Reborn Before My Husband Ascends the Throne

Chapter 42

Ye Suijin told Jiang Yinyu about her needs and left subsequent matters for Jiang Yinyu to handle. She was in no hurry to recruit Jiang Yinyu under her command. Human relationships are all about affinity. Even in their past lives, it was only after long years of cooperation that she recruited Jiang Yinyu as one of her own.

At present, Jiang Yinyu was just a shop owner who knew nothing about military supplies and provisions. There was no need to rush.

"Let's go take a look at Twelfth Sister," Ye Suijin said as she leapt onto her horse and spoke to Duan Jin.

Recently, because of the paper clothing matter, many of the Ye clan's young masters had been sent out by Ye Suijin. Twelfth Sister had also gone along to join in the fun.

Fourth Uncle Ye was worried, so he arranged for Twelfth Sister to go to Nanyang, as the magistrate of Nanyang was Ye Jingyi of the Loyalty Hall, Sixth Young Master Ye. Having a cousin keep watch over her made Fourth Uncle feel more at ease.

Despite the ruckus Twelfth Sister caused at home, she was actually a frivolous child. The paperwork for the paper clothing matter was extremely boring and tedious statistical work dealing with refugees. Although pitiable, many of the refugees were dirty and disheveled. Twelfth Sister only lasted two days before she couldn't take it anymore and ditched the work, spending her time playing in Nanyang instead of going back.

Fourth Uncle had sent people to call her back several times, and the other Ye clan youths who had come to help had all returned, but Twelfth Sister was still frolicking and playing in Nanyang.

Since Ye Suijin happened to be passing through today, she had promised Fourth Uncle to bring Twelfth Sister back.

She went directly to the Nanyang county office.

The county office was extremely dilapidated. Because the magistrates were all temporary officials, they would normally be promoted or at least transferred after serving a few years. As a result, they had no motivation to spend money repairing the county office. Moreover, with the years of turmoil and unrest, they never knew when they might have to flee. They were even less inclined to repair the county office.

Although the county office was run-down, the people inside were brimming with vitality—

When Ye Suijin arrived, the doors of the public courtroom were wide open with many commoners gathered around. It turned out a case was being tried in the county office.

Ye Suijin waved her hand for her attendants to remain silent as she quietly stood at the back of the crowd.

At a glance, she could see Ye Jingyi inside the courtroom, dressed in official robes and hat, sitting behind the magistrate's bench listening closely to the plaintiff and defendant's arguments below.

On either side of the courtroom, attendants wielding wooden staffs stood upright. They were all young and strong—the previous batch, who had followed Ma Jin to commit evil for many years, had been nearly completely wiped out by Ye Jingyi.

Third Young Master Ye had already told Ye Suijin about the specifics after he returned.

At that time, no one else could be used, so Ye Suijin first sent over the twenty guards. Ye Jingyi then put out notices to recruit people.

It was not easy to eat from the public coffers. Ye Jingyi was very strict in investigating three generations of the recruits' families for any criminal or evil acts before hiring them.

At that time, Third Young Master had killed many people. The two young men acted decisively without regard for relationships or face. This shocked the entire county and prevented those hoping to take advantage of the situation from daring to get close. Those who dared approach appeared to be decent people, at least without ulterior motives in their hearts.

The entire county office could be said to have been washed clean and taken on a new air of vitality and authority.

These were all things that could be observed at a glance.

What Ye Suijin had not expected was that she would see Twelfth Sister there as well?

Twelfth Sister was actually in the courtroom too, seated at a small table busily scratching away, recording the proceedings as court secretary.

How could that fickle and mischievous girl allow Ye Jingyi to indulge her so?

She would have to talk to these two later.

The case was not complicated: an overdue loan dispute that had dragged on for years.

After the loan dispute case, there was a theft case between neighbors.

Ye Suijin could not help smiling.

She understood completely. Commoners daring to bring their disputes to court indicated they trusted the current magistrate.

One must know, commoners were usually reluctant to sue officials. Whether plaintiff or defendant, once they entered the courtroom, they would be flayed by all levels from attendant to clerk to magistrate, each one lining their pockets.

For commoners, even plaintiffs often ended up at a loss, better off not suing.

But today, Nanyang County welcomed these young magistrates surnamed Ye who rejected corruption and upheld justice, adjudicating fairly for the common people. From county magistrate down to attendant, the previous culture of extortion and bleeding the people dry was gone. When commoners had disputes, they now dared to boldly and confidently come ask their parents, the officials, to settle matters and try cases.

This was the atmosphere needed in Dengzhou.

As a scholar, Ye Jingyi had naturally read the law books, but could not be considered an expert.

But since Ye Suijin had put him forth as the Ye clan's first representative to enter officialdom, she would invest in him. She had arranged learned clerks knowledgeable in laws and taxes to assist him.

These were carefully chosen from among the Ye clan's long-term retainers. Before they followed Ye Jingyi to Nanyang, Ye Suijin had briefed them thoroughly, telling them her desired outcomes and goals.

Back then, wielding the might of capturing Dengzhou, who would dare disobey her words? She had also personally dispatched Third Young Master Ye to protect and assist Ye Jingyi. The learned retainers were smart people who understood clearly, naturally doing their utmost.

Nanyang's clarity and order today was the result of the collective efforts of Ye Suijin and all those above and below her.

With the cases adjudicated and plaintiffs and defendants dismissed or taken away, the commoners dispersed. Ye Jingyi was discussing matters with a clerk when Twelfth Sister suddenly called out, "Sixth sister!"

Everyone looked over to see Ye Suijin striding in wielding a horsewhip.

"Your Honor!"

"Greetings, Your Honor!"

Amid the chorus of respectful greetings, Ye Jingyi led everyone over, "Sixth sister, what brings you here?"

"Who else but her?" Ye Suijin rapped Twelfth Sister on the head with the horsewhip.

"Ow!" Twelfth Sister clutched her forehead. "Did Father ask you to come fetch me? I'm not done playing yet. I'll go back in a few days."

"You dare say that?" Ye Suijin glared at her.

In her previous life, she had made Twelfth Sister a duchess and allowed Twelfth Sister's son to take the Ye surname and become heir. She had been very close with Twelfth Sister and her children.

She waved her hand and her attendants shut the county office gates behind her.

The main gates were only opened for public trials. Otherwise, people came and went through the side gates.

Commoners submitted petitions through the attendants. If they had injustice to appeal, they could also beat drums to proclaim their grievance. The main gates would open for them.

Now with curious commoners still peeping outside, closing the doors cut off prying eyes and allowed discussion of family matters.

The attendants tactfully withdrew.

Ye Jingyi led Ye Suijin to the rear residence from the front offices. As they walked, Ye Suijin admonished him, "You're as bad, indulging her childish antics and letting her run wild in the courtroom?"

Actually after watching two cases just now, seeing Twelfth Sister seriously taking notes, she had gently chided them.

Otherwise, she would have hauled these two over the coals already.

Nevermind that Twelfth Sister was a child. Even if Ye Jingyi was around the same age, even Third Brother in her eyes was still a child.

Ye Suijin had already lived an entire lifetime, addressed as Empress Dowager and Grand Empress Dowager by princes and princesses.

All these young generation Ye family members were still children in her eyes.

Twelfth Sister dared to throw tantrums in front of her own father, but didn't dare make trouble in front of Sixth Sister. She defended herself aggrievedly, "I wasn't messing around! I was working hard!"

Ye Jingyi also said with a smile, "If she was causing trouble, I would not have allowed her in the courtroom. But you really have wrongly accused Twelfth Sister this time, Sixth Sister. Twelfth Sister was not playing around, she was working diligently."

Twelfth Sister nodded rapidly in agreement, "That's right! That's right!"

Sitting down in the rear hall and listening to Ye Jingyi slowly explain, she finally understood what had happened.

It turned out after Twelfth Sister could no longer stand the dull, repetitive statistical work and tallying, she had ditched it to go play. As Fourth Uncle's beloved late-born daughter, how could Ye Jingyi let any mishap befall her? Since he could not coax her back to the Ye manor, he could only appease her and have her stay by his side.

When he held court to try cases, the little girl would listen from behind a screen to one or two, then three or four trials. She became engrossed, finding the adjudications very interesting.

"Sixth sister, you don't know the many bizarre things one can hear," Twelfth Sister said. "I've grown up to this age in the Ye manor and not heard as many bizarre tales. It's even more exciting than storybooks!"

Ye Suijin: "..."

Just as Ye Suijin was about to pinch the bridge of her nose, Twelfth Sister continued, "What's even more interesting is I feel one side makes sense and the other doesn't for a case. But the clerk cites the statutes showing it's actually the other side that's right and this side that's wrong! It's so amazing I could die! These days I've been reading the Wei Code1 until my head spins and eyes blur."

1 Ancient Chinese penal code commissioned by the Wei dynasty in the 3rd century CE.

Ye Suijin was surprised, "You can understand the Wei Code?"

The Great Wei was once powerful, and the Wei Code was very comprehensive. Later, Zhao Jingwen established the Great Mu and directly changed the Wei Code into the Mu Code to use it, with almost no modifications.

Ye Suijin didn't believe that Twelfth Sister could get through such a large volume.

"It's true," Ye Jingyi spoke for Twelfth Sister, "Twelfth studied very seriously. Otherwise, she wouldn't be able to understand why a case should be judged this way and not that way during court sessions."

Twelfth Sister nodded madly, "Yes, yes, yes! After I studied, I finally understood what was going on! It's very different from what I thought in daily life!"

"Sister Six, have you read the Wei Code?" she said, "It's really interesting."

Ye Suijin stared at her.

In the Ye Family Fort, the Ye Family's tutors mainly taught martial arts and military strategies, and didn't prohibit girls from studying, but didn't force girls to study either.

Twelfth Sister studied a bit in a so-so manner, and was only a little better than Ye Jingyi in martial arts. In her previous life, one could say she was neither literary nor martial, but fortunately her marriage was still decent, and the couple was affectionate. She also gave birth to several sons in succession.

Later, when the capital was stable, she was often free and loved to listen to opera performances.

Ye Suijin had even rewarded her with an opera troupe.

"Do you find it interesting?" Ye Suijin asked.

"Yes, very interesting," Twelfth Sister nodded vigorously, light shining in her eyes.

Ye Suijin had never seen such an expression in Twelfth Sister's eyes.

Later when they watched opera together in the palace, seeing the "generals" and "chancellors" on stage maneuvering behind the scenes, Twelfth Sister had sighed, "I wish I could have their talents too. Maybe I could help my father, brothers, and Sister Six like you."

Instead of being completely useless, watching as her Sixth Sister struggled alone.

In the court, the only one left she could rely on was Duan Jin, the former family servant!