Chapter 1658: Malicious Rumors Spread

As Song Ci said, the drought has persisted for an extraordinarily long time. After July passed, it hasn’t rained for over two months. It’s not just the crops; even the wild grass by the roadside has withered in this ongoing great drought. More and more disaster victims have died from this catastrophe, with refugees flooding toward the capital city, some not even managing to survive the journey to seek refuge.

It could be said that the outside world is suffering greatly, and Shangjing is not doing well either. The weather is too hot, and even the ice stored in the ice cellars of some noble mansions cannot last through a hot summer. Some elderly people can’t withstand the summer heat and have passed away.

Because of the heatwave, even mourning halls don’t dare to be kept for long, and funerals are hastily conducted, making them the most simplified memorial services in recent years.

These are minor matters; the crucial issue is that it is now August, and there is no sign of rain from the heavens. There is little hope for this year’s autumn harvest.

If there is no hope for the autumn harvest, it means there will be a strain on food reserves. Even if it rains again, it won’t be in time for sowing, leaving the government to rely on disaster relief.

In other words, this year and perhaps even next summer, everyone is afraid they will have to tightened their belts to get by.

Emperor Chu’s expression darkens by the day. Almost every day, officials are removed from their positions, only to be replaced by new substitutes.

As the seasons shifted from summer to autumn, at the junction of the north and south, a swarm of locusts suddenly covered the province, blocking out the sky and devouring every plant, leaving nothing in their wake.

Consecutive disasters leave the people in constant fear, selling their children and daughters, with public resentment boiling over, giving rise to rebel forces.

Just then, beyond the walls of Shangjing City, an ominous folk song started to spread without warning, claiming: "An evil spirit has descended, entering the home to bring ruin, usurping the body with no conscience, invoking heavenly wrath and human anger, bringing drought and locust plagues, causing desolation in the world."

This folk song quickly became well known and spread into the city, sparking curiosity. Who is the evil spirit mentioned in this song?

Until one day, a ragged, crazed old man shouted to the crowd entering the city that the evil spirit had infiltrated the Song Mansion and claimed that the current dowager was a reincarnated demoness, not tolerated by the heavens, thus causing these calamities.

After shouting, the old man charged at the city wall, dying as blood splattered.

Chaos erupted outside the city.

Who is the Song Manor’s dowager, known as a virtuous old lady, the mother of Prime Minister Song accused of being a demoness usurper?

The soldiers at the city gate felt a chill down their spines, looking over at the pale, emaciated refugees. Everyone was filled with panic, murmuring to themselves, "Who is the Song Manor’s dowager?"

One quick-witted gate guard stomped his foot, signaled to the soldiers beside him, then mounted his horse and immediately rode into the city.

There was already a folk song circulating in the city, and now, if these words spread, they would undoubtedly cause unrest, dragging the Song Family into a maelstrom of rumors.

At that moment, Song Ci’s eyelids twitched wildly, she couldn’t help but reach out and press them down.

"What’s wrong with you?" Nan Shan, sharp-eyed, noticed her movements and asked with concern, even attracting Nanny Gong’s attention.

Song Ci rubbed her eyelids and said, "These eyelids are twitching intensely, very uncomfortable."

Could it be that some disaster is about to happen?

I really hope not; this great drought is troubling enough as it is. If anything else goes wrong, she might just throw in the towel and give up early on life.

Nanny Gong had someone fetch a cloth cooled in water to press against her eyelids and said, "It’s probably the summer heat making you irritable."

"Probably."

Nanny Gong continued pressing the cloth against her, but her eyes caught sight of Chun Fen’s anxious face outside.

Maintaining her calm demeanor, she handed the cloth to Nan Shan before stepping out. Upon hearing Chun Fen’s report, her face turned pale.

What a vicious rumor; do they intend to drive her dowager mad?