Chapter 186: Fellow Travelers Cling to Each Other on the Road

Zhao Jiu had gone too far, without a doubt.

Some words, even in a secluded place, a so-called political backroom, should not have been spoken so early. Especially when the Imperial Uncle was genuinely sincere… In fact, by the political correctness of the day, the Imperial Uncle was the one who was righteous and utterly honest, while Zhao Jiu was the one who appeared exceptionally heretical.

But on the other hand, did Zhao Jiu regret it?

He regretted it and he didn't.

What he regretted was that he could say such things to Zhao Shi so openly, which showed he was getting cocky. So he immediately reflected on himself, realizing he couldn't indulge in the feeling of being a solitary despot just because he held military power. Being so unscrupulous, so frivolous and unrestrained—how was that any different from someone like Zhao Ji?

What he didn't regret was that this was his true feeling. He simply looked down on those emperors of the Great Song, and regarded the Two Emperors as the chief culprits of the Jingkang Incident, not as victims.

So, having said it, he said it. It wasn't the first time he was sawing at the legs of this broken chair he was sitting on. At worst, he'd just prop it up with another brick and make do… It wasn't as if he, Zhao Jiu, was willing to wear or sit on this thing!

Ever since leaving the well, he'd been on tenterhooks every day, with his life hanging by a thread, and in the end, he hadn't even gotten to eat ice cream, only ice pops… Was being the Emperor really such a good life?

And so, with this mindset, after finishing the incense offering, the Emperor Zhao Jiu lingered at Shaolin Temple for half a day. He probably inspected cultural relics like the Sutra Depository and the Face-the-Wall Cave, and then, considering the monks' exquisite Buddhist teachings, he personally inscribed the four characters "Fist Exits Shaolin" before resting for the night and heading down the mountain the next day.

Now, leaving aside Zhao Jiu's thuggish mentality, the utterly loyal Imperial Uncle Zhao Shi, as he descended the mountain with the imperial entourage, was naturally in a complicated state of mind, unlike others… In the end, this new Emperor had still hurt the old Imperial Uncle's feelings. But after much thought, this old Imperial Uncle was helpless.

Because he was the Emperor.

It must be understood that after more than a hundred years of the Great Song dynasty, the so-called Zhao Song Emperors, on one hand, were influenced by the exploding population and the culture of common townsfolk, causing some of their aura to fade. From high ministers and imperial relatives down to common people, everyone could discuss and evaluate the Zhao Song Son of Heaven—and of course, everyone could also discuss the ministers and imperial relatives. On the other hand, it had to be admitted that, according to the Zhao Song ancestral laws, the power of the Zhao Song Emperor was actually growing stronger and stronger.

Take, for example, the Retired Emperor Daojun Zhao Ji, whom someone held in contempt. Everyone knew he was frivolous, everyone knew he was good at everything except state affairs, everyone knew the Six Traitors around him were detestable—and it wasn't just the Six Traitors—everyone also knew the Flower and Rock Network was a scourge, even causing large-scale popular uprisings in the southeast… Yet, before the Jin people attacked, was there anyone who could stop him from running off to Li Shishi's place?

In fact, in this old Imperial Uncle's eyes, this current Emperor, who showed no respect for his ancestors, father, or elder brother, was practically cut from the same mold as the Retired Emperor Daojun he disrespected… Both were typical frivolous, benighted rulers!

But so what?

Back then, no one could stop the Retired Emperor Daojun. Today, would it be useful or end well for him, a distant-branch Imperial Uncle with a sensitive identity, to discuss such a problem?

Emperor, Emperor—did anyone really think rules could control him?

If they could, how did the Great Song end up in its current state?

In fact, if Zhao Jiu knew what this Imperial Uncle was thinking, he might not be able to help adding a private lament… If the Emperor could be restrained by institutions, then how did Yue Fei die?

And after the Fengbo Pavilion incident, did Han Shizhong rebel? Or did the Imperial Uncle, who was willing to stake his entire family as a guarantee for Yue Fei, rebel?

Was he, Zhao Jiu, no matter how heretical or shameless, really worse than Zhao Ji and his son in the original history?

Why was he the only one called absurd for privately cursing his father and elder brother? Was it just because he was bullying an honest man?

In any case, perhaps feeling this way, the Imperial Uncle Zhao Shi became disheartened. So as soon as he arrived at Dengfeng County at the foot of the mountain, he prepared to write a memorial, claiming illness to take his leave and depart first, henceforth not meddling in court affairs, only guarding the ancestral temple.

But just then, the Emperor Zhao Jiu unexpectedly sent an edict first, saying that he had originally wanted to personally go to the Eight Mausoleums of Luoyang to pay respects, but he had been unwell for days, and seeing the tombs would only sadden him, so he couldn't bear it for now. He therefore appointed the Grand Master of the Imperial Clan, Imperial Uncle Zhao Shi, as the Prayer-offering Envoy, to go on behalf of the Son of Heaven to formally offer sacrifices and prayers at the Eight Mausoleums of Luoyang.

This appointment—unclear whether it was a compromise apology or a stubborn insistence on his own view—left the Imperial Uncle even more powerless… He wanted to throw in the towel, but if he did, what if the ancestors truly didn't receive their sacrifices?

With no choice, he put away the memorial claiming illness, accepted the edict, and, acting for the feigning-ill Emperor, set out with the full imperial regalia for the Eight Mausoleums of Luoyang for the second time.

Academician Lin and Commander Cui's troops also went along.

Not only that, but a few days later, Chief Minister Lu Haowen and Minister of Rites Zhu Shengfei also received edicts to serve as deputy envoys, heading to the Eight Mausoleums of Luoyang to join the Imperial Uncle Zhao Shi, who was already bathing, fasting, and awaiting the auspicious day, to participate in the sacrifices at the Eight Mausoleums.

As for Zhao Jiu himself, he stayed behind alone with Lady Wu and Yang Yizhong, leading a small contingent of palace guards, and settled temporarily in Niu Gao's army near Dengfeng City, planning to wait out this period.

And it was here that the Emperor finally learned that Yue Fei's wife had gone south and remarried a soldier in Han Shizhong's army.

Yue Fei had handled this matter without any fault. He had sent five hundred strings of cash to Han Shizhong's camp via a trusted soldier who knew his wife, and then said nothing more… On one hand, this matter had ultimately led to the breakdown of their relationship; on the other, it took into account the feelings of Yue Yun, who was growing up.

An originally rather awkward matter ended there.

Since this involved a general's private affairs, neither side had publicized it, so the Emperor learned of it somewhat late. He also had no objection to Yue Fei's handling and certainly didn't want to meddle and cause further embarrassment between Yue and Han… However, when this matter reached Zhao Jiu's ears, it inevitably made him notice something.

"There are many people from Hebei in the army. Are such matters common?" After a brief inquiry, Zhao Jiu naturally asked Yang Yizhong, who had delivered the news.

"Common," Yang Yizhong replied after a moment's thought. "But more often, it's active buying and selling. Cases like Lady Yue's, where she left her husband first and then found her own way out, are rare."

"What do you mean by active buying and selling?" Zhao Jiu was slightly taken aback. He had only been thinking about couples separating, not about any kind of buying and selling.

"It's when a couple, having crossed the river with little separation, is utterly destitute with nothing. To survive, they voluntarily pawn or sell the wife."

"A husband sells his wife?" Zhao Jiu was finally shocked.

"It's the couple together selling the wife…" Yang Yizhong explained further. "And it's usually a living sale."

"What is a living sale?"

"It's when the marital affection isn't exhausted, but they are temporarily at the end of their rope. When selling, the wife might become a concubine or a servant. There is a set amount and a time limit. Either the husband raises the money to redeem her during that period, or the wife returns on her own when the term expires—either way, they can be reunited… But living sales are often much cheaper than outright sales." At this point, Yang Yizhong added, "Many times, women who actively seek a living sale don't want money, only to be allowed by the wealthy household to bring their children along to be raised."

Zhao Jiu was dumbfounded.

"Of course, there is also a special case of living sale." Yang Yizhong had become cautious, but out of professional duty, he had to be thorough. "That is when no fixed amount is set, only that the wife be sold to bear a child for the buyer. It's the meaning of renting to bear a child… Once the child is one month old, the contract is considered fulfilled."

"Are you saying that soldiers in Our Imperial Guard… also have such things?" Zhao Jiu finally came to his senses, his expression clearly turning fierce. "Was Yue Fei's wife's matter already considered fortunate?"

"Your Majesty." Yang Yizhong grew even more careful. "Since Your Majesty has taken the initiative to ask Your servant, Your servant must let Your Majesty know that this matter involves two levels…"

"Speak."

"The first level is the system of buying and selling concubines. This has been the case for a hundred years, not just now, and not just in the military. It was established by Tang dynasty law, and Our Song inherited Tang law, which has continued to this day. In the Tang, Bai Juyi changed his concubines every three years. In Our dynasty, Grand Academician Su also sold a concubine to buy a horse. When Lord Bao's concubine became pregnant, he still sent her away… Even Lady Liang and the two concubines in Grand Commandant Han's household were all bought… The root of this kind of thing lies in the system and the law, present in ancient and modern times, high and low." Yang Yizhong replied cautiously. "As for the Hebei refugees selling their wives, the root lies in their utter destitution. If they don't sell their wives, they sell their children. If they don't sell their children, they sell themselves into servitude… The two cannot be discussed together."

"You've hit the nail on the head." Zhao Jiu nodded slightly, but then shook his head. "But this matter is still improper. It must stop… Tell Minister Lu not to go to the sacrifices. Have him come directly to Dengfeng to see Us."

Yang Yizhong bowed his head to receive the order.

Unexpectedly, at that moment, the Emperor Zhao Jiu suddenly sneered to his face: "With things like this, there are still people asking me to pray for blessings for the Two Emperors. Isn't that just self-deception?"

This time, Yang Yizhong naturally pretended not to hear.

PS: Thanks to the 68th sponsor, classmate yoyowalker. Did you all go for a walk today?