I am Emperor Wanli

Chapter 310 The Root of the Problem Turns Out to be the Foot Binding Ban
Shen Shixing and Yu Youding ran straight to the stairwell without looking back and climbed up the stairs.

When he reached the middle, Shen Shixing suddenly stumbled, his right foot slipped, and his body leaned forward, almost falling on the stairs. Fortunately, Yu Youding was quick-witted and helped him up.

The two of them ran to the fourth floor in a somewhat embarrassed manner, took a long breath, and quickly dusted off their clothes and straightened their hats. Fortunately, they were not seen by their relatives and friends, otherwise it would have been really ungentlemanly.

A voice sounded nearby: "Two masters, I have been looking for you everywhere. The private room that Master Zhang has booked is on the fourth floor."

I turned around and saw the guy who was leading the way.

Shen Shixing and Yu Youding were so angry that they wanted to kick the waiter down the stairs.

What were you doing earlier? You made us wander around the third floor, hear things we shouldn't have heard, and encounter things we shouldn't have encountered.

"Lead the way!" Shen Shixing said unhappily.

The waiter brought Shen Shixing and Yu Youding to Yunya Pavilion and knocked on the door to report.

"Master Zhang, your distinguished guest has arrived."

Shen Shixing and Yu Youding also shouted outside the door: "Mr. Zhang, students Shen Shixing and Yu Youding are here."

"Oh, Bingzhong and Rumo are here, please come in."

After pushing the door open, Shen Shixing and Yu Youding also saw Wang Shizhen. They were surprised and delighted. "So Lord Fengzhou is here too. This really surprises the students!"

Wang Shizhen looked at the two people clearly, smiled and bowed, saying: "I just found out now that Lord Feng Pan also invited you two."

Zhang Siwei called out, "Everyone, sit down! All the guests for today are here. Waiter, serve the food!"

"Yes!"

The four of them sat down, and Wang Shizhen turned around and asked rudely, "Feng Pan, why did you invite the three of us today? Your food is not tasty!"

Zhang Siwei laughed: "It's for official business, and also for personal matters."

"What's the matter?"

"The matter of Jingyi Pavilion compiling the 'Record of the Sacred Teachings of Emperor Sejong'."

"Isn't it being edited?"

"Xiyuan thinks it's too slow. I received a message from Xiyuan saying that His Royal Highness hopes that the Record of Sacred Instructions will be published throughout the country three years after the late emperor passed away."

Wang Shizhen was also one of the editors. He stroked his beard and said, "So urgent? I'm afraid it's too late. According to the progress, the earliest it will take is the fifth year of Longqing."

"So this is both a public and a private matter."

Zhang Siwei was a scholar of the Jingyi Pavilion, and was in charge of compiling the "Record of the Sacred Instructions of Emperor Shizong". Xiyuan urged him to make progress, and if he could not complete it on time, it would be a dereliction of duty and would affect his career.

He glanced at Shen Shixing and Yu Youding, and said sincerely: "I have submitted a petition to the Western Garden, requesting that my two brothers Bingzhong and Rumo be transferred to the Jingyi Pavilion to help me and Lord Fengpan compile the Baolu.

This happened suddenly, and I can't speak rashly. I'm setting up this banquet tonight and inviting the three of you to explain my intentions. I hope you will support me."

Shen Shixing and Yu Youding looked at each other.

This is a good thing!

The Prince of Xiyuan attached great importance to the compilation of the "Record of the Sacred Instructions of Emperor Sejong". The two joined Jingyi Pavilion and participated in the compilation work, which not only helped them gain fame, but also won the Prince's favor.

Once you complete the task, you will definitely be promoted.

The Eight Immortals crossed the sea, each showing their magical powers. Wang Xijue went to Liaodong to gain experience and accumulate military merits.

We will enter Jingyi Pavilion, improve our writing skills and accumulate merits.

Everyone has his own way.

Shen Shixing received Yu Youding's gaze and spoke on behalf of the two men, "We are honored that Lord Feng Pan values ​​us two. We two have always wished to be admitted to the Jingyi Pavilion, but we are afraid that our talents and knowledge are shallow and we will fail Lord Feng Pan's expectations."

"You two are kidding. One of you is the top scholar and the other is the third scholar. You two are so ignorant. Who dares to enter Jingyi Pavilion? Is it Lord Fengzhou?"

Wang Shizhen stroked his beard, smiled and nodded.

Shen Shixing spoke on behalf of the two men, "Then Bingzhong and I would like to thank Lord Fengpan for his kindness!"

Well, the matter is happily settled.

Zhang Siwei and Wang Shizhen were in a good mood. With the help of a top scholar and a third scholar, "The Precious Records of the Sacred Instructions of Emperor Shizong" would definitely be completed before the end of the third year of Longqing, before the memorial day of the late Emperor Jiajing.

They both knew Zhu Yijun's feelings for Emperor Jiajing. If this could be accomplished, it would be a great achievement!

And His Royal Highness the Crown Prince has always been clear about rewards and punishments!

The waiter quickly brought the wine and food, and Zhang Siwei toasted the three of them as the host.

After three rounds of drinks, the four of them had flushed faces and were in high spirits.

Wang Shizhen turned around and asked curiously, "Rumo, Bingzhong, when you two came in just now, you looked pale and out of breath, as if you had run up from the front hall. What happened?"

Shen Shixing and Yu Youding looked at each other and smiled bitterly, "Let Fengzhou and Fengpan know that we encountered some problems when we came up just now."

First, he told about the quarrel and fight that ensued between Li Mingchun, Shen Wanxiang, Shen Yikuan and others in the dining room on the second floor.

Zhang Siwei and Wang Shizhen also shook their heads helplessly, "There are so many talented people among the candidates for the imperial examination this year, and they will cause a lot of trouble, so stay away from them."

Li Mingchun and Shen Wanxiang came from Longhua Academy and Xiangshan Academy respectively. The nominal president was Li Zhi, but behind him stood Yang Jinshui's faction, and behind them was Xiyuan.

Who can afford it?

Shen Yikuan is not without background either.

He was the son of a famous teacher and studied in Suzhou and Huzhou. He belonged to the southeastern scholar lineage and the Jiangnan family.

Wang Shizhen, Shen Shixing and Yu Youding were people from that circle, and when they greeted each other, they were all relatives and friends.

The four of them sighed twice, and Shen Shixing continued.

"There was chaos on the second floor, and we lost the waiter who led the way. We couldn't remember which floor the private room that Mr. Zhang had booked was on, so we went to the third floor first. As a result, we ran into Mr. Yu De who was cursing and said he was going to impeach Mr. Zhuo Wu."

"Yude? Which one?"

Zhang Siwei and Wang Shizhen didn't react for a moment.

"The Imperial College's amateur officer."

"Oh, Yu Changde Yu Yude. What did he say?"

Shen Shixing and Yu Youding hesitated for a moment, and finally described Yu Changde's words in the style of the Spring and Autumn Annals.

Zhang Siwei and Wang Shizhen were stunned for a moment, "This is inevitable."

"Lord Feng Pan, Lord Feng Zhou, may I ask what is the matter?"

"No foot binding!"

"Ban foot binding?"

Shen Shixing and Yu Youding knew about this matter, and it caused a huge reaction in the court and the country. Supporters and opponents argued in the court, in the Hanlin Academy and the Imperial College, in schools and academies, and in newspapers. The argument was extremely fierce and they enjoyed it very much.

The origin of this trend was that gentry from the southeast submitted a petition to the court, requesting it to ban foot binding in order to preserve human nature.

Once this memorial was submitted, it was like lighting a thunder bomb, attracting the intervention of all forces, which was equivalent to setting off a bunch of thunder bombs.

Wang Shizhen explained, stroking his beard.

"According to research, foot binding began in the Sui and Tang dynasties, with the first documented practice being in the Southern Tang dynasty. It was continued in the Northern Song dynasty and became popular in the Southern Song dynasty. By the end of the Yuan dynasty, some places had a saying that not binding feet was shameful.

During the Ming Dynasty, the only provision in the imperial edict of Emperor Taizu that prohibited the remnants of Zhang Shicheng and those who were fined and made into beggars and other lowly people from binding their feet was that there was no explicit provision for other things.

It's just that among the common people, some officials bound their feet, while others didn't. It's just that in the wealthy Jiangnan area, the women of official families were proud of not doing labor, and foot binding was considered beautiful, and it became increasingly popular. The scholars regarded it as elegant. I won't mention it here.

In order to allow their daughters to marry into the rich and powerful families, some families would bind their feet from a young age so that they could learn music. Therefore, foot binding was prevalent in the south of the Yangtze River and was becoming more and more serious.

Shen Shixing said curiously: "I have heard of what Mr. Fengzhou said. But why has foot binding come to an abrupt end in the southeast in recent years? Now, some gentry in the southeast have submitted a petition to the court, requesting a clear ban on foot binding.

Students have heard that many people in the southeast support this ban. Why? This trend has changed so quickly that students are confused. "

"Yes, we don't know the reason either, and we are very confused."

Zhang Siwei and Wang Shizhen answered in unison.

Yu Youding glanced around, hesitated for a while, and finally said, "I do know something about this matter."

Zhang Siwei, Wang Shizhen, and Shen Shixing all turned to look at Yu Youding and said in unison: "Bingzhong, please speak quickly. We are all ears!"

(End of this chapter)