The Princess Wei Yang Chapter 54
July 15, 2017
This chapter is translated by Angela and sponsored by Jessica H., Christiine G., and Amy N. :)
1霞帔-xiapei: a strip of scarf over ceremonial robe for noble ladies.
2凤体康健，福泽万年: variations of well wishes for someone
3Low ranking officials
4中饱私囊: zhōng bǎo sī náng: lining one’s pocket, meaning to embezzle public funds or other people’s money
5Government office in feudal China
Chapter 54: To seek wealth
In the afternoon, Li Wei Yang accompanied Lao Furen into the palace.
After days of nonstop snow, it was bitterly cold; even though seven or eight large heating stoves were placed in Ci Xin Gong, it was useless. It was still unable to block the deep cold that came in.
Lao Furen was wearing a red knitted jacket with gold clouds, an embroidered lion mandarin square on the chest, there was a narrow serrated decorative edge on the collar with gold and silver buckle, plus the xiapei’s1 radiance was glittering.
Li Wei Yang lowered her head, staring steadily at the three feet square of white jade brick on the floor, knelt with Lao Furen to perform the bowing rituals.
At the moment, the hall was filled with silence that even the “swisha” sound caused by the rubbing friction between the shirt and skirt could be heard.
“Which one is Li Wei Yang?” The Dowager Empress with dignified face and amicable look, slowly asked.
Li Wei Yang took a deep breath, stepped forward, did a grand curtsey, said: “Dowager Empress, healthy body, pool of happiness for thousands of years2.
The Dowager Empress’s eyes fell on her, smiled and said: “Raise your head and let me see.”
Li Wei Yang raised her head, her gaze respectful, demeanor dignified.
The Dowager Empress looked at her face, nodded while smiling, said: “She is a beautiful girl.” Then she said: “The countermeasures in the booklet, were devised by you?”
Li Wei Yang quietly said: “Yes.”
“Oh…” The Dowager Empress pondered and sized her up again, “So young, with such knowledge, it is rare.”
Her gaze was clearly gentle, yet Lao Furen felt as if a meaningful glance was present. A trace of uneasiness rose up in her heart. However, Li Wei Yang who was beside her, seemed to be unaffected. Lao Furen for a moment was unconsciously surprised. How could she have thought, that in Li Wei Yang’s past life, such scenes were so common that she was already accustomed to it.
After they rose, Dowager Empress allowed them to sit, Dowager Empress had ordered the formality to be dispersed with, then chatted with Lao Furen, and did not bring up the issue in the booklet.
Li Wei Yang calmly looked at the white porcelain with blue white tea lid, quietly sitting on the most right-hand seat. She knew that the Dowager Empress did not want her to be too proud, deliberately pressing down on her temper.
Soon, outside of the curtain, a servant announced: “The Emperor has arrived.”
Everyone was busy getting up for greetings. The Emperor entered wearing a bright yellow Kui dragon design, did not salute when facing the Dowager Empress, called out: “Empress Mother.” He turned around and waved a sleeve towards the people who bowed and said carelessly: “All rise.”
The Emperor’s stature was tall, in his younger days, he was also a beautiful man. Just that through the years, the life of an emperor had added a fearsome quality to him, causing an involuntary feeling of dread in people. He sat down, his eyes naturally staring at the girl in the hall.
When Li Wei Yang’s gaze met the Emperor; there was no ignorance, instead, her eyes turned mischievously, then laughed openly. Her eyes were dazzlingly glorious like black diamond, with this turn, the Emperor felt that in front of his eyes was splendor. He could not help but sized her up carefully.
Thirteen years old, although tall but obviously not yet grown, merely a child.
“Are you saying that the five policies disaster relief has a problem?” The Emperor asked, fixing his attention on Li Wei Yang.
Li Wei Yang calmly bowed her head: “Yes.”
“Speak.”
“Father returned two days ago sighing, he said he has lost imperial grace, unable to help share Bixia’s burden. I see that Father was worried, I could not bear it, so I made detailed inquiries about the actual conditions of the victims, then analyzed Dajie’s strategies. I discovered that there are a lot of oversights in the five policies disaster relief. If Bixia would like to hear, I will explain everything clearly to Bixia.”
The Emperor never thought that such a weak, slim girl would speak so methodically, so he could not help but become more interested: “Speak.”
“The five policies disaster relief mentioned by Dajie, originally could be a good relief in disaster. However, Father has brought up to me that the victims have rioted, claiming that they did not receive any reliefs, yet Bixia’s emergency grains has clearly reached the disaster area. Thinking carefully, this trouble appeared somewhere within the process. The first policy is to register the victims, to ensure that reliefs can reach each person. But in the midst of relieving people in disaster area, Bixia and supervising censors cannot send the emergency grains directly into the hands of the victims, instead it goes down a layer. The distributing authority falling in the hands of the Xulis and Lizhengs3, they used the disaster for personal gain, concealed, misreported and lied to victims.
Li Wei Yang gently raised her eyes and discovered that the Emperor was sitting straight, showing a reflective expression.
She continued speaking: “The second policy is to persuade the institutions, so that wealthy households will voluntarily aid disaster victims, or reduce the price of grains for victims. Regarding the loophole in this policy, Bixia needs to pardon my offense, then I can say.”
The Emperor frowned: “I will not blame you, speak.”
The Dowager Empress watched this girl in surprise, she was around a lot of princesses and duchesses, yet had never seen such a young girl capable of weighing things.
Li Wei Yang smiled warmly: “Yes, the loophole in the second policy is that when Bixia has implemented the system to help, a lot of local officials secretly moved the original allocation of emergency grains to their private possession, then forced the wealthy to provide money and food. Thus, when local wealthy households feel dissatisfied, it is inevitable that troubles would be incited by the victims!”
Just now she was speaking of Xulis and Lizhengs, now even court officials have been involved.
The Emperor squinted his eyes: “Are you saying that my court officials are lining their pockets4?
Li Wei Yang bowed her head, said earnestly: “Not all of them. But there are always three or four out of ten. The more ample the grains in the treasury are, the plumper the mice. Bixia is a wise ruler, you must have had a pretty clear idea.”
Lao Furen was a bit anxious, but looking at the Emperor, he didn’t appear to have become angry, for the time being, he was quietly listening to her continuing her speech.
“The third policy is to set up gruel stations. Major yamens5 set up places for gruel stations, giving gruel to relieve victims. When Bixia has hurriedly sent officials to deliver the emergency grains to the disaster-stricken area, the local officials have also set up gruel stations for reliefs. But even with adequate relief grains, there are still large numbers of victims starved to death. Such profound mystery arises from the local officials.”
Professing that officials were corrupted, the Emperor’s frown became more pronounced, could not help but become angry: “Nonsense!”
Li Wei Yang immediately knelt on the ground, but her face showed no sign of fear, only calmness.
It was all just a bet. As long as she won, she would gain great benefits.
Lose, it was only death. After all, she was given a life. What was there to be afraid of? Moreover, she understood the personality of this Emperor, although he was short-tempered, he was a wise emperor. Otherwise, Da Li would not be so rich and powerful.
She bowed her head, did not say a word, just straightened her spine, expression steadfast.
The hall was still like the deads. In the end, only the Emperor could be heard coldly saying: “If you cannot say the cause, I will give you the death penalty for falsely accusing the loyal and upright people.
At this moment, Lao Furen’s back was already soaked with sweat….
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Translator: Angela
Editor: Panisa
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Translator: Angela
Editor: Panisa
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16 comments
Aiya, already finished? thanks for translating
ReplyDeleteThank you Jessica, Christine and Amy for sponsoring this chapter. Also thank you Angela for your time and dedication in translating. Always the ending of a chapter makes you wish to read more. Every week a look forward to each chapter of this novel. Excellent. Le chang li believed on previous chapter that this will be Li wei jang death sentence, but I am sure that in her on way li wei jang will let know the world that what was done to her on her previous life, must be paid in this one.
ReplyDeleteThanks for the new chapter!
ReplyDeletestill the best
ReplyDeletehope you get huge support
Thanks for the chapter.
ReplyDeletethanks!
ReplyDeleteayeee, wei yang, nice stuff! huhu, she gets to speak with the emperor himself directly eh?! nice---!
Thank you very much!
ReplyDeleteThanks for the chapter.
ReplyDelete“Are you saying that my court officials are lining their pockets?
ReplyDeleteThey did, your majesty... if a xiao jie had to bribe servants all the time to and scattering wealth keep people's loyalty is a norm in your society...
Of course your officials would smuggle some money to their own pocket.
Isn't just sad when money can move even ghost?
Thank you, I always look forward to your updates. Thanks a lot to the sponsors for your kindness
ReplyDeleteThank you for the chapter 💖💖💖
ReplyDeleteThank you for the chapter~
ReplyDeleteWhat loyal and upright...I almost laughed out loud.
Thanks for the chapter! The next chapter will probably be very juicy.. ��
ReplyDeleteThanks for the chapter!
ReplyDeleteThanks for your hard work Angela! Thanks again to the sponsors too!
ReplyDeleteWow, keeping calm when in the presence of such august personages? Keeping a cool head and unwavering from her principles and opinions even when the emperor was bearing down on her? How many thirteen-year-old girls can do that? Practically none. Even Wei Yang uses a cheat that no one around her knows (she's older than her physical body). It's a subtle edge, but it's an edge all the same.
Li Chang Le, thinking she could easily have taken the place of Wei Yang in visiting the palace? In her dreams! She'd crumple faster than wet tissue paper. Seriously, from this point on, Wei Yang is not going to be the anonymous, concubine-born Third Miss of the Prime Minister's household. No, she's going to be the unexpected gem of the Li clan. Li Chang Le, eat your heart out.
Is the emperor a moron who has lived under a rock? OF COURSE they stole the funds!
ReplyDelete"We sent a bunch, but no one got anything!" --What else could be happening?