The snow piled up in the manor alone was already nearly as tall as a person.
The hall fell silent for a moment.
Although Du Jin and Zhou Yu knew that natural disasters were bound to cause deaths, they hadn't expected so many.
"So many!" Zhou Yu exclaimed, "Doesn't the Emperor care? Letting those people fend for themselves?"
No one answered her.
This was precisely the Emperor's intention. He had even spoken of killing all the refugees before. Now, simply closing the city gates to keep people out was hardly anything.
There was still no news from the Crown Prince's side, but people from all around were rushing to the capital. Other places wouldn't be better; they would only be worse.
If this continued, it wouldn't just be chaos; the entire Da Sheng would be finished.
After a moment, Bai Li Chong Yan spoke, "Have someone open all the manors outside the city. Let people in to take shelter from the disaster. Food will be transported from elsewhere."
A guard, confused, asked, "Your Highness, in a few days the Emperor will lose popular support. Why do you need to help him at this time?"
"This prince is not helping him."
He hated the Emperor most and was determined to take the throne. How could he help him?
It was just that seeing the common people suffer and be in distress, he could not escape his conscience.
"A'Yan!"
Zhuo Ni entered from outside. She was still dressed thinly, yet she showed no signs of feeling cold, her complexion ruddy and her spirit high. She looked at Bai Li Chong Yan with a smile, "Didn't you say you'd be back soon?"
Bai Li Chong Yan stood up, "Apologies, there are some matters to attend to."
"Is it about the heavy snow?" Zhuo Ni sat beside him, lending him her hand for warmth, and said, "The heavy snow will stop in a few more days. You don't need to worry."
Du Jin immediately asked, "Princess Consort, how do you know the heavy snow will stop?"
"I saw it by observing the celestial phenomena at night." Zhuo Ni had also learned to talk nonsense. "I'm going back to rest. Aren't you cold? And you all, aren't you cold?"
Everyone: "..."
Except for her, no one was probably not cold.
Weren't they all wrapped up like balls?
Only Zhuo Ni, who always wore thin, bright clothing with great poise, made others feel even colder when they looked at her.
"Your Highness and Princess Consort, please go rest. It's getting late, we can discuss other matters later."
The Captain of the Guards knew of Zhuo Ni's "demoness" identity and believed her words implicitly. Hearing her say the heavy snow would stop now, he was immediately relieved.
Bai Li Chong Yan stood up and left with her.
The others also dispersed.
It was said to be late, but it wasn't really. If it weren't for the deep winter snow, it would have been just around dinnertime. Su Dan Novel Network.
But in this frigid weather, apart from Zhuo Ni and Bai Li Chong Yan, everyone else wished to huddle in the kitchen while eating, and then quickly return to their rooms to sleep, having no time for idle chat.
...
She said the heavy snow would stop in a few days, but she didn't specify how many. For the next two days, snowflakes continued to fall.
At the same time, a new rumor began to spread among the people.
The current heavy snow and natural disaster were a divine punishment from heaven.
And the reason for the divine punishment was the royal family.
The rumors started spreading among the refugees on East Street and soon became known throughout the capital.
It was rumored that the royal family, out of selfish motives, had annihilated a mysterious tribe. That tribe had divine beings capable of communicating with the heavens. After their kin were killed, the divine beings were displeased and cursed Da Sheng, leading to the current snow disaster.
The Emperor was once again furious and wished he could kill them all.
Although he couldn't, he still ordered the arrest of those "spreading rumors" and had the most prominent ones beheaded as a warning.
As a result, the snow that night doubled, and people in ordinary households in the capital froze to death.
The rumors not only didn't stop but intensified.
And the rumor closest to them was: Prince Yan's mother was a survivor of that mysterious tribe, and she was the divine being who could communicate with the heavens.
The late Emperor had killed her people, and after the current Emperor had forcibly taken her and then treated her heartlessly, she resented the royal family and thus cast a curse.
Originally, the curse would not have materialized, but because the Emperor favored other princes and ignored Prince Yan, allowing him to suffer unjust torment, the deceased empress, upon learning of this from beyond the grave, activated the curse...
The guard looked at the crudely made paper strip in his hand and angrily said, "I don't know who is spouting such nonsense. Your Highness, rest assured, your subordinate has already sent people to investigate."
Bai Li Chong Yan remained silent.
Zhuo Ni took the paper and said to him, "You may withdraw for now."
"...Yes."
After he left, Zhuo Ni placed the paper into the charcoal fire in front of her. The firelight flickered, and as the paper turned to ash, the room was plunged back into darkness.
"What's wrong? You think what's written on this is true."
Bai Li Chong Yan suddenly reached out and pulled her into his embrace, holding her tightly.
Zhuo Ni patted his back for comfort, "You can tell me anything, and I will always be with you."
"Really?"