Chapter 119 - Focusing on making troubles for fifteen years

Yan Yin did not come back for a long time. Emperor Chunjia was still patient, but Yun Fenghuang was not. She turned her head to enjoin Xi Jing, “Go and ask Chen Zhu what happened? The road has been blocked for so long.”

Xi Jing went out and enjoined a bodyguard to call Chen Zhu. But before Chen Zhu came over, Yan Yin came back as he wiped his sweat. He reported, “Your Majesty, the county magistrate of Wannian County took a group of people and knelt down on the road, so the team stopped.”

“Wannian County?” Hearing this, Yun Fenghuang subconsciously lifted the curtain and looked out. What she saw were still the bodyguards and the cloth mantles, so she was suspicious, “We are in Wannian County? Since it’s an insignificant thing, why does it take so long to report?”

Wannian County was one of the two counties directly under the jurisdiction of Dijing City, and the other one was Chang’an County. It meant the peace would last forever if these two names were put together, which was the eloquence of the former dynasty. The dynasty kept these two names.

When the Emperor visited the Temporary Imperial Palace on Qi Shan Mountain this time, because of the direction, the team only went through Wannian County instead of Chang’an County. According to the rules, the county magistrate of Wannian County should greet the Emperor at the junction of Dijing City and Wannian County, follow the Emperor’s team to move forward together, and then pay respect again when they arrived at the place where the Emperor and his team stayed at night.

If the Emperor was willing to understand the situation in Wannian County during the period, he would also call the county magistrate to meet him or accompany him.

Of course, in the past, such procedures had been directly omitted. After all, the Emperor hadn’t taken over the reins of power then.

But the situation this year was different. The Emperor had already begun to take over the reins of power, so this set of procedures might be taken seriously.

But Yan Yin came back after a long time, so she couldn’t help but suspect that there was some inside information.

Sure enough, after Yan Yin heard Yun Fenghuang’s words, he revealed embarrassment, “My Lady, the fact was that the county magistrate of Wannian County wasn’t here to greet the Emperor. Oh, it should be said that he was not to specially greet the Emperor. He brought the people of the county to plead on behalf of the people.

“Plead?” Yun Fenghuang subconsciously glanced at Emperor Chunjia, but she saw the Emperor was also confused. She said, “Plead for what?”

Yan Yin lowered his head, “The county magistrate of Wannian County impeached General-in-chief of the Cavalry to indulge his son to commit a murder. His son was criticized by an old man in the country for trampling seedlings. He didn’t remain penitent. Instead, he enjoined his servants to beat the old man’s whole families to be hurt or death. Besides, he forced the elder’s granddaughter to be his concubine and tortured her to death…”

Zheng Ju was a eunuch, and he entered the Imperial Harem since his young age, so he had no biological children.

After he gained power, he successively inherited four sons from his family. Among them, the eldest son Zheng Fengsen, the deputy commander of the forbidden army, was Zheng Ju’s trusted helper. He had been married, and was said to be steady and low-key. Although he was not very famous in Dijing City, he was super powerful. He could be regarded as Zheng Ju’s heir.

The second son, Zheng Fenglin, who had devoted himself to the imperial examinations, had failed three times. However, there was an old saying said that it was easy to be a Ming Jing, but it was hard to be a Jin Shi. Zheng Fenglin was only in his twenties this year, and Zheng’s Family was not in a hurry to ask him to earn money, so he still intended to continue the exam.

The third son, Zheng Fengchen, was one of the Emperor’s reading partners.

The fourth son, Zheng Fengqing, was the youngest one, and was only sixteen this year. It was said that he was the favorite one by Zheng Ju, because he was not only Zheng Ju’s legitimate nephew, but looked like Zheng Ju at his young face. Zheng Ju was still struggling in fawning on others in the Imperial Harem at his youngest son’s age. It was probably because he wanted to make some compensation, Zheng Ju especially loved watching his little son to be lively.

However, the son didn’t deserve the spoiling. He gradually grew into an arrogant and domineering person from a lively child.

Yun Fenghuang had heard that the youngest general of Zheng’s Family was one of the three evils in Dijing City. The other two evils were also foppish playboys as him. They played, ate and drank all day, and didn’t do any proper things, just making trouble for their fathers.

But at that time, Yun Fenghuang didn’t focus on these things, and she didn’t feel that she had anything to do with these three evils, so she didn’t care these news very much.

Listening to the report at this moment, she secretly glanced at the Emperor, wondering that if the Emperor caused this matter today deliberately or not?

She couldn’t get any clue on the Emperor’s face, so she asked briefly, “Then?”

“Then the pioneer said that this was a false accusation, and asked the county magistrate of Wannian County to dispel people, but he refused.” Yan Yin lowered his head and said, “When I arrived there, the county magistrate of Wannian County happened to bump his head on the shield of a bodyguard, and he bled at once. At this time, several ministers in the Imperial Court have received the news and they are going to make a punitive expedition against General-in-chief of the Cavalry.”

Emperor Chunjia said “um” and asked if the county magistrate had been treated. Yan Yin said that General-in-chief of the Cavalry had let an imperial doctor to go there after hearing the news.

“It’s hot. Let all the ministers come here.” The Emperor looked calm and his emotion was unclear from his face. He raised his hands to pat the two Jie Yu, and said slowly, “My beloved ones, you go back for a while. I will call you back later…”

Yun Fenghuang and Jie Yu Lu left with regret, and they both wanted to stay and watch the follow-up…

However, they couldn’t wait there, and the two of them were unwilling to go back to idle in their carriages, so Yun Fenghuang immediately asked to see the Empress as soon as she went out of the Emperor’s carriage. When she waited out of the Empress’s carriage, she saw that Jie Yu Lu went to Fu Ren Yao Ning’s carriage.

“The county magistrate of Wannian County?” After a short while, Yun Fenghuang was summoned into the Emperor’s carriage. She saw that there was already a guest there. It was Princess Minghui. The two sisters-in-law seemed to be talking about a very interesting topic, and both of them were smiling. Seeing Yun Fenghuang coming there, Empress Ji leisurely asked her how she could be free since she went to serve the Emperor.

After hearing Yun Fenghuang describe the whole process in a few words, the Empress frowned slightly and sneered slightly, “I heard of that man. He’s a stubborn one. I’m afraid he splits hairs again this time!”

Princess Minghui couldn’t bear it and asked in a low voice, “Your Highness, did the little general of Zheng’s Family really do such an evil thing?”

“Zheng Fengqing has never behaved well.” Empress Ji said with contempt, “After all, Zheng’s Family was originally poor and hadn’t gotten any education. After it was prosperous, it is inevitable to be arrogant. Zheng Fengsen is in the military with military restrictions and under Zheng Ju’s nose; Zheng Fenglin hasn’t had any achievements in the imperial examination so far, but he has been learning the knowledge anyway; and the third son, Zheng Fengchen, is His Majesty’s reading partner. Since his childhood, he has followed His Majesty, thus being well-disciplined. However, as for the fourth son…”

The Empress snorted, “He can only make troubles for Zheng Ju, but Zheng Ju is reluctant to discipline him strictly. Relying on the favor, he becomes so arrogant. What kind of evil things can’t he do?”

After saying this, she threw the round fan in her hand and said lightly, “But although the county magistrate of Wannian County is an annoying stubborn man, he has a good teacher. Although Cui Wan has lots of disadvantages, he favors his student very much, so he will never watch his student suffer the loss. It’s worth watching this lively event today.”

The county magistrate of Wannian County was Cui Wan’s student?

Yun Fenghuang bore this to her mind. She had thought that the Emperor secretly ordered the county magistrate to make trouble against Zheng Ju. It seemed not to be the case now… From the Empress’s words, it seemed that Ji’s Family had never taken part in this thing. What’s really going on? Was it the fight between Cui Wan and Zheng Ju, or was it purely caused by the stubborn county magistrate of Wannian County?

“So will they quarrel in front of Brother again?” Princess Minghui sighed and said, “It’s so hot, and I can’t stand it although I sit motionless… Why can’t they speak calmly?”

Yun Fenghuang tried to keep calm. The princess was wearing a light summer dress because of the heat. She only wore a layer of crimson crepe robes, and a lining with the same color. Her cloth looked light and seemed not to wear anything. To be honest, this color was very suitable to the princess’s skin, and her skin was so fair that it was almost radiant. In the Empress’s carriage with dim light, she seemed to be a beauty.

Well, if one did not look at her carefully.

If one looked at her carefully, one would inevitably sighed… How could a person with such a flawless skin be so ugly…

“Let them go.” After all, Empress Ji was the princess’s legitimate cousin and had joined the Imperial Harem for almost ten years. She had been accustomed to the look of this cousin and younger sister-in-law, so it was okay for her. Hearing this, she comforted her, “We can’t intervene the matters of the Imperial Court. Let’s talk about how to play after arriving at the Temporary Imperial Palace… Several cousins in our family have also come this time, so it will be lively then.”

The family the Empress referred to was of course Ji’s Family, but Princess Minghui revealed a little resistance when she heard this news. She whispered, “It’s too hot, so I’m afraid it’s not so good to have too many people.”

“How cannot it be good?” Empress Ji smiled, but the smile was not sincere. She only said, “All of them are our families. Besides, the female cousins are young, so we have to call several male cousins of our family to accompany them to safeguard their safety then. I think that Minggan must be there. We always take care of him, so how cannot we call him when we need him to contribute?”

Hearing the name of Ji Minggan, Princess Minghui hesitated for a while, and she agreed finally, “Your Highness, you enjoin someone to go to Mother’s residence to call me then.”

The Empress readily agreed and said that since they went out together as a family, they would not be with Princess Jinyun and Princess Penglai, “The two sisters are always in Yao Yu Palace in daily life, so it’s very easy for you to meet them. However, it’s rare for them to reunite with high consorts. Since it is a good chance for us to go out to avoid the summer heat together, it’s better to let them spend more time accompanying high consorts.”

Princess Minghui was obviously accustomed to be with the other two sisters. She was hesitated for a while, and finally nodded after being persuaded by the Empress.

After persuading this younger sister-in-law, Emperor Ji turned her head and said to Yun Fenghuang, “Don’t stay here for such a long time. His Majesty said that after he had dealt with the matter, he would still call you and Jie Yu Lu to accompany him, didn’t he? Don’t miss the calling then.”

Yun Fenghuang said with a smile, “Your Highness, you favor Princess, and I am an eyesore now, right?”

She hurriedly took a small bunch of grapes from the front of the end table and ensconced them in the sleeves, “My heart is so bitter because I am wronged. I have to eat some sweet grapes to make my mouth sweet.”

Empress Ji was half-laughing and said to Princess Minghui, “Look at her. Is she reasonable? It seems that there are no grapes in her carriage!”

She didn’t care about it in the end, and waved her away.

Yun Fenghuang returned to her carriage and took out the grapes to appreciate Xi Le and others. She asked if anyone came to find her during this time.

Xi Le said no, but there was another thing, “Noble Consort Shu enjoined someone here just now, and the one said that Noble Consort Shu wanted to pick Rong Hua Yun to her carriage to speak with her. I said that Rong Hua Yun promised to make a pouch for you and she was concentrating on making it then, so she might have no time to go out… The one tried again but failed, and left in the end.”

“If the people there come over to call her again next time, do the same thing.” Yun Fenghuang nodded. “Rong Hua Yun has been in my palace, so why doesn’t Nobel Consort Shu give up? Does she want to ask her back? It’s ridiculous!”

All the maids laughed and said, “Yes, My Lady.”

Xi Le reminded again, “My Lady, I just looked at Rong Hua Yun just now. Her needlework is not bad, and the pouch has almost been done…”

“Give her other jobs.” Yun Fenghuang didn’t care, “I still have some friends in the Imperial Harem, such as Jie Yu Wei. When it was holidays and festivals, how can’t I exchange some needle-making gifts with them to keep our friendship? However, I am very busy now, so how can I have time to do this? Of course, in this case, Rong Hua Yun is my best friend, and she cares me like my sister. She should help me now. You convey my words euphemistically. I believe that she will not refuse me in view of our relationship.”

If Yun Qingman dared to refuse, she had lots of ways to make this cheap sister agree.

Then she dealt with some other chores. It was time to have the meal. When she was about to call the meal, the eunuch of the Emperor came and said that all the ministers in front of the Emperor had been sent away, and the Emperor called her to accompany him.