The old woman didn’t quite understand and asked, "What do you mean by…?"
Chu Ruoyan replied, "Never mind the reason. Just do as I say. I am the third daughter-in-law of the Grand General, and this is my sister-in-law, Madam Li. We are both from the Yan Family…"
The words "Yan Family" carried more weight than an imperial decree.
The old woman immediately bowed deeply. "Our savior!"
She tried to pull her grandson down to kowtow as well, but Chu Ruoyan quickly helped them up. "Please also keep today’s matter confidential. Though the Grand General has passed, your men sacrificed their lives for the nation, and the Yan Family will never abandon you. Bear with it a little longer—within a month at most, we will give everyone an answer."
Tears of gratitude welled in the old woman’s eyes. She had always believed the Yan Family would not forsake them!
Watching the grandmother and grandson hobble away, Madam Li asked, "Sister-in-law, what did you mean earlier about not sleeping indoors and preparing more water?"
Chu Ruoyan remained silent.
The earthquake was less than two days away, but she couldn’t be entirely certain it would happen.
Such disasters had not occurred in nearly a century since the previous dynasty. If she spoke rashly, no one would believe her.
"Let’s just call it being prepared…"
As they turned to return to the estate, Little Man, who had left earlier, came panting back.
"Savior Sister!"
He rushed up to Chu Ruoyan and held out the little black-and-white puppy in his arms. "Savior Sister, please, can you take Fubao in? So many people want to eat him… I’m afraid if he stays with me, he’ll be…"
Chu Ruoyan froze. Little Man dropped to his knees. "Savior Sister, I beg you! I—I can beg for food and bring you every coin I get. Is that alright?"
Seeing the desperation in the boy’s eyes, Chu Ruoyan sighed softly and took the dog from him.
"Then I’ll look after him for you. When you’ve saved enough money, you can come back for him. Alright?"
Little Man nodded vigorously. "Promise!" He stroked the puppy’s head. "Fubao, Fubao, stay with Savior Sister for now. I’ll come back for you when I’ve saved enough, okay?"
Fubao barked once, as if agreeing. But as soon as Little Man left, the puppy squirmed, trying to chase after him.
Chu Ruoyan held him by the scruff. "Stop. Your little master will come back for you."
Miraculously, Fubao stopped struggling, as if he understood.
"Miss, this dog is quite intelligent," Yulu said with a laugh, reaching to take him. But Fubao suddenly growled, baring his teeth at her.
Yulu recoiled in fright. Three or four others tried, including Madam Li, but the puppy refused to be held by anyone else.
"You little beast, so picky?" Madam Li teased.
Chu Ruoyan shook her head. "Never mind. I’ll carry him. Let’s go back."
Once home, she settled Fubao in her courtyard.
The puppy stuck to her like a shadow, following her everywhere.
Finally, when he dozed off, Chu Ruoyan went to the study to speak with Yan Zheng about the fishmonger’s plight.
Yan Zheng listened, then scoffed. "Fools."
It was unclear whether he meant her or his father.
Chu Ruoyan lowered her eyes, appearing meek. Yan Zheng’s expression shifted, and he offered a rare explanation. "Not you. The infirmary and relief offices under the Ministry of Revenue have overlapping duties. Each pushes responsibilities onto the other, hence the current mess."
Chu Ruoyan nodded. Such bureaucratic inefficiency was nothing new—she’d seen it often with her father.
"Then, my lord, should this matter be reported to the court or the Ministry of Revenue?"
Yan Zheng raised a brow.
Reporting to the court or the ministry made all the difference.
Bringing it to the court would see both offices’ officials dismissed—even the minister of revenue would suffer.
But reporting it to the ministry for internal handling meant the officials might escape punishment, and the minister would owe him a favor.
This was precisely what he had been weighing. Yet this sheltered, frail woman had arrived at the same conclusion?
"And what would you suggest—the court or the ministry?"
He tossed the question back lightly.
Chu Ruoyan didn’t hesitate. "If I may speak freely, the ministry. First, the minister would owe you a favor. Second, the ministry would act faster. I promised the grandmother and grandson a resolution within a month, so I’d prefer speed…"
Yan Zheng narrowed his eyes. "You dared make a promise before anything was settled?"
Chu Ruoyan met his gaze. "If I hadn’t, they might have been harassed immediately."
At that, Yan Zheng laughed.
The usual gloom in his expression melted away. "You are clever."
Chu Ruoyan exhaled inwardly.
Every interaction with him left her nerves taut, but his reaction suggested approval.
She curtsied. "Then I leave this matter in your hands, my lord. I take my leave."
With that, she retreated hastily.
Once she was gone, Meng Yang emerged from the shadows. "Young Master, the ministry has been withholding military provisions since our last defeat. Who knew the young madam would uncover such leverage for us…"
Yan Zheng shot him a glance. "You call her ‘young madam’ quite naturally."
Meng Yang bowed his head. "I merely speak the truth."
Yan Zheng tapped the desk idly with long fingers, lost in thought.
After a long pause, he said, "Do as she suggested. And spread word of the relief efforts."
Yan Xu had always kept his charity quiet, but he was different.
A decade of spending deserved a decade’s worth of returns—starting now.
Meanwhile, Chu Ruoyan returned to her chambers to find Fubao awake.
The puppy dashed from the east window to the west room, whimpering and barking incessantly, as if deeply agitated.
"Miss, this dog’s gone mad! He woke up and started running around like this!" Yulu complained.
But Chu Ruoyan recalled a passage from Records of Unusual Disasters:
"Before an earthquake, livestock raise their heads, fowl cry wildly, rats swarm the streets, dogs bark without cease, insects and birds darken the skies, and fish leap from water…"
This was exactly what was happening.
A chill ran down her spine. "Yulu, go to the Marquis of Chengen's Mansion at once. Tell Cousin Xue Ling I wish to invite her and a few other ladies to offer incense at Mangshan Temple tomorrow!"
"Tomorrow?" Yulu gaped. "But miss, the Grand General’s funeral is the day after. If you go out now, people will gossip…"
Chu Ruoyan shook her head. "Precisely because of the funeral, I want to pray for their safe passage first."
Though usually gentle, once she made a decision, no one could sway her.
Yulu had no choice but to deliver the message.
At the marquis’s mansion, Xue Ling frowned. "Ruoyan rarely socializes in the capital. What ‘sisters’ is she referring to?"
Yulu replied, "Those were her exact words, my lady…"
After a moment’s thought, Xue Ling understood. "Ah, Mangshan is near the late emperor’s tomb. She must want company for courage. Chan, take my card to the Jiang and Xie families. Tell them I wish to visit the temple tomorrow and request their company."
"Yes, my lady."
