sbdcsierra Chapter 240: Yinshan County Crisis (2)
Chapter 240: Yinshan County Crisis (2)
That night, Yu Jiuer was weighed down with worries and couldn't sleep all night.
While she was half asleep, she heard Jun Mo's gentle call: "Jiu'er, wake up! It's time to go to the palace!"
A big hand rocked her gently, and then stroked her back to coax her to sleep, with pity and heartache, which made Yu Jiuer wake up instantly.
She jumped off the bed, stood steadily beside the bed, stretched and said to Jun Mo: "So you have to get up so early in the morning to attend the morning court? I have been spoiled by the prince. After coming to the capital, I rarely get up so early. I have become lazy!"
She tried to sound relaxed to ease the tension in her heart, but she also didn't want Jun Mo to worry about her anymore.
Jun Mo gently held her in his arms and comforted her: "Whether it succeeds or not today, I will stand behind you. Don't be too anxious. There is always a way to solve it."
"Yeah!" She is preparing for a tough battle!
Jun Mo is the commander of the Embroidered Uniform Guard. He does not have to attend court every day. He only goes there occasionally when there is something to do, disrupting the strict and solemn court and making the ministers tremble.
If he accompanies her to court today, he might be ridiculed by those ministers who bear a grudge against him.
Thinking of this, Yu Jiuer felt guilty, and she secretly decided that when she went to the palace, she would try her best not to let Jun Mo argue with the court officials and save more face for him.
Jun Mo went to the Jinyiwei Yamen to arrange for people to go to Heiling Cliff, and then he took Yu Jiuer to the palace gate.
When they arrived at the Golden Palace, the ministers were enthusiastically discussing the explosive news they had just received - Yu Wushuang fell off a cliff yesterday evening and his life or death was unknown.
The people who wanted to send people to kill Yu Wushuang thought they had succeeded, so they tricked the people into passing on the news early in the morning, hoping to get rid of Yinshan County before the matter became clear.
When Jun Mo and Yu Jiuer walked in, the ministers who were originally making speeches suddenly fell silent.
After paying respect, the emperor frowned and asked Jun Mo, "Yu Jiuer is just a girl, why did you bring her to the Golden Palace?"
Jun Mo simply replied, "She received the news of Yu Wushuang falling off the cliff early in the morning, and she was extremely worried. She was also worried about the people of Yinshan, so she wanted to hear everyone's views on the matter!"
"I am discussing this matter with my ministers. If Yu Wushuang really dies an untimely death, and there is no one in Yinshan County who is qualified to take over as the county magistrate, then we can only follow the provisions of the Yinshan Contract, and all the people in the county will be demoted to slavery to build the Great Wall, and will be detained and managed by the Xiguan Camp.
However, since Concubine Yu has married you, she is considered the royal daughter-in-law, so she can be exempted from punishment and stay in the capital to breed dragon seeds."
Yu Jiuer knelt on the ground with a plop. The sound was so loud that the ministers present thought she was a ruthless person.
Jun Mo's eyes flashed. He knew that she wore her "magic knee pads" before going out, and she insisted on putting a pair on him as well, saying it was just in case.
Yu Jiuer's eyes were red, and she cried to the emperor sadly: "Your Majesty! My brother is just missing, and the prince has sent people to look for him.
I know that the emperor is kind and would not bear to see his people suffer, so I hesitated and asked the court officials for their opinions. I thank the emperor for his kindness!"
Just flatter him first.
The emperor seemed to enjoy it, his expression softened and he nodded.
The eldest prince's uncle was the Grand Tutor. At this moment, he was the first to step forward and said in a deep voice, "Your Majesty, any normal person would know that falling off that cliff would most likely lead to death. Is there anything to question? I request that Your Majesty make a direct ruling!"
“Your Majesty, I also request that you make a decision as soon as possible to prevent anyone from taking the opportunity to evade punishment and violate the contract made by the late emperor.” Jingzhao Yin also stepped out.
The eldest and fifth princes also raised their tablets and said mercilessly: "Father, please respect the contract of your grandfather and make a decision as soon as possible!"
Then, in the Golden Palace, almost half of the ministers stood up and asked the emperor to make a verdict.
Jun Mo said to the ministers with a stern look, "I know that I led the Jinyiwei to cause a lot of trouble for everyone in the past. After all, who doesn't have one or two troublesome children and grandchildren?
But you can't go against your conscience and add insult to injury just because you hate me, right?
Yu Wushuang's life or death is uncertain, and you are putting pressure on my father to make the decision. Isn't this putting the emperor in an unjust position?"
The eldest prince sneered and retorted, "Fourth brother, everyone knows who you are to Yu Wushuang. You are just trying to delay for a while so that you can find a way to deal with the Yinshan Contract made by our grandfather, right?"
Shang Buqun also stepped out at this time and said leisurely: "Everyone, there is a seventh day after a person's death! No one knows whether Yu Wushuang is dead or not. You are so anxious to make up stories about the people of Yu County Magistrate. Isn't it a bit unfair? At least you should give the people some time to digest the situation, right?"
Yu Jiuer was grateful for the Prime Minister's righteousness. He risked the emperor's suspicion by saying this, but what she wanted was not just some time, she wanted at least a year!
"Your Majesty, please listen to me. If my brother really died, it would be understandable for Your Majesty to fulfill the Yinshan Contract. But now my brother's life or death is uncertain, who knows if he will be lucky enough to escape?" Yu Jiuer kowtowed to the emperor.
"Yu Jiuer, as a native of Yinshan, asks the emperor to give us more time. Maybe there will be a ray of hope!
Furthermore, I request that the Emperor allow women to take the imperial examinations, select more talents for the court, give Yinshan County a chance, and at the same time demonstrate the magnanimity of our great country!"
When Yu Jiuer said this, the court officials were in an uproar:
"How is this possible? Wouldn't it be a mess for women to take the imperial examination?"
"Could it be that she wants to take part in the imperial examination and replace Yu Wushuang as the county magistrate? Isn't this just wishful thinking?"
"Didn't she just use some cleverness on the day of the tea banquet and gain a little fame? How dare she break the rules and beg the emperor to open a special examination for women? Not only is it absurd, but she is also overestimating her own abilities!"
......
Yu Jiuer's beautiful face was full of arrogance. She said slowly, "In today's world, men and women each occupy half of the sky. You are also born of women, but you question women's abilities. How can all the talented and ambitious women in the world feel?"
The fifth prince sneered, "Even if women are allowed to take the imperial examination, can you guarantee that there will be women in Yinshan County who can pass the palace examination? There isn't even a single female scholar in the entire Dadong Dynasty? Are you so eager to have a female champion? Isn't this a joke?"
As soon as the Fifth Prince said this, Yu Jiuer immediately heard a lot of sneering sounds in her ears.
"What if there is really someone who can achieve the goal in one step?" Yu Jiuer was determined to shock people.
"Hahaha..." Someone couldn't help but laugh at her in the hall: "It's like an ant trying to shake a tree, so arrogant! It's so funny!"
Yu Jiuer ignored their ridicule and said righteously: "There are so many female officials in the palace, do you also think they are incompetent? There are so many first-rank ladies and imperial ladies in the Great Dong Dynasty, do you also think they are just in vain? So many talented women are rated as talented women by you literati, are they just in name only?
Do you dare to say that there is no woman in the world whose ability can surpass yours? Do you dare to say that all women in the world are talentless and immoral? Do you dare to say that without women, you can still live a wonderful life? "
The sound was like pearls falling on a jade plate, making the hall suddenly silent.
Those ministers, who were originally full of sarcasm and ridicule, were rendered speechless by Yu Jiuer's retort.
Yu Jiuer continued, "Isn't it because of the arrogance and restraint of you men that women cannot realize their ambitions? If they could enter the imperial examination hall, I believe they would be no worse than you!
Rules are dead, but people are alive. Since the development of the Great Dong Dynasty, has there been any progress that was not due to changes for the better?
We should follow the principle of gender equality and let the men and women of the Dadong Dynasty hold up the sky together!
Therefore, please allow women to take the imperial examinations, select talents regardless of their background, and give Yinshan County a chance to survive!"
Yu Jiuer stood tall and proud like a cold flower in the wilderness, and her words were sonorous and powerful, shocking.
Even the emperor's eyes showed a hint of relaxation.
Yet there are still some people who shamelessly raise objections.
Jun Mo did have many political enemies, and most of the court officials stood up against their consciences and opposed him:
"Your Majesty, if women are allowed to take the imperial examinations, then there will be women in the court. How can men and women be in the court together? How can we men be able to focus on state affairs?"
"It is unreasonable for Concubine Yu to enter the court today without being summoned, relying on the favor of Prince Jing. She also made absurd suggestions under the pretext of being righteous. This is against the rules and she should be punished!"
"Your Majesty, what Concubine Yu said is too absurd. Allowing a woman to serve in the court may affect the fortune of the Great Dong Dynasty. Who can take on this responsibility?"
"She disregarded the fate of the country and the rules for her own selfish desires, and put the emperor in an unjust position. She should be severely punished!"
......
Yu Jiuer was very proud, and was so angry at what these pedantic and ugly faces said that she lost her mind and started to curse:
"You are such a pedantic bunch of scum! How many talented people have been lost in the Great East Dynasty because of your old ideas? You are not ashamed of it but proud of it. I am ashamed for you!
All you do all day is deceive the emperor and pursue profit.
Don't you know that all the countries in the world are developing and progressing rapidly?
In the Western Regions, Southern Xinjiang, Northern Rong, and even the elusive Zhonghai Kingdom, who didn't abandon worldly prejudices and work hard to reform and innovate?
And yet you are still here advising the Emperor to follow the rules and stick to the old ways?
With courtiers like you, the Dadong Dynasty will perish sooner or later—"
Jun Mo was shocked when he heard this and wanted to cover Yu Jiuer's big mouth, but it was too late.
The emperor was so angry that he stood up and shouted, "How dare you!"
After a long while, he finally caught his breath and pointed at Yu Jiuer with a trembling hand: "Put this outspoken bitch in jail!"