In July.

After several days of torrential rain, the Yellow River suddenly burst its banks. Dozens of villages around it were severely damaged.

The common people were displaced.

The local officials urgently reported this matter.

It was said that nearly a thousand common people had disappeared or had been harmed. Rumors spread everywhere: The emperor was heartless.

A country descending from the heavens was difficult for Great Yong.

The emperor had been scared witless by such a big commotion.

The regent did not ask about state affairs.

The officials could only wait outside the Hall of Governance all day long.

Each situation was more serious than the last. Liu Xiuyao had never seen such a big scene since he ascended the throne.

For a moment, he did not know where to start. The officials kept forcing him to make a decision as soon as possible. Now, he only had panic in his heart.

He no longer had the excitement and pride from two days ago when he took control of the court.

In Xuande Hall, Liu Zhan had learned about the flood of the Yellow River.

He had been in his study for several days without sleep. The report had not yet reached the capital.

There were rumors among the people that it was impossible that there was no one behind all this.

Wang Shun came in with a cup of ginseng soup.

"Prince, it's almost midnight.

Even if you are worried,

You can't ignore your own health! "

The regent continued what he was doing as if he hadn't heard. Wang Shun clenched his teeth. "Since you didn't return to your bedchamber, Miss Ah Zhen has been waiting …"

The tip of Liu Zhan's pen paused for a moment. Then, he lowered his head and wrote something on the paper. After a long while, when Wang Shun thought that this trick would not work, Liu Zhan asked softly, "Why isn't she resting yet?"

Wang Shun suddenly seemed to see hope. He said with great emotion, "Prince, you don't know. Miss Ah Zhen is worried that you are not used to being served by others. These days, she has been waiting until midnight every day. She still has to be on duty the next day. It's only been a few days, but her little face looks more haggard than you!"

Hearing this, Liu Zhan frowned. He put down the brush in his hand and raised his eyes. A sharp gaze pierced him. "You don't know how to dissuade her?"

Wang Shun secretly complained. These two people had the same stubborn temperament. Did other people's words have any effect?

He replied without delay, "Prince, it's not like you don't know Miss Ah Zhen's temper. Apart from you, she won't listen to anyone else!"

It wasn't clear which part of the regent's heart was poked by these words. The past few days, he had been stony faced, but unexpectedly, he revealed a smile. He reached out and closed the booklet on the desk. "Then let's go back to the bedchamber!"

Wang Shun was overjoyed. "Yes, this servant will arrange it right away!"

Then he thought of something. "Your Highness, this ginseng soup was also made by the people in the kitchen under Miss Ah Kui's supervision …"

It was rare for the Prince Regent to listen to advice. He signaled the person next to him to open the bowl and fill it up. He finished it in two or three mouthfuls and got up, "Let's go back!"

She quickly walked back to her sleeping quarters and entered her bedroom. As expected, she saw Song Yao sitting under the light with her head lowered. She was doing something with a needle and thread in her hands … When she heard the noise, she raised her head and looked over. Then, she pursed her lips and smiled.

She put down the things in her hands and stood up to greet him with a smile. "Prince is back. This servant will prepare water so you can rest early after washing up."

When she passed by Liu Zhan, he reached out to stop her. Song Xuan looked up with a puzzled expression. Liu Zhan didn't look at her. He ordered Wang Shun, "Have someone prepare water." Then he pulled Song Xuan to sit on the soft couch.

Song Xuan quickly stood up before she touched the crumpled surface. "Does prince have other orders for this servant?"

Liu Zhan saw the dark shadows under her eyes. Her face was haggard. It was just as Wang Shun had said. "Benwang said he wouldn't come back. Why do you have to wait?"

Song Xuan lowered her head and smiled. "This is this servant's duty. I don't dare say it's hard."

"Oh?" Liu Zhan asked meaningfully. "Just because it's your duty?"

Liu Zhan paused and then asked, "Then why?

You're the young miss of a medical family. Why do you have to work so hard to enter the palace as a little palace maid? "

Song Xuan suddenly raised her eyes and looked straight into the Prince Regent's eyes. Liu Zhan didn't avoid it and let her look at him.

After a moment, Song Xuan showed a smile of understanding. Unlike her usual respectful and humble self, she was exceptionally confident and generous. "Prince is wise and farsighted. Ah Kuang never dared to think that she could hide it from prince."

"Is that so?"

Song Xuan smiled and asked, "Didn't prince already suspect Ah Kuang when you deliberately let that person succeed in the Hall of Political Affairs last time?"

Liu Zhan secretly praised her for being smart. He looked at her with a faint smile and asked, "The former head of the Imperial Hospital, Song Duzhong. What's your relationship with him?"

Song Xuan admitted bluntly, "He's Ah Kuang's father." Then she respectfully bowed and said, "My father has always remembered prince's kindness in his heart. The Song family will never dare to forget such great kindness."

"Hmph." The Prince Regent let out a cold snort and changed the subject. "So you entered the palace only to repay the kindness?"

"Of course not." Song Xuan smiled softly, as if she had returned to being a simple and docile palace maid. "Ah Kuang admires prince's elegant demeanor and willingly entered the palace to serve prince."

Liu Zhan didn't feel comfortable when he heard the news, but it was easily soothed by this sentence.

"Admires this Prince?

What kind of admiration is that? "

Song Xuan softly replied, "Prince works tirelessly for Great Yong, neglecting sleep and food. Is it not worthy of admiration and admiration?"

Liu Zhan never thought that he would hear such words one day. He thought that no one would understand. After all, everyone thought that he was vicious and merciless, cruel and ruthless, and even ambitious enough to control the court and refuse to let go. They all thought that he was greedy for the power in his hands …

In his last life, he had kept his promise to his imperial brother, working hard and conscientiously to assist the emperor. But what was the end result?

His nephew, who was of the same blood as him, doubted him, resented him, and in the end, wanted to kill him by hook or by crook …

But when had he ever thought of seizing the throne of Great Yong?

Song Xuan didn't know if it was her misperception, but she suddenly felt that the Prince Regent's body exuded an indescribable aura of sadness and even a bit of weakness.

Song Xuan walked over and sat on the ground, gently pressing her head against his chest …

Liu Zhan looked at the small, hairy head in front of him, his heart softening. He reached out and stroked it.

After a long while, Song Xuan raised her head from his chest and smiled cutely at Liu Zhan.

Since her identity had been exposed, she no longer deliberately hid it. She pulled out a piece of paper from her sleeve. "Prince, this prescription was developed by my father over the years. It has some effect on preventing and treating epidemics.

Ah-Kun believes that Prince may need this at present. "

The Prince Regent reached out and took the thin piece of paper. The reason why he had been so distressed these past few days was not only because of the flood, but also because of the series of events that would follow. As everyone knew, since ancient times, there had been no cure for the plague. Once infected, two out of three people would die, and families and villages would be wiped out.

There were even records that stated that "the plague is the work of ghosts and gods." This was enough to show how terrifying it was.

At present, Great Yong had already experienced a flood that was rarely seen in a hundred years. There were also some people with ulterior motives fanning the flames behind the scenes, spreading rumors that the imperial family was unbenevolent. If a large-scale epidemic broke out at this time, the consequences would be unimaginable.

However, it was currently the middle of summer, and the temperature was high. Coupled with the flood and the prevalence of the plague, the outbreak of epidemics was destined to be unavoidable.

The Prince Regent carefully read the prescription. Although he didn't know if what she said was true, he felt an indescribable trust in her.

Raising his eyes, he fixed his gaze on Song Xuan, pausing between each word, he said, "If this prescription is truly effective, then this Prince will first thank Sir Song for his medical heart on behalf of the people."

… …

The ministers discussed for an entire day in the Hall of Governance, but the Emperor still hadn't decided on the measures to deal with the flood. Several impatient old officials were about to point at his nose and curse him.

Seeing that there was no conclusion to be reached, the Left Prime Minister stormed out of the hall without the Emperor's consent. In the blink of an eye, he was wiping his tears and pitifully begging for an audience with the Emperor in the Hall of Xuande. After Wang Shun invited him in, he saw the old man bawling with tears and snot, saying how difficult it was for the people of Great Yong and that the Emperor was kind-hearted and couldn't bear to see the people of Great Yong suffer a disaster.

Liu Zhan was so disgusted by him that his head hurt. However, considering that the Left Prime Minister was wholeheartedly serving the people, he didn't get angry. He picked up a thick memorial from the table and had Wang Shun bring it over. "Follow this. There is a prescription inside that is very effective in preventing epidemics. This Prince has already sent people to prepare some uncommon medicinal herbs. When the time comes, they will be transported with the army. Instruct people to prepare the herbs according to this prescription.

The Left Prime Minister reached out and snatched the memorial delivered to him. His fluid movements didn't resemble the trembling and unsteady footsteps he had when he entered the hall.

Flipping open the memorial and quickly skimming through it, he felt incomparable admiration. When he heard that the Prince Regent had even found a prescription to treat the plague, he was sincerely convinced and moved to tears. He was about to kneel. "Your Highness is prudent and wise. It is a blessing for all the people of the world."

Before Liu Zhan could open his mouth, Wang Shun hurriedly stopped the Left Prime Minister. "Ah, Prime Minister, the most important thing right now is the Yellow River flood. Your Highness understands your intentions."

"What Eunuch says is correct. Then this old official will return to draft the memorial. This official will take his leave first."