On the wedding day, my wife was abnormal

Since ascending the throne, she has been working hard to change the social status of women in the Great Qian Dynasty.

He allowed women to participate in the imperial examinations, allowed women to serve as officials in the court, and even personally formed a Phoenix Guard composed of women.

Everything she did was to tell the world that women are by no means subservient to men.

If she were to acquit Wang Tiechui today, all her previous efforts would be in vain.

However, if Wang Tiechui is found guilty, the resulting social problems should not be underestimated.

"In your opinion, what should be done about this matter?" Murong Yan looked at him, her phoenix eyes shining with trust.

My man will surely find a way to resolve this dilemma.

“There will definitely be a verdict.” A calculating smile played on Lin Zhen’s lips. “But not now.”

"Zhang Jianzhi".

“Your subject is here,” Zhang Jianzhi replied, bowing.

"At the morning court tomorrow, announce this case to the public and let all the civil and military officials discuss it." Lin Zhen's voice carried an undeniable power. "I want to see what kind of people these pillars of my Great Qian are really made of."

He turned his head to the darkness outside the window and whispered, "Black Crow."

"Your subordinate is here." A black figure appeared silently in the imperial study and knelt on one knee.

"Send someone to Wangjia Village," Lin Zhen said softly. "Investigate everything that Wang Tiechui and Zhao Shou'er have done in the past three years thoroughly."

"Remember, what I want is everything, down to the smallest detail."

"Yes, sir." Xuan Ya's figure quickly disappeared into the night.

Looking at the man before him, who seemed to be strategizing with great confidence, Zhang Jianzhi's worried face suddenly broke into a look of sudden realization.

He got it.

Your Highness, you're trying to use this case to stir up trouble in the court that has just calmed down.

……

The following day, at the Hall of Supreme Harmony.

When Zhang Jianzhi publicly announced the "Wang Tiechui rape case".

The entire Hall of Supreme Harmony was in an uproar.

The civil and military officials looked at each other, each with a strange expression on their face.

They never dreamed that in their lifetime they would be able to discuss such trivial matters, such as family affairs and marital matters, in such a solemn and dignified imperial court.

"quiet!"

With a sharp "Yes, sir!" from the chief eunuch Zhao Gao, the entire Hall of Supreme Harmony gradually fell silent.

"My esteemed ministers," Murong Yan spoke slowly from the Phoenix Terrace, her voice cool and clear, "what are your thoughts on this case?"

Today, she is dressed in full court attire.

Over the jet-black Phoenix Descent Dress, she wore a magnificent shawl embroidered with a hundred birds paying homage to the phoenix.

The ultimate black and gold, illuminated by hundreds of palace lanterns inside the Hall of Supreme Harmony, reflects an aura of majesty that is almost too dazzling to look directly at.

A five-zhang-long continuous tail cascaded silently down from the nine-story Phoenix Terrace, like a black waterfall, completely covering the entire terrace.

On the hem of her skirt, a giant phoenix woven with real gold thread, its eyes gleaming under the palace lanterns, looked down at the ministers who were arguing endlessly over a "bedroom matter."

Murong Yan had just finished speaking.

An elderly minister, with white hair and beard and at least seventy years old, stepped out from the queue.

He was Kong Rong, the Minister of Rites of the current dynasty.

Indeed, he is the leader of all scholars in the world, and the 72nd generation direct descendant of Confucius.

It holds a pivotal position in the Great Qian Dynasty.

"Your Majesty." Kong Rong walked to the center of the hall, bowed to Murong Yan, his voice aged yet full of vigor.

"In my opinion, this case cannot even be considered a case."

"Oh?" Murong Yan raised an eyebrow upon hearing this. "Minister Kong, what makes you say that?"

“In response to Your Majesty,” Kong Rong straightened up, his wrinkled old face displaying an expression of self-righteousness. “The Book of Rites says, ‘The husband is the guide for the wife.’ A wife, having married her husband, should regard him as her heaven and obey everything he says. The matter of marriage is the norm of human relations and the foundation of husband and wife.”

“Since Wang Tiechui has already formally married Zhao Shou’er and brought her into his family, Zhao Shou’er is now a member of the Wang family. He can sleep with her whenever he wants, so how can it be considered rape?”

"As a wife, Zhao Shou'er's three-year abstinence from her husband is a grave transgression against traditional feminine virtues and deserves severe punishment!"

"Your Majesty, I humbly request that you find Wang Tiechui innocent! And that you divorce Zhao, who has not been virtuous as a woman, based on the two grounds of 'disobedience to parents' and 'childlessness' from the 'Seven Grounds for Divorce,' to set an example and deter others!"

Kong Rong's words were powerful and resounding, full of the unique "principles" of Confucianism.

Many of the senior officials present, who were also well-versed in the classics, nodded in agreement.

"Lord Kong, you are right!"

"Yes, that's how it's always been. What kind of wife accuses her husband of rape? It's utterly ridiculous!"

"If such a shrew is not severely punished, where will the moral order and ethics of our Great Qian be?"

In an instant, voices of agreement rose and fell throughout the court.

Zhang Jianzhi was furious when he saw these old men who spouted "benevolence and morality" but were actually incredibly pedantic. He was so angry that he blew his beard and glared at them.

He was about to step forward and refute.

A clear voice rang out before him.

"Minister Kong, you are mistaken!"

The speaker was a young official who appeared to be in his early thirties.

His name is Li Qing, and he is the top scholar in this imperial examination. He has just been promoted by Zhang Jianzhi to the position of Vice Minister of the Court of Judicial Review.

Indeed, he was a representative figure of scholars from humble backgrounds.

"Oh?" Upon hearing this, Kong Rong slowly turned around, his cloudy old eyes narrowed slightly, and his voice carried a hint of displeasure.

"Then, in Li Shaoqing's opinion, what should be done about this matter?"

“In response to Minister Kong,” Li Qing bowed to Kong Rong and said in a neither humble nor arrogant manner, “I believe that ‘the husband is the head of the household’ is indeed a teaching of the sages. But the sages also said: ‘Do not do to others what you would not have them do to you.’”

"Marriage should be a matter of mutual affection and a natural progression. Wang Tiechui's act of forcibly abusing his wife against her will is no different from that of a beast."

"Moreover, the laws of our Great Qian Dynasty clearly stipulate that anyone who forces a woman to have sexual relations shall be punished as a rape! It does not make any exception for married couples!"

"In my opinion, even a prince should be punished the same as a commoner for breaking the law! Since Wang Tiechui has broken the law, he should be punished accordingly!"

Li Qing's words were forceful and resounding.

This also stirred the passion of many young officials present, who also came from humble backgrounds.

"Lord Li is right!"

"Our Great Qian is a country ruled by law. How can we abandon the law because of personal feelings?"

"That's right! Wang Tiechui must be severely punished!"

For a time, the imperial court was divided into two distinct factions.

One faction was the conservative faction led by Kong Rong.

They cited classical texts and waved the banner of "ethical principles" to argue that Wang Tiechui was innocent and Zhao Shou'er was at fault.

The other faction was the reformist faction led by Li Qing.

They argued their case forcefully, chanting the slogan "Everyone is equal before the law," and believed that Wang Tiechui was guilty and must be severely punished.

The two factions argued fiercely in the Hall of Supreme Harmony, spitting as they spoke.

The debate has ranged from the Book of Rites to the Laws and Regulations of the Great Qian Dynasty, and from the Three Cardinal Guides and Five Constant Virtues to the principle of "human rights and equality."

They were almost about to fight on the spot.

On the Phoenix Terrace, Murong Yan quietly watched the debate below, a contest that could be described as "gods fighting." Her beautiful face, as cold and aloof as the moon, remained completely calm.

Her gaze would occasionally sweep over the man sitting next to her, who seemed completely unaffected, yawning listlessly.

All of this was part of his plan.

He intended to use this case to expose the underlying conflicts between the old and new factions in the imperial court.

Then she, the supreme ruler of the Great Qian Dynasty, will make the final decision.

This laid the foundation for the political landscape of the Great Qian Dynasty for decades to come.

Such a deep scheme.

Murong Yan looked at Lin Zhen, a hint of infatuation flashing in her phoenix eyes.

She likes men like that.

I admire his composure and confidence in manipulating everyone.