Chapter 1363 – Ladies’ Tea Party (6)
“Even though Yu doesn’t agree, it’s just…” Han Yu sighed, “After all, he’s the biological father.”
According to the filial piety of the times, without a father, there wouldn’t be a child.
If a father were to harm his deaf child, even if he took the child’s life, the worst he’d get would be a few dozen lashes from the authorities.
And that’s for older kids.
If it’s a baby still in swaddling clothes, even if the parents or grandparents choked it to death, they’d be considered blameless.
Han Yu was a clever man, and he vaguely grasped his lord’s intentions.
He didn’t oppose it, but he was worried that the world would be against his lord.
“The obligations of parents to their children are two-fold: one is the gift of life, the other is the nurturance. If we weigh the gift of life, a mother has ten months of hardship, while a father’s is just one night of pleasure. He knows which is more significant, right? If he treats this child well, that’s one thing; but if he often hits and humiliates them, even as a legitimate son, they are worse off than a servant. The child’s inability to carry on the family line due to illness ultimately falls back on the irresponsibility of the father, yet he has the gall to blame the child. What has the child done to deserve this? Doesn’t his conscience hurt?”
Jiang Pengji’s words were like a challenge to the filial piety upheld by society.
If it were other listeners, they would probably jump up in protest immediately.
But Han Yu and Yang Si were rational people; though a bit awkward, they had to admit that their lord had a point.
After all, she was the lord!
“What do you mean, my lord?”
“This child isn’t born of poor stock; his father is a learned man, yet he has ended up like this,” Jiang Pengji said. “If he is like this, what about other children in even harsher circumstances? This father has made his son deaf; would parents with worse conditions, in a fit of rage, break their child’s hands and feet or even kill them? Would they ignore familial bonds and abuse their children?”
The first few sentences let Han Yu and Yang Si remain composed, but the last one sent chills down their spines.
They didn’t know what murderous intent felt like, but they truly felt the air turn icy!
Han Yu said, “Parents and children are blood relatives; while a moment of harshness might injure or cripple, to disregard blood ties…”
Jiang Pengji interjected, “Wenbin, you can ask Jingrong; does such a thing really not happen?”
Upon her words, Yang Si reacted differently from Han Yu. The former felt shock mingled with deep revulsion.
Han Yu looked at Yang Si, his eyes filled with hope and a need for confirmation.
He was a person of integrity, brought up with positive education.
Even after experiencing the ravages of war, that essence hadn’t changed significantly.
It was like someone who lived in the sunlight—how could they be aware of the hardships lurking in the darkness?
Yang Si gazed back at Han Yu, and after a long pause, nodded.
“Although it’s horrifying, such things aren’t uncommon.”
In ancient times, with transportation and communication being primitive, many common people lived their whole lives without wandering far—perhaps just marrying off to a neighboring village or working in the next town. Their living environment was relatively closed off, and the ethics and morals in their minds could hardly restrain them; simplicity didn’t mean enlightenment!
While the bullying of one’s own children wasn’t widespread, it also was not rare.
If a parent could harm their own child, what about other children in the village?
Let alone this era, even in the time of the audience during the live stream, there were numerous cases of men from closed-off villages impregnating or taking advantage of left-behind children! Some shameless old men in their seventies and eighties were capable of such things, not to mention vigorous adult men.
Jiang Pengji’s actions gathered firm support from all the idle viewers, who wished they could shout their backing directly in her ear.
[Genius Guo Fengxiao]: Sigh, even though I know the host is courting disaster, I still hope she can succeed.
[Impishly Drunk Beibei]: The law for the protection of minors! Host, you must withstand the pressure!
[Nostalgic Memory]: Uh, um… if I oppose, will you guys beat me up? I think the host’s intention to protect underage children is good, but it needs to be comprehensive—please don’t turn it into a law that protects minors from crimes!
[When the Music Ends, So Will We]: Indeed, this topic is painful. What about the reckless children who throw babies from tall buildings, or abuse infants, or take a child into an elevator causing a little girl to fall from the eighteenth floor? High-altitude tossing leading to deaths…
[Wrongdoing Pig]: The character above said it well; this is something to pay attention to. Even if they are underage, they must be responsible for their actions. Just think of those rascally kids who escape responsibility due to their age—it makes me want to stab their negligent parents!
[Mo Lan Zhi]: Isn’t it said that if a child isn’t taught, it’s the father’s fault? If a child kills, either the child should be punished, or their parents should bear the consequences!
Perhaps having hit a nerve, the idle audience members burst forth with their grievances.
Who doesn’t have a rascally child by their side? The resentment is high!
Even if they can’t see those reckless children being punished in this world, they could at least get their fill of satisfaction from witnessing the result in other realms.
They were worried that Jiang Pengji wouldn’t take it seriously, so they hurriedly collected various accounts of reckless children causing deaths, resulting in an explosion of negative comments flooding the screen. In fact, there was no need for concern—Jiang Pengji was a person from the future.
The idle viewers worked hard as diligent messengers, while on the other end, Han Yu’s face turned ashen upon hearing Yang Si’s words.
If one could brush off the father’s action of deafening the child with the gift of life, then how could one escape accountability for violating the blood ties of their own child?
Such beasts must face severe punishment!
The law is the bottom line of morality!
Jiang Pengji declared, “Wenbin, you need to understand—whether revising existing laws or creating those that do not yet exist, every word you write now and in the future must have a plethora of examples to demonstrate its validity. Just because you’re unaware of something doesn’t mean it doesn’t exist. The absence of prior laws doesn’t mean that such vile acts are without consequence. The reason I called you here is to entrust you with this heavy responsibility. I have no other words to say, just remember this—it’s time to go all out; no one dares to stop you!”
Who would dare to stop her? She’d just take them down!
Han Yu solemnly bowed, “Wenbin obeys!”
If Wei Ci had been there, he would have seen Han Yu increasingly resemble the Han Yu from his memories.
Throughout the year, Han Yu had spent eleven months out in the fields, gathering countless case files and evidence, tirelessly revising drafts.
Yang Si watched from the side, vaguely sensing a premonition.
His lord’s actions were undoubtedly not a spur-of-the-moment decision; they must have been calculated for a long time.
In taking revenge on those individuals, this became a sharp weapon in Jiang Pengji’s hands, providing a perfect opportunity to strike.
Just as he was pondering, the lord’s gaze fell upon him.
“Jingrong!”
Yang Si quickly stood up from his seat and respectfully bowed, “My lord, please give your orders.”
Jiang Pengji stated, “For this matter, you shall assist Wenbin… If you perform well, I won’t hold your previous deeds against you.”
Yang Si avenged her through his hand, while she leveraged his hand to seize the opportunity.
This is called a reciprocal exchange!
Yang Si, with a bitter expression, swallowed down the acidity rising in his throat and said, “Yes.”
Jiang Pengji added, “If you do well, I’ll allow you to prepare a betrothal gift and propose.”
Han Yu was left utterly bewildered.
What in the world is going on?
His lord and Yang Si, what are they…?
Han Yu felt he had uncovered something he shouldn’t have known.
