Chapter 1360 – The Ladies’ Tea Party (3)
Yang Si was in a terrible mood, absolutely terrible!
Even Dian Yin, who was not very perceptive, could see that, despite the dim candlelight in the room, Yang Si’s face was darker than a stormy cloud ready to unleash a downpour.
Dian Yin cleared his throat, nervously gathering his thoughts, clearly stating his purpose.
The more Yang Si listened, the gloomier his expression became, as if a tempest was imminent.
Dian Yin cautiously asked, “What does the Military Adviser think about this matter?”
“What can I think? Naturally, we must send someone to drag them all out! Are we supposed to wait for the Lord to ask about this?” Yang Si gritted his teeth, “Favoring concubines while belittling the wife, disregarding propriety—they really think this is just a private family matter outsiders can’t interfere with, right? In a couple of days, it’s the New Year feast. If these people attend, the Lord will only feel more displeased when he remembers this later. Better to handle it swiftly!”
If the Lord was unhappy, those subjects would never have a peaceful New Year, something Yang Si understood all too well.
Dian Yin nodded, though military affairs were fewer than civil ones, if the Lord sincerely wanted to stir up trouble for someone, he wouldn’t care whether they were civil or military!
“This kind of vile behavior must not be condoned.”
Dian Yin shared the same sentiment as his wife, Lu Xiniang.
As the saying goes, “Cultivate oneself, regulate the family, govern the state, and bring peace to the world.” If one’s moral character is corrupt, the family’s values distorted, how could such a person be good in the officialdom?
Yang Si said, “Send someone to find out exactly who is involved; first, capture the most troublesome ones, then prepare a memorial to present to the Lord.”
With the New Year’s Eve feast just two days away, Yang Si didn’t want to see these rascals at the banquet ruining his appetite.
Investigating these matters wasn’t difficult; those ladies often chatted during tea parties, and the household management wasn’t too strict.
After spending a day, Yang Si obtained the first list. He glanced at it and sneered coldly.
“If I don’t give you a good lesson, then you can write my name backwards!”
When it comes to being small-minded and holding grudges, Yang Si was definitely among the top three under Jiang Pengji.
Last night, Dian Yin had spoiled his plans, but Yang Si could let that go for now; these instigators of favoring concubines over wives needed to be skinned alive!
“Someone, prepare the carriage!”
When Yang Si arrived, Jiang Pengji was busy checking accounts with Xu Ke.
Waging war is a costly endeavor; even after victory, not much profit comes back. She also had to reward the meritorious generals and reward the soldiers… If it weren’t for the thriving back-end industries, this year’s finances would likely be in the red… Even so, frugality would be necessary for next year.
Jiang Pengji said to Xu Ke, “Xiaoyu, budget the expenses for next year and get the results to me as soon as possible. If the treasury lacks silver, I’ll have to supplement it from my private funds… The good fields in Hujun have been burned too badly, it might affect grain prices, so send people to keep a close watch…”
She spoke at length, and Xu Ke listened attentively, jotting down notes if he couldn’t remember everything.
After half an hour, Jiang Pengji felt a bit parched and took a sip of warm water to soothe her throat.
At that moment, she heard Yang Si’s arrival.
“Why is Jingrong here at this time? What’s the matter?”
Jiang Pengji was well aware of the personalities among her subordinates. Wei Ci and Feng Jin were diligent models, doing a lot while eating little.
Yang Si, Feng Zhen, and others were quite different; they loved to stir up trouble, fully knowing they still had to do what needed to be done afterward, yet they still enjoyed the racket.
She genuinely couldn’t understand what they found attractive in that.
With a serious expression, Yang Si presented a memorial. Jiang Pengji thought something major had occurred and took it with a solemn face—
“What’s the deal with these people?” Jiang Pengji raised an eyebrow, disgust flickering in her eyes, “Favoring concubines over the wife?”
“Disregarding propriety, favoring concubines over the wife, that’s one issue.” Yang Si replied, “Overstepping boundaries, acting against the law, that’s another.”
Xu Ke beside them couldn’t help but twitch a finger, deeply wondering which unfortunate soul had offended Yang Si to this extent.
They didn’t know that Yang Si was ranked number one among the rulers’ subordinates for being petty and holding grudges!
Offending Qi Guanrang and Feng Zhen wasn’t too frightening; you might lose your future, but your life would stay intact.
Offending Yang Si, however, was another story; this fellow could make someone’s life a living hell. How severely he dealt with someone depended on how much they offended him.
Disregarding propriety, favoring concubines over the wife; overstepping boundaries, acting against the law.
The first could be mitigated and punished lightly based on circumstances, but the latter was different; in serious cases, it could implicate entire families.
Jiang Pengji also noticed Yang Si’s seriousness and curiously asked, “This wind of favoring concubines over wives cannot be tolerated, but what about this overstepping?”
Yang Si replied, “Those who achieve success and are conferred titles ought to provide for eight concubines. Just look at these people—who among them has achieved such great merit to deserve such honor?”
According to the old rules, taking concubines wasn’t simply a matter of desire; it had to do with whether a man had the capabilities to support that many. If someone lacked the qualifications yet dared to take so many concubines, that would be overstepping and disdain for the law! Light penalties would involve demotion, heavy ones could lead to extermination of the family.
Yang Si continued, “Please look at the top few names, they have seven or eight concubines in their courtyards. Only three of these women have crossed the threshold of legitimacy, while the others are still considered mere maidservants, yet they’re treated as concubines in the household, clearly with the master’s consent.”
Jiang Pengji’s gaze slid down the list; the top had only four names, while the bottom had over twenty.
“Though these people may not be as arrogant and reckless as the former, they still have wives and three or four concubines,” Yang Si noted her movement and offered an explanation, “Ancient rites state that a noble can have one wife and one concubine, while commoners can have one husband and one wife. These individuals are of low birth or have minimal family background, and their accomplishments in the officialdom are negligible. To be so reckless and brazen by taking three or four concubines before making a name for themselves is absurd!”
With such a lack of status and standing, who gave them such courage?
What sort of character did they think they had, without self-awareness?
Yang Si was a clever man; he wouldn’t use simple and crude reasons to deal with someone he wanted to ruin.
For many men, marrying and taking concubines was a point of pride in life. Even if they publicly condemn it, secretly, they still envy it.
If Yang Si approached this matter from that angle, there was a high chance he could take someone down, but it could easily backfire and earn him more enemies.
Thus, he preferred to raise the banner of justice and authority when he set out to deal with people, letting them suffer without a chance to retaliate.
Jiang Pengji nodded, “What you say holds true. However—I see someone on this list has a special mark. What’s his story?”
Yang Si sneered, “This person is the most detestable! He brazenly allowed a pregnant concubine to move into the main residence, referring to her as ‘Lady’ and treating concubines as wives. This man is unkind as a husband and uncaring as a father. His mother fails to educate her descendants and instill proper family values, instead aiding and abetting his wrongdoing! From what I’ve discovered, his daughter-in-law has not committed any major transgressions; she is dutiful to her in-laws and raises her children well. Yet, to force her to yield, his mother publicly slapped her for a quarter of an hour, punishing her to kneel on the stone floor in the rain for a day and night—what a scandal!”
Each word Yang Si spoke was heavy and impactful, even Xu Ke was swayed by it.
Despite everyone knowing Yang Si wasn’t one to meddle in others’ affairs, they still felt compelled to give him a call for this stand.
Yang Jingrong, a true man!
