Chapter 263

Qi Yanzhou had not expected the drought in Jizhou City to be this severe.

“Governor Kong, you should have a detailed map of Jizhou’s rivers, shouldn’t you?”

Governor Kong nodded, the helplessness on his face deepening.

“Young Master Qi, you should know that the farther north we go, the higher the terrain, and the fewer the rivers.

“When the drought first began, Governor Liu sent people to inspect the water levels of the main waterways and their branches.

“The weather was scorching, and the branches soon dried up, so we dredged the main waterways and diverted water into them.

“We had originally hoped to solve the people’s drinking-water problem, but they used the water to save their crops instead, causing the water level of the main waterways to drop rapidly.

“When it became clear that the populous prefectures, counties, and towns would soon have no water left to use, we had no choice but to cut off the flow to the branches.”

By the time he finished speaking, Governor Kong’s eyes had reddened.

He wanted to save every single person.

But he did not have the ability to do so. All he could do was choose to protect the majority.

Ye Chutang watched Governor Kong struggle to hold back his tears before voicing the question that had been troubling her.

“Although the prefectures, counties, and towns have large populations, most people get their drinking water from wells. Why would they need to use river water?”

Governor Kong explained, “Madam Qi, you may not know this, but the ground beneath Jizhou City is made up of enormous rocks that are nearly impossible to break through. The water in most of the wells does not come from underground. It comes from diverted river water.”

Jizhou appeared to have no rivers running through it, but beneath every street lay an artificially excavated underground channel.

The channels had been sealed with enormous stones, covered with soil, and paved over with slabs of bluestone.

The well water used by every household was actually seepage from those underground waterways.

After hearing his explanation, Ye Chutang asked Governor Kong, “Have you never considered looking for the underground waterways? Even if you cut off the branches’ water supply, you’re still merely exhausting your reserves. The drought will continue. If you don’t develop deeper water sources, everyone will eventually face a water shortage.”

Governor Kong naturally understood this and had already sent people out to search for water sources.

However, Jizhou City had no officials who understood water management.

As a result, the people he dispatched had been running around like headless flies, accomplishing nothing.

He had also written memorials and sent them to the capital, hoping the Ministry of Works would send someone to solve the people’s drinking-water crisis.

The result was the same as with the memorials impeaching Prince Yong: they had sunk without a trace.

Jizhou City was a place the emperor had completely abandoned. It could only fend for itself!

After learning the full situation, Ye Chutang said, “Governor Kong, I know a little about water management. Perhaps I can help.”

The merit points earned from saving the people might not be many.

But a city like this had at least a hundred thousand residents. The merit points would be incalculable!

Governor Kong looked at Ye Chutang in delighted surprise, so excited that he became tongue-tied.

“Really? Madam Qi, you can help with water management?”

Ye Chutang did not know what the underground conditions throughout Jizhou City were like, so she did not dare make any guarantees.

“Governor Kong, don’t celebrate too soon. I may not be able to help after all.”

“Even if you are willing to try, I am already deeply grateful. Whatever you need me to do, Madam, just say the word.”

“Governor Kong, first find the households that use underground water and give me the locations of their homes.”

Governor Kong hurriedly nodded.

“Very well. I’ll have people investigate at once. Come back to Madam Qi in an hour.”

With that, he took two more steamed buns filled with vegetables and strode away.

Ye Chutang called after him, “Governor Kong, I’ll also need a detailed map showing the distribution of the waterways.”

“All right. I’ll bring one along when I return.”

After Governor Kong left, Qi Yanzhou turned to Ye Chutang.

“Atang, finding a water source won’t be easy. The heat is unbearable right now. Can your body handle it?”

“Don’t worry. I know my limits. I won’t push myself.”

Seeing that Ye Chutang had made up her mind—and that she was doing something to benefit the people—Qi Yanzhou did not try to dissuade her.

“I know a little about water conservancy too. I’ll go with you.”

Ye Chutang stuffed a vegetable bun into Qi Yanzhou’s mouth.

“Your body is still very weak. You shouldn’t overexert yourself. I’ll just have Sun Chu accompany me.”

Sun Chu: “…”

It was sweltering outside, and he really did not want to leave.

Wasn’t staying at the inn in an ice-cooled room much better?

“Um…”

Before he could refuse, Ye Chutang silenced him with a single glare, forcing him to change his answer.

“It would be my honor to serve the people.”

Old Madam Qi did not want Ye Chutang spending time alone with Sun Chu, so she hurriedly said, “There is strength in numbers. Lord Han can help as well.”

Hearing this, Han Chong immediately agreed.

“Old Madam is right. Whatever Madam Qi needs, we will do our utmost to help.”

Ye Chutang had noticed long ago that Old Madam Qi was trying to keep her from spending time with Sun Chu.

She said bluntly, “Mother, Master Sun and I are only friends. Please don’t misunderstand.”

Because Old Madam Qi treated her so well, Ye Chutang felt she had to make things clear to prevent any resentment from arising between them.

Then she added, “Mother is right. There is strength in numbers. I really will need Lord Han’s help.”

Her words immediately eased the awkwardness caused by what she had said before.

Sun Chu had not expected Old Madam Qi to misunderstand and think he had feelings for Ye Chutang.

He hurriedly explained, “Madam Qi and I simply get along well. There is absolutely nothing romantic between us.”

If Ye Chutang had been unmarried, he would certainly have pursued her because of their shared identity as people from the same homeland.

But now Ye Chutang and Qi Yanzhou were deeply in love and perfectly matched.

He was not the kind of shameless man who would try to steal another man’s wife.

Seeing the frank expression on Sun Chu’s face, Old Madam Qi realized that she had been overthinking things.

She also immediately understood that her actions had shown a lack of trust in Ye Chutang.

“Chutang, I’m old and tend to talk too much. Don’t take it to heart.”

Ye Chutang naturally did not blame Old Madam Qi.

She smiled and said, “Mother, I wasn’t blaming you. I only wanted to make things clear. I know you meant well.”

With that, she changed the subject and returned to the matter at hand.

Ye Chutang outlined her general plan for finding a water source.

“Azhou, you understand water conservancy. Are there any details that need to be added?”

Qi Yanzhou nodded and looked toward Nan Xiao.

“Go fetch some paper and a brush.”

He added several key points about searching for water sources, wrote them down, and handed the paper to Ye Chutang.

“Once Governor Kong brings the river map and the map showing the locations of the underground water sources, we can make a detailed plan.”

Ye Chutang read through the points Qi Yanzhou had written and nodded.

“Mm. Let’s eat first.”

After they finished eating, Aman planted the child gu in Qi Yanzhou’s body.

“Second Brother, you have to thank Sister Chu properly. This gu was originally a gift I gave her, but she gave it to you because she was worried about your health.”

Her words were a reminder to Qi Yanzhou to remember all that Ye Chutang had done for him.

Qi Yanzhou caught the key phrase in Aman’s words.

“Sister Chu? Why don’t you call her Second Sister-in-law?”

Aman stepped forward and linked her arm through Ye Chutang’s.

“Sister Chu is amazing. Having her take her husband’s surname would diminish her.”

These were words Ye Chutang had said to her.

Her exact words had been: “I will establish myself in this world through my own abilities. I will not become anyone’s appendage. When people speak of me, they should say Ye Chutang—not the Qi family’s second daughter-in-law.”

Of course, before saying this, Ye Chutang had added a condition.

A woman who had ability and courage, understood strategy, could read the situation, knew when to adapt, and could make decisions should stand on her own.

But if she was a delicate flower of a woman, then she should marry obediently, support her husband, raise her children, and manage the household.

Qi Yanzhou looked at the admiring Aman and nodded in agreement.

“You’re right. Atang has no need to take her husband’s surname.”

Then he turned to Xi Ze.

“Pack our things. At dawn tomorrow, take Aman ahead of us to Tianshan Commandery.”

Ye Chutang looked at Qi Yanzhou in surprise when she heard that.

Wasn't he supposed to make a proper plan first?

How had he suddenly announced it so casually?

Before Xi Ze could say anything, Aman immediately refused.

“I'm not leaving. I want to stay with Sister Chu. We can discuss medicine and poison arts with each other on the exile route.”

Ye Chutang said with a smile, “Aman, hear Azhou out first. You can refuse afterward if you still want to.”

Aman was practically Ye Chutang's devoted little admirer now, so she obediently nodded.

“All right. Second Brother, tell me—why do you want Xi Ze and me to go to Tianshan Prefecture ahead of everyone else?”

Qi Yanzhou had originally planned to use the bitterly cold winters along the frontier, when illnesses were common among the people, as an excuse to send the two of them to Tianshan Prefecture to provide free medical consultations and build the Qi family's reputation.

Now, however, he had a better idea.

“Tianshan Prefecture has many gobi deserts and barren wastelands, but few rivers. The water shortage there must be far more serious than in Jizhou City.

“Even if it snows in winter, the dry climate will still lead to water shortages, especially in populous prefectures. So I need you two to study irrigation and water management, then go to Tianshan Prefecture to solve the water shortage.”

The corners of Aman's mouth twitched.

“Second Brother, I only know how to raise and use gu. I don't understand water management.”

Although she wanted to be as capable as Sister Chu, she knew her own abilities well enough.

She was good at treating illnesses and saving lives, but as for anything else…

She could only promise not to cause trouble.

Qi Yanzhou smiled. “If you can learn it, naturally that would be ideal. If you can't, it doesn't matter. Just assist Xi Ze from the side.”

Aman didn't understand. “How do I assist him?”

“If the officials in charge of Tianshan Prefecture refuse to cooperate, use gu to control them.”

After saying this, Qi Yanzhou turned to Xi Ze with a serious expression.

“The water supply concerns the lives and deaths of countless commoners. Follow Atang from now on and study hard.”

Xi Ze was usually carefree and flippant, but he never wavered when it came to important matters.

He accepted the order solemnly. “Yes, Master.”

Although he didn't know whether he could do the job well, he would give it everything he had.

Aman felt that she and Ye Chutang had gotten along extremely well and didn't want to leave. She tried to negotiate.

“If the officials refuse to cooperate, can't Xi Ze use poison instead?”

Ye Chutang replied, “Poison can only threaten officials. Gu, on the other hand, can control them and make them issue orders through their own mouths.”

Aman had no way to argue with that and could only agree.

“All right, then.”

Seeing that Aman looked downcast, Ye Chutang gently patted her head.

“Aman, once I reach Tianshan Prefecture, we'll have plenty of time to discuss medicine and gu arts. The exile journey will be difficult enough, and you aren't on the exile list. There's no need for you to suffer unnecessarily.

“Tianshan Prefecture is cold, and the people there often fall ill during winter. You can regularly provide free medical consultations and make a name for yourself.”

Aman was deeply moved by how thoughtfully Ye Chutang considered her.

She solemnly promised, “Sister Chu, by the time you arrive in Tianshan Prefecture, you'll be able to hear my name everywhere you go.”

“I believe you.”

The matter of Xi Ze and Aman heading to Tianshan Prefecture ahead of the others was settled just like that.

Not long afterward, Governor Kong arrived with a map of Jizhou's rivers and a layout map of the city.

His face was flushed from the sun, and his clothes were soaked through with sweat.

“I'm covered in sweat and smell terrible. Please forgive me.”

Everyone had been surrounded by the smell of sweat throughout the exile journey and had long since grown accustomed to it.

Qi Yanzhou poured Governor Kong a cup of iced tea.

“Prefect Kong, have some water to soothe your throat before we get down to business.”

The weather was scorching, and setting out earlier would allow them to enjoy a little more coolness.

Governor Kong downed the iced water in one gulp and let out a satisfied sigh.

“All right, let's get to business.”

He spread out both maps one after the other and carefully explained all the markings on them.

“Madam Qi, I hope these two maps will be of use to you.”

Ye Chutang combined her plan for locating water sources with the two maps, then had Han Chong select several people and assign each of them a specific task.

Qi Yanzhou occasionally added a word or two to improve the arrangements.

Governor Kong had assumed that the couple only had a basic understanding of water management. He had never expected them to be so knowledgeable.

He now felt that their chances of finding water and resolving the drought were virtually certain.

“Madam Qi, I've brought ten of my men with me. They know Jizhou extremely well and are at your disposal.”

Ye Chutang nodded and distributed the ten constables among Han Chong's men.

“Does everyone remember what I just told you about finding water sources?”

“Got it!”

Their thunderous response was invigorating.

“Once you find a place that might contain water, do you know what to do?”

“We do!”

“Bring water and dry rations. Leave early and return early.”

“Yes, Madam Qi!”

Those who had been assigned tasks quickly departed, and the crowded inn's main hall soon became spacious again.

Ye Chutang assigned herself two tasks.

The first was to determine the flow of the underground river beneath Jizhou City. The second was to leave the city and search for water in Peach Blossom Valley.

She looked at Xi Ze. “Follow me. Listen carefully and observe everything.”

“Yes, Madam.”

When Aman saw that Ye Chutang hadn't mentioned her, she hurriedly asked, “What about me?”

“The weather is too hot. Stay here at the inn and rest.”

“No, I want to follow Sister Chu too. I'll listen and observe carefully. Perhaps I can help Xi Ze once we reach Tianshan Prefecture.”

Seeing the earnest expression on Aman's face, Ye Chutang nodded in agreement.

“All right. We're going farther out today, so bring several more waterskins.”

“Got it.”

Concubine Xu wrapped up the plain steamed buns left over from breakfast and handed them to Ye Chutang.

“Madam, there wasn't enough time for me to prepare dry rations. These buns probably won't be enough.”

Ye Chutang accepted the buns and casually handed them to Xi Ze, who was standing beside her.

“Auntie, I'll buy some food on the street when we leave the city later.”

With that, she went upstairs to fetch the waterskins and fill them with spirit spring water.

After making all the preparations, she set out with Xi Ze and Aman to visit the homes of residents whose houses might lie above underground water channels.

If underground water flowed beneath a house, there would surely be places where the ground was damp and humid.

As Ye Chutang questioned the residents, she simultaneously used her earth-element ability to investigate the area.

Half an hour later, she had mapped out the course of the underground water beneath the city with complete clarity.

She marked every suitable location for digging wells clearly on the city layout map.

Xi Ze had no idea how Ye Chutang had determined where the wells should be dug, so he humbly asked her.

“Madam, how can you tell which places are suitable for digging wells?”

Ye Chutang obviously couldn't tell him that she had located every spot by using her earth-element ability.

But neither could she make something up and mislead him.

Fortunately, she had already laid the groundwork for an explanation.

“You must learn to locate things by sound from childhood. Without that foundation, you won't accomplish anything.”

The latter part was false, but the first sentence was true.

Unfortunately, people in this backward era had no way of doing it, because the “sound” she meant was ultrasonic sound.

Xi Ze recalled how Ye Chutang would occasionally tap the ground with a crooked finger. Only then did he realize what she meant, and he let out an enlightened “Oh.”

“So that's how it is.”

Ye Chutang folded up the layout map and tucked it into her robes.

“Let's go. We'll leave the city and take a look at Peach Blossom Valley. That's where you need to learn.”

As they left the city, she bought some food and fruit from a street vendor.

Peach Blossom Valley wasn't far from Jizhou City, only about ten li away.

At a slow pace on horseback, it would take roughly fifteen minutes to get there.

The valley was exactly as its name suggested, with mountain peach trees covering the hillsides.

One could imagine how enchanting the scenery must be when spring arrived and the flowers bloomed.

But now, the peach tree leaves were curled at the edges and hung limply from the branches.

Only a sparse few mountain peaches remained, their skins just beginning to turn yellow.

It wasn’t that the peaches were ripening early.

The peach trees were simply so desperately short of water that they were sacrificing their fruit to preserve their own lives.

Ye Chutang divided Peach Blossom Valley into three sections, assigning one to each person.

“If you find an area where the trees and grass are relatively lush and don’t seem to be suffering much from the lack of water, blow your whistle. I’ll come as quickly as I can.”

Aman and Xi Ze agreed before entering the mountain peach grove.

Ye Chutang followed her assigned section toward the tributary closest to Peach Blossom Valley.

The tributary had long since dried up. Small fish that had been baked dry lay scattered across the riverbed.

Heat rose from the sun-scorched pebbles, distorting the air.

Ye Chutang took the waterskin from behind her waist, pulled out the stopper, and took a sip.

The sweet, refreshing spirit spring water filled her body with vitality and dispelled her weariness.

She found a relatively dense tree and sat down beneath it.

The leaves had all wilted and could no longer provide complete shade, leaving the ground covered in speckled patches of sunlight.

Ye Chutang used her special ability to investigate the conditions underground.

Although her ability only worked on earth, it could also detect stones and water encased within the soil.

A surging underground river lay far away and deep beneath the earth, beyond what human hands could reach.

Fortunately, it had many branches closer to the surface.

On one of those branches, she discovered several fissures extending upward from the underground river.

She also found two springs connected to it.

However, the prolonged drought had left the soil severely parched. Before the groundwater could reach the springs, it was completely absorbed by the earth.

“Whee…”

A faint whistle drifted over.

Ye Chutang ignored it and used her ability to widen the fissures slightly.

Only after she had finished did she head toward the direction of the whistle.

It came from the section Xi Ze had been searching. There, he had found a dried-up spring.

Although the spring itself had run dry, there was still water underground.

As a result, the grass around it had wilted somewhat but had not yet withered completely.

After noticing the unusual condition of the vegetation, Xi Ze had blown his whistle.

Aman was closer and arrived first.

“Xi Ze, you’re amazing! You found a water source so quickly.”

Looking at Aman, whose forehead was covered in sweat, Xi Ze said, “The heat is unbearable. You shouldn’t have come.”

Aman gave a light snort.

“Who are you looking down on? I traveled day and night all the way from Southern Xinjiang. That was far more difficult than coming here to search for water!”

“Yes, yes. Aman is the most hardworking and resilient young lady there is.”

Xi Ze had barely finished speaking when Ye Chutang arrived.

He immediately straightened up and said seriously, “Madam, there’s a patch of green grass here. Does that mean we can dig up a water source beneath it?”

Instead of answering, Ye Chutang asked, “Did you examine the ground?”

“I did. It’s completely dry, without the slightest trace of moisture. But I used all my internal strength to drive my sword into the ground and then pull it out. I found moist mud clinging to the tip.”

“Well done.”

Ye Chutang crouched down and asked several more questions. Xi Ze answered each one.

She corrected the parts of his answers that were inaccurate.

“Madam, thank you for the lesson.”

Aman listened with equal attention, committing Ye Chutang’s words to memory. The admiration in her eyes grew even stronger.

“Sister Chu, how are you so amazing? You know everything!”

Ye Chutang thought back to her childhood, when her elders had forced her to study all kinds of knowledge.

“It’s not that I’m amazing. My master is. Not only did my master read widely, but they also forced me to finish reading all those books.”

Xi Ze asked curiously, “Who is your master, Madam? I’ve never heard of anyone in the Beichen Kingdom so capable. They seem to know everything!”

He knew that his master had once sent people to investigate Ye Chutang thoroughly.

They had searched the estate and village where she had grown up from top to bottom, yet discovered nothing.

It was as if her abilities had appeared out of thin air, while her formerly timid nature had suddenly become strong.

It was all too strange!

“An otherworldly master.”

After brushing off Xi Ze’s question, Ye Chutang said, “Mark this place down. If we dig here, we should be able to find water.”

“Yes, Madam.”

Xi ​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‍Ze marked the spot so they could locate it easily later.

“I found another place as well. Come with me and take a look.”

Ye Chutang chose a nearby underground fissure and led Xi Ze and Aman over.

The fissure was close to the dried-up tributary, hidden beneath a pile of rubble.

The stones were scorching hot, and the weeds in the cracks had long since withered. No matter how one looked at it, the place didn’t seem to conceal a water source underground.

Xi Ze knew Ye Chutang could not have made a mistake, so he searched desperately for evidence that water was present. In the end, he found nothing.

Aman was even more bewildered.

Ye Chutang pointed at a large tree nearby. “Take a look at this tree. What’s different about it?”

The underground fissure was deeply hidden. The roots of the weeds and shrubs were shallow, so they naturally could not absorb any water.

Only a large tree with lush, spreading branches could draw up even a little.

Prompted by Ye Chutang, Xi Ze immediately noticed what was different about the tree.

Although its leaves had also wilted and many had fallen, the leaf stalks remained straight and firm.

After explaining his observation, Xi Ze received another prompt from Ye Chutang.

“Now compare this tree’s trunk with the trunks of the others. What’s different?”

At first glance, the trunk appeared no different from the rest.

But once he drew closer and scraped away the outer bark, the difference was obvious.

Xi Ze was filled with even greater admiration for Ye Chutang.

“This tree’s trunk is still growing normally, while the trunks of the other trees have begun to dry out.”

After listening, Ye Chutang pointed out several more details.

“Have you remembered everything?”

Xi Ze nodded repeatedly. “I have.”

“Let’s continue searching. We’ll meet here at noon, eat something, and then continue.”

The three of them spent nearly two hours searching the entire Peach Blossom Valley.

With Ye Chutang’s guidance, they located every place where water could potentially be drawn.

Aman sighed. “I never expected us to find so many possible water sources.”

As Ye Chutang walked toward the valley’s exit, she said, “These locations weren’t chosen at random.”

“Sister Chu is amazing.”

Xi Ze wiped the sweat from his forehead and drained the last of the water in his waterskin.

“If every marked location produces water, and we connect them all, we’ll surely be able to create a substantial flow.”

Ye Chutang nodded. “If we direct the water into the tributary, it should ease the immediate crisis facing many of the common people.”

The three of them emerged from Peach Blossom Valley with their clothes and hair soaked in sweat.

Fortunately, Ye Chutang and Aman were both wearing coarse-cloth outer garments. Otherwise, the situation would have been awkward.

“I’ll go fetch the horses,” Xi Ze said.

The horses were not kept at the valley entrance.

For one thing, they might be stolen by someone passing by.

For another, there were few trees near the entrance to shield them from the scorching sun.

The horses had been tethered in a relatively dense stand of trees, where they could enjoy the shade.

Xi Ze returned soon afterward.

But only two horses followed behind him.

“Madam, the horse Aman rode here has been stolen.”