Daily Life of a Villain at Work [Quick Transmigration] - Chapter 49

Chapter 49: The Thirteenth Day of the Villain Being Emperor

To demonstrate the gravity of the situation to the court, Wen Qingyun did not attend the morning session for ten consecutive days starting from the 15th.

Even in the Emperor’s absence, the officials were required to debate as usual, summarize the key points in memorials, and submit them for her final decision. Initially, they weren’t too concerned—the Emperor had skipped three days before—but by the fifth day of the empty throne, nerves began to fray.

On the seventh day, a squad of armed Imperial Guards stormed into the hall. Without a word, they gagged the Junior Assistant of the Court of Judicature and Revision (Dali Si) and dragged him away. By the time the session ended, his estate had been confiscated, the men of his family imprisoned, and the women sent to the Imperial Music Bureau (Jiaofangsi).

The charge? The secret police (Jinyiwei) had discovered a single domestic entertainer hidden in his home. Along with the violation of the decree, they found 50,000 taels of silver and 2,300 taels of gold in his storehouse. If he were lucky, he’d be granted a quick execution; if not, he faced being sawn in half at the waist.

From the eighth day onward, the ministers trembled, terrified of being next. Meanwhile, a subtle shift occurred: Bai Siyang was promoted to fill the vacancy, moving from a junior post in the Ministry of Justice to the powerful position in the Dali Si.

…

The Censors traveled slowly, but the Jinyiwei moved faster. By the time a Censor arrived at a provincial capital, the Jinyiwei had often already prepared the evidence.

Catching ten offenders meant a promotion; catching fifty could theoretically make one a high-ranking official of the fourth rank. Inspired by Chu Xin’s rapid ascent, the Censors exerted themselves to an unprecedented degree. Backed by the Emperor and assisted by the Jinyiwei, their efficiency became terrifying.

Executions became a daily occurrence. No official dared to dawdle in providing travel funds or papers for women seeking to leave. One local power attempted to kill the women in his estate to silence them; in response, all eighteen members of his family and fifty-two servants were executed immediately. Faced with the choice of losing one person or the entire clan, everyone chose the former.

Wen Qingyun set no expiration date for this decree. As time passed, this blood-stained law became a permanent fixture of the Great Qian Dynasty.

…

June, Year 2 of Tianzhou

While the Censors’ purge raged across the nation, a caravan from Sichuan Province crossed into Zhejiang, heading toward Anji. It was led by Jiang Ling, the young son of the Provincial Governor.

The 135 women in the caravan had been fearful, but their anxiety lessened after seeing three men executed in Nan-Zhili for hiding domestic slaves.

“What happened?” Shao Lian, the most composed of the women, asked from the carriage.

“Sister Shao, those three were caught by a Censor,” Jiang Ling whispered, leaning in from his horse. “The Emperor is furious about the kidnapping of women joining the army. She sent a hundred Censors across the country. Any perpetrator is executed; anyone who tries to kill the women to hide the evidence is charged with treason and their entire clan is wiped out.”

Shao Lian took a breath. “This is the Emperor’s will?”

“Yes,” Jiang Ling replied, his voice tinged with guilt. “It’s my fault. If I had sent guards sooner, you wouldn’t have suffered.”

“Do not blame yourself,” Shao Lian comforted him. “Without your protection at the Pavilion, the madam would have sold me to the highest bidder long ago.”

As they neared Anji, Shao Lian saw many other groups of women arriving. They were met at the gates by female soldiers in leather armor who helped with their bags and guided them with bright, hopeful eyes.

“One hundred and thirty-five recruits from Sichuan?” the guard at the gate asked, checking the Governor’s seal. He beamed. “Excellent! Wait here, I’ll get someone.”

A tall female soldier arrived. “I am the Platoon Leader (Zongqi) of the Mingyue (Bright Moon) Camp. Do you wish to see Master Chu first or go straight to the barracks?”

“The Bright Moon Camp?” Jiang Ling asked.

“Yes! The Emperor named it herself!” the soldier grinned. “They say if we do well, we might even follow Master Chu to the capital next year to meet Her Majesty!”

…

“The sisters from Sichuan? Is it Shao Lian’s sister?” Chu Xin asked, setting down her pen.

Anji was booming. More than 5,000 women were already training, with 2,000 more in recovery. Chu Xin was busy managing military lands and logistics.

“Master Chu, thank you for seeking justice for us,” Shao Lian said, bowing as she entered.

“It was the Emperor’s doing; I dare not take the credit,” Chu Xin replied. She then turned to Jiang Ling, the elegantly dressed young master.

“I, Jiang Ling, greet Master Chu,” he bowed deeply.

After some pleasantries, Chu Xin realized Shao Lian’s intent was to see her sister. “She just finished recovery and started drills. If you go now, you’ll catch them at the end of the day.”

As the women followed the platoon leader to the barracks, Jiang Ling tried to follow but was stopped—men were strictly forbidden in the camp.

“Young Master, farewell,” Shao Lian waved, her smile bright.

“Farewell,” Jiang Ling murmured. He wouldn’t hold her back now that her dream was within reach.

Chu Xin noticed the young man lingering. “Young Master Jiang, is there something else?”

Jiang Ling scratched his cheek. “Please, just call me Jiang Ling. I wanted to ask… could I stay here for a while and learn from you?”

“Oh?” Chu Xin raised an eyebrow. “To stay near Shao Lian?”

“Not entirely. My mother told me to stay in Anji and learn from you until next year,” he said earnestly. Jiang Ling was the pampered youngest son, his only hardship being the time he was kicked by a Prefect’s thug while protecting Shao Lian.

Chu Xin realized there was more to this. The Governor had two older sons with degrees and positions; why send the youngest thousands of miles away?

“We are short a Registrar (Zhubu),” Chu Xin said. “Would you be willing to take the post?”

“I would! Thank you!” Jiang Ling agreed instantly. “My mother says my handwriting is excellent.”

…

Back in the capital, Wen Qingyun read a secret report from the Jinyiwei. “Sichuan’s Governor sent his only legitimate son to serve under Chu Xin? Weiyu, did you find something on him?”

“No, Your Majesty,” Weiyu replied. “But I discovered a secret: Jiang Ling is the only child of the Governor’s wife, but he was raised entirely in the inner court, taught only by his mother. He was never allowed to be handled by others.”

Wen Qingyun’s brow twitched. A ridiculous but logical thought occurred to her. “Is it a matter of bloodline… or gender?”

“Jiang Ling is always heavily guarded, but my observation suggests the latter,” Weiyu said. “The Governor obtained the honorary title for his ‘son’ during the previous Emperor’s reign. He likely didn’t know the truth then—or chose not to.”

Wen Qingyun laughed. The Governor was surrendering. By placing a “son” with a fraudulent gender identity under the Jinyiwei’s nose, he was handing the Emperor a handle to destroy his entire clan for “Deceiving the Monarch.”

“Tell Chu Xin that Jiang Ling is usable,” Wen Qingyun ordered. “Don’t hide his identity as the Governor’s son. If she encounters difficult people, send him to handle the ‘reception’.”

…

August, Year 2 of Tianzhou

The Women’s Army now exceeded 10,000. 5,000 were combat-ready. Chu Xin visited the camp with Jiang Ling as her assistant.

The first batch of women had transformed. Their skin was tanned, their arms strong enough to carry heavy buckets with ease. Some had already been promoted to Squad Leaders (Xiaoqi) and Platoon Leaders.

“Master Chu!” General Liu approached with a grim face. “I have a report.”

“What is it?”

“Japanese pirates (Wokou) are raiding the south. General Wang Yuejiao intends to request permission to suppress them. I wish to return to her side to assist,” General Liu said, her voice filled with excitement. “The Mingyue Camp is on the right track; you can promote a replacement. I beg for your permission to go.”

No one craved glory more than a woman who had fought to become a general.