The Lucky Farmgirl
Chapter 1022 - 1101: Independence

Chapter 1022: Chapter 1101: Independence

Bai Shan refused without a second thought, "I won’t go, and you mustn’t either."

Seeing his determination, Manbao asked, "Why?"

"I want to know why the Emperor suddenly wants us to present a memorial during Mid-Autumn Festival?"

"Didn’t the letter say? The reunion festival of Mid-Autumn makes it easier to move the hearts of the people," Manbao said. "He will stand up for us then."

"I don’t believe him."

Manbao was stunned, asking doubtfully, "Why?"

"Because he is the Emperor," Bai Shan said. "He ascended to the throne while the Crown Prince was severely ill, and both the late Emperor and the Crown Prince favored the Third Prince. Manbao, not everyone in the world is like us, able to do what they say they will. Even if they have the power to act, they lack the desire to see it through."

Mr. Zhuang nodded slightly on the side.

"I will never entrust our lives to someone I have never met, especially not to an Emperor."

Mr. Zhuang nodded repeatedly and coughed lightly, saying, "Since you’ve decided not to go, let’s burn this memorial. Just pretend you know nothing about it. The bell for public grievances is meant to be struck by you personally; if you don’t strike it, there’s nothing he can do, even if he gets angry."

Manbao scratched his head and nodded.

Bai Shan’s face looked terrible. Many things were not appropriate to say in front of the teacher. Perhaps Mr. Zhuang knew this too, as he found an excuse to leave, giving them space.

As soon as Mr. Zhuang left, Bai Shan could not help but frown and said directly, "We’ve been tricked by the Emperor."

Manbao blinked and asked, "Are you talking about our trip to the capital?"

Bai Shan nodded, "I thought he would at least wait until the Grand Empress Dowager’s longevity celebration was over to bring this up, ideally delaying it until next spring. That would give us half a year to plan, to familiarize ourselves with the capital, and to gather strength for a striking reputation. We could find an opportunity to present the issue before the Emperor by striking the bell, and we wouldn’t merely end up as a threat. But now, it seems he wants to stir things up during the Mid-Autumn Festival."

Manbao thought for a moment and then said, "That’s not right, though. Mid-Autumn is a festival of reunion. What cannot wait until after the festival?"

On the side, Bai Erlang said, "Something must have happened."

Bai Shan was silent, frowning in thought, "It’s been calm at the Imperial Academy these last few days. I haven’t heard of anything."

The three exchanged a look, all starting to feel anxious. After all, due to their unstable foundation, they lacked access to much information.

Manbao pondered and then asked, "Could Yin Huo know something? After all, his father is the Mayor of the Capital."

Bai Shan replied, "He’s a sickly young master. Though he knows a bit more than us, I doubt he’s privy to state secrets."

Manbao asked, "What about Feng Zongping? His grandfather is the Minister of Justice."

Bai Shan thought for a moment and then said, "I’ll bring some refreshments tomorrow and visit him."

Bai Shan opened the memorial that he hadn’t had time to read earlier. Looking at it now, he didn’t feel remorseful, only angry.

He slowly crumpled the paper into a ball and then threw it into the firepit to burn.

On the memorial, not only his father was mentioned, but also Manbao’s parents—it was essentially a memorial written for both of them.

To file a petition before the emperor, one first had to endure fifty lashes, and even if the emperor were biased, the blows inflicted on him and Manbao, split evenly, would be harsh. He didn’t mention it further, being young, a single beating could maim or kill him; and Manbao, her constitution was even frailer, having been sickly since childhood, and even a simple needle prick caused her pain.

Bai Shan pushed the clutter on his desk aside and tore off a large sheet of paper before sending it to Lord Wei, "The boy and Manbao are both only children, helpless and unable to act independently. If we were to sound the drum to petition, the requisite fifty lashes would surely follow. As only children, not to cherish our bodies would be unfilial. Neither Manbao nor I wish to distress our remaining elders over this."

Manbao turned her eyes and swiftly pulled the brush from his hand, adding on the back, "Please intervene on our behalf, Lord Wei. We are willing to face His Majesty and file our petition."

Manbao wanted to write, how could they let a hero spill blood and tears, only to cut off his descendants as well?

Yet thinking it over, her statement bordered on threatening and self-promoting, so she restrained herself.

Bai Shan glanced at the two distinctly different handwritings and couldn’t be bothered to copy it all over again, so after drying the petition, he sealed it in an envelope and handed it to Daji to deliver to Lord Wei.

After he left, Bai Shan turned to Manbao, "Before, they always said there was no rush, that they wanted to investigate slowly. Waiting for solid evidence and full preparedness before making the matter public, so we couldn’t be too conspicuous, even avoiding contact with Madam Tang. But now that they’re urging us to file a petition by the Mid-Autumn Festival, clearly they’re no longer intending to protect us. Perhaps you should find a time to meet with Madam Tang?"

"You mean to ask about the court matters?"

Bai Shan said, "I think Madam Tang is very capable. Even though it’s about the imperial court, she might have ways to find out."

After a moment of thought, Manbao nodded, "Alright then."

Erlang raised his hand, "Is there anything I can do to help you?"

"Yes," Bai Shan said, "You keep an eye on any rumors or news about us."

Bai Shan added, "Since they even prepared the petition paper for us, they likely won’t just let this drop. But people spread rumors, and the subject of those rumors is always the last to know, so we need you to help us keep an eye out."

Erlang immediately agreed, "Don’t worry, I’ve made many friends at the Highest Institute. By the way, yesterday when I went to school, Zhang Jinghao showed up with a bruised face. Privately, many guessed it was us who did it. Does that count?"

"Of course, it does. You found out quite quickly."

"That’s natural. As soon as Zhang Jinghao arrived at school, my close friends came to ask if it was us who hit him."

Manbao asked, "What did you say?"

"I of course said no. I’m not stupid," Erlang said. "I told them that at the time, Yin Huo and I had just left the riding ground and headed home. We laid out the whole situation, everyone knows what kind of person he is, why would we go hit him again? He got injured, and anybody would guess it was us, why bother?"

Manbao and Bai Shan gave him a thumbs-up.

Once the tasks were distributed, Erlang suddenly realized something was off, "Manbao and I both have tasks, but what are you going to do?"

Bai Shan replied, "I’m going to take a walk around the Highest Institute. From tomorrow, I might not go home from school with you. Bai Er, either return with Big Brother or let Gao Song arrange another carriage for you."

Turning to Manbao, she said, "Nevermind arranging things for me. Jishi Hall isn’t far from here; I can walk back and have a little stroll on the way."

Bai Shan, considering the mild sun, nodded, "Just be careful then."

Manbao nodded, "At least for now, the Prince of Yizhou doesn’t know our identities, so we are safe."

Curiously, she asked Bai Shan, "What are you going to do starting tomorrow?"

Bai Shan lowered his eyes, "We must struggle for the sake of our lives, our parents, and our other relatives and friends."

Although the chances were slim, he too wanted to cling to that small possibility, to control his own destiny. He looked up at Manbao, and hers too—not letting someone else’s word dictate whether they must lay their lives on a scale, not knowing whether they’d live or die by their own right.