assistirfilmes Chapter 104
Chapter 104
Chapter 104: Resolving the Liu Family – Part 1
The urgent edict from the court first arrived in the capital cities of various provinces. The governors of each province dared not delay for a moment. They immediately consulted the procedures for announcing national mourning, dispatched officials and fast horses to notify the county magistrates in each county, and then spread the news layer by layer.
By the time Fuyang Town and Xiwan Village received the official notification, it had been seven days since the emperor’s passing.
The emperor passed away on the fourth day of the ninth month, and the whole nation mourned.
The mourning regulations for the national mourning period in the Da Yuan Dynasty were not significantly different from the historical events familiar to Jing Yi.
From the day the emperor passed away, officials, both civil and military, and all citizens were prohibited from engaging in festivities for one hundred days. Slaughtering animals was forbidden for forty-nine days, and marriages were forbidden within the borders of the Da Yuan Dynasty for one month.
Moreover, after the emperor’s death, officials and civilians were required to observe a mourning period of twenty-seven days, while the people were expected to wear plain-colored clothing as a sign of respect. During these twenty-seven days, any memorials to the emperor had to be written in blue ink instead of red, and the official seals of various government offices had to be changed to blue as well.
Upon seeing the notices posted by the local authorities, Jing Yi immediately summoned people to inform all the Jing family’s shops and the Lin family’s stores to remove the bright decorations. For those that couldn’t be taken down in time, they hastily bought white silk from the cloth shop to cover them. Every member of the family also changed into plain-colored clothes.
The uniforms for each store’s employees were well-designed and vibrant, but now they couldn’t continue wearing them. Jing Yi decisively sent the staff back home to change into plain-colored attire before resuming work.
Given the gravity of national mourning, everyone dared not delay. Disrespect could be considered a capital crime.
Jing Yi even temporarily closed down the entertainment-oriented Leisure Summer Villa. The small restaurant and hot pot restaurant were transformed into vegetarian establishments, and even spicy dishes were removed to avoid drawing attention with their bright red appearance.
Even Ningxia Pavillion prepared only plain-colored soaps.@@@@
In ancient times, imperial power was supreme, and they couldn’t afford the slightest mistake. Every family took such precautions. Everyone was extremely cautious.
For a moment, Fuyang Town, Anchang County, Qingzhou Prefecture, and even the entire Da Yuan Dynasty fell into a solemn quiet.
In the court, although the new emperor had to observe the mourning period, the country could not be without an emperor for a day. Within two days, the enthronement of the new emperor had to be completed, and the transfer of power and the fulfillment of the emperor’s duties had to take place.
In ordinary circumstances, the enthronement ceremony to celebrate the first year of the new emperor would take place after the one hundred days of mourning.
So, two days later, the Fuyang Town government posted a new notice alongside the national mourning announcement. It contained an ode celebrating the former Crown Prince’s ascension to the throne as the new emperor.
The Crown Prince was the legitimate eldest son, and over the years, he had implemented several practical measures benefiting the people. Regardless of the fierce struggles among the imperial princes in the court, in the eyes of the common folk, he had always been the people’s choice.
“Oh, luckily our little An An was born at the right time,” sighed Jing’s mother while holding her eldest grandson.
If the birth had been a few months later, not only would they be unable to hold a feast for the baby’s full month and hundredth day, but they wouldn’t even be able to see bright colors. People would have to discreetly refrain from picking up the newborn, fearing that they might violate some taboo.
“Mother! Be careful of what you say!” Jing Yi quickly stopped his mother.
At this moment, a neatly dressed but somewhat unfamiliar young man stood up, repeatedly gesturing to the crowd as if to say, “I have a big secret to share, and I’ll only tell you guys.” He signaled everyone to be quiet and listen.
“Hush! I heard, I heard... from my second uncle’s third son-in-law’s uncle works at the county yamen. I heard that the Liu family committed a crime punishable by death.” This storyteller knew how to build suspense, saying only half of it and then pausing. When everyone urged him impatiently, he continued contentedly.
“Do you still remember that over the past few years, poor families from various towns and villages have been going to the county town to report missing family members? Even in our town and the surrounding villages. I heard that the Liu family is related to these missing persons.”
“Wow!!!”
Everyone was collectively shocked!
This was a major event! It was truly an astonishing revelation!
“It’s not over yet. Those servants from the Liu family who were dismissed by the old master were actually doing his dirty work. They received compensation to take the blame for him. In the backyard of the Liu family’s estate south of our town, they say they even unearthed...”
This young man stopped again, not to keep people in suspense this time, but because he noticed some small children who came with their families for a meal, their little faces showing a mix of fear, anticipation, and curiosity. It seemed he didn’t want to be too explicit in front of them, so he blurred his expression.
“Cough, anyway, just a few not-so-good things.”
Well, using “a few” as the measure word, if you understand, you understand; he blurred it but not completely.
The children who didn’t understand continued asking their parents, but a piece of meat stopped them, keeping their mouths occupied.
“This is unreasonable! The Liu family’s conduct is so wicked, deceiving everyone in our town!”
“I’m not just saying this in hindsight. I always felt there was something wrong with their family. Apart from those favorites, their servants all looked gloomy and joyless.”
“With so many people involved in the previous missing persons cases, didn’t the county magistrate do anything?”
The young man thought this was a good question, perfectly setting up his next narrative. “The current county magistrate, I heard, is newly appointed this year. The previous magistrate was colluding with the Liu family. Rumor has it that even the promotion at the end of last year was arranged by the Liu family in the capital. He turned a blind eye to everything!”
“So... so unfair!”
“Hey, don’t get angry, brother. The Liu family case involves a lot of people; it’s not something we common folks can intervene in. Besides the Liu family in the capital, I heard there are big officials from the capital involved. It goes even deeper; we can’t say much.”
“But now is the chance for revenge. The emperor has ordered a thorough investigation, and our new magistrate is someone who understands justice and gets things done. Seek revenge for grievances and resolve disputes. If anyone has grievances, just tell the magistrate. He’ll surely give a result!”
With these impassioned lines, he quickly took a sip of water to moisten his throat.
Yes, this performer was a storyteller hired by Jing Yi from a teahouse in the capital. This was his “gift” to the Liu family.
A crafty rabbit has three burrows. Jing Yi was afraid that the Liu family might find a loophole even in the matters that seemed settled, so he prepared a backup plan. He let the victims’ families, who had been suppressed and threatened, voluntarily come forward. This would ensure that the Liu family couldn’t turn things around.