Chapter 397: Reverence

Translator: Dragon Boat Translation Editor: Dragon Boat Translation

Blowing up a mountain wasn’t a fun thing to do. It didn’t seem like there was much technical skill involved, but only those who had blown one up before would know that the locations of the explosives must be selected carefully. If the explosives weren’t placed well, not only would the person not be able to blast out the mountain rocks he wanted, but he might also cause mudflows and avalanches elsewhere.

When Su Ying was walking around the mountains, she had earmarked a few places as potential sites. The first location to be blown up was the one she was most satisfied with. There was another site not far away. She did not blow up that place at that time because she felt that it was a little too far away. However, there were not enough rocks at the first location now, so she had to use this second site.

As she mulled over this, Su Ying walked towards the small rock mountain.

After arriving at the site and confirming the locations to place the explosives, she took out explosives from the interspatial store and blew up that rock mountain.

After the rocks had been blasted down and after confirming that no rocks had come loose and could endanger anyone, Su Ying summoned the workers over to move the rocks here.

At this moment, in Jing Prefecture, the merchants and officials who were involved with Yi Kun were a little panicky when they could not get any news of Yi Kun.

That day, the attendant, who had seen Yi Kun enter Su Ying’s courtyard but had yet to come out, waited outside in the courtyard for a few days. When Yi Kun still didn’t come out, he realized that something was wrong. He immediately slipped out of the residence through the back door and came to a magnificent mansion.

On the signboard above the main door, the words “Hee Residence” were printed.

After the attendant entered through the side door of the Hee Residence, he was led to a room.

Beyond the door of the room sat a figure leaning against the screen, making it difficult for others to see the figure clearly.

“Master Hee, something happened.”

The person behind the screen paused for a moment. “What’s the matter?”

“A few days ago, the Empress suddenly arrived in Jing Prefecture. After that, Lord Yi sent her to the guest courtyard, and he hasn’t come out since.”

Upon hearing this, the person sitting behind the screen stood up from his chair at once. “What did you say? The Empress has arrived in Jing Prefecture?”

“Yes, Master Hee. But she has already left the residence. I don’t know if she went to the dam.”

“Ridiculous! Why would the Empress come to Jing Prefecture?”

The figure walked out from behind the screen with a look of disbelief.

“Master Hee, you are welcome to check. Even if you give me a hundred balls of steel, 1 wouldn’t dare to lie to you. The Empress really came. I heard that she was the one who sent the original blueprints.”

Master Hee still didn’t believe it. It wasn’t as if the Imperial Court didn’t have any staff. How could they let the overlord of the Imperial harem come here?

However, he also felt that the servant did not have the guts to lie to him, so he summoned his own people and told them to check the veracity of the story.

When Su Ying arrived at Jing Prefecture, she didn’t deliberately make an announcement. However, she also didn’t let anyone hide it. As long as they asked, they would know whether the news was true or false.

When Master Hee confirmed that the Empress had really come to Jing Prefecture, he was still very surprised, but he quickly came back to his senses. Regardless of the reason the Emperor asked the Empress to come to Jing Prefecture, what they had done must not be exposed.

Immediately, Master Hee contacted a few families involved and discussed how to deal with this situation.

“When you sent someone to send a letter to Yi Kun, there was no response up till now?”

Master Hee said with a stern face, “No. The people in his residence said that he didn’t come out after entering the house with the Empress. I suspect that Yi Kun might have been arrested.”

These words made everyone present panic. “What does a woman like the Empress know? If we send someone to send some gold, silver, and jewelry to her to make her happy, this matter could be settled. Don’t tell me she really knows how to build a dam?” someone suggested.

Master Hee wasn’t so optimistic. “If things were really that simple, Yi Kun wouldn’t have lost contact with us. Think of a way to get some information from the City Guardian’s Residence and after that, find out where the Empress is now. Find an opportunity to go to this woman and find out the truth.”

This suggestion was unanimously approved by everyone.

That same day, Su Ying’s secret guards came to her.

“Your Imperial Highness, those people may have already discovered the abnormality and have begun to send people to the City Guardian’s Residence to dig for news.”

“They must know that Yi Kun harmed Zhu Lin. As long as they go out of the city and investigate, they will know where Zhu Lin is. This matter can’t be hidden. Spread the news in the City Guardian’s Residence that Yi Kun has been arrested and confessed to everything. Let them become desperate and then use my Phoenix Token to lock down the city gate. When they are ready to take the money and flee, we will catch them all in one fell swoop.”

“Yes, Your Imperial Highness.”

Right now, Su Ying was too preoccupied with the matters here to deal with those thieving dogs. It wouldn’t be too late to pluck their fur after she figured out the whole picture.

With that in mind, Su Ying continued to focus on the backfilling operation.

Two days later, they finally filled up the river diversion opening. Although they could not completely block the water flow, most of the water could not pass through.

Finally, they only needed to fill in the remaining mud and reinforce the blockage and the operation was done.

“Your Imperial Highness, it has been hard on you these past few days.”

These past few days, Su Ying had been moving rocks almost without any rest. Even though she had good stamina, her body was still a little overwhelmed.

“Everyone has worked hard. Go home first. Tomorrow morning, I will get someone to send your wages.”

“Your Imperial Highness, we commoners cannot accept these wages.”

As soon as Su Ying finished speaking, a worker stepped forward.

“These few days, we commoners have heard that there is a problem with the new dam. Your Imperial Highness is worried that the flood will destroy the new dam, and that’s why you have worked tirelessly with us commoners to carry the rocks here. Your Imperial Highness’s precious body is not afraid of hardship and danger, which really touches the hearts of us commoners.” With that, the commoners all knelt down in front of Su Ying.

“When Your Imperial Highness can sacrifice so much, how can we commoners be greedy for that bit of silver?”

“That’s right, Your Imperial Highness. You are a good Empress who cares for the state and the people. We will always hold you in great reverence for generations.”

More and more people echoed similar sentiments. They clearly could not even afford a full meal, yet after working so hard for so many days, they were willing to give up their wages.

As she looked at their faces that had been drenched by the heavy rain until they appeared a little pale, Su Ying suddenly felt a lump in her throat. This feeling was very strange. It was something she had never experienced before. “I appreciate your intention, but the season isn’t good now. Everyone needs to eat, so take the money you deserve. From now on, His Majesty will definitely make your lives better and better.”

“Everyone who has come to help this time will be given ten catties of rice each so that everyone can have a full meal.”

“Thank you, Your Imperial Highness! Thank you, Your Imperial Highness!”

The minor official walked up to her with an umbrella. “Your Imperial Highness, the villagers at the foot of the mountain have prepared dinner for you in the village. May I know whether Your Imperial Highness is willing to go there?”

The situation at the river diversion opening was basically settled. She wanted to go to Zhu Lin’s side to take a look, but she had to take the mountain road to get there. It would take a while. She might as well go to the new dam to take a look and then rest in the village for a night before looking for Zhu Lin.

Su Ying followed the minor official down the mountain. When they passed by the new dam, they realized that the workers had stopped working. The surroundings were pitch black, and there was not even a shadow to be seen.

Zhu Lin must have stopped the construction of the new dam and transferred the men to the old dam.

Very soon, Su Ying reached the village entrance with the minor official..

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