Chapter 877: Living Bodhisattva
Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios
The Han Clan was powerful, and the court was filled with henchmen. There was also a resourceful second-in-charge in the cabinet. At that time, everyone would be talking about it. With the Imperial Court’s suspicion of the va.s.sal lords, Princess Shaoyi and King Yue Fei would not have a good time. If they handled it well, even the Yu Clan would be implicated.
Sixth Young Master Han sighed softly. “Princess Shaoyi has used the Xie Residence to attack the n.o.bles. She wants to deal with the aristocratic families by using their spear to attack their shield. The aristocratic families have cooperated with the land-owning cla.s.s for many years, and some of them are constantly involved. Look at Madam Bai today, as well as the families of many n.o.bles in Liaodong. They all rushed to Princess Shaoyi. You know how brilliant Princess Shaoyi’s plan is. She has grasped human nature perfectly.”
If Princess Shaoyi succeeded and the n.o.bles donated to King Yue Fei, it was inevitable that the land-owning cla.s.s would be implicated and suffer heavy losses.
His words revealed his admiration for Princess Shaoyi. However, his tone seemed frivolous and slow, revealing disdain and mockery.
Indeed!
Sixth Young Master Han sneered and changed the topic. As he shook his head, he revealed a regretful expression. “Tsk, tsk, tsk. What a pity. So what if she’s the eldest daughter of the first wife who was carefully raised by the aristocratic family? In the end, she’s an ignorant woman raised in her own room. She’s underestimated the Han Clan. The Bai Residence has something on the Han Clan and wants to use it as a bargaining chip to submit to King Yue Fei. However, the Han Clan also has something on the Bai Residence and has the upper hand…”
Madam Zhang’s complaint seemed to be directed at the Bai Residence, but it was actually an act with a hidden motive.
Princess Shaoyi was already caught between a rock and a hard place.
He Zhixian hurriedly said, “If Princess Shaoyi ignores Madam Zhang’s complaint, it’s equivalent to not caring about the Bai Residence’s life and death. The Bai Residence will naturally know that if they join King Yue Fei and decide that he can’t save their lives, they will have to turn around and beg the Han Clan. They won’t dare to help King Yue Fei deal with the Han Clan. As for the other disloyal n.o.bles, they will naturally behave when they see this situation.”
The matter of the Xie Residence donating money caused an uproar. In just two days, it had already spread in the Liaodong area, and the n.o.bles everywhere were also tempted.
“If she deals with this matter, it’s inevitable that we’ll be accused of interfering with the court and causing chaos in the country. Princess Shaoyi’s plan to control the n.o.bles and deal with the land-owning cla.s.s has already been foiled. Your move is too brilliant.”
Sixth Young Master Han smiled smugly. “If it weren’t for the fact that Princess Shaoyi had come to help King Yue Fei promote the planting of sweet potatoes in the North to ease the disaster in the North and even the Great Zhou Dynasty, it would have had a lot to do with the national policies issued by the Imperial Court. A mere Princess is still a little dignified in the capital. In the North, even if she’s a golden phoenix, I guarantee that she won’t be able to return.”
He Zhixian’s body trembled, and he quickly lowered his head, not daring to speak.
The case of King Li of Zhou and the tragic scene of blood flowing like a river in the North were still vivid in his mind.
The emperor did not pursue the matter to the end. It was the emperor who still wanted to use the land-owning cla.s.s of the North to continue restraining the va.s.sal lords. It was the land-owning cla.s.s who was very powerful in the court. It was also because the land-owning cla.s.s was deeply rooted in the North that if they moved rashly, there would inevitably be chaos in the North.
At that time, the Marquis of Changxing was escorted into the capital. It was the period around autumn and winter, and the Northern Barbarians were eyeing them covetously. However, the North was supported by the generals of the cavalry, and they urgently needed to stabilize the situation in the North as soon as possible.
Although Princess Shaoyi was the daughter of an external minister, she had been conferred the t.i.tle of a member of the imperial family. Her status was very n.o.ble, and she was deeply indebted to the emperor. She was also valued by the Empress Dowager. She was also the eldest daughter of the first wife of the Yu family in the capital. She represented the imperial court and had the interests of the royalists behind her. With the support of the Yu family, if anything happened to her in the North, she would directly stir up a hornet’s nest. It would provoke the dignity of the royal family and the dignity of the imperial family.
If Princess Shaoyi encountered an accident, it would be a public provocation to the imperial power. The Imperial Court would not let it go easily, and the n.o.bles of the North would become the target of public criticism.
Touching her was no different from courting death.
… .
At this moment, the Yu Garden guards were already holding their knives horizontally in front of them. They blocked the surroundings of the carriage and surrounded it tightly. A few guards surrounded Madam Zhang, who had a dirty head and ragged clothes. The saber at her waist had already been unsheathed. The bright blade was aimed at Madam Zhang’s head, throat, and heart. They guaranteed that if Madam Zhang did anything abnormal, she would be instantly killed.
There were already many people gathered around, pointing and discussing this scene.
Madam Zhang was not afraid at all. She knelt on the ground and cried miserably. “I have grievances. Princess Shaoyi, please uphold justice for me. You’re a living Bodhisattva. I’ll kowtow to you…”
Old Madam Sun stepped forward with a dark expression. “You have a grievance. What’s the logic of stopping the Princess halfway?”
“The Princess isn’t the county magistrate. Do you expect her to avenge you?”
“There are national laws and court rules. The concubines in the harem can’t do political work yet. The Princess is a woman. Wouldn’t that mess up the court rules?”
“The daughter of an external minister has been conferred the t.i.tle of Princess. It’s the grace of the royal family and she has received the emperor’s grace. Naturally, she has to follow the rules. How can she use her status to disrupt the law of the country?”
“The Princess has a n.o.ble status. You were rude to her during her journey. It’s not an exaggeration to punish you for offending your superior.”
These words made the surrounding commoners feel sad.
Madam Zhang cried even more miserably. “My first husband went to the battlefield with King Li of Zhou died in battle. My second husband was a carpenter and often helped the You army do some carpentry work. Didn’t they say that Princess Shaoyi was a living Bodhisattva? I just want justice. Please help me…”
Then, Madam Zhang cried at the top of her lungs. She cried that her husband had died for no reason, that her life was so bitter, that the men in her family had died, that her in-laws were not in good health, and that her children were all a little older. They would not be able to live in the future.
Her performance was excellent, mixed with the sorrow of reality, making all the commoners present empathize. For a moment, tears welled up in their eyes and they were filled with sorrow.
Madam Zhang’s sorrow was the current situation of most of the commoners in the North. It also reflected the blood and tears that most of the soldiers’ families experienced.
Even Yu Youyao’s eyes couldn’t help but turn red. She instructed Chun Xiao in a low voice, “Invite Madam Zhang over to talk.”
Chun Xiao alighted from the carriage, opened the door, and lifted the heavy curtain, leaving only a thin gauze curtain to cover it. Everyone could only see a woman wearing a pearl jade crown sitting upright behind the gauze curtain. Although they couldn’t see her appearance clearly, the woman was dressed in a black robe that instantly intimidated the commoners present.
The commoners did not understand etiquette. When they heard that Princess Shaoyi was a legitimate princess, they immediately knelt on the ground in fear. They deeply realized that although Princess Shaoyi was known for being kind, she was also a n.o.ble daughter.
She was n.o.ble and dignified.
She was not someone they could discuss and gossip about.