"Every scholar's wife knows to respect her husband as if he were heaven. But in our family, it's all upside down!"
"The palace concubines are rebelling! Do they even dare to beat the emperor?"
"Where's the law? Your Honor, you must give me justice!"
Chen Dazhu refused to leave or let the yamen officials call for a doctor. He insisted on staying at the yamen's entrance, covered in wounds, causing a scene.
More and more common folk and scholars gathered around.
"According to the law, if a wife beats her husband, she should be imprisoned for a year."
"But it wasn't his wife who beat him. The emperor ordered Consort Liu to do it."
People debated, some reasonable, others disapproving of a woman beating a man.
"Chen Dazhu is right to make a fuss. The palace consort is in the wrong. What law did Chen Dazhu break? He just beat his own wife and asked for her sewing money!"
"When a woman marries into a man's family, she becomes his property!" Even some older women were saying this.
The Ji sisters felt chilled to the bone.
Women themselves were speaking up for men.
But there were many such older women, especially those with sons.
"If my daughter-in-law were this fierce, not giving money to my son and having him beaten, I'd divorce her immediately! What sin did we commit to bring such bad luck into the family?"
Chen Dazhu's wife, even standing next to Liu Chaniang, turned pale and seemed about to faint.
The palace maid Qiu Li immediately put her hands on her hips and retorted, "Old woman, why don't you ask why my lady beat him?"
"Chen Dazhu beat his wife. We all just saw it. My lady didn't hit him even once more than necessary. All his wounds are from his own evil deeds!" Qiu Li was quick to speak up.
"Isn't it normal to beat your wife?"
"Who hasn't done it a few times? I don't believe it."
"Those lazy wives need to be taught a lesson... they won't work unless you beat them."
A group of men immediately chimed in with their muttering.
They didn't dare confront Consort Liu directly, but they were brave enough to speak up for Chen Dazhu from the corners and hidden in the crowd.
Liu Chaniang closed her eyes. Only now did she understand why her daughter often said that progress in improving women's status was so slow.
For the women of Jing Country to stand up, there were still many obstacles ahead.
However, she wasn't afraid!
No matter how difficult this path was, she would continue to walk it!
A little progress today, a little more tomorrow, and one day they would achieve their goal!
With this thought, Liu Chaniang pressed her lips together and looked at Magistrate Li of the capital. "Not only did I beat him today, but I will beat him again tomorrow."
Chen Dazhu's eyes bulged.
Liu Chaniang stood her ground. "If he beats women again in the future and you don't imprison him or punish him for public assault, I will continue to whip him, carrying out justice on behalf of heaven."
"Bravo!"
"Well said, My Lady!" A group of seamstresses cheered enthusiastically, and Chen Dazhu's wife's eyes turned red with emotion.
The Ji sisters held hands, but as they looked at Consort Liu, their gazes were filled with admiration and worry.
If this matter escalated, even the Emperor of Jing Country might not be able to protect Consort Liu.
Moreover, this was Jing Country, and even their grandfather couldn't intervene.
The Ji sisters couldn't bear the thought of such a good lady being punished in the future. They were anxious for her.
"My Lady, you're putting me in a difficult position. According to the laws of the previous dynasty, there were few cases where husbands were punished for beating their wives," Magistrate Li lowered his voice, looking embarrassed and troubled.
Liu Chaniang snorted.
Nearby, a scholar spoke up clearly, "Magistrate, this student believes the Lady is not wrong. She has merely uncovered a flaw in our country's laws."
"Why should men and women not be equally punished for breaking the law? Why is a woman severely punished for beating her husband, while a man is lightly punished for beating his wife?"
The scholar's voice rang out, "This student believes this is not right and that the law should be amended."
"Hey, where did this fool come from?"
"It's laughable... he's studied himself stupid! Does he think he knows better than the honorable judge?"
"If you don't understand, don't talk nonsense. The law states that if a wife is unruly, she should be beaten to discipline her." Not only commoners but also scholars stood up to argue.
"This means that if a wife is fierce and disobedient, the husband beating her is to educate her, to make her better! You're not married, so stop talking rubbish!"
Immediately, the student who suggested the law was flawed was heavily criticized and surrounded by scolding voices, becoming a pariah among the men.
Ji Qiuyue looked over, her eyes flashing, and tugged at her sister's sleeve. "Sister, isn't that the fool we made a bet about?"
Ji Chunyue looked and was stunned.
The one speaking up for the injustice against women was indeed that fool with the birthmark on his forehead, Zheng Qiru.
"I didn't expect it, Miss. He's not so bad after all," even the maid Yuan couldn't help but remark.
"Magistrate, please consider what this student has said," Zheng Qiru bowed respectfully.
Before Magistrate Li could speak, people nearby were already spitting at Zheng Qiru.
"Go away, go back to your books!"
"The imperial exams are coming up, why are you causing trouble?"
"What kind of person is he? No wonder he can't find a wife!"
"He must have a grudge against someone!"
The Ji sisters' chests heaved as they listened, and seeing Zheng Qiru's face turn red from the insults, they felt angry and sad for him.
Liu Chaniang also noticed this scholar and was about to speak when a fast horse approached from afar.
The officer on the horse dismounted and quickly walked to the Magistrate's side.
"Is there news from the Ministry of Justice?" Magistrate Li's face lit up when he saw him.
Fearing the situation would escalate and involve the Emperor and the Lady, making it difficult to resolve, he had sent someone to urgently find the Minister of Justice earlier.
Now that the messenger had returned, Magistrate Li felt he was finally saved.
"Did the Minister of Justice say how to handle this?"
The officer nodded quickly, but his expression was peculiar as he whispered in Magistrate Li's ear.
"What's the verdict? Magistrate, you must do justice for this commoner!" Chen Dazhu lay on the ground, covered in wounds, moaning and groaning.
But as soon as he finished speaking, he saw Magistrate Li's face change dramatically after hearing the messenger's words.
Chen Dazhu sensed trouble and his eyes darted around. He immediately threatened, "Magistrate, if you can't make a decision, this commoner will go cry at the gates of the Ministry of Justice tomorrow—"
"Silence!" Magistrate Li's expression turned black as he shouted angrily at him.
"Guards, immediately imprison this wife-beater Chen Dazhu!"
"!"
"???"
"What?"
"Huh? I'm the one who was beaten, yet I'm being imprisoned? Magistrate, haven't you got it wrong?" Chen Dazhu could hardly believe his ears.
Magistrate Li's expression became even more grim. He quickly turned his gaze to the onlookers outside the yamen.
"The Emperor has heard of this matter."
"He is greatly shocked. In the palace, he never knew of the violent habit of men beating their wives in the common world."
"Your Majesty, Zhang Wei, the Minister of Justice who spoke on behalf of Chen Dazhu, has been severely punished. He's been dismissed from his position pending investigation and fined twelve months' salary."
With these words from the magistrate, the men and old women causing trouble on the street suddenly fell silent, as if their throats had been gripped.
Even Chen Dazhu himself was stunned into silence.
"What? Someone's being investigated for speaking up for Chen Dazhu?"
The magistrate's face remained somber as he turned to Chen Dazhu. "Because of you, the Emperor has learned about the precedent of leniency or even acquittal in cases of husbands beating their wives."
"He has harshly criticized the Ministry of Justice and the criminal justice system for their unfairness!"
"He has ordered the Ministry of Justice, the criminal courts, and all local magistrates to review past cases immediately and re-examine every instance of wife-beating."
"And to draft new regulations, temporarily sentencing these cases the same as when a woman beats her husband."
"!"
"...!"
The magistrate looked at the crowd. "Everyone, the Emperor is deeply pained, but thanks to Imperial Consort Liu discovering Chen Dazhu's misdeeds, he was able to correct this error in time. He will now ensure justice for all oppressed women in the country and rectify the laws of Jing Country."
After speaking, the magistrate gave a signal to his subordinates.
Chen Dazhu was immediately thrown to the ground, instantly surrounded by other men.
"Damn you, Chen Dazhu, you idiot!"
"Why did you have to beat your wife in front of Imperial Consort Liu? Now we can't beat—ahem."
A flurry of punches and kicks rained down on Chen Dazhu.
The commotion startled the Sisters of the Ji Family.
The Emperor of Jing Country admitting to a mistake?
Ensuring justice for all women in the country?
From now on, men in Jing Country wouldn't be able to beat their wives and daughters at home.
The Ji sisters were overwhelmed, unable to put their feelings into words.
"Miss Ji, we meet again!" Zheng Qiru, seeing that the matter was resolved, felt greatly relieved. Turning around, he spotted the Ji sisters and his eyes lit up with joy. "Are you alright?"
"Have you really decided about joining the youtiao shop?"
These words caught Liu Chaniang's attention, her gaze suddenly shifting towards them.
"Are you the... ahem." Liu Chaniang almost blurted out her daughter's nickname for the sister duo.
"Are you the young women who want to join the breakfast shop?"
Liu Chaniang smiled warmly at the Ji sisters. "Would you like to have a chat with me about it today?"
The Ji sisters looked at the gleaming golden dragon whip in her hand, noticing the bloodstains from publicly flogging the abusive husband. They observed her upright posture, and a surge of passion welled up in their hearts.
"We'd be honored, Your Highness!"