After my inner voice was eavesdropped, I became the favorite of the Tang Dynasty

Chapter 93

After finishing the meal, Emperor Qianlong specifically asked about the price. When he heard that it was only 20 wen per serving, he could not help but feel a ripple in his heart. He thought of the extravagant life of the officials of the Imperial Household Department in the palace. An egg could be sold for 10 taels of silver. The huge difference made him feel mixed. He thought to himself that if those eggs in the palace were replaced with this curry chicken rice, it would be enough to feed hundreds of people. The greed of the Imperial Household Department was really heartbreaking.

After a day of strolling in Yancheng, Emperor Qianlong and his ministers were more and more impressed by the city. The buses were on time, and the streets were lined with shops with a dazzling array of goods. Every household had water, electricity, gas, and modern appliances such as refrigerators, air conditioners, and fans, which opened Emperor Qianlong's eyes. In particular, the automatic flushing toilet amazed him, and he thought to himself that the people of Yancheng lived so conveniently and comfortably, which was beyond imagination.

After dinner, the group strolled leisurely on the street, enjoying this rare leisure time. Suddenly, a noisy voice broke the silence. Xiaoyanzi became excited and ran in the direction of the sound. Yongqi was worried about her safety and followed her. Although Emperor Qianlong was old, he was curious and followed behind slowly, fanning himself and looking elegant.

When we got there, we saw a woman in a Ming Dynasty-style jacket and skirt, grabbing a young girl's hair, beating her and scolding her. The woman had a pretty face, but it was distorted by anger. Her voice was sharp and piercing, as if she wanted to pour out all her dissatisfaction and resentment. There was a man next to her, his face flushed with embarrassment, and he kept persuading her: "Let's go home and talk about it. Don't fight here. It's so embarrassing!" The woman got even angrier when she heard that. She kicked the man and grabbed the mistress's face with her hand. The mistress was not a pushover either. She fought back desperately. The two of them pulled her hair and scratched her face, and they fought hard. In the end, the man saw that the mistress was at a disadvantage, so he went up to protect her. Now the wife got angry and beat her husband and the mistress together. The three of them twisted into a ball, and it was a mess.

Emperor Qianlong and his men were stunned, muttering to themselves: "The women of Dayan are too powerful! A wife beats her husband in the street, the world is really in chaos!" But then he thought about it, the customs here are very different from those in the palace, and it is not so strange that a man can marry several wives. He couldn't help but feel a lot of emotion in his heart, the various forms of the people are really more exciting than the drama in the palace.

At this time, Xiaoyanzi couldn't help but stepped forward to dissuade them. Her voice was clear and pleasant, but it was firm and unquestionable: "Stop! If you keep fighting like this, it will only make things worse!" The woman was stunned for a moment, and then she shouted even more angrily: "Who are you? Why do you mind my business?" Xiaoyanzi was not afraid at all and continued: "I was just passing by, but when I saw you like this, I couldn't help but say a few words. If you keep fighting like this, not only will it not solve the problem, but it will also attract more people to watch the fun. Why don't you calm down and have a good talk?"

The woman seemed touched by Xiaoyanzi's words and stopped what she was doing. The man also took the opportunity to separate the two and explained awkwardly: "Actually, this is all a misunderstanding. She and I were originally husband and wife, but we had a quarrel over some trivial matters. She was so angry that she found this girl and mistakenly thought that I had an improper relationship with her." After saying that, he sighed deeply, his eyes full of helplessness and regret.

After hearing this, Emperor Qianlong couldn't help but think to himself: "The grudges and love in this world are really complicated and difficult to sort out. However, it is a rare experience to be able to witness the various aspects of human life in this prosperous Yancheng." He shook his head gently, a faint smile appeared on the corner of his mouth, and continued to follow the team forward, but his heart was full of more curiosity and expectations about this small city.

Qianlong and his entourage strolled along the streets of Yancheng. The afterglow of the setting sun sprinkled on the bluestone road, covering the ancient city with a faint golden glow. On both sides of the street, there were shops, hawking and talking, and the streets were bustling. However, behind this prosperity, a family dispute was quietly unfolding, which attracted their attention.

Qianlong was wearing a luxurious brocade robe and holding an exquisite folding fan, his brows revealing a bit of majesty and curiosity. Xiaoyanzi, who was beside him, was wearing a light dress and had lively eyes, full of curiosity about everything around her. Ziwei followed gently beside him, her eyes revealing sympathy and understanding for the world. The fifth prince, Yongqi, was wearing casual clothes, but still couldn't hide his royal temperament. He kept an eye on the surroundings to ensure the safety of the group.

They had no intention of intervening in the dispute, but the wife's unique behavior made them stop involuntarily. The wife was dressed in plain cloth and her hair was a little messy, but her eyes were burning with rage and indomitable spirit. Although she was not strong, at this moment, she seemed to have infinite strength, wrestling with her husband and concubine, and the scene was extremely fierce.

The concubine was young and beautiful, dressed in gorgeous clothes, with a provocative smile on her face, and her words were full of harshness: "You can't even take care of your own man, and you still have the nerve to blame me? Look at you, you shrew, which man would like you? Your husband thinks you're old, so he looks for someone young and gentle like me." These words were like a sharp knife, piercing the wife's heart.

Tears instantly welled up in the wife's eyes and she screamed, her voice full of grievance and unwillingness: "Where is justice and conscience? I work so hard to take care of the housework and take care of the elderly and children, and he actually had an affair behind my back. Everyone, please give me some justice!" Her cries pierced through the noisy streets and attracted the crowd around to gather around.

Qianlong and his men were also attracted by this sudden change and involuntarily walked closer. The wife, though disheveled, had a look of tenacity and determination. There were traces of tears on her face, but the corners of her mouth were raised with a stubborn arc, as if to say, "I will never give in!"

The crowd around them began to talk about it, expressing strong dissatisfaction with the husband and his concubine's behavior. Some shook their heads and sighed, some cursed, and some stood up to support the wife. The wife saw that everyone was on her side, and a warm current surged in her heart. She was more determined to accuse her husband of infidelity and vowed to make a big fuss about it so that she could get more property when they divorced.

"Wow, I can't live like this anymore. I've been married to him for ten years and worked hard, but he doesn't understand my hard work and he beats me with this shameless concubine. What's the point of living..." The wife's heartbreaking cry moved everyone present. Everyone blamed the couple, and some even waved their fists excitedly, as if they wanted to seek justice for the wife.

Qianlong and his companions were deeply shocked by this scene. Although they knew that the Great Yan Kingdom advocated equality between men and women, it was still difficult to accept seeing this scene with their own eyes. Especially Qianlong, as an emperor, it was even more difficult for him to accept such behavior that challenged traditional concepts. However, amid the discussions of the crowd, he had to start re-examining this issue.

Yongqi murmured to himself: "A wife accuses her husband of cheating and asks for a divorce. This... this is really unbelievable." Although his voice was soft, it revealed his inner shock and confusion.

An old lady nearby rolled her eyes and said bluntly: "What's so strange about this? If the husband cheats, the wife certainly has the right to divorce. How can the women of us Dayan endure such humiliation!" Her words were sonorous and powerful, winning the approval of the people around her.

"That's right, men and women are both born by their parents, so how can women be wronged? People who cheat, regardless of gender, should be punished." A middle-aged man echoed.

"The whole city is in an uproar after they caught the couple in bed together this time. The next show is sure to be exciting." A young man shouted excitedly.

"Hurry up, let's go to the government office to watch this divorce case!" The crowd began to surge, and everyone wanted to witness with their own eyes how this bizarre divorce case was decided.

Qianlong and his companions were also infected by this enthusiasm and decided to go and see the outcome of the lawsuit. They followed the crowd to the yamen, only to see that the yamen was already full of people, all craning their necks to wait for the moment when the court would open.

Inside the government office, the wife had already put on her clothes. Although there were still traces of tears on her face, her eyes were extremely firm. She stood in front of the hall, facing the majestic county magistrate, and narrated her experience without fear. The husband and the concubine lowered their heads, not daring to look the county magistrate in the eye.

After listening to the wife's statement, the county magistrate frowned, obviously feeling very troubled by the matter. However, under the gaze of the crowd, he had to make a fair judgment. In the end, he announced that the husband was fined for cheating and ordered to divorce his wife, and the concubine was also punished for seducing another man's husband.

This result satisfied everyone present, and everyone applauded the county magistrate for his fairness. Although the wife won the case, she did not show much joy on her face. She knew that although the case was over, she still had to start her life over again.

Qianlong and his companions watched this scene with mixed feelings. They began to realize that the world was quietly changing and traditional concepts were being challenged. As part of this era, they also needed to constantly adapt to and accept these changes.

On the way back to the palace, Qianlong was silent, his heart full of thoughts. He knew that as an emperor, he needed to pay more attention to people's livelihood and understand the real thoughts and needs of the people. Only in this way could he better govern the country and let the people live a happier life.

Xiaoyanzi, Ziwei and Yongqi also learned a lot from this dispute. They began to cherish their feelings for each other more and understood the importance of gender equality. They knew that only by respecting and understanding each other can love last longer and be better.

Li Qingge, a well-known female official in the southern part of the Great Yan Kingdom, implemented the year-end commendation system with her unique vision and bold decision-making. This system was like a spring breeze that blew across the provinces and cities in the south, making the officials there feel like they were injected with a shot of cardiotonic. They were all full of energy and competed to perform in order to get a seat at the year-end commendation meeting.

Yancheng, this ancient and prosperous city, was also boiling in this upsurge. People were talking about it in the streets and alleys, speculating who would be the lucky one standing on the podium this year. However, in this enthusiastic atmosphere, something shocking happened.

There was a wife named Lin Wan'er, who was originally a virtuous woman in Yancheng, but unfortunately she was betrayed by her husband. When she found out that her husband was entangled with a mistress, she did not choose to remain silent or endure, but took decisive action. She took a few relatives and friends and caught the mistress in the act, and went all the way to the prefectural government.

On this day, the Yancheng prefectural government office was crowded with people who came to watch the excitement. The prefect, a dignified official in his 50s, was sitting in the court, preparing to hear the divorce case that had made a sensation in the city. He sat in the court wearing his official robes with fluttering sleeves, picked up the gavel and slammed it, and asked loudly: "Who are the two standing in the court? What grievances do you want to appeal?"

When Lin Wan'er heard this, she burst into tears. She cried with a trembling voice, "Sir, my husband cheated on me and used our common property to support his mistress. What's worse, he beat me in the street. I can't stand it anymore, so I beg you to help me!" Her voice was filled with endless grievance and anger, which moved everyone present.

When the husband Liu Fugui heard this, he tried to defend himself. He said innocently, "Sir, it's not like that. I just had some friendship with that woman, and I didn't cheat on her. Besides, how could I hit her? She just made it up!" However, his defense seemed so pale and powerless amid the anger and accusations of the crowd.

When the people around heard this, they were filled with righteous indignation. They accused Liu Fugui one after another: "Sir, this man really cheated on his wife and beat his wife. He is simply not a human being!" "We all saw it. He and the mistress beat his wife together. How shameless!" "The queen has ordered that men and women are equal. How could there be such a husband!" Their voices rose and fell, full of anger and contempt for Liu Fugui.

The scumbag Liu Fugui and his mistress were criticized by the righteous masses. They wanted to defend themselves, but they couldn't find any breakthrough. The prefect still had to rely on evidence to handle the case. He checked one by one according to the procedures, and finally confirmed the fact that Liu Fugui cheated and beat his wife. Now that the matter was clear, the prefect asked Lin Wan'er how she planned to deal with it.

Lin Wan'er wiped away her tears and said firmly: "Sir, I have four requests. First, I want to divorce this scumbag; second, I want to divide the property. I am the victim and should get more; third, I want to get back all the money that the scumbag used to support his mistress with the common property to protect my own rights; fourth, I want to have custody of the child, and I want to change the child's surname so that the child belongs to me only." Although her voice was still trembling slightly, she had regained her former firmness and courage.

When the prefect heard these four requests, he thought they were reasonable. He nodded and said he would rule according to the law. When Liu Fugui heard that he would lose most of his property and his child, he shouted anxiously: "Le Le is my son. The Liu family cannot be cut off!" Xiao San also glared at Lin Wan'er and said: "He gave me those jewels voluntarily. How can you take them back? You are too domineering!"

However, Lin Wan'er just sneered and ignored them. She only asked the prefect to make a judgment according to the law and end this farce as soon as possible. The prefect looked at Lin Wan'er's firm eyes, then looked at Liu Fugui and Xiao San's embarrassed appearance, and finally announced the verdict.

"The couple is divorcing, because the husband cheated on his wife and hurt her, so the wife will get 70% of the common property and the husband will get 30%; the child will be raised by the wife; and the mistress must return all the money she got from the scumbag." The prefect's voice echoed in the hall, exciting everyone present.

The divorce case finally came to an end. Although Lin Wan'er had gone through countless pains and tortures, she finally won her rights and dignity. She left the sad home with her children and started a new life. And what about Liu Fugui and the mistress? They could only silently bear the consequences of this farce and could no longer restore the happiness and beauty they once had.

In the streets and alleys of Yancheng, people are still discussing this divorce case that has shocked the whole city. They admire Lin Wan'er's courage and determination, and sneer at Liu Fugui and Xiao San's shamelessness and meanness. This case not only allows people to see the fairness and strictness of the laws of the Great Yan Kingdom, but also allows people to see the status and dignity of women in the Great Yan Kingdom.

What about Qianlong, Yongqi and the others? They were among the crowd watching the excitement, quietly watching the trial. Qianlong had mixed feelings in his heart. He thought that the Qing Dynasty and the Great Yan would merge sooner or later, and the laws of the Great Yan might be implemented in the north in the future. If the divorce case was sentenced too harshly, it would not be a good thing for their Aixinjueluo royal family. After all, the royal family valued the prosperity of offspring the most, but throughout the dynasties, there were infatuated people, but there were also many promiscuous people. If men and women were really equal, the men in their royal family would probably suffer a lot.

However, looking at Lin Wan'er's firm eyes and resolute back, Qianlong had to admit that the laws of the Great Yan Kingdom were indeed unique. They protected the rights and dignity of women and gave women equal status and rights with men in the Great Yan Kingdom. This was something he, as the emperor of the Qing Dynasty, could not ignore.

Yongqi looked at Qianlong's complicated expression and said softly, "Father, the times are changing, and we must change with them. The laws of the Great Yan Kingdom may have something we can learn from." Qianlong listened to Yongqi's words, was silent for a while, and then nodded. He knew that Yongqi was right. The times are changing, and they must change with them. Only in this way can they adapt to this ever-changing world and preserve the status and glory of their Aisin-Gioro royal family.

As soon as the verdict was announced, thunderous applause echoed over the prefectural yamen, shaking people's hearts. Li Qingge stood in the crowd, looking firmly at the gavel high above, with a barely perceptible smile on her lips. Her eyes showed both the satisfaction of justice being served and the expectation of future changes.

"This verdict is really satisfying. This is how bad men and bad women should be dealt with!" An aunt in coarse cloth applauded, and the wrinkles on her face were relaxed with excitement. "My wife still remembers the old feelings. If it were me, I would directly sue him for intentional injury!" A young woman next to her said indignantly, with a determined light in her eyes, as if she was speaking for all the women who have been wronged.

"Harmony is the most important thing between husband and wife, but this kind of judgment is indeed the most fair!" An old man with white hair and beard leaned on a cane and nodded slowly, his eyes revealing his insight into the world.

"This man is so stupid. His wife at home is so beautiful, much better than that mistress. Why would he go out and look for trouble?" A young woman who was dressed up beautifully curled her lips, her eyes full of disdain for the man.

"It really proves the old saying, a wife is not as good as a concubine, a concubine is not as good as a secret lover. It's a bad nature of men. It's a pity that the price paid this time is too high!" A middle-aged man in silk clothes shook his head, his tone containing both regret and sarcasm.

"It's all your own fault!" A scholar-looking man next to Li Qingge said softly, his eyes revealing his indifference towards this farce.

Qianlong sat in a corner of the crowd, his face so gloomy that it seemed like water could drip out of it. He clenched his fists so tightly that his nails almost dug into his flesh. It was as if there was a fire burning in his heart, but he had nowhere to vent it. He thought indignantly: "How dare this prefect judge the case so hastily? It's just an affair, is it necessary to sentence him so severely? Which man in this world has not made this mistake!"

Yongqi, Erkang, and Ertai were also shocked, as if they couldn't believe what they saw. Their eyes showed doubts about the verdict and confusion about the huge difference between the laws of the Qing Dynasty and the laws of the Yan Dynasty.

"This is too much and totally unreasonable!" Erkang said through gritted teeth, his eyes revealing his dissatisfaction with the verdict.

"Is the prefect crazy?" Ertai widened his eyes, as if he wanted to imprint the prefect's image in his mind.

"Once a woman gets married, she belongs to her husband's family, and the child should also belong to her husband's family. How can it be awarded to the wife? That's ridiculous!" Yongqi said, shaking his head. His tone revealed that he found it difficult to understand Dayan's laws.

They turned to look at Qianlong, only to see that his face was livid, as if he was about to explode. Everyone left the government office silently and found a quiet place to sit down.

Qianlong was so angry that he was shaking and yelled, "This bastard prefect made a random judgment. Fortunately, this is not in the Qing Dynasty, otherwise I would chop off his head and kill all his nine clans!" His voice echoed in the empty street, attracting the attention of passers-by.

Back at the inn, Qianlong was still furious and couldn't calm down. He paced back and forth in the room, as if he wanted to trample through the floor.

"I thought that Yancheng was so prosperous and the officials should be very honest. I didn't expect such a verdict that violates ethical principles would be made. It really makes me angry!" Qianlong said angrily, his eyes revealing his dissatisfaction with the officials of Dayan.

Erkang secretly glanced at Ziwei, who understood what he meant. She moved closer to Qianlong and said gently: "Your Majesty, the customs and habits are different in every place. Although this judgment is strange, since it has been recognized by the people, it must have its reasons. Why don't we go and ask?" Her voice was soft and firm, as if it could calm the anger in Qianlong's heart.

This verdict not only surprised men like Qianlong and Ji Xiaolan, but also girls like Xiaoyanzi and Ziwei. Although they were women, they were also deeply influenced by the idea of ​​male superiority and female inferiority. Faced with such an unreasonable verdict, the shock they received can be imagined. It was like seeing the weak Daiyu suddenly become so strong that she could pull up a tree. People were so surprised that they were speechless.

In the evening, everyone went to a restaurant with an elegant environment for dinner. The restaurant was brightly lit, bustling with people, and very lively. They found a seat by the window and ordered a few local specialties.

By chance, they heard the waiter talking about this matter. Qianlong was curious and asked him to come over to ask. The waiter was a young man with a handsome face and a kind attitude.

Qianlong tried to sound calmer and asked, "So what do you think of this verdict?"

The waiter smiled and said without thinking: "The verdict is very good, it should be judged this way." His tone revealed his firm belief in Dayan's laws.

When Qianlong heard this, his face darkened again. He suppressed his anger and asked, "After a woman gets married, she should obey her husband. It's not a big deal for her husband to have an affair occasionally, right? He didn't say he wanted to replace the wife, so why make such a big fuss?" His voice revealed his confusion and doubts about Dayan's laws.

The waiter explained, "You are from the Qing Dynasty, so you may not be familiar with the laws of our Great Yan. Since Her Majesty the Queen ascended the throne, she has always advocated equality between men and women, whether it is marital relations, property distribution or name rights, all are treated equally. This judgment is also in accordance with the law. The husband cheated on his wife and beat his wife, the circumstances are serious, so the judgment of divorce and division of property. The child is raised by the wife in consideration of the child's growth environment and the mother's ability to raise the child. As for the money obtained by the mistress, it was paid with the common property of the couple, so of course it must be recovered. Such a judgment not only protects the rights and interests of the wife, but also maintains social justice and morality."

When Qianlong heard this, he couldn't help but interrupt him: "Even the property is equal?" His eyes revealed his shock and confusion about Dayan's laws.

The waiter nodded, a serious look on his face, as if every word he said carried an unshakable truth: "Yes, property is equal and must be divided equally in a divorce. If the husband has an affair, the wife can apply for a larger share according to the law." His eyes flashed with determination, as if he had endless trust and respect for the laws of Dayan.

After hearing this, Yongqi couldn't help but curl up a playful smile. He shook his head slightly, as if he found such a rule hard to believe: "Women usually don't farm or weave. Apart from dowry, they are all supported by their husband's family. After divorce, they can get half of the family property. Isn't it too much?" There was a hint of sarcasm in his tone, and it was obvious that he had reservations about such a system.

The waiter's eyes flashed with displeasure when he heard this. He glanced at Yongqi and said with unquestionable firmness in his tone: "What's too much? If men and women are equal, the property should be divided equally. This is a matter of course. And who says women don't participate in production? Our Majesty established Dayan and encouraged the development of all walks of life. It advocated that men and women work together to make money and support the family. Both have to work hard. The money earned after marriage is created by the couple together. Why can't women get a share?" Although his voice was not loud, every word was powerful, as if it could penetrate people's hearts.

Yongqi was speechless by the waiter's series of questions. He opened his mouth but couldn't find the right words to refute. There was a trace of confusion in his eyes. He was obviously touched by the waiter's words, but it was difficult for him to accept such a concept.

Seeing this, the waiter slowed down his tone and continued to explain: "Women hold up half the sky. This is the rule set by Your Majesty when the country was first established. The prosperity of Dayan is built by men and women together. In our country, there is no distinction between high and low men and women. If the husband has an affair, the wife can protect her rights and interests according to the law. What's wrong with that?" His voice was full of respect and affirmation for women, as if he was speaking for all women who had been wronged.

Qianlong sat aside, silently listening to the conversation between the waiter and Yongqi. Although he knew that Dayan emphasized gender equality, he did not expect it to be so far. He could not help but feel a complex emotion in his heart, with both admiration for Dayan's laws and adherence to the traditional concepts of the Qing Dynasty.

He complained: "Although we are equal, the wife takes away the husband's property and makes the child change his surname. Isn't this going to cut off the husband's family line?" There was some dissatisfaction and worry in his tone, and it was obvious that he found such a system unacceptable.

After hearing what Qianlong said, the waiter raised a faint smile, as if he was mocking his ignorance and prejudice: "What do you mean by the husband's property? The husband cannot give birth to a child alone. Without the mother's hard work of carrying the baby for ten months, how can there be a child? If a husband has an affair, it is unfaithful to the marriage, a betrayal to his wife, and irresponsible to the child. Your Majesty understands the hardships of women as wives and mothers, so you have made such a law: children under three years old will be raised by their mothers; after three years old, it depends on who can take better care of the child. There is no gender difference in cheating, and in the past, there were women who betrayed their husbands and had affairs secretly. When the matter was exposed, they would lose their property, and the things they gave to their lovers would have to be recovered. Everyone is equal before the law, and whoever makes a mistake will be treated the same way. Isn't this fair?" His voice was full of awe and faith in the law, as if he was speaking for all those protected by the law.

After hearing what the waiter said, Qianlong could not help but feel an indescribable sense of shame and anger. He was ashamed of his own ignorance and prejudice, and angry at the huge gap between the traditional concepts of the Qing Dynasty and the modern laws of the Yan Dynasty. He clenched his teeth, as if trying to suppress the gasp that was about to come out.

The waiter seemed to see through Qianlong's thoughts and continued, "Also, in our Dayan, only children born in legitimate marriages can inherit the family property. Children born from adultery or extramarital affairs have no inheritance rights. Such regulations not only ensure the stability and harmony of the family, but also uphold the fairness and dignity of the law." His voice was full of respect and awe for the law, as if he was speaking for all law-abiding people.

The waiter's words stunned Qianlong, Yongqi, Ji Xiaolan and others. They looked at each other, as if they were looking for the answer in each other's hearts. Although they felt that the waiter's words made sense, under the law of equality between men and women, such a verdict was reasonable. But there was still a knot in their hearts that they couldn't untie, and they always felt that such a law was somewhat contrary to traditional principles.

After all, Dayan was rapidly modernizing, while the Qing Dynasty still held on to those old ideas. As vested interests of the ruling class, Qianlong and his people naturally wanted to protect their own interests. In the past society where men were superior to women, men could be romantic and as long as they reformed, they were still good men; but women could not do that. Their reputation was more important than their lives. They could not resist their husbands and had to endure grievances, otherwise they would not be virtuous. Men had high requirements for women. They had to be gentle and virtuous, obey their husbands, and be filial to their elders. However, in Dayan, a brand new country, everything was quietly changing.

Qianlong and others were silent for a long time, as if thinking about the challenges and opportunities this new world brought to them. Their eyes flashed with complex emotions, including amazement and awe of the Great Yan Law, as well as persistence and reluctance to the traditional concepts of the Qing Dynasty. However, they all knew that whether they were willing to accept it or not, the world was moving forward at an unstoppable speed. As witnesses and participants of this era, they could only try their best to adapt to this new world and meet those unknown challenges and opportunities.

Her husband's betrayal is like a sharp knife, silently splitting the originally peaceful life. Li Qingge, this gentle and virtuous wife, faced with her husband's affair, not only did not indulge in the abyss of jealousy, but with an extraordinary tenacity, she quietly cleaned up the mess left by this emotional storm. In her heart, she felt the pain of her husband's betrayal and had deep doubts about her self-worth, but she always adhered to the dignity and responsibility of a "virtuous wife".

In the dead of night, Li Qingge sat alone under the dim light, holding a needle and thread in her hand, stitching stitch after stitch to mend the family that was broken up by her husband's affair. In her eyes, there was both nostalgia for the good old days and confusion about the unknown future. Although her face was a little haggard due to the passing of time, her calmness and composure were like chrysanthemums in autumn, blooming proudly.

Afterwards, Li Qingge would reflect on herself, fearing that she was not virtuous enough to help her husband take a concubine, which led him to seek outside. Her heart was filled with self-blame and guilt, as if all the mistakes were due to her own imperfections. However, behind this self-blame, there was a deep sense of helplessness and sadness.

When the true concept of gender equality blew through every corner of Da Yan like a spring breeze, the impact on Li Qingge was really indescribable. She looked at the older generation people around her, such as Qianlong, Yongqi, and Ji Xiaolan, and their faces were full of difficulty and confusion. Even Ziwei, a woman who had always been smart, seemed a little at a loss.

In Da Yan, people hated mistresses and regarded them as the culprits who destroyed family happiness. However, in another environment, in the Qing Dynasty, mistresses became concubines, and mistresses were kept outside by husbands without the knowledge of their wives and concubines. Concubines were allowed by law and recognized by the family; but mistresses were different, they were kept secretly by husbands without the knowledge of their wives and concubines. Ziwei's mother was such a mistress, and her identity was like dust floating in the air, neither stable nor recognized.

Whenever Ziwei thought of her life experience, she would feel embarrassed and aggrieved. Although her mother gave her a love as blazing as fire, that love was like a tree without roots, unable to find a real home for her in this world. She looked at the children born to the wives and concubines around her, who were able to enjoy the family's wealth and splendor, while she herself had nothing. Her heart was filled with a desire for fairness and a thirst for identity recognition.

Xiaoyanzi, as Princess Huanzhu, enjoyed honor and knew that she was not an illegitimate child, so she felt at ease. She looked at Ziwei's experience and was full of sympathy. She secretly thought about the laws of Dayan, monogamy, equality between men and women, and equal division of property in case of divorce, which was simply too good. She thought, if the Qing Dynasty also implemented such laws, then married women would not have to share their husbands with others, and their husbands would only love them, and all their children would be legitimate, how happy it would be!
After spending a few days in Yancheng, Emperor Qianlong and his entourage decided to go to Jinling. They originally planned to take a bus, but an old man told them that there was a direct train from Yancheng to Jinling without having to transfer. This news made them very surprised. They were always curious and yearning for the advancement and convenience of Da Yan.

The next morning, everyone got up. Xiaoyanzi was very excited. She asked curiously, "What is a high-speed train? Is it really so convenient?" Her voice was full of anticipation and curiosity, as if she was about to unveil a mysterious veil.

Yongqi smiled and replied: "Maybe, the buses are already very fast, and the high-speed trains must be even faster like flying." His eyes were shining with longing and expectation for the future, as if he was also looking forward to that brand new world.

Xiaoyanzi asked again: "Is there air conditioning in the car? Dayan's air conditioning is amazing. Just press the remote control and the cool air blows in. It's very comfortable." Her face was filled with admiration and love for Dayan's technology. That innocent joy was like a summer breeze, making people feel relaxed and happy.

During their stay in Yancheng, they stayed in a luxury hotel with air conditioners in every room. Although Yongqi, Xiaoyanzi and others were from royal families, they had never experienced this modern summer magic. After trying it, everyone loved it and praised the advanced technology of Dayan. Qianlong even wanted to buy thousands of air conditioners to put in the palace, but unfortunately there was no electricity supply in the palace, so he had to give up. In his heart, he had both envy and yearning for Dayan's technology and helplessness and sighs for the current situation of the Qing Dynasty.