Chapter 878: Diverting Trouble
Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios
Chun Xiao stepped forward and walked up to Madam Zhang. She bent down and said to her, “Auntie, Princess Shaoyi invites you forward to talk.”
Madam Zhang suddenly raised her head and grabbed Chun Xiao’s hand with an excited expression. “Is the Princess willing to help me?”
Chun Xiao’s eyelids twitched, and she had a bad feeling. She quickly said, “Don’t be anxious. If there’s anything you want to say, talk to the Princess after you see her…”
Unexpectedly! Before she could finish speaking!
Madam Zhang’s face was already filled with sorrow and joy. She quickly knelt on the ground and kowtowed to Princess Shaoyi in the carriage without any explanation. In just a few moments, her forehead was bleeding. “Thank you for your kindness, Princess. May Princess Shaoyi live for a thousand years…”
Chun Xiao frowned slightly. Young Miss had not made it clear that she wanted to manage Madam Zhang’s matters. It was just that because Madam Zhang’s family was involved with the You army and they were in public, it was not appropriate for her to ignore them. That was why she had suggested meeting Madam Zhang. Unexpectedly, Madam Zhang did not know the big picture and actually deliberately shouted, as if the Princess really wanted to help her.
Wasn’t this clearly setting a trap for Young Miss and forcing her?
Indeed!
A low discussion came from the crowd. Everyone was talking about Princess Shaoyi’s kindness. She couldn’t bear to see the commoners suffer and be wronged. She was simply a living Bodhisattva.
“The Princess is from a large family in the Yu Clan. She has inherited the benevolence and filial piety of her ancestors and has the aura of a loyal Duke…”
“Old Madam Yu believes in Buddhism and has always been known as a virtuous person. The Imperial Court has bestowed a memorial arch for her good virtues and to complement her integrity. Princess Shaoyi has been raised by the Old Madam since she was young. Just like her Grandmother, she has the heart of the Bodhisattva…”
“That’s right, that’s right. Princess Shaoyi has opened a charity hall since she was young and takes in lonely people. She often gives porridge and rice to help the commoners. Previously, when there was a water disaster in Zhejiang, Princess Shaoyi donated a million taels of silver to help the Imperial Court help the refugees…”
“Princess Shaoyi donated a sum of money in her Grandmother’s name to relief the drought in the North…”
“She even donated a batch of medicinal herbs before the new year…”
“The sweet potatoes eased the drought in the North…”
“Everyone says that Princess Shaoyi is kind and benevolent. She hates to see the commoners suffer and suffer. Seeing her today, she really lives up to her reputation…”
“…”
Everyone discussed this matter at once. From the Yu Clan’s ancestral virtue, to Old Madam Yu’s kindness, to Yu Youyi’s kindness, everything was meticulous.
In just a moment, Yu Youyao’s “kind” image had reached a new height.
In the end, she even labeled Yu Youyao as someone who couldn’t bear to see the people “suffering” and experiencing “injustice”. She wanted “justice for the people”.
Yu Youyao listened for a while and could tell what was going on.
The commoners did not understand etiquette. In their opinion, Princess Shaoyi was from a large family. Not only was she n.o.ble, but she was also powerful. It was easy for her to help an ordinary farmer.
This mentality was actually very easy to use.
Madam Zhang, who had a bitter life, had been arranged to put on this show and deliberately publicized it wantonly. The Yu Clan’s ancestors were virtuous, her grandmother was kind, and Princess Shaoyi’s reputation as a “living Bodhisattva” instigated the surrounding commoners to join in the commotion, making the commoners think that she had already agreed to help Madam Zhang.
In public, in front of everyone, Madam Zhang used the commoners to “coerce” Yu Youyao into interfering in her matters.
If Yu Youyao agreed to help, it would undoubtedly be because the Yu Clan’s ancestors were virtuous, her grandmother was kind, and her reputation was well-deserved.
If Yu Youyao refused, the Yu Clan, her grandmother, and herself would have an undeserved reputation.
A person could not be good for a thousand days, and flowers could not be red for a hundred days. When someone had a good reputation, others would be jealous of them. When someone was doted on, they would be slandered. Princess Shaoyi was so good, so how could she resist? Seeing was believing.
What a good scheme!
The land-owning cla.s.s wanted to take her down a notch. Yu Youyao’s lips curled up slightly, and her eyes turned cold.
At this moment, Chun Xiao had already led Madam Zhang forward.
Madam Zhang’s body trembled. Just now, she had only wanted to make the matter worse. Princess Shaoyi would definitely help her because of her “good reputation.” However, now that she was in front of the Princess, even through the gauze curtain, she could see the indistinct figure inside. The figure was sitting high up in the air, examining her arrogantly.
That innate n.o.bility and dignity pressed down on her until she felt ashamed. From the bottom of her heart, she felt terrified. Immediately, her legs went limp and she knelt on the ground with a thud. Her mouth trembled as she said, “Greetings, greetings, Princess Shaoyi. May Princess Shaoyi live for a thousand years.”
Yu Youyao said calmly, “I heard you crying out for justice just now. You seem to be related to the You army, right?”
Madam Zhang quickly replied, “My first husband who joined the army died in battle a few years ago. I couldn’t live anymore, so I remarried…”
Yu Youyao interrupted her and sighed. “Your late first husband sacrificed his life for the country. It’s all for the sake of the country, but it’s a pity for a woman like you.” At this point, she changed the topic and asked, “I remember that the Great Zhou Dynasty’s law clearly stipulates that anyone who dies in battle will be rewarded by their family according to their contributions. Hasn’t the compensation of the Imperial Court been distributed to you?”
Madam Zhang was a little stunned. She subconsciously said, “My late husband fought alongside King Li of Zhou and made a lot of contributions. According to the rules, he had to be given 57 taels of silver as compensation. At that time, he was only given 5 taels of silver. He was owed 52 taels of silver. He was told that they would make up for it after the war ended, but later…”
When Sixth Young Master Han, who was standing in the private room on the second floor, heard this, he felt that something was amiss and couldn’t help but frown.
Yu Youyao was stunned for a moment. After a while, she asked, “When did your late husband die in battle?”
Madam Zhang subconsciously replied, “Seven years ago, at the end of autumn…”
“No wonder.” Yu Youyao sighed softly. “Not long after the war at the end of autumn, the Di people invaded the North wantonly and almost caused the North to collapse with a delaying tactic. As the land-owning cla.s.s did not want to support the battle and planned to escape privately, it caused a lack of supplies and insufficient food. As a result, the You army suffered heavy casualties in the North and the war failed repeatedly.”
At the mention of this, it was inevitable that she would mention King Li of Zhou’s death.
Sixth Young Master Han finally knew what was wrong.
Princess Shaoyi was trying to divert the trouble.
Why had Madam Zhang remarried?
It was because she couldn’t live anymore.
Why couldn’t she live anymore?
Indeed!
Yu Youyao changed the topic and said, “In order to escape punishment, the n.o.bles of the North colluded with one another and accused King Li of Zhou of rebellion. Then, King Li of Zhou’s family died tragically, and only the heavily injured heir on the battlefield could escape. From then on, the Marquis of Changxing was in charge of the You army. Some of the names and accounts of the original You army were also damaged and lost for various reasons. It was hard on you families of martyrs. The compensation that should have belonged to you and should have been taken care of by the You army was left unsettled in the end. If not for that, why would you not be able to live?”
Sixth Young Master Han’s expression immediately turned ashen.
What a good move to divert the trouble!