Chapter 257: Reporting to the Princess of Qi
"I heard that things are turning upside down in your fiefdom, with men and women living together! Although our Dayu Dynasty is a new dynasty with a new atmosphere, it is not as pedantic as the previous dynasty, which insisted on strict separation between men and women.
But isn't it a bit inappropriate to drag all the girls out in public so abruptly?
What's more, I heard that there was an incident of hens crowing at dawn in your fiefdom. How can you suppress and belittle men for no reason?
Please, His Royal Highness the Prince of Qi, can you help us clear up some of our doubts."
"Heard? Where did you hear that? It's my own family affairs, I can do whatever I want, what does it have to do with you?"
Finally, he understood what the old man was saying, and Li Chengxiu was so angry that his nose almost got crooked.
"And if you want to talk, just say it. Don't point at the monk and call him a bald donkey in front of me! If you dare to talk nonsense again, I will..."
"Li Chengxiu, shut up!"
The prince was extremely angry and stared at him with an unpleasant look. Li Chengxiu, who had been scolded for no reason, was also filled with anger.
"Isn't this what he asked me to say when he questioned me just now? Why are you yelling at me? Didn't you hear how vicious his words were just now?"
He turned to look at Old Man Liu again, he was extremely angry.
"You don't need to be so insinuating here. I'm responsible for my own actions! If you have any problems, just come to me. I'm not afraid of you!"
Minister Liu was indeed a stubborn official. Since the King of Qi dared to confront him, he confronted him face to face.
"Since you've said so, then of course I can just point it out directly."
He held the sceptre in front of the emperor and began to make his report openly.
"Your Majesty, I report to His Highness the Prince of Qi for his lack of self-discipline. He even allowed the women in his family to meddle in the affairs of his fiefdom, causing widespread resentment throughout the Dongling Prefecture!
If this continues, it will not be a blessing for Dayu. I also ask His Majesty to order a thorough investigation of Princess Jiang of Qi for her sinister intentions of subverting the Three Bonds and Five Constant Virtues!
"You fart!"
"You fart!"
Two angry shouts rang out at the same time.
Behind the angry Prince of Qi, stood the enraged Duke Ling. With his tall, muscular figure and sullen face, Old Jiang commanded a powerful presence, both in stature and status.
He also walked out of the line very politely holding the tablet, bowed to the emperor and the crown prince, and then stared at the Minister of Rites.
"Lord Liu, please have evidence for your words and don't just speak without thinking! My daughter is devoted to her husband, raising her children, and managing the household. She has worked tirelessly to help His Royal Highness the Prince of Qi manage the household expenses!
Just ask all the colleagues in the court, which family's finances aren't managed by the mistress of the house? How come such a normal matter becomes so unpleasant when it comes to your mouth, Lord Liu?
"Take care of the household?"
Minister Liu snorted coldly.
"Duke Lingguo, are you really too modest? Your eldest daughter, now the Princess of Qi, is more than capable of managing household affairs.
She should be in charge of the political affairs of Dongling Prefecture!
"Excuse me, whose female members of the harem are allowed to bypass the head of the household to manage affairs? Is this considered normal? If this continues, is the Princess of Qi planning to replace the Prince of Qi as the Lord of Dongling?"
Minister Liu's words were truly heartbreaking. At the very least, the Emperor and the Crown Prince's expressions instantly darkened. Li Chengxiu, noticing the ominous expressions on his father and brother's faces, immediately responded.
"Why is this abnormal? I have the final say on major matters in my family, and my wife has the final say on minor matters. Isn't it still the case that men work outside and women work inside? How come you guys can do this, but it's not okay with me?
Besides, my wife can help me with some small things, which shows that she is smart and capable! The fact that I can easily eat a gigolo also shows that I am smart and capable!
Old Liu, are you jealous of me?"
Minister Liu, who already knew what kind of person the King of Qi was, didn't argue with him. He was just doing his duty by bringing the hidden danger to the king's attention. As for how to deal with it, that was none of his business.
"Your Majesty, a while ago, I received a petition from a branch of the Deng family in Dongling Prefecture, accusing the Princess of Qi of perverting the yin and yang of men and women and violating the Three Bonds and Five Constant Virtues.
It is said that Dongling Mansion has now become a country of women, and Princess Qi is in charge of all matters, big and small.
Not only did she unscrupulously allow women to show up and take charge of things, she also forced all the talented men to stay in the backyard and not let them show up!
Your Majesty, Your Highness, I do not understand what the Princess of Qi is trying to do. Please make a wise decision, Your Majesty."
The Minister of Rites's report angered both the emperor and the crown prince.
The king remained silent, and the ministers were frightened.
Jiang Huailiang glared at Li Chengxiu, who was about to say something, then quietly turned his head to look behind him. Sure enough, Qin Zhenning, who was standing behind Prime Minister Ji, walked out slowly.
"Your Majesty, Your Highness, I also have something to say."
The emperor looked at his handsome and elegant Minister of Personnel, and the corners of his mouth twitched silently. As I said before, every time he saw Lao Qin protecting Lao Jiang like he was protecting his own nest, he was so jealous!
"Go ahead."
"yes!"
Minister Qin was not only good-looking, but also well-mannered. He was the epitome of elegance wherever he went. Even just listening to him scold people was a pleasure.
"I have some doubts about what Minister Liu just said. How come what you heard is so different from what I heard?"
Minister Liu rolled his eyes and looked at this shameless guy who loved to pretend to be a gentleman, and spoke in a bad tone.
"I would like to hear the details and ask Minister Qin for advice."
“I don’t deserve your advice, but there are two things I’d like to confirm with you.
First, you said that hens crow at dawn in Dongling Mansion?
Have you ever explored the specific conditions of border towns? Dongling Prefecture, a garrison city on the border, was impoverished and plagued by constant wars in its early years. It's safe to say that every household in the prefecture was incomplete, and every livelihood struggled.
After the Princess of Qi arrived, she opened a workshop using the secret recipe passed down from the ancestors of the Xu family in Gaoyang to find a way to make a living for the local people.
Some families have no more male offspring left, leaving widows and orphans, old and young, struggling to make ends meet. As far as I know, even the late General Wuwei and the late Lieutenant General Huaihua were left without male offspring of their prime.
Only when she was forced to do so would the Princess of Qi recruit women to work, so that orphans, widows, the elderly and children could have at least a chance to survive.
So, what's wrong with that?"
The emperor's expression had eased a lot, and Minister Qin continued to ask.
"Secondly, you also said that the Princess of Qi suppresses and belittles men for no reason, and deliberately traps talented people in the harem, preventing them from making a name for themselves?
Minister Liu, I really don't mean to refute you. Are you sure you really thought about what you said before?
Qin Zhenning curled up the corner of his mouth into a sneer.
“Let’s not talk about how brave and adept at fighting our Prince Qi is, and what a man he is.
Just to say that there are officials from the entire Dongling Prefecture over there, are those civil and military officials all good-for-nothings?
From what I understand, they seem to be all men, right? If, as you say, they are all trapped in the rear courtyard, then may I ask if the danger at Dongling Mansion a while ago was resolved by you, the Minister of Rites, who sleepwalked there at night?"
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