Chapter 881: Beating the Drum to Voice Grievances

Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios

After King Li of Zhou’s death, the North was in a mess because of the Marquis of Changxing. Madam Zhang, who was supposed to receive the pension, did not receive it. As this matter involved King Li of Zhou’s death, others also kept it a secret, and the matter of the pension was left unsettled.

This gave her an excuse to make a fuss.

Yu Youyao’s tense emotions finally relaxed. The vassal lords did not engage in political matters, but they could legitimately step in for matters related to the vassal lords.

The matter of the pension was mentioned again. No matter what, the You army could not stay out of it. Then, it would be best to let the You army deal with Madam Zhang’s complaint.

As long as she did not get involved, this matter would not implicate her.

No matter how many schemes the aristocratic families had, they were useless.

This matter seemed to have been resolved by her casually, but she knew the danger best.

This was an open scheme. The aristocratic families had never hidden their sinister intentions from the beginning.

Madam Zhang’s kneeling had already pushed her to the top of the limelight.

How could beautiful jade collide with a stubborn stone?

The only thing that could collide with a stubborn stone was a sharp knife.

The You army was this sharp knife that could cut through gold and stone.

Yu Youyao took a detour and started with the pension money. In public, she pushed Madam Zhang’s sorrow onto the officials who had caused King Li of Zhou’s death. It seemed to be diverting the trouble, but this also forced the person behind the scenes to panic.

Others kept King Li of Zhou’s death a secret and did not dare to talk about it wantonly.

However, this did not include Princess Shaoyi, who had been personally conferred the title by the Imperial Court.

This action indeed caused the aristocratic families to panic, forcing them to plant the clueless hooligans early on in public.

Only then did Yu Youyao take control of the situation.

But!

Her counterattack had just begun.

Yu Youyao’s lips curled up slightly. “To the government office.”

Ye Xiaoci was dealing with official matters in the government office when he suddenly heard the sound of drums.

His eyelids couldn’t help but twitch. He immediately had a bad feeling.

Indeed!

Hurried footsteps came from outside. A bailiff rushed into the study as if his chips were down and pressing. “Lord— Lord— Lord, bad news. Princess Shaoyi is here. She’s beating the drum outside to voice her grievances!

“What?” Ye Xiaoci’s hand that was holding the brush trembled, and a drop of ink landed on the official document. “Who did you just say was beating the drum outside to voice her grievances?”

The bailiff wiped his cold sweat. “It’s— It’s Princess Shaoyi.”

Ye Xiaoci had been practicing in the government for many years. However, his expressionless face immediately broke. “This is really unexpected.”

The bailiff was also dumbfounded. Who wouldn’t say no?

After his shock, Ye Xiaoci picked up the black veil hat at the side and put it on his head. He adjusted his official uniform. “I want to see what Princess Shaoyi is playing at.”

Outside the government office, drums sounded, piercing through the nearby streets.

News of Princess Shao Yi knocking on the door and voicing her grievances in the government office also spread like wildfire.

The commoners who had rushed over from all directions surrounded the government office.

The tightly shut red-lacquered door outside the government office was pulled open by the bailiffs with a clang. Immediately after, the sound of “ascension” came from the government office.

Yu Youyao put the drumstick back to its original place and took the handkerchief from Chun Xiao to wipe her hands. Then, she tidied her appearance and clothes, waiting for the hall to summon her.

The Great Zhou Dynasty had states and counties.

A state official governed a state and was already the biggest official in the area. However, governors were divided into the upper, middle, and lower levels. Upper-leveled governors had jurisdiction over middle- and lower-leveled governors, while middle-leveled governors had jurisdiction over lower-leveled governors.

Governors usually also held other official positions. The authority of the border governors was also greater than that of ordinary governors.

The official positions of the governors usually ranged from the third- to fifth-grade. The exact grade depended on the size of the area under their rule, the population, prosperity, the military, and various other situations.

Ye Xiaoci was the governor of the three provinces of Liaodong, but at the same time, he was also the provincial governor. His authority extended to the Shanxi Shaanxi area, and directly covered the entire Youzhou. He controlled the three divisions of the local army, politics, and the people. He could be said to be a feudal official.

Therefore, he was also known as the Youzhou Governor.

Youzhou Governor was just Ye Xiaoci’s nickname.

If it were anyone else who took over the position of governor, they wouldn’t be called the Youzhou Governor.

The function of the border governor was greater than that of other areas. It was presided over by the Ministry of Official Personnel Affairs and had a restrictive effect on the local vassal lords.

Due to the fact that there were governors everywhere, the inspectors who were sent out occasionally, as well as all kinds of censors, also played a restraining and even controlling role to a certain extent.

Therefore, although the position of governor seemed glorious, its main role was still to restrain the vassal lords.

Ye Xiaoci seemed to be in charge of the army, politics, and the people of a county. He had immense power and was treated as a “governing official.” However, unlike other areas, the military power at the border was in the hands of the vassal lords. The state capital had the right to mobilize the army, but it did not have the right to control. Furthermore, because the state officials wanted to restrain the vassal lords, they were also controlled by the Imperial Court from time to time.

He was really powerful, but it was also really dangerous. Other than the disciples of the Ye family, ordinary people really couldn’t deal with such a situation.

Therefore, Ye Xiaoci usually wouldn’t get involved in the matters between the vassal lords and nobles, in case he accidentally got involved and caused trouble.

However, there was no doubt that Ye Xiaoci had immense power in the North.

What Yu Youyao wanted to do was to use Ye Xiaoci to drag out the people who had schemed against her today and publicly execute them.

Not long after, a bailiff rushed over and respectfully invited Yu Youyao into the court.

Ye Xiaoci asked routinely, “Who was playing the drum in the hall?”

Yu Youyao had a noble title. She did not kneel when she saw an official. Instead, she replied loudly, “I’m Yu Youyao of the Yu Clan from the capital. I’m the eldest daughter of the first wife of the Left Assistant Minister of the Ministry of Official Personnel Affairs, Yu Zongzheng. His Majesty has personally conferred the title of first-grade Saint Venerable Princess Yi. Greetings, Lord Ye.”

Ye Xiaoci nodded. “Princess Shaoyi, there’s no need to be so polite.” Then, he turned around and instructed the bailiffs at the side, “Set up a seat. Princess, please sit down.”

The bailiff quickly entered the inner hall. Soon, he moved an ebony armchair into the hall and invited Yu Youyao to sit down.

Yu Youyao did not decline. She gathered her clothes and sat down.

Ye Xiaoci continued to ask, “Since you’ve beaten the drum and entered the court, I have to do things according to the rules. If I’ve been negligent, please forgive me.”

Yu Youyao nodded. “That’s how it should be.”

Only then did Ye Xiaoci ask, “Princess, what grievances do you have? Please tell me the truth.”

Yu Youyao stood up from her chair and stood in front of the court. She bowed to Ye Xiaoci. “I went to the Dragon Phoenix Temple to offer incense today. On the way back, I encountered a commoner’s wife. In broad daylight, in front of everyone, she publicly intercepted my carriage and knelt down to cry out for justice. Such a ridiculous act was originally not a big deal. I only thought that this commoner’s wife did not know the rules.”

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