When Liu Da arrived, he knelt on the ground in fear.
Tang Zhuyun calmly said, "Steward Liu, please get up. Answer any questions I ask you truthfully, and I will not blame you."
Liu Da nodded.
Everyone says the Princess is kind and forgiving, and wouldn't make things difficult for anyone. I suppose it's not about wild game.
"You said you sent many people, but you didn't find any birds or beasts?"
"No. This old servant did indeed send many people..." Liu Da practically swore to the heavens.
"Have any unusual movements from the birds and beasts around here these past few days?" Tang Zhuyun asked specifically, pointing to the busy ant nest beside her, "Like those things, mass migrations, scattering..."
Liu Da was stunned.
This question is quite unexpected.
But he thought about it carefully and said, "This old servant remembers, this morning a farmhand said that a medicinal herb field by the roadside had been damaged by something. It looks like a lot of wild boars ran by and trampled the herbs."
At the time, Liu Da even scolded the person.
Other things appear in swarms, like locusts; but who has ever seen a field of wild boars?
And why would a wild boar run around if it's not eating?
Now that I think about it, it actually matches what the Princess Consort said.
Tang Zhuyun's heart sank, and she asked, "Have we ever experienced a landslide here after a heavy rain, with mud and sand flowing down?"
No, not at all.
Even so, Tang Zhuyun still said in a deep voice, "Immediately send someone to check the mountain for any large cracks that might indicate a landslide."
"Yes!" Liu Da responded and left.
It turns out he underestimated the Princess Consort.
Her Majesty is always concerned with important matters; how could she possibly care about a meal?
But, is something about to happen?
After giving his instructions, Liu Da returned and stood to the side with his head down and hands clasped, waiting for Tang Zhuyun's further instructions.
Tang Zhuyun said, "Steward Liu, you're an experienced farmer, you should know a thing or two about the weather. Do you think there will be heavy rain today?"
Liu Da: "This old servant observed last night that the sky was full of sunset colors; there shouldn't be any rain today..."
Tang Zhuyun took a deep breath.
Without rain, what are those ants busy doing?
Unusual animal behavior is never a good thing.
She reached up and rubbed her temples.
Earthquakes, mudslides... oh right, and a volcanic eruption.
Thankfully, there's no sea here, otherwise we'd be thinking about tsunamis.
However, in any case, we must take precautions in advance.
What should she do?
I don't have much time to think about it.
People who went up the mountain to check returned one after another, saying they found nothing unusual about the mountain itself. But the most unusual thing was that all kinds of small animals that were usually everywhere had now disappeared.
Tang Zhuyun lost her appetite and made a decision.
"Xiu'er, let's go back."
Looking at the resolute-looking Princess Consort, Xiu'er said, "Then, won't you eat something first?"
"I'm not eating anymore, I'm in a hurry."
Tang Zhuyun had just figured it out. If she made a mistake in this matter, the worst that could happen was that she would be ridiculed.
It's okay, she's thick-skinned.
However, if we don't do it, it will be truly irreversible if a major natural disaster occurs.
Moreover, Liu Da also said that it shouldn't rain today, and it's summer, so...
Soon, the clear, resounding sound of a gong rang out on the streets of the border town.
The bailiffs, banging on their gongs, shouted, "Listen up, listen up! Last night, His Highness dreamt of a divine warning. He hereby orders that every household, day and night, may only remain outside and not return home!"
What kind of bizarre rule is this?
Everyone was stunned.
Someone must have connections, someone with influence, so they went to find out more information and then came back to reveal the "truth."
It turns out, the prince really was dreaming.
The gods said that the reason why the border town had been so unsettled was because the Zhou Family's backyard had been filthy and licentious, which had brought down divine punishment.
The prince has ordered everyone to be outside, forcibly making everyone cultivate their character and appease the wrath of the gods.
This... is outrageous.
"It's true, the Prince said that no one can stay at home, otherwise it will be considered disrespectful to the Prince and will result in beheading." Someone exaggeratedly spread the news among the crowd.
Everyone was stunned.
"Since Your Highness has made the request, we common folk will just do as you say. There's nothing to lose anyway, at most we'll just be mosquitoes feeding us."
"By the way, I heard that if this succeeds, every household will receive ten catties of fine grain!"
"Really?"
"How could it be fake?"
Everyone agreed that they would do it for ten pounds of refined grains!
But some people asked, "How many days will you have to stay outside? What if it rains?"
"Will it rain today? Maybe it'll be fine in a day! Why are you so concerned? Other people can move out, why can't you?"
"That's true, just think about ten pounds of refined grains!"
Of course, many people also murmured that the Prince of Jin was unreliable.
Xiu'er said, "Your Highness, the Prince is probably sneezing nonstop right now!"
Tang Zhuyun was filled with worry and had no mood for jokes. She asked, "Have you given the orders?"
Those "positive" public opinion guidance methods were also her idea.
Most people follow the crowd, and that's when the "leader" becomes very important.
"I told you, don't worry," Xiu'er said. "Right now, I don't know whether I hope for a natural disaster or not."
If she doesn't come, then Her Majesty's efforts will be somewhat counterproductive.
But when disaster strikes, no amount of gratitude will help; the responsibility of disaster relief and comforting the people still rests on the Empress's shoulders.
But what she was most pleased with was that she suggested using the Zhou Family to take the blame; Xiu'er felt incredibly proud of herself.
--It can be said that the Zhou Family died a worthy death, as they can still squeeze some profit out of them after they're gone.
Tang Zhuyun said, "I would rather Your Highness bear the infamy than have a natural disaster occur."
Even with all her efforts, I fear that fate may not grant her wish.
She's worried it will rain.
Because once it rains, most people will go back indoors...
She even wanted to burn incense and pray to God, begging Him not to let it rain.
The first night was okay, and the second night was barely manageable as well.
But by the third day, many people began to waver.
Isn't this torture?
Who knows how long we'll have to wait for ten pounds of refined grains!
"Your Majesty, what should we do?" Xiu'er panicked.
She had utmost admiration and trust in Tang Zhuyun.
If the Princess says something's wrong, then it must be something.
Why are these people so disobedient?
Tang Zhuyun was prepared.
At times like these, any act of soft-heartedness is unacceptable.
She said in a deep voice, "Have someone arrest a few disobedient households and punish them severely, as an example to deter others."
How should they be severely punished?
"Tie up the man in charge, strip him naked, and whip him in public, but tell them to find someone who knows how to do it properly—it has to be intimidating, but not deadly."
Extraordinary times call for extraordinary measures.
Xiu'er nodded and then said, "Your Highness, shouldn't we discuss this with Mr. Xu and Jiang Zhong?"