The Prime Minister's Darling novel Chapter 1238

Chapter 1238: 605 Against the Heavens (Second Update)

"Princess! Something terrible has happened!"

On Vermilion Bird Avenue, Yujin dismounted the carriage and, lifting her skirts, ran straight to Princess Xinyang’s room.

Princess Xinyang was practicing her calligraphy by the window. She had emerged from her emotions much quicker than before; in just one day, she was already able to go about her affairs calmly and collectedly.

While she practiced her writing, she asked in a soft voice, "What could be so urgent this early in the morning? This isn’t like you."

Yujin suddenly hesitated. Should she really tell the Princess about this?

She had followed the Princess for many years; the Princess was her true young master, while Marquis Xuanping was but a stranger who had joined the Princess’s retinue.

But no matter how one sliced it, the Marquis was attempting to assassinate King Liang for the Princess’s sake. If anything happened to him, wouldn’t the Princess feel a tinge of guilt?

Princess Xinyang asked, "What exactly happened? Did your family come looking for you again?"

Being Princess Xinyang’s favored attendant, Yujin’s family was not very reliable and would come asking for handouts from time to time.

Gritting her teeth, Yujin said, "It’s not about Yujin’s family; it’s the Marquis! The Marquis is in trouble!"

Princess Xinyang’s hand, holding the brush, paused as she asked indifferently, "What sort of trouble?"

Yujin said anxiously, "Didn’t the Marquis go to King Liang’s fief? I just ran into the young Marquis, who said that a natural disaster is about to occur on King Liang’s territory, right on the Marquis’s inevitable route!"

With a swish, Princess Xinyang’s brush traced a long streak of ink on the paper.

On the avenue, Liao Quan looked toward the curtains of the carriage, having overheard the entire conversation between Yujin and Xiao Hen.

The Marquis of Xuanping was a reckless man, but Liao Quan was surprised by his audacity to attempt to kill even the Emperor’s uncle.

To be honest, Liao Quan was curious about the reasons behind it, but now was not the time to satisfy his curiosity.

"Sixth Brother, what should we do next?"

Even though he was aware of Xiao Hen’s status as the young Marquis, he still habitually called him Sixth Brother.

What to do?

This was a huge dilemma that lay before Xiao Hen.

The journey to King Liang’s fief was hundreds of miles long, and Marquis Xuanping had already set off the night before. Judging by his pace, if they did not stop him quickly, he would arrive just in time for the landslides and mudslides. _{free𝑤ebnovel.com}

Every moment’s delay was fraught with danger.

Especially since carrier pigeons simply could not get the message to him; they were to be used to save the villagers.

There were carrier pigeons traveling between the major post stations. Although there was a certain failure rate, like pigeons being shot down or eaten by predators en route, it seemed this was the fastest and most convenient method available.

Carrier pigeons also struggled to fly in torrential rain, so it was essential to reach the post station before the rain started and leave ample time to alert the Government Office and for them to send troops to evacuate the village residents.

On one hand was Marquis Xuanping, on the other were the villagers of the village.

Liao Quan could not enter the palace.

If Liao Quan were to turn back to fetch Gu Jiao, and then have her report the imminent disaster to the Emperor, it would delay the rescue by at least one two-hour period.

Moreover, there was no certainty that Gu Jiao was even at home; perhaps she had gone to the Medical Hall, or perhaps she was out on a medical visit.

The fastest way to rescue the villagers was for him to enter the palace directly, but doing so would delay the search for Marquis Xuanping.

He had to choose between his own biological father and the hundreds of unrelated villagers.

"Sixth Brother..." Liao Quan called out to him.

Xiao Hen’s clenched fist trembled slightly, "To the palace!"

There were less than four hours left until the rain; the carrier pigeon must reach the post station of Pingcheng Prefecture City before then!

In Huaqing Palace, the Emperor met with Xiao Hen.

"How did you know that rain was coming to Pingcheng Prefecture City?" the Emperor asked with curiosity.

Xiao Hen himself did not understand how Gu Jiao managed to predict the weather hundreds of miles away, so of course, he wouldn’t divulge that and add to the Emperor’s concerns—especially when the priority was to save those villagers who might be buried by the mudslides.

Xiao Hen said, "I met a businessman who had come from Pingcheng Prefecture City. He said that the city has been particularly sultry these past days, with the sky overcast, as if rain is imminent. He also mentioned that while passing by the Official Road near Creek Village, he narrowly missed being hit by rocks sliding down from the hillside. In the books of Hanlin Academy, I read that this is a sign of the mountain becoming unstable. If it indeed rains heavily, there will surely be landslides, and those living below the mountain will suffer terribly!"

It was fortunate he had learned enough about geography at Hanlin Academy to concoct such a plausible explanation.

Seeing the Emperor deep in thought, Xiao Hen continued earnestly, "Your Majesty, the lives of over a hundred villagers from Creek Village are at stake; it’s better to err on the side of belief!"

The Emperor’s expression grew grave, "If your deduction is true, then Zhan Country has seen both war and natural calamities this year—is heaven sending a warning?"

Xiao Hen urged, "Your Majesty, saving lives is urgent!"

The Emperor sighed, "Understood. I’ll send someone to Pingcheng Prefecture City immediately."