Chapter 1062: Entering the Capital
....
Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios
Yin Huaixi, who had not slept for three consecutive days, rubbed his throbbing forehead. “Everything during the coronation will be simple. What to do will be handled by the Ministry of Revenue and the Ministry of Rites. Don’t ask me about such small matters in the future.”
Eunuch Li’s mouth moved. How could the coronation be a small matter?
All the major events in the Imperial Court combined were not as important as this matter.
However, the only person in the palace who could speak to the new emperor was Eunuch Zhu. He had been sent by the new emperor to Xiangping to bring Eldest Princess Shaoyi into the capital. Even if he knew that it was inappropriate, he did not dare to ask.
Yin Huaixi looked at the mountain of memorials on the table and felt a headache coming on. Seeing that Eunuch Li had returned again, his face darkened. “What’s wrong now? Is it the Ministry of Official Personnel Affairs or the Ministry of War this time? They’ve been studying hard for ten years and have digested many principles. However, all of them live like parasites. They’re making me worry. They have to discuss and decide everything with me. What are they doing?”
Eunuch Li’s legs trembled as he quickly said, “Your Majesty, it was Eunuch Zhu who sent a message. The Eldest Princess has already arrived in the suburbs of the capital. Soon…”
Before he could say the word “enter the city”, he saw the new emperor sitting on the dragon throne suddenly stand up and walk out of the Hall of Diligent Governance.
Eunuch Zhu was stunned for a moment before he quickly chased after him. “Your, Your Majesty, where are you going? Elder Yu and some old officials are still waiting for you to discuss matters in the Imperial Pavilion. You…”
When he chased the new emperor out of the Hall of Diligent Governance, he only heard a shout and watched helplessly as the new emperor whipped his horse and left.
Eunuch Li stomped his feet anxiously and shouted at the top of his lungs, “Someone, follow the emperor quickly. The emperor is leaving the palace. Hurry up and protect him…”
Yin Huaixi did not care. After he rode his horse out of the palace, his mind was filled with thoughts of “Yu Youyao entering the capital.”
He had not seen Yu Youyao for more than a year since they parted in June last year.
Seeing that it was December and everything in the court was getting more and more complicated, and that Yu Youyao had yet to enter the capital, the anxiety in his heart deepened, and his killing intent deepened.
The capital was still under martial law, and the city gate was heavily guarded. Every arrow tower on the city wall had a large crossbow installed to escort Yu Youyao’s army into the capital. As soon as they approached the city gate, the crossbows immediately adjusted their direction and pointed at them.
The soldier guarding outside the city went through his routine and shouted, “Who is it?”
The commander of the Hidden Dragon Army took off his waist token. “We, the commanders of the Hidden Dragon Army, are under the orders of the new emperor to go to Xiangping City in Liaodong to welcome Princess Yi back to the capital. This is the token.”
The young general guarding the city took the token and identified it carefully. He bowed respectfully to Yu Youyao, who was in the carriage. “The martial law in the capital hasn’t been removed. I’ve been ordered to guard the capital’s city gate. We have to strictly investigate the people who come and go. I didn’t mean to neglect you. Please forgive me.”
Yu Youyao said slowly, “General, you are following orders. It’s your duty. There’s no need to say anything.”
The general guarding the city shouted, “Open the door and welcome the Eldest Princess back to the capital.”
The soldiers at the city gate made way. The heavy city gate slowly opened with a bang. The soldiers knelt on one knee in unison. “We welcome the Eldest Princess into the capital.”
The carriage slowly entered the city. Yu Youyao lifted the curtain and looked at the wide and neat street, as well as the rows of houses on both sides of the street. It seemed to be no different from when she had left the capital. It was difficult to imagine that more than a month ago, this place had experienced a great battle for the rise and fall of dynasties.
The capital had just been settled, and the new emperor had yet to ascend the throne. He had sent a large number of troops to guard the streets. There was a sentry post every five steps, and there were also troops in heavy armor patrolling the streets.
Most of the commoners were hiding at home, and there were not many people on the streets.
However, Yu Youyao’s carriage entering the capital still caused a commotion.
Yin Huaixi had prepared a residence for her. After entering the capital, she would go straight to the residence to settle down, so she did not have to return to the Yu Residence.
When the carriage arrived at the main road of Chang An Street, Yu Youyao heard a series of shrill cries. She lifted the curtain of the carriage and looked out. Coincidentally, she brushed past a long row of prison carriages. The sound of wailing was coming from the prisoners in the prison carriage. Some commoners gathered around and pointed at the prison carriage.
“What a sin. In this month, I’ve seen so many dead people. I don’t know when this will end…”
“I heard that King Yue Fei is bloodthirsty and kills people like flies. Previously, it was said that he slaughtered the Di people…”
“Shh, how dare you say that? Do you want to die? Why are you calling him King Yue Fei? You have to call him the new emperor…”
Yu Youyao frowned and knocked on the wall of the carriage. She instructed Yin Shi, who was on the roof, “Go and ask around about the rumors outside. What has happened in the capital in the past month?”
Previously, when the vicious reputation of Yin Huaixi slaughtering the various tribes of the Northern Barbarians spread, there were rumors of King Yue Fei’s ruthlessness in the Great Zhou Dynasty.
Most of the commoners in the North were hara.s.sed by the Di people all year round, and the hatred between them was deeply rooted. Such rumors seemed ridiculous in the North and she did not care too much.
Only the commoners of the North who had been ravaged by war had the right to speak.
Not long after, Yin Shi returned.
“After the new emperor entered the capital, he raided all the wealthy families in the capital and put all their wealth into the treasury. Anyone who resisted was dragged to the market to be beheaded in public. For a month in a row, blood flowed like a river every day, and the blood on the ground has never dried.”
“Yin Huaixi wouldn’t kill others for no reason.” Yu Youyao’s heart skipped a beat, and her face turned a little pale. However, she still said firmly, “It must be Yin Huaixi who found out that they were colluding with Thief Liang. Yin Huaixi found evidence of crime from their houses.”
No matter who broke into the capital, the ones who really needed to escape were the Yin Clan and some others like the Zhenguo Marquis Residence. They had been favored by the Great Zhou Emperor for generations and could not be separated from the imperial family of the Great Zhou. They had to coexist with the Great Zhou.
Most of them actually did not need to escape. No matter who became the emperor, as long as they offered their family wealth as proof of their allegiance and surrendered, it would be fine.
Those who could establish themselves in the capital all had a huge family fortune and acc.u.mulated a large number of connections and channels. These were what the new emperor valued, and also the foundation for them to regain their power.
Seeing that she did not look too good, Yin Shi opened her mouth, wanting to say something but hesitated.
Yu Youyao took a deep breath. “What else is there?”
“The new emperor also killed enemies in the past.” Yin Shi hesitated for a moment before continuing, “The killing on the battlefield is too heavy. In the end, it will harm the harmony of the heavens, and it’s inevitable that his temperament will be affected. Many soldiers are becoming more and more ruthless and bloodthirsty because of this. It’s as if there’s nothing that can’t be resolved by killing a few people.”
To people who had been on the battlefield, killing was so simple.
He raised his hand and the knife fell. Then, a human head would fall to the ground.
When someone died, no matter what tricky problem it was, it would be easily resolved.