After resting for a while, the group set off at the hour of the Ox, heading towards Guangning in a grand procession. As the first golden rays of dawn broke in the east, casting a myriad of lights, they arrived at the gates of Guangning City.
At the towering city gates, the Prefect of Guangning, along with his subordinate officials, about a hundred in total, stood in formation, respectfully awaiting the Empress's arrival.
"Your subject greets the Empress."
News had reached Guangning over the past two or three days that the imperial court had dispatched the Empress herself to quell the market closure incident, and there were rumors that the court might revoke the policy of supporting farmers by suppressing merchants.
This news had the Guangning Chamber of Commerce on high alert, feeling confident in their actions. Already, signs were appearing on the streets that shops would reopen within a day or two, bringing some relief to the populace. xxs壹贰
The Prefect and the officials also breathed a sigh of relief.
Yun Xiao, seated in her carriage, her voice as cold as ice, announced, "Rise. We shall proceed to the prefectural yamen to discuss this market closure incident."
"Yes, Your Highness," Yuan Xiu, the Prefect of Guangning, having heard of this Empress's formidable reputation, dared not be remiss. He immediately led the hundreds of officials and soldiers behind him, mounting their horses and boarding their carriages, heading straight for the Guangning prefectural yamen.
The carriage passed through Guangning's main street. The shops on both sides were shut tight, with not a single one open for business.
Looking at the people lining the streets, there were clear signs of unrest. Some individuals held white banners inscribed with slogans protesting the court's policy of supporting farmers by suppressing merchants.
"Immediately revoke," Yun Xiao sighed. These ignorant people, manipulated without their knowledge, did not grasp the implications. This policy was meant to protect farmers, yet they failed to understand the consequences and instead aided the wrongdoers.
Witnessing their ignorance, Yun Xiao felt a pang of desire to abandon them. If not for the sake of Shangguan family's imperial throne, she wouldn't bother with such a thankless task.
The entourage proceeded grandly towards the prefectural yamen.
The yamen was situated on East Street. Stone lions stood imposingly before its entrance, but the stone plaque above the grand gate had been askew, swaying in the wind, greatly diminishing the yamen's prestige.
Yun Xiao alighted from her carriage, her expression stern, an aura of cold, deep water enveloping her.
Despite her visibly pregnant state, no one dared to underestimate her. The officials and staff within the yamen knelt in unison, speaking respectfully.
"Your subjects welcome the Empress."
Yun Xiao glanced at Liu Xing beside her and said in a deep voice, "Secure it."
"Yes, Your Highness."
Liu Xing leaped into the air, his movements fluid. With a stretch of his hand, he re-secured the yamen's plaque, then descended and stood by his mistress's side. By this time, the area before the yamen was thronged with people, layered three deep, all watching with curiosity to see how the Empress would handle the situation.
Someone, it was unclear who, first shouted, "Protest the imperial court's arbitrary rule!"
"Revoke the decree!"
The street erupted in a cacophony of shouts. Yun Xiao slowly turned her head to look, the crowd a dense mass.
Hundreds of eyes were fixed upon her. She smiled with elegant grace, yet her smile was chilling, eerie, and the frigid aura around her intensified. Behind her, thousands of elite soldiers stood guard, their red-speared halberds at the ready.
Her voice, sharp and clear, cut through the air.
"Remain calm. Since the imperial court has sent representatives, Guangning merchants will be given an explanation. All of you, disperse and await the reopening of the market."
She projected her voice using inner energy. Though not loud, everyone heard it, and its cold authority silenced all dissent. They retreated in haste, no one daring to utter another word.
Some dispersed and returned home, while others remained, observing from a distance. Yun Xiao easily discerned those who were clearly sent by the Chamber of Commerce to gather information.
Yun Xiao turned and headed into the yamen. As she passed Yuan Xiu and the other officials, she spoke in a low voice, "Rise."
These officials were too incompetent. Although the Chamber of Commerce had backing to instigate trouble, the audacity of a mere chamber to threaten the government was telling. It could only mean these officials were compromised by the Chamber of Commerce, their hands tied by received favors.
A flicker of disdain crossed Yun Xiao's eyes. The group proceeded towards the yamen's main hall. Apart from Yun Xiao and her accompanying officials, the elite soldiers guarded the yamen's exterior.
In Guangning City, besides the Prefect, there were also officials like the Vice Prefect. Those deemed less significant waited outside the hall, not entering.
Dozens of people were seated in the hall. Yun Xiao, exuding an air of regal dominance, sat at the head, her cold gaze sweeping over the officials below, making them feel ashamed and guilty, unable to even lift their heads.
The atmosphere was stiflingly oppressive. After surveying everyone, Yun Xiao finally spoke.
"Prefect of Guangning, Yuan Xiu."
"Your subject is here."
Yuan Xiu stood up, trembling, his face broad and corpulent, clearly indicating someone who had feasted too well. His eyes were narrowed into slits, obscuring any glimpse of his true thoughts.
"The markets in Guangning are closed. What were you, the Prefect, doing? Why did you permit such a situation to arise?"
Her questioning was aggressive from the start. Furthermore, the fact that Ye Jingyi knew about the imperial envoy's arrival in Guangning indicated collusion between the Prefect and the Chamber of Commerce, who had leaked the envoy's whereabouts.
Prefect Yuan Xiu's face turned deathly pale. He knelt with a thud, repeatedly begging, "This subject deserves death, a thousand deaths. This subject dispatched troops to suppress them, but unfortunately, the head of the Chamber of Commerce is also the foremost merchant in Guangning, controlling over half the shops in the city. He has, in effect, monopolized Guangning. If I had apprehended him, it would have only incited further unrest. Therefore, I could not act on my own accord and had to report to the court."
"Oh."
Yun Xiao let out a drawn-out sound, saying nothing more. She cast a glance at Yuan Xiu and then calmly stated, "Prefect Yuan, rise. Send someone to invite the key figures of the Chamber of Commerce. This Empress wishes to hear their demands before the market reopens."
At Yun Xiao's command, Yuan Xiu wiped the sweat from his brow. This woman possessed a natural charisma that instilled fear.
Her presence, serene yet projecting an unnerving pressure, made it impossible to fathom her thoughts or predict her next move, which was the true source of the fear. They had initially heard that the court was sending an Empress, thinking the matter would be easily resolved.
Even if the Empress were formidable, she was still a woman. Now, it seemed how misguided that assumption was. It was precisely because this woman was so capable that the Emperor had sent her.
An Empress, heavily pregnant, dispatched to a town like Guangning on the brink of rebellion – what did that signify? It signified that this woman possessed extraordinary capabilities.
It seemed they had all underestimated her and had taken this incident too lightly.
Despite his fear, Yuan Xiu did not dare to be careless. He immediately ordered someone to fetch the President of the Chamber of Commerce, the Vice President, and several key merchants.
Meanwhile, everyone sat uneasily, while Yun Xiao at the head calmly sipped her tea, awaiting the arrival of the Chamber of Commerce representatives.
The events unfolding in Guangning were, as Yun Xiao had suspected, due to two main reasons.
Firstly, there was instigation from behind the scenes. Merchants were driven by profit, and the prospect of the court retracting the decree was enticing. Secondly, the collusion between the government and the merchants had escalated the situation. Yun Xiao had foreseen all of this.