Chapter 578

Every year on the third day of the third lunar month, the Spring Sacrifice festivities are held especially lively.

The Spring Sacrifice is not merely a pastime for the nobility; it is also a rare splash of brightness in the dull, tedious, hard lives of the common folk of Shang Jing.

On this day, the whole family, young and old, would wear their finest clothes they could bring out from home, and the family would go out for a spring outing.

Wealthy families would hire carriages to go to the suburbs for an outing, or hold garden parties and poetry gatherings in their own gardens.

This was the favorite activity of noble ladies and gentlewomen; poor families had no money to rent carriages, nor to hold garden parties.

Those with a little savings would hire two donkeys, and the family would take a walk in the suburbs.

Those who really had no money would stroll through the various public gardens in Jing Cheng, or along the Imperial River, which also counted as observing the holiday.

Thus, on this day the streets were nearly empty as every household poured out, making the streets extremely lively.

Stalls lined the roadside, selling items for the Spring Sacrifice rites, as well as pastries and toys that children liked.

The whole city was extraordinarily bustling.

An inconspicuous blue-canopied carriage struggled through the bustling crowd, heading toward the Eastern Si Ma Gate of the palace city.

On the square outside the Eastern Si Ma Gate, the Peace Drum still stood upright.

The red tassels on the drumsticks, worn by long years of erosion, were now shattered and ragged.

Apart from having been struck a few times before, the Peace Drum had now returned to silence.

The few Imperial Secret Guard stationed at the Peace Drum were bored, leaning on the railing and speaking softly.

Those who guarded the Peace Drum were insignificant in their master's eyes; after a few more years they could take their silver and retire home.

They could not compare to those who served close to the emperor, who walked with imposing bearing.

Now they just gamble a few coins, drink a little liquor, and while away their time waiting to die.

"Did Brother Zhang San lose again last night?"

"He didn't lose; in fact he won two jars of liquor."

"Don't talk about it—Brother Zhang San actually drove his sister‑in‑law straight out of the courtyard yesterday!"

Several Imperial Secret Guard couldn't help laughing softly, when suddenly one stopped laughing and exclaimed.

"Who is it?"

The others also stopped laughing, looked in the direction the guard pointed, and saw a veiled woman slowly walking toward them.

The woman was slender and frail, walking with a graceful, gentle sway like a wisp of cloud about to dissipate.

Even so, her steps were firm; she walked step by step toward them, apparently heading for the Peace Drum they were guarding.

The woman wore a moon‑white robe, over which she had draped a dark‑red cloak.

The red and white were distinct, her hair coiled in a lady's bun; even veiled, she gave a startlingly striking impression.

Having seen the previous instances of drum‑beating, these people were not as panicked as before; they rose slowly, composed themselves, and their voices took on a teasing tone.

"Well now, this Peace Drum that hasn't been struck in eight hundred years has almost been beaten to pieces these past two years— which ancestor has come today?"

"Looking at her delicate frame, she probably can't even get past the iron‑nail ordeal; if she dies like that, it would truly be a pity."

The leading Imperial Secret Guard stared at the approaching woman and shouted loudly: "Stop! Who are you?"

The woman opposite finally came to a stop before the Peace Drum, then lifted her gaze and slowly looked at the several Imperial Secret Guard before her.

She performed a respectful bow and said: "I am Lady An, wife of General Zhao; today I have come specially to strike the Peace Drum to seek justice for my father, General An Cheng‑hu, and for the tens of thousands of Azure Dragon Army soldiers of Qi Sha Gu."

Jinzhi's voice was hoarse, each syllable sounding as if it were squeezed out from deep within her soul.

Even so, it was still clearly transmitted to the ears of those around.

Instantly the surrounding crowd erupted in an uproar; even the faces of the few guards watching the Peace Drum changed, a flicker of disbelief crossing their eyes.

Whether General An Cheng‑hu or General Zhao Lang, both were undoubtedly renowned heroes in Shang Jing.

Who would have thought that General Zhao's wife would personally come to strike the Peace Drum— that in itself is bad enough, but what did this woman just say? Surely we didn't mishear?

Seeing the several people before her frozen in place, Jinzhi spoke again, word by word.

"I am the sole daughter of General An Cheng‑hu; I have come today specially to seek justice for my father, and I request that the Imperial Court reopen the case of Qi Sha Gu."

After Jinzhi finished speaking, she knelt before the Peace Drum and kowtowed, then rose and walked toward the drum.

Now the surrounding crowd finally understood, and they surged toward her from all sides, the discussion growing ever noisier.

"What? The junior lady of General Zhao has come to strike the Peace Drum?"

"Aren't you afraid of dying? It's said that before striking the drum one must first roll over iron nails; if you survive, the petition can be delivered to the emperor; if you don't, death is certain."

"This… this is General Zhao Lang's most beloved junior lady; doesn't the general care? With such a frail frame, just placing her on the iron nails would kill her outright."

"Isn't it said that General Zhao dotes extremely on his wife; wouldn't he feel heartbroken?"

The leading guards also felt shocked and fearful; General Zhao is now a famed commander in Shang Jing, and they admire him greatly.

Upon hearing Jinzhi's words, they hurried forward to advise: "Young lady, be careful! Before striking the drum one must first roll over the iron nails; you should go back."

"If anything goes wrong, we too fear we won't be able to answer to General Zhao."

Jinzhi would not turn back; having taken this step, she had cut off any retreat.

She stepped forward one pace: "Thank you, elder brothers, for your warning, but Jinzhi's resolve is set; I ask you to grant me your permission."

Several guards showed troubled expressions; what could be done?

But they could not violate the imperial regulations; just as they were agonizing over whether to remove the iron nails, two Imperial Secret Guard suddenly came flying from nearby.

Those two secret guards clutched a bright‑yellow scroll in their hands, sprinting wildly toward this spot, then leapt off their horses.

The few guards stationed at the Peace Drum, seeing this scene, hurriedly knelt before that person.

That person unfurled the imperial edict in hand and declared: "By order of the Regent Prince, today those who strike the Peace Drum need not roll over iron nails; they may simply strike the drum and submit their petition."

As soon as the edict was announced, the surrounding crowd also erupted in an uproar.

One must know that striking the Peace Drum and rolling over iron nails is a regulation left by the former emperor.

Now a Regent Prince says to abolish it and it is abolished; consequently the discussion around them grew even louder.

These people all figured out that today's situation probably isn't that simple; you should know that nowadays the only one who can influence the Crown Prince is Prince Rui.

Xiao Yin suffered a crushing defeat in the battle at Qi Sha Gu and barely made it back; he almost didn't survive.

At this point, many things connected, and everyone realized that Xiao Yin was likely about to cause a major upheaval.