Due to the miscarriage of Consort Nie, both the Emperor and the Empress Dowager were in low spirits for this year's Mid-Autumn banquet. No one dared to crack jokes, and the event passed perfunctorily. After the festival, heavy rain fell for several days in a row, dispersing the summer heat as the weather gradually turned cooler.
Because of the rain, the Eldest Princess had not visited "Scenery of Heaven and Earth" for the past few days. Qi Daiyu happily indulged herself for several days, binge-watching dramas and anime series with great delight.
Shiliu left the oil-paper umbrella in the corridor, stamped her feet to shake off the rainwater from her sleeves, and then entered the room.
"Miss, a letter has arrived from Master Qi."
Qi Daiyu had just woken from her afternoon nap, her face still drowsy and her eyes misty. She wore only an inner garment with a gauzy robe over it. Finding it too hot, she had pushed it halfway off in her sleep, leaving one delicate shoulder exposed.
Unaware of her own allure, the beauty remained oblivious, but Shiliu blushed at the sight.
Qi Daiyu refreshed herself with a cold towel, finally waking up completely.
She took the letter from Shiliu.
After reading just two lines, she smiled. "My elder sister-in-law is pregnant."
Shiliu immediately offered congratulations: "Congratulations to you and your family on this happy news!"
In his letter, Qi Caishang said that Qi Chuchu and Lang Tianyu had gone together to the Yunnan Garrison to join Lang Tianyu's father. Qi Chuchu was assigned to the Yunnan garrison troops and, relying on his great strength, had been promoted from an ordinary soldier to a squad leader of ten.
Now, Lang Tianyu was also pregnant, making it a double blessing.
Qi Caishang, overjoyed, wanted to organize a grand sixty-sixth birthday celebration for his old mother. However, the family had just moved and was truly short of funds, leaving his filial intentions unfulfilled.
The implication was clear: Qi Daiyu, as a granddaughter, should also show some filial piety...
Qi Daiyu found it both funny and exasperating. Who holds a birthday celebration before the actual birthday? Her cheap father was really thinking of every way to coax money out of her.
Regarding matters related to "Lotus Face," others might not know, but Qi Caishang must have guessed her involvement, since the design and manufacturing of those packaging boxes had gone through his hands. Now that "Lotus Face" business was booming, Qi Caishang naturally knew she wasn't short of money.
Qi Daiyu's eyes sparkled with an idea as she instructed Shiliu: "Have someone buy some things for me and send them to the Qi family. Say they are my birthday gifts for grandmother."
Shiliu stepped closer to listen and couldn't help but laugh. "Miss, are you really sending these?"
"Yes," she said mischievously. "My dear father will surely be delighted when he receives them."
As they spoke, the rain outside grew heavier, accompanied by the rumble of thunder.
Shiliu went to close the windows. "Who knows when this rain will stop."
"It will stop tomorrow," Qi Daiyu said casually.
"How do you know, Miss? With such heavy rain, it feels like it will last several more days."
Of course she knew—she had the "weather forecast."
But she couldn't say that to Shiliu. Qi Daiyu smiled and said, "Look at those clouds, they are already dispersing. It won't last much longer."
She offered a simple explanation, and Shiliu pondered thoughtfully. "If the clouds aren't staying here, where are they going?"
Probably to Ding County and Yuze area, Qi Daiyu thought, opening the "weather forecast" for another look. Seeing the forecast for Yuze over the next few days, it indeed predicted several days of heavy rain, with thunderstorms and strong winds.
The "weather forecast" also gave a friendly reminder: Localized heavy rainfall may trigger secondary disasters such as mudslides and landslides. Strengthen precautions.
Qi Daiyu suddenly froze. She turned and rummaged through a map of the Zhao Kingdom on her bookshelf, finding Yuze.
Yuze was located south of the capital, less than a hundred li away, under the capital's jurisdiction.
Yuze got its name from the Chen River that flowed through it. Over the past century, due to prolonged heavy rains, Yuze had experienced two major floods.
If she remembered correctly, the Department of Waterways was precisely responsible for the management of water conservancy projects.
Qi Daiyu called out to Shiliu, who was about to leave: "Wait. I have another letter to send out as well."
The Qi family in the capital no longer lived in their old place.
Qi Caishang was now a fifth-rank official. If people knew his whole family lived in "half" of a two-courtyard house, and that half was rented, it would invite ridicule. Thus, moving had become a priority.
Property in the capital was extremely expensive. Even with his promotion, the Qi family couldn't afford to buy a house. Mrs. Wan's opinion was to spend more money renting a larger place.
But Qi Caishang stopped her, looking utterly composed. "Just wait. A house will come to us on its own."
Mrs. Wan thought Qi Caishang had lost his mind from the joy of promotion. How could a house grow legs and come to them?
Unexpectedly, within three days, a property agent personally came to their door. "At the head of Jiecao Lane, there is a two-courtyard mansion. It was originally occupied by a merchant, but he encountered business failure, and the whole family fled south to avoid trouble. They are now anxious to sell. You can either rent or buy, sir. If renting, a single payment for ten years' rent totals five hundred taels; if buying, it's one thousand five hundred taels total."
"So cheap?" Mrs. Wan was shocked.
She knew about Jiecao Lane. Although still part of South Street, it was close to West Street, already beyond the residences of ordinary commoners. The area was mostly home to respectable scholarly families, known for its quiet and refined atmosphere.
Because of this, property prices there were arguably the highest in South Street. A two-courtyard house would cost at least four thousand taels.
Even if the merchant was desperate to sell, he would never ask for only one thousand five hundred taels, would he?
Mrs. Wan suspected this might be a scam.
Only when Qi Caishang pulled her aside did she understand. "Don't you think about it? Why would an agent come to our door when we haven't even spread the word that we're looking for a house?"
"Doesn't that make it even more likely a scam!" Mrs. Wan made a move to find a broom to chase the agent away.
Qi Caishang glared. "When I usually call you an ignorant woman you argue with me. Is this a scam? This is a favor!"
Mrs. Wan was stunned.
Qi Caishang: "Your husband is now a Vice Director of the Department of Waterways!" A fifth-rank official! Personally appointed by the Emperor!
For someone like him, lacking a good place to live, many people would be willing to provide one.
But giving it for free would embarrass him and carry the suspicion of currying favor or bribery, so the price was suppressed to an extremely low level.
Mrs. Wan finally understood. "...Then, should we rent or buy?"
Renting for ten years at five hundred taels was practically the same price as their current half-house, but over there it would be a complete two-courtyard mansion.
"Maybe we should rent?" They could scrape together and borrow to come up with five hundred taels.
But one thousand five hundred taels was utterly impossible to gather.
Yet Qi Caishang said decisively: "Buy!"
Buy? With what money?
"Take a loan from the Sifang Money House." He was now a fifth-rank official. Using his official title as collateral, he could borrow one thousand taels, repaying it over ten years. "Getting a loan now comes with extremely low interest, almost negligible."
The benefits of promotion were everywhere.
Mrs. Wan was still somewhat worried. Borrowing such a large sum always made one feel uneasy.
Qi Caishang: "Our family has been in the capital for so many years without a proper place to settle. How pitiful. No matter what, we must leave some foundation for the children, right? Just think, if in the future your son returns to the capital with his wife and grandchildren, but doesn't even have a room of his own, would that be acceptable?"
Of course not!
Mrs. Wan looked at the agent with fire in her eyes. "We'll buy it, today!"
And so, the Qi family moved house smoothly.
The stated reason of celebrating the old lady's birthday was true, but so was using the move as an occasion for some lively festivity.
That day, Qi Caishang received a verbal message from the Summer Palace, saying Qi Daiyu had sent something. He went to wait at the main gate himself.
Surely, Yu'er had understood the meaning in his letter, knew about the family's difficulties, and was sending him some silver...
Qi Caishang waited eagerly and finally saw people approaching, but he was taken aback by the long procession.
If it were someone from the palace, they would have notified in advance. But if Yu'er had entrusted someone to deliver something, why would it be such a grand spectacle?
While he was puzzling over this, the procession had already arrived before him.
The leader was a chubby middle-aged man, whom Qi Caishang recognized as the boss of Wang's Rice Shop.
"Boss Wang, what is this?"
Boss Wang smiled, his face crinkling like a chrysanthemum. "Your Lordship, I've been ordered to deliver a housewarming gift for you!"
A housewarming gift? From whom?
"This humble one doesn't know either. That person left the silver and the address and then left. Your Lordship, I'm just here to deliver the goods! You lot, help carry these inside!"
"Hey! Wait, what are you carrying?"
Boss Wang wore an expression that said 'Your Lordship, you jest.' "You must be joking, sir. I run a rice shop. What we're carrying is naturally rice for eating! Look, these three loads are all top-grade refined rice! These three loads are top-grade white flour, and there are all sorts of other grains. All for you! This amount should be enough for your household for half a year!"
As soon as Boss Wang finished speaking, another procession walked towards the Qi residence.
Qi Caishang also knew this man: Boss Zhang from Zhang's Chicken Farm.
"Is this Lord Qi's residence? The twenty chickens, twenty ducks, ten geese, two hundred chicken eggs, two hundred duck eggs, and two hundred goose eggs you ordered are all here. Who will check and receive them?"
Qi Caishang forced a smile. "Also, someone gave you silver to deliver here?"
"Exactly!"
This wasn't the end. Yet another procession approached. Qi Caishang still recognized him: Boss Zhao from Zhao's Grocery.
"Cooking oil, salt, soy sauce, vinegar, sugar, tea, and two jars of wine from Hundred Flavors House, which they asked me to bring along. Lord Qi, congratulations, congratulations!" Boss Zhao said cheerfully. "Should we carry them into the house?"
Qi Caishang: "Heh."
He understood perfectly now. All these things were bought by his dear daughter!
He had complained about being poor, said the family couldn't make ends meet, and so she had people deliver all the necessary foodstuffs. That way, they wouldn't lack food or drink!
She just wouldn't send silver!
Ah, this troublesome child! How did she learn to be so mischievous after a few years in the palace?
Qi Caishang silently took a deep breath to calm himself, just as he saw another person approaching.
Again?
He glared. "And what are you delivering?"
The man shivered, pulled a letter from his robe, and said, "Someone just gave this to me, told me to deliver it to this house!" He shoved the letter into Qi Caishang's hand and ran off.
No need to ask, this was also the handiwork of his troublesome daughter.
The letter was probably full of teasing remarks aimed at him.
Qi Caishang felt he needed to compose himself before reading it, so he walked into the courtyard with his hands clasped behind his back.
He saw those delivery people had already put down their goods and were preparing to leave.
The old lady and Mrs. Wan and the others were delightedly examining everything.
Mrs. Wan was looking at the refined rice: "So much rice! It will last us a long time!"
The old lady was looking at the chickens, grinning so wide her gums showed: "There are several hens too! We won't lack for eggs from now on! Good, good, good!"
Qi Qinglong secretly pinched a piece of sugar and put it in her mouth, squinting her eyes. "So sweet!"
Qi Caishang: "..."
Suddenly, he wasn't so angry anymore.
Thinking this, Qi Caishang opened the letter. The first half was just as he expected: words of concern for the family, saying these things were offerings for the old lady, wishing the old lady longevity and the like.
The second half would probably tease him, right?
Qi Caishang thought.
But contrary to his expectations, there was only one brief sentence at the end.
"Also, Father must read: Yüze, heavy rain."
Qi Caishang was startled. What did this mean?
He looked up at the sky. The capital had no sun today, but it didn't look like rain either. Yüze wasn't far from the capital, so it was possible for it to rain there but not here.
But even if there was heavy rain, so what?
Qi Caishang frowned. Yu'er specifically reminded him of this sentence in the letter, so it must have a purpose. She was an imperial consort, well-informed in the palace. Perhaps she had heard something, or even possibly the Emperor had told her something, and she was using this chance to hint at it.
Yüze, Yüze...
Qi Caishang suddenly remembered. Since taking up his post, he had been reviewing the various project records of the Water Management Bureau. One of them was about Yüze. The record stated that Yüze had a dam that had protected its people for over a decade. The last time the Water Management Bureau sent someone for an inspection was half a year ago.
Heavy rain...
Qi Caishang naturally knew that Yüze had experienced floods before. Could it be that Yu'er was trying to warn him that Yüze might face flooding again this year?
No, no, impossible. Yu'er didn't have the ability to foresee the future. Qi Caishang realized he was overthinking.
It was simply because he now held the position of Vice Director of the Water Management Bureau. Yüze was under the capital's jurisdiction. If the dam failed, it would be his responsibility. Yu'er was just reminding him to be cautious.
She was using the matter of Yüze to admonish him not to become complacent due to his promotion, but to remain diligent and mindful of his duties.
"This child, does she think I don't understand such a simple matter?" Qi Caishang complained verbally, but a smile flickered in his eyes. He turned and walked out.
Mrs. Wan saw him and asked, "Where are you going?"
Qi Caishang: "The sky looks like it might rain. Autumn rains can be persistent, often leading to flood seasons. I'm going to inspect the villages and counties around the capital to prepare for any contingencies. I'll first go to the ministry to request permission. Please pack a few changes of clothes for me. I'll leave as soon as I return."
With that, he hurried out the door.
"Since when can you read the weather?" Mrs. Wan muttered, looking up at the sky. She couldn't see any signs of rain.
But the old lady said, "It will rain. It will rain."
Mrs. Wan was surprised. The old lady had farmed before. Farmers lived by watching the sky and were somewhat skilled at reading weather signs. When the old lady said it would rain, she was never wrong.
"When did he learn to read the weather..."
