Chapter 311 - the Empress Meddles in politics
writer:Yuzu In May      update:2022-08-09 18:05
  In front of the heaven-ascending drum in front of the Imperial Palace of Chang ‘an, a woman in her thirties was wailing as she beat the heaven-ascending drum. The person who beat the heaven-ascending drum had to roll on the board three times first. This Woman’s skin and flesh were very good. A man in his forties was covered in blood marks. Li Yang beat the heaven-ascending drum and shouted, “Empress, the Empress killed my poor daughter!” In the crowd, the people were discussing: “If the Empress wants to kill someone, she can openly issue a decree to execute her. Where does the saying of harming others come from?” “I heard that this is the owner of the Yue Kiln. He just received the favor of the palace and is now taking over the porcelain business in the palace. He should be extremely wealthy. Who knew that his daughter would be gone at such a young age!” “But why would they say that it was the Empress who killed him? The porcelain in the palace should only be changed into Yue Kiln because the empress likes it, right?” The heaven-ascending drum sounded and someone in the palace brought the owner of the Yue Kiln and Lady Li Yang to meet Lu Chen in the Tai Chi Palace. The owner of the Yue Kiln rolled over the nail board. His body was still full of injuries. When he saw Lu Chen, he gave a big bow and said, “Your Majesty, I Beg Your Majesty to Uphold Justice for this commoner! Seek justice for this commoner’s daughter!” Lu Chen was not unfamiliar with Kiln Master Li. When he was in Lin ‘an, Qiao Jinniang was very fond of Yue Kiln’s porcelain. The bowls, plates, cups, wine pots and other porcelain used in the Hundred Savory restaurant were all from Yue Kiln. Yue Kiln’s celadon porcelain was as warm as jade, crisp and translucent. When it tasted tea, it could bring out the color of the tea. There was once a poet who wrote a poem praising it for opening the Yue Kiln in the autumn breeze and obtaining the green color of the thousand peaks. It was quite famous in the Jiangnan area of Yue Kilns. Ever since Qiao Jinniang took charge of the six palaces, she saw that the western kiln was implicated by King Huai, so she simply changed the porcelain in the palace. She even named the Yue Kiln as the most important item for trade with small countries like Xiliang. Lu Chen said, “You said that your daughter died because of the Empress?” Kiln Master Li looked at his wife, she saw Li Yang wailing loudly. “Yes, your majesty. If it wasn’t for the Empress’wish for my daughter to take over the Li family’s business and the law that a daughter’s family can also inherit the family’s business, my daughter wouldn’t have been killed by her brother-in-law!” Qiao Jin returned from the outside and entered the Tai Chi Palace. She frowned and looked at Kiln Master Li, who was kneeling on the ground: “Uncle Li, you’ve watched me grow up. Our Bai Wei brothel has been friends with your yue kiln for more than ten years. “Ever since I took charge of the six palaces, I’ve designated your Yue Kiln as a royal merchant and specially provided porcelain to the palace. “I’ve also included your Yue kiln in the first-class goods traded with the Western countries. Not only do you not know how to be grateful, why do you have to repay kindness with enmity?” Kiln Master Li saw the luxuriously dressed Qiao Jinniang, he said, “Our Li family should never forget the great kindness of the Empress. However, if not for the Empress teaching my daughter to take over the family business and repeatedly calling my daughter into the palace to offer the porcelain, my daughter would not have been murdered because of the jealousy of her brother-in-law!” Li Yang also cried out, “Yes, if not for the Empress allowing His Majesty to pass down the imperial edict that a woman can also take over the family business, my daughter would not have died an unnatural death because of the greed of her brother-in-law……” Some of the ministers at the side stood up and cupped their hands. “Your Majesty, Please Take Back the imperial edict that a woman can disregard her clan and take over the family business. Otherwise, more people will die!” Prime Minister Lin also stood up and said, “Your Majesty, Please Think Twice and take back the order. The people are already complaining about this imperial edict.” Qiao lui stood up and said, “Your Majesty, the murderer is Miss Li’s brother. If he murders his sister because of this, then in the future, even if brother Li takes over the family business, will he be kind to his sister?” “It is inappropriate for a woman to take over the family business!” “Miss Li still has her parents to make the decisions. There are some women among the people who have lost their parents and clans. They have no one to rely on. Even if they take over the family business, they are unable to protect the family business and have no strength to farm!” “Your Majesty, Please consider the welfare of the women among the people!” The officials were all asking Lu Chen to take back his orders. Qiao Jinniang felt disgusted by their words. If they wanted to protect the right of men to inherit the family business openly, it was fine, but they had to use a good excuse for the women. Qiao Jinniang said, “Your Majesty, all the officials also feel sorry for the civilian women. In that case, I have a suggestion. Since it is difficult for the civilian women, why don’t we set up a yamen in each county to work for the women. “This yamen is in charge of the business of the female households. If the female households encounter local ruffians and hooligans, they can have a special yamen to protect them. The female households are naturally not afraid of being bullied by people with ulterior motives.” Hong Yang looked at Qiao Jinniang in fear and said, “Your Majesty, the harem is not allowed to interfere in politics……” Qiao jinniang said, “I am not interfering in politics either. It is just that the mother of the world should naturally do practical things for the women in the world. Your Majesty, there are women’s schools in every part of the country. This yamen that is specially set up for women can accept female officials in women’s schools……” All the officials looked at Lu Chen, afraid that His Majesty would really agree to Qiao Jinniang’s suggestion. Lu Chen said, “The Empress’suggestion is very good. Let the Ministry of revenue handle this matter. Set up women’s offices in all the prefectures, prefectures, and counties to provide assistance to the women who take over the family business or the orphan women.” All the officials did not expect that the new emperor would agree to the empress’ridiculous request. Wouldn’t the empress be called a harem official? All of a sudden, all of the officials thought of writing a letter to the retired emperor, but they didn’t even know where the retired emperor was. Hong Yang had no choice but to look for prime minister Lin. They discussed that if there was one, there would be two. Today, the Empress was openly meddling in politics, and the Emperor still didn’t stop her. Would the empress have to go to court together in the morning in the future? The Qiao family had such great military power. Would the empress have to control the court in the future? As loyal officials, they could not let this matter go on. They had to let His Majesty punish the empress. …… In the Changle Palace. Lu Chen saw that Qiao Jin was upset. He stood beside her and said, “She has passed away. Don’t be too sad.” Qiao Jinniang leaned against Lu Chen’s chest and shed a tear. “If it weren’t for me, she might not have thought of taking over Yue Kiln. But she is really talented in porcelain. Look, this censer was just made by her.” The censer was cyan in color and its glaze was smooth. It was a top-grade porcelain. Lu Chen said, “It’s not your fault. It’s the murderer who should be blamed.” Qiao Jinniang pursed her lips and said, “She is really a very good girl. Why Can’t God treat her well? You must not let her murderer off easily. I want her brother-in-law to be cut into pieces!” How could he kill such a flower-like woman for the sake of the Yue kiln! Just a few days ago, Miss Li was still smiling and telling her that she would go back to Jiangnan to get married…… “That’s not right!”Qiao jinniang said, “Miss Li told me that after she came to Chang ‘an this time, she would go back to Jiangnan and get married in the spring next year. It was a marriage arranged since she was a child. Why would her brother do it at this time?”