Lord Ji sternly asked, "Lu Hao, do you have evidence to accuse Wang Quanfu?"
Lu Hao faced Lord Ji, bowed, and said with pain, "Your servant is covered in injuries, and my daughter, Lu Man, is also covered in injuries. All of this was done by Wang Quanfu and his parents. I request the magistrate to personally send people to investigate. Furthermore, Wang Quanfu had an affair with Widow Li from Sanzhiyang Village, and Widow Li is five months pregnant. I implore the magistrate to thoroughly investigate!"
Ji Chenghe randomly selected two women from the applicants for the vacant positions and sent them into the room to examine the injuries on Lu Hao and Lu Man. He also selected a few other women to serve as witnesses.
After examining the mother and daughter's injuries, the women emerged with tears in their eyes.
One of the women respectfully reported, "Reporting to the magistrate, Lu Hao and Lu Man are injured all over their bodies, with not a single intact spot. It is truly shocking to behold."
The other women nodded in unison with solemn expressions.
Lu Xing and Lu Xiaosi were filled with heartache, wishing they could immediately step forward and pummel Wang Quanfu.
Ji Chenghe nodded and said, "Lu Hao, the injuries sustained by you and your daughter are indeed real. However, whether these injuries were inflicted by Wang Quanfu and his parents still needs to be verified. When I send people to Sanzhiyang Village to investigate Widow Li, I will also verify this matter. Rest assured, this official will provide you with a satisfactory explanation!"
"Thank you, Lord Ji!" Lu Hao, with tears in her eyes, bowed again.
Bai Sheng stepped forward, bowed slightly to the officials, and said with a serious tone, "Your Highness the Prince of Yu, Lord He, Lord Ji, this commoner has a humble opinion. I wonder if I may speak it."
"Speak!" the Prince of Yu immediately said. He particularly enjoyed hearing "Little Dark Face" reason, never knowing how her peculiar ideas originated, as they were always so different from most women.
Lord He also agreed, "Miss Bai Sheng, please speak without hesitation."
"We are all ears," Ji Chenghe said with a smile and a nod.
The women attending the recruitment, observing Bai Sheng's composure in every gesture, were filled with curiosity. Why was it that as women, her husband was so handsome and doted on her so much? Why did she show no fear in front of important figures like the Prince of Yu? Why, when speaking in front of so many men, was she not shy but possessed such presence?
After bowing again to the three men, Bai Sheng raised her voice and said, "In this vast world, all things possess the duality of Yin and Yang. Heaven is Yang, and Earth is Yin; the sun is Yang, and the moon is Yin; the rainbow is Yang, and its companion the secondary bow is Yin; the male is Yang, and the female is Yin; the south side of a mountain and the north side of a river are Yang, while the north side of a mountain and the south side of a river are Yin.
'The succession of Yin and Yang is the Way; continuing it is goodness; completing it is nature.'
Only with the balance of Yin and Yang can all things be vibrant and healthy. If Yin and Yang are imbalanced, illness, premature aging, and even death will ensue.
In our Great Xia Kingdom, the laws stipulate that the husband is the pillar of the wife. This is to ensure that the husband undertakes the responsibility of supporting the family, guiding and leading the wife, educating her, and supporting her, thereby enabling a family to possess a healthy and upward-looking demeanor.
However, this does not mean that a husband, as a man standing tall and upright, can, by virtue of the position granted by the court, or by his greater physical strength, beat his wife, act as he pleases, and do as he wishes!
Across the entire Great Xia Kingdom, how many women marry and follow their husbands, laboring diligently every day, yet live worse than cattle? They endure oppression from their mothers-in-law, beatings from their husbands, and when wronged or harmed, they have nowhere to turn for redress!
Because they are women by birth, regardless of whether they are right or wrong, everything is their fault, while their husbands and in-laws are never at fault!
Therefore, they can only bow their backs, grit their teeth, and silently swallow all their suffering. Many women, unable to bear it any longer, have no choice but to end their own lives to escape such unbearable fates. For a nation, for a dynasty, this is a typical imbalance of Yin and Yang!"
As Bai Sheng spoke, almost all the women present were silently weeping, some even sobbing softly. The expressions of the Prince of Yu and the other two officials were also extremely unnatural.
Bai Sheng continued, "My husband's cousin, Lu Hao, and her daughter, Lu Man, have suffered greatly in Wang Quanfu's home. Today, they were able to leave unharmed because they encountered the understanding and benevolent Prince of Yu, the kind and generous Lord He, and the fair and just Lord Ji. Had they not encountered these three lords today, then the Great Xia Kingdom would have gained two more departed souls!
For the women of ordinary families in our Great Xia Kingdom, who have no background or power, and no support from their maiden families, marriage is often like jumping into a fiery pit. If such a vicious social trend of arbitrarily trampling on wives and daughters is allowed to continue, then who among the women of this world would dare to marry and have children? It would be better for them to shave their heads and become nuns for peace and quiet!
Our Great Xia Kingdom already places great importance on population growth. We cannot allow those scoundrels who abuse their wives and daughters to hinder our dynasty's population growth. Only then can the Great Xia Kingdom have harmonious and happy households, flourishing families, and a prosperous national strength."
After Bai Sheng finished speaking, all the women present were deeply moved, with sobs erupting one after another.
They had lived for so many years, and no one had ever stood on their behalf, to voice their inner grievances. No one had ever considered their feelings. They even thought of themselves as mere breeding tools for their husbands' families, as domestic servants, or as working beasts.
"Well said!" Lu Ye suddenly burst into applause, and then all the women joined in.
The Prince of Yu and the other two exchanged glances and also raised their hands to applaud.
"Big Madam, what you said is truly wonderful!" Liu Shi exclaimed emotionally, with tears streaming down her face.
"Big Madam, well said!" Granny Zhong wiped away her old tears. Although her husband had treated her well during his lifetime, her mother-in-law had been so sarcastic and malicious, unlike a human.
Lu Ye walked to his wife's side, took her hand, and held it tightly. The corners of his mouth curved upwards, and his handsome eyes could not conceal his immense admiration and overwhelming pride.
Bai Sheng tilted her head back and winked playfully at him.
She knew that Lu Ye was giving her strength. Although the words she spoke today did not touch the court and laws of Great Xia, they pointed out the flaws in the provisions of the court, that is, the loopholes extended by policy. She wondered if the Prince of Yu would be angry.
After all, truly wise rulers who possess the magnanimity and vision for self-reflection are extremely rare.
The Prince of Yu looked deeply at Bai Sheng, his gaze unfathomable. He straightened his collar, adjusted his thoughts, turned to face the crowd, and said loudly, "Little Dark—Miss Bai Sheng, what you have said is absolutely correct. She has seen a problem that none of us have seen and boldly pointed out the current ills. Her words today have truly enlightened this King!
On a chosen day, I will write a memorial to the Emperor. From now on, in my border prefecture, those who commit domestic violence against their wives without cause will be heavily punished! Lord He, you are limited to one month to draft the relevant laws."