Chapter 82: Chapter 82: Storm

In the afternoon, the cold wind surged, a sudden snowstorm struck, and the wind and snow tore off the roofs of the straw huts, greatly complicating the repair efforts. Fengyu raised her head to stare at the ominously dark sky, her heart sinking steadily.

It’s going to rain!

Fierce winds, ice, snow, and rain—such dreadful weather. She could only pray that hail wouldn’t follow.

The women boiled ginger tea, hot water, and rice soup in the courtyard. Groups of fifty Kyoto Capital Guard members came inside for warmth before leaving, only to return an hour later—clearly organized. If thousands poured in altogether, even a dozen pots couldn’t prepare enough. The women had already constructed makeshift stoves, ceaselessly stoking the fire in the courtyard.

Amidst the howling wind and snow, bad news came continuously. Too many people suffered from the cold; many elderly and children had fallen ill. The widespread damage to houses left them unable to fend off the chill. The aunties tallied six elderly deaths in the western district, one household leaving behind only a four-year-old child. This family was exceptionally impoverished—the grandmother worked for the Weaving and Dyeing Workshop, cooking and stoking the fire; the grandfather, aged and frail, did odd jobs to raise the child. Their son had died in battle, their daughter-in-law had remarried distant. Normally, the villagers helped whenever possible, but during the snow disaster, they were overwhelmed. By the time neighbors remembered them, the elders’ bodies had long turned cold.

Qiuxiang wept bitterly from heartbreak. Fengyu instructed her to look after the child and had the aunties bring all frail elderly and sick children into the courtyard, lighting charcoal to keep them warm. With the storm coming, the houses hadn’t yet been repaired; if left at home freezing, more would surely perish.

Xie Xun stared at the hanging storm clouds above, commanding the Kyoto Capital Guards to wear raincoats. Even amidst the storm, they must repair the houses—a prosperous Capital City letting people freeze to death in a snowstorm was simply unheard of.

Xie Xun was well aware this area was home to the Capital’s poorest. He specifically sent Lin Xiao and Zhang Boxin to direct assistance; their authority over the Kyoto Capital Guards could avert chaos. But the situation was far worse than he initially thought.

All the Capital’s medicines and cold protection supplies were prioritized for the Southern City, East City, and central districts. The western district wasn’t in as dire trouble as the northern district. Fortunately, Fengyu had stockpiled medicinal herbs and cold-weather supplies; otherwise, many people would have frozen to death during this snowstorm.

Two years ago, there was also a snow disaster—last year, too. Though Xie Xun had stayed in the Capital, he was bedridden for over a month due to leg poisoning. He’d heard about the severity of the snowstorms then but hadn’t witnessed widespread casualties. The Capital Governor and Forbidden Army had provided adequate relief, and there were no reports of riots in the northern district; everything had remained orderly. Yet the Forbidden Army, the Ministry of Industry, and the Capital Governor had never dispatched assistance to the northern district. How had they managed in previous years?

Feiying reported that medicinal supplies from the northern district were urgently requisitioned by the central district—the entire pharmacy had been emptied, akin to outright robbery. The central district, wealthy and with solid structures, had even stolen medicinal herbs and winter coats from the northern district. This was under the control of wealthy families presiding over the Capital—residing in sturdy homes, surrounded by coal fires and ample cotton coats—yet they still plundered resources from the common folk.

Seven powerful families, not one residing in the northern district. Among the officials, few even lived there. When disaster struck, who would consider their plight?

The estate was overcrowded with people. Fengyu arranged for them to disperse—those whose homes had been repaired took cold-weather supplies and returned, shutting their doors against the snowstorm. For homes still unrepaired, Fengyu temporarily sent these families to seek refuge with neighbors. A few men protested the uneven distribution of cold-weather supplies, causing disruption, but Fengyu wasted no words and reported them to Xie Xun.

The young lord brandished his Longsword, violently suppressing all dissenting voices. In emergency relief efforts, it’s common for scarcity to kindle disputes over inequity. Fengyu had often relied on the Protector and escort agency to deal with such matters in past years, usually requiring much persuasion. Xie Xun, by simply standing there, made others dare not stir trouble.

Before the rain began, the Kyoto Capital Guards had repaired one-third of the northern district’s houses. Only the ill elderly, children, and pregnant women remained in the estate. Chunlu had already returned to Feng Mansion, pulling all the maids from the Plum Garden to help care for them.

By late afternoon, gale-force winds roared; torrential rain poured down, the sky as dark as ink. The mixed rain and snow lashed the Capital, blowing one worker off a roof, sending them crashing into the courtyard. The gale was so fierce it left people unable to keep their eyes open—workers atop roofs could not maintain stability. Xie Xun furrowed his brow, "Everyone, cease work immediately. Take shelter under the eaves to avoid the rain."

Repairs would have to wait until the storm passed. With Xie Xun’s experience in Ningzhou, he knew such ferocious snowstorms wouldn’t last long. Once the blizzard subsided, repairs would continue.

"Fengyu, what are you doing here?" Lin Xiao’s hands were frozen purple, but after gulping down a bowl of ginger tea, his stiff body gradually regained warmth. Unable to see clearly in the storm, Qiuxiang caught his eye while boiling medicine in the courtyard. Panicked, he hurriedly sought Fengyu and indeed found her calming a pregnant woman.

The courtyard was filled with women, children, and infants, while the Kyoto Capital Guards took shelter outside under the verandas. Lin Xiao grabbed Fengyu’s wrist and dragged her to the far corner of the corridor, causing her pain. "Let go," she said.

"What are you doing here in this weather?! Hurry back home!" Lin Xiao, soaked with both sweat and rain under his hooded coat, face pale as a ghost, appeared far more disheveled than Fengyu had ever seen him.

"You’re hurting me." Fengyu reminded him, prompting Lin Xiao to let go abruptly. Her wrist now bore a red mark from his grip, his voice harsh as he snapped, "Serves you right! What are you doing out here in this freezing weather instead of staying in bed?"

"The medicines, food, cold-weather supplies, and even the ginger tea you just drank—all of it was prepared by me," Fengyu spoke softly amidst the storm. "Without medicines and supplies, even with repaired houses, countless people would still die this winter."

"Since when was that your concern? Medicines, supplies, repairs—these are matters for the Capital Governor, Kyoto Capital Guards, and the Ministry of Industry. Once the storm ends, go home. Stop meddling in this mess." Lin Xiao worried about Fengyu catching a cold; her frail constitution made even minor ailments difficult for her.

Fengyu gazed at the exasperated Lin Xiao, speaking gently. "Lin Xiao, if not for Xie Xun taking office as Kyoto Capital Guard Commander, the northern district would have remained neglected. The Capital has faced consecutive snow disasters for three years. Who has cared about the northern district? The Kyoto Capital Guards only handle repairs—they lack clothing, food, or medicine. How should they survive? The clinic outside has queues packed with injured citizens, yet it’s completely devoid of medicinal supplies—all requisitioned by the southern and eastern districts. How can the Kyoto Capital Guards manage that? I brought medicines and supplies, helped maintain order, orchestrated dispersal, and managed coordination. I haven’t used a single Kyoto Capital Guard. Tell me, Lin Xiao—how have I ever caused a disruption? Without me, you wouldn’t even have had a single cup of hot water to drink here."

Lin Xiao was left speechless, his face flushing red while he struggled to find rebuttal. Rumors painted her as foolish, vulgar, and infatuated with jewelry. Yet in this chaos of snow and storm, she was fragile yet resolute. Adorned as splendidly as ever, she remained strikingly beautiful amidst the ruins and despair, working tirelessly throughout the day, appearing composed and unflustered. Though the northern district was a disaster zone, order prevailed.

"Master Lin, our lady has spent three years assisting with post-disaster reconstruction for the northern district. She has spared no effort or expense. The duties your government neglects, our lady has undertaken entirely. Before the Kyoto Capital Guards ever arrived, those providing repair work were all staff from our business. Since when has she caused trouble for anyone?" Qiuxiang couldn’t hold back, retorting sharply. She had long been upset with how Lin Xiao treated her lady with such hostility.

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