Chapter 135 Rules are paramount
After dinner, Yan Cang held Chu Yunjin's hand and they took a walk in the garden of the Prince's Mansion.
A maidservant was carrying a lantern in front.
The garden appeared quiet and dim at night.
During the day, the weather was hot, and Chu Yunjin, being pregnant, was more sensitive to heat than the average person, so she could only go out for a stroll at night, then go back to take a shower and go to sleep.
Chu Yunjin remained silent for a long time before looking up at Yan Cang's face: "Yan Cang, I'm a little curious about what happened between my eldest brother and Young Master Shen. Can you tell me about it?"
"The Shen family is a distinguished family. Shen Jingbai's grandfather was the Grand Tutor of the current dynasty, a man of high moral character and prestige, with countless disciples." Yan Cang said in a gentle voice, "Shen Jingbai is the most intelligent of the Shen family's grandchildren, and also the grandson that Grand Tutor Shen is most proud of. He was a top scholar in the imperial examination at a young age, and his talent is extraordinary."
Upon hearing this, Chu Yunjin couldn't help but conjure up the image of a handsome and noble young man in her mind.
"When his affair with the eldest prince came to light, it caused a great uproar in the court. The emperor was furious, and Grand Tutor Shen was also shocked." Yan Cang said, recounting some of the information he knew. "At that time, I was still at the border. When I came back, I heard that the eldest prince had been flogged, and Shen Jingbai was also taken back to the ancestral hall by the Shen family and punished according to family law. He almost lost his life."
Chu Yunjin's expression changed slightly, secretly shocked.
Therefore, the matter between the eldest prince and Shen Jingbai was indeed shocking at the time, enough to cause deaths in the royal family and the Shen family.
Indeed, during the feudal imperial era, the system was strict, and the tolerance for unorthodox and heretical behavior was almost zero.
Rules are paramount.
Royal dignity and family reputation are far more important than the lives of two people.
Chu Yunjin guessed that if Shen Jingbai hadn't been the most outstanding member of the Shen family, and if Grand Tutor Shen hadn't shown favoritism towards this grandson, he might have become a corpse four years ago, and a lifelong, unspeakable disgrace to the Shen family.
But he survived.
Chu Yunjin found herself feeling a lingering fear for the danger they had faced—even though she didn't know these two people and had never even met them.
She asked gently, "Did you see them today?"
Yan Cang nodded: "Father wants them to enter the court and summons them to Chonghua Palace. The condition proposed by the eldest brother is that they get married."
Just like four years ago, nothing has changed.
Chu Yunjin was speechless, genuinely admiring the First Prince's courage.
Despite being imprisoned for four years, he not only refused to yield but also dared to negotiate with the emperor, truly a man of unyielding integrity.
"Yan Cang." Chu Yunjin stopped and looked up at Yan Cang seriously. "Putting aside other factors, can you accept the relationship between my eldest brother and Young Master Shen?"
Yan Cang remained silent for a moment, then said, "Yes."
Chu Yunjin asked in surprise, "Can you?"
“Hmm.” Yan Cang raised his hand and put it around her shoulder. “People only know what is most important after they lose something. My eldest brother has just fallen in love with someone. He has not committed any heinous crime. He should not be ridiculed and attacked by insignificant people, nor should he be bound by so-called systems. Although such feelings are not accepted by the world, his feelings have not affected anyone.”
Chu Yunjin gently hugged his waist: "I'm so glad to hear you say that."
The man she loves is a man of great vision and broad-mindedness, who will not be bound by outdated and rigid ideas. If he becomes emperor in the future, he will surely be a wise and magnanimous ruler.
Yan Cang didn't speak, but simply put his arm around her shoulder and quietly felt her softness.
Chu Yunjin's voice sounded particularly gentle in the night: "I think this kind of equal affection deserves respect because they haven't hurt anyone. On the contrary, those who wantonly keep male concubines and male prostitutes are the beasts who don't treat people like human beings. They rely on their high positions and power to trample on the dignity of the weak and vulnerable at the bottom of society in order to satisfy their special fetishes and enjoy the pleasure of humiliating people... Just like Wen Heyun before, they are the ones who truly deserve to die."
However, in such an era of imperial power, high-ranking officials and nobles had become accustomed to enjoying privileges.
They treat human life like dirt.
The rules and systems passed down for thousands of years are deeply ingrained.
If ordinary people encounter a righteous official, they can still seek justice.
However, it seems perfectly normal for people of "low social status" in brothels to be beaten, abused, or killed, even if they were not sold there voluntarily, and even if they were not of low social status but were victims.
However, it seems that few people take this kind of thing seriously.
Everyone assumed they were just "things," playthings for people to amuse themselves, and that they were dead and no one would sympathize with them.
What truly saddened Chu Yunjin was that even though she was fully aware of these things, she was powerless to change them.
There are always some corners in this world where the sun doesn't shine, and even the laws of the imperial court are powerless to reach them.
She sighed silently, unwilling to think about it anymore.
Overthinking only adds to your troubles.
The two did not linger in the garden for long.
I returned to my room around 7:45 PM.
After bathing and changing clothes, Chu Yunjin prepared to go to bed at 9:00 PM.
According to modern lifestyles, this is considered early to go to bed. In winter, one would probably need to be washed and ready for bed around 7 p.m.
Women in ancient times had few forms of entertainment. In the summer, it got dark late, so it was normal for them to go to bed at this time, since most people had to get up early.
Ordinary people have to get up early to work, and officials have to get up early to attend court.
The wife must get up early to serve her husband.
Although Chu Yunjin didn't have to get up early to serve Yan Cang, she was still not used to this kind of schedule.
What can you do if you're not used to it?
You can't stay up late to go out for barbecue, you can't go for a night run, and you don't have a phone or computer to watch dramas or chat.
Chu Yunjin couldn't help but sigh.
"What's wrong?" Yan Cang lay down beside her, reaching out to pinch her cheek. "What are you thinking about?"
Chu Yunjin looked up at him, wanting to share some modern language with him.
But even if I explained it, he probably wouldn't understand.
She actually wanted him to know about the 21st century, but once she started talking about it, she would inevitably have to explain a lot. He had been very busy these days and should get some rest.
She would share it with him slowly when she had more free time later.
"It's okay." Chu Yunjin leaned closer to him. "I'm sleepy, let's go to sleep."
Yan Cang smiled slightly, gazing at her face under the light, his eyes filled with a tenderness that could almost drown one.
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