Jiang Pengji had always been a non-mainstream lord.
If it was another lord, as long as it wasn't a big deal like the sky falling down, she would usually wait until after the new year to deal with it.
But she didn't. She wanted the whole family to not even celebrate the new year happily.
It was the morning of the first day of the new year.
Jiang Pengji sent messengers to the houses and reprimanded them one by one. The entire Xiangyang district knew about it.
Almost every family that was reprimanded had a similar scene. Men and women, young and old, cried together.
This was the first melon of the new year, so the audience watched it with relish. They watched the excitement so much that they forgot to eat.
"… My son is loyal and devoted to the Duke of Lanting and has made great contributions. How is taking in three to five concubines disregarding etiquette and overstepping the bounds?" The old woman was frightened by her son's words. She couldn't care less about slapping her daughter-in-law to vent her anger. She looked at the messenger carefully and said, "It's obviously my daughter-in-law.
My belly is not up to expectations. My son is a fake man who can't carry on the family line. I have no choice but to force my son to take in concubines. "
The old woman took the blame for taking in concubines and poured dirty water on her daughter-in-law. She used it to quibble.
The messenger secretly rolled his eyes. He had brought people to two houses and it was almost the same story. Could there be something new?
"Old Madam, let me ask you, how old is your son this year?"
The old woman said, "My son is thirty-three this year."
The messenger said, "Old Madam, let me ask you again. Has your son's ancestor been bestowed the title of king or minister?"
The old woman blushed and said, "My ancestors have been farming for generations. My great ancestor's generation only became rich. My ancestors were not so noble."
"No one has been bestowed the title of king or minister. They have been farming for generations and only became rich in recent generations. Isn't that just a commoner's family with some savings?
The law says that commoners have one husband and one wife! What right does your son have to take in concubines? " The messenger retorted coldly, "You said your son has made great contributions. Is he now bestowed the title of king or minister? He has been bestowed the title after success and has eight concubines! Your son's contributions are meager, but he has more than eight concubines! "
The old woman was so shocked that her eyes widened.
She stammered, "This, this … I don't know about this …"
Without sufficient status and contribution, he was not qualified to take a concubine.
The emissary sneered again, "I sent someone to investigate and found that Old Madam is not strict in managing the family and does not teach her children well. She allows your son to favor his concubine over his wife and force his daughter-in-law, who has the ability to give birth and manage the family, to abdicate and give up her position to a better man. You want to help your concubine get the position and marry her. Is this not true?"
Even if there was no need to investigate, just based on Old Madam's action of slapping her daughter-in-law without hesitation, it was enough to prove that something was amiss.
How could the Old Madam dare to admit it?
His head shook like a rattle.
She wailed on the ground and made a scene, "These things were done by the old woman who was blinded by lard. My son didn't do it willingly!"
The emissary's eyes were filled with indifference as he snorted.
He waved his hand, intending to go to the next shop.
"Envoy, please wait!"
The old woman was still crying, but her son was not someone who only knew how to cry. He hurriedly pulled the messenger to the side and secretly stuffed two money pouches under the cover of his wide sleeves. Both of his money pouches were bulging and looked extremely heavy. The emissary weighed it in his mind and had an idea.
He accepted the man's bribe. The man's face lit up and he felt that there was a chance.
"Envoy, please put in a good word or two for me in front of Lord Lanting." The man's expression was calm as he said, "To tell you the truth, these women in the backyard are not concubines. They are all performers and prostitutes that I bought from outside. I keep them in the backyard to entertain my family …"
Overstepping one's authority was much more serious than spoiling one's concubine and killing one's wife. At the very least, it would affect one's career. If it was more serious, it might even bring disaster to one's entire family.
However, if these women were not concubines but performers and prostitutes that he kept, then it would be a different story.
After hearing this, the emissary felt a chill in his heart.
This man was really ruthless. According to what the emissary knew, the pregnant woman who was about to give birth was his own cousin! In order to protect his career and future, he directly classified his pregnant cousin and other legitimate concubines as performers and prostitutes that he could buy and sell at will!
Overstepping one's authority and taking in concubines was a great disaster, but keeping performers and prostitutes was not a big deal.
Before the chaotic times, many rich and powerful families still had sex with prostitutes as a fashion. This was an elegant matter that was dissolute but not indecent.
"If that's the case, then it's most likely a misunderstanding. You can prove your innocence by taking out their contracts." The emissary sneered in his heart, but his face showed some concern as he pointed out to the man, "It's getting late. I should also go to the next house, or else it will be difficult to report to them."
The man respectfully sent the emissary off.
The emissary left with a smile. Only when he left Chang 'an Alley did he spit in disgust.
He said angrily, "I've never seen such a shameless man. He wants to buy my life with such a small amount of money?"
After going to four or five houses in one morning, the emissary brought a box of "spoils of war" to report to them.
Not only his group, but the other emissaries also returned with a "full load".
"Tsk tsk, what a lucrative job."
Yang Si raised his hand and twirled his beard. He looked at the boxes one by one, which were all filled with bribes.
Some were filled with large amounts of gold and silver, and some were precious jewelry bracelets. Any one of them could help the people get out of poverty and become rich.
The emissary smiled bitterly and cupped his hands. "Military Advisor Yang, don't scare us. How would we dare to touch such dirty money?"
This was related to their future. No one would give up a good life for a little bit of sweetness.
"Look at how timid you are. It's good that you know to be afraid. My lord hates corruption and bribery the most." Yang Si was in a very good mood and spoke very gently. He said, "My lord has always been clear about rewards and punishments. You've made a contribution today and went to so many houses. Naturally, there should be rewards. Keep 80% of these things and confiscate them. The remaining 20% can be divided. Take it as a red envelope given by my lord at the beginning of spring this year. "
Oh my —
What a pleasant surprise!
Several emissaries looked happy. Even if it was only 20%, it would still be a considerable extra income.
The emissary hesitated and said, "Military Advisor Yang, I have one thing … I'm a little worried. Will those people really forge the contract?"
Some of the women who served in the backyard were official concubines, while others were servants who enjoyed the substantive treatment of concubines. Apart from the title, they were no different from concubines. Many of them were even pregnant. In general, almost all of them were from good families with clean backgrounds.
If they forged the contract, they would be reduced from a good family to a lowly one. They would be a lowly family that could be bought and sold at will and be trampled on by anyone!
"So what?" Yang Si said coldly, "The more ruthless they are, the better. It's best if they are so ruthless that they will be infamous for thousands of years."
The source of art was above life.
If these people did not court death, what would Wei Ci use as material to write his novel?
At the same time, the family in Chang 'an Alley was also in a mess.
Several concubines were forced to sign their names. Even if they cried and begged, not only did they not make the man next to them soften his heart, but they were also kicked hard.
The pregnant cousin also looked at the man with tears in her eyes.
"Cousin …"
The man was indifferent. The cousin stroked her round belly with one hand and looked at her aunt.
"Mother …"
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