Beneath Emperor Wen's body, the bed was incomplete.
Tang Zhuyun felt that she had single-handedly saved the women who originally had three palaces and six courtyards.
She herself endured all of Emperor Wen's "torture," which was touching.
Tang Zhuyun wrapped her arms around Emperor Wen's strong waist, her voice tinged with a softness she herself was unaware of, "Will this bed collapse?"
Did the palace's purchasing agents take kickbacks?
Emperor Wen's expression was somewhat grave. He gently patted her pale, slender shoulder. "It's not a problem with the bed."
"Is that my problem?" Tang Zhuyun couldn't help but touch her head.
Did she get dizzy from making pancakes?
Emperor Wen paused for a moment, then said, "It seems like an earthquake."
"Ah?" Tang Zhuyun was shocked.
There was an earthquake before; was that just the beginning, and this is the biggest one yet?
However, everything calmed down afterwards, as if nothing had happened.
"It's alright now." Emperor Wen leaned down and licked Tang Zhuyun's earlobe.
Tang Zhuyun pushed him away with both hands, saying irritably, "Are you crazy? Still thinking about this! We need to send someone to check what's going on right away!"
This guy is really something, he'd love her even if it meant death?
Emperor Wen replied, "We must give them some time to investigate. Don't worry, they will report back as soon as they have found out."
Since we're going to wait anyway, we might as well get busy.
Tang Zhuyun wasn't about to indulge him. "No way! If it really is an earthquake, we'll all be buried here! Hurry up, get up, get dressed, and let's go out and take a look."
Emperor Wen was somewhat depressed as his career remained unfulfilled.
The emperor and empress dressed and went out hand in hand.
Many people were awakened and stood outside, bewildered and at a loss.
Emperor Wen said in a deep voice, "Have you sent people to search everywhere?"
"Your Majesty, we have already gone to search the surrounding area and investigate where the problem originated," Lu Zhenyan hurriedly stepped forward and bowed. "The Imperial Astronomical Bureau has also sent people to inquire."
Whether it is an earthquake or not needs to be determined by the Imperial Astronomical Bureau.
But if it really is an earthquake... Lu Zhenyan dared not imagine the consequences.
The imperial city where they were located was likely not the epicenter of the earthquake, but was merely affected.
In the areas most severely affected by the disaster, are houses collapsed and people and livestock injured or killed?
Moreover, this matter is easily exploited, especially by those in the White Lotus Sect. They will blame the emperor for his moral failings, and if handled improperly, it could easily shake public morale and even undermine the very foundation of the nation.
Emperor Wen remained calm and said, "You may leave."
"Yes." Lu Zhenyan stepped back a few paces, bowed his head, and stood aside to await orders.
The wait was long, and Tang Zhuyun then realized that Emperor Wen was actually right.
We need to give our subordinates time to investigate; there's really nothing they can do right now.
At this moment, Emperor Wen said to her, "It's late and the night is chilly, let's go inside first."
"Um."
However, being interrupted is being interrupted, and neither of them could muster any romantic thoughts at the moment.
Emperor Wen was writing something at his desk, stopping and starting, his brow furrowed.
Tang Zhuyun didn't disturb him, and sat on the edge of the bed in a daze.
It was standard procedure for emperors to issue an "edict of self-reproach," admitting their mistakes to Heaven and reflecting on their own conduct after an earthquake.
Emperor Wen had a lot to reflect on.
For example, she was the only empress, and she always treated the censors' words like they were nothing...
But what happened after the edict of self-reproach?
We still need to do disaster relief.
Emperor Wen wrote for a while, then looked up at her and said, "I'm not sleepy, you go to sleep first. If you don't get enough sleep and then throw a tantrum, I'll have to put up with it."
He was pretending to be relaxed, trying to amuse himself.
Not wanting Emperor Wen to worry about her, Tang Zhuyun pretended to yawn and said, "Then I'll go to sleep first."
"Um."
With such a big thing happening and worries about the unknown, Tang Zhuyun couldn't sleep.
Her mind wandered, sometimes thinking about the potential for infectious diseases to spread after the natural disaster, sometimes about people taking advantage of the chaos to mislead and incite others...
Becoming an emperor is incredibly difficult.
And we don't know how things are going in Liaodong.
Liaodong and the capital are far apart, so it's unlikely that something happened in Liaodong that they would feel the tremors.
Tang Zhuyun was lost in thought, and she didn't know how much time had passed before she finally drifted off to sleep.
When I woke up again, I heard Lu Zhenyan reporting from the corridor.
"... The entire mountain collapsed, burying four villages and more than 700 households at its foot. A full-scale search and rescue operation is underway..."
"Send someone to investigate why the mountain collapsed," Emperor Wen said authoritatively.
Tang Zhuyun also found it very strange.
Since it didn't rain, there was no chance of a mudslide, so how could the mountain have collapsed?
After Lu Zhenyan left, Tang Zhuyun got up, put on her clothes, looked at the faint morning light outside, and said, "You didn't sleep all night again."
"I'm fine," Emperor Wen said. "Did you hear that?"
"Hmm. I'm wondering, why would a mountain collapse out of nowhere?"
Without external force, she could hardly imagine it.
This kind of thing is too easily exploited by the White Lotus Sect.
Because it is difficult to explain, it is easier for people to make a fuss about it.
But what external force could be strong enough to cause a mountain to collapse?
Gunpowder!
In a flash, Tang Zhuyun thought of gunpowder!
She looked at Emperor Wen, who was also looking at her. "If it wasn't a natural disaster, then I suspect it was gunpowder."
The two of them had the same idea.
Gunpowder again?
If that were truly the case, the amount and power of the gunpowder would be considerable, enough to cause an entire mountain to collapse.
The gunpowder formula was leaked?
This matter is even more serious.
Emperor Wen came over and put his arm around her shoulder. "I've already written to Linlin and asked him to check on the gunpowder situation."
"It can't be Lang Xuan," Tang Zhuyun said. "I heard from Yanran that she's madly in love with Linlin."
I didn't doubt her either.
"Um?"
"I trust my son's judgment. You've forgotten, it was me who first thought they were a good match."
Tang Zhuyun was amused. "Trying to take credit?"
"I suppose so," Emperor Wen said. "We certainly can't start by suspecting our own people. Let Linlin investigate. Besides, it might not be what we think."
"Hmm." Tang Zhuyun nodded. "I'm afraid I can't help with these things. But there's something I'd like to discuss with you..."
"You want to go and save people?" Emperor Wen said immediately.
Tang Zhuyun nodded. "Yes, I..."
She prepared many reasons.
But Emperor Wen said, "Alright, go ahead. Have Lu Zhenyan lead men to protect you. Also, I need to think about who to send to oversee things."
Tang Zhuyun was surprised that he agreed so readily, and said, "Then I'll pack up and head over now. You can send out the people gradually."
Emperor Wen said, "I'll send you there first."
"No need, you need to stay and oversee things," Tang Zhuyun said. "If you don't trust me, send me more guards. Saving lives is urgent, so let's leave it at that."
"Good."
Tang Zhuyun changed into men's clothing, rode away on horseback with her guards.
Although she was mentally prepared for the disaster, she was still deeply shocked when she actually saw the horrific scene.