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Many wealthy young men and women, scholars, and literati gathered here to appreciate poetry.

Most of them, even if they are rich young men and women, are not qualified to watch Princess Yong'an paint. Watching the princess paint on site requires layers of screening. Most of those who can go represent their families, or are truly powerful and influential people in the capital, as well as famous scholars and masters with far-reaching reputations.

Everyone can participate in this poetry and painting meeting, not just the young men and women from wealthy families. As long as you can read and are interested, you can participate.

Heyuan Academy is the largest academy in Dacheng, and most of the top three students each year come from here. Therefore, entering Heyuan Academy is the dream of many scholars.

This time, because there were no restrictions on family background, many ragged scholars were able to enter the academy. Although they could not watch the princess paint, they were very satisfied to be able to enter Heyuan Academy in their lifetime.

Many of them regarded this poetry and painting meeting as an opportunity to learn about famous works of famous artists, make friends with like-minded people, and spontaneously discuss and exchange poetry and paintings with each other.

When Luo Yao lifted a curtain, he was attracted by a poem.

This poem was written on a wrinkled piece of rice paper. It was obviously not a poem from this poetry and painting society. It was pasted there by someone. Many scholars around were looking at this poem.

This poem has no title and the poet is not signed.

The scorching sun burns the nine provinces like flames, the clouds hide the wind and the water is difficult to flow.

The fields are cracked and the crops are withered, the wells are dry and people are worried.

The distant mountains are vast and without green, and the nearby water is dry, reflecting the autumn sky.

We pray for rain earnestly and burn incense, hoping for a downpour to relieve the drought.

Below that poem is a masterpiece praising the prosperity of Kyoto.

Jade palaces and jade towers connect to the Milky Way, and golden streets and silver alleys surround the flower fields.

The morning light shines on the willows on the palace walls, and the night deepens with lights coming on.

Putting these two poems together, it seems like they are mocking the extravagance and prosperity in the capital and the inaction of officials!

"Is there a drought somewhere?" There has been no news of drought anywhere recently, and some people in the crowd were puzzled.

"I haven't heard of it. Maybe it's in the northwest."

Readers gathered together to discuss the poem.

Luo Yao was wearing a hat, although it was just a gauze curtain, but even if it was just gauze, it made him feel bolder!

"Has the northwest always been dry?" Luo Yao asked the scholars.

"Don't you know? In the northern part of the country, there's drought nine out of ten years. From the summer solstice to the autumnal equinox, there won't be any rain for nearly two seasons!"

"It hasn't even reached a drought yet. With this poem appearing, I suspect those Northwest officials are covering up the disaster again! It's only been a short while since the beginning of summer, and I'm afraid the drought in Northwest China will be even worse this year."

Luo Xinchen was held by a fat servant. The servant was very honest and simple. Luo Xinchen did not make any noise at first and even played with the fat servant. However, he became anxious when he could not see his brother and kept asking to find him.

Bei Zhenting looked at where Luo Yao was. People began to gather and walked towards Luo Yao.

He was tall and strong, and he could see what was happening in front of him just by standing behind him.

The scorching sun burns the nine provinces like flames, the clouds hide the wind and the water is difficult to flow.

The fields are cracked and the crops are withered, the wells are dry and people are worried.

The distant mountains are vast and without green, and the nearby water is dry, reflecting the autumn sky.

We pray for rain earnestly and burn incense, hoping for a downpour to relieve the drought.

Seeing this poem, Bei Zhenting's brows furrowed tightly. He knew that the northwest was drought-stricken, but this year's drought came too early! If this poem was true, then the northwest would probably be in drought throughout the summer and autumn this year.

"Brother...Brother!" Luo Xinchen was held by the fat servant. He struggled to grab Bei Zhenting's clothes, trying to climb to a higher place.

Bei Zhenting frowned and looked at Luo Xinchen with great disgust.

What if you don’t want to hug me?

Luo Xinchen is independent and he has to climb up on his own!

"Ouch! Young master!" The chubby servant was afraid that Luo Xinchen would fall down.

Bei Zhenting resigned himself to his fate and picked up Tuanzi.

Luo Xinchen was carried higher and saw his brother, feeling relieved.

"Hasn't the imperial court tried to find a way to control the drought?" Luo Yao asked.

"Govern? Drought is a natural disaster, how can it be managed? The imperial court allocates countless silver taels every year, but the northwest suffers from drought every year..."

Luo Yao listened to their descriptions and learned about the drought in the northwest. The northwest was clearly a place where the monsoon could not reach, either because it was blocked by high mountains or deep inland. In such places, either the mountains had to be opened up or canals had to be dug to divert water.

Mountain building is quite mysterious. Mountains that can block the monsoon are generally of a height similar to that of the Himalayas.

After all, in the 21st century, the temperature in India is as high as or degrees Celsius, which can kill people. However, we on the other side of the Himalayas have a temperature at least degrees lower than theirs.

"Didn't Dacheng open the river to divert water?" Luo Yao continued to ask those people.

The scholars were shocked at first and then looked at him as if he were a monster.

"Digging a river to divert water? Brother, you're just daydreaming!" a young man said disdainfully. "While digging a river to divert water is certainly a solution, it's a waste of money and labor. The northwest has been suffering from drought for a long time, so how can we stabilize public confidence? Furthermore, how can we dig a river through these towering mountains? And the distance is so great!"

Open the river to divert water...

Bei Zhenting stared at the top of Luo Yao's hat, and suddenly looked at the chubby servant beside him.

The servant immediately understood, "How does this young master feel about these questions?"

No one knew who asked the question, and they also wanted to know what Luo Yao was going to do.

The pressure was immediately felt by Luo Yao. Even through the gauze curtains, he could feel the gazes of these people. It was too terrifying. Luo Yao's palms were sweating, but he still spoke out what was in his mind. "The people in the northwest have suffered from drought for a long time. If we tell them that this method will benefit them now and for generations to come, they will naturally support it. If the distance is far, we can take the river and cut through the mountains. We can dig in sections..."

When the scholars heard what he said, some thought it made sense, while others thought it was outrageous. What was so outrageous about it? It was just like the saying "cut through the mountain when you encounter it." How do you cut through the mountain? That sounds good! Does it mean that the people should dig through the mountain one hoe at a time?

Luo Yao felt extremely nervous. These people were too close to him!

He was getting nervous when his hand was suddenly grabbed.

"time to go!"

Bei Zhenting's cold voice came from above. The chubby servant stepped forward and took down the two poems. "Let's go. Everyone, please look at other poems!"

"Why did you tear it up?" someone complained, and the people around him quickly grabbed him, "Don't you want to live anymore? That's Prince Yong'an!"

Everyone was frightened and quickly saluted in the direction where Bei Zhenting and Luo Yao left.

"That person just now couldn't be the princess!"

"I think what the princess said makes sense..."

"Oh my God, the prince is holding the princess!"

"Two grown men, this is against ethical principles! It is extremely unfilial for a man not to carry on the family line!" someone said disdainfully.

The commotion here alarmed a group of young ladies.

"Wow! Prince and Princess!"

"Your Majesty is so handsome!"

"The princess is so handsome too!"

Luo Yao twisted his wrist hard, trying to break free from Bei Zhenting's big hand, but he couldn't get away at all.

Luo Yao gritted his teeth and said, "Let me go! Bei Zhenting!"