Transmigration: From Farmer To Empress-Chapter 1813 - 1820: Xiang Yun Visits Her Family (1)

This disaster affected the capital most extensively. The suburbs and surrounding areas were relatively better off, but most of the people were from poor families with scant possessions, owning only a few houses which were destroyed by the earthquake. This has been a significant blow to them.

To soothe the people’s hearts, Nangong Yi has issued an order to open the granaries, release grain from the national treasury, and help the people rebuild new homes. Fearing that the people would go hungry, he also ordered officials to distribute porridge and give out some steamed buns and pickled vegetables at major road intersections. He and Cai Wei also used their private funds to open dozens of porridge shops, distributing food alongside the officials.

"Madam, Duke Li Guo’s wife requests an audience!"

Standing outside the curtain, Huan Qiu reported softly to Cai Wei inside. Now all the palaces inside the palace have collapsed; the remaining few buildings, though not fallen, are on the verge of collapse, with no one daring to live in them. Cai Wei and Nangong Yi brought the children to live in the pavilion of the Waterside Pavilion, surrounded by curtains. It was midsummer, and living in this ventilated pavilion was a cool and economical choice. However, being near water, there were many mosquitoes. The eunuchs who served were often puzzled as to why there were no mosquito bites on the Empress and Emperor’s body or face. Why didn’t the mosquitoes bite them? Not only did they not bite them, but not a single mosquito bite was found on the smooth faces of the little princes!

It’s truly strange!

"Let her come in."

At this moment, Cai Wei was sitting in the space, calculating accounts. She had been almost sleepless these past few days, leaving faint dark circles under her eyes, and her cheeks had thinned, making her eyes appear even larger. She wore an ivory beizi, as a sign of mourning for those deceased, to express her condolences.

The Old Madame came in, her face full of sorrow. In just a few days, her once plump cheeks had become sunken, and her usually kind and gentle eyes now appeared somewhat distressful.

"Paying respects to the Empress Dowager, long live the Empress Dowager a thousand years, a thousand years, a thousand thousand years—"

Upon entering, the Old Madame properly knelt down to pay her respects to Cai Wei. The Old Madame was known for her decorum and propriety. Even though Cai Wei and Nangong Yi had told her several times that such grand rituals were unnecessary, she would not heed them and insisted on kneeling and saluting at every meeting. 𝙛𝒓𝓮𝙚𝔀𝒆𝒃𝓷𝒐𝓿𝙚𝓵.𝙘𝒐𝒎

"Maternal grandmother, please rise quickly. Aren’t you going to wear Wei’er down with your actions?"

Cai Wei personally helped the Old Madame up, saying, "What wind blew you here? Is everything at home settled? I heard that the eldest sister-in-law has passed, what a pity..."

"Ah, who wouldn’t say so!"

At the mention of the eldest grandson’s wife, the old woman’s eyes immediately reddened, and she said, wiping away tears, "Here I am, this old person still alive, yet pity her, so young and now gone. Ah, why does the heaven have to be so blind? If only it would take me, these old bones, back instead and leave her, so young, here..."

"Oh, don’t say such things!"

Cai Wei hurriedly comforted her, saying, "Everyone has their own destined life span. Perhaps the eldest sister-in-law’s time had come, and she has gone to heaven to become a fairy!"

"Ah, let’s hope so!"

The Old Madame held back her tears, continuing, "When some people die, it’s not necessarily a bad thing. When some people live, it’s not necessarily a good thing. Take our Li’er for example; his legs are now crushed. Court Judge Yao said he’ll never stand again in this lifetime. He has always been proud, and now, crippled, might as well be dead than endure such suffering. The boy doesn’t say it aloud to spare us worry, but we can see he’s collapsing. Often he sits silently for an entire day, and an action can last several Shi Chen. When no one calls for him, he absolutely doesn’t call anyone. Both your Maternal Grandfather and I are worried to death."