Chapter 116 Making the princess serve me with the petition drum is tantamount to insubordination…
"Thump!—"
"Thump!—"
"Thump!—"
Before dawn, the drums outside Danhe Gate sounded one after another, resounding loudly.
Just as the time for the morning court session was approaching, the civil and military officials, who were waiting in their palanquins to attend the morning court session, were all drawn by the deafening drumbeats. They turned their heads or lifted the curtains of their palanquins to look out of the palace gate.
This drumbeat is no ordinary drum; it is called the "Drum of Petition."
This drum was erected during the reign of Emperor Gaozu, the founder of the Northern Ye Kingdom, and several hundred years have passed since then.
Emperor Gaozu established an ancestral rule: if people have great grievances and injustices, and the local government at all levels fails to handle them fairly or refuses to accept them, or if there are major disasters, wars, or conspiracies that concern the foundation of the country and the channels are blocked, they can go directly to the Danhe Gate outside the capital and beat this drum to appeal for justice.
Striking this drum can bypass all judicial institutions and reach the ears of Heaven directly.
The sound of the drum was a command, and the emperor had to listen to it.
However, the path to Heaven's Hearing is no child's play.
To ensure that this system would not be abused by those with ulterior motives or those who were overly concerned with petty gains, Emperor Gaozu issued extremely strict iron laws, which were enshrined in a huge "warning iron stele" erected beside the drum, inscribed with:
When the Heavenly Drum sounds, Heaven's hearing is immediate. I will personally inspect the situation to understand the people's suffering. However, the laws are strict and cannot be trifled with.
If, after investigation and review by the authorities, the alleged matter is found to be unsubstantiated, the accused shall be punished with one hundred strokes of the cane and three years of penal servitude. If the accusation is fabricated out of thin air and maliciously framed, the accused shall be punished for the same crime. For example, if someone accuses another of embezzlement, the accused shall be punished with tattooing. If someone falsely accuses another of treason, the accused shall be torn apart by chariots, and their entire clan shall be implicated without pardon.
As for disputes over land and money, minor matters concerning marriage and neighbors, and trivial daily squabbles, if such trivial matters are reported to the emperor indiscriminately, it will be regarded as deceiving the emperor and the crime will be doubled, resulting in exile to a thousand miles away, and even if a pardon is granted, the punishment will not be reduced.
Once this edict was issued, the entire nation complied with it, ensuring that public sentiment was conveyed to the emperor and that national laws were not lightly violated.
Because of these stringent conditions, this drum, though located outside the palace gate, has not been sounded for many years.
Only today has this sounded.
The officials were extremely curious about the drummer, and those who had entered the palace gates came back out to see who it was.
Only Wang Chang, who concurrently served as Minister of Works and Minister of the Imperial Secretariat, Gao Chou, Minister of Works, Chen Boxia, the Vice Minister of the Censorate, several high-ranking officials of the fourth rank or above, and Li Xing, who was resting with his eyes closed, stood still without moving an inch.
The soldiers of the Wuwei Camp instantly surrounded him, their cold spears all pointing at the person in the center.
Under the watchful eyes of everyone, Lang Xi stood in the center, dressed in plain clothes, his gaze sweeping over the crisscrossing sharp spear tips in front of him, his expression calm and composed.
Her face was as white as snow, and her unadorned face was breathtakingly beautiful. Her eyes were bright as cold stars, and occasionally revealed a coldness. There was not a trace of panic or fear on her face.
She calmly put the drumsticks back in their place.
A moment later, a figure suddenly passed through the crowd of officials, and a minister holding a bright white jade tablet stepped out quickly.
He stood still, his gaze sharp as he scrutinized Lang Xi from head to toe.
He paused briefly, cleared his throat, and spoke in a loud yet steady voice: "The heavenly drum has sounded, and the Emperor's ears have been reached. However, the law is above all; do you know the consequences of false accusations and abusive litigation?"
Before they came, they had already figured out everything that needed to be clear. Naturally, they understood the pros and cons.
Upon hearing this, Langxi showed no fear.
He replied clearly and distinctly: "Every single matter I have reported is supported by factual evidence. I am willing to stake my life on it; it is absolutely not a lie. I implore Your Honor to investigate this matter thoroughly!"
As usual, the minister in the green robe then asked, "Whom and what matter does the Taoist priest wish to sue?"
Langxi calmly began, “Today, I risk my life to petition the emperor, not for my own grievance, but to plead for the lives of millions in Ding, Liang, and Xia prefectures. In these three prefectures, banditry has spread like wildfire. Rebels have gathered in the mountains and forests, establishing strongholds in strategic locations, and their power is growing daily. They plunder incessantly, and every village and town they pass through is harassed. Even worse, some have dared to openly raise the banner of ‘purging the emperor's inner circle,’ clamoring to march on the Jian'an imperial city.”
"The elite troops of the border army have all been deployed to the northern frontier to defend against the enemy. The garrison troops of the prefectures and counties are depleted of manpower and lack of weapons. Although there are loyal and righteous men who fight to the death, they are outnumbered and can only watch as the enemy's power spreads and the people suffer more and more. Although my county magistrate is of low rank, he has never forgotten the country and has repeatedly submitted memorials, tearfully reporting the critical situation of the bandits and earnestly requesting the court to send troops to help. However, the memorials are like rivers flowing into the sea, and there is no reply."
"Although I am of humble origin, as a member of the Daoist sect, I cannot bear to see millions of people suffering and thousands of miles of land devastated. Therefore, I have no choice but to come to the Danhe Gate and use the sound of the drum to reach the ears of the heavens, and earnestly request Your Majesty to issue an order immediately to dispatch troops to aid the three prefectures, save the people from dire straits, and reverse the already critical situation."
Upon hearing this, even though the bandits were to be dealt with by the emperor's inner circle, most of the people present, except for a few members of the Wuwei Battalion who exchanged bewildered glances, did not change their expressions.
The minister standing before Langxi showed no other reaction and calmly said, "The three prefectures that the Taoist priest mentioned have been stable for many years, and the people live and work in peace and contentment. A few days ago, only Jincheng County suffered from a breached dike, but when the court received the memorial from the governor of Jincheng County, it had already sent grain and silver to provide relief."
"Although there were some incompetent local officials, they have all been personally escorted back to Jian'an by Li Huangmen to be executed." The minister spoke leisurely, holding his jade tablet, and asked her, "Daoist, your words are filled with tears and blood. Where did these bandit scourges you spoke of come from?"
Faced with the other party's disbelief, Lang Xi showed no anger. She replied meaningfully, "As for where this banditry came from, in my memory, it was after the flood in Jincheng County."
She changed the subject, her voice clear yet sharp: "The floodwaters have inundated the farmland. Some disaster victims, even with the relief grain from the imperial court, are still starving. They are forced to become outlaws. These people mostly rob the rich to help the poor. They don't harm each other or kill innocent people. They just want to beg for a bite to eat."
"Of course, these people are only a very small part. The majority are opportunists who do all sorts of evil deeds and make a living by robbing."
Before the minister could respond, Langxi had already taken the initiative, raising both arms high above his head and presenting the memorial that he had drafted with Yu Nie the previous night:
"I humbly request Your Excellency to convey my request and allow me to personally go before His Majesty to present my case!"
Once the drum for petitioning has been sounded, according to the law, the person who struck the drum must be led before the emperor. This is a fixed rule of the dynasty, and even princes and nobles dare not disobey it. No one else has any reason to obstruct it.
Although some scheming individuals might harbor obstructive thoughts, at this moment, with everyone watching, including civil and military officials, imperial guards, and civilians, no one dared to break ancestral rules and regulations under the public gaze, lest they incur the charge of "deceiving the emperor and obstructing the people's sentiments."
Even though the minister holding the tablet still had doubts, he knew that there was no room for further words at this point, as it was his duty to convey the people's sentiments.
He had no choice but to withdraw his scrutinizing gaze, give Langxi a slight nod, and turn to lead her into the palace gate.
As the figure in front of the palace gate gradually disappeared behind the vermilion gate, Cuiwei, who had been hiding in the distance, quietly peeked out.
She breathed a sigh of relief as she looked towards the palace gate, then turned and ran quickly toward the Jiheng Mansion without further delay.
*
Upon learning that Langxi had successfully entered the palace, Yu Nie's heart, which had been hanging in suspense, finally settled down a little.
She secretly breathed a sigh of relief, but little did she know that this subtle expression was noticed by Huan Xun, who had just finished changing his dressing on the bed.
He smirked, a hint of mockery in his eyes: "Now you can finally rest easy?"
Yu Nie turned around to meet his gaze, then walked to the wooden stool by the bed and sat down: "I thought someone would stop Junior Sister, but thankfully, she went in safely."
This concern is not unfounded.
Before today's event, she sent Song Ai on horseback to the Jiheng Mansion to report the entire plan of the audience with the emperor. As soon as Langxi set off, she immediately set off to come here as well.
This arrangement was made to guard against unforeseen circumstances. If the palace were to fall, the two of them could devise a plan and provide timely support, ensuring that Langxi would not be left to face danger alone.
Huan Xun saw through her thoughts and gave her a look: "Since you're putting your mind at ease for now, why don't you eat the breakfast on the table first? It's been a long day of waiting, and we can't keep waiting for someone to come back on an empty stomach."
Following his gaze, Yu Nie saw a warm bowl of porridge and several delicate side dishes on a round wooden table.
It was just past the end of the Yin hour outside the window. The sky was shrouded in a hazy blue, and the morning light had not yet penetrated the clouds. Occasionally, a few clear birdsongs could be heard from outside.
Stepping into the palace was just the beginning of everything.
She couldn't sit still and enjoy her breakfast until Langxi returned.
She asked worriedly, "What should we do if the Emperor refuses to accept this case?"
“He won’t stand idly by.” Huan Xun said with certainty, “The news that Nan Yin wants to launch a northern expedition ahead of schedule will reach his ears in less than two days. To quell external aggression, one must first pacify internal strife; this has been a timeless principle.”
She understood everything he said. Everything is difficult at the beginning. This was their first time doing something so dangerous, something that could lead to their utter ruin if they weren't careful. It was not easy to calm their minds.
He naturally understood the source of her unease, and immediately told her all the arrangements that he hadn't had time to mention yet.
"Moreover, Yang Zhongshu is still in the palace. The moment you sent Song Ai to deliver the message, I had already ordered Xie Cheng to ride a fast horse to see him, and specifically instructed him that if he encountered anything related to Master Shen, he must say a few words to the Emperor."
“Yang Zhongshu comes from a humble background and is an upright official. He has served three emperors. Given his background, the fact that he was able to obtain such a high position and wield such great power in the civil service system dominated by aristocratic families shows how much Zhao Yunfu relies on him. If he speaks up, Zhao Yunfu will not refuse.”
This was the first time Yu Nie had heard another minister speak to him, and he figured that Yang Du's words must carry weight in front of Zhao Yunfu.
"Then I can rest assured." Her anxiety eased slightly.
Everyone else in the room was dismissed, leaving only the two of them.
She glanced at the porridge on the table, got up, ladled out half a bowl, and brought it to him.
He raised an eyebrow and deliberately said, "For me, a subject, to have a princess serve me is surely insubordination."
She blew on the porridge in her spoon, glanced at him, and said with a hint of reproach, "Still being cheeky when you're injured. It seems our Lord Huan isn't seriously injured enough."
“Here…” She held the slightly cooled porridge to his lips: “Eat quickly, otherwise it will hurt your stomach if you drink it when it gets completely cold, and I won’t take care of you then.”
Her words carried a hint of feigned "threat," but as she held the bottom of the bowl with her fingertips, the reproach in her tone had vanished.
Huan Xun smiled enchantingly, looked into her eyes, and then drank the porridge she fed him.
After breakfast, the maids guarding the door cleared away the remaining food from the table.
Yu Nie told him about her plan to refine gunpowder.
She said, "I originally planned to go to Longxi to buy saltpeter to make gunpowder. Now, I can finally go back to my old trade."
Hearing this, he showed little joy: "Why not wait until Li Xing's matter is completely resolved before starting this? It seems that it may not be urgent at this moment."
She smiled slightly: "Time waits for no one. The process of preparing gunpowder is complicated and must be prepared in advance."
According to the book, chaos was imminent, and the success or failure of gunpowder production was still uncertain; she had to race against time.
He didn't try to persuade him further, but simply said, "If you need saltpeter, I can help you."
He saw her raise her eyes, looking at him with a hint of surprise.
He explained, “Every year, the palace requisitions a large amount of saltpeter from Longxi, specifically for alchemists to use in alchemy. Those people have stockpiled quite a bit. Just tell me how much you need. I might not be able to handle other things, but I can certainly take care of this small matter of finding saltpeter for you.”
She was slightly taken aback upon hearing this, but then she understood.
“You are…” she trailed off, “well-connected and influential.”
"Know yourself and know your enemy, and you will win every battle. The alchemists are insatiable; the amount of aged saltpeter piled up in their warehouses is probably more than the amount of medicinal herbs in the Imperial Medical Academy." His words were tinged with sarcasm and certainty.
“Since that’s the case…” She raised her hand and gestured in the air, leaning forward slightly, “I think, how about three loads first?”
When she suddenly drew closer, a glint flashed in his eyes as he stared intently at her. His gaze was like that of a hunter eyeing its prey, a stark contrast to his usual demeanor.
“Okay.” He agreed readily: “Tomorrow, I will have someone deliver it to Hongzheng Pavilion.”
Her bright eyes curved into a smile: "Then thank you very much, Zijing."
She hadn't called him that in a long time.
He paused for a few seconds, then chuckled softly, his handsome, golden-jade-like features revealing a refined and beautiful appearance. He responded with an "Mm."
*
Inside the Dongguan Pavilion.
Sitting on the throne, Zhao Yunfu flipped through the memorial again and again before handing it to Yang Du, who was below him.
His aggressive gaze would occasionally sweep over Langxi, who was kneeling with his eyes lowered.
"Master Shen, I have read this memorial." His usual authority was lessened at this moment. "I am well aware of the suffering of the people of the three prefectures and the severity of the banditry. Rest assured, I assure you that I will not ignore this matter. I will see it through to the end and give you, Master Shen, and the people of the world an explanation."
After speaking, his expression softened slightly, and his gaze fell on Lang Xi's face, scrutinizing and examining him.
"Although the Taoist priest lives a secluded life, he cares deeply for the common people and has traveled thousands of miles to bring this important report to me and the court. His compassion and courage are truly rare, and I admire him greatly."
Langxi replied calmly and respectfully, “Your Majesty flatters me. Although I practice the Way of the Immortals, I feel as if I am suffering as I am suffering myself when I see the people in distress. If I can use this small act to reach Your Majesty’s ears and help you relieve the people’s suffering, it would be a great merit for me. I really do not deserve such praise from Your Majesty.”
Zhao Yunfu nodded slightly, seemingly quite pleased with Lang Xi's humility.
"You are too modest, Daoist Master. Compassion and helping the world require courage and wisdom to put into practice. Enough for today. You must be tired from your journey, Daoist Master. Please go back and rest well. If there are any doubts after further investigation, I will send someone to invite you to come and talk."
Langxi slightly raised his eyes, then bowed again and kowtowed: "This humble Taoist thanks Your Majesty for your consideration. I will obey your decree and take my leave now."
After saying that, she stood up, took a few steps back, and turned to leave with the same steady steps she had taken when she came in.
Zhao Yunfu's gaze never left her from the moment she stood up, following her beautiful figure all the way as she walked out of the palace gate and gradually disappeared outside until she could no longer be seen.
He ran his fingertips along the armrest of the throne, and the silence in the hall seemed to stretch on.
The face of his old friend flashed through his mind again—that beautiful, refined, and indomitable face.
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