Chapter 20 Banditry
Ling Wei stood there, watching Imperial Censor Fang's angry back, and found it somewhat amusing.
Hopefully, this upright and honest old censor won't be angered to the point of harm.
But she had no choice. She knew why Imperial Censor Fang had stopped her. The Qingliu faction was now being suffocated by the Cai Party and the Noble Party. Seeing a prince who could speak in front of the emperor and seemed to have some ideas, they couldn't help but want to seize this opportunity.
If she went along with the flow and walked out of the palace gates amicably with Imperial Censor Fang, even if it was just a casual greeting, the rumor that "the Fifth Princess is in close contact with Qingliu" would probably reach some people's ears within half a day, needlessly arousing suspicion and scrutiny. Why bother?
"Fifth Sister, what did you say to Imperial Censor Fang just now? Look how angry she is, she's walking with a gust of wind."
See? Even though she has tried to distance herself from the situation, her naturally suspicious and inquisitive third sister will still come up to her immediately.
Ling Wei sighed inwardly and slowly turned around: "It's nothing, Third Sister. I just asked her if she had any useful folk remedies that could make me, well, better in a certain way."
Upon hearing this, Ling Xuan's lips twitched slightly, and a hint of inquiry flashed across her usually smiling eyes.
After the court session ended, the second sister, Ling Yao, said she was going to visit her father and left first. At this moment, most of the officials had already dispersed from the long palace road, leaving only the two sisters standing in the increasingly intense sunlight, their shadows stretching long on the ground.
"Fifth Sister is becoming more and more witty these days." Ling Xuan took two steps closer, her voice still gentle. "But those few muddled accounts she just made in court were calculated so perfectly that even an old-fashioned like Censor Fang could see right through them."
They've arrived.
Ling Wei understood, but her expression remained listless: "Third Sister, please don't make fun of me. I really didn't understand and just mumbled a few words. How can it compare to your insightful comments just now? That was truly comprehensive and helped Mother."
"Fifth Sister, why belittle yourself? When you led troops in the Northern Frontier, how quick-witted and decisive you were?"
Looking at the face in front of her that was full of "sincerity," Ling Wei felt a deep weariness wash over her. She looked at Ling Xuan and suddenly didn't want to beat around the bush anymore.
"Third Sister," Ling Wei said calmly, "you know that I can't condense spiritual energy now, and my martial meridians are mostly ruined, right?"
Ling Xuan's smile froze slightly: "Fifth Sister..."
Ling Wei didn't give her a chance to reply: "So, Third Sister, if you have such concern, you should use it on something more worthwhile. It's really not worth your time and energy here."
"...Fifth Sister is just in a temporary predicament. I've heard that there are miraculous doctors in the martial arts world who can repair spiritual power. Third Sister has been keeping an eye out for you. We sisters should always help each other."
It means that they still feel she is a threat.
Ling Wei's clear gaze fell on Ling Xuan's face, and the corners of her lips twitched slightly: "Then I'll take Third Sister's good wishes. If there really is such a miraculous doctor who can restore me to my former state..."
To restore the Fifth Princess to her former glory, a woman of unparalleled martial prowess—
"That would be perfect."
Ling Xuan wasn't the only one with a hidden meaning in his words. The palace road fell silent for a moment, with only the faint sound of the wind rustling through the eaves.
The smile on Ling Xuan's face finally faded slowly, and beneath his usual gentle mask, a deep scrutiny was revealed.
Ling Wei was unwilling to say any more. "Now that I've finished speaking, I'll take my leave."
She turned and walked away along the long palace path.
There was a time when Ling Xuan would genuinely cheer for her from the sidelines of the martial arts arena, and would secretly slip her snacks when she was punished for slacking off.
When did something else begin to creep into this intimacy and care?
Was it from her rise to prominence in the North? Or perhaps even earlier, long before, within these palace walls, the seeds of suspicion and scheming had already sprouted in the blood of everyone.
......
Days slipped through her fingers like water, and Ling Wei continued her seemingly routine "recuperation" life. The turmoil in the capital seemed to have nothing to do with her for the time being, at least on the surface.
Until that urgent military report from the southwest, delivered over a distance of 600 li, shattered the still waters like a boulder.
The news came from Fuling County, which borders Xishan, where there is an important official mine of the imperial court, the Longji Iron Mine.
An urgent report stated that a group of unidentified and ruthless bandits had been frequently harassing the perimeter of the Longji Mine, robbing ore, killing and injuring guards, and even approaching the main mine entrance at one point, causing the mine to temporarily shut down and suffer significant losses.
The local garrison launched several encirclement and suppression campaigns, but all of them were of little success because the bandits were familiar with the terrain and moved erratically.
The prefect reported that the banditry was rampant and had endangered the nation's vital iron mines. He earnestly requested the court to quickly dispatch capable officials to oversee the bandit suppression efforts.
Emperor Jinghe did not discuss this matter at court, but instead summoned Chief Minister Cai, several cabinet ministers, and the heads of the Ministry of War and the Ministry of Revenue to the warm pavilion.
The warm pavilion was filled with calming incense, yet the atmosphere was even more stagnant than in the imperial court.
"The Longji Mine is crucial to military supplies and cannot be lost. The Xishan Uprising must be quelled immediately."
Emperor Jinghe cut to the chase, pointing at the report with his fingertip, "How to quell this, and who should quell it? Let's discuss this among yourselves."
The Minister of Revenue spoke first, his brows furrowed: "Your Majesty, I believe we should first investigate the root cause of the uprising. The reports are vague, only mentioning bandits and unruly people. If we simply suppress them, it may provoke even greater unrest."
The Minister of War immediately said, "The bandits have robbed government granaries and killed government soldiers, which is tantamount to rebellion. It is necessary to investigate the root cause, but the most important thing is to take swift and decisive measures to suppress them as a warning to others. Otherwise, if other places follow suit, the country will be in danger! I request that troops from nearby garrisons be immediately dispatched to suppress them."
"Send troops to encircle and suppress them?" A white-haired elder said slowly, "Besides the so-called bandits, there are also people who have lived there for generations. If the army moves, everything will be destroyed. The mines are important, but if nine out of ten houses are empty, His Majesty's reputation for benevolence will be damaged. Who will dare to serve the court on that land in the future?"
In my humble opinion, a combination of suppression and appeasement is best. A prudent and capable minister, or a prince from the imperial clan, should be dispatched to oversee the situation. This would both demonstrate the Emperor's benevolence and allow for expedient local measures.
The moment the words "Imperial Prince" were uttered, the warm pavilion fell silent.
Everyone knows that sending a princess is the best way to represent the royal family's emphasis and to balance the demands of all parties.
The question is, who should we send?
The second princess, Ling Yao, is close to the Cai faction. Sending her would make the noble faction and the Qingliu faction the first to feel uneasy.
Since Tsai's hometown is near Xishan, they believe that Tsai's party is trying to take this opportunity to completely control the area around the mine, or even cover something up.
The Cai faction was naturally unhappy about the Third Princess Ling Xuan, fearing that she would use her presence to make trouble.
The previously silent Chief Minister Cai spoke slowly, his voice not loud, but everyone heard him: "This old minister believes that Her Highness the Fifth Princess is the most suitable candidate."
Several pairs of eyes immediately focused on her kind face.
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