Chapter 401: Moving the Capital to Chenzhou (VII)

“Why are such ridiculous things happening?” Feng Jin was startled. He never cared about such mundane things, and he did not appreciate gossip. It was not strange that he had never heard of it.

After he finished, he heaved a long sigh of relief and said, “Luckily Changsheng isn’t a citizen of Zhongzhao.”

Too young and naïve!

Wei Jingxian looked at him skeptically. She saw a sense of longing in his eyes, and her heart softened. She let him hold Changsheng.

“My husband is relieved far too soon,” Wei Jiangxian said with concern. “The news has been slowly spreading throughout Hejian County. Moreover, the husband’s family demands the wife to submit based on the Four Self-Accomplishment Classics for Women. If they refuse, they are deemed unfaithful and impure. Wan’er is a good example…”

She swallowed the rest of her words back. Then, she looked worriedly at Changsheng, who Feng Jin had nestled into his bosom.

How she wished Changsheng was a boy. She would be much less concerned. The world was more forgiving towards men. There were many limitations for women from their birth, to their marriage, to childbearing.

In addition, there was now the Four Self-Accomplishment Classics for Women that burdened and chained them. She couldn’t imagine what Changsheng’s life would be like in the future.

Even though Wei Jingxian didn’t finish her sentence, Feng Jin was able to understand what she wanted to express. It was a shame the books had spread across Dongqing.

Dongqing inherited the previous dynasty’s, Daxia, open-mindedness. The higher a woman’s status, the more freedom she possessed.

With the introduction of the Four Self-Accomplishment Classics for Women books, the balance was offset. The noble daughters comparably had less freedom than the common women. How could that be?

“Fear not, our Changsheng will be an esteemed woman. No one can defeat her.” Feng Jin’s eyes darkened. They met Changsheng’s bright and clear eyes, and he smiled. He couldn’t help but play with her and added, “If all else fails, we will choose a husband for her in the future. We’ll see then who dares to bully her.”

Wei Jingxian looked at both father and daughter and laughed bitterly. “Even if we choose her husband, it does not solve the root of the problem. Can we watch over her forever, even when she is married? Even if we raise her to the age of 100, we’ll have 99 worries. We owe it to her from our previous lives; we have to pay back in this lifetime.”

Feng Jin sighed and said, “All in all, these harmful books should not continue to circulate. Otherwise, many noble daughters will be trampled on and despised. Daughters from aristocratic families are noble at birth. How can they be treated as lowly people?”

He was from an aristocratic family. If the teachings of the books were a threat to the common women, he would just frown; it would not have been a big deal to him. However, once it involved the women from scholarly families or had the potential to harm his female loved ones, how could he do nothing?

“But at present…” Wei Jingxian was extremely stressed.

Feng Jin entertained Changjing for a while until she frowned impatiently. She used her small fists to beat his fingers without any strength. It was as if she was touching them gently.

“Jingxian, have you forgotten about Lanting?” He kissed his daughter’s fingers. She had soft, mild skin and exuded the scent of milk. She caused the inner weariness in his heart to dissipate. “Lanting is not an average person. She will not hide her identity for the rest of her life. If she succeeds in her endeavor, who dares despise females? Don’t worry for naught. Take care of Changsheng well, and allow your body to recover. You don’t want to become ill.”

The carriage they were in was run-down, but both mother and child were healthy. The heavens took care of them, after all.

There was a knot in Wei Jingxian’s heart. She didn’t express it, but she showed her worries in private.

She digested Feng Jin’s words. Wei Jingxian almost bit her tongue in shock. “My husband, these words mean… Not unless…” she trailed off.

“It is too early to judge, but based on Lanting’s personality, she cannot keep still. She creates issues out of nothing.” In contrast to Wei Jingxian’s anxiety, Feng Jin was calm. He continued, “At present, the world is chaotic. The books will not stick around long. The people are destitute and homeless; the young are dying in a foreign land. If the females are to guard their chastity and remain as widows, how are they going to rebuild their lives efficiently?”

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If the Four Self-Accomplishment Classics for Women surfaced during peaceful times, it would have flourished. Feng Jin alone could not extinguish the hype.

Unfortunately, it surfaced during chaotic times. The earthquake alone sent many men to their deaths, and many women lost their family’s support. If people followed the books strictly, then women could not re-marry, and the bachelors would be left behind. There would be no continuity of life.

The ancient times were concerned with agriculture. Human resources were of utmost importance for productivity. Without humans, society could not develop.

Feng Jin had foresight, so he was not worried.

Unless Zhongzhao united and ruled the five countries, the books stood no chance of attaining widespread publicity in the next 100 years.

Thinking of which, Feng Jin tried to recall news regarding Zhongzhao. The edge of his lips curled into a smile. “Jingxian, don’t worry. Our Changsheng will be well in the future.”

Zhongzhao had always been the strongest amongst the five countries. Notably, in recent years, their Emperor was increasingly incompetent. There was instability in court, and the distant relatives and eunuchs did as they wished. In recent years, there was even an incident where the parties were chaotic. Zhongzhao, which was once mighty, was treading the path that Dongqing once took.

From that perspective, there was nothing to fear.

“Ah—Ya—Ya—” Changsheng started to jabber. Her soft hands grasped lightly at Feng Jin’s broad sleeves. Both father and daughter played happily together.

With his intelligence and quick-thinking, he resolved the family threat and pacified his daughter. Feng Jin felt accomplished as he got out of the carriage.

When the curtains of the carriage closed, his smile, akin to the wind in spring, disappeared. He bent to pick the book up from the floor and headed menacingly towards Qiguan Rang to settle the score. It was all right if he was lazy, but how could he use such tactics to endanger him?

Feng Jin was ignorant of the fact that Qiguan Rang was already seeking Jiang Pengji’s assistance.

“Have you read them all?”

“You have caused me much trouble. When Huaiyu comes by, you must help me.” Qiguan Rang inhaled the scent from his tea. He put down his teacup and added, “As for those books, it must be the notorious sexual fantasies of some senseless scholars. There is nothing worth looking at.”

He looked at her burning eyes. She remarked, “That is the brainchild of the Empress of Zhongzhao. She is a virtuous queen. How can people resist and not pursue it?”

Qiguan Rang was speechless. Jiang Pengji said with ill intentions, “I intend to buy a few more books in preparation for families who bear a daughter.”

Qiguan Rang listened to Jiang Pengji’s idea and asked, “Do you wish to learn how to rear a daughter?”

“No, I want to let them see for themselves. If everyone followed what the Four Self-Accomplishment Classics for Women says, then ten years from now, they will witness their daughters mistreatment in marriage.”

Qiguan Rang lifted the sides of his mouth. Jiang Pengji truly used her heart when she took risks.

“You don’t seem to like these books,” Qiguan Rang commented.

Jiang Pengji’s eyes twitched, and she said, “Of course I don’t. Do you?”

Qiguan Rang laughed and answered honestly, “Solely from a man’s perspective, I somewhat approve of them. After all, I’m just an average man. However, from the viewpoint of someone who has fathered a daughter, I could see how the books are harmful.”

Therefore, Jiang Pengji, who wanted to give the books to fathers of daughters, deserved to be beaten up!