Chapter Fifteen: The Uprising at the Mine

Death meant no witnesses, clearly the other party not only wanted to pin the blame for the mining riot on him but also sought to leave no trace behind. The scheme was both vicious and meticulous.

"Interrogate the miners closely associated with Feng Da under severe torture," Shen Jifeng’s cold gaze shifted to the magistrates from Xijing stationed at the mine. "Detain the magistrate who struck first and send someone to summon Lord Huang, the governor of Xijing."

Dong Yang hesitated somewhat.

Shen Jifeng understood his thoughts. "This matter cannot be concealed. Do you really believe the riot was sparked by a few dishes? The food had been terrible for a long time, and they were only bluffing. The deceased Feng Da and the magistrate who struck first are just pawns. I bet by tomorrow morning, impeachment petitions against me will be piled like snow on the Emperor’s desk."

"But Lord Huang is a fence-sitter; he might not help us," Dong Yang said, holding a very poor impression of Huang Bo.

"He doesn't need to help. Just report the facts truthfully. Besides, the magistrate who acted first was under his jurisdiction—he cannot shirk responsibility."

Huang Bo was at home when disaster struck. As his subordinates reported the news, he was playing with his beloved parrot. Upon hearing the message, his grip loosened and the bird flew away.

"How many died?" he asked.

Sun Jingli was already sweating in fright. "Thirty-seven miners dead, fifteen seriously injured, two craftsmen dead, a few lightly wounded. The princess didn’t mention any casualties among her guards, probably negligible."

Huang Bo barely had time to find his bird. "My heavens! Who struck first?"

"The men said it was our Xijing magistrates. They’ve been detained."

Huang Bo beat his chest and stomped his feet. "It’s over, it’s over. Now there’s no way to get out of this."

Sun Jingli’s face darkened. So many deaths would surely alarm the court. When officials arrive, who knows how many complications might arise.

He glanced at Huang Bo. His lord’s expression was even grimmer than his own. "Please don’t worry too much. The main problem lies with the princess. At most, we’re guilty of lax supervision. And the princess is no ordinary person—she is the Emperor’s own granddaughter."

Huang Bo’s face grew even more sullen. "Someone has to take responsibility for so many deaths. The princess may be no ordinary person, but what about me? I’m the perfect scapegoat! I’m going to the mine right now. Hurry!"

"Send for a carriage."

"What carriage? Get horses—the fastest horses, quickly!"

When Huang Bo arrived at the mine, Shen Jifeng’s men had finished interrogating everyone. No one held back; all had been disclosed.

From the testimonies, the instigator was Feng Da. For three days prior, he had repeatedly incited miners to escape and set up their own dominion, stirring unrest among many. The magistrate who struck first was more interesting. He insisted he only intended to scare them and never fought with real weapons—the miners fell on their own. Moreover, he had a witness: none other than the guards from the princess’s residence.

Shen Jifeng trusted her guards implicitly, so she dismissed suspicion of the magistrate.

"Lord Huang, one more thing. Both the princess’s guards and the Xijing magistrate claim they didn’t use excessive force, yet thirty-seven people died."

Huang Bo’s small eyes widened. Clearly, someone was muddying the waters.

Shen Jifeng led Lord Huang to a secluded spot away from the mine’s center. "Lord Huang, whether you like it or not, we’re now in the same boat on this matter."

A great storm roiled in Lord Huang’s heart. Was this punishment for revealing Zheng Peiye’s affair? Why was he being taught not to meddle?

Alas, what a hard fate. Since the princess arrived in Xijing less than a week ago, not a single peaceful day had passed.

"Princess, I also want to report this is secretly manipulated by someone, but without proof, reporting might do more harm than good."

Inwardly Shen Jifeng thought, indeed, to hold the position of governor of Xijing, Huang Bo may be lazy but he is certainly not stupid.

"Do you intend to lure more people here?" Shen Jifeng looked toward the towering Tianmeng Mountain, beneath which lay endless wealth and countless hidden dangers.

"The Xijing silver mine is a hot potato, and I believe you understand better than I do. I’ll give you a chance to completely free yourself. Are you willing?"

Huang Bo’s small eyes twitched repeatedly. He bowed to Shen Jifeng. "Thank you for your grace, Princess. Please lend me a place to draft my report. Once you have reviewed it, I will personally deliver it to the Emperor first thing tomorrow morning."

Dealing with a clever person was truly effortless.

---

On May fifteenth, the otherwise mundane morning court erupted into chaos over the Xijing silver mine riot.

Especially those self-righteous censors, who spat venom across the imperial hall, tearing the Morning Sun Princess to shreds.

"The Morning Sun Princess is arrogant and reckless, treating human life like straw! When the miners revolted, she should have pacified them gently, yet she allowed her guards to slaughter wildly—thirty-seven lives lost!"

"I previously filed a complaint only because she is a woman, accusing her of crowing at dawn unfit for leadership. The princess even called me an old stubborn man behind my back who only clings to outdated slogans. This proves she has long disregarded propriety. I beg Your Majesty to summon her back and give the dead justice!"

Emperor Yuanchang only raised his eyelids when the censor mentioned "clinging to outdated slogans." Ah, that must be Censor Zhang, with his graying beard trembling in anger. Yan Ru’s description was indeed apt.

"Your excellencies all have such swift news. The riot happened yesterday afternoon, and by early this morning, the petitions were already prepared."

Emperor Wenchang snorted coldly. "You all speak as if you saw it with your own eyes. I know appointing the Morning Sun Princess to oversee the silver mine breaks tradition, but she dared sign a death pact, promising to produce refined silver within three months. Does this courage not deserve praise? Distinguished ministers, can your hearts not tolerate a woman striving for achievement? Or are you simply questioning my judgment?"

The ministers shouted in unison, "Your servant trembles in fear. Please, Your Majesty, calm your anger!"

After his admonishment, the Emperor said gravely, "If you want to punish the princess, you must hear what Governor Huang has to say. Summon him in."

Huang Bo entered the hall with his heart pounding. Having waited outside earlier and overheard the Emperor’s words, he knew he had bet correctly. Since the Emperor entrusted the princess with the mine, a riot like this would not affect her standing.

Power spoke, and whether a matter grew or shrank depended entirely on him.

"Your Majesty, the ringleader of this riot was Feng Da. He was arrested for multiple highway robberies and had been imprisoned. Recently, he frequently incited miners at the site to escape and crown themselves king. Yesterday afternoon, he seized the moment, leading dozens to attack the guards. The princess’s guards and Xijing magistrates numbered only five—no match. As they tried to break out, the princess’s guards feared they would harm the people outside and rallied other miners to block them. In the ensuing standoff, there were casualties on both sides, and Feng Da was killed by other miners."

The censors who had been shouting curses exchanged glances, stunned that this was the truth.

Censor Zhang still refused to relent. "Lord Huang, surely you’re trying to confuse the issue to avoid blame?"