After a moment, Mrs. Xie smiled slightly, nodded and said, "There is no comparison between these two paintings, which shows that Madam Chang is innocent."
It's like making some kind of extremely convincing certification, relying on one's own authority and looking down on others.
And stay out of it.
After all, she just proposed a way for the other party to prove himself, and never said any doubts or slanders, right? Chang Suining also smiled slightly: "Then thank you, Madam Jie, for presiding over this justice for the younger generation."
Madam Xie raised her chin slightly and said, "As long as Madam Chang is innocent, no one can frame her."
"I don't agree with this statement."
Mrs. Xie's eyebrows twitched slightly when she heard this, and she looked at the girl who refuted her.
Chang Suining asked seriously: "If the painting was really painted by me, but someone managed to steal it, how can I prove it with the painting?"
Things in this world are unreasonable. If this sentence was said before she painted to "prove herself", it would be regarded as an "excuse".
But now she is just "proving herself", so she can talk about it.
"If it was just a painting that was stolen, you'd be lucky. But if it was something close to your body that was stolen, your reputation would be ruined if it was shown to others, and you wouldn't even have a chance to explain. How would you deal with it?" The girl's voice was calm: "Do you want to die to prove yourself?"
At this moment, everything around became increasingly quiet.
Duan sighed.
Throughout history, there have been many women who were forced to die to prove their innocence.
But what will happen to them after they die? They cannot prove themselves, and still have to bear the criticism and stigma.
By chance, she succeeded and was given a reputation as a chaste hero.
But what’s the point if people are dead?
Seeing that the girl was waiting for her answer, Mrs. Xie asked calmly, "What do you mean by saying this, Madam Chang?"
Over there, looking at the old tutor who was about to fall asleep in a daze, the old servant was very disappointed - how could the tutor sleep at this age! He would cry later if he didn't appreciate such a good painting! Facing Mrs. Xie's question, Chang Suining said: "I just think that the so-called reputation is like a sharp sword to women. Even if they are just walking on the street, anyone can rush up and throw a basin of dirty water called infidelity, and then they will be forced to prove themselves -"
Master Chu moved his eyelids slightly.
The girl continued, "If they just said it casually, why do you ask them to prove it? If they deliberately slandered me, how can you ask them to prove it? So I think it is unreasonable to ask women to prove their innocence."
Master Chu suddenly opened his eyes.
The people around heard this and had different expressions on their faces.
Madam Xie's eyes turned a little colder, and she stared at the girl who spoke nonsense: "So, I was wrong to ask Madam Chang to draw a picture to prove her innocence today?"
"But what if I can't prove myself? Madam Xie hasn't answered my question yet..." Chang Suining glanced at the bewildered man, "What if this painting was stolen?"
This was the second time she asked this.
Mrs. Xie slightly pursed her drooping lips.
Things were not going well today, so she had to let this unruly little girl go for the time being, but she kept on holding on to her... How ridiculous! Did she really think that she could ignore her just because she painted a painting that was praised by others? The maid beside her said coldly, "Mrs. Chang is so aggressive, using this assumption to criticize my wife's behavior. I don't know how to treat guests?"
His voice of questioning was fierce and oppressive, causing many young ladies to change their faces when they heard it.
They were still young, but since they could remember, they knew that Mrs. Jie was a role model for women, like a mountain standing in front of each of them.
If the mountains get angry, it will be unbearable.
They subconsciously looked at the girl standing in front of the mountain, but saw that she just glanced at the maid.
"I'm talking to your master, why do you have the right to interfere? You are so unruly and ignorant of etiquette. Did you come from the palace?"
Chang Suining sneered in his heart, what are you talking about assumptions, if it was A Li who was here today, it would not be an assumption.
Her question shocked all the female relatives.
The maid's face turned red and white. She wanted to refute but had to endure it because of the implication in the other party's words.
Her wife is respected for her moral character, rules and etiquette. If she really carries this reputation of being unruly, it will only make people talk about her! Madam Xie sneered: "Madam Chang is so majestic that she actually disciplines my servants."
Chang Suining didn't take it seriously: "Madam Xie, you are joking. Since you are a role model for women, why do you need me to discipline your servants?"
Madam Xie's eyes darkened as she spoke word by word, "It seems that Madam Chang not only wants to discipline my servants, but also me—"
These words coming out of her mouth seemed to carry a thousand pounds of weight.
The atmosphere around was tense for a moment.
"What is discipline? Although I am not a teacher, I understand a little bit about being a teacher."
Chang Suining was calm as she looked at Mrs. Xie who was trying to crush her with her intimidation. "Mrs. Xie has lived in the palace for a long time and has been in charge of the affairs of the harem. She must be used to the trickery and deception, and must be used to the theft and framing. If that's the case, before Mrs. Xie proposed that I testify in public, did you really not think of the possibility that someone might have stolen the painting and slandered me?"
There were few fools present, and after she made such a statement, everyone could not help but think more about it belatedly.
Yes, Mrs. Xie has such a broad vision and insight... could she really not have thought of this?
But if Mrs. Xie offered to prove herself, which woman could refuse? "If one's conduct is upright, he will act without being told. If one's conduct is not upright, he will not obey even if he is told." Chang Suining looked at Mrs. Xie's gloomy face and finally said, "Since Mrs. Xie is respected as the teacher of women in the world, her every word and action is regarded as the truth. With such a great influence, she should think twice before doing anything, right?"
You could hear a pin drop.
The female members of the family were all shocked, as if they had never thought that one day they would hear someone say such words to Mrs. Jie!
Mrs. Xie's expression was so ugly that it could not be described.
Wei Miaoqing looked at Chang Suining in amazement.
She... How could she be so bold? Although I knew Chang Suining was bold enough, I didn't expect her to be so bold!
Moreover, Chang Suining was stared at by Mrs. Xie, but she remained calm... If it were her, she would have blushed and cried, no matter whether she was right or wrong, and she would not be able to say anything! Chang Suining looked at Mrs. Xie who was humiliated.
The other party was not of the same kind as her at all. She came here today with the intention of "teaching a lesson". She acted recklessly relying on her so-called prestige. The so-called rules and morals were only used to control and pressure other women.
She is just the wet nurse of the fool Li Bing, yet she dares to come uninvited and presumptuously want to teach her a lesson. How unlucky.
After adding fuel to the fire, he still wants to maintain a superior attitude and then leave unscathed. I'm afraid he is just daydreaming.
If this happens once, it will happen a second time. Today I am teaching her a lesson, and tomorrow there will be others to learn from.
He was relying on his prestige among the female members of the family. To prevent him from repeating the same trick, she might as well try to destroy his undeserved prestige.
In the silence, someone suddenly laughed out loud: "That's very well said!"
Mrs. Xie's face trembled, and she looked coldly, only to see that it was the disrespectful old Tutor Chu.
Master Chu stood up with the help of the old servant, with a happy smile on his face, pointing at Chang Suining: "You little girl, there is something in your head!"
Chang Suining looked at him with a smile, "Thank you for the compliment, Master."
Students all like to be praised by their teachers.
Looking at the girl's smiling face, Master Chu suddenly felt dazed for a moment.
He seemed to be a little dazed, and he seemed to see...
Madam Xie's cheeks trembled slightly, and she sneered through her teeth: "Today's poetry gathering was not in vain. Not only did I see Madam Chang's talent, but I also learned about her sharp teeth and good upbringing... The way the general's mansion teaches their daughters is really an eye-opener for me!"
Chang Kuo had long disliked her, but now he smiled instead of getting angry: "That's right, that's true. I, Chang Kuo, have no other skills except raising a good daughter! We have a lot of experience in the art of educating daughters, so I don't need Madam Jie to condescend to give us some advice!"
Hearing these words which were not convincing at all but rather were sarcastic to her, Mrs. Xie was so angry that she sneered and said, "That's very good." She didn't want to stay any longer, so she turned around and was about to leave while maintaining a proper demeanor.
She took note of what happened today!
She is just a little girl who doesn't know how to advance or retreat... She has plenty of ways to deal with it! Just based on what she said tonight, if the word of her lacking the reputation of an elder gets out, she will crush the other party!
Chang Suining looked at Mrs. Xie who was about to leave angrily and said, "Mrs. Xie, please stay."
Xie turned around and asked with a sneer, "Madam Chang, do you have any other advice?"
"This matter is not over yet." Chang Suining looked at the man who had knelt down trembling with fear and said, "Madam Xie, aren't you curious about who ordered this man to do this?"
Xie sneered, "How dare I ask about Madam Chang's affairs out of curiosity?"
"How can you know if you are not curious if you don't listen to it?" Chang Suining looked at the man and said, "Tell me, who prompted you to do this, and where did you get the painting from?"
The man was shaking like a sieve: "No... I didn't do anything! I just came to ask about the whereabouts of my nephew!"
Chang Kuo: "You still dare to deny it after all this! Do you know what crime you should be punished for using false words to slander others and fabricate false evidence to defame the reputation of officials' families?"
Yao Yi hesitated to speak.
Mrs. Xie sneered in her heart.
The man trembled and said, "Then...then you can take me to see the official...I am not wrong, the official will do justice for me!"
Chang Suining understood: "It seems that someone has told you that defaming a girl's reputation is not a crime."
The Dasheng Code continued the laws of the previous dynasty and also included the crime of defamation, but this crime of defamation was divided into three categories: the first was spreading rumors to confuse the public and disturb the people's hearts; the second was discussing the mismanagement of the government and making disrespectful remarks to the emperor or officials; the third was slander and false accusation -
Article 3 is only used in handling cases, while Articles 1 and 2 were once proposed to be abolished because the court needed to open up channels for communication. They often exist in name only. Whether the offenders will be punished depends entirely on political needs.
Therefore, defaming a woman's reputation is not really a crime worth mentioning at the moment.
At most, considering the bad influence he had, he would be taken to the government office, beaten with a stick, and thrown into a cell for ten days or half a month.
The reason why slandering a woman's reputation is so common is probably because there are no clear precedents and severe punishments.
The man obviously knew the seriousness of the situation and remained unmoved by Lao Chang's threats.
Then we have to find another way——
"Even if the government's laws cannot punish you for any serious crime, aren't you afraid of being retaliated against privately?" Chang Suining asked curiously.
The man's face changed: "You..."
Private revenge?
Although it is human nature... but can this be said directly? With so many people listening, this little girl dared to threaten him with revenge? "I'm afraid this opportunity will not be easily left to me." Chang Suining corrected and reminded: "Didn't you hear clearly how Zhou Ding died just now?"
A magical update from the daytime~
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