Chapter 32 Don't you want to take responsibility for me?
After Xiao Shenjing finished speaking, he turned and left.
As he left, he helped Cen Yuwei.
They showed great care and concern.
Yunxi was finally released.
She was already numb from the pain of having her arms tied behind her back, and she didn't even have the strength to argue with Xiao Shenjing.
She quickly covered her arm, which was so deep it exposed bone, and then forced herself to stand up, supporting herself on her swollen knees.
Behind them, on the paving stones, lay a large pool of bright red blood.
I don't know if it was because I had been kneeling for too long, but I stumbled and almost fell.
She gritted her teeth and managed to hold on.
Aunt Jiang and her group saw Xiao Shenjing and Cen Yuwei off.
As I turned around, I saw Yunxi standing under the corridor, her hands behind her back, her expression unreadable.
"Aunt Jiang, what should be done with Yunxi?" Granny Zhou asked in a low voice, increasingly disliking Yunxi.
Aunt Jiang's expression suddenly became somewhat complicated.
The fact that Princess Yong'an, the future empress, was injured means that any ordinary person would not have survived.
This Yunxi was merely a slave.
Considering His Majesty's attitude and Commander Dao's protective intentions.
Aunt Jiang made a decision quickly.
To survive in this palace, it's best not to offend anyone.
Xiao Shenjing stayed with Cen Yuwei in Chengqian Palace for a long time.
He only left after Eunuch Fu came to report that Fan Zishi was requesting an audience.
Although Xiao Shenjing suppressed the fact that Cen Yuwei had been injured by Yun Xi.
But Fan Zishi still received the message.
He could no longer sit still, so he took the memorial he had been writing through the night and went into the palace.
He needs to hurry, even faster.
With Yunxi's temperament, how could she possibly stay long in the treacherous and dangerous inner palace?
Back then, when Xiao Shenjing massacred powerful clans, Fan Zishi saved the entire Jiangyuan Marquis's mansion with a letter of advice regarding the rice paddy dispute.
The rice and mulberry cultivation in the Jiangnan region has long been a sword hanging over Jingsheng, ready to fall at any moment.
In any case, reform is imperative.
Xiao Shenjing knew this before he ascended the throne, but there were some things he couldn't do.
A sharp, ruthless knife is needed to dissect the already corrupt court.
After reading through the memorial presented by Eunuch Fu.
Xiao Shenjing tapped on the imperial desk, remaining silent for a long time.
Fan Zishi's memorial detailed the conversion of mulberry trees to rice paddies and how to expose the silk merchants and the officials behind them.
Any official who holds shares in a merchant firm exceeding one hundred will be considered to have accepted bribes. The Maritime Trade Office was ordered to secretly investigate merchant ship manifests and compare them with the tax office's records, specifically targeting smuggling.
Transactions exceeding five thousand taels must be processed through the Bureau. Secret agents from the Surveillance Department are planted within the Bureau to monitor suspicious fund flows.
They bribed accountants at major banks to obtain secret accounts of officials depositing silver under false names and rigorously investigated anonymous accounts.
The land was remeasured.
They feigned announcing that they would exchange silk for warhorses. When corrupt officials colluded with silk merchants to hoard goods, they suddenly changed the order to only accept Shu brocade, causing the merchants' cash flow to dry up and forcing them to sell off their stock. They then seized the opportunity to investigate and confiscate problematic accounting books.
Finally, the policy of banning corrupt merchants from taking the imperial examinations was implemented: merchants involved in corruption were barred from taking the examinations for three generations, forcing their families to expose their corruption.
Each item is followed by detailed, actionable suggestions.
However, the conflict between mulberry and rice is a deep-rooted problem that has persisted for generations, and eradicating it completely would inevitably involve great risks.
It should not be done lightly.
A resolute look flashed across the young emperor's face.
For the sake of the people, he had no choice but to do it.
Thinking that Xiao Shenjing disagreed, Fan Zishi lowered his head and bowed, advising, "Your Majesty, the relationships between the ministers and the major aristocratic families and merchants here are very complex. They all take what they need and line their own pockets. It is by no means easy to get them to agree to the policy of cutting down mulberry trees and restoring rice. However, for the sake of the long-lasting prosperity of our Jingsheng Dynasty, reform is imperative."
The young emperor pondered for a moment, his slender fingers lightly tapping the imperial desk, and asked, "Do you know what risks you would face if this matter were entrusted to you?"
Fan Zishi nodded. "They will fabricate charges to oppress merchants and disrupt the market, and frame me for forming cliques and engaging in corrupt practices. Silk merchants might even organize a collective strike, causing weaving to cease operations and tens of thousands of weavers to gather and petition, blaming the economic turmoil on the new policies; they might also manipulate the price of raw silk to fluctuate wildly, forcing the court to compromise by besieging silkworm farmers; they might also paralyze the new policies' cash flow by refusing to redeem official notes through money shops, creating a crisis of empty treasury silver." He calmly stated, "Cutting off people's livelihood is like killing their parents. I might even face various forms of assassination, being drowned by river bandits, or being poisoned."
“That’s right.” Xiao Shenjing nodded slowly. “Do you know that among the 136 officials of the third rank or below who implemented the new policies in the previous dynasty, most of them died violent deaths? There was even a precedent of a governor being beaten to death with sticks.”
"Your subject is willing to plead for the people, so that our Jingsheng nation may last for thousands of years." Fan Zishi knelt on one knee, his handsome face calm and composed, without a trace of hesitation.
The only way is to resolve the dispute between mulberry and rice in the shortest possible time.
Only then would he be qualified to rescue Yunxi from the palace.
He had already hurt her like that once.
"When do you plan to set off?" Xiao Shenjing asked him, looking down at him.
"The sooner the better," Fan Zishi replied, bowing.
"Very well, if this matter is accomplished, I will certainly reward you handsomely!" Xiao Shenjing stood up, his hands behind his back. "I intend to host a Mid-Autumn Festival banquet for important officials of the court. I will order a grand play to be staged to assist you, my dear minister."
Before dusk that day, after Xiao Shenjing finished processing the memorials, he said to Eunuch Fu, "Prepare the carriage for Chengqian Palace."
Upon hearing the news from the eunuch, Cen Yuwei's eyes immediately lit up with a smile.
She quickly instructed the cook to prepare dinner and personally went to the courtyard gate to greet them.
Upon seeing her, Xiao Shenjing reprimanded her, "You are still injured, and the heat outside the courtyard is intense. Don't come out again next time."
Although it was a reprimand, it contained obvious concern, which made people feel sweet inside.
"Your Majesty, I've had the chef prepare your favorite dishes. Why don't we dine here tonight?"
“That’s natural.” Xiao Shenjing nodded. “It just so happens that we’re discussing hosting a Mid-Autumn Festival banquet for the court officials.”
"A Mid-Autumn Festival banquet?" Chen Yuwei was quite surprised by the sudden timing.
"I plan to host a banquet for all civil and military officials, as well as the concubines of the harem. I entrust this matter entirely to you." He paused, then added, "Such a demanding task, your health..."
"I am very happy to be able to share His Majesty's burdens." She interrupted Xiao Shenjing, which was unusual for her.
"If you need anything, remember to ask Eunuch Fu; he will help you." Xiao Shenjing nodded.
After having dinner, Xiao Shenjing left.
Cen Yuwei watched his departing figure, her lips twitching several times as if she wanted to say something to stop him.
But they couldn't say anything.
She frowned, her eyes filled with deep sorrow.
"Princess, what's wrong?" Aunt Xueyu helped her sit down and asked.
Cen Yuwei asked, "Don't you feel that Brother Yin'an only has brotherly and sisterly feelings for me?"
“How could the princess think such a thing?” Aunt Xueyu immediately refuted, “His Majesty arranged your marriage just one month after ascending the throne, which shows how important you are to him.”
"I hope so," Cen Yuwei sighed.
After a few moments, she suddenly asked, "What happened to Yunxi?"
"I've been assigned to grow vegetables in the inner garden." Aunt Xueyu paused, then asked, "Princess, it's been a long time since you've worshipped Buddha. Why don't you go over tomorrow?"
Cen Yuwei was stunned.
He instantly understood what Aunt Xueyu meant.
Yinghua Hall is a place for Buddhist worship and is not far from the inner garden.
When the Empress Dowager was alive, Cen Yuwei often accompanied her.
Although a talisman is required to pass through there, there is currently no Empress Dowager or Consort Dowager in the palace, and she is the only one with the highest rank, so entering Yinghua Palace is a piece of cake.
That place is now deserted.
Yunxi was supposed to live in Pu, but Aunt Jiang specially arranged for her to live in Ganxi Wusuo.
Granny Zhou led her to the gate of a courtyard in the Fifth Bureau of Ganxi and said, "Do you know that someone as lowly as you..."
Yunxi suddenly looked up and stared at Granny Zhou.
Her achievements today are still fresh in my mind.
Granny Zhou's eyelids twitched, and she coughed. "Given your current status, you should be living in the rear quarters of Yinghua Palace, with the elderly and frail maids. But Aunt Jiang is considerate of you and even arranged for you to be placed in the East Fifth Quarter, while you were placed in the West Fifth Quarter. Do you know what that means?"
Yunxi shook her head, her face pale.
She knew absolutely nothing about this wretched place.
Now the pain in my arm is excruciating. I had only tied a knot hastily before, without applying any medicine or cleaning it, and a lot of fresh blood has seeped out again.
Seeing that she was ignoring her, Granny Zhou became increasingly angry.
He cursed her inwardly for being stupid, but remembering Aunt Jiang's instructions, he had to lower his voice and remind her, "Do you know that the Fifth Palace of the Eastern Region is closer to the Chengqian Palace?"
Seeing her mysterious demeanor.
Yunxi asked with a heavy heart, "So, what kind of place is Chengqian Palace?"
"Who exactly are you? How come you know nothing?" Granny Zhou took a deep breath and looked at Yunxi with surprise that she had survived until now.
"A man of the martial world," Yunxi answered proudly.
“But you are a lowly slave now.” Granny Zhou immediately stomped on your foot.
Yunxi cursed Xiao Shenjing in her heart again.
Seeing her humiliated, Granny Zhou felt inexplicably happy. In a better mood, she spoke less arrogantly and didn't mind saying a few more words: "The one living in Chengqian Palace is Princess Yong'an. You know best what you did today."
After saying that, he glanced at Yunxi.
Yunxi really wanted to say that what I did today was forced upon me by you.
But the battle had left her exhausted, and she was in so much pain that she had no strength left. She nodded and put on a grateful and obedient look, saying, "Thank you, Granny."
Seeing that she had suddenly understood, Granny Zhou was quite pleased with herself and took out a medicine bottle from her bosom. "This is wound medicine. Aunt Jiang specially instructed me to give it to you."
Staring at the bottle of wound medicine, Yunxi looked at Granny Zhou in surprise.
Seeing that she wouldn't take it, Granny Zhou stuffed the medicine bottle into her hand. "You must keep it safe. A bottle of wound medicine costs three taels of silver. It's only because Aunt Jiang is kind-hearted that you should remember this kindness."
"I will never forget your great kindness," Yunxi said obediently.
Only then was Granny Zhou satisfied and led her into the courtyard.
Yunxi was assigned to live in the first house from the south of the five houses in Ganxi. The courtyard had a main hall with five rooms, three side halls on the east and west sides, and seven rear rooms.
A well pavilion is set up in the courtyard for daily water fetching.
The previous dynasty had placed disgraced concubines in this first residence, so the palace maids secretly called it the 'Cold Palace,' a place the concubines feared most.
After handing her over to the palace maid in charge of the place, Granny Zhou left.
The head lady-in-waiting led her to the sleeping area, and Yunxi realized that she was to sleep on a large communal bed.
On the large kang (heated brick bed), a woman lay on her side with a quilt, barely able to turn over.
At this time, since it was afternoon, those who could stay in this large dormitory were all lowly palace maids, and they had not yet returned.
Aunt Cai settled her in a corner, gave her a few instructions on the rules, and then left, fanning herself with her fan.
The room was small and narrow, making it feel particularly stuffy.
Yunxi was extremely exhausted at this moment.
He grimaced as he cleaned the wound.
The wound was an old one, because it hadn't fully healed from the previous incident at the city gate, which prevented me from reacting in time and led to me being stabbed again.
The overlapping of new and old wounds made them look particularly gruesome.
She hesitated for a few moments, but in the end, she did not use the wound medicine that Aunt Jiang had given her.
The people in this palace are a complex bunch, so she should be a little more careful.
While being bandaged, Yunxi's face turned deathly pale, and she gasped for breath in pain.
After all that fuss, she was exhausted and covered in sweat. She tore off a strip of cloth to wipe herself and lay down in the corner of the dormitory to fall asleep.
In the evening.
The palace maids, who had been busy all day, gradually returned.
Upon seeing the extra people in the room, those who knew her whispered among themselves and soon learned that Yunxi was a lowly slave, a rank lower than ordinary palace maids and eunuchs, someone anyone could trample on.
However, they also heard about her causing a scene at the Qianqing Palace and injuring the princess today, and they were all extremely shocked. In addition, since she had offended the future empress, no one tried to get close to her to avoid being implicated.
So Yunxi slept soundly for most of the night.
Although I couldn't sleep well before because of the pain, I could at least fall asleep. But once the large communal bed was full of people, it was a different story.
The sounds of snoring rose and fell.
It's also unbearably hot and humid.
Forced to wake up, Yunxi tried to continue sleeping.
The dormitory bed was already very narrow, and when the sleeping palace maid next to her turned over, she landed on Yunxi's arm.
The snoring was so close to my ear, it was like a summer thunderclap.
She pushed the other person over, and a moment later the other person's leg was draped over her again.
Yunxi held back.
Finally, I just couldn't take it anymore.
She turned over and sat up.
Stepping out of the house, a cool breeze swept over me.
She suddenly felt even the pain from her wounds lessen.
She simply used the jujube tree in the yard to fly onto the roof and lay there for the night.
The next day, regardless of whether Yunxi was injured or not, she was taken to plant vegetables.
They even allocated her a vegetable garden and gave her some instructions, but Yunxi forgot them as soon as she heard them and didn't remember a single word.
Without any medicine, her arm was already swollen and in excruciating pain. In the sweltering summer heat, the wound was prone to festering. If she didn't find a solution soon, her arm would be ruined, and she might even lose her life.
He cursed Xiao Shenjing a thousand times in his heart, but it didn't solve the problem.
After all, she was penniless and had nothing of value; even getting a bottle of medicine for her injuries was difficult.
She did know some medicine for injuries, but this dilapidated palace barely had any weeds, let alone herbs. Even if there were any planted, they were all under the care of dedicated people.
After thinking it over, Yunxi threw down her hoe and made an excuse to slip away.
The Qianqing Palace is easy to find, after all, it was the emperor's sleeping quarters.
However, given Yunxi's status, she had to stay a hundred paces away from the Qianqing Palace, let alone get close to it.
Even imperial concubines were not allowed to enter without being summoned.
If a palace servant were to deliver a message to the Qianqing Palace, he would be led by a eunuch, walking with his face turned toward the wall, his eyes never touching the ground; otherwise, he would be immediately beaten to death.
So she said to the imperial guards on duty outside the East Gate, "Brave warrior, could you please help me pass on a message to Commander Dao?"
The imperial guards shouted, "How dare you! Which palace do you belong to? Do you have a death wish? Get out of here now!"
Yunxi felt irritable from the sun, and the injury on her arm was throbbing and painful.
She apologized to Dao Yi in her heart. There was really no other way. Her status was that of a lowly maidservant in the palace. She was even confined to a certain area where she could walk. If she dared to overstep the boundaries, she would bring trouble upon herself. She was already injured and would die if she delayed any longer.
She said impatiently, glaring at him, "Go and call Dao Yi out now. I'm pregnant with his child. If you don't pass on the message, I'll have an abortion. Can you take responsibility then?"
"Mu Yangping's eyes widened when she yelled at him like that."
The rest of the Imperial Guards also looked over.
Was she speaking human language?
How dare a woman make such a presumptuous noise in the Qianqing Palace, even tarnishing her own reputation?
"Aren't you going? Then I'll go drink the abortion soup." Yunxi said, turning to leave.
"You wait." Dao Yi was, after all, the Grand Commander, and none of these Imperial Guards could be offended. Mu Yangping pointed at Yun Xi and warned, "If you dare to lie, you will be executed immediately."
Yunxi smiled slightly.
Mu Yangping felt that this matter was not honorable and should not be publicized, so he chose to report it to his father-in-law in person instead of having his father-in-law relay the message.
Xiao Shenjing was processing memorials in the imperial study.
Dao Yi, who was guarding outside the door, looked rather uneasy when he saw the Imperial Guards striding in.
"Halt! What is it?" Dao Yi stood on the steps and demanded.
The imperial guards stationed at the bottom of the steps immediately stopped him.
Mu Yangping immediately knelt on one knee, licked his lips,
So he could only bite the bullet and say, "Commander, may I speak to you in private?"
Dao Yi scolded, "You coward, what can't you say in public?"
Mu Yangping hesitated for a few moments, and seeing Dao Yi's displeased expression, he could only truthfully report, "There is a woman outside the East Gate who claims to be pregnant with your child."
"What did you say?" Dao Yi had no idea what the person was saying.
Mu Yangping lowered his head even further and stammered, "There's a woman at the East Gate who says she's pregnant with your child. If you don't go to see her, she'll have to abort the child."
The imperial guards on duty were all trying to suppress their laughter, but their shrugging shoulders showed how hard they were trying to hold it in.
Dao Yi took a deep breath and walked out of the hall with an incredulous look on his face.
He wanted to see which one of them didn't want to live.
He had just reached the bottom of the steps when the study door was pushed open.
Xiao Shenjing clearly heard it too, but he naturally wouldn't care about his subordinate's private affairs.
"Your Majesty, should we inform Chengqian Palace?"
"No need." Cen Yuwei was busy with the banquet arrangements, so Xiao Shenjing should go and help out.
Informing them in advance would only add to the trouble.
Dao Yi was preoccupied with which palace maid dared to be so fearless, completely unaware of Xiao Shenjing behind him.
As soon as he went out through the East Gate, he saw Yunxi standing under the eaves.
Without a second thought, Dao turned and retreated.
This living Buddha is someone he can't afford to offend.
"Knife One!" Yunxi shouted.
When Xiao Shenjing heard that familiar voice, he was stunned for a moment, thinking that he was hallucinating.
Dao Yi didn't intend to stop, but after taking two steps, he saw a tall figure standing not far away.
He paused instinctively.
The high gates and walls blocked Yunxi's view, making it virtually impossible for her to see Dao Yi now. Naturally, she was unwilling to miss this opportunity, not to mention that her wounds couldn't be delayed any longer.
Driven by a survival instinct, she disregarded everything else and yelled at the top of her lungs, "Dao Yi, why are you running away? Don't you want to take responsibility for me?"
Xiao Shenjing: "?"
Dao Yi met those dark, deep phoenix eyes, and tears welled up in his eyes. "No, Your Majesty, please let me explain."
He hadn't finished speaking.
Yunxi's voice rang out again outside the hall.
"Dao Yi, if you don't come out to see me, I'll abort the baby in my belly."
Xiao Shenjing.
"Knife One".
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