Is this the capital city?
It is not a vital place in the capital, nor a military stronghold. This is just a small village located in a remote place.
With the prefect Hu present, what is there to fear from a prince?
"Your Highness," the Minister of Finance Zhou Bo plucked up his courage and said, "Please move aside and do not obstruct this official and Prefect Hu from handling the case."
"You..." Liu Yun trembled with anger. "Dare you disobey the words of this prince?"
"This official does not dare," Zhou Bo said. "But this official is acting under orders to handle the case, and everything is done according to the laws of Daling Country. This official has done nothing wrong. If Your Highness insists on obstructing, this official can only temporarily inconvenience Your Highness."
"You dare!"
"Even if it costs this official his life, justice must be upheld throughout Daling Country!"
Liu Yun was exasperated.
This Zhou Bo slandering Li Yao, yet portraying himself as so righteous, was simply shameless!
"Very well, you've done well," Liu Yun said. "Today I will see how you take Li Yao away! Bai Song, bring the imperial decree!"
"Yes!"
Bai Song put away his sword and took out an imperial decree from his robe.
Zhou Bo and Prefect Hu exchanged a glance, thinking things had taken a bad turn.
Who could have thought this Ninth Prince would have such a thing on him?
"Proclaim!"
"Yes!"
Bai Song held the decree with both hands, bowed north, and proclaimed loudly: "Li Yao of He Wan village, Baichuan county, Yizhou prefecture, receive the decree!"
Swish swish -
As soon as the imperial decree appeared, even Zhou Bo and Hu had to obediently kneel down, not daring to lift their heads.
The soldiers and villagers behind them also knelt down in swishes, not daring to look up.
Seeing everyone else kneeling, Li Yao was annoyed that she, Liu Yun and Bai Song were the only ones still standing.
Were they forcing her to kneel?
"Cough cough," at this time Liu Yun lightly coughed twice and said, "The lady Li Yao is unwell and shall be excused from kneeling."
Li Yao felt relieved and performed a quick bow, giving the emperor some face.
"His Majesty the Emperor decrees: Li Yao of He Wan village has dug a deep well to solve the villagers' water shortage, and also dug drought-relief wells, allowing the people of Yizhou prefecture to plant spring wheat. Her contributions are invaluable. Li Yao is hereby granted the title of Ninth Rank Lady, and rewarded with 100 taels of silver!"
Ninth Rank Lady?
Li Yao blinked. Was this an official title?
It was indeed rare for an ordinary village woman to be granted a title.
All the titled ladies she knew had gained their titles through their husband's status.
"Li Yao, come receive the decree."
"Thank you, Your Majesty, for your abundant grace."
Li Yao performed a bow and received the decree.
Seeing the decree had been proclaimed, everyone stood up.
"Very well," Zhou Bo said. "Now that the decree has been read, this official shall proceed as usual. Prefect Hu, have your men take this commoner... take the lady Li away."
"You still want to take her away?" Liu Yun said. "She's a Ninth Rank lady now."
"Your Highness, no matter whether it's a Ninth Rank lady or not, anyone who breaks the law of Daling Country must be punished according to the law," Zhou Bo said. "But after this official returns to the capital, I will memorialize His Majesty."
"It seems you still don't submit, do you?"
"It's not about submitting or not," Zhou Bo righteously proclaimed. "This official and Prefect Hu merely act impartially."
"Yes, yes, just as you say you act impartially." Liu Yun said. "Bai Song, the decree!"
What?
Everyone looked at each other in surprise. Wasn't the decree just read? Why was it being proclaimed again?
They saw Bai Song take out another decree from his robe.
"Li Yao of He Wan village, receive the decree!"
Swish swish -
Another round of kneeling.
This time Li Yao didn't need Liu Yun to prompt her, and performed a quick bow.
"His Majesty the Emperor decrees: Lady Li Yao of He Wan village donated silver to help Prefect Song Feng of Baichuan county provide disaster relief and develop water conservancy, making great contributions. Li Yao is hereby granted the title of Eighth Rank Lady, and rewarded with 100 taels of silver, a carved jade hairpin, and a pair of white jade bracelets!"
Li Yao guessed she was probably promoted faster than anyone in history, jumping from Ninth Rank to Eighth Rank in a blink.
But it wasn't over yet.
Just as everyone had stood up, Bai Song took out another decree from his robe.
"Li Yao of He Wan village, receive the decree!"
Li Yao: ......
Everyone: ......
Would this ever end?
"His Majesty the Emperor decrees: Lady Li Yao of He Wan village improved the curved plough, making great contributions. Li Yao is hereby granted the title of Seventh Rank Lady, and rewarded with 100 taels of silver..."
Seventh Rank!
Promoted three ranks in one go didn't seem excessive...right?
But what no one expected was that Bai Song's hand reached into his robe again.
There's more?
The Minister Zhou's heart thundered as his face turned green.
In all dynasties, when had there been a promotion like this?
For a commoner to jump to Seventh Rank in one day was already outrageous. This crazy emperor actually wanted to promote her to the top in one breath, straight to First Rank Lady?
He couldn't let this continue. Something had to be done to stop it.
Otherwise if Li Yao reached Fifth Rank, it would be much harder to convict her of crimes.
If he returned unsuccessful, the Crown Prince and Prime Minister would surely criticize him for incompetence, possibly even demoting him.
"Your Highness!" At this time, Prefect Hu beside him suddenly spoke up. "You must not be deceived."
"What? Deceived by whom?" Liu Yun found this very amusing.
"Naturally it's him!" Hu pointed at Bai Song and shouted, "Never in history has a commoner been promoted to Third Rank in one day! His Majesty would never be so muddled. Since it's not His Majesty's intention, it must be this man arrogantly forging the imperial decree!"
What Prefect Hu was doing now was far more audacious than the Minister.
Mobilizing 2,000 provincial troops without proper justification would cost him dearly if he couldn't provide a convincing explanation. He'd be lucky to just lose his black gauze hat; he might even lose his head.
So now he had no choice but to brazen it out. First he would accuse Bai Song of forging decrees to provide justification for detaining the Ninth Prince to protect him. Then he would pin the crimes on Li Yao.
By the time news reached the capital and the emperor sent investigators, it would be at least a month later.
By then Li Yao would long be reduced to a pile of bones.
With the person gone, what was there to investigate?
"How dare you make such an accusation?" Liu Yun said angrily. "He is my personal attendant. How could he possibly forge imperial decrees?"
"Your Highness, you can know a person's face but not their heart," Hu said.
"Yes, Your Highness," Zhou Bo secretly applauded Prefect Hu's shrewdness. Those with real power had devious minds. "Please allow us to investigate the truth!"
"Men, protect the Ninth Prince! Arrest that villain!"
The provincial troops brought by Hu were all Captain Hu's trusted men, so they naturally obeyed Prefect Hu's order.
Several brawny soldiers immediately came forward, intending to kill Bai Song on the spot to eliminate any contrary testimony.
Is this the capital city?
It is not a vital place in the capital, nor a military stronghold. This is just a small village located in a remote place.
With the prefect Hu present, what is there to fear from a prince?
"Your Highness," the Minister of Finance Zhou Bo plucked up his courage and said, "Please move aside and do not obstruct this official and Prefect Hu from handling the case."
"You..." Liu Yun trembled with anger. "Dare you disobey the words of this prince?"
"This official does not dare," Zhou Bo said. "But this official is acting under orders to handle the case, and everything is done according to the laws of Daling Country. This official has done nothing wrong. If Your Highness insists on obstructing, this official can only temporarily inconvenience Your Highness."
"You dare!"
"Even if it costs this official his life, justice must be upheld throughout Daling Country!"
Liu Yun was exasperated.
This Zhou Bo slandering Li Yao, yet portraying himself as so righteous, was simply shameless!
"Very well, you've done well," Liu Yun said. "Today I will see how you take Li Yao away! Bai Song, bring the imperial decree!"
"Yes!"
Bai Song put away his sword and took out an imperial decree from his robe.
Zhou Bo and Prefect Hu exchanged a glance, thinking things had taken a bad turn.
Who could have thought this Ninth Prince would have such a thing on him?
"Proclaim!"
"Yes!"
Bai Song held the decree with both hands, bowed north, and proclaimed loudly: "Li Yao of He Wan village, Baichuan county, Yizhou prefecture, receive the decree!"
Swish swish -
As soon as the imperial decree appeared, even Zhou Bo and Hu had to obediently kneel down, not daring to lift their heads.
The soldiers and villagers behind them also knelt down in swishes, not daring to look up.
Seeing everyone else kneeling, Li Yao was annoyed that she, Liu Yun and Bai Song were the only ones still standing.
Were they forcing her to kneel?
"Cough cough," at this time Liu Yun lightly coughed twice and said, "The lady Li Yao is unwell and shall be excused from kneeling."
Li Yao felt relieved and performed a quick bow, giving the emperor some face.
"His Majesty the Emperor decrees: Li Yao of He Wan village has dug a deep well to solve the villagers' water shortage, and also dug drought-relief wells, allowing the people of Yizhou prefecture to plant spring wheat. Her contributions are invaluable. Li Yao is hereby granted the title of Ninth Rank Lady, and rewarded with 100 taels of silver!"
Ninth Rank Lady?
Li Yao blinked. Was this an official title?
It was indeed rare for an ordinary village woman to be granted a title.
All the titled ladies she knew had gained their titles through their husband's status.
"Li Yao, come receive the decree."
"Thank you, Your Majesty, for your abundant grace."
Li Yao performed a bow and received the decree.
Seeing the decree had been proclaimed, everyone stood up.
"Very well," Zhou Bo said. "Now that the decree has been read, this official shall proceed as usual. Prefect Hu, have your men take this commoner... take the lady Li away."
"You still want to take her away?" Liu Yun said. "She's a Ninth Rank lady now."
"Your Highness, no matter whether it's a Ninth Rank lady or not, anyone who breaks the law of Daling Country must be punished according to the law," Zhou Bo said. "But after this official returns to the capital, I will memorialize His Majesty."
"It seems you still don't submit, do you?"
"It's not about submitting or not," Zhou Bo righteously proclaimed. "This official and Prefect Hu merely act impartially."
"Yes, yes, just as you say you act impartially." Liu Yun said. "Bai Song, the decree!"
What?
Everyone looked at each other in surprise. Wasn't the decree just read? Why was it being proclaimed again?
They saw Bai Song take out another decree from his robe.
"Li Yao of He Wan village, receive the decree!"
Swish swish -
Another round of kneeling.
This time Li Yao didn't need Liu Yun to prompt her, and performed a quick bow.
"His Majesty the Emperor decrees: Lady Li Yao of He Wan village donated silver to help Prefect Song Feng of Baichuan county provide disaster relief and develop water conservancy, making great contributions. Li Yao is hereby granted the title of Eighth Rank Lady, and rewarded with 100 taels of silver, a carved jade hairpin, and a pair of white jade bracelets!"
Li Yao guessed she was probably promoted faster than anyone in history, jumping from Ninth Rank to Eighth Rank in a blink.
But it wasn't over yet.
Just as everyone had stood up, Bai Song took out another decree from his robe.
"Li Yao of He Wan village, receive the decree!"
Li Yao: ......
Everyone: ......
Would this ever end?
"His Majesty the Emperor decrees: Lady Li Yao of He Wan village improved the curved plough, making great contributions. Li Yao is hereby granted the title of Seventh Rank Lady, and rewarded with 100 taels of silver..."
Seventh Rank!
Promoted three ranks in one go didn't seem excessive...right?
But what no one expected was that Bai Song's hand reached into his robe again.
There's more?
The Minister Zhou's heart thundered as his face turned green.
In all dynasties, when had there been a promotion like this?
For a commoner to jump to Seventh Rank in one day was already outrageous. This crazy emperor actually wanted to promote her to the top in one breath, straight to First Rank Lady?
He couldn't let this continue. Something had to be done to stop it.
Otherwise if Li Yao reached Fifth Rank, it would be much harder to convict her of crimes.
If he returned unsuccessful, the Crown Prince and Prime Minister would surely criticize him for incompetence, possibly even demoting him.
"Your Highness!" At this time, Prefect Hu beside him suddenly spoke up. "You must not be deceived."
"What? Deceived by whom?" Liu Yun found this very amusing.
"Naturally it's him!" Hu pointed at Bai Song and shouted, "Never in history has a commoner been promoted to Third Rank in one day! His Majesty would never be so muddled. Since it's not His Majesty's intention, it must be this man arrogantly forging the imperial decree!"
What Prefect Hu was doing now was far more audacious than the Minister.
Mobilizing 2,000 provincial troops without proper justification would cost him dearly if he couldn't provide a convincing explanation. He'd be lucky to just lose his black gauze hat; he might even lose his head.
So now he had no choice but to brazen it out. First he would accuse Bai Song of forging decrees to provide justification for detaining the Ninth Prince to protect him. Then he would pin the crimes on Li Yao.
By the time news reached the capital and the emperor sent investigators, it would be at least a month later.
By then Li Yao would long be reduced to a pile of bones.
With the person gone, what was there to investigate?
"How dare you make such an accusation?" Liu Yun said angrily. "He is my personal attendant. How could he possibly forge imperial decrees?"
"Your Highness, you can know a person's face but not their heart," Hu said.
"Yes, Your Highness," Zhou Bo secretly applauded Prefect Hu's shrewdness. Those with real power had devious minds. "Please allow us to investigate the truth!"
"Men, protect the Ninth Prince! Arrest that villain!"
The provincial troops brought by Hu were all Captain Hu's trusted men, so they naturally obeyed Prefect Hu's order.
Several brawny soldiers immediately came forward, intending to kill Bai Song on the spot to eliminate any contrary testimony.
