Can't a princess ascend the throne?

Chapter 27 Stirring Up Trouble

Actually, Jiu Que was quite happy on her first day at work. After all, His Majesty had given her such a beautiful carriage. The key was that little mare, who was so well-behaved and obedient, quite intelligent, and always stayed by her side. She was completely disdainful of everyone else. No wonder even the princes wanted her; a good horse is truly outstanding.

However, she had never learned to ride a horse, so she didn't ride on the first day. Not wanting the little mares to pull the carriage, she simply led the horse around the streets herself. Being a sixth-rank official, she was accompanied by two minor officials on her first outing. These two officials were quite self-disciplined and didn't try to cause any trouble for the newly appointed Jiu Que; instead, they cooperated fully with her duties.

There was no other way. The previous imperial inspector had run away crying and wailing, so someone had to take over, right? Besides, with a tall person in charge, wouldn't it be safer for small fry like them?

As Jiu Que strolled through the streets in her sixth-rank official robes, she attracted a lot of curious glances. It was not unusual for a woman to walk alone, but it was strange that she was wearing the proper sixth-rank official robes and was accompanied by officials.

"Uncle, how much is this candied hawthorn?"

"Oh? Oh, two coins a string."

Jiu Que readily bought three skewers, giving one to each of the two minor officials behind him. Ignoring their troubled expressions, he happily took a bite and ate it with relish.

However, the old man selling candied hawthorns hesitated for a long time before finally whispering a word of advice.

"Little girl, why are you wearing the robes of a city patrol censor? Are you an official too?"

"Yes, it's me, what's wrong, sir?"

"Well, I advise you to go home as soon as possible. This is not a job you can handle. Those young masters are not easy to deal with. You are a pretty girl. If you are bullied by them, you will have no one to reason with."

The old man's words came from the bottom of his heart, and Jiu Que thanked him gratefully before walking away. The shopkeeper, seeing Jiu Que's stubborn refusal to listen, couldn't help but sigh repeatedly.

Who would have thought that speak of the devil and he shall appear? In just a short while, a group of extraordinary young men followed, grabbing passersby along the way to inquire about Jiu Que's whereabouts.

Ying Jiuque was dressed so conspicuously that finding her was effortless. She was staring at a ragged little beggar by the roadside. The little beggar looked longingly at passersby, seemingly wanting to beg, but he was too timid to call out and was pushed aside by an impatient passerby. The little beggar shrank back, his bright black eyes darting around, until he saw Ying Jiuque smiling and the fragrant steamed bun in her hand!
She waved to the little beggar, trying her best to make her smile less intimidating. Heaven help her, she had never seen such a pitiful little beggar before. He looked to be only five or six years old. Children from ordinary families were treasured and cherished by their families, but this child could only beg on the street, so thin that he was just skin and bones, with only his bright black eyes looking innocent.

Just then, he saw an unfamiliar older woman waving at him. The little beggar subconsciously swallowed and wanted to go over, but then he seemed to remember something and hesitated.

Jiu Que didn't find it boring, so he simply took a few steps in that direction and then opened the oil paper package containing the large steamed buns.

"Here you go. Don't be afraid, I'm not a bad person."

Perhaps it was Jiu Que's infectious smile that made the little beggar hesitate for a moment before cautiously and tentatively walking towards them.

Jiu Que's smile grew wider and wider. When the child had only taken four or five steps in front of him, he stretched out his arm so that the child could eat the bun as quickly as possible...

Hey?
"You, the Imperial Censor! What? You really think you're some big shot?! You're just a lucky little yellow-haired girl who dares to boss me around? Oh, looking closer, she's ugly! And eating roadside food, no wonder she's from a village, she's probably never been to such a prosperous place as the capital, has she? How shabby!"

"..."

Seeing the little beggar who had already cowered away, and the now dusty and no longer clean and plump bun that had been knocked over, Jiu Que took a deep breath, straightened up, and turned to look at the young master who had started the trouble. He was a young man wearing a sky-blue robe. Jiu Que wasn't saying this lightly, but sky-blue is a color that looks incredibly pleasing to the eye on good-looking people; on ugly people, all you can say is that the fabric is nice. That idiot with the scallion stuck in his nostrils was a perfect example. Right now, he was acting all high and mighty, and when he saw Ying Jiu Que looking at him, he even puffed out his chest to show his noble status and wait for Ying Jiu Que to greet him!

Ying Jiuque carefully examined the person from head to toe, and after confirming that there was no information about this person in his memory bank, he became very impatient.

"Who are you?"

"You! You are utterly rude! I am the third son of the Marquis of Anyuan, how dare you be rude to me?"

Jiu Que hadn't had such a stupid person in a long time, especially when he turned around and found that the two officials who were supposed to be following behind him were gone, he was even more annoyed.

"Oh, so you're the Crown Prince?"

"I, of course not! My older brother is."

The young master's face turned red with anger, and the young men of the same age around him couldn't help but burst out laughing. Someone like Wei San, a prince? It would be too lenient for a real prince to scold him.

"According to the laws of this dynasty, among the sons of dukes, marquises, and earls, only the heir apparent can enjoy the next level of treatment. Therefore, you are neither the heir apparent nor the Earl of Anyuan himself, and you have no official position, rank, or post. I am an Imperial Censor of the sixth rank, personally appointed by His Majesty. As a commoner in white, should you bow to me, or should I bow to you?"

"you you!"

"I advise you to think carefully before answering. I am not very talented, but I am still a sixth-rank official officially appointed by the court! You have obstructed me from performing my duties in the street and hindered the work of the government. It is not unreasonable for you to be convicted of the crime of provoking trouble."

"you dare?!"

An Yuanbo's third son was so angry his face turned red, but he was also somewhat wary. Had he really committed a crime?

"What wouldn't I dare to do? Of course, it's just a small matter, not worth letting His Majesty know about."

"I knew you wouldn't dare..."

Upon hearing this, the eyes of the people around, who had thought they had finally found a responsible imperial censor, dimmed. It seemed that all these officials were in cahoots, regardless of gender.

Unexpectedly, the next moment, Ying Jiuque casually flicked his sleeves.

"Then I have no choice but to accuse the Earl of Anyuan of failing to properly educate his son. If a son is not taught, it is the father's fault. If he cannot even discipline his own son, I doubt whether the Earl of Anyuan can do his job well. With the 10,000 city guards in the western suburbs in the hands of such a person, how can I, as a citizen of the capital, not worry about my life and property?"

"you!"

The young scoundrel turned pale. He was only able to enjoy his tyranny because his father was stationed in the western suburbs and away from home. If that damned Ying Jiuque actually submitted the memorial, he would definitely be beaten to death by his father! After all, in this era, it was perfectly normal for fathers to beat their sons. Beating a child on a rainy day was just something to do anyway.

(End of this chapter)