family, they had also received Nanli’s favor and readily agreed. Moreover, the Qian family also prepared instructions to have food and medicine ready for emergencies.

As the weather grew hotter, seemingly about to melt the ground, on that afternoon, the sky suddenly opened up, pouring down heavy rain. Immediately, the rain fell heavily, covering the entire capital. The people in the slums were most afraid of rain because their muddy roads would be submerged in half a day. Sure enough, after just half a day, the water reached their ankles.

The sky darkened, and officials arrived, ordering them to move. But the poor people refused; they wanted to protect their homes from being washed away by the rain. Nanli took the lead. She wore a raincoat and hat, but the rain was so heavy that she was soaked through, the water streaming down her face. She shouted, "This rain will last a long time. Your houses aren’t strong enough and will definitely collapse. Hurry up and pack your things, move to higher ground. I’ve already prepared a place for everyone to stay."

The poor people looked at each other in disbelief. Someone stepped forward and said, "You’re not a deity. How do you know this rain will last so long? In previous years, it only rained for a day or two at most." They weren’t going to bother packing up and moving for such a short rain. This statement garnered support from many.

Another man said, "Would the court be so kind? They’ve long wanted to drive us poor people away. They must want to take the opportunity to tear down our houses, leaving us homeless and forcing us to leave the capital." In the eyes of some high-ranking officials, they were just a nuisance. "That’s right! We’re not leaving!" The poor people raised their hands and shouted.

Nanli frowned at the surging emotions. Qing Feng stood nearby, gripping the hilt of his sword, afraid that the poor people would become violent. He whispered, "Princess, life and death are predetermined by fate, and wealth and status are in the hands of fate. These poor people won’t listen to reason. Shouldn’t we just let it go?"