Chapter 31

Chapter 31

The Chen family had witnessed many rises and falls within the imperial city. Usually, Chen Ping felt that those people and events had nothing to do with him. But today, standing outside Shuntian Prefecture and listening to the Dowager of Anxin Marquis Estate speak, he suddenly felt she was close to him.

"I must be crazy. That's the Dowager!" Chen Ping said to himself in his heart.

Yet, he still felt she was close to everyone. It was said that a long time ago, there was an emperor who, upon hearing that the common people had no food to eat, asked why they didn't eat meat. Such a thing would never happen with the Dowager.

Even though she had become the Dowager, she still considered herself an ordinary citizen. When she saw herself as a person of power, she would think for the powerful. When she saw herself as a commoner, she could still see the suffering of the ordinary people.

After the emotions of the crowd settled down, Wan Shang received a box from Zhan Mubao.

Inside the box were the loan agreements issued by the corrupt steward, Piao. Holding the box, Wan Shang said, "Inside are the contracts for the usurious loans issued by that evil servant, which are also the evidence of his violation of the law. Today, I decide that after the case is heard, these contracts will no longer be useful, and the entire box will be burned, freeing all those who signed the contracts from any further obligations."

The spectators continued to cheer.

Wan Shang handed the box to the official from the Dali Temple who had escorted them out. The official received the box and immediately became serious, indicating that he would follow the Dowager's instructions. Those who borrowed money from the criminal would not have to repay it.

The Shuntian Prefecture official had shown great respect to Wan Shang from the moment she entered, as she bore a high-ranking imperial title. Even purely out of etiquette, the official should indeed show respect. His rank was several levels lower than Wan Shang's.

But just now, standing behind Wan Shang and listening to her speak to the common people outside, the official's respect became more genuine. At least, Zhan Mubao noticed from the corner of his eye that the official's expression became more serious, paying even closer attention to Wan Shang's words and actions. When he bowed to Wan Shang, he bowed a little deeper.

"My mother is the greatest!" Zhan Mubao thought to himself.

The crowd might have only heard righteousness and a sense of justice from Wan Shang's speech. But as a civil official, he understood the intricacies. Wan Shang's clear stance was not just about righteousness; her words were aimed at undermining the very foundations of the aristocratic families!

What do aristocratic families rely on to exist in society?

One word: "ritual."

Without mentioning ritual, aristocratic families would be similar to local warlords.

Of course, aristocratic families were also local warlords, but not all local warlords could be called aristocratic families. The dignity and superior status of aristocratic families came from "ritual." Ritual was a kind of "rule." They created a set of rules and then declared themselves to be superior within those rules. They were the sole authority in the world.

Even if someone else had power, as long as they accepted this set of rules, they would naturally be looked down upon by the aristocratic families.

This set of rules was not without merit. In fact, the rules themselves were advanced, at least slightly more advanced than the current mainstream civilization, because only advanced civilizations could attract people to follow them. There were many admirable aspects within these rules. If a person truly followed them, they would likely be respected.

The problem was that the rules were set by the aristocratic families, and the aristocratic families were also the players. In other words, the aristocratic families were both the referees and the players, and in the end, they declared themselves the champions of the game, which didn't stand up to scrutiny.

And if these rules no longer existed?

Or if the aristocratic families were no longer the authority to interpret these rules?

Then the aristocratic families would have nothing special.

Once aristocratic families lost their special status, if something happened, either due to external forces that caused them to lose their wealth or internal reasons that led to a shortage of talented individuals, they would "become just like everyone else" and disappear into the tide of history.

The Shuntian Prefecture official also had doubts in his heart. Wasn't the Dowager said to be a rural village woman? Could a village woman have the vision and courage to do such a thing?

Oh, wait, "village woman" seemed to be her own self-description, right?

To dare to use such a self-description in public, she was either truly plain and simple or unfathomable. Since she used her weakest point to describe herself, could others still attack her with this? Certainly not!

The official thought that even if there was indeed a strategist behind the Dowager, this aura could not be taught casually; it had to be innate. If he hadn't personally received the Dowager today, he wouldn't have believed she was so formidable.

Thinking this, his back involuntarily bent a little more. Because he realized that the person in front of him was no longer just a lucky village woman but a political figure, and this political figure also held a high-ranking imperial title.

Wan Shang did not pay attention to the official's complex thoughts; she continued to look at the onlookers outside the prefecture.

She said, "This wicked servant didn't have the chance to commit more crimes, as he was caught just a few days after engaging in usury. All that has resulted is one family being forced to sell their wife and children. The man who sold his wife is surnamed Zhang, and because he once injured his face, leaving a scar near his eyebrow, people call him Zhang Ba, a notorious gambler and rogue. I wonder if any of you have heard of him?"

The crowd exchanged glances. Was the Dowager Marquise really about to… chat casually with them?

One person in the crowd summoned the courage to say, "I know him! He lives in East Mao'er Hutong. His family used to have three proper tiled-roof rooms, but he has gambled away the main house and the eastern wing. What a wastrel! His wife and son are truly pitiful!"

Another person chimed in, "Oh, I know who you're talking about! That gambler! He gambled away everything in his house. It’s said his parents were so enraged they died of it. When his father was sick, he took the money for medicine and went to the gambling den."

With such a detailed account, no one doubted the truth of these words. Even those who hadn't heard of Zhang Ba immediately felt disgusted by him. A gambler like that was beyond saving; it wouldn't be over until he had torn his family apart.

Wan Shang said, "That's the man. He borrowed money and couldn't repay it, so he tried to sell his son. Fortunately, his wife is a good woman and sold herself to save her son temporarily. Now, I want to redeem this good wife. Do you all think I should?"

"Yes!" The crowd, having never seen such a down-to-earth noblewoman, shouted in unison.

Wan Shang nodded, as if she were taking their opinions to heart, and continued, "But, as the saying goes, 'help people to the end.' Even if I redeem the wife, with such a gambling husband, it's possible that the wife and son will be sold again. If I didn't know about this, it would be one thing, but now that I do, what do you think I should do?"

"Someone like Zhang Ba shouldn't have a wife to ruin her life! He should be forced to divorce!"

"No, no, we can't force a divorce. What if someone accuses the Dowager Marquise of coercing a commoner into divorce? I think it's better to help Zhang Ba quit gambling!" another person said. This person had been arranged by Wan Shang in advance.

"A dog cannot change its nature; quitting gambling isn't so easy. Divorce is the better choice!"

"Is divorce really better? I know Zhang Ba's family. That woman is pitiful. Her family can't help her, and if she returns to her parents' home, she'll likely be chased out. Besides, if she divorces, she can't take her son with her."

"That's true. The son still carries the Zhang name. If they divorce, the son might not survive without his mother."

...

Everyone earnestly began offering suggestions.

In fact, Wan Shang's original plan had been to help the wife divorce her husband. But then she thought of how, at this time, the father is the head of the household, and the husband is the master of the wife. Even if everyone condemned him for selling his wife and son, if she forced the divorce, who knew if some noble family might come forward to cause trouble? What if they accused her of stealing someone's wife?

Wan Shang wanted to save the woman from her misery but didn't want to get into trouble herself.

So, she thought about setting up something like a sanatorium, where she could lock up the gambling husband and not let him out until he had reformed. That way, even if they didn't divorce, the wife and son could live in peace.

Wan Shang listened carefully to everyone's opinions, and when the crowd had argued enough, she said, "Alright then, I'll redeem Zhang Ba's wife first. Then I’ll establish a facility on my estate to rehabilitate gambling addicts. I'll put Zhang Ba in there, and he won't be released until he has changed for the better. However, while Zhang Ba is on my estate, he will need to work to earn his keep. What do you all think?"

"That's a great idea!"

"Yes, it's not like he's being sold into slavery; he's just helping with some work."

"The Dowager Marquis is truly wise!"

Wan Shang turned to the Shuntian official, "Do you think this plan will work? Once Zhang Ba is on my estate, he won't be able to leave easily. As long as we don’t make him sign a contract of servitude, it won’t be seen as forcing a decent person into a lowly position, and there will be no question of the Anxin Marquis Estate bullying people."

The Shuntian official put on a smile, "The Dowager Marquise is truly kind-hearted."

Wan Shang chuckled softly. The official’s smile widened even more. Wan Shang nodded and then turned back to the crowd, waving her hands, "Alright, everything has been settled. I'm going home now. You all should go home too!"

The crowd fell silent for a moment, then erupted into even louder cheers. Shouts of "The Dowager Marquis is wise!" began with just one or two voices but quickly spread. In an instant, everyone was shouting about how wise the Dowager Marquise was.

Wan Shang shouted, "I'm just upholding the law; it's nothing to praise. I can stand here thanks to the clear and peaceful world we live in, and what I am most grateful for is His Majesty the Emperor. Come, let's all shout, 'His Majesty is wise!'"

The cries of "His Majesty is wise!" echoed from the gates of the Shuntian Mansion, spreading down the street and beyond.

Amidst the cheers of the people, the atmosphere in the capital seemed to subtly shift.

What exactly had changed?