Chapter 140

Chapter 140

Rong Shi's eyes widened.

Zhao Hu moved forward, but Ning Qiang pulled him back. "Are you planning to mete out vigilante justice?"

Another elder stepped forward. "I am the village chief of Xixia Village, my surname is Qi." Pointing at the elder with the cane, he continued, "This is the patriarch of the Mu clan. Sir, each clan has its own rules. If Rong Shi has indeed violated them, it would be understandable for the Mu clan to take action. It's getting late, so it would be best for you to set off with Jinhua sooner rather than later. Our humble village isn't the safest place on this road."

It was a blatant threat, and Ning Qiang suppressed his anger. "Whether or not Rong Shi has kept to her wifely duties will be determined by the county magistrate. If you believe she has not, then come with us to present your case before the authorities. If she truly has acted improperly, her public punishment, witnessed by all the citizens of the county, will serve as a stern warning."

The Clan Chief Mu scoffed, "It's already a disgrace for our clan to have such a woman among us. Yet, Lord Military, you wish for the entire county to know? Are you determined to make it impossible for our Mu clan to hold our heads high in this county?"

The men surrounding Ning Qiang and Zhao Hu brandished their hoes menacingly, ready to act at the patriarch's command. They feared not even those from the military camp; in these remote mountains where the emperor's reach was feeble, a body discarded up the hill would leave no tale for the world below to know.

Ning Qiang gritted his teeth, casting a glance at Rong Shi. He could take Osmanthus away today, but there was no doubt that he wouldn't be able to save Rong Shi.

With tears streaming down her cheeks, Rong now felt less afraid. If osmanthus could be saved, then so be it if she was to be drowned in the pond. She had never truly lived a comfortable day in her life anyway; perhaps in her next reincarnation, she might be born into a better fate.

Ning Qiang gazed into Rong's resolute eyes and understood her decision. He reached out to accept the osmanthus flower, "Chief Mu speaks... wisely."

The rhythmic clattering of hooves grew louder, and a look of delight flickered in Ning Qiang's eyes.

More than a dozen soldiers, riding horses and armed with sabers, emerged from a country path. Leading them was Ning Wang, the local garrison commander and Ning Qiang's fellow villager: "Ning Qiang, why have you taken so long? Everyone's waiting for you to join them for a drink."

The faces of Chief Mu and the village head turned grim.

Meihong exhaled in relief: "Fortunately, that military officer named Ning Wang went to find Ning Qiang."

Xing Huang pursed her lips: "What do you mean 'fortunately'? If anything, we should be grateful to the local county magistrate. He sent word to Ning Wang, warning that the clans in the villages downstream, including ours, wield significant power. If Ning Qiang and his men were to clash with them, they would surely suffer. That's why Ning Wang decided to ride over with reinforcements to support Ning Qiang."

Meihong gasped, "So that's how it is! These clans have such immense power?"

Xing Huang replied, "I didn't know either until these past couple of days. In some regions of Fujian and Zhejiang, clan influence is incredibly strong. It's said that even county magistrates need to consult with the clan elders before taking action."

Meihong was astounded.

Xing Huang gritted her teeth, "Second Aunt, we can't let this slide. We must find a way to get our silver back. Even if it were to be thrown into the water or fed to dogs, we couldn't give it to them. Oh, and we must give them a sound beating too, for what they did to Sister Rong and Guihua."

Meng Die remained silent.

Xing Huang panicked, "Second Aunt? Second Aunt, why aren't you responding?"

Meng Die shot Xing Huang a stern glance with a darkened face, "I've always told you to read more books, but you never would."

"Ahh?" Xing Huang was stunned, "This... this has something to do with reading?"

Hulu gently tugged at Xing Huang's sleeve, "Sister Xing Huang, when our great ancestor established the kingdom, the inheritance laws were not revised and followed the previous dynasty's precedent. According to those rules, if someone passed away without a son, their property would be inherited by a male relative within the fifth degree of kinship. Only if there were no male relatives could a daughter inherit. Even if we took this to court, we wouldn't win."

Xing Huang was flabbergasted, "A biological daughter can't inherit, yet it must go to some distant nephew? How can there be such fairness in the world?"

Meng Die took a deep gulp of cold tea to quell the fury in her chest. "A daughter is an outsider; if you bequeath your wealth to her, doesn't that money take on another family's name? Giving it to a nephew from who knows how many branches of the family, that still carries our own surname."

"This... this..." Xing Huang paced in anger. "Second Lady, are we just going to let this slide?"

Meng Die leaned back in her chair. "You'll be returning to the camp later, won't you? Tell Second Master that the case of the Rong mother and daughter is not an isolated incident. If he has the time, he should send someone to check on the families of those fallen soldiers, especially in places where there were many Chastity Archways during the previous dynasty. He doesn't have to oversee everything personally, but it would be best for him to visit at least once or twice within the next couple of years."

Xing Huang was taken aback. "Chastity Archways? What do they have to do with anything? Oh! Speaking of which, when the county magistrate sent a message to Ning Wang, he mentioned that there were many Chastity Archways in the villages near Xiaxia Village during the previous dynasty. Is... is there a connection here?"

Meng Die looked at Xing Huang's bewildered face and shook her head. "You really don't pay attention to anything except cooking."

Xing Huang lifted her chin. "Second Aunt has said that life is fleeting, and to excel in just one endeavor is already a great accomplishment, making one's existence truly worthwhile."

Meng Die: ...

Meihong and Hulu exchanged sly smiles, softening the tense atmosphere within the room. The rage that had been simmering in Meng Die's chest also dissipated considerably due to Xing Huang's intervention.

Meng Die: "The chastity arches of the previous dynasty were not granted in vain. Initially, the founding emperor of the previous dynasty decreed that the family of a chaste woman could be exempted from corvée labor, which means that if a family produced a virtuous woman, the men of that family could be relieved from the toil of compulsory service."

"Well..." Xing Huang furrowed her brow. "There's just something that doesn't feel quite right."

Meng Die chuckled. "Feeling that it's unfair is the right feeling. It's the women who maintain their virtue, but the men who reap the benefits. In the later period of the previous dynasty, it evolved to the point where if a family produced a chaste woman, their entire clan was exempt from taxes for three years."

Hulu gasped. "Then if a clan has one chaste woman after another, wouldn't they never have to pay taxes or perform labor service?"

Xing Huang replied, "That can't be. Chaste women are widows, and whether or not there are widows isn't up to them."

Meihong countered, "Not necessarily. If you kill off the male members, doesn't that create widows?"

Meng Die fell silent for a moment. "It's not that complicated. Wanting widows isn't difficult. Marry them off to elderly men on their last breath, or deliberately arrange marriages with weak-bodied men. Widows would abound. In the end, it's still up to them whether or not these women remain chaste. That's why our founding emperor abolished the practice of honoring chaste women so forcefully."

Hulu scoffed, "I see now. In places where those chastity monuments abound, they've grown accustomed to oppressing widows and orphans. Even though our dynasty no longer upholds such monuments, their ancestors' mindset lingers; deep down, they still relish exploiting vulnerable women and their children. Given the slightest chance, they'd devise every means to extract benefits from them."

Meng Die nodded at Xing Huang and said, "When you return, kindly remind your Second Master."

Xing Huang nodded vigorously. "I will certainly speak with Lord Second and ensure those scoundrels gain not even the slightest advantage." With that, she stormed out of the Marquis's residence, her steps fiery and her nostrils flaring in indignation.

Hulu poured a cup of tea and offered it to Meng Die. "Madam Second, now that the Rong mother and daughter have been taken care of, they won't suffer anymore. As for the other matters, they've been entrenched for years. Changing them won't be simple. Please try to remain calm and patient."

Meng Die took the cup of tea from Hulu, sensing her concern about her anxiety: "Rest assured, I won't dwell too much on this matter. It's a delicate situation that requires careful consideration."

Meihong concurred, "Second Lady is right, we need to consider this carefully. The law is clear, and even if we sued, we wouldn't win. It's already remarkable that we can protect the Rong mother and daughter."

Meng Die smiled and nodded, taking a sip of tea before reclining on the soft couch once more. She began to ponder the situation. Indeed, it was a difficult matter, but not due to the law. Meng Die was confident in persuading the emperor to alter the law; even if she failed, she was certain she could convince the Empress.

The Empress would undoubtedly succeed in persuading the emperor to change the law.

But would altering the law suffice? Absolutely not. In the world of her dreams, society was relatively advanced, with laws stipulating equal inheritance rights for all children, regardless of gender. Yet, in reality, things didn't quite work that way.

There had been a popular saying there: sons were like Construction Bank, implying they required investments for houses, cars, and so on, while daughters were like Industrial and Commercial Bank of China, as they brought dowries without requiring financial support. Many people had agreed with this notion.

When parents are alive, assets are divided in such a manner; when they pass, the implications of their absence are clear. Thus, laws can only address superficial symptoms, failing to tackle the root of the problem.

The idea of altering the law might sound satisfying, but in practical application, it holds little significance. To effect real change, one must shift societal perceptions.

Currently, society views daughters as outsiders, belonging to another family, while nephews are considered part of one's own kin. Of course, this perception is influenced by various factors.

For instance, girls often find it challenging to establish independence, even if they marry into the family. They are frequently at the mercy of their husbands, as they have been taught from childhood to rely on men, making it difficult to alter this mindset as they grow older. Additionally, women often face hurdles in earning a living, and upon marrying into a family, they usually depend on their parents for sustenance, seldom able to build their own prosperous legacy to honor their ancestors.

Nephews, being males, are perceived as more capable of supporting a household and have a higher likelihood of accumulating wealth to glorify their family name.

Meng Die pondered every aspect of the situation thoroughly, her thoughts drifting further with each passing moment. Unconsciously, night fell.

Meihong entered with the Yang sisters, carrying a food tray.

Noticing the extra slice of mousse cake, Meng Die inquired, "Did you go out to get desserts today? Did you bring something for Little Osmanthus? Children usually love such treats."

Meihong explained, "I remembered how much children adore sweets, so I stopped by the confectionery to pick up a couple of items."

Meng Die chose not to expose Meihong's intention and played along, saying, "Perfect, I'm not in the best mood today. This dessert should definitely lift my spirits."

Meihong's face lit up with a bright smile.

The following morning, Meng Die went to the main residence to pay her respects. Lady Hou couldn't help but ask, "What's the story with that mother and daughter?"

Meng Die replied, "They are the widow and daughter of a fallen warrior." With no intention of hiding the truth, Meng Die recounted the entire sequence of events in detail.

"Foolish creatures, all of them," Lady Hou exclaimed, slapping the armrest of her chair in anger. "To allow such people to live is simply a waste of food."

Meng Die promptly approached to take the teacup in her hands. "Grandmother, please calm yourself."

Lady Hou took a sip of her tea and sighed. "Why do they have such ruthless hearts? Even Mu Laosan left some silver behind. How much would it cost to feed and care for that mother and daughter for a while? It's just providing them with meals, yet they're unwilling to do even that."

Wu, rarely showing her emotions, lowered her eyes. "It's understandable if the Mu family is doing this for money, but why are the other villagers joining in? They won't gain anything from it."

Lady Hou looked at her. "You don't understand. In some places, the clan system is highly valued. If they don't help the Mu family now, can the Mu family be expected to help them when they need it? These days are relatively better. When our dynasty was first established, some county magistrates had to bow to the so-called clan elders. Conflicts sometimes led to officials sacrificing their lives in the line of duty. Later, when the founding emperor ordered troops to suppress bandits, their arrogance was somewhat curbed."

Meng Die interjected, "Aunt Wu, it's not just that. The Mu family wants to send Osmanthus to work for a landlord. I suspect that many in the Mu family rent land from these landlords. If Osmanthus becomes a child bride, wouldn't the landlord have to give some preferential treatment to their fellow clansmen?"

Wu spat out fiercely, "I hope they lose their descendants soon."

"Haha..." The tense atmosphere relaxed.

Upon returning from the main house, Meng Die went to the west wing to visit Mrs. Rong and Little Osmanthus. Little Osmanthus remained timid, clinging closely to Mrs. Rong.

Observing Mrs. Rong's trembling hand hidden in her sleeve, Meng Die sighed softly and donned a warm smile. "Mrs. Rong, you have no need to be nervous or fearful here. No one will harm you."

Mrs. Rong attempted a weak smile, but it didn't quite materialize. "Se, Second Aunt, I can work. I... I can..."

Meng Die replied, "I understand that you might feel uneasy about relying on me without contributing, but let me assure you, there's no need to worry. I've already planned for this. You and Little Osmanthus have endured much hardship, and you both still carry injuries. For now, your top priority is to regain your health. After the fifteenth day of the first lunar month, when your body has recovered and the weather warms up, I have a workshop in the capital where you can weave silk rugs. If you're not skilled in that, you can work in silk reeling. The wages you earn will more than suffice to support yourself and Little Osmanthus."

Madame Rong visibly relaxed. "Second Aunt, my body is fine. I can work right now."

Meng Die said, "If you can work, what about Little Osmanthus? Has she always been so timid?" Meng Die glanced at the young girl and then quickly averted her gaze. "I suppose she must be terrified. Being in an unfamiliar environment, wouldn't she be even more scared without the only familiar person, her dear mother, by her side?"

Madame Rong paused, holding Little Osmanthus even closer.

Meng Die continued, "This is my courtyard. Apart from maidservants and nursemaids, no outsiders usually come here. You can stay here with Little Osmanthus and recover your strength. You can also gradually introduce her to more people. Wouldn't it be better to resume work after both of you have fully recovered after the 15th day of the first lunar month?"

Madame Rong sniffled and suddenly knelt down. "Thank you, Second Aunt. Thank you, Second Aunt..."

"Rise promptly."

Exiting the western chamber, Meng Die made her way straight to the study. With a dip of her quill in ink, she scribbled a note for Li Ai: "Hulu."

"Second Lady," Meihong entered, lifting the curtain. "Hulu has gone to First Lady's quarters."

Meng Die realized her oversight. "How careless of me. I forgot about that." With the New Year approaching, households were engaged in exchanging gifts. Hulu was following the prearranged schedule to learn from Madam Wen. Meng Die looked at Meihong. "Are you managing alone with all the tasks here, inside and out?"

Meihong reassured her. "Second Lady, don't worry. The Yang sisters and Mu Qing are all reliable. With their assistance, I can handle it on my own."

Meng Die: "Remember to consider this. When the New Year comes, give them a bit more in their red envelopes. And this note – send it to Second Master immediately."

"Understood."

When Meng Die returned from the Numinous Concentration Pavilion, Meihong's servant Xia Bo reported back, "Second Madam, I couldn't find Second Master at the military camp. The soldiers said that he had gone to meet the Commander of the Nine Gates, so he wasn't there. I asked when he would be back, but they said there was no set time, it changes every day."

Meihong grew anxious. "You didn't see him? Then why did you come back? You should have waited."

Xia Bo replied, "I gave the note to Sister Xing Huang. She said she would ask for Tu Dusi's assistance and have him pass it to Second Master tonight. Sister Xing Huang also mentioned that she would put the note in an envelope, seal it with wax, so no one else can see its contents."

Meng Die couldn't help but chuckle, and Meihong also broke into a smile.

Xia Bo joined in the jest, "Sister Xing Huang truly has a way with things."

Meng Die agreed, "Indeed, she does have a plan."

Meihong queried, "Why has Second Master suddenly become so busy?"

Meng Die explained, "It's not exactly sudden. Integrating tens of thousands of soldiers into another grand army is no simple task."

Xia Bo: "Exactly, Sister Xing Huang mentioned that Second Master needs to personally oversee and be involved in all the handovers. With so many matters, he won't have a moment's rest, right?"

Meng Die nodded. Besides, the fifty thousand troops, though seemingly divided into three groups, were actually under Li Ai's direct command. He needed to have a thorough understanding of each soldier's role and their tasks in different locations. Recalling Li Ai's pained expression when he left the marquis residence, the corners of Meng Die's lips curled up slightly.

Xia Bo: "Second Aunt, Sister Xing Huang said that my arrival would spare you the trouble of sending someone else to deliver your concerns. She mentioned that when she returned home yesterday, she didn't see Second Master either. Tu Dusi took her to meet Duke An Guo, and she shared your worries with him."

Meng Die: "What do they all say?"

Xia Bo promptly recited everything that Xing Huang had taught him.

Lord An Guo pondered for a moment: "My niece-in-law speaks wisely. This cannot be an isolated incident. I shall dispatch men to visit the widows and orphaned children of the fallen soldiers, as well as their elderly parents."

Tudu Si: "We must also learn from the tragedy in Xi Xia Village. They should report to the local garrison wherever they go, preferably traveling in groups."

Lord An Guo nodded in agreement: "Indeed, I used to think that the saying 'poor mountains and treacherous waters breed villainous people' was merely an insult. Now, it seems there are places where self-interest prevails, with no regard for morality or honor. Killing and arson are considered normal."

General Min: "Exactly. Ning Qiang got off lightly. If the Mu family had truly killed him and abandoned his body along with Zhao Hu's in the wilderness, the entire village would have lied, claiming they saw nothing. How could one investigate such a claim?"

Xia Bo concluded: "That is, more or less, what Sister Xing Huang has expressed."

Meng Die nods in approval. "That's good to know."

In the grand encampment, at night.

After a busy day, Li Ai returns to his tent only to find someone already in his bed, infuriating him to the point of kicking the intruder awake without a word.

Tu Ying leaps up, shaking his head anxiously from side to side. "What happened? What's going on?"

Li Ai's face is dark with displeasure. "Why are you sleeping in my bed?"

Assured that no danger lurked nearby, Tu Ying exhaled deeply. "Second Aunt entrusted me with a note for you. Xing Huang was unable to locate you, so she passed it on to me to deliver tonight."

Li Ai received the envelope and was just about to open it when she noticed Tu Ying craning her neck to peek. Li Ai halted her unwrapping motion, saying firmly, "Tu Ying, this is a note from my wife." The words 'my wife' were emphasized with particular weight.

Tu Ying shot him a withering glance, yawned elegantly, then leaned back, effortlessly landing on the bed with her buttocks, adopting a relaxed reclining posture.

Without bothering to open the letter, Li Ai hastily pulled the person up. "Off with you, back to your own tent to sleep."

Tu Ying gently pushed away Li Ai's hand that was holding onto her: "Wait, why does it seem like there's a bulge in your quilt?"

Li Ai fiercely grabbed Tu Ying, who was rushing towards the bed, his words laced with gritted teeth, hinting at a readiness to confront: "This is my bed."

Tu Ying asked, "What's inside your blanket?"

During their time on the front lines, resources were scarce, and they all slept on narrow, hard cots. Now, being in the outskirts of the capital, although they were in tents, many supplies were actually abundant. The most noticeable change was the transition to spacious beds.

Earlier, Tu Ying had grown drowsy waiting for Li Ai and had leaned against the bed to sleep. Though he claimed to be sleeping on it, he had only been resting on the edge, not pulling Li Ai's blanket over himself. Now, fully awake, he realized something was amiss.

Li Ai glanced at Tu Ying with disdain before carefully lifting the blanket. Inside, there was a soft pillow of water-blue color.

Tu Ying's mouth gaped wide open. "This is..."

Li Ai wore a smug expression. "Before I left, Meihong understood the message in my gaze. She's the one who brought it for me."

Tu Ying glanced at Li Ai, then at the pillow. "You stole Second Madam's pillow."

Li Ai bristled with indignation. "What do you mean by stealing? This is simply taking what I need. I found the soft pillow more comfortable when I was staying at home, so I brought one over to use. What's the problem with that?"

Tu Ying sneered, her eyes filled with disbelief. It might be true that a soft pillow is more comfortable, but she absolutely did not believe that such a grand marquisate would lack a new soft pillow. Taking the second lady's pillow over was a transparent ploy.

Li Ai: "A husband and wife are meant to share the same bed." If they couldn't share the bed right now, then sharing a pillow should count, wouldn't it? Was there anything wrong with that? Was there?

Tu Ying curled her lip. "Are you ever going to read what Second Aunt wrote to you or not?"

Li Ai promptly tore open the letter, and upon glimpsing its contents, his playful mood vanished. "I'll go check if Commander is asleep."

Tu Ying eagerly followed suit.

Marquis AnGuo was still awake. Upon learning that Li Ai sought him, he immediately summoned her. "What brings my niece's husband here?"

Li Ai: "How do you know that something is amiss with her?"

Marquis AnGuo chuckled. "I received word earlier today that someone from your household had visited the military camp."

Li Ai nods. "She wishes to inquire about the method used to identify the remains of the fallen soldiers."

The atmosphere within the tent froze. In warfare, casualties were inevitable; it wasn't uncommon for more than one or two lives to be lost in a single battle... Even without sieging a city, clashes between armies of tens of thousands could result in the loss of dozens or even hundreds of lives, and that would be considered normal.

In the Great Yi Dynasty, soldiers were issued identification tags to facilitate the grim task of identifying bodies on the battlefield. However, in the chaos of war, it was all too common for corpses to be mutilated beyond recognition. Take for instance a soldier, let's call him Soldier A, whose identification tag is found intact amidst the carnage, but he has lost an arm. Elsewhere, several arms are discovered—how can one determine which among them belongs to Soldier A? And which to Soldier B? It would be both impractical and disrespectful to bury soldiers in such incomplete states or to mistakenly attach another man's limb to a body. The harsh reality of war rendered even the simplest acts of dignity a complicated affair.

This requires skilled professionals to employ various methods to identify them, ensuring that fallen soldiers are laid to rest with their bodies intact.