Wei Yun led Chu Yu, Liu Xueyang, and Jiang Chun on foot to the Shun Tian Prefecture.
Their formal attire and procession naturally drew the attention of onlookers. Many citizens, unaware of what was happening, followed behind them, curious about their destination.
“Dressed like that, she must be a noble lady, right?”
“A first-rank titled lady!”
“Which family’s madam and young master are they?”
“I know that lady. Isn’t she the Wei family’s young madam who knelt at the palace gates years ago?”
“Yes, yes,” someone agreed. “Now she’s the Wei family’s First Madam. But who’s that in front of her?”
“It’s Marquis Wei!”
Someone exclaimed in surprise: “It’s the young Marquis Wei who led five thousand light cavalry to directly attack the Northern Di royal court!”
As the person called out, the crowd stirred, buzzing with discussion.
Wei Yun led his family members forward calmly, seemingly oblivious to the voices around him.
As people recognized Wei Yun, the crowd grew larger.
Years ago, when the Wei family was reduced to Wei Yun alone, the battle line had retreated to Tianmen Pass, nearly allowing an attack on the capital. The citizens of the capital still remembered how, with Tianmen Pass engulfed in flames and people fleeing in panic, this young man rode out alone from the palace gates, leading elite troops to Tianmen Pass. After a fierce battle, Tianmen Pass was successfully defended.
Though unaware of the palace intrigues at the time, everyone knew it was Wei Yun who held Tianmen Pass. It was Wei Yun who, single-handedly, forced the Northern Di to withdraw their troops and rush back to save their country when the frontlines were struggling. Since then, he had remained at the frontlines, leading troops deep into enemy territory multiple times, securing an absolute advantage for the Great Chu, and spearheading the recovery of lost territories.
The Great Chu had been tottering after the Wei family’s fall, but with the Wei family’s resurgence, they were able to counterattack and restore their glory.
During the war, Wei Yun guarded the front lines. When people were homeless, the Wei family opened their granaries for relief. When people were fleeing everywhere, the Wei family took them in at Xuzhou, providing work and shelter.
The common people might not understand the court politics or the scheming of the upper classes, but they knew the tangible kindness they had received.
The citizens happily followed behind Wei Yun. A bold youth called out Wei Yun’s name: “Young Marquis! Young Marquis, take me as your guard!”
Hearing the people call his name and the Wei family’s name, Wei Yun was moved. He involuntarily turned to look at Chu Yu.
Apart from fighting in wars, everything else had been done by Chu Yu using the Wei family’s name.
He had supported the Great Chu, while she had supported the Wei family.
As their eyes met, Wei Yun felt a lump in his throat. He felt he had not let down the people, but to this person behind him, he had given far too little.
Chu Yu couldn’t understand the gratitude in his eyes. She smiled gently and simply asked, “My Lord, what’s the matter?”
Wei Yun shook his head and quickened his pace, moving forward.
The Shun Tian Prefecture was only about an incense stick’s burning time away from the Wei mansion. By the time they reached the prefecture gates, dawn was just breaking, but the surrounding area was already crowded with people. There was a free theater performance not far from here today, so many people had come to watch the excitement.
Wei Yun led the three women to stop in front of the Shun Tian Prefecture. There was a large drum in front of the prefecture, used for citizens to seek justice. It was only to be struck for cases beyond the jurisdiction’s capability or for major injustices.
To prevent citizens from striking the drum arbitrarily, once the Shun Tian Prefecture accepted a case, the person striking the drum had to walk across a nail board before the court session began. Thus, few people came here to report cases.
As Wei Yun stepped forward, the onlookers couldn’t help but show shocked expressions, whispering among themselves: “What kind of case requires the young Marquis Wei to come here and strike the drum?”
“Could it be about the White Emperor Valley case from years ago?”
“Wasn’t it already clarified that it was the former Crown Prince’s fault? What injustice is there to appeal?”
As the people spoke, the drumstick suddenly struck the drum face. The drum sound was deep and steady, resonating throughout the Shun Tian Prefecture.
“Wei Yun of the Zhenguo Marquis’s Mansion,” Wei Yun’s voice rang out, “has come to the Shun Tian Prefecture to seek justice!”
The drum beats were neither slow nor fast. As people listened to the drum, everyone fell silent. The sun slowly rose from the edge of the mountains, its light gradually spreading over the city. The light came silently amidst the drum beats, enveloping the citizens and the imperial city.
More and more people gathered, but inside the Shun Tian Prefecture, no one dared to open the door.
The Prefect of Shun Tian paced back and forth in the hall, anxiously saying, “What’s Wei Yun’s status now, and what’s mine? The person he wants to accuse is someone I dare not offend. It’s been so long, and His Majesty hasn’t sent me any message. Advisor, what should I do?”
The advisor, who had been deep in thought, raised his head upon hearing this and suddenly said, “My Lord, something’s not right about this.”
“Oh?”
“Think about it. In this imperial city, how many people still have more power than Marquis Wei? If he had a grievance, he could go directly to His Majesty. Why come to us now? What’s he doing?”
“Exactly,” the Prefect said anxiously. “If he can’t handle it himself, how can I?”
“So Lord Wei isn’t targeting you,” the advisor said slowly. “He’s targeting the common people!”
The Prefect was stunned. The advisor continued, “My Lord, do you remember when the Wei family’s First Madam knelt at the palace gates years ago? The Wei family’s reputation among the people was so high that they used the people’s pressure to force the former emperor to intervene. Now, here, who he’s trying to pressure is naturally the current emperor.”
The Prefect was confused. “What does he want to force His Majesty to do?”
The advisor chuckled lightly. “That, I suppose, we’ll know when His Majesty’s edict arrives.”
“Then what should I do now?” The Prefect was at a complete loss. The advisor sat down, fanning himself, and smiled, “Let’s wait and see how things unfold.”
Meanwhile, in the palace, Zhao Yue listened to the urgent report from the Shun Tian Prefecture in silence.
He knew Wei Yun would make a move, but he hadn’t expected it to be so quick. As he had anticipated… Wei Yun was using past events as a reason to rebel.
Zhao Yue remained silent for a moment, then picked up his brush and said decisively, “Issue an edict to bestow marriage between the Wei family’s First Madam Chu Yu and Gu Chusheng.”
Zhao Yue quickly wrote the first imperial edict and affixed the imperial seal.
Then, Zhao Yue lowered his voice and said through gritted teeth, “Immediately dispatch troops to arrest Yao Yong and bring him with me to the Shun Tian Prefecture!”
After saying this, Zhao Yue hurriedly rushed out. Zhang Hui followed behind Zhao Yue, anxiously asking, “Your Majesty, why are you in such a hurry?”
“Wei Yun is trying to find fault with me. How can I let him have his way?”
Zhao Yue let out a low growl, then almost ran out.
He understood all too well what Wei Yun was trying to do.
Now, Wei Yun had the troops and provisions he needed. The only thing he lacked for rebellion was a reason.
Rebelling without cause would be seen as harming the country and people. Even if he had elite troops and capable generals and could temporarily capture the capital, he couldn’t hold it for long. Given Wei Yun’s character, if he wanted to make a move, to claim the world, how could he not give himself a way out?
Arbitrarily killing the emperor would be seen as harming the country and people, but killing a tyrannical ruler could be called acting on Heaven’s behalf.
He couldn’t give Wei Yun this reason.
Wei Yun was surely going to use the White Emperor Valley incident to his advantage, making the people feel sympathy for the suffering Wei family. But if he preemptively pushed Yao Yong out as a scapegoat, firmly denied any involvement in the White Emperor Valley incident, then knelt to apologize to Wei Yun and begged him not to plunge the world into chaos…
After all this, Wei Yun would be left with no options.
After all, he was now the emperor, an emperor who had been a wise ruler for many years.
Thinking of this, Zhao Yue felt much more at ease.
However, as soon as he left the palace, Wei Yun’s people headed directly towards the Shun Tian Prefecture. Among the crowd, a strange cuckoo call rang out, and Wei Yun glanced in that direction, knowing Zhao Yue had left the palace.
Wei Yun’s drum beats suddenly grew louder. He seemed to have lost patience and raised his voice: “My Lord! Why won’t the Shun Tian Prefecture open its doors? Has the sound of this drum gone deaf, has the clarity of the world been lost, or is there no more justice in this world?”
“My Lord!” Wei Yun struck the drum, his eyes brimming with tears, his voice hoarse: “Are you going to let the 70,000 men of White Emperor Valley die with this grievance unaddressed? Are you going to let their murderers roam free? Are you going to watch the chief culprit who brought the Great Chu to the brink of collapse now sit high on the golden throne, receiving the worship of tens of thousands? Are you going to let good people die with hatred in the netherworld while evil people bask in glory?”
Hearing these words, everyone present was shocked.
The Prefect and his advisor looked at each other in dismay.
“On the golden throne…” The Prefect’s lips trembled, seemingly in disbelief: “Who is he accusing?”