The trip south had been scheduled to depart the very next day, but was held up for two full days by arguments in the court.
The officials opposing it repeated the same arguments over and over: a woman should not involve herself in government affairs; she was too young; it was against propriety.
Lin Shuying learned of this while she was watering the cabbage seedlings in the greenhouse.
A-Gua came running to tell her, his face red with anger. She showed little reaction—her water ladle only paused for a moment.
“The victims can wait, but they can afford to wait.” She set down the ladle and brushed the mud from her hands. “Too bad the victims aren’t in the court.”
— —
It wasn’t until the sixth day that another urgent dispatch from Jiangnan arrived in the capital.
The courier, riding at top speed, burst through the city gates before dawn.
“The Yellow River has breached its banks—three prefectures and eighteen counties flooded, over three hundred thousand victims, granaries destroyed—please dispatch relief immediately!”
On the dragon throne, the Emperor’s face was ashen.
The memorial spread across his desk wept blood with every word: over a hundred thousand homes collapsed, a million acres of farmland ruined, refugees clogging the roads, corpses strewn across the fields.
Worse still, local officials had covered up the disaster layer by layer, so by the time news reached the capital, the situation was already out of control.
At the morning court, the civil and military officials erupted into arguments.
The Minister of Revenue knelt and pleaded poverty: “Last year’s war in the north cost three million taels of silver, and repairs to the imperial mausoleum this year took another eight hundred thousand. The grain reserves we can currently mobilize are less than five hundred thousand piculs—a drop in the bucket!”
The Minister of Works proposed: “Our top priority must be to seal the breach and repair the riverbanks. I request an allocation of two million taels and the conscription of a hundred thousand laborers—”
“The people are starving to death—where will you get laborers?!” the Minister of War retorted. “We should use food-for-work—open the granaries first, stabilize the victims, and then discuss repairs!”
“Open the granaries? How much? How many days will five hundred thousand piculs feed three hundred thousand people? What happens after a month? What about next spring’s famine?”
The bickering went on and on, with no conclusion in sight.
The Emperor rubbed his brow and gave a light cough.
The hall fell silent.
Xiao Shengrui stepped forward and bowed: “Father, this subject believes the top priorities are threefold: First, save lives—open the granaries, distribute porridge and medicine, and prevent victims from dying of hunger or disease on the road. Second, stabilize the people—use food-for-work to organize victims into repairing the levees, dredging waterways, and building temporary shelters—this both solves the labor problem and prevents unrest among the refugees. Third, restore production—replant fast-growing crops as soon as possible, aiming for a harvest before autumn to alleviate next spring’s famine.”
He paused, his voice not loud but each word clear: “The Jiahe Country Lady, Lin Shuying, is well-versed in agriculture. She possesses fast-growing crop seeds and cultivation methods for ‘thirty-day cabbage’ and ‘sixty-day early rice.’ If she were sent south to guide the efforts, it could solve the immediate crisis.”
Before he finished, the hall erupted again.
This was already the second time the Seventh Prince had mentioned that melon-growing country lady.
“A woman cannot interfere in governance!”
“Seventh Prince, this is a matter of state—not a game!”
“Sending a fifteen-year-old girl to lead disaster relief? Wouldn’t that be a laughingstock?”
At this point, Crown Prince Xiao Shengjun raised his hand and gently pressed down, quieting the hall slightly.
He stepped forward half a pace, his voice not loud but clear: “Father, this subject believes the Seventh Brother’s words are reasonable. In extraordinary times, we must use extraordinary people. Though the Jiahe Country Lady is a woman, her expertise in agriculture is known throughout court and countryside. This subject has seen the rainbow watermelons she cultivated at the imperial estate—they are truly extraordinary.”
He stepped back, his expression calm, as if merely stating a fact.
Several ministers who had been about to object exchanged glances and lowered their voices.
The Third Prince still said nothing, only turning his head slightly to glance at the Crown Prince before looking away again, continuing to stand with his eyes lowered in place.
The Emperor pondered for a moment, then made the decision: “Summon the Jiahe Country Lady to the palace.”
Lin Shuying changed into her Country Lady’s formal attire—a light cyan dress embroidered with gold-thread peonies, and a pearl coronet on her head. The reflection in the bronze mirror looked much more dignified than usual. She glanced at it, felt it didn’t quite look like her, but couldn’t be bothered to change again.
The carriage rolled toward the imperial city.
Entering the palace, passing through the Meridian Gate, crossing the palace roads, arriving at the Imperial Study.
Inside the study, besides the Emperor, the Crown Prince, and Xiao Shengrui, there were several high-ranking ministers: the Minister of Revenue, the Minister of Works, the Director of the Directorate of Agriculture, and Yang Wanli. Yang Wanli looked travel-worn, with dark circles under his eyes—clearly just back from Jiangnan.
Lin Shuying performed the grand formal bow as required: “Jiahe Country Lady Lin Shuying, pays respects to Your Majesty.”
“Rise.” The Emperor got straight to the point without pleasantries. “Lin girl, my Seventh Son says you have fast-growing crops that can be replanted quickly after a disaster—is that true?”
“Your Majesty, it is true.” Lin Shuying took several packets of seeds and a handwritten cultivation manual from her sleeve. “This is ‘thirty-day cabbage’—from planting to harvest, it takes only thirty days. This is ‘sixty-day early rice’—its growing period is one month shorter than ordinary rice. There’s also ‘fast-growing radish’ and ‘quick-growing greens’—all varieties suitable for post-disaster replanting.”
The Emperor opened the manual. Inside were illustrations and text covering everything from soil preparation, sowing, and fertilizing to pest and disease control—clearly written with detailed data and organized structure. He flipped through a few pages, looked up at Lin Shuying, then lowered his head to continue reading: “What’s the yield of these seeds…?” the Director of the Directorate of Agriculture couldn’t help asking.
“Cabbage yields two thousand catties per acre; early rice yields three hundred catties per acre. It may not compare to normal harvest years, but the advantage is speed.” Lin Shuying answered. “Also, these seeds have been specially treated—they are disease-resistant and flood-tolerant, suitable for post-disaster soil.”
The Minister of Works stroked his beard, his tone laced with skepticism: “Has the Country Lady tested these methods?”
“Yes.” Lin Shuying’s expression didn’t waver. “I have test plots at my estate—all of these crops have been grown before. The data is reliable.”
The Emperor closed the manual and looked at the ministers: “Any further questions?”
The Minister of Revenue hesitated, then spoke up: “Your Majesty, though the Country Lady’s methods are good, sending a woman south for disaster relief is… truly unconventional. Could the Directorate of Agriculture send someone instead, carrying the Country Lady’s seeds and manual…”
“Is there anyone in the Directorate who understands these crops better than the Country Lady?” the Crown Prince retorted coldly.
The Minister of Revenue choked, his lips moving silently before he fell quiet.
“In extraordinary times, we must take extraordinary measures.” The Emperor’s final decision was firm—not loud, but no one dared to object further. “Issue the decree: Appoint Jiahe Country Lady Lin Shuying as ‘Advisor to the Directorate of Agriculture,’ grant her a golden plaque, permit her to accompany the imperial envoy south, and give her full authority over post-disaster replanting. If any local officials obstruct her, she may execute them first and report later!”
He then turned to Lin Shuying, his tone softening slightly: “Lin girl, I’ll give you three months. If you can make green sprouts appear in the disaster zone within three months, I’ll reward you handsomely. If not—I won’t blame you. Just do your best.”
Warmth surged in Lin Shuying’s heart. She knelt and kowtowed: “I will give my all, and not fail Your Majesty’s trust!”
“Good.” The Emperor turned to Xiao Shengrui: “Seventh Son, you are the imperial envoy, in overall charge of relief efforts. Lao Honghua will serve as deputy envoy to assist with administrative affairs. Depart in three days.”
“This subject obeys.”
“Your servant obeys.”
Stepping out of the Imperial Study, Lin Shuying let out a long breath.
Xiao Shengrui walked beside her, glanced sideways at her, and asked quietly: “Scared?”
“A little.” Lin Shuying admitted honestly, not slowing her pace. “But being able to do something real—that’s more important than anything.”
Xiao Shengrui didn’t ask further.
The two walked out of the palace gate side by side. The sunlight was blinding, and Lin Shuying squinted.
“I’ll help you,” Xiao Shengrui said.
“I know.” Lin Shuying smiled. “Your Highness always helps me.”
— —
Back at the estate, Lin Shuying began preparing her luggage for the southward journey.
Seeds were the top priority.
Fast-growing cabbage, early rice, radishes, greens—several large sacks of each, stacked in the side room, filling nearly half the space.
There were also the drought-resistant rice seeds she had improved—though the Jiangnan floods were severe, some elevated areas would dry out after the waters receded, and these seeds would be perfect for those conditions.
Clothing needed to be simple—several sets of coarse cloth garments for working in the fields.
Medicines were essential: wound medicine, detox pills, mosquito repellent incense. Jiangnan was hot and humid, with plenty of mosquitoes and a high risk of illness.
Wei Fuyu and Zhao Di’er helped with the packing, bickering as they worked.
Just as they were finishing up, the sound of hooves came from outside.
Xiao Shenglan jumped down from the carriage without waiting for assistance and ran straight into the courtyard, throwing his arms around Lin Shuying.
“Auntie! Don’t go to Jiangnan!”
Lin Shuying patted his back and didn’t push him away right away: “Lan’er, Auntie is going to save people.”
“Then I’ll go with you!” Xiao Shenglan looked up, his eyes red-rimmed. “I can swim! I can even row a boat!”
“Nonsense.” The Consort Lin Yueyao, who had followed him out of the carriage, walked over holding up her skirts. She steadied the others who had bowed, then lightly tapped the back of Xiao Shenglan’s head. “How old are you? You’d just cause trouble.”
Xiao Shenglan pouted in defiance but didn’t dare talk back.
Lin Yueyao turned to Lin Shuying, her gaze resting on her face for a moment, her voice softening: “Shuying, you…”
Lin Shuying nodded without hesitation.
Lin Yueyao was silent for a while, then slipped a jade bangle off her wrist, took Lin Shuying’s hand, and slid it on: “This was given by the Empress Dowager—it wards off evil. Wear it. Stay safe.”
She turned to the maid behind her and instructed: “Ride back to the palace at once—bring the gold-thread soft armor from my storehouse. Give it to the Second Miss.”
“Elder Sister…” Lin Shuying’s nose stung. She lowered her head, looking at the bangle on her wrist.
Lin Yueyao patted her hand, her tone resuming its usual briskness: “Since you’re going, do it well. Show the world that the Lin family’s daughters are no less capable than their sons.”
Lin Yueyao said no more, pulling the still-teary Xiao Shenglan into the carriage.
Xiao Shenglan leaned out the window, poking half his head out, and shouted to Lin Shuying: “Auntie! Come back soon! I’ll save you some fried shortcakes!”
Lin Shuying and Lin Jingshen waved at him as the carriage rolled away.
Not long after, a carriage from the Lin residence arrived to pick her up, and the two siblings rode back to the family home.
The estate was brightly lit, and the sky was filled with stars—denser and brighter than the night sky over the city.
— —
The next morning, just as dawn broke, the southbound contingent set out.
Lin Shuying brought twenty people with her: Wei Fuyu, Zhao Di’er, and Lin Jingshen as bodyguards and assistants; four laborers to carry the seeds and tools; and a dozen clerks from the Lin family trading company who were familiar with the Jiangnan region.
Xiao Shengrui’s party was even larger: a hundred guards in the imperial envoy’s escort, five officials each from the Ministry of Works and the Ministry of Revenue, three imperial physicians, plus Yang Wanli’s entourage of advisors—over two hundred people in total.
Lin Shuying leaned back in the carriage, eyes closed, resting. But her mind was racing: what to do first upon reaching Jiangnan? Survey the disaster area, choose test sites, train personnel…
Just as she was thinking, A-Gua’s startled cry came from outside.
She lifted the curtain. A-Gua had ridden up alongside, clutching a small note in his hand.
Lin Shuying took it and unfolded it—there was only one line written on it: “I’ve signed up for the spring imperial examinations.”
Lin Jingshen leaned over to glance at it, clicking his tongue: “Third Brother’s finally come to his senses?”
Lin Shuying didn’t respond. She folded the note and tucked it into her sleeve, thought for a moment, then said to A-Gua: “Send a reply to A Li—tell her to keep an eye on Third Brother and advise him not to overreach.”
“Yes!” A-Gua turned his horse and galloped back, the hoofbeats fading into the distance on the official road.
Lin Shuying let the carriage curtain fall back, a faint unease settling in her heart.
Yang Wanli, as chief examiner of the spring examinations, hadn’t gone south again but had stayed in the capital… she just hoped Third Brother wouldn’t cause any trouble.
The convoy continued on its way.
Across the carriage, Xiao Shengrui was studying a map. He kept his head down, his finger tracing slowly across the paper, his lips moving slightly as if calculating distances. Sensing Lin Shuying’s gaze, he looked up.
“What is it?”
“Nothing.” Lin Shuying shook her head, her voice softer than usual. “I was just thinking… the weight on my shoulders is heavy.”
Xiao Shengrui set down the map and looked at her.
“I’ll help you carry it,” he said, his tone level, as if stating something self-evident.
Lin Shuying smiled and said no more.
The convoy crossed a stone bridge, with a creek murmuring beneath. In the distance, green mountains rose like dark brows, and white clouds drifted lazily.
Jiangnan was drawing closer.
And in the capital, the horn for the spring examinations was about to sound.
A natural disaster, and an imperial examination.
Two fronts, opening simultaneously.
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