such as Yue Linyuan

He Jingwen, Shangshu of the Ministry of Punishment, Wang Ren, Zuodu Yushi of the Metropolitan Procuratorate, and Ruan Xing, Minister of Dali Temple, were summoned to the palace to have an audience overnight.

When the three of them entered the palace and arrived outside the Hall of Mental Cultivation, they saw the chief assistant, Si Yuanting, also outside the hall, with a serious expression on his face.

Because everyone has arrived, Wang Zhong was about to enter the interior to communicate, but he saw Si Yuanting signaled to wait later.

"The three adults were suddenly summoned to the palace for an audience. They must have some doubts in their hearts, and they don't know why." Si Yuanting's eyes as calm as water passed by the faces of the three people. Seeing the three people looking at each other, he felt a little uneasy, and said bluntly: " Your Majesty's summoning this time is for the laws of the Daheng Kingdom, and His Majesty intends to reform the existing laws."

As soon as the word "reform" came out, the expressions of the three courtiers all changed.

Throughout the ages, how serious the reform is, no matter whether it is successful or not, it will cause huge shocks in the court and the country.

"My humble servant, can you tell me, Sir Si, what aspect does Your Majesty want to carry out reforms?" The one who asked was Dali Temple Minister Ruan Xing. He had also received help from Si Yuanting before.

Si Yuanting did not answer this question directly, but said: "Before the three adults enter the palace, Si has a question that I want to ask the three adults, and I hope the three adults can tell you frankly." Looking at the three people in front of him, Si Yuanting Although his expression was flat, he exuded an inexplicable sense of oppression. After a short pause, he asked, "What do the three adults think about the female abduction case that the Ministry of Household Affairs used power for personal gain to cover up the sky with its hands?"

It has been a year since the case, why is it suddenly brought up now?

The three of them who felt the pressure from Si Yuanting's body did not dare to answer casually, Wang Ren thought for a while before replying cautiously: "The woman's abduction and trafficking case involved a lot of people, and because of the collusion between officials and businessmen... "

"I don't need to talk about the scene. Si just wants to know if the three adults were angry at the persecution suffered by the female victims in the case." What Si Yuanting wanted to know was not the superficial ones, but to be sure , Whether the person who holds the criminal law in his hand has the people in his heart.

Common people, men are common people, and women are also common people. When the common people are persecuted, if the hearts of the officials are not touched, then the justice, fairness and justice that the common people pray for will no longer exist.

"Master Si, this minister is in charge of reviewing criminal and prison cases across the country. For hundreds of thousands of cases, if this minister wants to empathize with all the victims, it will be difficult for him." Ruan Xing understood Si Yuanting's point of view. In other words, he no longer beat around the bush, but responded bluntly: "The experience of the victimized women is indeed regrettable, but I believe that this is not only a problem for officials, but also the trend of the world."

"Trends of the world." Si Yuanting lightly chewed the last four words Ruan Xing said in his mouth, then glanced at He Jingwen who had been silent all this time: "He Shangshu, don't you have anything to say?"

He Jingwen has always been a man of few words, even though he is the Secretary of the Ministry of Punishments, he is most afraid of causing trouble, and he rarely speaks in court on weekdays, and because he is afraid of causing trouble, he is also the best at trying to figure out what others say.At this moment, being called by Si Yuanting, he hesitated before replying: "Lord Si, I... I am dull, and my views are superficial. It's just that if your majesty wants to change the law for women, I think it's inappropriate. The case of women's abduction and trafficking is implicated." As far as I can tell, my ministers carefully looked through the files, and among them, apart from abduction and trafficking, there are also a large number of women who were sold by their fathers in exchange for money, and women who were not married were married to their fathers and married to their husbands. Therefore, these people have not been sentenced. What's more, the world Many do not raise women, not to mention humble ministers, even the civil and military officials of the Manchu Dynasty, all the scholars who read sage books, and even the most ordinary peasants, think that there is absolutely no reason to reform the law for women. History can prove that women are a disaster, and if they are not restrained, they will only lead to the collapse of etiquette and the destruction of the country."

These words were probably what Wang Ren and Ruan Xing thought in their hearts. After He Jingwen finished speaking, although they did not express their views, they could vaguely see the meaning of approval from the eyes they looked at He Jingwen.

Si Yuanting stared at He Jingwen for a long time, and said, "It's rare for He Shangshu to express his views so straightforwardly."

It was the end of the Xu Dynasty, the lights inside the Hall of Mental Cultivation were brightly lit, but there was only dim light outside the hall, and they were standing outside the Hall of Mental Cultivation talking, and they could still see the white mist exhaled from their mouths; Covered, the pure white from the sky is not polluted, and it is so conspicuous in the dark under the moonlight.

This large piece of snow may be clean water that can wash away the filth, but it may also be just a huge fig leaf.

"Three adults, do you ever think that it is wrong to be born a woman?" After a long silence, Si Yuanting asked, but shook his head again, "The three adults don't need to answer this question. Why does His Majesty want to change the law, Si Mou, as the chief assistant, must advise and support. The reason why people are human is because they have established the most basic moral values ​​and the concept of right and wrong, and the law is a more powerful constraint on moral right and wrong. The laws of the Heng Kingdom are the rules of the country and at the same time protect the people. Women are also people and should be protected. If the laws are missing, why can’t they be made up? Si has a disability and has been despised for more than [-] years. Tortured. Women have been belittled, scorned and even ravaged for thousands of years, but no one wants to change the past. Si wants to know the meaning of trampling on the weak to show his nobility, such a powerful superiority. Women, eunuchs , use our pain to make others happy, and regard us as things that can be spoiled at will, but the regime change and the country's collapse will blame us to shirk responsibility. But this is actually the trend of the world, and no one thinks It's a shame."

He used to be beaten and scolded by concubines and even eunuchs of higher rank than himself. He was also an eunuch who was abused by the previous emperor and scolded by thousands of people. All kinds of things, falling on him with whips, scolding and looking down on him, no one helped him.He understands human nature too well, and also understands the mentality of people of every class to gain pleasure by bullying and bullying people who are lower than himself, so he also knows better that if he wants to speak out for the people at the bottom, Trying to reach out to them, how much resistance will be encountered.

Layer after layer, all people with higher status than them will oppose, because they all believe that if their authority and face are damaged, their status will also be shaken, and no one can bear the loss of their rights and interests. The lower man destroys.

The atmosphere was awkward and heavy. After Si Yuanting's words, the three of them were speechless, not knowing what to say.

In the end, it was Ruan Xing who said dryly: "Master Si, you are no longer a eunuch, and no one will disrespect Mr. Si in the future."

Such a sentence did not ease the atmosphere. Si Yuanting glanced over coldly, his bottomless eyes were as cold as a sharp knife: "Master Ruan knows how everyone thinks of Si. Si is not himself. Complaining and abandoning oneself, whether it is falling into a disability or becoming a eunuch, it is not Si's fault, why should Si despise himself."

What you don't say on the surface doesn't mean what you think in your heart.

But there are strange stories in the world that there are people who are bullied who are obviously not at fault, but the evil consequences and stigma must be borne by the humiliated people.

Si Yuanting turned around and glanced at Wang Zhong, the eunuch who had been waiting for a long time immediately went inside to communicate, and then came out to invite several ministers outside the hall to enter the Hall of Mental Cultivation.

When entering the hall, Si Yuanting was the last one.

He is not opposed to the reform, but he is too aware of the situation and opposition voices, so he must be cautious.

Chu Yuezhi can carry out drastic reforms vigorously, but he must ensure that even if the result fails to meet people's wishes, the Daheng Kingdom will not collapse because of the failure of reforms, and Chu Yuezhi will not be regarded as a mediocre king because of this. .

It is difficult to walk in front of the world, because those who walk in the forefront are often not understood and accepted by the world.

That's why it is even more necessary for someone to protect these people who are walking too fast ahead.

In the Hall of Mental Cultivation, Chu Yuezhi was sitting behind the case. He knew that Si Yuanting had said something to the three ministers outside the hall, but he didn't pay attention to it.Although Si Yuanting did not agree with his decision to reform, he knew that Si Yuanting was not really opposed to this matter, but because he had too many concerns about this matter, so he did not give him a clear attitude.

In terms of right and wrong, he believes that Si Yuanting is consistent with him, because his three views and ideals originated from Si Yuanting.

"Three lovers, I must have already known roughly why I called you into the palace to have an audience." Chu Yuezhi put down the memorial in his hand after the three of them saluted him, and his face was illuminated by the candlelight. She was still a little pale, but those peach blossom eyes were shining brightly, "I intend to amend the laws and regulations of the Daheng Kingdom after the New Year's Ceremony."

Wang Ren exchanged glances with He Jingwen and Ruan Xing, and said, "I don't know what aspect you want to modify, Your Majesty?"

"The three lovers must have been troubled for a long time in order to give the appropriate punishment when trying the woman abduction case. Although the laws of the Daheng Kingdom impose heavy penalties on people, they are too general. Therefore, I plan to not only abduct and traffic women, children and grandchildren. At the same time, the relevant laws and regulations for the protection of women must be revised." Chu Yuezhi said while examining the changes in the expressions of the three courtiers, he sat on the throne, and before the three of them could speak, Their objections have been blocked: "I know that there has never been a precedent for women in the past, and I don't mind. I set a precedent from this dynasty."

In the laws of the past dynasties, there are punishments for women's crimes, and there are indeed special reductions for female criminals. However, if you study these criminal laws and regulations carefully, you can find that there has never been a law that clearly protects women's lives and personal bodies.

Because women are objects and property, but they have never been regarded as human beings.

"Whoever commits crimes such as rape, abuse, violence, and even murder against women will be severely punished; among the thirteen provinces and beyond, the crime of drowning female infants is prevalent, and this will also be included in the crime of homicide. Severe punishment. Those who humiliate and persecute the victim should also be severely punished." Chu Yuezhi stood up with his hands on the imperial case, and asked loudly and loudly: "The three lovers are all familiar with the criminal law. For example, it must be very clear that every existing law in the Daheng Kingdom was formally established after the lives and blood and tears of countless victims were buried. I would like to ask. How many innocent women must be victimized to establish a law that clearly protects women?"

He wanted to make a law, but it was just one law, and behind this law was a dry tomb made up of the bones of countless women in the past.

----

The author says:

All dynasties have imposed sentences on human beings. During the Qin and Han Dynasties, those who kidnapped and trafficked women were all sentenced to capital punishment.Those who bought it knowingly were "same crimes" and were sentenced to be punished; those who bought and resold without knowing it, after disfigurement, the male criminals were engaged in city building and the female criminals were engaged in hard labor of pounding rice.

Tang Dynasty law "Tang Shuyi" stipulates: the main criminal of human trafficking, no matter how many, will be hanged in public; those who do not report the knowledge will be exiled for three thousand miles; even neighbors will be sentenced to a hundred sticks!Carry on to the end, if one person commits a crime, the whole family will be implicated.

But now, the sentence is getting lighter and lighter. In fact, I really want to ask whether it is progress or regression.