TPITWOHEF

Chapter 178

"Every scholar's wife knows to respect her husband as if he were heaven. But in our family, it's all upside down!"

"The palace concubines are rebelling! Do they even dare to beat the emperor?"

"Where's the law? Your Honor, you must give me justice!"

Chen Dazhu refused to leave or let the yamen officials call for a doctor. He insisted on staying at the yamen's entrance, covered in wounds, causing a scene.

More and more common folk and scholars gathered around.

"According to the law, if a wife beats her husband, she should be imprisoned for a year."

"But it wasn't his wife who beat him. The emperor ordered Consort Liu to do it."

People debated, some reasonable, others disapproving of a woman beating a man.

"Chen Dazhu is right to make a fuss. The palace consort is in the wrong. What law did Chen Dazhu break? He just beat his own wife and asked for her sewing money!"

"When a woman marries into a man's family, she becomes his property!" Even some older women were saying this.

The Ji sisters felt chilled to the bone.

Women themselves were speaking up for men.

But there were many such older women, especially those with sons.

"If my daughter-in-law were this fierce, not giving money to my son and having him beaten, I'd divorce her immediately! What sin did we commit to bring such bad luck into the family?"

Chen Dazhu's wife, even standing next to Liu Chaniang, turned pale and seemed about to faint.

The palace maid Qiu Li immediately put her hands on her hips and retorted, "Old woman, why don't you ask why my lady beat him?"

"Chen Dazhu beat his wife. We all just saw it. My lady didn't hit him even once more than necessary. All his wounds are from his own evil deeds!" Qiu Li was quick to speak up.

"Isn't it normal to beat your wife?"

"Who hasn't done it a few times? I don't believe it."

"Those lazy wives need to be taught a lesson... they won't work unless you beat them."

A group of men immediately chimed in with their muttering.

They didn't dare confront Consort Liu directly, but they were brave enough to speak up for Chen Dazhu from the corners and hidden in the crowd.

Liu Chaniang closed her eyes. Only now did she understand why her daughter often said that progress in improving women's status was so slow.

For the women of Jing Country to stand up, there were still many obstacles ahead.

However, she wasn't afraid!

No matter how difficult this path was, she would continue to walk it!

A little progress today, a little more tomorrow, and one day they would achieve their goal!

With this thought, Liu Chaniang pressed her lips together and looked at Magistrate Li of the capital. "Not only did I beat him today, but I will beat him again tomorrow."

Chen Dazhu's eyes bulged.

Liu Chaniang stood her ground. "If he beats women again in the future and you don't imprison him or punish him for public assault, I will continue to whip him, carrying out justice on behalf of heaven."

"Bravo!"

"Well said, My Lady!" A group of seamstresses cheered enthusiastically, and Chen Dazhu's wife's eyes turned red with emotion.