Qin Shi: I only work eight hours

Chapter 136 A Thought That Seems Both Coy and Jest

Xianyang, Ganquan Palace.

Under the dim light of an oil lamp, Zhao Ji was making ice using the method described in Xu Lin's letter.

Before long, she successfully made ice.

"Is it really possible?"

Looking at the ice in the kettle, Zhao Ji's phoenix eyes trembled.

She was very sensitive to heat, and the ice left in Ganquan Palace was only enough for a few days. Xu Lin told her about the method of making ice with saltpeter, which solved her immediate problem!
"As expected, he's the man I'm attracted to!"

Zhao Ji accepted the wine cup offered by Hongzao, looked towards the Xu residence, and thought to herself.

The discovery of the saltpeter ice-making method made her like Xu Lin even more.

……

Two days later.

Xianyang, Xu Mansion.

As evening fell, the sky was ablaze with crimson clouds.

Just as Xu Lin was about to go to Ganquan Palace for one last attempt, Nian Duan suddenly requested an audience.

"What happened?"

Seeing Nian Duan's anxious expression, Xu Lin asked in confusion.

After he finished speaking, he led Nian Duan to the study.

Nian Duan is a well-educated and reasonable person who is rarely impatient.

"gentlemen."

"I have something to say, but I don't know..."

Nian Duan bit her lower lip lightly and asked.

"Speak freely!"

Xu Lin said seriously.

Then he personally poured Nian Duan a bowl of tea, telling her not to rush and to talk about it slowly.

Nian Duan nodded, took the teacup, sipped the tea, and then took out a stack of papers from his pocket, handing them to Xu Lin with both hands.

The scrap paper was covered with names, followed by age and time of death.

"This is?"

After glancing through it briefly, Xu Lin looked puzzled.

"This is a young woman who passed away in the past year near Xianyang due to childbirth."

"Due to premature pregnancy, hundreds of children and dozens of girls have died in the vicinity of Xianyang in the past year."

Nian Duan said in a deep voice.

The agricultural and military system in Xianyang led to many girls being married off at the age of thirteen, or even twelve, resulting in frequent deaths of both mother and child!
As a doctor, Nian Duan does not want such tragedies to continue to happen!

But she was of low status and her voice carried little weight, which is why she came to Xu Lin.

"These are just the numbers I know; the real numbers are likely much higher."

Nian Duan added.

"What was the legal age for women to marry according to Qin law?"

Xu Lin nodded, and then asked.

He really doesn't know anything about this!

"Qin law did not specify the age for women, but it did specify the height."

"As long as one is over six feet two inches tall, they can get married."

Nian Duan answered.

Upon hearing this, Xu Lin fell into deep thought.

One foot in the Qin Dynasty was roughly equivalent to 23 centimeters in later times, so six feet and two inches would be 140 centimeters.

If a girl is 1.4 meters tall, she can reach that height around the age of 15.

Getting married at fifteen would seem too early from a hindsight perspective, but in this era, it was perfectly normal!

What were the regulations regarding marriage for women in the six states of Shandong?

Thinking of this, Xu Lin asked.

"The six states of Shandong were similar to the Qin state."

"But I feel that's wrong."

Nian Duan said with a serious expression.

She believes the age of marriage for women should be postponed.

It is true that this era is male-dominated and female-subordinate, but women are also human beings. Due to early pregnancy, the deaths of both mother and child occur frequently, even daily!
Xu Lin nodded, letting Nian Duan continue.

"I think the age for women to get married should be postponed to seventeen, or even eighteen."

"If that's the case, it could significantly reduce the possibility of two deaths in one pregnancy."

Nian Duan added solemnly.

"What you said makes sense."

"But if that's the case, we'll have far fewer soldiers to fight."

Xu Lindao.

As the saying goes, "Water can carry a boat, but it can also capsize it."

"I think this is a good thing that benefits the people."

"If it can be promoted in Qin, it will definitely change Qin's reputation as a tiger and wolf, and make the common people of the six states east of the mountains yearn for Qin."

"When the Qin army marches east in the future, the common people of the six states east of the mountains might collude with the Qin army from within!"

Nian Duan blinked her beautiful eyes and said.

As the saying goes, "To conquer a city is inferior; to conquer a mind is superior."

"Therefore, I don't think we need that many soldiers who can fight."

Nian Duan continued. Upon hearing this, Xu Lin rubbed his fingers and fell into deep thought.

He agreed with Nian Duan's words, but getting Ying Zheng and the officials to agree to this matter would not be so simple.

"gentlemen."

"Even if the Qin law stipulated that a girl should be six feet two inches tall, many girls still got married even though they couldn't reach that height."

"If the six-foot-two-inch rule could be strictly enforced, many fewer people would die."

He retreated from the initial thought and sought a secondary path.

"really?"

Xu Lin frowned slightly.

"really!"

"Rong'er and I have seen many women who got married at the age of thirteen."

Nian Duan nodded vigorously.

"In that case, you will come with me to Zhangtai Palace."

Xu Lin thought for a moment and then spoke.

He's going to South Korea tomorrow, so this matter can only be dealt with tonight.

Nian Duan is a physician, so it would be more appropriate for her to discuss this matter with Ying Zheng.

"what?"

"Am I going to Zhangtai Palace too?"

Nian Duan, with her elegant demeanor, was startled upon hearing this.

Ying Zheng was the ruler of Qin. A king's anger could cause bloodshed for miles, so she was somewhat nervous.

"You're the one who discovered this, how can you not go?"

"Didn't you just say this was a good thing?"

"Do not be nervous."

Seeing that Nian Duan's breathing was getting faster, Xu Lin took a few steps forward and gently patted Nian Duan's shoulder to comfort her.

After saying this, he and Nian Duan went to Zhangtai Palace together.

When Xu Lin and Nian Duan arrived at Zhangtai Palace, Ying Zheng had just finished reviewing the memorials.

Upon learning that Xu Lin was requesting an audience, Ying Zheng immediately ordered Zhao Gao to take him to his study.

Upon seeing Xu Lin and Nian Duan, Ying Zheng frowned slightly.

Why are there two people here?
Who is the girl to Xu Lin's left?

Mr. Nianduan?

Nian Duan was wearing a long, purplish-red dress; she was gentle and unassuming, and looked every bit like a doctor.

"See your Majesty!"

Xu Lin bowed.

Nian Duan followed closely behind, head down.

"No gift!"

Ying Zheng waved his sleeves.

Then he dismissed the people around him.

"Who is this girl?"

"Mr. Nianduan?"

"Mr. Xu came so late at night, and with a young lady in tow. Could it be that you're asking me to bestow a marriage upon you?"

After the guards had gone far away, Ying Zheng said in a loud, teasing voice.

Upon hearing this, Nian Duan, whose long hair was tied in a low bun, blushed instantly and then looked up at Xu Lin.

"Your Majesty truly sees through everything!"

"I have long admired Mr. Nian Duan..."

Xu Lin said deliberately.

Upon hearing this, Nian Duan blushed even more.

Weren't you here to discuss postponing women's marriages with Ying Zheng?

How did it turn into an arranged marriage?
She admired Xu Lin, but she was almost ten years older than him!
"just kidding."

Seeing Nian Duan's rapid breathing and heaving chest, Xu Lin smiled and said.

Then he took out a stack of straw paper from his sleeve and handed it to Ying Zheng.

Upon hearing this, the gentle and virtuous Nian Duan glared fiercely at Xu Lin.

Xu Lin is getting worse and worse!
Upon seeing the contents of the draft paper, Ying Zheng immediately suppressed his smile.

Seeing this, Xu Lin winked at Nian Duan, who then told Ying Zheng about the recent cases of two deaths in a single pregnancy near Xianyang over the past year, and the benefits of delaying the marriage age for women.

"I will have people strictly implement the matter of six feet and two inches."

"But postponing the marriage age for women is no small matter and requires court discussion."

"I agree with what Mr. Nian Duan said, but this matter is of great importance and cannot be rushed."

After reading it, Ying Zheng's face turned ashen.

Xu Lin once said that taking too big a step can easily lead to trouble, and he wholeheartedly agrees!
He also deeply agreed with Nian Duan's earlier remarks that "water can carry a boat, but it can also capsize it" and "attacking a city is inferior to attacking a mind."

"Thank you, Your Majesty!"

Upon hearing this, Nian Duan bowed and expressed his gratitude.

Ying Zheng waved his hand, then put down the stack of draft paper and looked at Xu Lin.

When will you be arriving in South Korea, sir?

Ying Zheng asked.

As soon as he finished speaking, he personally poured Xu Lin a bowl of tea.

(End of this chapter)