Chapter Sixty-Five: Broad Edict, The Veteran
“Second Brother!”
Di Miao called out as she ran over, leaning on the desk and craning her little head. “Someone wants to poison us!”
Peng Liang’s hand shook at this, spilling tea everywhere.
Di Ying: “…”
He looked up at his little sister in silence, his tone flat as he replied, “Isn’t that to be expected?”
Di Miao: “…Hey, is that all the reaction you have?”
Di Ying: “What else? Should I make a big fuss like you? Would that help?”
Di Miao: “Of course it would. At least let me see you’re worried.”
Di Ying obliged at once: he leaned forward, widened his phoenix-shaped eyes, put on a shocked expression, clenched his fists to his chest, and gave a few exaggerated trembles.
Di Miao: “…”
She pouted, plopped onto a chair, and was just about to call her second brother a meanie when she heard him say, “As long as you’re careful, no one can poison our family.”
Di Miao: “…”
For a moment, she felt moved, and then a little ashamed.
It was her carelessness today that nearly led to disaster.
Her second brother was trusting her, but also giving her a warning.
Di Miao stood up and solemnly promised him she’d be more careful.
Before sending her out, Di Ying instructed, “I can’t always look after things at home, so you’ll have to pay extra attention. Try to ensure everything that enters the house passes your inspection.
And another thing: make sure everyone carries the antidote pills I left, just in case.
Also, remind Mother, our eldest sister-in-law, and your third sister-in-law to finish the robe I designed—it’s possible I’ll need it tonight.
And finally: never go out alone. Wherever you go, you must take at least four of the guards with you.”
The Di family might lack in furniture, but they never lacked guards. These were all retired soldiers whom Di Shun, owner of the “All Roads Lead” carriage company, had specially recruited—veterans discharged due to injuries.
Di Miao nodded to each of her brother’s instructions. When it came to the robe, she smiled and said, “Mother and the others are quick with their hands. It’s already finished; you can send for it anytime.”
Di Ying nodded and saw his sister out. Instead of returning to his room, he remembered Di Shun and set out with Peng Liang for the western city gate.
They had barely set foot on the street when an imperial edict was proclaimed.
It was a decree intended for the whole nation.
[The law must be strict and just! No one may twist it by trickery or deception. From this day forward: the ‘Letter of Forgiveness’ is abolished! From now on, once a case is filed, it takes effect—no one may withdraw or dismiss charges, nor destroy the case in any way!]
The people were bewildered.
“What does His Majesty’s decree mean?”
“I don’t know, let’s ask the scholars.”
“You’re asking me? Well, what I gather is: His Majesty doesn't want people to file frivolous complaints anymore. Once you accuse someone, you can’t change your mind halfway and drop it.”
“Hah, that’s a good decree! Ermao, if you steal my eggs again, I’ll report you, and you won’t be able to apologize and have me drop the matter.”
“Nonsense! Your chickens are always coming to my yard to lay eggs. Next time, I’ll make stew out of them and see how you complain.”
“Alright, you two, stop bickering. If you ask me, from now on, if some scoundrel does wrong and tries to make us sign a ‘Letter of Forgiveness’ so he can escape punishment, it won’t work anymore, right?”
“That’s right—it’s final now. This should give ordinary folks some peace of mind when seeking justice.”
“Exactly! Those with wealth and power won’t be able to buy their way out so easily anymore. We can make complaints without fear.”
“Oh? Judging by your tone, do you have a case to file?”
“None of your business.”
With that, the man squeezed into the crowd and quickly disappeared.
He wasn’t the only one.
Di Ying listened and watched along the way, his round face always wreathed in a smile.
Looking every bit the prosperous merchant, he strolled into the “All Roads Lead” carriage company with a genial air, hands resting over his belly.
Before taking up his position at the Court of Justice, Di Ying had arranged for Di Shun to move the carriage business to the capital when their family relocated.
Every ten days or so, Di Ying would drop by to collect all sorts of information Di Shun had gathered.
Much of Di Ying’s understanding of his fellow officials came from analyzing these reports.
This time, he brought only Peng Liang.
Not that he distrusted Yao Cong—but Yao Cong still had loose ends to tie up.
They were taking precautions against Wu Qiongsi’s possible violent retaliation.
The families of Wu Minzhe and Chen Hehua had to be relocated far from the capital.
Wan Dan’er had used the silver Yao Cong gave her to buy back her freedom, reclaimed her original name, and returned to her hometown.
Wu Minzhe and Chen Hehua’s remains had been reburied elsewhere—certainly not together.
Thus, before Wu Qiongsi could vent his rage, he turned his sights on the Di family—something Di Ying had anticipated.
He just hadn’t expected him to use poison…
A truly contemptible move.
When Di Ying explained to Di Shun, the latter curled his lip.
After a moment, he said, “Don’t worry, Brother Ying. We have plenty of hands. The western, northern, and northeastern borders of the realm are always at war, and there are plenty of veterans discharged every year. The little pension from the court can’t support their families. Our carriage company treats them well and always pays on time—they spread the word, and many want to join us.”
At the mention of war, Di Ying’s brow furrowed.
On the map, the Great Xia realm looked like a fish with a swollen brow, dragging a cormorant’s bulging pouch stuffed with goods.
Put simply: it resembled a long-lived fish with a pouch, gorged to fullness.
Beyond the fish’s tail lay Persia;
Beyond its back, the Su Kingdom;
Beyond the swollen brow and the sharp snout’s hollow lay the Mohe;
From the thinnest point of the tail and body, down the belly to the bottom left of the pouch, lay the land of Tubo.
Ever since the Turks and Khitan were incorporated into Great Xia, the most frequent wars broke out with the Mohe and Tubo.
Not only did they constantly harass the borders, they often launched large-scale raids.
Over time, these conflicts became a tug-of-war with the Great Xia army, turning the frontier into a relentless meat grinder that devoured the lives of soldiers.
The Empress was not a warmonger, but she refused to allow anyone to question her rule as a woman by losing territory—so she spared no effort in selecting and appointing her generals, determined to protect the realm at all costs.
Frequent warfare… dragged everyone in the nation into the mire.
Di Ying trusted those old soldiers and was always willing to look after them.
“Then I’ll leave my family in your care,” Di Ying said solemnly, bowing.
Di Shun was startled, jumping back and tilting his head in confusion. “Brother Ying, what’s gotten into you? Isn’t that always my job? Why are you being so formal with me?”