At first, no one paid attention to that umbrella.

Because it was being carried by a squad of Dragon Imperial Guards.

The Dragon Imperial Guards now had a frightening reputation in the capital, so people avoided them when they saw them.

Then the leading guard opened an umbrella.

This didn’t look like a typical umbrella. Made of cloth, it was very large, and the fabric wasn’t one solid piece but rather many pieces sewn together, like a patchwork robe.

What is this? The people who had stepped aside couldn’t help but wonder curiously.

“The scholars of Jingzhou kowtow in gratitude for the Empress’s protection and present this Knowledge Umbrella,” the Dragon Imperial Guard announced loudly, answering the unspoken question of the people.

Then they continued into the city, carrying the umbrella.

Jingzhou? Knowledge Umbrella? Why were Jingzhou scholars thanking the Empress? Only half the question had been answered, which was more enticing than no answer at all. The people no longer feared the Dragon Imperial Guards and surged forward to follow them.

“What is a Knowledge Umbrella?”

The Dragon Imperial Guards paid no more attention to the people, neither shouting nor hurrying, simply proceeding with the umbrella at a steady pace.

Though they said nothing, the people who had followed from outside the city began to speak. They had already witnessed this scene outside the walls.

“Look at the umbrella.” “Each piece of cloth has a name written on it.” “These are scholars from Jingzhou who tore pieces from their robes to make this umbrella.” “To thank Her Majesty the Empress.”

These statements spread through the street, causing even more commotion and questions. Why? Wasn’t it said that Jingzhou had been trampled by the Dragon Imperial Guards? Many officials and commoners had been arrested, and homes destroyed. It was even said that the Governor of Jingzhou had been beaten and submitted a letter of resignation.

“What do you mean, why? Have you all become confused? It’s because the Empress overturned a wrongful case!”

“It was a wrongful case about the ranking and evaluation of scholars, so the scholars are thanking the Empress.”

“That was a case where officials conspired together, sealed tight as an iron bucket. If the Empress hadn’t forcibly intervened, the wrongfully accused would have already been beheaded, and no one would have known about it.”

“Think about it—someone as powerful as the Director of the Imperial Academy—who else but the Empress could have him arrested from his own home!”

“Those high officials collude with each other and protect one another. Only the Empress can deal with them!”

“So you’re saying the Dragon Imperial Guards aren’t doing evil?”

“They’re catching evil-doers, of course, that’s not evil.”

“These Dragon Imperial Guards are punishing the wicked and eliminating evil!”

“Ah, then they are heroes and good men.”

Since they were heroes and good men, shouldn’t they be welcomed with cheers and flowers? But these Dragon Imperial Guards were different from previous guards. Their clothing and grim expressions made people too afraid to cheer, so they could only discuss in hushed voices as they watched them pass.

The men crowded at the window in the tavern pulled back their gaze.

“I told you so,” Fifth Master Zhou patted Third Master Xu’s shoulder. “As long as you don’t harm heaven or principle, the Dragon Imperial Guards won’t raid our shops and property.”

Third Master Xu forced a smile, then frowned: “No, it’s not about harming heaven or principle. The key issue is that the procedure is wrong.”

This wasn’t something the Empress should be doing, and the Dragon Imperial Guards had no authority to patrol and arrest. If they acted so arbitrarily in the name of punishing the wicked, that was fighting evil with evil—both were evil.

“Third Brother Xu,” Fifth Master Zhou slapped him hard, “procedures and such aren’t for businessmen like us to worry about. That’s for the officials above. What people like us care about is that evil people are punished and good people are safe. This way, if one day we face a wrongful accusation, we also have a path to follow.”

Who could guarantee a lifetime of smooth sailing? Not even high officials and the powerful could. Third Master Xu opened his mouth but finally swallowed what he was about to say.

Forget it. What did the power struggles of those above have to do with him? Whatever.

…

…

Ding Dachui opened the cloth umbrella. Xiao Yu, Chu Zhao, A-Le, and Eunuch Qi all gathered around to look, and even Little Man cast glances from the side.

“How many people are there?” Xiao Yu cared about this.

A-Le felt the fabric and noticed details: “There’s silk and coarse cloth—these people include both rich and poor.”

“Besides names, each person also wrote a saying from the ancient sages,” Eunuch Qi said.

Chu Zhao immediately pulled Xiao Yu over, pointing at the different scripts and varying lengths of text on it, asking: “Where is this from? What does it mean?”

Xiao Yu shook her hand: “Sister, they didn’t send this umbrella to test my knowledge.”

Everyone in the hall laughed.

Chu Zhao also laughed, looking at Ding Dachui and asking: “It seems Master Zhu put in a lot of effort.”

Ding Dachui nodded: “Master Zhu visited the scholars of Jingzhou house by house, talking until his voice went hoarse.”

Adviser Yin added from the side: “He even visited the three families involved in the case, saying, ‘You can spend money here to buy exam questions and advance your careers, but how can you guarantee that in the future, when you reach higher positions, people more powerful than you won’t buy exam questions and careers, surpassing you? Don’t you think about what you’ll do if you’re wronged then? Are you willing to waste all the money you spent before?”

Chu Zhao couldn’t help but laugh: “That works? He’s bold to say that.”

She didn’t know much about this Zhu Yong. She had seen him stand up for his friend in court, and from the information the Dragon Imperial Guards gathered afterward, it seemed this Zhu Yong was a traditional, quiet, and gentle official—the kind who disapproved but stayed silent, just living his own small life.

His volunteering to serve as an Imperial Inspector could be understood as having no other choice, being forced to side with her.

But she hadn’t expected his words to be so unorthodox.

“He also promised benefits,” Adviser Yin said, with a feminine smile in his eyes. “No, I should say he instigated—he instigated the scholars of Jingzhou to take this opportunity to make a name for themselves and seek official positions. They want to use this incident to investigate the officials in Jingzhou, remove the corrupt and mediocre ones, and then select replacements from among themselves.”

With reason, sentiment, righteousness, and self-interest, the scholars of Jingzhou were immediately ignited with passion.

While the Ministry of Justice and local Jingzhou officials were still figuring out how to cold-shoulder Zhu Yong, he ignored them completely. Upon arriving in Jingzhou, he didn’t even enter the government office. He and the officials from the Ministry of Justice went their separate ways. As a result, without having to deal with any officials, the scholars of Jingzhou moved mountains and seas for him.

Chu Zhao looked at the umbrella before her, fell silent for a moment, then sighed lightly: “No one should be underestimated.”

Who says honest people can’t play the villain?

When honest people steel their hearts, even villains can’t do anything about them.

“Also,” Adviser Yin continued, “Master Zhu said that if our Dragon Imperial Guards are to investigate cases, we should establish a separate division. Since we protect the Emperor, we might as well establish a Protection Bureau. This way, actions would have procedures and justification.”

Chu Zhao nodded: “He’s right. Now that everyone knows about the Dragon Imperial Guards, they should exist openly. Go and discuss drafting procedures. I’ll announce it in court.”

As for whether the Grand Tutor and court officials agreed or not, that wasn’t her problem.

She would say it regardless.

If they remained silent, she would take it as agreement.

Ding Dachui lifted the umbrella: “Show this at tomorrow’s court session to let the Grand Tutor know of the scholars’ respect for Your Majesty.”

They said the Empress was doing evil, but surely they couldn’t say that all the scholars of Jingzhou were evildoers.

Chu Zhao smiled and shook her head: “No need. He doesn’t care about these things, and I don’t need to show them to him.”

Useless? Ding Dachui was surprised. Was all this effort for nothing?

At the next day’s court session, just as Chu Zhao had said, the court officials didn’t mention this matter at all, as if they were unaware that everyone in the streets was discussing the Knowledge Umbrella.

When Chu Zhao brought up the Jingzhou matter, the officials still met her with silence—Zhu Yong hadn’t returned yet, so no one stood up to respond.

“Does the Empress think this will allow her to take the lead in court?” Seventh Master Xie sneered after the court session. “What does public praise matter? The common people can’t storm into court to participate in governance.”

Xie Yanfang put down his fishing rod and stretched his arms.

“The Empress isn’t doing this for public praise,” he said.

Seventh Master Xie frowned: “Then what does she want?”

“She wants nothing. She just wants to do as she pleases,” Xie Yanfang said with a satisfied smile. “Our Miss Ah-Zhao finally knows how to be a ruler.”

A ruler? Seventh Master Xie didn’t like that term: “She’s only the Empress. Our Ah-Yu is the ruler.”

Xie Yanfang said: “For ministers, there can be one more ruler who acts arbitrarily above them, but in court and around them, there cannot be one more minister who can act arbitrarily.”

Seventh Master Xie didn’t quite understand.

Xie Yanfang smiled: “Some people will understand.”

…

…

Seventh Master Xie soon saw what he meant.

That day in court, officials were heatedly debating a matter. The Empress, hearing something of interest, sat up straight.

“Huzhou has received flood relief funds for three consecutive years? Why are the water problems still unresolved after three years? How much money has been allocated in these three years? How many canals and dikes have been built? How were the funds distributed?” she asked.

The officials who had been arguing heatedly instantly fell silent, lowering their eyes and hands, as if suddenly deaf and mute.

Fine then. Chu Zhao didn’t mind. She would check the memorials and case files later. Just as she was about to lean back, an official stepped forward.

“Your Majesty, I have something to say about this matter,” he bowed and said.

Who?

Had that Hanlin Academy Editor returned?

The officials with lowered eyes were startled and turned their heads back, but no one had stepped forward from the end of the ranks. The officials at the back looked toward the front with surprised expressions.

The officials at the front brought their gaze back, landing on the first three rows.

An official in purple robes with a short beard raised his head, looking at the Empress.

The Empress also looked at him, her expression somewhat surprised: “Vice Minister of Revenue?” Then she set aside her surprise and smiled slightly, “Please speak.”

…

…