Chapter 21: The Sudden Crisis

As the rain continued to fall relentlessly, it wasn’t just the third and first branches of the family that made preparations in secret. The Dong family of the second branch also sent a few trusted maids to gather many items, locking away even the most valuable possessions in chests and storage rooms. Even Lady Gu, who had spoken so firmly before, gradually lost her confidence as she watched the rain pour down incessantly and ordered Lingxi to pack some valuables as well.

However, officials sent a message from the Kaifeng river embankment, stating that each section of the embankment was under strict surveillance and that everything was secure—there was no risk of the Yellow River bursting its banks. With this assurance, Lady Gu regained her composure. She scolded her three daughters-in-law and instructed everyone in the household to do their duties properly and not to panic unnecessarily.

Thus, several managers and servants were sent to take care of the farms outside the city, while others were dispatched to deal with disturbances in the shops in the city. Even Zhang Zhuo was constantly sent by Lady Gu to gather information from the river embankment. For three days in a row, he was nowhere to be seen. Every time he returned, he was drenched and covered in mud, with a pair of shoes ruined each time.

Although Lady Sun wasn’t particularly concerned about clothes and shoes, seeing her husband so busy that his eyes were bloodshot, she wanted to prepare something extra for him in the kitchen several times, but Zhang Zhuo stopped her each time.

One day, Bi Yao and Hong Luan, who hadn’t seen Zhang Zhuo in days, came to the main house in the western courtyard under the pretext of paying respects. Yet again, they found him nowhere—Zhang Zhuo was indeed absent, and Lady Sun had also been called away by Lady Feng. Though it was only a short distance, their hurried trip left them in a sorry state. Half of their colorful clothes were soaked from the heavy rain, and their embroidered shoes were covered in mud spots. Unable to find the person they were looking for, Hong Luan grew annoyed.

“The master is nowhere to be seen all day, and now even the mistress avoids us. Are we really that annoying?”
“Sister Hong, that’s not right. Didn’t you say in front of the old lady that the master treats you well? Besides, with the continuous heavy rain these past few days, it’s only natural for him to be busy with outside matters.”
“Hmph. Since the mistress isn’t here, no one will listen to your flattering words!”

Shamed and annoyed, Hongluan retorted sharply. Seeing Biyao clutching her handkerchief in silence, she couldn’t help but recall the scene when the old lady assigned people to their duties. If she had come from an official family, she would likely have gone to the beautiful region of Jiangnan with the master to take up a post—how could she be stuck in such a place enduring nonsense? As she was lost in thought, she heard a clear cough. The next moment, the curtain beside her was lifted, revealing a graceful and beautiful face—it was Qiuhen.

“It’s raining today, so the young master hasn’t gone out. He’s reading inside right now. Since the master and mistress are not here, if the two concubines don’t want to wait, please go back.”

Hongluan and Biyao had been standing outside for most of the day, only seeing two maids who hadn’t even bothered to tie their hair, leading them to assume there was no one in charge and thus start arguing. Now that they learned Zhang Yue was reading in the adjacent room, Biyao thought she hadn’t said anything inappropriate and felt fine, while Hongluan regretted her words.

Just as the two didn’t know whether to leave or stay, a figure rushed in in a hurry. As soon as the person set foot inside, they shouted frantically, “The third young master, hurry to the main house! The river has burst its banks, and water has already flooded the northeast part of the city!”

Before anyone in the room could react, the person rushed out like the wind. Hongluan and Biyao were stunned by this sudden news; even Zhang Yue and Hupo, who came running out of the adjacent room, didn’t realize what was happening.

The master and his two servants paid no attention to them at all. Zhang Yue fastened the belt that Qiuhen had prepared earlier around his waist, then ordered Qiuhen and Hupo to grab two small bundles. Without even bothering to put on wooden clogs, they grabbed the oil-paper umbrellas that had been prepared and rushed outside.

Just before leaving, he turned around and saw the two women still standing frozen in the middle of the room. He couldn’t help but remind them, “What are you two standing around for? Didn’t you hear what was said just now?”

Startled by his words, Hongluan and Biyao finally snapped out of their daze. Seeing Zhang Yue, Hupo, and Qiuhen already running into the rain, they hurriedly rushed out as well, only to find that the two maids they had seen earlier were nowhere to be seen. Without any rain gear, Biyao stomped her foot and rushed straight into the rain, while Hongluan hesitated for a moment, turned back to look around the room, and finally rushed out with a cushion on her head.

Yet, even in such chaos, neither of them ran in the direction of the main house ahead.

After passing through several courtyards and running breathlessly along the corridor into the main house, Zhang Yue saw only a few little girls running around in chaos. Panicked at that moment, he grabbed one of them and demanded harshly, “Where are Grandma and the others?”
The girl, initially terrified, realized it was Zhang Yue after a moment and cried out, “As soon as the old lady heard about the flood, she fainted. The first madam collapsed, the third madam suddenly had an asthma attack, and the third master was not there. So the second madam had to order a carriage prepared and rushed to send everyone away herself, while also sending people to inform the young masters and ladies in other rooms to leave as well. As for the third master… it’s said that many places outside have been flooded, and the water might reach here at any moment!”
“My mother…” Zhang Yue couldn’t believe that his mother would suffer from her old illness at such a critical time. He tightened his grip. “Did my mother really go away with my aunt and the second aunt to take Grandma? Where are my eldest brother, second brother, and fourth brother?”
“Everything is in chaos right now, third master. I really don’t know anything else!”
Too angry to ask further questions, just then another person stumbled in. Seeing it was Zhang Qing, his heart skipped a beat, and he instinctively loosened his grip. Taking advantage of this, the girl he had grabbed earlier broke free and rushed out of the chaotic room in a few strides. The other girls who had been there earlier had also disappeared.
“Third… third brother, what… what exactly happened? Where… where is my mother?”
Seeing Zhang Qing’s face turn pale and blue with shock, Zhang Yue took a deep breath, not knowing how to explain. At that moment, the door curtain was pushed open again, and Luo Concubine and Zhang Yi entered. Both were drenched, their hairpins disheveled, and their faces showed extreme panic. Upon seeing only Zhang Yue and Zhang Qing in the room, Luo Concubine collapsed to the ground.
“Heaven…”
“Concubine, stop crying! Even appealing to Heaven won’t help now!”
At this critical moment, Zhang Yue threw aside any pretense of being gentle and shouted angrily. Seeing Luo Concubine stop crying from fear, he ordered Hu Bo to help her up, then asked Qiu Hen, “Do you know where all the family carriages are? And drivers who know the roads and know where to go! Qiu Hen, everything depends on you now!”

Qiu Hen had already turned deathly pale from fear, but upon hearing Zhang Yue’s words, she finally regained her senses. After stammering for a long time, she whispered, “I know where the stables are. My cousin is a coachman, but I’m not sure if we can find them now…”
“There’s no time to worry about that. Take us there quickly!”
Zhang Yue’s heart beat faster and faster as he made a decision without hesitation. Seeing that Zhang Qing, Zhang Yi, and Lady Luo were still stunned, he paid no attention to anything else, grabbed Zhang Qing and Zhang Yi one by one and pulled them out, then called out to Lady Luo as well.
Outside, it was already windy and rainy. The oil-paper umbrella in Hu Bo’s hands was instantly ruined by the wind. In a hurry, Zhang Yue had no choice but to tell Hu Bo to throw it away. There was already several inches of water on the ground, and those who used to live in comfort now struggled through the mud. By the time they reached the stables in the south courtyard, they were all drenched.
The stables were empty—there wasn’t a single horse. But in a corner, there was a carriage with two strong horses tied to its shafts. Yet, there was no sign of a coachman. Zhang Yue wiped the rain and sweat from his face; his heart grew heavier. He was surrounded by weak women, and even if he were an all-knowing time traveler, he didn’t know how to drive a carriage. What should he do?
“Third Young Master, what are you doing here?”
Just then, a voice as deep as a bell rang out behind him. He turned around and saw Peng Shisan, the bodyguard who had been teaching him martial arts these days. A glimmer of hope arose in him, and he quickly explained the situation.
“Heh, the Duke of Yingguo said the mansion here in Xiangfu was always strict, but who would have thought that a flood would…” Peng Shisan muttered to himself for a while before slapping his chest and saying, “Third Young Master, hurry and get everyone on the carriage. I can still handle it. But I don’t know where to go—someone needs to show me the way!”
At these words, Zhang Yue was immediately stuck. Not only was he new here and clueless about the area around Kaifeng, but so were the women behind him. Wait… had he forgotten something? In an instant, he thought of Du Zhen. This was a serious concern—Mr. Du was a gentle scholar. It would be a grave sin to leave him behind!
So, he set aside concerns about direction for now, dragged Zhang Qing and the others onto the carriage, and sat on the pole with Peng Shisan. In a few words, he gave directions to Du Zhen’s house and begged Peng Shisan to take them there on the way.
“Third Young Master is truly remarkable!”

Peng Shisan swung the reins forcefully, gave a approving glance at Zhang Yue, who was drenched in rain beside him, then whistled sharply before quickly driving the horse to start moving the cart. In the midst of his busy tasks, he grabbed a conical hat from his head and put it on Zhang Yue’s head, saying confidently, “Just because you, the third young master, at such a young age still care about your sisters and remember your husband, I’m willing to risk my life to help you achieve this! Sit tight, good horse—run fast for me!”