Chapter 467 - To Show Filial Piety
Sheng Li was leaving for the court when Xing-Fu informed him about General Xiao. "Your Highness, General Xiao is waiting for you in the chamber."
"Is it an urgent matter?" Sheng Li asked him. Xing-Fu looked around before going closer to the Crown Prince. He whispered in Sheng Li's ear and stepped back.
Sheng Li knitted his brows and hastened towards his chamber. Xiao Zhan heard the footsteps of the Crown Prince and stood up from the floor mattress. "Greetings to Your Highness," he gave a fist and palm to the Crown Prince, who took his seat. Xiao Zhan then sat down.
"What happened? Where are Brother Nianzu and his wife?" Sheng Li asked Xiao Zhan.
"Your highness, they are living in Village Xiandong. Prince Nianzu left the town as he thought he might get caught. However, something happened in the village," Xiao Zhan paused, and lines of frowns formed on his forehead.
Sheng Li realized something worse had happened to Nianzu. "Speak," he told Xiao Zhan.
"Prince Nianzu's wife is harassed by the Village Headman," Xiao Zhan replied.
"What?" Sheng Li knitted his brows and clenched his fists. "Did you take action?" Sheng Li queried. Xiao Zhan nodded and narrated the Crown Prince's entire incident that he witnessed in Xiandong.
"Brother Nianzu might have been broken. Make an arrangement for me and the Crown Princess. We will head to Xiandong after five days," Sheng Li ordered Xiao Zhan.
"Huo Jin is staying with them, Your Highness. He expressed his desire to stay with them," Xiao Zhan asserted. Sheng Li hummed. He was happy that Huo Jin volunteered to stay with them. Moreover, Huo Jin had special respect towards Nianzu after he saved his life and changed his way of thinking.
However, Sheng Li had not expected that this kind of incident could occur in Xiandong with his Brother's wife. It made him realize that there could be many parts in the Han Empire where women might get abused and harassed daily. Sheng Li decided to put forward this issue in front of the Emperor and the Ministers in the Court.
"You may leave. You did a great job, Xiao Zhan," Sheng Li praised him, who thanked him. He stood up, bowed before the Crown Prince, and then left. After a while, Sheng Li also left for the Court.
In the Court, Sheng Li saw his Second and Third brothers. The First Brother still had not returned from Mount Jishi. The terrible weather might have made it difficult for him to return.
The three brothers greeted each other. The Court Ministers also gave greetings to the Crown Prince. Soon, the Emperor arrived at the Court. Everyone had lowered their heads until the Emperor took his seat on the throne.
Han Wenji looked at the scroll on the desk. It was already open, and the message was visible to the Emperor. "Appointment of a new Advisor," Han Wenji read and then murmured these words. Even the name was already recommended for the position of Advisor.
"Currently, I will not appoint any advisor," Han Wenji announced. Eunuch Jin took a step forward and put away the scroll after scrolling it up.
"Your Royal Majesty, I got information from a few villages of the Empire regarding the oppressive behavior of the Village Headmen towards its people. Mostly women and children suffered from such oppression. I request His Majesty to give orders to look into the internal matters of not only the villages but also the towns," Sheng Li urged politely.
"Such words are not suited from the mouth of the person, who never cared for the life of anyone," a Court Minister remarked. The Prime Minister intervened to not create a ruckus in the Court and supported the decision of the Crown Prince.
"Crown Prince, can we Ministers know what kind of oppressions are you talking about?" The Minister of Rites asked.
"It is about the harassment women usually undergo and the physical abuse which is done on the children as well," Sheng Li replied.
"Mostly, slaves are treated that way. We cannot change norms for them. Slaves are the possession of a master," the Minister of Personnel affirmed.
Sheng Li recalled how Hu Jingguo, Wan Ju, and Huo Jin had faced all those. Then, Chuntao had to suffer from that. The words of Xi Feng triggered Sheng Li.
"It seems Minister Xi does this with his slaves and even servants," Sheng Li affirmed.
"The Crown Prince shall be careful of his words," Xi Feng got enraged because of the Crown Prince.
"My late friends Hu Jingguo and Wan Ju had suffered physical torture from their masters. One reason they hated the Upper-classmen for a while. We do not even treat animals in that way. It is the bane for the Empire," Sheng Li affirmed.
The Court Ministers got against the Crown Prince. "Slaves are supposed to be treated that way. It seems the Crown Prince does not like the rules of the Han Empire. Your Majesty, we shall not look into such petty matters. Hu Jingguo and Wan Ju's loss are understandable to us. But the Crown Prince is turning emotional," Xi Feng pronounced.
Sheng Li chuckled and tilted his head to look at him.
"Crown Prince, we cannot abolish slavery as it is part of the Laws and Governance. It does not matter to us whether a master abuses his slave or praises him. Because it is his possession. We are no one to speak in the matter of a master and his slave. It is the duty of a woman, if she is a slave, to serve his master," Xi Feng proclaimed. It angered Sheng Li.
"Did the Crown Princess tell the Crown Prince to appeal for this in front of the Emperor?" Gao Ju questioned Sheng Li.
"Only the Crown Princess has problems with the established laws of our forefathers. A woman shall stay within his limits. We know that she is brave, with great intellect but it does not mean that she shall rule over us by preaching such things," Xi Feng asserted. Han Wenji found the Ministers were not happy with the Crown Princess. But what could be the probable reason, he wondered.
Sheng Li glared at them but kept himself calm. "Please be respectful towards the Crown Princess. I might take your tongues out." Sheng Li did not get afraid to say this to the Ministers in front of everyone.
"Your Majesty, the Crown Prince shall not preach the ideas of a woman in the Court. I urge his majesty to take away those special powers from the Crown Princess that his majesty has granted her," Xi Feng requested the Emperor, along with a few other Ministers.
"Women are supposed to show filial piety towards us men. However, with the Crown Princess-"
"Your Majesty, tell the Minister of Personnel to shut his mouth. I want to maintain the dignity of the Court. Otherwise, Minister Xi's head would have been laid on the floor," Sheng Li openly threatened the Minister of Personnel.
Shivers ran in their spines. However, Minister Xi did not stop. "I cannot expect anything less from the Crown Prince. If someone defies him; angers him, he mostly threatens.. If I get quiet today, then women might think of themselves as superior," Minister Xi Feng affirmed while gazing at the Crown Prince.