After the family’s spring outing concluded, Wei Luo immediately found himself caught up in a lot of work. He had to personally travel to Suzhou to investigate a significant murder case that had occurred the previous spring.
During that time, King Yan and the Imperial Court were embroiled in a fierce struggle, capturing the attention of officials. The chaos resulted in many neglected duties and a backlog of numerous cases. While suspects had been apprehended in some instances, the lack of evidence required thorough reexamination.
Wei Luo now comprehended why his father had directed him to the Ministry of Criminal. The ministry was inundated with a multitude of cases. Some officials were eager to gain merit and prioritized speed over diligence. Individually, these cases may not have much impact, but the accumulation of unjust outcomes could sow discontent among the common people, fostering a perception that the government callously disregarded human lives.
Bringing down a kingdom might be achieved through force, but maintaining stability required winning the hearts of the people and ensuring their basic needs were met.
His father aspired to be a wise ruler, and Wei Luo couldn’t tolerate favoritism or a perversion of the law. He enforced strict discipline in the military, and investigations became even more strict under his watch.
As a prince, his presence in the Ministry of Punishment instilled more fear in its officials than even the Shangshu of the Ministry of Punishment.
After telling Yin Hui to take care of the children, Wei Luo took a team and set off in a hurry.
With the memories of her previous life, Yin Hui knew that the trip went well. Not only did he find out the real murderer, but he also brought him back.
During that time, Wei Luo was not the only one busy. Since the end of spring plowing, Prince Duan (Wei Yang) and Prince Chu (Wei Yan) were sent by their father to inspect the construction of dams on both sides of the Yellow River and Yangtze River respectively, while Wei Xuan was to lead troops to suppress bandits. Throughout the dynasties, there had been some lunatics who had occupied the mountain as thieves, or went down the mountain to rob the people, or dealt with passing caravans. In the past three years, there were civil strife in the court, and bandits everywhere became more rampant. After getting up, Emperor Yongping asked Wei Xuan to take charge of the bandit suppression in Jiangnan.
Only Prince Gui (Wei Jing) went to the Ministry of Industry to supervise the construction of various projects in the city. Compared with his elder brothers, he was relatively free.
It wasn’t that Emperor Yongping showed favoritism to the youngest son; rather, Wei Jing’s lack of experience in war or the defense of Yandi left him with no clear qualifications. Emperor Yongping and the ministers were uncertain about his capabilities. In such a situation, he could only be entrusted with simpler tasks, such as patrolling the two rivers, investigating cases, and suppressing bandits. Emperor Yongping hesitated to easily assign significant responsibilities to his fledgling son.
Furthermore, with Wei Jing’s upcoming May wedding, which was fast approaching, it was not feasible for him to embark on long-distance travel.
In mid-April, Jinling City burst into a myriad of blossoms. In the Shu Mansion alone, Yin Hui roughly counted at least twenty varieties of flowers. Amidst the colorful flowers, the peony stood out as the most beautiful. Even Xiao Ning recognized the peony as the king of flowers.
The day before, Empress Xu sent a verbal order inviting the female relatives of the royal kin and wives above the fifth rank to enter the palace and enjoy the flowers. Having experienced it in her previous life, Yin Hui approached the day with a different state of mind. On the day of the flower appreciation, Yin Hui dressed up and took Xiao Ning along.
Carriages were also prepared outside the Eldest Princess’s Mansion and the Chu Mansion on the same street. The Eldest Princess led her daughter Zhao Yun and Ji Xianxian led Xiao Zhuang, exchanged nods from a distance before each party boarded their respective carriages.
Upon reaching the palace gate, the three pairs of mothers and daughters naturally walked together. Since Zhao Yun often visited the Shu Mansion to see Xiao Ning, and Yin Hui frequently took Xiao Ning to their mansion as a guest, Xiao Ning ran to Zhao Yun’s side after disembarking, asking her cousin to hold her little hand.
Xoap Zhuang and Zhao Yun were both nine years old, and they were both beautiful daughters of heaven. Xiao Zhuang had always been competing with Zhao Yun. She thought that her surname was Wei, the daughter of a Prince, and was more noble than Zhao Yun, who had a different surname. In appearance, Zhao Yun couldn’t compare with her. Naturally, Xiao Zhuang also thought that everyone else should curry favor with her instead of getting close to Zhao Yun.
Xiao Zhuang didn’t care if Xiao Ning understood these things, even if she didn’t, the two were cousins, how could Xiao Ning foolishly curry favor with Zhao Yun?
“Sister, come here,” Zhuang took out a candied fruit from the purse she was wearing and said to Ning.
Xiao Ning felt a twinge of excitement at the sight of the delectable treat.
Zhao Yun held Xiao Ning’s little hand and remarked to Zhuang, “She’s too young to eat this type of candied fruit.”
Zhuang snorted, “Of course, I’ll tear it into small pieces for her.”
Zhao Yun fell silent, and Xiao Ning observed the two sisters, allowing Zhao Yun to lead her.
Zhuang stomped her feet in frustration, “Don’t you want to eat, why don’t you come?”
Xiao Ning, being too young, couldn’t discern the situation clearly. She remained silent and simply followed Zhao Yun, gazing around the palace.
Had it been Zhao Yun or Zhuang displaying such behavior, it might have been perceived as poor etiquette. However, due to Ning’s young age, any action she took appeared cute.
Zhuang was angry, so she didn’t find it cute at all, and complained to her mother in a low voice, “She is so so stupid.”
Ji Xianxian signaled her daughter not to say that outside with her eyes, but she also gave Yin Hui a meaningful look.
Yin Hui just smiled.
At the flower feast, Ji Xianxian finally caught Yin Hui and took her by the arm as they strolled towards a peony bush. In a hushed tone, Ji Xianxian reproached her, “Yin Hui, after all these years of friendship, you’ve distanced yourself from me and, instead, befriended the Eldest Princess?”
Her words carried both reproach and bitterness. Yin Hui cast a glance at her and responded with amusement, “When did I actively seek out friendship?”
Ji Xianxian retorted, “If you don’t wish to be close, then why is Ning Ning so chummy with Zhao Yun?”