Chapter 879: Backfire

Translator: Atlas Studios    Editor: Atlas Studios

No matter what, it was still related to King Li of Zhou’s death. If King Li of Zhou was still alive and had given Madam Zhang a compensation, no matter how much the You army took care of them, why would Madam Zhang not be able to live well?

Sixth Young Master Han glared at Lord He. “You found a good person!”

He could just find an ordinary woman with a bitter life. Why go so far as to specially find someone related to the You army? She would give Princess Shaoyi a chance to make a fuss for no reason.

In true aristocratic families, there was no such thing as favoring boys over girls. Men and daughters were all raised the same. The things they studied includes the six arts of rites, music, archery, charioteering, reading and writing, and arithmetic. They were taught the Four Books and Five Cla.s.sics, the Three Principles and Five Commons, the Annotations to the Four Books, and so on, which were compulsory for the imperial examination. They even had to study all kinds of women’s books and studies to be proficient in women’s skills.

She had been nurtured since she was young. She was not inferior to the men in the family at all.

Sixth Young Master Han scoffed at Princess Shaoyi, who was a woman but did not know her place and interfered in men’s matters. However, he did not dare to underestimate her.

He also knew very well that when smart people fought, a slight discrepancy might lead to a serious error.

Lord He also complained inwardly. “I was also worried that Princess Shaoyi wouldn’t fall for it if I found an ordinary woman. You don’t know this, but every family in the North has someone who has joined the army and is related to the You army. It can also stir up the hearts of the people. Who knew that Princess Shaoyi actually…” Didn’t follow the plan?!

Was it better now?

Wouldn’t that be self-defeating?

Sixth Young Master Han’s expression darkened. “Madam Zhang is an ignorant and vulgar woman. When she suddenly saw Princess Shaoyi’s imposing aura, she was intimidated and led away by Princess Shaoyi.” He took a deep breath and looked at He Zhixian. “Madam Zhang stopped Princess Shaoyi’s carriage to seek justice for her husband. Princess Shaoyi avoided the main point and only mentioned Madam Zhang’s ex-husband. Do you need me to teach you what to do?”

Lord He was shocked and quickly called a servant over. “Tell the people we’ve arranged earlier to report this to Madam Zhang.”

The servant quietly left the inn and blended into the crowd.

Not long after, someone in the crowd shouted.

“Madam Zhang stopped your carriage to avenge her husband. Princess, why don’t you ask about the details of Madam Zhang’s grievance?”

As soon as these words were spoken, someone else chimed in.

“That’s right. Why didn’t the Princess ask about Madam Zhang’s grievances?”

“Madam Zhang’s ex-husband has died in battle for many years, and Madam Zhang has already remarried. Why is the Princess always talking about Madam Zhang’s ex-husband?”

“Princess, are you deliberately avoiding the main point? Don’t you want to uphold justice for Madam Zhang?”

“…”

In the crowd, there were people who chimed in at once. Soon, many people joined in.

Yu Youyao tilted her head to look at Yin Shi and asked in a low voice, “Who was the first to take the lead? Did you hear clearly?”

Yin Shi nodded. “By listening to the sound, we can almost determine the location of the person who led the trouble. We only need to lock down the location to determine the target.”

Yu Youyao nodded and instructed casually, “Arrest them!”

Yin Shi suddenly jumped onto the roof of the car, and her gaze instantly swept across it. In just a moment, she flew into the crowd and grabbed the shoulder of a gray-clothed man. Under the burly man’s frightened gaze, she picked up the man, who weighed 170 to 180 kilograms, with one hand and suddenly smashed it into the middle of the street.

With a bang, the burly man fell heavily to the ground.

“Ah ah ah—” A shrill scream like a pig being slaughtered sounded.

The guards on both sides of the carriage drew their knives and aimed them at the burly man.

Seeing this, Sixth Young Master Han’s face turned ashen. “Why did Princess Shaoyi arrest him on the streets? She’s doing this in public. Isn’t she afraid of damaging her reputation?”

Beads of sweat appeared on He Zhixian’s forehead.

The people below exclaimed in shock.

Yu Youyao said calmly, “There’s no need to panic. Just stand where you are. The guards beside me are under Yue Fei’s command. The You army doesn’t kill innocent people. They only capture those with ulterior motives.”

Yin San raised his voice and repeated Yu Youyao’s words.

The commoners did not dare to run around anymore, but they were still frightened and uneasy.

In a flash, Yin Shi captured people one after another and threw them into the middle of the street. In the blink of an eye, she had captured 17 to 18 people.

Seventeen to eighteen people lay on the ground and wailed.

“Princess, please spare us. We’re all good people…”

“Why are you arresting us…”

“Is there any justice? Can the Princess be unreasonable and arrest people at will?”

“Everyone, come and take a look. Princess Shaoyi is arresting people on the streets…”

“…”

When the commoners below saw this scene, they also felt that Princess Shaoyi was casually arresting people, so they couldn’t help but feel a little angry.

Yu Youyao instructed calmly, “Shut their mouths.”

Immediately, dozens of guards tied their mouths with cloth.

Finally, it quietened down. Yu Youyao raised her voice and asked, “Does anyone know these people? If you can step forward and identify them, each of you will be rewarded with five taels of silver.”

Instantly, there was a moment of silence.

Not long after, an old man stood up and pointed at one of them. He said resentfully, “I know him. He’s a hooligan in our village. He idles around all day and doesn’t do anything serious. He only pilfers, eats, solicits, and gambles. My daughter was ruined by this beast and drowned in the river…”

If there was a first person, there would be a second, a third…

Not long after, they had identified all the 17 or 18 people present. They were actually all hooligans.

Those who spread rumors like this, gathered a crowd to cause trouble, and sowed discord were not good people. They were scattered in the crowd and no one knew them.

Once they were arrested, they would be exposed in public.

Xiangping City was not prosperous. Most of the people who came and went daily were from nearby villages and towns. With so many people around, it was only right for them to be recognized.

He Zhixian was already so shocked that his expression changed. “Sixth Young Master, what, what should we do now? Princess Shaoyi has caught all the people we’ve planted.”

Sixth Young Master Han glanced at him. “Let me correct you. Princess Shaoyi captured all the people that you had planted. It wasn’t us. Today’s show was also arranged by you. I didn’t interfere from the beginning to the end.”

He deliberately emphasized the words “you” and “I”, his tone revealing a cold warning.

He Zhixian’s face immediately turned pale. He lowered his head timidly, but he did not dare to say anything.

Sixth Young Master Han remembered that he still needed He Zhixian to step in for the rest of the plan. He changed the topic and comforted him, “Don’t worry too much. You didn’t personally find these people. Princess Shaoyi can’t find you, so what’s the point of capturing a few hooligans? At most, they’ll be paid to work for others and instigate the commoners to say something to praise Princess Shaoyi. It won’t implicate you.”