Chapter 121

Chapter 121: The Princess and the Commandery Princess

The racket drew a crowd, and since Yu Zhi Yi’s group had marched in with a flourish, many curious people had already followed. Hearing the screams from inside the yard and seeing someone beating the deputy magistrate, a warmhearted onlooker ran to report to the authorities.

Before long, the Gaoliang magistrate arrived with more than ten yamen constables. Yu Zhi Yi tossed over her token. The magistrate, still full of anger, examined it, then dropped to his knees and said: “Yu… Official Yu?”

As the magistrate of an upper county near the Capital City, his news was better than the deputy’s. He knew a female official called Official Yu in the Capital had become a popular topic. If she had personally come to Gaoliang and allowed the deputy to be beaten in public, it meant the deputy must have done something vile.

Although he was the magistrate, he did not know everything. For example, the beggars who stayed day after day in the same spots. He had never paid attention to them. He thought they were ordinary beggars. Because they affected the look of the county, he had even planned to drive them out. The deputy had told him that would be inhumane, that beggars were people too and also his subjects, and that begging was their only way to live. If he drove them away, he would cut off their lives. So the magistrate had let them stay.

He had no idea his own deputy was bold enough to become the helper and umbrella for those evil child snatchers, taking “filial piety” money every month, dozens of taels at a time.

When he learned the truth, he almost cried. He had served for years, careful and steady, and had finally turned Gaoliang into an upper county. He had hoped to rise with this record. But with this beggar case exposed, a big X would be drawn over his achievements. Just thinking about it broke his heart. It grated even more that his monthly pay was a little over ten taels, while the deputy’s bribes were several dozen taels, letting that rat live better than the magistrate himself.

Once the kidnapping ring was exposed, the Ministry of Justice took over the case, sent inspectors to supervise, and arranged to send the kidnapped children back home.

Yu Zhi Yi played the hands-off shopkeeper. She rode off with Old Man Zhang and his son in the carriage. She was about to help Li Rou up so they could return to the city when a pleasant voice called: “Official Yu.”

She turned and saw the blue-skirted girl smiling gently at her. Yu Zhi Yi nodded and said: “Commandery Lai Yang.”

Yes, this warm and gentle young lady was the current commandery princess, the Emperor’s cousin. Prince Su had a daughter late in life and cherished her dearly. The two empress dowagers also loved this niece who had grown up in the palace. Because of all that favor, when she was just one year old she was granted the rank of commandery princess and given the title Lai Yang. Even the Emperor’s own little daughter, Princess Feng Xiang, could not compare with that.

Though Princess Feng Xiang and Commandery Princess Lai Yang were a generation apart, they were close in age. In theory, two girls of similar age without a clash of interests should get along. But fate between people is strange. Princess Feng Xiang had disliked Lai Yang since she was small. At Feng Xiang’s first-birthday banquet, the moment she looked at Lai Yang, she wailed and would not stop no matter how others tried to soothe her, until a palace attendant carried Lai Yang away. Later, at Lai Yang’s birthday, the elders feared a repeat and simply did not let Princess Feng Xiang attend. Stories about these two high-born young ladies could go on for days. Because their status was so high, the young masters earlier had hesitated and felt conflicted when Princess Feng Xiang left.

Lai Yang dipped her head and said with a smile: “Official Yu, today was both interesting and meaningful. I learned a lot.”

Yu Zhi Yi was not used to praise. She coughed lightly and said: “It is time to eat. Commandery princess, you should hurry home for lunch.”

Nobles ate three meals a day. Lai Yang was amused and laughed: “Would you honor me by sharing a meal with me?”

Yu Zhi Yi made a small sound and said: “Well, I actually want to enter the palace.”

Lai Yang was surprised and asked: “Enter the palace?”

Yu Zhi Yi nodded and said: “I have not officially taken office, yet I left the Capital and even stepped into Ministry of Justice business. I need to explain these last two days to His Majesty.”

[Those in power have a strange attitude toward talented people. They love your abilities, but they dislike it when you do not obey.] She remembered an elder of the Mystic Sect, Yuan Chun Gang, whose power was said to be mighty, able to decide life and death and with the Power to Fill Mountains and Calm Seas. [A man like that still died without a burial place because he stirred a ruler’s fear. After that, the Mystic Sect forbade disciples to leave the mountain or entangle themselves with the Imperial Family.]

Yu Zhi Yi had wondered whether that was why her master never brought her up the mountain. [I have no grand ambition. I only want to cultivate well. If this world were not so hard for women, if I could have lived safely without a unique skill, I would never have revealed my mystic arts. But now that I have, I will not keep hiding.] She believed she and the human emperor could find a way to live in peace. If not, she had countermeasures. [I am of the Heavenly Secret Sect, even if only in name. I will not bring shame to my master.]

Before noon, they returned to the Capital. Yu Zhi Yi planned to send Old Man Zhang and his son back to Yiluan Charity, then enter the palace to report to the Emperor. But as soon as she reached the charity’s gate, she saw a familiar sedan chair. The style was clearly from the palace.

At first glance, she thought the Emperor had noticed her methods and had sent for her. Looking closer, she saw it was not the same chair as before, since the previous one had been smashed to pieces. The eunuch was not the same haughty one either, but a young stranger.

The little eunuch stepped forward and bowed as he said: “Official Yu, His Majesty invites you.”

Yu Zhi Yi told Steward Wu Shan to settle Old Man Zhang and his son. Then she got in the sedan. This time nothing happened on the way. The chair carried her safely to the palace gate, and she arrived calmly at Martial Sun Hall.

Inside Martial Sun Hall, Princess Feng Xiang tugged the Emperor’s sleeve and acted spoiled as she said: “Father Emperor, believe me. She is very arrogant and does not respect you at all!”

The Empress scolded gently as she said: “Feng Xiang, do not make trouble. Official Yu is not that kind of person.”

Princess Feng Xiang pouted and said: “Empress Mother, why are you speaking up for her too?”

Yu Zhi Yi reached the hall’s threshold just in time to hear Princess Feng Xiang’s complaint.