The Double-Chapter 341 - 123: Appeal for Justice_4

This time, he appeared much more panicked than before, with sweat running down his cheeks in the midst of winter. He said, "Old madam, my lord, Miss Jiang the Second and the others have not returned to the mansion, they, they have gone to Changan Gate."

Changan Gate?

Jiang Yuanbai’s complexion changed drastically.

"What are they doing at Changan Gate?" Jiang Jingrui asked curiously.

"They went to Changan Gate to strike the Stone Lion’s Drum of Grievance," Jiang Yuanbai squeezed out a few words.

...

Changan Gate was directly in front of the imperial palace.

On special days, the emperor would hold ceremonies here; on ordinary days, it was guarded by officials and soldiers and not frequented by people.

In the spacious square, two towering and majestic stone lions stood, and in front of each lion was a drum coated in red lacquer with a sheepskin drumhead. Drumsticks also lay on top, and it seemed that it had been a long time since anyone had touched them, as a thick layer of dust covered the drumhead.

The carriage procession stopped in front of Changan Gate, and Jiang Li jumped down from the carriage.

In all directions centered around Changan Gate, there was a crowd of onlookers. The sight of Jiang Li dismounting from the carriage made their eyes shine; Jiang Li was the protagonist of this drama, and with her appearance, the main event was about to start.

In a nearby tavern, a beautiful woman dressed in red watched the slender figure in front of Changan Gate indifferently, instructing the person beside her, "Keep a close eye on her, don’t let anyone take advantage of the situation and kill Miss Jiang the Second."

"Yes," Wen Ji acknowledged the order.

Jiang Li had stirred up such a big spectacle that the person in charge would surely be furious and, having a nature not cautious of repercussions, might hide in the crowd and take a shot at Jiang Li. If someone else ended up taking her life, it wouldn’t look good on him.

Moreover, he was eager to see how Jiang Li would turn the tables, so it was imperative to protect her.

Jiang Li approached Changan Gate.

Two young soldiers watched her dumbly in front of Changan Gate.

Jiang Li turned around, Ye Mingyu stood by her side, and the people from Tongxiang quieted down. By this point, they all knew what they had to do.

"I have thought it over, this matter cannot be delayed, so I did not return to the mansion and came straight here. Let’s finish today’s business today. You see," she pointed at the two stone lions, "this is my first visit here, this place is Changan Gate."

"Changan Gate, striking the Stone Lion’s Drum of Grievance," Jiang Li said, "This is the last opportunity one can get to obtain justice."

She thought, if back in the day she had still had a breath in her and could have made it out of the Top Scholar’s Mansion, the first thing she would have done was to rush here, pick up the drumstick, and beat the Stone Lion’s Drum of Grievance to express all her grievances. But the situation back then wouldn’t have allowed it, as her opponent was Princess Yongning, and with just one flick of her finger, she could have easily obliterated Jiang Li’s evidence, just as easily as snuffing out her life.

Now it was different. With the identity of Miss Jiang the Second, everyone in Yanjing City, from the highest officials to the common folks, was paying attention to this matter. And she was not alone, with so many by her side. This time, if Princess Yongning wanted to erase all traces cleanly, it might be somewhat difficult.

And she wouldn’t give Princess Yongning that chance.

Jiang Li addressed the people from Tongxiang, "In this world, fairness and justice are hard to come by. Sometimes, one might not obtain them even at the cost of their life. Fortunately, we at least have this opportunity, though it was not gained without sacrifice." She paused and then continued, "To accuse an official is like an accusation of patricide, punishable by fifty strokes. By striking this Stone Lion’s Drum of Grievance, we are subject to fifty lashes. Should we win, we all rejoice, but if we lose, the lightest punishment is that our case will not be overturned and we’ll receive corporal punishment; in the worst case, we may lose our lives."

The people from Tongxiang looked at each other in dismay, and the people of Yanjing City whispered amongst themselves. Even those in the prisoner carts like Tong Zhiyang were taken aback. They were all unaware of these stipulations.

"These are the stakes in exchange for fairness and justice, yet the outcome is uncertain. Who is willing to step forward and beat this Drum of Injustice?" Jiang Li asked.

Fifty lashes could at least cost half one’s life, and for those weaker in constitution, it could be fatal. Even if one won the case, the cost would be devastatingly high.

Jiang Li calmly said, "If no one is willing, then I shall be the one to beat this Drum of Injustice."

The crowd immediately stirred.

Her expression was serene, as if she believed what she was doing was the right thing and saw nothing wrong with her actions. Keep in mind, she had no relation to Xue Huaiyuan, yet she had done so much for him, even risking her life.