Chapter 79 Forbids Foot Binding and Abolishes Hair Shaving
"vomit--"
The courtiers guarding the main hall suddenly noticed that several princes and officials who came out of the side hall were pale and unable to stop gagging. What had happened to them?
"How is everyone?"
Wang Qin stood at the entrance of the side hall, smiling and asking a few words of concern, "Do you need a change of clothes?"
Yunxiang waved his hand, trying to shake off the images in his mind, and asked with a wry smile, "Just tell me, what else does the Emperor want to do?"
Wang Qin bowed and replied, "His Majesty said that after all the princes and officials have finished reading, if there is nothing else to discuss, they may enter the Hall of Mental Cultivation to meet the Emperor."
"Let's go and see what the Emperor is up to."
Yunzhen took the lead and walked at the very front. If you still can't see anything wrong with him, then he must be out of his mind.
The "not-so-bright" Yun tugged at Yun Tang's sleeve, "Why is Fourteenth Prince so agitated? The Emperor is still ill."
Yun Tang, who had the most slender horses in the manor, reacted the most, his face still pale and disgusted. But upon hearing Yun's words, he was speechless; the tenth prince really had only grown old, not wise.
"You... never mind, just go with me."
Yunzhen led the way, followed by Yuntang, who helplessly pulled the bewildered Yun. Yunsi, Yunxiang, and Yunli stood side by side, their faces revealing a hint of understanding. Behind them followed Zhang Tingyu, Nian Xiyao, and Ortai, who seemed to be deep in thought.
Under the watchful eyes of the court officials, the group entered the Hall of Mental Cultivation.
"Greetings, Your Majesty. May Your Majesty be well."
Upon entering the hall, they saw the Emperor, dressed in casual clothes, standing tall and elegant before the imperial desk, seemingly writing something. Everyone except Yun wore expressions of "I knew it."
"Get up, how are you feeling?"
Upon hearing Hongli's question, everyone couldn't help but smile wryly.
Thinking of the sight of those bound feet untied inside the side hall, many people couldn't help but feel nauseous.
Seeing that no one spoke, Hongli put down his pen and asked with a smile, "Isn't it beautiful?"
The expressions on their faces were almost uncontrollable. Yun, in particular, looked like the sky had fallen and immediately shouted, "What's so beautiful about it? It makes me want to throw up my dinner from last night. Luckily, I don't have any women with bound feet in my household. If you ask me, how can Han people say that bound feet are the most beautiful thing?"
Yun's words resonated with many, but they also stung several people. Especially Zhang Tingyu, a pure Han Chinese, who felt that after so many years of hard work, his reputation had been ruined overnight!
"Yes, how could you possibly say that?"
Hongli revealed a dangerous smile, "Last night, this woman climbed into my bed and took pride in her bound feet, so naturally I will invite you all to have a look!"
Everyone was shocked. They felt disgusted when they saw it themselves, but when they learned that the Emperor had also seen it, they were furious. They felt that the Emperor's innocence had been tainted, and they instantly understood the Emperor's desire to vent his anger.
"Absurd! Insolent!"
Seeing the men's anger, Hongli sneered and continued, "There's something even more absurd. This girl comes from the Xilin Gioro clan, a bondservant family. They say her family heard that foot binding makes it easier to get married, so they bound her feet from a young age. I had no idea that this Han Chinese trend had spread to the Manchus!"
When Hongli lost his temper, everyone knelt down, especially Ortai, who knelt even louder. There was no way around it; after all, he was also from the Xilin Gioro clan. Even though the other party was just a bondservant, they shared the same surname, and he was genuinely worried about the Emperor's wrath.
"Why are you all kneeling? Get up."
Hongli's attitude softened again, making it impossible to tell what he was thinking.
Yinzhi was the first to understand the emperor's thoughts. After getting up, he immediately replied, "Whatever Your Majesty commands, I will do my utmost to share Your Majesty's burdens."
"We will obey His Majesty's orders," Yunxiang and Yunli echoed.
After them, Yunzhen, Yuntang, and Yunye expressed their opinions without hesitation. The remaining three, Zhang Tingyu, Nian Xiyao, and Ortai, exchanged glances, knowing that the emperor must have something important to do by laying the groundwork for this long, but could they refuse?
A Han Chinese, a member of the Han Army Banner, and a member of the Xilin Gioro clan—not wanting to incur the Emperor's wrath, he naturally had to obey the Emperor's orders.
Regardless of whether the palace maid actually slept with the emperor or whether she was truly from the Xilin Gioro clan, since the emperor had spoken, they had no choice but to accept it.
"As Your Majesty commands."
Hongli curled the corners of his mouth and said softly, "Both Emperor Shizu and Emperor Shengzu issued edicts to prohibit foot binding, but it has been repeatedly banned. In my opinion, the punishment is too lenient."
Everyone held their breath, knowing that the main event was about to begin.
"All women born at this time are strictly forbidden from binding their feet; those who have already bound their feet must unbind them; those with bound feet are not allowed to participate in the imperial concubine selection. Those who defy the imperial decree to bind their feet will have their husbands or fathers flogged eighty times and exiled three thousand li; if the women in their families have bound feet, their students will be barred from participating in the imperial examinations, and officials and members of the imperial family will be stripped of their official titles and ranks. Those who cultivate and sell so-called 'thin horses' or 'bound feet' will be severely punished! The same laws apply to both Manchus and Han Chinese!"
It's clear the Emperor deeply detests foot binding; compared to the reigns of Emperor Shizu and Emperor Shengzu, this is a decisive move to abolish it. Presumably, after this imperial edict is issued, even those unwilling will dare to bind their feet for the sake of their families' future.
"I obey the decree!"
No one raised any objections; everyone bowed and accepted the order.
Hongli nodded in satisfaction. Very good. He treated everyone equally. He wasn't just loosening his grip on the feet; he believed he would soon have more people at his beck and call.
They are all his cattle and horses... no, his subjects. How can there be a difference between men and women?
"In addition, I have heard of a certain Zhang Tingyu."
Suddenly called out, Zhang Tingyu stiffened and bowed respectfully, saying, "Your subject is here."
"I have heard that the Han people are forcing women to bind their feet in order to vent their dissatisfaction with the shaving of their heads."
"Your subject dares not." Zhang Tingyu immediately knelt down. He was a Han Chinese, and he dared not question the national policy at this time.
Hongli touched the little downy hair that had grown on his head because of the rule against shaving during the mourning period, and nodded with a smile. Sure enough, he wasn't bald, so why was he wearing a crescent-shaped haircut? It looked awful and didn't match his charming and popular image at all.
The others watched him touch his hair, seemingly lost in thought.
As expected, Hongli quickly spoke up: "Both Manchus and Han are my subjects. The times have changed, and I no longer need to strengthen my rule in this way. Since foot binding has been banned, the rule of shaving one's head will also be abolished from today onwards!"
Everyone was startled. Yinzhi and Yinxiang exchanged a glance and suddenly realized what was going on.
The first half of the meeting was aimed at the three ministers, while the second half was aimed at the princes. The emperor was hoping they would overcome the opposition from the Manchu officials and the imperial clan.
The two men exchanged a smile. The Emperor wasn't wrong. Even if it was a national policy, times had changed, and it wasn't impossible to change it. Besides, it wasn't the first time; the Emperor wasn't trying to overthrow the Qing Dynasty, so of course they should go along with him!
"Your Majesty is wise! Your subject obeys the decree!"
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