Chapter 42 Chapter 42 Lady Avalokitesvara Bodhisattva.
Just after the hour of Yin, not even a ray of sunlight could be seen and the sky was thick with fog.
A horseman, leading a dozen ox-drawn carts, slowly approached Xie Garden. His attendants' eyelids drooped, evidently exhausted. Xie Tingyu yawned, covered his mouth, dismounted, tossed his whip to the gatekeeper, and headed straight into the garden.
Wei Fenghua was already waiting in the corridor. He tucked his hands into his sleeves, followed by several servants. He greeted them with a greeting, "Young Master," and then followed Xie Tingyu. "The master returned home last night."
"Really?" Xie Tingyu forced himself to cheer up, but then couldn't help but yawning. "I've been so busy these past few days settling the refugees and handling the aftermath of the city's aftermath that I've neglected my mother."
Wei Fenghua whispered, "The Patriarch knows you've been working hard, but..." He paused, "The money from this aid was originally intended to be used to build a garden for you to use after you marry Zhengjun..."
The group has arrived at Changhaoyuan.
Xie Tingyu walked around the screen wall and waved her hand nonchalantly. "Those thugs attacked from East Street to West Street, and from Zhuque Bridge to the city gate. In this situation, there's no point distinguishing between you and me." She glanced wearily at Wei Fenghua. "I've been running around for days, and now I need to rest. Don't bother me unless it's urgent."
When several servants saw Xie Tingyu had entered the room, they hurried in and helped Xie Tingyu undress and take a bath.
Wei Fenghua led a group of people to Xie Qingyan's courtyard.
Not long after, a figure dressed in a first-grade crimson-purple official uniform came out of the mansion gate and, with the help of a maid, boarded the carriage that had been prepared long ago.
The rumbling of the carriage wheels over the bluestone slabs carried into the carriage. Xie Qingyan leaned against the carriage wall with his eyes closed when he suddenly heard the people outside making a commotion.
"Look!" Someone outside recognized the words on the carriage's flag and pointed with a trembling finger, his expression excited. "It's Xie's carriage."
Someone also stopped what he was doing and asked, "Is this the Lady Guanyin Bodhisattva from the Xie family of Chen County?" He knelt down devoutly and bowed towards the carriage, "Thank you for your care these days."
Xie Qingyan raised his eyes, lifted a corner of the carriage curtain, and looked out. Now, a ray of morning light shone through the clouds in the sky, casting a shadow on a group of people kneeling on the street. Most of them were dressed simply, their faces haggard but full of gratitude.
Someone came over and said respectfully, "My lady has been running around for the people these days. They all remember it."
"Well, well done." Xie Qingyan lowered the carriage curtain. "I heard that the second wife of the Yuan family is now imprisoned in the Jinwu Guard prison?"
"That's right. Madam Yuan is asking for forgiveness on her own initiative, she's not being arrested."
Xie Qingyan said no more, closed his eyes and rested, and there was no sound in the car.
The carriages and horses going to court had to pass through the main street after coming out of Wuyi Lane.
This time, the Emperor, sympathetic to the plundering of the ministers' residences, specially suspended court for five days to allow them to reorganize their homes. Furthermore, for several young men who had been abducted and later returned, he sent messengers to deliver compensation and precious treasures to their homes.
At this moment, on the main street, several carriages with four horses and five horses met unexpectedly. They were all colleagues who were going to court together, including the carriages of the Yuan family of Runan.
In the past, most people would have gotten off the carriage and exchanged a few pleasantries, chatting about this and that. But after this disaster, every house had its walls crumbled or its flowers and trees broken, so there was no leisure for chat.
Moreover, he would inevitably be reprimanded if he met the emperor today. Therefore, the carriages were lined up in silence, waiting for the Jinwu Guards to inspect and let them pass.
As soon as Xie Qingyan got off the carriage, she heard someone calling her from a distance. She looked up and saw a man hurried over, holding up his official hat. "Thank you, Grand Tutor."
"Huan Duhu." Xie Qingyan stopped.
Huan Zhanyue clenched the ivory tablet in his hand and greeted with a forced smile, "What a coincidence."
"It's the only way to go to court, where's the word 'clever'?"
Huan Zhanyue laughed a few times, then revealed her true purpose. "The day before yesterday, the Grand Tutor wrote to me, asking me to teach your daughter riding and archery." Suddenly, her face turned serious. "I believe Tingyu is extremely talented, and I'd like to invite her to join the Sirong Mansion. What do you think, Grand Tutor?"
Her intention this time was to snatch someone away.
Nowadays, noble ladies from aristocratic families often rely on recommendations to enter officialdom. Huan Zhanyue was afraid that Xie Qingyan would use his connections to arrange for Xie Tingyu to join the Imperial Court, where she worked part-time, so she rushed to intercept him.
Since ancient times, the ultimate archer has been the most sought-after. They must possess skill in archery and horsemanship, keen eyesight, and the ability to remain calm in the face of danger. Such talents are truly rare.
Now that Xie Tingyu has finally appeared, how can we miss this opportunity?
But Grand Tutor Xie only had this one daughter, so would he really be willing to let her join the army? Furthermore, the Xie family didn't start their careers with military achievements.
"Hmm?" Xie Qingyan turned around, leaving Huan Zhanyue behind and walked away. "Why is it that when I wrote to you a while ago, you didn't seem to respond at all, Protector Huan?"
Huan Zhanyue hurriedly followed, "Hey, Grand Minister, your understanding is clear! I only saw the letter yesterday while sorting documents. It must be due to laziness on the part of my subordinates." She bowed repeatedly, "I hope the Grand Minister will forgive me."
The two argued about Xie Tingyu's whereabouts all the way, and before they knew it, they had arrived in front of the Taiji Hall.
This Taiji Hall is where the Emperor of the Great Zhou governs and where all officials come to pay homage. The jade steps are already crowded with officials, and a purple figure is particularly eye-catching.
Yuan Zhaoyun, holding an ivory tablet in his arms, closed his eyes and rested, completely different from his colleagues who were whispering around him. He seemed unconcerned about his beloved daughter who was still imprisoned by the Jinwu Guards.
"Thank you, Grand Tutor," Huan Zhanyue said, still unwilling to give up. "Your daughter is an exceptional rider and archer, and has made great contributions in suppressing the rebellion. If he were to enter the Sirong Mansion, he would have many military achievements in the future, and who knows, he might even be promoted to a general!"
She wished she could have eight mouths, but Xie Qingyan only replied with a faint "hmm", making it hard to tell whether he really didn't mean it or was deliberately making fun of her for the delay in replying to the letter.
At this moment, the messenger serving in front of the emperor came out and called the roll.
The officials, who had been whispering, fell silent. Xie Qingyan and Yuan Zhaoyun were in the front row, and the others followed in order. The generals, who had been awarded titles for their military merit, stood behind Huan Zhanyue.
After the inspection was complete, the messenger sang loudly, "It is the hour of Mao, enter the palace for a meeting."
All the officials straightened their hats and rolled up their sleeves, holding their tablets in both hands, and stepped onto the jade steps with solemn expressions. For a moment, only the soft sound of brocade boots stepping on the stone steps could be heard.
Inside the Taiji Hall, candles shone brightly. A central vermilion-lacquered imperial path marked the boundary, with civil officials to the east and military officials to the west. Xie Qingyan and Yuan Zhaoyun marched in unison, stopping only three feet in front of the emperor. Huan Zhanyue stepped back a body length. The front row seat was reserved for General Wang Hengyan, the Grand Commander of the Zhenyuan Army.
Ever since his daughter Wang Zhuozhang died in battle, Wang Hengyan had feigned illness and avoided court. However, the officers and men in the army, grateful for his prestige, would spontaneously reserve a seat of honor for him at court meetings.
The officials standing in the back were still whispering and talking to each other, while Xie Qingyan and Yuan Zhaoyun in the front row were as silent as pine trees, their eyes fixed on the throne.
Suddenly, outside the palace, bells and drums rang out, their resounding melody piercing the walls. As the chants of "Your Majesty is here," footsteps approached from afar.
A figure in a bright yellow dragon robe stepped into the hall, the gold thread embroidered on the lapels of his robe gleaming brightly in the candlelight.
"Long live His Majesty!"
All the officials knelt down to greet him and shouted in unison.
The first thing he caught a glimpse of was the bright hem of the dragon robe, followed by the gold-painted cloud-patterned court boots stepping on the jade tiles, followed by the ceremonial team holding fans and staffs, and the imperial guards wearing golden armor and swords at their waists.
Ji Zhao wore a twelve-tasseled white jade crown, its dangling pearls swaying gently before her eyes. With a flick of her wide sleeves, she sat upright on the dragon throne. Her gaze swept across the courtiers in the hall like lightning, and she said in a deep voice, "All of you, please stand."
"Thank you, Your Majesty, for your grace."
All the officials responded in unison, and stood up with the rustling sound of their robes. The only sound in the hall was the crisp sound of the crowns, tassels, and pearls clashing against each other.
At this moment, the Imperial Censor, dressed in crimson official uniform, stepped out from the eastern row, holding a staff. "I have a report to make! The recent uprising of refugees in the suburbs of the city is full of suspicious points. I believe we should thoroughly investigate three key areas."
The Censor-in-Chief's voice was clear and resonant in the solemn hall. "First, we should investigate the Ministry of Construction. Supervisor Yuan Jiao embezzled funds allocated by the Ministry of Works, resulting in shoddy construction of the refugee houses in the city. This summer, heavy rains caused them to collapse, resulting in numerous casualties. I have obtained the account books as evidence. Second, we should investigate the Relief Department. The rice in the porridge sheds used by the refugees was mixed with mud and sand, leading to an increasing number of deaths from bloating. This was by no means accidental; it was deliberately done. Third, among those detained by the rioters, there are many who are not from the refugee city, so it seems someone was deliberately promoting this."
The Supreme Court of Justice was in charge of criminal investigations. When these words were spoken, the whole court was in an uproar. People could vaguely hear people gasping for breath. Some people even had their legs trembling and sweat on their foreheads. They looked at Yuan Zhaoyun, who was in the front row, many times.
Ji Zhao raised his eyes to observe the expressions of the crowd, and his eyes finally fell on Yuan Zhaoyun who was in the front row.
The task of pacifying the refugees this time was led by Grand Minister of Agriculture Yuan Zhaoyun, and basically, people from the Yuan family of Runan were arranged to supervise it. Among them were her daughter Yuan Wangshu and her fellow clansman Yuan Jiao. No matter how you look at it, most of the responsibility for this matter should be borne by the Yuan family.
"Grand Minister of Agriculture." Ji Zhao opened his mouth, "What do you think?"
Yuan Zhaoyun stepped out steadily, holding an ivory tablet. Her voice was steady and forceful. "Your Majesty, I believe this matter concerns the very foundation of our nation. Whoever is implicated must be severely punished."
She suddenly turned to face the entire court and raised her voice, "I am also responsible for not supervising this matter strictly. As a token of my remorse, I will cover 40% of the cost of repairing Jiankang City."
The entire court was shocked when these words were spoken. Except for Xie Qingyan, who remained calm, all the officials were shocked.
Forty percent—that's no small sum. Even for a top-tier clan like the Yuan family, such a sum would be considered a mere scraping of flesh to heal a wound. But Yuan Zhaoyun's expression remained calm, as if he were simply discussing the weather.
Before the crowd could calm down, Yuan Zhaoyun continued, "I believe that pacifying the refugees is a move that benefits both the country and the people. However, due to corrupt officials enriching themselves, houses have collapsed, porridge has been poisoned, and people have died. If the evidence is conclusive, these pests and rats should be punished by the death penalty of lingchi to serve as a warning to others."
Her voice echoed in the hall, every word as sharp as a knife.
There was a crisp sound as the ivory plate fell onto the jade brick.
Yuan Jiao collapsed to the ground with a dead heart, and looked at Yuan Zhaoyun in disbelief. The latter was still holding the staff and didn't even look at her.
Everyone in the imperial court knew that disaster relief funds had always been siphoned off at every level. Of the 100% of the funds that passed through, the refugees were lucky to have 20% left. Yuan Wangshu took it, Yuan Jiao took it, and even the petty officials took some in secret. However, Yuan Zhaoyun was cunning. On the very night of the incident, he had Jiang Xiu make up for the shortfall Yuan Wangshu had used, thus escaping the disaster.
"Approved." Ji Zhao's gaze lingered on Yuan Jiao for a few breaths. "Pass on my decree. All officials involved in the Si Zaofang case will be immediately dismissed from their posts, their posts confiscated, and will be executed by slow slicing in the East Market at noon tomorrow."
As soon as he finished speaking, the Jinwu Guards, who were waiting outside the palace, rushed in like wolves and tigers. The clashing of cold iron armor was terrifying. Before several officials from the workshop could react, they were roughly dragged out from the ranks of civil servants.
"Your Majesty, please spare my life! I am innocent!"
"Grand Minister of Agriculture! Lord Yuan! Lord Yuan, please save me!"
The shrill cries for mercy echoed in the hall, but the Jinwu Guards turned a deaf ear to them and dragged the man out of the hall in a blink of an eye.
Yuan Zhaoyun turned around and bowed to Ji Zhao, holding the cymbals in both hands and offering a deep bow. She spoke earnestly, "Although my daughter Wangshu led the imperial troops to help quell the rebellion on the night of the riot, she failed to detect the corruption sooner, a dereliction of duty. I have ordered her to request to be imprisoned and to reflect on her mistakes. I hope Your Majesty, considering her youth and ignorance, will allow her to make meritorious contributions while serving her sentence and participate in the resettlement of refugees."
Before Ji Zhao could speak, Huan Zhanyue stepped out with his hut in hand and declared, "I have a report to make! Your Majesty will be wise and will clearly distinguish between rewards and punishments. On the night of the riot, Xie Tingyu of the Xie clan of Chen County, without waiting for orders, led the imperial troops to assist Commander Wang and his men in suppressing the rioters. He even broke through the siege and rescued over a hundred monks trapped in Ci'en Temple."
She clapped her ivory quiver firmly. "Xie Tingyu's arrows never miss their mark, and the story of his rescuing the emperor from danger that night is widely known. He is a man of extraordinary skill, and even more remarkable is his concern for the dawn, his fearlessness in the face of danger. I boldly recommend that Xie Tingyu, a man of commendable loyalty and courage, should be appointed a cavalry captain in the Sirong Palace to serve the country!"
Sure, sure. I followed Yuan Zhaoyun’s advice and started to climb up the ladder openly.
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The author has something to say: Mr. Xiao Xie is going to be promoted.
I once read Ma Boyong's book "Lychees in Chang'an," and some of the scenes in it have always left a deep impression on me. The emperor dispatched Li Shande to Lingnan to transport lychees to Chang'an. Later, the honest Li Shande negotiated with the local people to take only a portion of the lychees, completing the task. Originally, the lychees were intended for Concubine Yang Yuhuan and the emperor, but in reality, not only Yang Yuhuan, but also her relative, Yang Youxiang, and his relatives and friends, all wanted to eat. It was originally just A, but ended up with B, C, D, F, and G. It was just a small amount, but ended up destroying the entire lychee orchard.
So the idea behind the lines "Yuan Wangshu takes a little, Yuan Jiao takes a little" actually comes from this. Under the exploitation of the upper class, it is actually the people at the bottom who suffer the most.
(A quick aside, the TV series "Lychee in Chang'an" is now airing. I've watched a few episodes and really enjoyed it. I love the scenery, the plot, and the dialogue. However, this drama is relatively sparsely populated with romance, and is more about two unlucky guys, Zheng Ping'an and Li Shande, escaping danger in Lingnan.)
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