Chapter 384 – Earthquake in Dongqing (16)
Jiang Pengji rubbed her foot on the ground, then casually picked up a branch to sketch an irregular rectangle on the ground, quickly drawing out a rough map of the capital. During her time in the capital, she had mostly been wandering around aimlessly, so she was quite familiar with the layout.
Staying huddled in one place to search and rescue was not going to work.
This would only waste time, as most areas outside couldn’t even be addressed.
With the personnel available from both residences, plus some hired young laborers, the entire rescue team barely totaled seventy-one people.
She already had plans in mind for how to maximize the efficiency of these people.
“There are too few people…” Feng Jin’s face was pale. With just a few dozen, they couldn’t even cover the eastern part of the city.
“Do what we can, and leave the rest to fate. If the Official Master appoints some troops this morning, even a symbolic number, it could make things a bit easier.”
Xu Ke, panting and exhausted, couldn’t help but notice Jiang Pengji’s dry, pale lips and the sweat soaking her clothes. Her hands were almost entirely covered in blisters; seeing her like this made him too weary to say anything, swallowing back his complaints in silence.
“We have three or four hours before nightfall, and that’s the tricky part…”
Jiang Pengji’s voice was hoarse as she articulated the challenges that the two beside her were unwilling to mention.
In ancient times, lighting facilities were incredibly primitive. Wealthy families could afford candles, the somewhat poorer had oil lamps, and the poor would sleep as soon as the sun set… One could only imagine the impact on search and rescue with no lighting after an earthquake.
Aside from Jiang Pengji, others were practically useless.
The only silver lining was that it was summer, so the nights were relatively late.
Feng Jin said, “Even if we have to work by candlelight, we need to save lives; human life is the most crucial. What’s a mere candle compared to that?”
Wealthy families used candles sparingly, so the candles salvaged from the stockpiles of both residences could barely fill a box, enough to last the night.
However, the light of a candle couldn’t compare to the blazing sun, and it would definitely complicate rescue efforts.
Jiang Pengji rubbed her forehead, unaware of how many blisters had formed and burst on her hand. The sight of her suffering would make anyone else feel pain, yet she remained unfazed, as if numb to the hurt. “Let’s leave it for today. Arrange for people to take turns resting; there’s more to do tonight.”
With so few people, not everyone could endure the relentless intensity of three days and nights of searching like she could.
Once more, Jiang Pengji longed for her own troops. At least they had gone through rigorous training, vastly outperforming the average person’s stamina.
“I was just thinking, if only my troops could drop in right now…” She smiled bitterly as she accepted a bowl of warm water from Ta Xue, tilting her head back to gulp it down, and still feeling thirsty, asked for another bowl.
“If the Young Master says that, then Xu Ke wishes he had the ability to conjure soldiers from beans,” Xu Ke joked, pouring a somewhat runny porridge into his mouth, completely disregarding any gentlemanly demeanor.
Feng Jin sighed, simply drinking a bowl of porridge, leaving him moderately full.
“I’ll go check on my lady.”
Now, his greatest concern was for his wife and daughter.
Jiang Pengji offered her carriage; it was spacious and well-equipped inside, plus the shock-absorption system was good. With a thick mattress and blankets, even if another tremor struck, Wei Jingxian wouldn’t feel anything too severe inside.
Given that she was pregnant and needed to breastfeed, special care was essential.
The food provided was restorative and beneficial for lactation. No one should go hungry, especially not this mother and child.
With so many injured, almost everyone was bloodied, and the air was thick with the metallic scent of blood.
A woman in labor couldn’t withstand such stimuli, so the carriage was sealed tightly; it became unbearably hot. She had the maidservant dampen a cloth in warm water, wring it out tightly, and help her wipe the sweat, making her feel a bit more comfortable… Thinking of the crude conditions now, Feng Jin felt a pang of guilt.
“You can’t eat? What about you, Young Master?”
Feng Jin entered the carriage to tidy himself up, washing his hands and any exposed skin, changing his outer robe to avoid messing up the carriage. As he lifted the curtain, he was greeted by a rush of hot air that instantly made him feel uncomfortable and sweaty.
“Don’t worry, I finished eating earlier. You’re still in your confinement period and need to nourish yourself, or you might end up with lingering issues later.”
Feng Jin sighed, his gaze falling on their daughter.
Due to the high temperature inside the carriage, the quilt wrapped around the child had already been loosened. She wore two cotton clothes and was covered with a small blanket.
“It’s a bit warm in there; lift the curtain now and then to get some air, or else she’ll feel stifled.” Feng Jin said.
Wei Jingxian replied, “I remember, the maidservant is doing very well.”
“When you let in the fresh air, make sure you both cover up well to avoid catching a chill,” Feng Jin couldn’t help but remind her.
Wei Jingxian patiently listened; the couple’s relationship had grown immensely closer.
Jiang Pengji’s report was swiftly delivered to the summer royal villa outside the city. After the earthquake incident, the villa’s defenses had been significantly heightened, fortified by the Imperial Guards both inside and out. This report had experienced numerous hurdles before it was finally handed to the Emperor.
The royal palace, unlike regular buildings, typically required earthquake-resistant designs, so even after such a powerful quake last night, the palace had not collapsed severely. For the sake of the Emperor’s safety, a massive, luxurious tent had been hastily erected outside.
Despite being called a tent, it was hardly different from a palace.
Inside, there were still rooms for the Emperor to work and meet with ministers, bathing and sanitation facilities, and a large dragon bed for visiting concubines—all incredibly lavish. It was impossible to tell this was a temporary structure; one might think it was just an opulently decorated room.
Regarding earthquakes, ancient people couldn’t explain their cause, so they let their imaginations run wild with forced explanations.
One of the most widespread beliefs was that it was the earth dragon flipping over.
Thus, every earthquake could be interpreted as a warning of displeasure from the heavens towards the Emperor, which was the very thing the Emperor despised most.
Since the earthquake occurred last night, the Emperor’s mood had been in a terrible state.
In an uncontrollable rage, he even drew his sword and killed several ministers who had sown discord and spread rumors among the populace.
On the gilded bed behind the screen lay a stunningly beautiful woman. She slightly opened her eyes, slipped her bare feet off the bed, and stepped onto the fine, soft animal skin carpet, draped languidly in a sheer, intricately embroidered oversized robe.
Apart from that, she wore nothing to cover herself.
Her long hair flowed down, cascading over her chest, barely concealing any modesty. Her snow-white skin was speckled with ambiguous purple marks, some deep, some light, and the fresh and old traces were evident, as if she had been tirelessly entertained for several consecutive days.
With delicate steps, her long legs swayed enticingly, making it hard for one’s gaze to avoid lingering over her chest and the narrow valley below.
She adjusted her oversized robe, her expression bearing an enchanting charm, her curvaceous figure captivating, and her full, red lips formed a beguiling curve, resembling a peony in full bloom.
She paid no mind to her nudity, ignoring the maidservants standing on either side, as she made her way around the screen to find the Emperor.
