Chapter 668: Censor

Translator: Atlas Studios    Editor: Atlas Studios

Without her grandmother saying anything else, Yu Youyao could most likely guess what happened.

Indeed!

Everyone knew the truth of the matter, but no one dared to mention it at all.

Old Madam Yu sighed softly. “On account of the relationship between the Ning Residence and the Empress back then, the Emperor was especially kind and pardoned the Ning Clan when this matter was over. The Ning Clan was allowed to return to the ancestral land to live. Princess Liyang was the only descendant of the Ning Residence.”

Yu Youyao’s lips curled up slightly, revealing a hint of cold mockery.

It seemed that Princess Liyang was the only heir left behind by the concubine’s son who had been exempted from the death penalty.

The Ning Residence had taken on a black calamity that affected the entire family. In the end, the Ning Clan still had to thank the Emperor for his mercy.

It was really ironic.

Old Madam Yu continued, “That concubine’s son did not survive the pain of exile. He only left behind a young daughter and passed asmay. The Ning Clan brought a newborn baby into the capital to thank them. There were no children in the Central Palace. The Empress asked the Emperor for grace and raised this child by her side. She also asked for a title and she became Princess

Liyang. ”

Yu Youyao understood a little. In the past dynasties, there had been precedents of the last daughter of a meritorious general being conferred the title of Princess and brought into the palace to be raised.

There were no children in the Central Palace. The Emperor had no reason to refuse when the Empress wanted to bring his niece into the palace.

In addition, the court officials knew very well about the matter at the Ning Residence. In order to protect his reputation and face, the Emperor naturally had to treat the Empress well, as well as the bloodline of the Ning Residence and even the Ning Clan. This way, the court officials would not be disappointed.

The reason why the Empress Dowager doted on Princess Liyang so much was because of the Empress.

She also had the intention to compensate the Ning Residence.

No matter how much Princess Liyang was doted on, she was not of the true royal bloodline. There was indeed no need for Concubine Lan to take Princess Liyang seriously.

Old Madam Yu twirled her prayer beads. “What a sin!”

Yu Youyao also knew what her grandmother was referring to. She couldn’t help but think of what had happened to King Li of Zhou and feel a little sad.

Old Madam Yu changed the topic. “Money is just worldly possessions. It’s fine if we donate it. Natural and man-made disasters are endless. As long as it’s a citizen of the Great Zhou Dynasty, no one can take ca_re of themselves alone. Donate more, lest others think that our family is hiding something and keep an eye on us. That will bring endless trouble in the future.”

If they couldn’t satisfy the appetite of the higher-ups, not only would they be dissatisfied, suspicious, and thankless, but there would probably be a second time, a third time…

Yu Youyao nodded. “Cousin also mentioned that since the Empress Dowager said that it was a money-raising disaster relief, at least half of the money donated will be used on the commoners.”

In order to make it easier to help her cousin accumulate food, in the past two years, she had sold many businesses under her name with the excuse that they were incurring losses. She had secretly bought houses and properties with the money.

The Imperial Court could only find out about the businesses on the surface.

With the huge profits from the escort business and the merchant ship, the dowry businesses that her mother had left for her was no longer worth as much.

She donated food and medicine to Empress Dowager’s disaster relief. She had also donated a million taels of silver in one go. In everyone’s opinion, she had spent most of her assets and indeed lived up to the Emperor’s kindness.

Old Madam Yu also nodded. “The Empress Dowager has many schemes, but she still has some style. The Emperor is obsessed with alchemy, and the court is not peaceful. The reason why the Emperor can sit steadily on the dragon throne is also because the Empress Dowager is good at gathering the servants inside and out.” At this point, she sighed again. “The Great Zhou Dynasty has a clear rule that the harem is not allowed to do political work. Otherwise…”

She did not say the rest, but Yu Youyao understood. It should be reliable to raise money for disaster relief, so she felt a little more relieved.

After returning to the residence, Old Madam Yu was exhausted. She had just changed out of the cumbersome outfit and was about to lie down for a while when Qing Xiu came over to report, “Master is here.”

Usually, at this time, Eldest Son was in the government office. It seemed that there was another move in the palace. Old Madam Yu sighed softly. “Help me up.”

“Grandmother, rest. I’ll talk to Father.” Yu Youyao was worried about her grandmother. She did not even return to the Jade Courtyard, but assisted

Nanny Liu with helping her grandmother wash up. She was still wearing the County Head’s mingfu.

Old Madam Yu shook her head. “From now on, you should stop getting involved with your father.”

Yu Youyao’s heart skipped a beat. She lowered her head and said nothing.

Yu Zongzheng rushed down from the government office and arrived at An Shou Hall. He was still wearing his official uniform when he saw Nanny Liu helping the exhausted Matriarch out. His eldest daughter was still wearing the County Head’s uniform.

He quickly stepped forward and bowed. “Mother, you must be tired.”

Old Madam Yu waved her hand. “l entered the palace today to express our thanks. On behalf of the Yu Residence, I donated 100,000 taels of silver. Yao Yao took out most of her assets and donated a million taels of silver. It’s as you wish.”

Yu Zongzhengs expression froze, as if someone had poured a bucket of cold water on his head. No matter how excited he was, he cooled down. “Just now, the emperor issued a holy decree for me as the 13th Inspection Censor of the Imperial Court and personally appointed me to go to Zhejiang to relief the disaster.” At this point, he bent down and bowed again. “It’s all thanks to Mother’s consideration for my future.”

Yu Youyao gasped.

The Imperial Censor of the Great Zhou Dynasty had real posmer. However, the Emperor had not been to court for a long time and did not trust the court officials. Instead, he trusted the eunuchs in the palace that he could control.

The title of the Censor became useless. The job of patrolling was indirectly handed over to the eunuchs.

It had been a long time since the Emperor had appointed an Imperial Censor.

On the other hand, Yu Zongzheng was the Left Assistant Minister of the

Ministry of Official Personnel Affairs. The authority of the Ministry of Official Personnel Affairs was to be in charge of the appointment and dismissal of civil officials in the world, examinations, promotions, conferred titles, transfers, and so on. It also had the responsibility to inspect official governance.

The Imperial Censor was also an official on behalf of the Emperor. His authority involved generals, and he was even directly appointed by the

Emperor. He was not under the official system of the Ministry of Official Personnel Affairs.

Be it civil servants or generals, there was nobody in the Great Zhou Dynasty that Yu Zongzheng could not manage.

Yu Zongzheng did not enter the cabinet, but he became a true minister.

It was no wonder that Yu Zongzheng had even schemed against his family.

No one could help but be tempted by this pie.

Old Madam Yu tightened her grip on her prayer beads and her expression darkened. “Don’t thank me. In the eyes of the nobles in the palace, the 100,000 taels of silver from the Yu Residence is not even enough to fill the gaps between your teeth. If you want to thank someone, thank you for marrying a good wife and giving birth to a good daughter. She gave up most of her dowry and money to help you become an official.”

Yu Zongzhengs expression was a little complicated. He couldn’t help but think of Madam Xie. The one million taels that Yao Yao had taken out must have been from Madam Xie’s dowry business.

Old Madam Yu didn’t even look at his expression. “Not only did Yao Yao donate money, but she also donated all the food, oil, and medicinal herbs from 60 grain shops and 20 medicine shops in the Jiangnan area. These are all the reasons you are going to Zhejiang to help with the disaster. You should thank Yao Yao..

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