Chapter 221: Blocking the Street to Lodge a Complaint

Chapter 221: Blocking the Street to Lodge a Complaint

Miss Zhu was staying in a civilian house not far from Qingsong Bookstore.

After a few days of rest, with a comfortable bed, good food, and hot water always available, Miss Zhu’s complexion had noticeably improved.

But despite the comfort, her mind was consumed with worry, and she couldn’t wait to move forward with the next step of their plan.

Seeing Miss Zhu like this, Xin You saw a reflection of herself.

They were actually the same. Miss Zhu was anxious on the outside, while Xin You was anxious on the inside. Both were desperately seeking justice for their loved ones.

"Miss Zhu, are you afraid of blocking the street to lodge a complaint?"

Miss Zhu was startled and quickly shook her head. "I'm not afraid!"

Her eyes were bright, filled with fearlessness.

A young woman who traveled from Dingbei to the capital, daring enough to attempt the assassination of a prince, clearly had courage that went beyond the ordinary.

"Tomorrow morning, wait near the Shun Tian Prefecture yamen. When you see the Shun Tian Prefecture Magistrate passing by and receive a signal from us, confront him right there on the street and submit the prepared petition," Xin You emphasized. "Remember, you must confront him on the street."

Miss Zhu nodded. "I understand. But I don’t know what the magistrate looks like."

"The Shun Tian Prefecture Magistrate will be in a palanquin on his way back to the yamen. You just need to identify his palanquin."

Officials of Great Xia, only those of the third rank or above, are allowed to ride in palanquins. The rest either travel by carriage, horse, or, in more difficult conditions, by donkey.

Xin You described the distinctive features of the magistrate’s palanquin, which Miss Zhu carefully noted. She then asked, "Do I need to wait for the signal before intercepting the palanquin?"

"Yes. Because our target is not the Shun Tian Prefecture Magistrate, but He Yushi."

"He Yushi?" Miss Zhu looked surprised.

It wasn’t about confronting the magistrate?

"He Yushi is a Censor, known for his integrity and dedication. He’s been investigating a case at the Shun Tian Prefecture and will be there around the time the magistrate returns to the yamen. But nothing is absolute. If He Yushi doesn’t appear tomorrow, hold off and wait for the next chance."

"I understand. What about He Yushi?"

"He Yushi rides a completely black donkey."

After finishing, Xin You held Miss Zhu’s hand. "Given that this involves a prince, expect significant challenges. Be prepared, Miss Zhu."

Miss Zhu nodded vigorously. "I understand."

If not for Miss Kou, she wouldn’t have survived that day. Every step forward now felt like a gift.

As long as she could seek justice for her parents and fellow villagers, she feared nothing.

"Then Miss Zhu, get some good rest. I wish you success tomorrow."

As Xin You was about to leave, Miss Zhu called out to her.

"Miss Kou—" Miss Zhu hesitated for a moment and then softly said, "My name is Zhu Xiaoyue."

"Xiaoyue" carries the meaning of a jewel, indicating how much her parents cherished their daughter.

Xin You smiled. "Miss Zhu’s name is very beautiful."

Zhu Xiaoyue also had a smile on her lips. "Miss Kou's name is also very pleasant to hear."

Xin You nodded and added in her heart, "My name, Ayu, sounds nice too."

Upon returning to Qingsong Bookstore, Xin You gave some instructions to Manager Hu and took Xiaolian back to Shaoqing Mansion.

The elderly lady was surprised to see Xin You return at that hour.

Xin You casually said, "I've been outside for so long, and I miss my grandmother."

The elderly lady's first reaction was one of disbelief.

If she were really that filial, would she have demanded money so aggressively?

But she was happy to ease the tension and lovingly took Xin You's hand. "You should have come back to live here sooner. I worry about you every day when you're out there."

When Duan Shaoqing returned from the government office and heard that his cousin had come back to live at the mansion, his heart skipped a beat.

He had, of course, heard the rumors. Could Qingsong Bookstore really stay uninvolved if the successful Mr. Songling was possibly related to the missing Empress Xin?

This little troublemaker, she only comes back to Shaoqing Mansion when she's in trouble!

Concerned that this might bring trouble to Shaoqing Mansion, Duan Shaoqing went to speak with Xin You.

"Qingqing, is the bookstore not busy lately?"

Xin You smiled. "Not busy."

"Do you plan to leave the bookstore to the people below and live here from now on?"

If she were to stay home obediently, it wouldn't be without its benefits. There would be a chance to get the money back.

"Not really. I'll go back when the bookstore gets busy again. It's rare to be free now, so I came back to accompany my grandmother."

Duan Shaoqing twitched at the corner of his mouth.

So, you come back when you're in trouble, go out to enjoy yourself when everything's fine, and then return when new problems arise? Is that how it works?

That familiar feeling of impending trouble struck again!

As Duan Shaoqing hurried off, Xiaolian, standing behind Xin You, pouted.

That night, Xin You tossed and turned, knowing that the next day would bring a storm.

The next day, the sky was blue with scattered clouds, and the sunlight filtered through. A green silk-covered sedan chair carried by four people appeared on the street and steadily headed towards the Shun Tian Prefecture yamen.

People on the street immediately recognized the presence of a high-ranking official and quickly moved out of the way.

Suddenly, a woman darted from the roadside and knelt before the sedan chair.

"Esteemed Lord, please seek justice for a commoner!" Zhu Xiaoyue held the petition high above her head and shouted loudly.

The sedan chair came to an abrupt stop, and a deep voice came from inside. "What's going on?"

The bodyguards accompanying the sedan chair replied, "Sir, a young lady is blocking the path and crying out for justice."

Zhu Xiaoyue stared intently at the sedan chair, but the curtain remained unmoved.

The deep voice passed through the curtain, exuding an aura of authority: "The Shun Tian Prefecture is just ahead. If you have a petition, go to the courthouse to file it."

A guard nearby shouted, "Lift the sedan —"

As the sedan carriers raised the chair, Zhu Xiaoyue knelt and moved a few steps forward, holding the petition high above her head. "Your Honor, please hear my plea, I beg you."

"Move aside!" the guard shouted.

Suddenly, the curtain lifted, revealing a square face. "Don’t be disrespectful to the people."

Zhu Xiaoyue looked up, just in time to catch a glimpse of the person inside the sedan before the curtain fell again.

As the sedan went around her and continued forward, Zhu Xiaoyue knelt and chased after it for a few steps. "Your Honor —"

Some bystanders who had stopped to watch couldn't help but advise, "Young girl, the official already said the courthouse is just ahead. Why not go there and file your petition? Crying here won't help."

"Yeah, this official’s pretty lenient. If it were someone with less patience, you could be charged for blocking the road like this."

"I, I'm afraid," Zhu Xiaoyue murmured, kneeling disheveled and tearful, the petition in her hand brushing the ground.

Someone who could read leaned in to look and involuntarily read aloud, "A petition accusing the disaster relief envoy of embezzling relief funds and massacring civilians."

The crowd gasped in shock before the reader even finished.

"What does that mean? What’s written on the petition?"

The person who read the petition finally regained their senses, their face turning pale. "I didn’t see anything! I didn’t see anything!" They hurriedly lifted their long robe and, in fright, ran off.

And then, just as she lost hope, a person and a donkey came into view.