Ming Dynasty: I, Yan Maoqing, am truly radiating auspicious energy!

Chapter 110 Honor Execution
"Adultery without a husband..."

Upon hearing this, Yan Shifan gradually loosened his grip on Zhang Yusheng's collar, personally smoothing out his clothes while pondering the weight of those four words.

If this crime can be proven, eighty strokes of the cane each for Yan Maoqing and his wife would be a lenient punishment.

The punishments imposed by society and clan are truly severe.

At that time, the court and the people will surely work together to expel Yan Maoqing, this immoral and depraved scoundrel. Not only will he be stripped of his newly acquired academic title, but he will also be demoted to a commoner and reduced to a roadside ditch.

Once such a situation is formed, no matter how much the emperor previously favored this bastard, he absolutely cannot openly stand up to protect this bastard.

Otherwise, this would put us in opposition to the official schools of the court, which could shake the very foundation of the nation's destiny!
Of course, between Yan Maoqing and his wife, the one who suffered the most was definitely his wife.

Such immoral and scandalous premarital and adulterous behavior, which tarnishes the family's reputation, is usually more harshly judged on women than men.

To protect their reputation, families usually prefer to handle matters secretly rather than making a scene in court and letting the whole city know.

This so-called "secret internal handling" is, to put it bluntly, somewhat similar to the "honor executions" carried out on women in later India when young men and women violated caste segregation.

This would both help to clear the family's name to some extent and allow the family to withdraw from the public opinion storm as soon as possible.

Even if they couldn't bring themselves to do it, the lightest punishment would be expulsion from the family, never to return home again.

This is actually just another form of "honor execution," and may even be more cruel.

After all, in this era, for a young woman expelled from her family to walk alone in the outside world, surviving might only be more miserable than dying.

Therefore, most women who reach this point usually have no choice but to hang themselves from a crooked tree outside the village...

The more Yan Shifan thought about it, the more he felt that Zhang Yusheng's method was extremely valuable.

If this matter can be accomplished, Yan Maoqing will be devastated, his family will be destroyed, and he will never have a chance to turn his life around again!

The only question now is whether the information provided by Zhang Yusheng is true and credible.

He was more inclined to believe Zhang Yusheng's account.

Because such things were actually quite common in the Ming Dynasty, and basically fell into the category of "if the people don't report it, the officials won't investigate."

After all, a living person can't die from holding in their urine, especially a man like Yan Maoqing who is away from home.

Yan Shifan had heard that some men, when they reached marriageable age but were unable to return to their hometowns to hold a wedding, would usually hold a wedding ceremony in their hometowns without the groom's presence, provided that the parents and elders of both parties had no objections, and then send the bride to live with the groom.

In this way, the marriage can be considered completed, and it can be reasonably explained. Even local officials will not avoid suspicion and can openly and legitimately officiate the marriage.

To put it bluntly, this is the same as the rule that "only those who have studied in the Hanlin Academy can enter the cabinet."

Although neither of them are written laws, they have long been established in the court and among the common people, and almost no one would dare to challenge them.

However, the Great Ming Code was still there, and the Cheng-Zhu school of Neo-Confucianism remained the official school of the Ming Dynasty.

If someone insists on bringing up the "Great Ming Code" and Cheng-Zhu Neo-Confucianism, and publicly attacking Yan Maoqing word by word, and if someone else secretly fuels the flames, they will certainly be met with a barrage of criticism from old scholars and Confucianists who cling to the old system and ancestral teachings.

Never underestimate the influence of these old scholars and Confucianists.

As the saying goes, "Imperial power does not extend to the county level," meaning that education at the grassroots level of Ming society largely relied on them, which was also one of the most important foundations of the Ming dynasty's rule.

Although Cheng-Zhu Neo-Confucianism was a tool for the court to control their ideology, it was also a sharp knife handed to them, often backfiring on them...

I thought so in my heart.

Yan Shifan's only eye remained fixed on Zhang Yusheng, scrutinizing him until Zhang Yusheng felt a chill run down his spine, before he finally spoke and asked:
"What grudge do you hold against Yan Maoqing, and why are you targeting him like this?"

"In response to Young Master Yan, I have no prior grudge against Yan Maoqing. However, I have noticed that Young Master Yan seems to harbor some resentment towards Yan Maoqing, so I dare to offer my humble opinion."

Zhang Yusheng quickly replied with a smile.

He didn't think he was stupid. How could he easily admit that he had a grudge against Yan Maoqing, or that he couldn't stand seeing Yan Maoqing, a fellow newly appointed Jinshi, doing so well, and therefore felt jealous? Wouldn't that make Yan Shifan think that he was using someone else to do his dirty work, and would also make him question Yan Shifan?

"When did I ever say that I harbored resentment towards Yan Maoqing?"

Yan Shifan's face suddenly turned cold, and he glared at him, rebuking him.

Seeing this, Zhang Yusheng felt a pang of fear and quickly said cautiously:

"Just now, the young master even cursed Yan Maoqing as a bastard..."

"Haha, what's this?"

Yan Shifan sneered.
"Go ask around at the Shuntian Prefecture government office. I usually call those low-ranking officials 'bastards,' but it's just a vulgar term used in private."

"This……"

Zhang Yusheng was at a loss for words and stood awkwardly to the side, secretly panicking. Could it be that he had misunderstood again?
He had been cleaning up kitchen waste in the Imperial Kitchen these days, and was often ridiculed by his fellow graduates in private. He was also thinking of taking this opportunity to rely on Yan Shifan to resolve Yan Song's misunderstanding of him and find a way to turn his life around.

Otherwise, if things continue like this, he may never have a chance to rise in the world again.

"However, what I admire most about you is a person like you who upholds righteousness, adheres to principles, and remains steadfast in upholding moral principles."

Unexpectedly, Yan Shifan suddenly changed the subject, personally pouring Zhang Yusheng a cup of wine, clinking glasses with him, and then continuing to toast him with a smile.

“I support you. Yan Maoqing holds the position of a high-ranking official. If he has engaged in any immoral or corrupt behavior, we must not tolerate it. Otherwise, it may tarnish the reputation of Tsinghua University, corrupt the national order, and bring endless disaster.”

"Thank you for your appreciation, young master!"

Zhang Yusheng was flattered and quickly picked up his wine glass and drank it all in one gulp.

"Go, go to the Shuntian Prefecture government office and report this matter."

Yan Shifan then smiled and said,
"The officials in the Shuntian Prefecture are all dedicated to their duties and will handle this matter impartially."

"And I will also lend you a hand. Tomorrow I will send someone back to Jiangxi to find witnesses and evidence that can put this matter to rest."

"Believe me, after this incident, the world will praise your integrity and unwavering principles, and high-ranking officials will favor you greatly. Your future career will be limitless!"

"By the way, I heard that you are now overseeing affairs in the Ministry of Rites, which is in charge of my father's office."

"I just don't know which government office you're working in right now. I'll put in a good word for you with my father, and we can get you a better position soon."

"Zhang Yusheng thanks you again, young master!"

Upon hearing this, Zhang Yusheng was overjoyed and immediately knelt down in worship.
"I am currently observing the administration of the Imperial Kitchen, and I humbly request the guidance of Minister Yan and the young master!"

"Department of Fine Dining?"

Upon hearing just those three words, Yan Shifan knew what his father, Yan Song, thought of Zhang Yusheng, and immediately understood how to proceed. He then said...
"No problem, no problem, it's just a small favor, but we still need to discuss this matter further..."

While speaking.

Yan Shifan pushed the twenty-tael silver ingot that he had just placed on the table as a prize to get Zhang Yusheng drunk to Zhang Yusheng, then took out an even larger silver ingot from his pocket and placed it on top of the ingot. He then said with a beaming smile:

"Keep this money for now, and find an excuse to move out of the Yuzhang Guild Hall tomorrow."

"Only then can I fully support you in this matter without having to worry about appearances, and truly unleash my full potential to help you achieve victory."

"And when my father helps you a lot in the future, you don't need to avoid suspicion, lest someone be jealous and spread rumors."

"What do you think?"

(End of this chapter)