Chapter 158: Chapter 158: Creating Something from Nothing

Cao Luyun stood at the door with her maids, feeling a bit lost as she watched Lu Huai rummaging through the room.

After watching for a long while, she finally asked hesitantly, "General, what are you looking for?"

Lu Huai glanced back, paused for a moment, and simply said, "A book I read a long time ago."

With that, he went back to his search.

As soon as Liang Wan entered the room, she heard a rustling sound. She and Lu Xiu exchanged a strange look.

Hearing someone approach, Cao Luyun walked over, bowed, and then asked, "Are you, my lord, and Liang Ji here to see the general?"

Lu Xiu nodded slightly and went into the inner room.

Liang Wan, however, stayed behind to speak with Cao Luyun.

Lu Huai eventually gave up his fruitless search, but a hint of worry still clouded his brow.

Cao Luyun had already instructed someone to prepare tea and fruit.

Seeing that Lu Huai was distracted, Liang Wan asked, "Brother, what are you looking for? I can help you look for it again later."

Lu Huai snapped back to reality, thought for a moment, and looked over at her. "The book you mentioned to me at the Zhou Residence."

Liang Wan froze, stunned.

At the wedding banquet at the Zhou Residence that day, the story she had mentioned was one she had read in a book at home, not in Lu Huai’s study. She had just said it casually at the time, but now Lu Huai was telling her he was looking for the book she’d mentioned...

’Did his shelf really have that book? And it just so happens to be missing now? So much time has passed, how could I possibly remember what book it was?’

Seeing that everyone was looking at her, Liang Wan braced herself and forced a smile. "I’ll help you look for it over the next few days."

"Alright," Lu Huai replied crisply.

Liang Wan was even more confused. ’What’s the meaning of this, creating something out of nothing?’

After seeing Lu Huai off, Liang Wan and Lu Xiu returned to the South Garden.

Liang Wan frowned the entire way, not saying a word.

Lu Xiu glanced at the preoccupied person beside him and said lightly, "He’s not really looking for a book, is he?"

Liang Wan stopped walking and looked at him. "I did flip through a few books on his shelf, but not the one I mentioned. Even if it was, the contents were ordinary. Why would he make a special trip for it? And ask me to keep looking? What does he mean by all this?"

Lu Xiu mulled it over for a moment. "Perhaps he’s trying to remind you of something."

"Remind me?" Liang Wan was confused.

’What could he possibly want to say that he can’t say directly, and has to be so cryptic about?’

The more Liang Wan thought about it, the more confused she became.

Lu Xiu pursed his lips slightly. Lu Huai’s expression while looking for something was genuine, but he definitely wasn’t looking for an ordinary book.

For several days in a row, whenever Liang Wan had a free moment, she would go to the East Pavilion to search for that nonexistent book. But her efforts were always fruitless; she never found anything out of the ordinary.

Every time she searched, Cao Luyun would stand to the side and watch.

The days passed, and the disaster outside grew worse. Just as expected, the drought was followed by a plague of locusts.

On the *gengyin* day of the tenth month, locusts came from the east, blanketing the sky.

It’s not clear when it started, but a rumor began to spread: an evil presence was at work, angering the heavens and bringing down punishment.

With the locust plague severe and rumors running rampant, Gao Qian had no choice but to lead a group of ministers in offering sacrifices to the heavens and the gods, hoping to avert disaster. He even followed Chancellor Cao’s advice to grant a general amnesty and change the reign title.

The common people also built Locust God Temples, and they too knelt in prayer for blessings.

In the end, it was all for naught.

For a time, many sold their sons and daughters for rice to survive. The land was soon filled with the bodies of the starved, a devastating sight to behold.

Even so, the extravagance of the Imperial Family and the Gate Valve clans showed no signs of abating.

Beizhou also took the opportunity to repeatedly stir up trouble on the border. As a precaution, Lu Huai had been stationed with his troops near the frontier.

’Things are so difficult right now, and yet we’re only halfway through,’ Liang Wan sighed to herself.

"Liang Ji, the congee is ready," Bai Lu said as she walked in from outside.

Liang Wan nodded, rose to her feet, and followed her out.

Cao Luyun was already prepared and waiting for her at the entrance to the outer courtyard.

The disaster was severe, and many refugees were flooding toward Jinye. To prevent opportunists from using this as a chance to infiltrate the capital, Chancellor Cao suggested setting up tents twenty *li* outside the city as temporary shelters. He also had troops stationed there to prevent the refugees from being incited to riot. Meanwhile, the families of officials in the city could go daily to set up stalls and distribute congee.

Since it was Chancellor Cao’s proposal, the Zhou and Lu Families were naturally the first to respond at such a critical juncture.

Liang Wan and Cao Luyun went to distribute congee every day.

At first, only a few families participated. But after their actions earned unanimous praise from the Empress Dowager and the Empress, the number of people distributing congee indeed grew.

Outside, Cao Luyun was still the Great General’s Wife.

Coming here day after day, the guards became very familiar with them and treated them with great courtesy and respect.

Perhaps because it was Chancellor Cao’s suggestion, Cao Luyun took the matter of distributing congee very seriously, personally seeing to every detail. Liang Wan had no intention of competing with her for the spotlight, so she helped out on the side.

Next to their congee stall was the Zhou family’s. If one could say Cao Luyun was already dedicated, she was still somewhat outshone by Cao Danqing next door.

Her long hair was coiled in a high bun, adorned only with a few simple, plain hairpins and no other ornate jewelry. Her clothes were also primarily in plain colors, giving her a dignified and graceful appearance.

Liang Wan watched her from the side, sometimes intentionally, sometimes not. Since Cao Danqing’s marriage, she had indeed changed a great deal.

Since the congee distribution began, not only had she stopped causing trouble for Liang Wan, but she had also been polite and courteous, which was truly impressive.

’Zhou Yun’s charm is certainly something else,’ Liang Wan couldn’t help but smile.

Cao Luyun was still distributing congee. Seeing that it was nearing the end, Liang Wan decided to completely give up her spot and turned to go behind the stall.

Liang Wan glanced at the guarding soldiers and said to Bai Lu, "Go distribute the tea we brewed. Just say it’s from the Master’s Mansion."

Bai Lu nodded.

Liang Wan gazed at the dense crowd of refugees, her brow furrowed with worry.

’Distributing congee every day can solve the immediate, urgent need, but it’s ultimately just a drop in the bucket. It can’t solve the fundamental problem.’

’It’s not that I haven’t thought about using this opportunity to add fuel to the fire, but the common people are innocent, after all.’

’I, too, once went hungry and cold, worrying about my next meal the moment I opened my eyes. I went into the mountains and forests, digging for wild vegetables and searching for wild fruits... Later, I survived by the skin of my teeth.’

Liang Wan lowered her gaze and slowly sat down.

"Liang Ji."

A clear voice interrupted her memories.

Liang Wan looked up. It was Cao Danqing, a smile on her face.

"May I sit and talk with you for a bit?" The wind made her voice sound light and airy, devoid of any aggression.

Liang Wan smiled back at her. "Please, have a seat."

After thanking her, Cao Danqing sat down across from her.

Liang Wan was still a little unused to such a pleasant and friendly Cao Danqing.

Cao Danqing watched Bai Lu’s retreating figure and smiled faintly. "In the past, my father and—my brother praised you often in front of me. Back then, I was very resentful about it."

Liang Wan poured her a cup of the tea that had just been distributed, a faint smile on her face. "Have a taste."

The thought of Cao Jun made Liang Wan feel a bit sentimental as well.

Cao Danqing accepted the tea, paused, and then said, "But now, I find I actually quite like you."

’What a thing to say.’ Liang Wan chuckled. "You’re too kind, Lady."

Cao Danqing glanced at the figure distributing congee up front. "For the first few days, I was worried you might clash with my sister. But from what I’ve seen lately, you’ve been yielding to her in everything. That position should have been yours, but you—"

Liang Wan said, "I’m not yielding to her. I’m just helping Zhou Yun."

"I know about that. My sister asked him for help," Cao Danqing said after taking a sip of tea. "It was the Empress."

If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know < report chapter > so we can fix it as soon as possible.