A son who doesn't resemble his father? Love you, old man, see you at Xuanwu Gate!

Chapter 262 The Way of Seduction
Bright lights.

The embroidered-robed envoy released his grip, and Dong Yan, the General of Ping Le of the Great Han Dynasty, was thrown to the ground, motionless, as if lifeless.

Zhang Tang stood there, looking at the almost frantic Princess Pingyang, and said, "Princess, you will never see His Majesty."

"With the sword bestowed upon me by the Empress Dowager in my hand, who dares to stop me? Who dares to stop me?"

The shrill voice, the repetitive tone, and the raised sword all testified to Princess Pingyang's fear.

Despite the menacing aura of the sword, Zhang Tang seemed oblivious and slowly said, "There are six thousand Embroidered Uniform Guards here. The Princess's strength is not enough to kill them all."

The calm voice made Princess Pingyang pause. No matter how sharp the sword bestowed by the Empress Dowager was, how many people could it kill? Two or three people?

Even if there were ten times or a hundred times more, Princess Pingyang would still not be able to break through the Embroidered Uniform Guard's obstruction and escape Chang'an to see His Majesty.

Zhang Tang stepped aside, and the embroidered-robed envoys he brought also parted to make way. Two prison carts were waiting outside. "Princess, Marquis of Pingyang, please."

"What crime have I committed?" Princess Pingyang stood there, unmoving.

"He is guilty of adultery, and according to the law, he should be beheaded."

“Serving a princess privately is a crime punishable by death! I am a princess, and the laws of the Han Dynasty do not apply to me,” Princess Pingyang said angrily, brandishing her sword for self-defense.

Dong Yan, who was lying on the ground, trembled, and the light in his eyes dimmed completely.

The idea that princes should be punished the same as commoners is ultimately a beautiful hope. In the laws of the Han Dynasty, serving a princess privately was a capital offense, but the princess who was served was innocent. Different laws for the same crime is a privilege.

“This law, which corrupts public morals, disrupts marriage ceremonies, and undermines the late emperor’s system, can it be applied to the eldest princess?” Zhang Tang retorted.

There are two sides to every story. Indeed, according to the laws of the Han Dynasty, the princess was not guilty of the crime of serving a concubine in private. However, the laws of the Han Dynasty also included the crime of immoral conduct between men and women.

Moreover, this crime was established by Emperor Xiaojing. During Emperor Xiaojing's reign, a trend of licentiousness gradually emerged, and Emperor Xiaojing issued a decree to curb it: "Anyone who corrupts the morals of men and women, regardless of social status, shall be punished by having their genitals cut off for men and being imprisoned for women, with the penalty of death."

This is the legendary "castration punishment".

It has existed since ancient times as a form of punishment for inappropriate sexual relations between men and women.

During the Warring States period, the son of Meng advised the King of Qin to "govern the country with benevolence and righteousness," which angered the King of Qin, who then "punished him with castration."

During the reign of Emperor Xiaowen, he considered this punishment too cruel and abolished castration and other corporal punishments. However, it was reinstated during the reign of Emperor Jing of Han.

The practice of cutting off women is self-evident and has remained consistent throughout history. However, "confinement" in ancient times simply meant imprisoning a female criminal.

The commonly used method today is "Zhuqiao".

"Zhuo" means to knock or strike. When performing "Zhuoqiao", a person holds a wooden mallet and strikes the female prisoner's abdomen and chest until the place of conception prolapses.

Then a leatherworker was brought in to sew it together with a hammer, thread, and other tools; this is called "sewing the secluded tower".

"I am a princess of the Han Dynasty, how dare this traitorous grandson treat me like this?"

The betrayal by her father, the emperor, terrified Princess Pingyang to the point that she lost her voice.

To be confined to a secluded chamber or a hidden tower is more insulting than death itself.

“The eldest princess is respected. To impose this punishment would be an insult to the royal dignity and is therefore unacceptable.”

Zhang Tang's face was as cold as stone. "What about the Emperor Meidao?" "In the past, His Majesty was in his prime, and he was able to concentrate on studying the Six Classics, pay attention to handling state affairs, follow the prosperous times of Tang and Yu, and admire the wise rulers of the Xia, Shang, and Zhou dynasties."

The eldest princess did not heed the admonitions of Confucian classics to study, but instead indulged in extravagance and luxury, reveling in the pleasures of dogs, horses, sensual pleasures, and eroticism. She walked the path of evil and depravity, bewitching the world with her seductive teachings, turning herself into a demon, making it impossible for the emperor to extricate himself from her influence. Gradually, she became incompetent and dissolute, neglecting state affairs and nearly ruining the Han Dynasty. Eldest princess, what is the verdict of this crime?

Zhang Tang clapped his hands, and another embroidered messenger led a sorceress dressed in Chu clothing into the Marquis's residence.

The art of seduction has a very early origin.

The Zhou Li (Rites of Zhou) mentions the duties of the Inner Steward: "Teach the Nine Attendants according to the laws of women's duties, so that each has a subordinate to perform two tasks, correct their clothing, prohibit their strange clothes, and enable them to perform their duties."

As early as the pre-Qin period, the art of seduction was secretly practiced in the palace or among powerful families, and the court had dedicated officials to prohibit it.

During the Han Dynasty, the practice of seduction was still strictly prohibited. "There was also a palace prohibition, which stated, 'Those who dare to practice the seduction method...'" However, what the law forbids is precisely what exists.

During the reign of Emperor Jing of Han and the current Emperor, not only was it forbidden, but the two emperors of the Han Dynasty even indulged it. What about flattery or not flattery? My sister is going to great lengths to find beauties for me to enjoy. Is she trying to harm me?
During the reign of Emperor Xiaojing, Princess Dou was his beloved elder sister. In the current Emperor's reign, Princess Pingyang is his beloved elder sister.

Princess Dou used to "bewitch the emperor with women," but Princess Pingyang went even further, presenting not only Empress Wei and Lady Li, but also Dong Yan.

Simple seductive arts are not enough to be a crime. The reason why seductive arts practitioners were severely punished in the Han Dynasty was that seductive arts were usually accompanied by cruel spellcasting methods and cursing others, even the emperor.

At best, they spit on people's backs and verbally curse them; at worst, they cut off the limbs of infants to perform evil magic. Some even build "shrines" to offer sacrifices to evil gods and pray for curses.

In short, the crime of using witchcraft has only been set aside by Emperor Xiaojing and the current emperor, but that doesn't mean it has disappeared. Witchcraft and secret incantations are all branches of the practice of using witchcraft.

The Embroidered Robe Envoy discovered that when Princess Pingyang presented Lady Li to the emperor at the Ganquan Palace, she secretly used witchcraft and seductive arts. On one hand, she hoped that Lady Li would gain the emperor's favor, and on the other hand, she hoped that Empress Wei and the Emperor of the Great Han would die young.

Princess Pingyang resented Wei Qing's indifference and refused to marry him, hoping that the Emperor would return to the court and rule the country one day, so that her position and that of the Marquis of Pingyang's family would be more secure.

The sorceress who performed the witchcraft, or rather, the sorceress exclusively used by Princess Pingyang, was this "Chu woman".

Upon seeing the Chu woman, Princess Pingyang knew that all was lost, and her eyes returned to their icy coldness.

"According to the laws of the Han Dynasty, those who practice flattery will be exiled for minor offenses and executed in public for serious offenses."

Zhang Tang revealed the punishments for flattery, and said indifferently, "Furthermore, the Embroidered Robe Envoy has found evidence that the Princess secretly commissioned craftsmen to forge weapons and armor. The Princess may be plotting treason!"

"Grand Minister of Works".

Just then, Jiang Bo led two ministers who participated in government affairs, King Liu Zhu of Chu and King Liu Ji of Hejian, into the Marquis's residence, saying, "His Majesty has given orders."

Zhang Tang bowed.

Jiang Bo, Liu Zhu, and Liu Ji approached Princess Pingyang. Liu Zhu began, "Aunt, His Majesty is magnanimous and will not punish us for treason. As long as you..."

"What if I also disappear from public view and go to that so-called 'Lost Land'?"

Princess Pingyang interrupted him, laughing almost maniacally, "Looking down on me from your high position, not punishing me for treason, and feigning pity—that's the power of your sovereign! First you take me down, then demote me to a commoner and imprison me for life! I, Princess Pingyang, would rather die than submit!"

"Mother, your unfilial daughter has come to see you!"

Having said that, Princess Pingyang raised the Dragon and Phoenix Sword and slashed it towards her neck...

(End of this chapter)