Chapter 217: Holding Fort

Chapter 217: Holding Fort

"What's happened?"

Xi Ruo saw the students at the bottom of the city wall leading the charge, shouting something, and the group of hungry, red-eyed refugees getting agitated and pushing towards the city gate.

A deputy from Jiangqian Prefecture, who was meant to be guiding them, looked overwhelmed by the sight of the scholars and refugees below.

Frowning deeply, the deputy pointed at the scholars, infuriated, "Those pedantic scholars! They’ve been clamoring since morning to send their books in first, but we can't set that precedent."

"Once the city gates are opened, all the refugees will swarm in, and the city will be thrown into chaos!"

The deputy, visibly angry, said with a flick of his sleeve, "They study the sages yet fail to share the court's worries, instead causing trouble. They deserve a good thrashing!"

Lin Yunwan observed the robes of the Qing'ou Academy students that were laid out.

So, they were covering books.

She felt a complex mix of emotions.

Xi Ruo, disliking the deputy's words, interjected, "Scholars loving their books is natural, just as warriors cherish their steeds. Though the students might be hasty in their actions, my lord, you were once a scholar too."

How can there be no sympathy?

The deputy glanced at Xi Ruo, his face turning red in restraint.

He was now a deputy of Jiangqian Prefecture! How could he be compared with those students?

His responsibility was to the people of Jiangqian!

The people outside the city gates were already outside; if misfortune befell them, it was their fate.

Seeing the Princess did not reprimand the maid and was surrounded by her attendants as if she hadn’t heard the impertinence, the deputy was left as if unheard.

Suppressing his anger, he bowed and said, "Your Highness, with the situation below so chaotic, I cannot just stand by. This place is not suitable for ladies; you should..."

This was an attempt to get away and also to send Lin Yunwan away.

Xiruo frowned slightly.

"This is the Prince's territory, where he has the right to intervene in all major and minor affairs!"

"With the Prince and Princess being one, in the Prince's absence, how can the Princess not preside over the affairs on his behalf?"

"Xiruo, let's go down."

"Yes."

Lin Yunwan led her maids and servants to a temporary shelter.

Xiruo, slightly anxious, asked, "Your Highness, aren't you going to intervene?"

"If I weren't involved, why would I be sitting here, pregnant as I am?"

Xiruo felt relieved and smacked her forehead, saying, "I was too flustered to think clearly."

Lin Yunwan smiled faintly, "You were flustered indeed. You're married now, no longer a maid of the Huan King's residence. Mrs. Xu."

Xiruo bowed her head in laughter.

She had just recently married into the Xu family, a lineage of military officers, which still held military positions, not adhering to the customs of the great clans.

Lin Yunwan spoke softly, "Jiangqian Prefecture pays over two hundred thousand dan of taxes annually. There are seven officials at the third rank in the government office alone, not to mention the Prefect and several judges. There are plenty of people to handle matters."

"That fool earlier was only concerned about his own position. But not all officials in Jiangqian might be like that; let's wait and see."

"Those books can't withstand water damage. The scholars will surely grow more anxious, unable to last till tomorrow morning. If nothing happens by tomorrow morning, it means there's no issue."

"Women shouldn't meddle in politics. It's best for us not to show up if we can avoid it."

Xiruo, as if suddenly gaining a backbone, replied, "Understood."

She occasionally stepped out to check on the rain outside.

Cuishen came in to serve tea, whispering, "Your Highness, the tea is ready."

Lin Yunwan, with a hint of fatigue in her eyes, refreshed herself with the tea and waited at the resting area for half an hour.

Then, something happened.

Xiruo returned from her observation with a grave expression, "Your Highness, they... they sent the official to negotiate with the scholars from Qing'ou Academy, but the talks failed."

"The official then ordered the government and military forces to suppress the scholars with force."

Speaking of this, Xiruo shuddered, "I fear some hot-headed youths might rush in recklessly…"

Cuishen, being younger, was also frightened, "That... that could lead to fatalities."

This was exactly what Xiruo feared.

Not just her, everyone feared it! But the Jiangqian government would never let those people into the city.

Lin Yunwan felt a sinking feeling in her heart, and her stomach started to cramp.

She clutched her belly, frowning, "The Prefect is too bold!"

A mere official wouldn't dare to make such a decision; he's just a scapegoat.

Xiruo hurried forward, crouching down, "Your Highness, are you feeling unwell? Nothing is more important than you and the Prince's child. Maybe you should…"

"I'm fine."

Lin Yunwan said, "Go get writing materials and call your husband, Xu Tianyou, over."

Seeing the Princess issue such commands, it seemed she had thought everything through.

Xiruo hesitated for a moment, then nodded firmly, "Okay."

Cuishen went to fetch the writing materials, while Xiruo brought Xu Tianyou.

Lin Yunwan picked up a brush and wrote several pages.

As it was very dark, Cuishen held an oil lamp beside her, while Lin Yunwan wrote with dry eyes.

Writing swiftly in cursive, she finished and then took out a golden seal from her pouch, stamping it on the last page.

Lin Yunwan said to Xu Tianyou outside the screen, "This bears the Prince's private seal. Read it and then immediately take it to the Prefect of Jiangqian, say it's the Prince's order. Help the Prefect implement each item written on these pages."

But everyone knew Qi Lingheng was not in Jiangqian.

Lin Yunwan knew she couldn't hide it, so she instructed Xu Tianyou, "No need to say more, whoever disobeys, regardless of their status, will be detained at the government office!"

Xu Tianyou saluted, "Your command is my duty."

Xiruo handed a piece of paper to her husband.

Xu Tianyou, seeing the densely packed characters, said awkwardly, "Princess, I can't really read."

Seeing her husband's clumsy look, Xiruo whispered, "I'll read it to you."

Lin Yunwan, behind the screen, watched the couple whispering and smiled faintly.

"Princess, I've understood and remembered everything," said the official.

Lin Yunwan nodded, "You may go."

Xu Tianyou stuffed several papers into his chest, fearing they would get wet. He thought to himself that even as a military household, he should still learn to read in the future.

The princess, a scholar, was indeed admirable.

And so was his wife.

The prefect also didn't dare to sleep all night, fearing the loss of his official hat, he couldn't sleep at all!

Hearing that the legitimate son of the Jiangqian Commandery Prince's Commander was coming to see him, he waved his hand impatiently, "Just a brash man, what chaos is he going to add at this time!"

His advisor, however, suggested, "Sir, it would be wise to see him. He claims to bring a personal letter from Prince Huan."

"Prince Huan? Isn't he still away near Yulin and hasn't returned?"

The advisor leaned in and whispered, "Xu Tianyou is married to a personal maid of Prince Huan's wife. It would be best to meet him regardless."

The Prefect then waved his sleeve, "Alright, let him in!"

He said disdainfully, "I'm curious to see what a brash man and a woman of the household intend to do."

Xu Tianyou entered, quickly explaining his purpose.

He slammed the paper in front of the Prefect, "The Prince's orders are all written here."

The Prefect was inwardly shocked as he read.

"How did they come up with such a comprehensive plan in such a short time?"

But suspecting it to be the Princess's idea, and unwilling to heed a woman's orders, he remained calm, "The Prince himself is not here..."

Xu Tianyou was unfazed by this.

Though simple-minded, he shared the same temperament as Xiruo. Drawing his saber, he said sternly, "The seal of Prince Huan on it signifies his command. Anyone defying the Prince's order will be detained on the spot!"

The Prefect, looking at the seal of Prince Huan on the final page and at Xu Tianyou's sword, felt uncertain.

"Since it's an order from the Prince, as an official... I shall, of course, comply..."

The Prefect yielded but made sure to distance himself from any blame: "Whatever I do henceforth will be in obedience to the Prince's commands. I'll keep this document bearing the Prince's private seal."

Xu Tianyou, who had no intention of taking the document away, urged with a stern face, "Hurry and help me with the task! Every moment we delay, there's a risk of more lives being lost."

The Prefect stood up to act.