Chapter 893: The Law Excuses the Masses
Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios
Yu Youyao had hidden the fact that the ox bezoar from the Peopleâs Relief Hall. was fake and did not have the medicinal effect that it should have. She had allowed Liu Daganâs case to continue fermenting, giving the land-owning class the illusion that Liu Daganâs death had been arranged flawlessly. The Peopleâs Relief Hall was deeply involved in the public opinion of selling low-grade medicinal herbs. As long as the government office could not find any new evidence, the Bai Residence would bear all the responsibility for Liu Daganâs death.
The Bai Residence had taken the initiative to admit that they were selling inferior medicinal herbs and had launched all kinds of preferential activities, further creating an illusion for the land-owning class to dispel their doubts. They had mistakenly thought that the Bai Residence was in a worrying situation. Thus, they had no choice but to break the jar and smash it. They wanted to use all kinds of preferential activities to win peopleâs hearts and restore their credibility.
The Han familyâs victory was in their grasp, and they felt that their plan to deal with the Bai family had succeeded.
Under Princess Shaoyiâs guidance, Madam Bai was determined to be kind. This also became an excuse for the Han Clan to attack Princess Shaoyi. The notice posted in front of the Baiji Medicinal Shop was âiron evidenceâ that Princess Shaoyi was covering up for the Bai Residence.
Xia Tao was a little puzzled. âOrdinary people who arenât scholars arenât allowed to discuss the courtâs politics in public, criticize the officials of the Imperial Court, and slander the emperorâs relatives. Their crimes will be increased and theyâll be punished with the crime of offending their superiors. Why do they still dare to criticize you?â
Yu Youyao said calmly, âThe law excuses the masses. When everyone says it, everyone will follow suit. In the face of so many people, they naturally have nothing to fear.â
After soaking in the frankincense for six hours, the water turned milky white, and the frankincense became soft. Yu Youyao placed the frankincense into a small stone grind and turned it, grinding the frankincense into juice. The grounded juice was like cowâs milk, with a faint fragrance.
This was one of the parts of making frankincense dew.
Xia Tao pursed her lips. Although all of this was part of Young Missâs plan, she had done so much for the people of Liaodong. Not only were the commoners not grateful, but they also criticized her.
She couldnât help but feel indignant for her Young Miss. âDonât you feel aggrieved?â
âWhatâs there to feel aggrieved about?!â Yu Youyao added frankincense as she spun the stone grindstone. âl only do what I think is right and what I should do. As for what others think of me, let them do as they please.â
However, Xia Tao felt aggrieved for Young Miss. âButâŠâ
Yu Youyao knew what she wanted to say. âAlthough Iâm known for being kind and have indeed done many good deeds, I havenât done much for the commoners. The commoners also think that Iâm kind, but they actually havenât enjoyed the benefits of my kindness. Why should I carry burdens like kindness and the title of the living Bodhisattva to make myself uncomfortable?â
She had set up the Graceful Heart Hall. In order to help her gain a good reputation, her grandmother had to build momentum for her. The Yu Clan was happy to see this happen, so they naturally had to help to encourage it. The Xie Residence also used her name to cooperate with her in donating to the Zhejiang water disaster. When there was a drought in the north, in order to reduce the pressure of disaster relief, the Imperial Court also publicized her good name wantonly, collecting donations and launching disaster relief among the commoners.
It made her good reputation spread throughout the Great Zhou Dynasty.
Later on, Yin Huaixi even used the sweet potatoes to alleviate the drought in the North and publicly asked the Imperial Court for credit for her. Only then did her reputation rise to the highest point.
They had deliberately spread the name of her kindness.
Xia Tao was indignant. âWhy do you say that you didnât do anything for the commoners? Just based on the fact that you tried to plant sweet potatoes, not only did you alleviate the drought in the North, but you also let the commoners in Xiangping and the surrounding counties eat their fill. They shouldnât have said that about you. There are also more than a million refugees in Liaodong who can be resettled. How many of them are there because Young Miss is working with the Xie family to develop the silkworm industry in the North and promote the planting of sweet potatoes?â
There were still more than a million refugees gathered in Longcheng, and they were still waiting to be settled.
They were all counting on the sweet potatoes to save their lives.
Without sweet potatoes, who would dare to accept refugees? Furthermore, Young Miss had been busy dealing with the epidemic recently, as well as the locust plague in May and June.
Which of Young Missâs actions wasnât for the commoners?
Yu Youyao changed the topic helplessly and asked, âHowâs my case going?â
Xia Tao hurriedly said, âOld Madam Zhang said that after interrogating Madam Zhang and the 18 hooligans overnight, according to their confessions, in less than three days, the suspects who instigated Madam Zhang and bribed the hooligans to frame Princess Shaoyi were arrested one by one. One of the masterminds has also been locked up in Xiangping. Lord He is tentatively suspected of colluding with the Han Clan, but we still have to go through the next round of interrogation to confirm it.â
Among the people arrested, they were not related to He Zhixian. However, a hooligan identified that one of them was the granddaughter of one of his relativeâs aunts. That person was a secret prostitute, and he had once seen He Zhixianâs trusted aide spend the night there.
This was a secret prostitute.
Usually, they were all women from good families. Not only were they beautiful, but they also came from good backgrounds. Not only were they proficient in poetry, books, etiquette, the zither, chess, calligraphy, and painting, but they had also been specially trained. When they were in bed, they would serve men, and when they were out of bed, they would write sentimental verses.
Officials of the Great Zhou Dynasty were not allowed to play with prostitutes.
All the wives and concubines in the family were from proper backgrounds. However, serving others made them uncomfortable.
Thus, many serious officials outside had secret prostitutes.
If they were discovered, they would be declared to have a mistress. Although it was not dignified to raise a mistress, it would not violate the law.
He Zhixianâs trusted aide had a secret prostitute outside. No matter how secretive it was, no secret could be kept forever. Xiangping was only so big, and clueless hooligans were mixed in the streets. Such shady information was the best.
Yu Youyao was not surprised. If this case was handed over to He Zhixian, the Bai Residence would definitely be finished.
She passed by He Zhixian and reported directly to the state government office to prevent the county office from dragging in the interests of the nobles.
âFrom the looks of it, my case will almost come to an end in three to five days. At that time, itâll be time to hear about Madam Zhangs husband, Liu Daganâs case.â
Yu Youyao had an idea. She added charcoal to the stove and set up a porcelain distillation boiler. She poured the grounded frankincense juice into the distillation boiler and sealed it.
The earliest distillers were bronzeware, used to distill wine.
Later on, someone used gold, silver, porcelain, and iron to make distillers of different materials. The craftsmanship was also much improved, and the efficiency of distillation extraction was much higher.
Xia Tao nodded. âThe government office has already transferred the case file regarding Liu Dagenâs death from the county office. Theyâve begun to investigate and collect evidence.â
Yu Youyaoâs lips curled up slightly. âThe progress of the case is faster than I thought. Lord Ye is really swift and decisive.â
Her case was not complicated, nor was it a big case. It was also a piece of cake for the state government office.
The key was still the attitude of the person handling the case.
Yu Youyao took out the dried rose flowers and shattered the dried flowers. She repeatedly grounded it into powder. After grinding it, she sieved the fine powder and added a few drops of lemon. The dark red color immediately turned bright red..