Can't a princess ascend the throne?

Chapter 70 A Deadly Scheme to Drain the Firewood

The millions of people in this world are not a general term; they are made up of living, breathing individuals. They too experience joy and sorrow, and they too have their own flesh and blood relatives. They are not roadside weeds, to be trampled on without consequence.

They are all living, breathing people.

All people in this world are the same. Can people be divided into different classes just because of their different status?
Even if that's true, the most impoverished people also have the right to survive. They live peacefully, pay taxes to the country, live in peace and contentment, and abide by the law. Why should they be forced to separate from their families because of the greed of some people?
This is completely incorrect.

Even though most people in this era take this for granted, Ying Jiuque still has to stand up and say that this is wrong.

“I don’t want anything from you. But I know you’re doing the wrong thing. Someone has to correct what’s wrong, and someone has to expose what’s unfair. Do you think that if you just keep covering it up and let the scars turn into festering sores, the bad things will get better? They’ll only get bigger and deeper.”

"Are you crazy?"

Zhang Yuan glanced at Ying Jiuque and immediately made his judgment on her.

"You have no relation to those people. You don't even know them. Is it really worth sacrificing everything you've worked so hard for for the sake of this ridiculous fairness?"

With a soft sigh, Ying Jiuque ignored these words.

"Lord Zhang, you're asking too many questions. The questions you need to answer now aren't about me. You should think carefully about how to explain your relationship with the mastermind behind Wuyou Cave."

"take away!"

"Yes!"

Ouch, why do these guards' voices sound so much louder than before? It's making her ears hurt.

After taking away the wailing and lamenting Zhang family members, Ying Jiuque, looking radiant, continued on to the next family.

……

"Your Majesty! Lord Ying is conducting a massive manhunt in the capital, causing immense suffering to his colleagues. Isn't this going a bit too far?"

"Yes, Your Majesty. She even arrested the Third Prince and the Prince of Ping and imprisoned them in the Ministry of Justice. How could she do such a thing to a prince without solid evidence? This damages the dignity of the royal family!"

"Your Majesty! Ying Jiuque is merely a female official, yet she is extremely arrogant and domineering. Whenever an official being searched utters the slightest complaint, she brandishes her God-Slaying Whip, preventing anyone from striking her. Isn't this tantamount to forced confession? Your Majesty, in the bright and clear heavens of our Great Jing Dynasty, are we to allow a mere sixth-rank official to do as she pleases?"

The chaotic noise gave Emperor Jingtai a headache. He knew things wouldn't be peaceful for a while, but he hadn't expected these officials to start making a fuss so quickly. Didn't Jiu Que just get the God-Slaying Whip the night before last? How did so many people find out so soon? Just imagining Jiu Que's frail figure charging ahead with the heavy God-Slaying Whip made Emperor Jingtai want to laugh.

The clamor around him was giving him a splitting headache. The grand court assembly had just begun, and these officials were already jumping around, behaving themselves. What? Did they think they could give his God-Slaying Whip to whomever they wanted? Did they think they could say he was wrong?

He'd been jumping around all morning, spouting the same old platitudes. All these officials knew was how to pull these petty tricks. Was there any point in repeating the same things over and over? He was tired of hearing it.

However, only minor officials were jumping around; the real big fish hadn't made a move yet, so Emperor Jingtai's seat was relatively secure. He then remembered that Jiu Que had come again yesterday requesting additional manpower. This matter was indeed troublesome; should they send more Golden Armor Guards to help?

As they were pondering, a pale-faced man walked up into the middle of the hall. Upon seeing him, everyone fell silent, and an eerie stillness descended upon the hall.

Under immense pressure, Lin Wei, the Vice Minister of the Ministry of Rites, stepped forward and began to present his memorial.

“Your Majesty, I have failed in my duty to educate my daughter. Jiu Que grew up on the estate, and I had neither the time nor the opportunity to teach her any manners, which has led to her becoming so uncouth and rude. What can a woman like her possibly do about such a serious matter? Now she has caused unrest throughout the capital, all because I, as her father, have failed to raise her properly.”

"Your Majesty, I beg you to revoke Jiu Que's official position and bring her back. I will certainly teach her well, take good care of her family, and help her get married and have children. That would be a worthy way to honor her mother's spirit in heaven."

"..."

Emperor Jingtai stared coldly at Lin Wei for a long time. He was somewhat unsure whether the kneeling man beneath him was truly thinking of his daughter. At this moment, didn't he know that Ying Jiuque absolutely could not back down? If she took even one step back, this boundless malice would pounce on her and tear her to shreds.

Therefore, after Lin Wei finished speaking, Emperor Jingtai did not react immediately. He just glanced at him coldly, and countless ministers rushed up to echo him.

In their words, Jiu Que seemed to be a heinous and wicked person. But in reality, he was just a teenager, and he wasn't even working for himself, but for people he didn't even know.

Doesn't he know what kind of person Ying Jiuque is? That child doesn't like being an official at all. The reason he's so stubborn is only because these inhuman scoundrels are making the people suffer too much. He's a good child. He's already suffered so much malice even though he's not here. If he were here, who knows how heartbroken he would be.

At this point, even the high-ranking officials who had remained calm and collected finally couldn't stand it anymore.

The Minister of Rites stepped forward. He was a rigid old man who had long disliked the few female officials in the court. Now that he finally had an opportunity, how could he not suppress them all?
"Your Majesty, since ancient times, men have been in charge of external affairs while women have been in charge of internal affairs. Women, because they have to marry, bear children, raise them, and care for their parents-in-law, naturally have less energy than men. Moreover, those female officials have not made any significant achievements, and Lord Ying, relying on the God-Slaying Whip bestowed upon her by you, has been recklessly beating others, which is truly unacceptable. It is clear that women are not suitable for official positions. How can someone who is always swayed by emotions be a calm and wise official?"

"Therefore, I request that Lady Ying be relieved of her official post. Even without that minor sixth-rank official position, she will still be the Princess of Ying of the Great Jing Dynasty, so there is really no difference. Moreover, this will also quell the anger of the entire court. Even Lady Ying's own father is willing, so why shouldn't Your Majesty do so?"

Emperor Jingtai slowly sat up straight. The distance was too great for the officials below to see his expression, but they keenly sensed that he was not in a good mood.

That old scoundrel is quite the talker. Can a proper official position and a noble title be compared? Jiu Que could clearly be a good minister who serves the country and its people, but this old scoundrel insists on making her return to the inner quarters as an innocent noblewoman.

Alright, this is the truly insidious plan to undermine our very foundation!

(End of this chapter)