In the Morning Dew Hall, when the arrogant Lolita tore off a small piece of chicken and insisted on stuffing it into Li Yi's mouth, Li Xuan strode in, and his face did not look very good.
"How's the situation in the court?" Li Yi looked at him and asked.
Li Xuan was not surprised to see Li Yi here. He said with a slightly angry tone, "Postpone the age of marriage for women to 16 years old, encourage women of the right age to have more children, urge the Imperial Physician Bureau to improve the method of midwifery, and train professional midwives … These are settled and will be implemented soon."
Li Yi thought that in this way, with the help of this trend, he could open a high-end confinement club in the capital. Wouldn't he make a lot of money?
However, these things that Li Xuan just said were what Her Royal Highness wanted to do. There was no reason for the court to implement the policy. Li Xuan still had the same expression. Li Yi thought for a moment, looked at him and asked, "The Princess's house arrest …"
Li Xuan said angrily, "No one has mentioned it for the time being. I'm afraid that when this storm is over, they will still not give up easily."
Her Royal Highness took great credit for this matter. In the final analysis, it was also because of this matter that Her Royal Highness almost hacked Great Scholar Han to death in the court. It was a major event related to the people's livelihood, and it was decided in this way. However, it was a bit like burning the bridge after crossing the river.
But thinking about it, it was normal. After all, Her Royal Highness was the first to hack people in the Golden Hall with a knife. It was unprecedented, and probably no one would do it in the future. If they did not punish her severely, and someone followed her example in the future, wouldn't the officials' heads be hung on their belts when they went to the court?
"In this case, I can only … add more fuel to the fire." Li Yi stopped the arrogant Lolita from stuffing the chicken butt into his mouth and thought so.
"What do you think about this matter?" Li Xuan sat down and looked at Li Yi and asked.
MIngzhu's expression did not change, but her eyes were looking at him as well.
As one of the three pests of the capital, the three heroes, the most sinister and cunning among the three heroes of the capital, Li Yi thought for a bit, looked at MIngzhu, and said seriously: "How about I bring you a bowl of Egg-Fried Rice next time?"
…
…
The capital had not been peaceful for the past two days. County Magistrate Liu, who had just been promoted to the capital magistrate not long ago, was having a headache.
Just now, a yamen runner came to report that there were two in-laws in the eastern part of the city fighting over their children's marriage, and the matter was brought to court.
Since yesterday, this was already the fifth case of in-laws turning against each other.
The cause of the case was surprisingly the same. The bride said that her daughter was too young and wanted to wait for two to three years before getting married. Naturally, the groom did not agree. The betrothal gifts had already been given, and they were just waiting for the bride to marry. What was the meaning of delaying the marriage for two to three years? If the news got out, where would they put their faces?
The bride also had a legitimate reason. The imperial court had said that three out of ten women would not survive if they gave birth at the age of 13. My daughter is only 13 this year. If you want my daughter to marry the groom, it is equivalent to asking my daughter to die.
No matter what, she is my daughter. If anyone wants to hurt her, I will scratch him to death!
County Magistrate Liu touched the fingernail mark on his neck and gasped in pain. This was the result of the fight between the two families in the court yesterday. He went up to persuade the two families, but was accidentally scratched by the shrew. At night, when he was being intimate with his wife, he explained for a long time. He didn't know why, but she, who was always reasonable, became extremely grumpy these days. Not only did she not believe him, but she also framed him by saying that it was the evidence of him going out to flirt. County Magistrate Liu had no choice but to scratch himself again to show his innocence. Even now, it was still burning.
He began to miss the days when Liu Yiyi was here. How could he deal with such a small matter?
"The imperial court is about to issue a law. From now on, women in our Jing Kingdom can only get married at the age of 16. Those who violate this law are disobeying the imperial court and the law …"
Ordinary people couldn't stand this kind of intimidation. After saying these words, the groom left dejectedly. The bride, on the other hand, beamed with joy and shouted that she was just and honorable, which slightly comforted County Magistrate Liu.
He let out a long sigh. From the perspective of justice, the imperial court's action was good, but the real trouble was just beginning.
Delaying the earliest date for a woman to get married at the age of 16 also meant that those poor families also had to raise their daughters to the age of 16. For them, this undoubtedly increased a lot of burden. How many of those people at the bottom of the social ladder would treat their daughters as real people? The imperial court's action was still thoughtless!
Not only that, besides the unstable feelings of the people, there were also some aspects of the capital that had become somewhat abnormal. Behind the chaos, there seemed to be an invisible hand pushing things forward, causing people to be alarmed. The inexplicable disappearance of people in the capital, the abnormalities of several dozen families in a village outside the city, the mysterious Divine Empress …
Returning to the rear hall, County Magistrate Liu paced back and forth for almost an hour. He didn't even pay attention to the concubine that came to him of her own accord. After thinking for a while, he raised his brush and began to write on a booklet.
… …
"The matter of the Divine Empress appearing a few days ago has already been widely spread among the believers, causing them to be even more pious …"
In an ordinary courtyard outside the capital, a purple-clothed man had a faint expression of excitement on his face. He said to the middle-aged Daoist nun, "In these past two days, my religion has gained more than a hundred believers. From this, it seems that the great rise of the Holy Religion is just around the corner!"
"Very good." The middle-aged Daoist nun nodded and said, "But we can't be too ostentatious. This is the capital. If we were to arouse the alarm of the Jing Kingdom's Imperial Court, there would be countless troubles."
"This subordinate understands."
The purple-clothed man bowed and said these words. Then he thought of a certain matter and said, "Reporting to the Empress, this subordinate has discovered a disciple that has recently entered the religion. His ability is extremely outstanding. Half of the newly increased believers are due to his efforts. He is also a person who witnessed the Divine Empress's second appearance. This subordinate wishes to promote him to the position of yellow-clothed emissary. What does the Empress think?"
"For such a small matter, you can decide for yourself … As for the Assembly of Heroes, continue to pay attention to it." After saying these words, the middle-aged Daoist nun floated away. The purple-clothed man bowed and said, "Respectfully sending off the Empress!"
… …
… …
"I and you … will share the same bed as you and we will die in the same hole …"
The young imperial censor called Wan Xu was humming a tune he had just learned from a brothel. As he walked into the house, he saw his wife dressed neatly and about to leave with a maid. His expression changed and he hurriedly said, "Aiya, my wife, you can't continue fooling around with those people. The matters of Her Highness the Princess are none of our business …"
The woman opposite him waved her hand and said, "I'm not going. Ruyi Workshop released a new perfume today. I'm going to take a look."
Wan Xu heaved a sigh of relief. As long as she wasn't going to ask for advice on behalf of the princess, it was fine. If she was going to Ruyi Workshop to buy perfume, then he would buy it …
His eyes widened. "There's a new perfume?"
The young imperial censor's face revealed a sorrowful expression. His salary had just been issued this month!
"Ai, forget it, forget it. If she wants to buy it, then buy it. As long as she doesn't get involved in that matter, it's fine. Anyway, I like the smell of it." He could only comfort her like this in his heart. He squeezed out a smile on his face and said, "Then … My wife, go early and come back early."
"You, are you going to leave just like this … never, never see each other again?" The young imperial censor hummed a tune as he regretted his diminishing salary.
"There's a new show in the brothel?" The woman didn't leave and looked at him as she asked.
"Ah? Oh, yes! "Wan Xu turned around and nodded his head.
"What's it called?" The woman asked again as she was about to board the carriage.
Wan Xu thought for a moment and said, "I think it's called … called … 'Peacock Flies Southeast'."
"Yes, 'Peacock Flies Southeast'." Wan Xu nodded his head and said with absolute certainty.
[Note: The tune Imperial Censor Wan is humming is an excerpt from the Yue opera 'Peacock Flies Southeast'.]
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