PFC Chapter 198 Which is more important, etiquette or your mother?
Chapter 198 Which is more important, etiquette or your mother?
Ye Xiumu removed his mask, revealing a face that bore a striking resemblance to Ye Yaoyao.
"They look so alike, like they were carved from the same template."
"It's you! You're the one who severely injured me."
Ye Mian pointed at Ye Xiumu through gritted teeth.
"You've harmed my daughter multiple times, beating you up is too lenient," Ye Xiumu sneered disdainfully.
Madam Ye originally thought Ye Yaoyao was the emperor's illegitimate daughter, and after finding out, she dared not scold her to her face.
Hearing that it was the father and daughter who had beaten him, they viciously lunged at Ye Xiumu.
"It was you, adulterer, who injured my son."
The yamen runners came over and restrained the person.
Ye Xiumu's gaze shot towards Old Madam Ye like an icy blade, and he coldly snorted:
"Old hag, how dare you shout like that? You live a life of wealth and luxury thanks to the Liu family. You have made things difficult for Yun Shu and her daughter in every way, and committed countless evil deeds. I only regret that I was not able to cut that beast Ye Mian into a thousand pieces!"
Now that your crimes have been exposed, the laws of Qin will punish you accordingly.
The Ye family is finished, and even in death, Old Madam Ye is determined to drag Liu Yunshu down with her.
"More than ten years ago, Liu Yunshu was still my Ye family's daughter-in-law, and she had an illegitimate child with her lover."
"My lord, she is morally deficient, she is guilty, Liu Yunshu should be drowned in a pig cage."
An old man shook his head as he looked at the mess at the Ye family's house, and at the same time felt that Liu Yunshu's conduct was morally flawed.
His tone was full of reproach: "Liu Yunshu comes from an official family and should have known the four words 'propriety, righteousness, integrity, and shame' since childhood."
A woman's chastity is the foundation of her character, yet she... had an affair and had a child. How can this save face for her family? How can her husband's family bear this?
Then someone came out and shouted:
“The Ye family is guilty and can be punished according to the laws of Qin. Those who have violated the Seven Grounds for Divorce should also be punished according to the law.”
A woman standing at the very front of the door, looking excited, shouted:
“Our Great Qin Kingdom is a land of propriety and law, where women are traditionally expected to remain faithful to one husband until death. My husband died a year after we got married, and I have been a widow for fifteen years now, without even a memorial arch for my chastity.”
People point and whisper about me just because I exchanged a few words with a man. What did I do wrong by losing my husband?
If adulterers can be tolerated, what does the suffering of widows matter?
The woman's words were like a pebble thrown into a calm lake, stirring up waves both inside and outside the courtroom. Everyone echoed her sentiments, and righteous indignation spread through the air.
“The woman is right.”
"To commit such a scandalous act as a married woman, to have an affair and bear a child with another man, is utterly disgraceful and a disgrace to all women in the world!"
"Liu Yunshu must be punished, otherwise where is justice? Where is the law?"
Lord Mu slammed his gavel and said loudly, "Silence! Silence! In this courtroom, I will certainly make a fair judgment in accordance with the laws of the Great Qin Dynasty, and will not favor either side."
Ye Xiumu stepped forward and said, "Yun Shu has always been a dutiful wife since she got married. It was my passion poison that caused me to bully her back then. It has nothing to do with her. If anyone should be blamed, it should be me."
Upon hearing this, the courtroom fell silent instantly. Everyone stared at Ye Xiumu in shock, as if they couldn't believe their ears.
Ye Xiumu is a pillar of the nation; how many men can shoulder such responsibility?
Ye Yaoyao nodded. In the patriarchal era, women were extremely harsh.
My dad is a real man; a good husband should protect his woman.
Ye Yaoyao glanced approvingly at her father, then looked at Qin Yunshang.
[System, is this an online troll hired by Qin Yunshang?]
Yes, host, that widow has remained a widow for fifteen years, and she harbors a lot of resentment.
[Who is that old man on the far right?] Ye Yaoyao looked at the wise-looking old man.
[He was Fang Zhiru, a renowned literary figure, a stubborn old man, but not as popular as Mr. Hua; he was all brought here by Qin Yunshang.]
[Hmph! Her own life is such a mess, yet she has the nerve to talk about my mother. Just wait until I get my hands on her.]
"Absurd! Even if one suffers misfortune and loses one's reputation, one should die to prove one's innocence and preserve one's honor!" the widow roared again.
Ye Yaoyao and the others' faces darkened upon hearing this.
Ye Yaoyao looked at Fang Zhiru, who was over fifty years old, wearing a plain-colored long robe, a square scarf on his head, and had a white beard.
Ye Yaoyao asked, "Mr. Fang, I've heard you're a renowned literary figure. I'd like to ask you, what's most important to you?"
"Naturally, it is morality and etiquette. What distinguishes humans from animals is etiquette. Etiquette is the means to rectify oneself, clarify relationships, and maintain order in the world."
If people are not restrained by propriety, they will become unrestrained, extravagant, and indulge in their desires. How are they different from the beasts of the mountains and forests, and the fish and shellfish of the rivers and lakes?
Ye Yaoyao's lips twitched when he mentioned classical Chinese.
"Which is more important, morality, etiquette, or your mother?"
Fang Zhiru was slightly taken aback, not understanding why Ye Yaoyao had asked such a question. He frowned and replied unhappily:
"What does this mean? Morality and etiquette are the foundation of a nation and the basis of being a person, so they are naturally important. But the kindness of a mother in giving birth and raising a child should not be forgotten either; there is no conflict between the two."
Ye Yaoyao laughed, "Old sir, you keep talking about morality and etiquette, but what if your mother was like my mother back then, unable to control her own fate and losing her reputation?"
Do you think she should prove her innocence with her death? Then tell me, if that were the case, would you still be here?
"Nonsense! My mother was a virtuous and kind woman, a perfect wife and mother. How could she be like that?"
Fang Zhiru was extremely filial to his mother and could not bear to hear such words.
"Mr. Fang's achievements are undoubtedly due to his loving mother's guidance. How many people in the world have been able to grow up safely and become successful thanks to their mothers' painstaking protection?"
It is said that kings and nobles are born with their titles? Does this mean that a mother like this is destined to have a child who cannot succeed?
Should such a woman be deprived of her right to live because of temporary misfortune, because of this so-called morality and etiquette?
Ye Yaoyao's words made many people fall into deep thought.
Fang Zhiru's face flushed red, and he shouted angrily, "You...you little girl, you're just being unreasonable! A woman's chastity is a matter of public morals, how can it be compared to the kindness of raising and nurturing?"
"Sir, in my opinion, morality and etiquette are meant to guide people toward goodness and maintain social order."
In my opinion, that widow who had been widowed for fifteen years was a victim of the social norms and customs.
She wasted the best years of her life, but what did she gain? Only misunderstanding and abuse from others.
I believe that etiquette and law should be relaxed to a certain extent; otherwise, what is the point of etiquette and law if they become shackles that bind and harm people?
Furthermore, my mother suffered misfortune back then, yet for the sake of the child in her womb, she endured the guilt of being unfaithful. Isn't that a great maternal love?
Furthermore, if a woman loses her so-called chastity, she will be condemned by everyone and lose the right to live.
There must be many women like that in the world; are they destined to live such lives?
Apart from Ye Yaoyao's voice, the courtroom was very quiet; most people felt that what Ye Yaoyao said made sense.
Some people deeply influenced by traditional ideas, though touched, still felt that Ye Yaoyao's words were contrary to etiquette.