Chapter 326: Meritorious Service in Protecting the Emperor
An Earthquake hit the capital.
It scared the living daylights out of everyone.
There were too many nobles and royals in the capital.
The epicenter was right in the center of the city.
In the dead of winter, someone on the next street actually ran out of a brothel completely naked.
It even drew a crowd to watch the spectacle.
Fortunately, there were no mobile phones, otherwise, people would have taken photos and posted them on social media.
When the Earthquake struck, Qin Luoxia was at the Meng Family.
The Meng Family was also startled.
In the moment of danger, Qin Luoxia grabbed one grandchild in each arm, holding them firmly.
Eunuch Yan, who was just about to take his leave, was also frightened.
However, seeing Luo Xia, who didn’t seem afraid even if the sky were falling, he calmed down and felt very reassured.
Jiang Yu was also very steady.
She had experienced an Earthquake once in Jingzhou.
She had plenty of experience; after that Earthquake, Aunt Yin had trained the family on what to do when one occurred.
Mianmian had also joined in, summarizing what to do: find an open space, prevent things from falling from above and hitting yourself, and don’t panic.
If it’s a big quake, you can’t run; if it’s a small quake, you don’t need to run.
Jiang Yu, this young Madam Meng, managed the situation in an orderly manner, gaining even more respect.
This gave Madam Meng and Old Madam Meng a sense of stability, and they were no longer afraid.
When the Earthquake hit, Mianmian was practicing calligraphy with Princess Huiyun and Brother Chong.
Heaven knows, Princess Huiyun, who was usually so lively, had actually requested to practice calligraphy together.
Who would have thought, who would have thought.
Mianmian felt that her Princess Grandma was the type who couldn’t sit still.
But to keep her company, she sat there quietly.
She had no choice but to obediently write along with her.
There didn’t seem to be any secret to writing beautiful calligraphy; it was just about practicing earnestly, stroke by stroke.
Practicing calligraphy could be considered a way to temper one’s character.
When writing quietly, she felt quite calm, and not so restless.
Just as she was thinking this, the Earthquake suddenly hit.
The chairs and tables were shaking.
In the blink of an eye.
Princess Huiyun lunged over immediately.
Brother Chong also lunged over immediately.
Mianmian was a bit dumbfounded; if something really collapsed during this Earthquake, you pouncing over wouldn’t help, would it? Using yourselves as a meat cushion—do you think I’m not being crushed hard enough?
At the critical moment, Mianmian was very calm.
Perhaps it was because she had spent so much time with Mother, she had Mother’s demeanor.
Mianmian grabbed Princess Huiyun with one hand and Brother Chong with the other, dragging them out.
They reached the open space in the courtyard.
Goodness, the Earthquake had shaken all of the Princess’s hidden guards out.
Mianmian realized there were quite a few people in the courtyard.
Mainly because if you stayed near beams or similar places during an Earthquake, you were just asking for a slow death.
Watching people flying out from everywhere, Mianmian was simply stunned.
How high must their salaries be? Their daily working conditions were too difficult.
Or did this world hide a world of martial arts?
With the shouts of protecting the Princess, there was nothing to be done.
Princess Huiyun had been truly frightened in that instant.
Although she had been courting death before, she wasn’t afraid of dying, nor did she fear death.
But when she learned that her own son was still alive, she found a new motivation to live.
Now, she was very afraid of dying.
She was afraid she would die suddenly; she couldn’t just find her children, give them nothing, and then leave them to mourn her.
That would be too terrible.
Brother Chong’s breathing was also a bit heavy.
He hadn’t had any premonition about this Earthquake at all.
Or perhaps it meant it wasn’t serious.
But in that instant just now, he had actually felt that he didn’t want to die. Perhaps his illness was slowly getting better; he didn’t seem bored anymore, there were many things to do, he was busy every day, and he didn’t want to die as much.
Zi Congheng and Princess Huiyun were both breathing heavily.
Mianmian felt at that moment that ancient times were a bit inconvenient; there were no mobile phones or telephones, and she didn’t know how Father and Mother were.
She also didn’t know how Elder Brother and her brother-in-law were.
While thinking this, she suddenly felt that Father was acting strange today; it seemed Father had asked everyone to go out.
Recalling that there was no one at home today, could it be that the Earthquake was centered at her house again?
Inside the Imperial Palace.
Everyone was in a sorry state.
Some were sitting on the ground, some were lying prone, some were hugging pillars, some were crawling under tables…
Even the noble princes were in no better state.
After all, when facing a natural disaster like an Earthquake, everyone’s reaction was fundamentally the most honest one: wanting to survive first.
Even the palace maids, eunuchs, guards, and hidden guards professionally serving the Emperor were the same.
This was human instinct.
To them, serving and protecting the Emperor was work.
While surviving and preserving their lives was instinct.
Instinct definitely surpassed work.
But there was one crazy person, someone not quite normal, who was different.
He actually prioritized work over preserving his life.
And in such a critical moment, he could still flatter the Emperor, saying such emotional and nauseating words.
While trembling, the others were also a bit disgusted.
Especially the Seventh Prince, who had wanted to save the Emperor but was beaten to it, felt particularly disgusted.
But in such a life-and-death moment, the Emperor felt that Jiang the Second was exceptionally kind, sincere, and honest.
At this time, everyone was showing their most instinctive reactions.
His own sons only cared about hiding and escaping for their own lives.
He hadn’t expected that Jiang the Second would think of protecting him at the very first moment.
More loyal than the guards, eunuchs, and even Eunuch Liu.
Eunuch Liu usually stayed by his side, saying ‘This old servant will die for you’ on the left and ‘This old servant will serve the Emperor for a lifetime’ on the right. But when the Earthquake hit, Eunuch Liu, who should have been behind him, hadn’t even cared about him, but had fallen to one side and crawled out first.
Only Jiang the Second supported him, protected him, and thought of him first.
On the other side, the Sixth Prince, who had been crying and wailing in front of him just a few days ago about Father-son affection, had not thought of his Father at all when the incident occurred and had also avoided him at the first opportunity.
Only Jiang Changtian, this honest child.
The Emperor heard Jiang Changtian’s words; he had just been frightened, and his heart was beating extremely fast right now.
His wrinkled hand tightly grasped Jiang Changtian’s hand.
He couldn’t help but sigh: “Good child.”
Jiang Changtian’s eyes instantly turned red.
“Uncle, you will be fine. In the past, I had no real family. Now, halfway through my life, I have finally found my family. I cannot bear for anything to happen to you. You must all be safe and sound, and live a long life. Jiang Changtian wants the elders to protect him. Jiang Changtian does not want to be alone anymore. Walking barefoot alone is so bitter.”
Jiang Changtian said to the Emperor with red eyes.
“Nothing will happen. I am the Eternal One; I will surely be able to protect you.”
After all, he was the Emperor, having seen great storms and waves. After the initial disarray, he recovered immediately. He stood up without letting go of Jiang Changtian’s hand.
The Emperor looked at the Seventh Prince, who had fallen before him, and there happened to be a palace maid who had also fallen beside him. He said: “Seventh Prince has rendered meritorious service in protecting the Emperor. I shall bestow this woman upon you as a secondary consort.”
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