Chapter 917 - Chapter 917: Common Enemy
Chapter 917: Common Enemy
Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios
His words were dignified and impassioned, making everyone present feel indignant and excited.
As soon as he finished speaking, many people chimed in, “Well said…”
“To clear the Princess’s name!”
“To clear the Princess’s name!”
“To clear the Princess’s name!”
Yu Youyao almost buried her face in her cup when she heard this. If only the cup was big enough. She thought, “l asked you to pretend to be pitiful, but I didn’t ask you to act like this!”
Old Master Bai’s move was really brilliant.
He had used everyone’s shame towards Princess Shaoyi to first divert everyone’s attention to the land-owning class. Then, he had used a “contradictory move” to shift everyone’s anger to the land-owning class who had slandered and framed Princess Shaoyi.
On the other hand, he had gone from being a noble who “helped the evildoer” to a righteous party who shared a common enemy with everyone present in the name of “justifying the Princess’s reputation”. He had obtained the recognition of many people present.
The Bai Residence was cleared of suspicion. Yu Youyao ordered Old Madam Sun to stay for the trial. She greeted Ye Xiaoci and quietly left the court through the side door.
However, when Yu Youyao’s carriage came out of the government office quietly, it still caused a commotion.
After returning to the Yu Garden, Yu Youyao changed her clothes and called Yin Shi over. “Send the spies we caught previously and the clues we interrogated to the government office.”
Yin Shi received her orders.
After April, the temperature in Xiangping City rose, and the sun was warm. It was rare for Yu Youyao to be in peace. She ordered someone to set up an incense table under the corridor and leaned against the chaise lounge to read. Unknowingly, she fell asleep.
Nanny Xu took a thin blanket and gently covered her. She also dismissed the nearby servants and instructed Chun Xiao to take good care of her.
When Yu Youyao woke up, the sun had begun to move west. The curtain in the corridor was lowered, isolating her from the spring cold outside.
“What time is it now?” Yu Youyao leaned lazily against the couch.
“It’s 3-30pm.” Chun Xiao quickly poured a cup of warm water and handed it to Yu Youyao. Then, she turned around and went to the incense table. She changed the calming incense in the incense burner to the calming osmanthus incense.
Yu Youyao held her teacup. “Is Old Madam Sun back?”
Chun Xiao shook her head. “She hasn’t returned yet. She sent someone back early to pass on a message that there had been a breakthrough in Liu Dagen’s case. The government office was closed for an hour at noon and called the court to order again. She hasn’t left yet.”
Yu Youyao was a little surprised.
Chun Xiao asked, “Do you want to send someone to the government office to investigate?”
Yu Youyao shook her head. “There’s no need. When Old Madam Sun returns, everything will be clear.”
Old Madam Sun did not return to the residence until 5pm. She immediately came over to report, “The government office sent someone to the Bai Residence to collect evidence and announced that they would verify the authenticity of the evidence. Court will be open in three days. After that, the government office interrogated Steward Mu, who was involved in Liu Dagen’s case, and He Zhixian and the others. Steward Mu provided a new confession.” Yu Youyao had a guess. “Is it related to the land-owning class?”
Old Madam Sun nodded with a solemn expression. “When he found out that the Bai Residence had been found not guilty, he pointed out in court that all of this was a scheme by the Han Clan to frame the Bai Residence. He even provided evidence to the government. Steward Mu admitted in court that he was an informant planted by the Han Clan and He Zhixian.”
Yu Youyao thought to herself, “As expected.”
He Zhixian pushed everything to Steward Mu. It was Steward Mu who had made the decision to frame the princess. It was also Steward Mu who had colluded with the land-owning families and removed himself completely.
Old Madam Sun continued, “Steward Mu took the initiative to confess that Liu Dagen’s death was planned by him in cooperation with the land-owning class. His goal was to instigate Madam Zhang to complain to Princess Shaoyi. Princess Shaoyi was in public and in front of everyone. Even if it was for her reputation as a saint, she couldn’t stand by and do nothing.”
At this point, Old Madam Sun broke out in a cold sweat.
“As long as Princess Shaoyi is involved in Liu Dagen’s case, they will naturally instigate the county office to report to the Imperial Court that Princess Shaoyi is causing chaos in the law. This will obstruct your promotion of planting sweet potatoes in the Liaodong area to relieve the drought. As a result, riots and epidemics will occur in the refugee camps. They will reach a point where they will frame King Yue Fei for promoting the national strategy. This is killing two birds with one stone.”
Although things did not go as planned and Princess Shaoyi did not fall for it, the land-owning class still used Madam Zhangs complaint to implicate Liu Dagan’s death. It was related to the Bai Residence’s sale of low-grade medicinal herbs. They even released all kinds of rumors to slander and hurt Princess Shaoyi.
The commoners watching at the entrance of the government office were furious. Their curses were endless. Some people couldn’t control their anger and wanted to rush into the hall on the spot to beat up Steward Mu.
The bailiffs had no choice but to step in to maintain order.
Yu Youyao gasped. She knew very well that the main reason why the Han Clan had framed her was to attack the royalists. However, be it Steward Mu, or He Zhixian who was behind him, they were not involved at that level. They might have a little guess, but they definitely wouldn’t know too much.
Old Madam Sun continued, “Lord Ye asked if there was any evidence for his words. Steward Mu immediately said that Sixth Young Master Han, a direct descendant of the Han Clan, had conspired with him to kill Liu Dagen and frame Princess Shaoyi. He’s currently hiding in a manor in the suburbs.
Although that manor isn’t under his name, it’s actually his own business.” This was the so-called major breakthrough in the case.
He Zhixian had a good plan. They did not know what method he had used to make Steward Mu listen to him and even resist all the crimes.
“Lord Ye quickly mobilized a team to the manor that Steward Mu had specified to capture Sixth Young Master Han. Steward Mu simply went all the way and said that he still had a lot in his hands. He even revealed a lot of evidence about the Han Clan’s crimes. The spies that the nobles had planted in
Xiangping City said that the unfavorable rumors about the Bai Residence and Princess Shaoyi in Xiangping City were all spread by them.”
Yu Youyao had an idea. “What happened after that?”
Old Madam Sun said, “As this case is very important and involves too many people, the relevant evidence is very complicated. The state government office will temporarily withdraw from court and will hold a trial in three days.”
The government office needed to interrogate the relevant witnesses and obtain more clues. They also needed to sort out and verify the evidence in their hands. All of this required time.
Yu Youyao asked for more details in detail and felt more confident. “It’s been hard on you. Go back and rest first. You have to pay more attention to the progress of this case.”
After that, Old Madam Sun was rewarded with some money and jewelry, and she left happily.
The next morning, the state government office issued four notices..