At first, no one noticed the umbrella.
Because it was carried by a team of Dragon Cloak Guards.
The Dragon Cloak Guards currently had a fearsome reputation in the capital, so upon seeing them, the commoners avoided them.
Then the leading Dragon Cloak Guard opened an umbrella.
This umbrella didn’t look like an ordinary umbrella—it was made of cloth, very large, and the fabric wasn’t a single piece but rather stitched together from many patches, resembling a patchwork robe.
What is this? The avoiding crowd couldn’t help but feel curious.
"Scholars from Jingzhou kneel in gratitude for the Empress’s protection, presenting the Umbrella of Knowledge," the Dragon Cloak Guard shouted loudly, answering the unasked question of the crowd.
Then, holding the umbrella aloft, they urged their horses toward the city center.
Jingzhou? Umbrella of Knowledge? Why were the scholars from Jingzhou thanking the Empress? The answer only addressed half the question, making it more tantalizing than no answer at all. The commoners, forgetting their fear of the Dragon Cloak Guards, surged forward to follow.
"What is the Umbrella of Knowledge?"
The Dragon Cloak Guards paid no further attention to the crowd, nor did they shout or make a commotion. They simply carried the umbrella, proceeding unhurriedly.
However, even if they remained silent, the commoners who had followed from outside the city began to speak. Clearly, these people had already witnessed this scene outside the city walls.
"Look at the umbrella," they said. "Each piece of cloth has names written on it." "These are scholars from Jingzhou, who tore pieces from their own robes and sewed them together to make this umbrella." "To thank the Empress."
Word spread through the streets, eliciting even greater uproar and questions. Why? Wasn’t it said that Jingzhou had been trampled flat by the Dragon Cloak Guards? Many officials and commoners had been arrested, households destroyed, and it was rumored that the Jingzhou governor had been beaten and submitted a resignation request.
"What do you mean, why? Have you lost your minds? It’s because Her Majesty uncovered an unjust case!"
"It was an unjust case involving the evaluation and ranking of scholars, so the scholars are grateful to the Empress."
"That was a case where officials high and low colluded, tight as an iron barrel. If not for the Empress forcibly intervening, the wrongfully accused would have lost their heads, and no one would ever have known about it."
"Think about it—someone as high-ranking as the Chancellor of the Imperial Academy, who but the Empress could have dragged him from his home!"
"Those high officials colluded with each other, protecting one another. Only the Empress could deal with them!"
"So, in that case, the Dragon Cloak Guards aren’t committing evil deeds."
"They’re capturing evildoers, of course it’s not evil."
"These Dragon Cloak Guards are punishing the wicked and rooting out evil!"
"Ah, then they are heroes and brave men."
Since they were heroes and brave men, shouldn’t they be cheered and welcomed with scattered flowers? But these Dragon Cloak Guards were different from the previous guards. Their uniforms and their grim expressions made the commoners dare not cheer, only whispering among themselves as they watched them pass.
The men crowded at the windows of the tavern withdrew their gazes.
"I told you so," Fifth Master Zhou patted Third Master Xu’s shoulder. "As long as we don’t commit heinous acts, the Dragon Cloak Guards won’t raid our shops and properties."
Third Master Xu forced a faint smile, then frowned. "No, it’s not about whether it’s heinous or not. The key issue here is that the procedure is wrong."
This isn’t something the Empress should be doing, and the Dragon Cloak Guards have no authority to investigate and arrest. If they act recklessly under the guise of punishing evil, then it’s using evil to combat evil—both are evil—"Xu San," Fifth Master Zhou clapped him heavily on the shoulder, "procedural matters aren't something for us merchants to worry about. Those are the concerns of the higher-ups. All we care about is seeing the wicked punished and good people safe, so that if we ever face false accusations ourselves, there's a path to justice."
Who could guarantee a lifetime of smooth sailing? Not even high officials and nobles could. Third Master Xu opened his mouth, then swallowed his words.
Forget it. The power struggles among the higher-ups had nothing to do with him. Let it be.
......
Ding Dachui unfolded the cloth umbrella. Inside the hall, Xiao Yu, Chu Zhao, A Le, and Qi Gonggong gathered around to look, while even Xiao Man watched from nearby.
"How many people are represented here?" Xiao Yu asked, concerned about this.
A Le ran his fingers over the fabric, noticing details: "There's silk and coarse cloth—these people range from rich to poor."
"Besides their names, each person has written a quote from the ancient sages' classics," Qi Gonggong said.
Chu Zhao immediately pulled Xiao Yu over, pointing at the varying handwriting and differing lengths of text, asking: "Where is this one from? What does it mean?"
Xiao Yu shook her hand: "Sister, they didn't send this umbrella to test my scholarship."
Everyone in the hall laughed.
Chu Zhao smiled too, turning to Ding Dachui: "It seems Magistrate Zhu put considerable effort into this."
Ding Dachui nodded: "Magistrate Zhu visited every scholar in Jingzhou personally, until his voice grew hoarse from speaking."
Yin Canshi added from the side: "He even visited the three families involved in the case, saying: 'If you can buy exam questions and secure your futures here with money, what guarantees that when you reach higher positions, someone more powerful won't buy questions and futures to surpass you? Don't you worry about how you'll seek justice then? Are you willing to let all the money you've spent go to waste?'"
Chu Zhao couldn't help laughing: "He actually said that? He's truly bold."
She didn't know much about this Zhu Yong. Seeing him step forward in court to defend his friend, combined with information gathered afterward by the Dragon Cloak Guard, she could tell Zhu Yong was a orthodox, quiet, and scholarly official—the type who disapproves but stays silent, simply living his own quiet life.
His voluntary request to become an Imperial Censor could be understood as having no other choice, forced to align with her side.
But no one expected his words to be so unorthodox.
"He also promised benefits," Yin Canshi said, with a subtle smile in his eyes, "or rather, he incited—roused Jingzhou's scholars to seize this opportunity to make names for themselves and pursue official ranks. They intend to use this incident to purge Jingzhou's officialdom of corrupt and incompetent officials, then select replacements from among themselves."
With reason, emotion, righteousness, and profit all aligned, Jingzhou's scholars were instantly ignited.
While the Ministry of Justice and local Jingzhou officials were still figuring out how to cold-shoulder Zhu Yong, he paid them no mind. Upon arriving in Jingzhou, he didn't even enter the government offices, maintaining separate operations from the Ministry of Justice officials. In the end, without needing to deal with any officials, Jingzhou's scholars cleared all obstacles for him.
Chu Zhao gazed at the spread umbrella before her, remained silent for a moment, then sighed softly: "One should never underestimate anyone."
Who says honest people can't play the villain?
When honest people truly set their minds to it, even villains can do nothing against them."Also," Yin Canshi continued, "Minister Zhu suggests that if our Dragon Guard Army is to investigate cases, it would be better to establish a separate entity. Since our duty is to protect the Son of Heaven, let's form a Garrison Guard. This way, our actions will follow established procedures and be justified."
Chu Zhao nodded. "He's right. The Dragon Guard Army is now widely known. Since that's the case, let it exist openly and honorably. Go discuss and draft the regulations. I will announce them in court."
As for whether the Grand Tutor and court officials would agree—that wasn't her problem.
She had stated her position.
If they remained silent, she would take it as agreement.
Ding Dachui raised the umbrella slightly. "We can present this at tomorrow's court session to show the Grand Tutor the scholars' respect for Your Majesty."
If they accused Her Majesty of wrongdoing, they couldn't possibly claim all the scholars of Jingzhou were evildoers.
Chu Zhao smiled and shook her head. "No need. He doesn't care about such things, and I don't need to show him."
No use? Ding Dachui was taken aback. Had they done all this for nothing?
At the next day's court session, just as Chu Zhao predicted, the officials made no mention of the matter, acting as if they were unaware of the public discussions about the Wen Zhi Umbrella.
When Chu Zhao brought up Jingzhou affairs, the officials remained silent—Zhu Yong hadn't returned yet, so no one stepped forward to respond.
"Does the Empress think this is how she can dominate the court?" Seventh Master Xie sneered after the session. "What does public praise matter? The common people can't storm the court to debate state affairs."
Xie Yanfang set down his fishing rod and stretched his arms.
"Her Majesty didn't do this for public praise," he said.
Seventh Master Xie frowned. "Then what does she want?"
"She wants nothing. She simply wants to act recklessly," Xie Yanfang replied with a satisfied smile. "Our Miss Azhao has finally learned how to be an emperor."
Emperor? Seventh Master Xie disliked the term. "She's just the Empress. Our A Yu is the emperor."
Xie Yanfang said, "To court officials, having one more reckless ruler above is acceptable, but they cannot tolerate another reckless official beside them in court."
Seventh Master Xie didn't quite understand.
Xie Yanfang smiled. "Someone will understand."
......
......
Seventh Master Xie soon witnessed it.
One day during court, officials were heatedly debating a matter. The Empress sat up straight when she heard something that piqued her interest.
"Huzhou's summer floods have received allocations for three consecutive years? Why haven't the floods been resolved in three years?" she asked. "How much was allocated over these three years? How many canals and embankments were repaired? Where were the funds distributed?"
The fervently arguing officials instantly fell silent, lowering their eyes and hands as if deaf and mute.
Never mind. Chu Zhao didn't care. She would review the memorials and case files later. As she started to lean back, an official stepped forward.
"Your Majesty, this subject has something to say about this matter," he said, bowing.
Who?
Had that Hanlin compiler returned?
The officials with lowered eyes froze, turning to look back, but no one had stepped forward from the rear ranks. The officials at the back looked forward in surprise.
Those at the front shifted their gaze to the first three rows.
A purple-robed official with a short beard looked up at the Empress.
The Empress also looked at him, seemingly surprised. "Vice Minister of Revenue?" Then she composed herself and smiled slightly. "Please speak."
......
......
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