novelraw Chapter 342 Women's Supervisory Bureau
Chapter 342 Women's Supervisory Bureau
This autumn and winter is definitely an unforgettable season for Jin.
Two families were beheaded in succession, only a few months apart, and hundreds of lives were lost in the blink of an eye.
The bloody smell in the air lingered for a long time, and it also completely shocked the civil and military officials in the court.
On the day when the Qi family was beheaded, the crying was deafening.
The women who were sent to the Jiaosifang cried for the princess together. The miserable scene frightened all the officials. Everyone in the court was in danger, and their hearts were palpitating at the cruelty of the princess's heart.
Yan Li ignored all these.
However, since then, the decadent atmosphere among the powerful and wealthy in Shengjing has almost been swept away. The dandy boys who used to say "women are born lowly" have even visited brothels less frequently, respected their wives at home, and no longer scolded and humiliated concubines.
All activities involving insults to women were quietly cancelled, and even more exaggeratedly, some people became gentler to their own maids.
Although there is a feeling of "a frightened bird", this exaggerated situation will not last too long, but the overall atmosphere has indeed improved.
For women, this is obviously a good thing.
Yan Li took advantage of the situation and held a special flower-viewing party in the Princess's Mansion. Many people were invited, most of whom were young ladies who had married and were legitimate daughters of officials.
All the women gathered in the garden. From a distance, the women in various jackets and skirts were bright and lively, and they felt like they were attending a flower show.
However, it was not for flower viewing, but to give them some confidence to live for themselves.
With the sound of "The Princess is here", all the women gathered together and saluted respectfully.
"No need to be so polite." Yan Li said calmly, "I invited you to the Princess's Mansion today because I have something to say to you in person."
In the huge flower hall, the maids set up tables and desks, on which were placed exquisite tea and snacks.
Yan Li walked over and sat down, and motioned for the women to sit down at will.
"Today, there are quite a lot of people invited. I don't know most of them, and I don't know how to understand you." Yan Li looked at the many women in front of him and smiled faintly, "The words I am going to say are not directed at anyone."
The women were slightly shocked and lowered their eyes: "Please ask the Princess to give instructions."
"No need to be so reserved." Yan Li's voice was calm at this time, not as fierce as in the court, "Recently, I have assisted the officials of the Ministry of Justice and the Ministry of Rites to revise some laws and regulations involving the officials' homes. Since I can't personally understand the temperament of your husbands, I want to set up a Women's Supervision Bureau starting from today."
Women's Supervision Bureau?
Everyone was slightly surprised and couldn't help whispering.
"It's normal for couples to quarrel, and it's normal for the mistress to manage the concubines. I won't interfere in your family affairs." Yan Li picked up the teacup and sipped the tea slowly, "But I won't sit idly by when it comes to things that are not allowed by the law."
Everyone soon quieted down, looking at Yan Li involuntarily, listening carefully.
"I hope that the legal wife can be respected by her husband, and the wife also sincerely respects her husband, and the concubines respect the mistress and serve the husband... Every family has its own rules. I have no right to interfere, and I have no interest in interfering, but the behavior of taking human life lightly like before must never happen again."
The women nodded when they heard this, and this law was reasonable.
It happens from time to time that concubines in the inner house of high-ranking officials are inexplicably killed and tortured, and sometimes a life is lost quietly.
Although a concubine's life is worthless, anyone with a bit of humanity, even if a little harsh, would not take killing as a daily routine.
Yan Li took in everyone's reactions and continued, "If a concubine makes a mistake, she can be punished by the mistress, but the mistress must be fair. If she spreads a reputation of being selfish and mean, it will also affect the future career of your own husband and children."
As soon as this sentence came out, the women present began to react differently, probably thinking of their mothers or mothers-in-law.
Some were dignified, some frowned, some were uneasy, and some nodded slowly.
Yan Li still didn't know: "It's their freedom to drink and drink tea among the rich and powerful, but the vulgar behavior of openly humiliating women, using beauties as prizes, and even openly changing concubines must never happen again."
After a slight pause, Yan Li looked around at the people present: "I hope that everyone present here can do their best to restrain the words and deeds of their families, husbands, brothers, and younger brothers within their own ability in the future, and develop good habits and customs."
After the voice fell, the women responded in unison: "Please rest assured, Princess, I will keep it in mind."
Although their words don't carry that much weight at home, they will always care about their brother's career.
"Thank you for your cooperation." Yan Li smiled lightly, "A person's knowledge and ability are important, but morality, mind, and temperament should not be ignored. In the future, when selecting officials for imperial examinations, people with bad morals will never be selected. If selfish, greedy, and dirty people get into the officialdom, it will be a disaster for the people - I hope you will remember this."
The women were shocked and had to keep this in mind.
For the careers of their parents, brothers or husbands, they must be more careful to remind them, and never let them do things they shouldn't do or say things they shouldn't say.
Didn't you see that the arrogant Qi family died so quickly?
Thinking of this, the women hurriedly responded docilely and respectfully, and no one objected.
Yan Li knew very well that most of the mistresses were carefully trained from childhood, and most of the legitimate daughters present would become mistresses in the future.
They understood the importance of a peaceful and stable home.
If you want to improve the status of women, you can't rely on men alone, you need women to cheer themselves up.
Starting with the legitimate daughters of each family being the mistress of the house is the most effective way.
Because once the law prohibits the use of human lives and humiliating women, they will consciously supervise and dissuade their husbands from doing these things.
If they cannot tolerate concubines, they can teach, reprimand, punish and set rules within a reasonable range, but if the behavior is excessive, they will also consider whether it will spread a reputation of being mean and affect the future career of their husbands and their children.
As long as people have their own scruples, their behavior will naturally be slightly restrained.
In the next half month, Yan Li discussed the revision opinions of many unreasonable articles with the ministers of the Ministry of Rites and the Ministry of Punishment, and included the most appropriate plan at the time into the law.
It is impossible to eliminate the accumulated problems in one day, so we have to change them gradually. In the long years to come, these are the achievements recorded in history.
There may be mixed praises and criticisms, and some people may hate her to the core.
But she has a clear conscience.
Time passed by in a hurry, and it was November in a blink of an eye.