Rebirth: Phoenix Riding the Ninth Heaven

Time flew by like a fleeting white horse, and in the blink of an eye, more than two months had already passed. During this time, the climate had undergone a dramatic change. A fierce northwest wind swept in, raging relentlessly for three days and three nights. The howling wind seemed to tear the land apart. Meanwhile, heavy snowflakes fell from the sky. The pure white flakes drifted down like feathers, soon adorning the entire northwest region with a blanket of silver, a breathtaking beauty.

However, despite the dreamlike snowy scene, everyone knew that once the snow melted, it would become a vast pool of water. In such a frigid season, this accumulated water could easily freeze into a thick layer of ice, potentially causing frostbite or even death. Gazing at the waist-deep snow before her, Li Ruoyue's heart grew heavier. She knew that even though the Fourth Prince and Baili Xi had been intensively preparing countermeasures for the past few months, faced with such severe weather conditions, many innocent people would likely be unable to withstand the harsh cold.

Looking out the window at the heavy snow and the howling northwest wind, Li Ruoyue didn't have the courage to step out of the door. At this moment, she only wanted to hide in the warm house, away from the biting cold wind and icy snowflakes. At this moment, the thoughtful maid Luzhu carefully walked to Li Ruoyue's side with a blazing brazier and gently placed it at her feet. Then, Luzhu handed Li Ruoyue a thermos filled with hot water and said anxiously, "Miss, please warm yourself by the fire! It's freezing cold! I wonder how long this snow will last..."

Li Ruoyue sat quietly on the couch, her gaze gently fixed on the bustling Luzhu. Like a lithe butterfly, Luzhu flitted back and forth between her and her. Sometimes, cautiously, she brought the brazier closer, fearing the warmth would be lost; sometimes, she gently placed the hand warmer in Li Ruoyue's hands, her concern evident; and sometimes, she offered her a cup of warm beer, as if pouring all her care into it.

Li Ruoyue couldn't bear to watch any longer, so she reached out and grabbed Luzhu's hand, saying softly, "Luzhu, you should take a break too. Don't be so busy all the time. Look at the snow falling all over the sky, and we can't go out. Just sit down beside me and warm yourself up, okay?"

However, Luzhu shook her head helplessly and muttered, "Miss, you asked me to rest, but how can I sit idle? It's snowing so heavily that I can't go out for a stroll. If I don't find something to do, I'll be suffocated!" As she said that, she obediently brought a stool and sat down next to the young lady, but her eyes still glanced around from time to time, as if she was still wondering if there was anything she could do.

Seeing this, Li Ruoyue smiled slightly and suggested, "Since you're feeling so bored, why don't you go to my study and get some interesting picture books to read? That'll help you kill time. It's better than just hanging around here all the time."

Hearing this, Luzhu's eyes lit up, and she nodded excitedly, then stood up and ran towards the study. A short while later, she returned to the room with several beautiful picture books in her arms, a satisfied smile on her face.

Li Ruoyue stood quietly by the window, watching Luzhu's retreating figure. The corners of her mouth curled up slightly, revealing a gentle smile. This little girl was still as innocent as ever, her lively and lovely personality hadn't changed at all! Maintaining such a pure heart was indeed a beautiful thing.

After retracting her gaze, Li Ruoyue cast her eyes out the window. She saw layers of white snow, a world clad in silver. It was breathtakingly beautiful, but it couldn't dispel the sadness that lingered in her heart. She wondered how Master Baili and his men were making their arrangements at this moment. Especially the military camp where the Fourth Crown Prince's father was stationed. Had they prepared sufficient clothing and food supplies for this frigid weather?

Thinking of this, Li Ruoyue sighed softly. Despite having traveled a long way to the northwest, her encounters with her father were few and far between. Every meeting seemed so rushed, barely enough time for a few words before they had to part again. In the northwestern frontier, her father, a Han Chinese, was constantly overwhelmed with official duties, tirelessly striving to resist the Xiongnu invasion. And she, in this unfamiliar environment, could only silently worry about her family and pray for their well-being...

From the first day of winter, a bitter northwest wind began to howl, and fine snowflakes drifted down from the sky. The Fourth Prince knew that winter was approaching, and whether the people could safely survive this long winter was crucial. Therefore, without delay, he dispatched personnel to every village and settlement to carefully inspect all winter preparations.

These envoys were tasked with ensuring adequate food reserves for the winter and checking for charcoal supplies. Furthermore, they had to ensure that personnel arrangements were appropriate to ensure everyone's needs were met.

As the days passed, inspectors returned one after another to report back to the Fourth Prince. Encouragingly, the overwhelming majority of responses were positive—winter supplies were essentially ready. In particular, the construction crews, urgently recruited over the past two months, performed exceptionally well, tirelessly completing one arduous task after another.

The kangs were built sturdily and warmly, the walls solid and strong, and even the reinforcement of the houses was successfully completed. More notably, each village was equipped with at least one dedicated shelter, where the kangs burned vigorously and the charcoal piled high, providing shelter in extremely harsh weather conditions.

In addition, the Fourth Prince specifically instructed his men to distribute food to each village and household according to the per capita ration standard. This way, even if the villagers encountered the difficult situation of heavy snow blocking their doors, they would not have to worry about starving and could "hibernate" peacefully during this cold winter.

Even after carefully planning all matters, the Fourth Prince remained uneasy. He knew the greed and cunning of lower-level officials and worried they might seize the opportunity to withhold the vital rations the people depended on. Despite making numerous arrangements, this worry lingered, haunting him. So, after careful consideration, the Fourth Prince decided to dispatch his most trusted confidants to secretly monitor the officials, preventing them from tampering with their mission.

The Fourth Prince not only had to carefully plan the overall situation but also constantly monitor the every move of his subordinates, a truly exhausting task, toiling day and night. Even in the cold of winter, with heavy snow falling, he could not sleep peacefully. A roaring fire burned in his room, but he had no desire to enjoy the warmth. Instead, he stood quietly by the window, gazing into the distance. Outside, the snow lay cloaked in a blanket of white, and the houses stood like fairytale castles amidst the snow. However, the whistling snowflakes and the howling cold wind only made the Fourth Prince's heart grow heavier.

He thought worriedly: "Under such bad weather, are those temporary sheds built to house the victims strong enough? Can they withstand the invasion of the strong wind and snow? Also, are there enough charcoal reserves for heating? Will the people suffer from the cold and hunger..." All these things, one after another, weighed on the Fourth Prince's heart like a heavy burden, making him feel breathless.

At that moment, Zhu Qi quietly approached the Fourth Prince. Gazing at his master, whose figure stood as tall as a pine tree, Zhu Qi was about to offer a few words of comfort, urging him to not worry too much. But upon seeing the Fourth Prince's determined and focused expression, the words on his lips faltered. Ultimately, Zhu Qi chose to remain silently by his side, accompanying the Fourth Prince and shouldering the heavy burden of responsibility.

The heavy snow in the northwest seemed to have cast a spell over the world. No one dared to venture out. Only the heavy snow fell like a demon, and the wind roared like a ferocious beast, rushing across the sky and earth, blowing the snow on the ground back into the sky like garbage. In such inclement weather, Wang Wu and his father-in-law's family could only huddle in the village's safe house like frightened rabbits.

Wang Wu's family, his father-in-law, his brother-in-law, and the villagers would each send a male member every day to clear the snow from the doorway and add charcoal to the fire. This way, the temperature inside the house could always be maintained, ensuring that everyone would not be affected by the severe cold and would not lose their lives due to excessive cold.

As for cooking, the female members of each household took turns. This arrangement not only ensured that everyone had ample rest time but also ensured that each meal was prepared in an orderly manner. Furthermore, to prevent anyone from going hungry, each person was given a multi-grain steamed bread at each meal. While this whole-grain steamed bread had a slightly rough texture, it contained enough energy to fill a person's stomach and sustain life.

As for the piles of snow, everyone worked together to clear it from the roofs and doorways to the sides. This effectively prevented the snow from completely covering the house, thereby reducing the pressure on the roof and preventing the house from collapsing due to the heavy load. During this difficult period, Wang Wu's family and fellow villagers supported each other and worked together to safely survive this cold winter.