The Emperor's Beloved: My Ancestor is the Crown Prince?

Chapter 66 Resistance

Jiangnan Circuit, Runzhou Prefectural Office.

The night was deep, but the study was brightly lit. Several middle-aged men dressed in brocade robes sat around, their expressions solemn.

"Is the news accurate?" Chen Yuanli, the governor of Runzhou, asked in a deep voice, sitting in the main seat.

A bearded man at the lower seat nodded: "A secret letter from Chang'an reports that His Highness the Crown Prince has proposed a strategy for flood control, which His Majesty greatly approves of. An imperial edict will be issued soon to comprehensively address the flooding of the Yangtze River."

Another gaunt man sneered, "Governance? Easier said than done. In every prefecture and county of Jiangnan, what year haven't we been managing floods? It's nothing more than reinforcing dikes and evacuating people. If even 30% of the silver allocated by the imperial court is actually used, that's considered good."

"This time it's different." Chen Yuanli shook his head. "The Crown Prince's strategy is to manage the river systematically—closing off mountains for afforestation in the upper reaches, building reservoirs in the middle reaches, and widening the river channel in the lower reaches. This is serious business."

Silence fell upon the crowd. They were all local officials and representatives of powerful families in Jiangnan, well aware of the complex web of interests behind water management. If the mountains were closed off for afforestation, would the illegal logging business still continue? How much fertile land would be occupied if a reservoir were built? What would happen to the manors and shops along the riverbanks if the waterway were widened?

"The Cui and Wang families have already expressed their willingness to give up their riverside land to support flood control efforts," someone whispered.

"Of course, the five prominent families and seven noble clans don't care about that little bit of land," the thin man sneered. "They have plenty of properties in Jiangnan. But what about us? We local gentry have all our family businesses here."

Chen Yuanli rubbed his temples: "Your Highness's move is indeed a good thing for the country and the people. However..." He paused, "...it involves too many people. How many officials in the prefectures and counties of Jiangnan have profited from the water control project? How many families rely on industries along the river for their livelihood? If it is truly thoroughly controlled, how many people's livelihoods will be cut off?"

The candlelight flickered in the study, casting shadows on faces that were sometimes bright and sometimes dim.

After a long silence, Chen Yuanli slowly spoke: "The imperial decree must be carried out. But how it is carried out... there's a lot to be done. The construction period can be delayed, the money can be used 'reasonably,' and construction can be stopped in the event of 'force majeure.' His Highness the Crown Prince is far away in Chang'an, so there's still a layer between us."

Everyone understood immediately.

"And another thing," the thin man added, "I've heard that His Highness the Crown Prince has recently become quite fond of a young girl from overseas. That child frequently enters and leaves the palace, bringing back many novelties. Perhaps... we could make something of that?"

Chen Yuanli frowned: "What kind of writing can a child produce?"

"The child can't, but what about the 'overseas' behind her?" A glint flashed in the thin man's eyes. "Unknown origins, strange skills and tricks, bewitching the crown prince... These are words that the officials of the Censorate should be very familiar with."

Chen Yuanli remained silent for a long time before finally waving his hand: "This matter can be discussed later. Let's prepare to receive the imperial decree first."

After everyone had left, Chen Yuanli stood alone by the window, gazing at the artificial hill and flowing water in the courtyard. He knew all too well that thoroughly controlling the floods was a monumental undertaking. But being in officialdom, he was not in control of his own destiny. The waters of Jiangnan were too deep; pulling one hair could affect the whole situation.

In the darkness of night, a carrier pigeon took flight and disappeared into the southern horizon.

---

Under the same moonlight, in the Eastern Palace of Chang'an.

Li Chengqian had not yet gone to bed and was reviewing the household registration and land records of various prefectures and counties in Jiangnan. The flood control strategy had been finalized; the next step was its implementation. He knew this would be no easy task, as local powers in Jiangnan were deeply entrenched, and the imperial decrees often suffered significant losses when they reached the local level.

"Your Highness, it's late," the eunuch reminded him softly.

Li Chengqian put down the booklet and rubbed his temples. "Wait a little longer."

He got up and walked to the window, gazing in the direction of the East Palace Garden. At this hour, Yiyi should already be asleep, right? What is that child doing today? Is she also looking at the same moon?

Thinking of Xiao Qingyi, a warm feeling welled up in his heart. The child's innocence was like a clear spring in a turbid world, reminding him of his original aspiration as a ruler—to let the people live in peace and prosperity, and to let children be as carefree as Yiyi.

But in this world, innocence is often the hardest thing to protect.

He recalled the news from the secret guards that day: there was already unrest in Jiangnan, and some people were secretly making connections. The water control project hadn't even started yet, and obstacles were already appearing.

"Your Highness," the eunuch spoke again, "it's time to rest. There's court tomorrow morning."

Li Chengqian nodded, returned to his desk, and took one last look at the map of Jiangnan. Moonlight shone on the map, and the Yangtze River resembled a winding silver dragon, running from north to south.

He must tame this dragon.

For the sake of the people of Jiangnan, and for... those innocent children like Yiyi, so that they can grow up in a peaceful and prosperous world free from the threat of floods.

The candles went out, plunging the study into darkness. Only the moonlight flowed silently, bearing witness to the determination and anxieties of a crown prince on this sleepless night.

Meanwhile, a thousand miles away in Shu (Sichuan), little Qingyi was fast asleep, clutching her jade rabbit paperweight. In her dream, she took her kindergarten friends to the Tang Dynasty. They played in the imperial garden; the Crown Prince was pushing a swing, the Prince of Wei was telling stories, and Sister Lizhi was watching them with a smile…

Moonlight streamed in through the gaps in the curtains, illuminating her peaceful sleeping face.

Two worlds, the same bright moon.