Daming: I am the Crown Prince

Chapter 80: Changing customs is not easy
Although he had murderous intentions in his heart, Zhu Yunhuan remained calm on the surface.

After having the "Great Ming Code" delivered to him, Zhu Yunhuan started flipping through the book directly.

Seven reasons for divorce and three reasons for not leaving.

Many people know the seven reasons for divorce, but the three reasons for not divorce are also a kind of protection for the woman.

That is to say, one cannot be kicked out of the house if one has been in mourning for three years for one's parents-in-law, one cannot go to one's parents' home if one was poor but has become rich, and one cannot go to one's parents' home if there is no one there.

Although the Ming Dynasty, like many feudal dynasties, naturally favored men, it also relatively protected the innocent party.

For example, if one of the engaged couple commits a serious crime or has an improper relationship with another woman or man, the other party has the right to cancel the engagement. If the man is at fault, the woman does not have to return the betrothal gift. If the woman is at fault, she must return the betrothal gift to the man.

As for the fact that women in ancient times were at the mercy of others, this is true to a certain extent.

But even in the Ming Dynasty, divorce was a common occurrence.

Zhu Yunhuan remained calm and continued to study after reading the Great Ming Code. He also looked through the memorials that Zhu had reviewed and summarized them.

It was almost time, Zhu Yunhuan said, "Go tell grandfather that I'm busy today and won't be there for dinner."

Zhang Fusheng quickly accepted the order. Although he knew it was a tough job, he had no choice but to go and report to the emperor.

Not to mention that ever since Zhu Yunhuan was named the Crown Prince, even when the three siblings moved to Rouyi Palace, Zhu Yourong and Zhu Youling were much happier and didn't have to be so cautious.

Now the Eastern Palace is managed by them, although sometimes they are in a hurry and make mistakes. But no one says anything to them, even if Zhu Yunhuan knows, he just laughs it off.

Seeing Zhu Yunhuan coming back, Zhu Youling was very surprised, "Little brother, aren't you going to have dinner with the emperor grandfather?"

"It's too far, so I'm too lazy to go there." Zhu Yunhuan said casually, "What are you busy with today?"

Zhu Youling immediately advised earnestly, "Little brother, although you have been appointed as the crown prince, you should still be more filial. How can you not go to the emperor's grandfather just because it is far away?"

It seems that my sister still can't relax, but considering the environment they grew up in and the current social environment, it is difficult for them to digest some jokes.

"I'm not kidding you. I just came back because I haven't had a meal with my elder and second sisters for a few days." Zhu Yunhuan said without joking, "Let's have a meal together, three siblings."

Zhu Youling's face lit up, but he still complained, "What's the point of eating with us? You're a big eater and you're picky. If you weren't here, my elder sister and I would be able to eat a few more bites!"

Zhu Yunhuan also smiled and said nothing. It was indeed difficult for him to have dinner with his two elder sisters now.

He basically had dinner with Zhu Yuanzhang, not only after he was named the Crown Prince, but also before that.

Lunch is basically served at Wenhua Hall, and naturally someone will deliver it there.

Zhu Yunxun asked curiously, "Second sister, what have you been busy with these days?"

Zhu Youling said mysteriously, "Youwei wants to bind her feet, and she came to us today to discuss it."

Zhu Biao had five sons and four daughters. His eldest son, Zhu Xiongying, died when he was eight years old. The four sons and four daughters are still alive. Zhu Youhui is the third daughter, two years younger than Zhu Yunhuan. Zhu Youwei is only eight years old and is the youngest daughter. These two are also illegitimate daughters.

Zhu Yunhuan immediately said, "Why bind feet? Natural feet are the best. My sisters are not allowed to bind their feet."

Foot binding became popular in the Southern Song Dynasty, and continued to develop in the direction of being smaller during the Yuan Dynasty.

However, there are still many women in the Ming Dynasty who do not bind their feet, and now foot binding is more for modifying the foot shape rather than pursuing the aesthetic of deformed three-inch golden lotus.

Zhu Youling said with some pride, "I didn't bind my feet because I was afraid of the pain. My father loved me when he was alive, and I just needed to cry a few times."

Zhu Yunhuan said immediately, "That's right. It's said that one's body and hair are given by one's parents. How can one say that foot binding is ridiculous? Go and tell Mrs. Lu that the third and fourth sisters are not allowed to bind their feet. It's her business to bind her feet, but she is not allowed to do so for my sisters."

In fact, some wealthy families with a tradition of poetry and literature are more accepting of the custom of foot binding, and they are also the promoters of these aesthetics.

"Next time you leave the palace, tell me that I hate foot binding. Also, if you want to marry into the royal family in the future, you must have natural feet." Zhu Yunhuan continued, saying seriously, "These evil trends must be killed. They are all dirty and conscienceless things."

Issuing an order to ban foot binding seems to be the most direct and effective approach.

But some things really cannot be changed by simply issuing orders or prohibiting them. More guidance and changing of the atmosphere are needed.

Zhu Youling said with some relief, "That's not bad. Most of the noble families are military families. Many of them were not wealthy families in the past and did not have those customs."

This is also true. Many of the founding heroes came from humble backgrounds. In the past, everyone had to work hard to survive, so they had no time to pretend to be cultured.

Being with his two sisters, Zhu Yunhuan can naturally relax and doesn't have to be nervous all the time. When eating with Lao Zhu, sometimes he would quarrel with Lao Zhu if he said something wrong, and sometimes he would consider whether his words would annoy him, so he would be very restrained and cautious.

As for other people, Zhu Yunhuan almost never ate with them. If he was present, others would have to observe his expression.

"Tomorrow you ask the two aunts to come to the East Palace." Zhu Yunhuan ate his meal, not following the custom of some wealthy families not to talk while eating or sleeping, "Talk to the young aunt."

Zhu Yourong was more thoughtful and asked, "Aunt? What happened to Aunt?"

My own younger sister-in-law is the only princess who married a commoner. This is not only known to the royal family, but also to everyone in the world.

This made many people want to curry favor with the rich and powerful, and many people outside also said that Ouyang Lun was a man of great literary talent and handsome as Pan An, otherwise how could he become a royal consort!
In history, most of the princesses of the Ming Dynasty were wealthy and well-dressed, but some had unhappy marriages.

Even in the middle and late Ming Dynasty, there was an example of a fraudulent marriage to Princess Yongchun, the sister of Emperor Shenzong Zhu Houzhao.

Zhu Yunxun did not hide much and said, "You can try to find out what my aunt is like, and see how she is with the prince consort, and see how her relationship with the prince consort's family is."

The return of a new bride to her parents' home is called "Fancuo", which was called "Guining" in ancient times. This is a custom that has existed for a long time.

However, many people insisted on making up the story by blaming their younger sister-in-law, Princess Anqing, saying that she disliked the poor status of her husband's family and, relying on the fact that she was the youngest daughter of Empress Ma, she refused to return to her husband's family and insisted on spending the New Year with her parents in the palace.

As a result, she was scolded by Zhu Yuanzhang and Empress Ma before returning to her husband's home. On the second day of the New Year, she immediately ran back to the palace.

This is a fabrication. Even if the princesses of the Ming Dynasty were married, they all lived in the princess's mansion, and very few of them lived with their husband's family.

Zhu Yourong asked quickly, "Little brother, is my uncle in trouble?"

"Not only him, but also his servants and relatives will inevitably be punished." Zhu Yunhuan sighed and said, "In recent years, the court has punished many civil and military officials, and many nobles have been punished. But this royal family relative has rarely been punished."

Zhu Yourong and Zhu Youling felt that something was wrong. Didn’t Prince Jingjiang die after being placed under house arrest in his hometown Fengyang? How could he not be punished?

Zhu Yunhuan simply said, "Rectifying the administration of officials is not a simple matter. Nowadays, there are countless cases of princes, generals, and relatives of the royal family occupying the people's land. It's just that in many cases, we let them off the hook, but those people went too far."

Zhu Yourong started to get worried. "Little brother, that's my aunt? She's my father's biological sister!"

"That's why I asked you to go and test my aunt's attitude so that I can handle it properly." Zhu Yunhuan smiled and said, "This matter is also difficult. If it goes wrong, the royal family will scold us and the people of the world will be dissatisfied."

The extension and interpretation of the patriarchal ethics and family system of protecting one's relatives began in the Spring and Autumn Period and the Warring States Period.

But Zhu Yunhuan couldn't pretend that nothing had happened, because this was the Zhu family's world and there were some things he should do.

Zhu Yourong whispered, "If you really offend someone, you better not interfere. Grandfather Huang will make the decision."

This should also be a good choice and seems to be the safest.

Zhu Youling also said immediately, "That's right! You haven't even observed the government yet, it's not your turn to deal with this matter!"

Zhu Yunhuan smiled and said, "That's the truth. I guess it will be grandfather who issues an order to deal with it in the end. But I know about these things, and I can't pretend I didn't hear or see them. I'm counting on my two sisters to help. Go and test the waters first, and then I can make arrangements."

Zhu Yourong and Zhu Youling nodded quickly. This was a big deal and they certainly needed to take it seriously.

Zhu Yunhuan had originally intended to rectify the administration of officials and suppress the nobles.

In his original plan, he wanted to kill Lan Yu as a warning to others. But plans can't keep up with changes, and he didn't expect that Ouyang Lun was so bold.

It seems that there is a reason why he is the only imperial consort in the Ming Dynasty to be executed. He did not wait until Zhu Yuanzhang was old and weak to act recklessly, but he became more and more daring and outrageous!

When Zhu Yunhuan had a headache, Old Zhu also had a headache.

Zhu Yunhuan would definitely get the report sent to him. Even anything sent to Zhu Yunhuan, Zhu Yunhuan would know it clearly before and after.

Looking at the evidences found by the Embroidered Uniform Guards, Old Zhu couldn't help but get angry.

He couldn't bear to be cruel to his son, but he would not be merciful to his son-in-law.

"Yunxun, Yunxun!" Lao Zhu closed his eyes tiredly, "Why is God so harsh to you?"

It's no wonder that Old Zhu was so emotional, because he really felt that his grandson's luck was too bad. From the time he was born to now when he was appointed as the crown prince, it seemed that nothing had gone smoothly for him.

Although he was mentally prepared to take the blame for his grandson, Zhu was still looking forward to Zhu Yunhuan's next performance to see how the successor he chose would handle the matter!
(End of this chapter)