Chapter 351 Going Out to Shop
Execution by beheading and exile were not simply a matter of local officials reviewing and sentencing the case. Since these involved human lives, the imperial court had long stipulated that the relevant case files must be sent to the Ministry of Justice, and then reviewed by the Ministry of Justice in conjunction with the Court of Judicial Review, the Censorate, and other judicial departments.
Once the three judicial departments have completed their review, these case files will be sent to high-ranking officials such as the Nine Ministers and the Grand Master of Ceremonies for the autumn review.
Only after the autumn review was completed would the review opinions be submitted to the emperor, who would then approve them with his vermilion seal and issue the final execution order.
This entire process takes a very long time.
Therefore, the relevant individuals involved in the case are still being held in the Dinghai County jail.
As for the confiscated property, apart from a very small portion that was embezzled by those in charge, the vast majority of the remaining property has been registered and put into the county government's treasury, awaiting approval from the imperial court regarding its disposal.
At the same time, Jiang Yuan's memorial recounting the events and reflecting on his overstepping of boundaries, along with other memorials impeaching him, were successively delivered to the emperor's desk.
The emperor carefully read every memorial impeaching Jiang Yuan, but did not issue an edict to punish Jiang Yuan as they wished.
Although Jiang Yuan was indeed suspected of overstepping his bounds, the emperor could understand his concerns at the time. Putting himself in Jiang Yuan's position, he would not have given the prefect of Ningbo an opportunity to take advantage of him just to follow the rules.
The case has now come to a complete end, and Dinghaiwei has undergone a complete overhaul due to the series of changes that have occurred during this period.
Of the original commanders, only the slippery Commander Wang remained. The remaining three were temporarily promoted by Jiang Yuan to handle all affairs.
Whether they can be promoted from acting commanders to official commanders depends on their own abilities and the consideration and deliberation of the court officials.
With everything in the garrison and the household back on track, Xie Wanniang and Jiang Yuan were finally able to breathe a sigh of relief.
Jiang Yuan handled daily military affairs methodically, while also deploying troops to suppress bandits and pirates based on the confessions of the Chen family and Han Tao regarding the pirates and Japanese pirates.
While he was busy with these things, Xie Wanniang was not idle either. She cast a wide net and made inquiries throughout Ningbo Prefecture, and found a very good tutor for her children.
The reason we didn't send our children directly to the academy was that although the southeastern coast is a place with a strong academic atmosphere, no academy was willing to treat boys and girls equally.
Xie Wanniang did not want to deprive her daughter of her opportunity to study, even though she was not actually interested in the Four Books and Five Classics.
However, in Xie Wanniang's mind, there is a fundamental difference between being forced to give up and giving up voluntarily.
Children can decide to give up after learning, but they cannot be deprived of the right to learn from the beginning.
Whether she learns well or badly, learning is a valuable experience. Just like in her previous life, although she wasn't a top student, she still got into university and changed her destiny because she had the opportunity to receive an education.
After the New Year, Xie Wanniang spent a high price to invite the old gentleman, who had a good reputation, knowledge, and character, into her home. She couldn't stay idle, so she started thinking about making money again.
Trading goods between the north and south can be very profitable, provided you have a unique eye for selecting best-selling items.
As for the pastry shop and herbal medicine shop she opened in the north, she doesn't plan to open them in the south right away.
Firstly, because she and Jiang Yuan were newcomers and had not yet grasped the specific situation here; secondly, because she had a strange premonition that "the emperor would not let them stay here for long."
***
March has arrived in the blink of an eye, and Ningbo Prefecture in March is a wonderful time of year when the grass grows and the birds fly, and spring is in full bloom.
The bluestone path gleamed from the spring rain, the willow branches on both sides drooped down, and tender yellow buds sprouted. The shops along the street opened their doors one after another, and the sounds of hawking and bargaining rose and fell, making it very lively.
Xie Wanniang, dressed in a lake-blue ruqun (a type of traditional Chinese dress), walked slowly down the street of Ningbo Prefecture, surrounded by Haitang, Shen Guizhi, and others.
The group came here specifically to shop, because there are many shops selling imported goods.
Xie Wanniang wanted to send things back to the Northern Border. In addition to local specialties from Ningbo Prefecture, she also wanted to bring back some imported goods.
“Princess, look at this shop, the things on display are so fresh.” Haitang pointed to a shop on the street corner with a sign that read “Deng’s Foreign Goods Store”, her tone full of curiosity.
Xie Wanniang looked up and saw that there were indeed many novel items on the shelves in the shop.
She stepped inside, and one of the shop assistants quickly came to greet her: "Madam, what would you like to see? Our shop has just received a batch of fine goods from foreign lands. Please feel free to choose whatever you like."
Xie Wanniang ran her fingertips across the shelves, carefully examining the imported goods in two categories.
There are quite a few things worth buying: there are glass mirrors from the West, which are several times clearer than bronze mirrors; there are spices from Southeast Asia, such as ambergris and benzoin, which have a rich and lasting aroma and a unique fragrance; and there are Western clocks, made of brass, which keep accurate time and tick.
Another type is overpriced and not worth the price: for example, fist-sized glass beads, which the shopkeeper exaggerates and asks for eight taels of silver each, but are actually just ordinary glass; and colored glass pieces from the West, which, although they have good light transmission, are not considered rare treasures and are priced as high as jade.
After some haggling, Xie Wanniang made a decision: "Give me twenty of these glass mirrors, no, fifty; ten pocket watches; and two packets of benzoin."
The shopkeeper was dumbfounded; it was the first time he'd ever seen someone buy so much at once.
The things they sell here are generally expensive; being able to buy three or five items is something only wealthy people can afford.
As he stood there in a daze, the chubby shopkeeper, who had been standing behind the counter, suddenly darted over with an agility completely disproportionate to his size.
"What are you standing there for? Hurry up and go to the warehouse to get the goods for this lady!"
The waiter was slapped on the back and immediately woke up as if from a dream, making two "oh" sounds before running off to get Xie Wanniang's things as instructed.
As for the plump shopkeeper, he smiled and bowed slightly to Xie Wanniang, "Please wait a moment, madam, or you may sit in our quiet room on the second floor. I will have someone prepare fragrant tea, snacks, and dried fruit for you."
Xie Wanniang shook her head, "Thank you for your kindness, shopkeeper, but there's no need for the quiet room."
She didn't have the usual formalities of women from wealthy families and didn't mind showing her face in public.
Upon hearing this, the shopkeeper continued to stay by her side, enthusiastically introducing her to his other goods.
However, Xie Wanniang did not intend to spend money to buy anything else.
Especially the glass bead that the shopkeeper was enthusiastically promoting, Xie Wanniang didn't want to spend a single penny on it.
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