IDWBE -Chapter 415 The Lord Is Humiliated, the Subject Dies

To advocate for women’s rights, increase social productivity, and put himself at risk in the process—he really was going all out! Yet, he didn’t feel it was going too far.

In Sanhe, the laws promoting gender equality had been in effect for so many years that women had become “shrewish lions of the household,” holding significant status at home.

As for true “equality,” that had never existed.

After all, whether in Sanhe or elsewhere in the Liang Kingdom, men still held the real economic power.

In essence, women still relied on men and couldn’t truly rise above them.

Without men as the “pillars” of the household, many women and children would face livelihood issues.

In wealthy families, women were considered one of the most important assets. If displeased, they could be “sold off” at any time, with the women having no say at all.

Now with the new marriage law being implemented in the Liang Kingdom, he didn’t know if it would trigger malicious lawsuits from some women.

He wasn’t some “intellectual elite” who could predict outcomes based on hypothetical reasoning.

He was just an ordinary man, making decisions based on ordinary feelings, instincts, and interests.

Everything had to be tested; there was no reason to regret it.

But, on the other hand, he, the esteemed Regent Prince, might become a laughingstock in history if Hu Miaoyi actually divorced him. The thought alone gave him a headache.

What he said aloud was one thing; what he thought in his heart was another.

No matter what, he could not allow such a thing to happen.

Otherwise, his life would have been wasted!

“Your Highness,” Mingyue couldn’t help but say, “I’m sure this is just a momentary outburst from the princess consort. You needn’t take it to heart.”

Lin Yi waved his hand and stood up. “Enough. This isn’t something you need to worry about. Don’t concern yourselves with it. The sun has gone down; it’s the perfect time to fish. Prepare the donkey.”

“Yes.”

Jiao Zhong hurriedly responded.

“Your Highness, take care.”

After Lin Yi departed, Mingyue glanced at Wen Zhaoyi, who had been pretending to nap nearby.

As Wen Zhaoyi reached out her hand, Mingyue placed the teacup into it with a smile. “The tea is hot, sister. Be careful.”

“That prince… I don’t know what he’s thinking about all day. Always some crazy ideas,”

Wen Zhaoyi said, holding the teacup while sipping her tea. “He seems to understand women even better than we do and meddles far too much.”

Mingyue covered her mouth and smiled. “Sister has watched the prince grow up, so naturally you know his nature. Compassionate since childhood, he wouldn’t even crush an ant. Seeing the tragedies women endure, he now speaks up for us. That’s excellent.”

Wen Zhaoyi smiled. “Compassion, yes, but speaking up for women? Not necessarily. I remember him saying something about liberating labor power?”

Mingyue explained, “The prince means that although women may be physically weaker, their work is not much worse than men’s. Besides, many have learned skills and can write and calculate, surpassing many men. Keeping them idle at home would be a waste.”

“Nice words,” Wen Zhaoyi replied lazily. “In reality, he just wants to use us poor women. If we weren’t tired out, he wouldn’t be satisfied.”

Mingyue laughed. “Sister, you jest. You understand the prince’s mind even better than we do. We must show the world’s bad men that women aren’t just for childbirth—they can do anything men can, and if needed, we can shoulder half the sky ourselves.”

Wen Zhaoyi said, “Enough, you don’t need to speak for him. Now that we’ve stirred the princess consort’s thoughts, let’s see how she handles it.”

Mingyue refilled Wen Zhaoyi’s cup with a smile. “Sister, you won’t just stand by, will you?”

She felt displeased with the princess consort, but due to her position, she couldn’t speak freely in front of her. Now she hoped Wen Zhaoyi would guide her, preventing her from doing something foolish.

“You want me to go?”

Wen Zhaoyi yawned. “And what do you expect me to say?”

Mingyue bowed. “I leave it entirely to you, sister.”

“Very well,” With Mingyue’s support, Wen Zhaoyi stood. “I’ll go say a few words, just to prevent her from doing something stupid. Otherwise, everyone’s reputation will suffer.”

“Wise as always, sister.”

Mingyue personally escorted her to the entrance of the princess consort’s chambers. Once Wen Zhaoyi entered, she stood quietly by a pillar, head lowered.

“So it’s sister,” Hu Miaoyi quickly rose when she saw Wen Zhaoyi.

Not fully understanding her background, she never pried, always addressing her as sister and instructing the maid to serve tea, then sitting beside her. “I wonder what wind blew you here, sister?”

Wen Zhaoyi smiled. “I heard everything you just said to the prince in the garden.”

Hu Miaoyi, embarrassed, said, “You’ve seen me make a fool of myself.”

Sitting on the couch, Wen Zhaoyi smiled at Hu Miaoyi. “Is that really how you feel?”

Hu Miaoyi hesitated but admitted, “Since the prince advocates gender equality and freedom in marriage, as his consort, I must set an example for the people.”

“Hmph,” Wen Zhaoyi snorted lightly. “Hu Miaoyi, I’ve always believed you’re smart. This is just an outburst—you wouldn’t actually do something so foolish.”

Hu Miaoyi replied calmly, “Would the prince break his word and harm me?”

Wen Zhaoyi asked curiously, “You clearly dislike him, yet you trust his character?”

“I trust the prince, but that doesn’t mean I like him,” Hu Miaoyi said softly. “He is admirable, but I cannot love him.”

Wen Zhaoyi was taken aback and sighed. “Have you heard the saying: ‘If the lord is humiliated, the subject dies’? If you really act foolishly, the prince might not harm you, but you still won’t leave the Prince He’s residence alive. Whether it’s Xie Zan, He Jixiang, or Shen Chu, He Hong—they won’t let you live. Even Mingyue and Zixia, both at the peak of ninth rank, if they decided to punish you, as a mere fifth-rank, you wouldn’t have a chance to fight back.”

Hu Miaoyi’s expression stiffened. “Then what about you, sister?”

She didn’t doubt Wen Zhaoyi’s words. If she dared divorce the prince, she wouldn’t survive!

“Me?”

Wen Zhaoyi smiled at Hu Miaoyi. “I would kill you too. The child you carry is royal—such a mother as you cannot be allowed.”

Hu Miaoyi said, “Thank you for the warning, sister. I understand.”

Not for the prince, but for the child in her womb, there were ten thousand reasons to punish her!

Wen Zhaoyi nodded. “If not for yourself, at least think of the Prince of Heshun. At his age, finally able to live peacefully in his later years, he cannot endure such turmoil.”

Hu Miaoyi said softly, “Sister is right.”

Yes! She must think of herself, her unborn child, and her father! The Prince of Heshun had suffered enough; if more trouble arose, he surely wouldn’t survive.

Wen Zhaoyi continued, “I don’t know what you’re thinking, but don’t make a mistake. You are finely dressed, and the prince favors you greatly—women would give anything to be in your place. You should be content.”

“Your wisdom is appreciated, sister.”

Hu Miaoyi had to admit that Wen Zhaoyi was right. Since marrying into the Prince He’s residence, the prince had never wronged her—food, drink, and expenses were all top-notch.

Especially after becoming pregnant, she had ten maids attending her.

Most importantly, this legendary Prince He gave her the utmost respect.

He never forced her.

She could say that in the Prince He’s residence, she had everything at her command.

Even in the palace, she could show no respect to anyone if she wished.

The prince had said: “Mother-in-law and daughter-in-law relationships are always difficult; women make things hard for women. As long as no one draws a blade, make all the noise you want.”

Even to Concubine Yuan in the palace, she no longer offered even superficial respect.

And the prince had never reprimanded her.

“You, such a woman, are lucky to marry into the Prince residence. If you don’t know your place, regret will come too late,” Wen Zhaoyi said, word by word, staring at Hu Miaoyi. “You needn’t thank me—I speak for your child. Among all the princes, even those who died young or were unmarried, most had heirs. Now, only the Prince He has no heir. Don’t let anything happen to your child. Otherwise, your death will be meaningless.”

Hu Miaoyi felt a chilling presence surround her. She remembered that this sister before her was a Grandmaster.

Shivering, she quickly said, “Sister, rest assured, I understand.”

“You’d better understand,” Wen Zhaoyi continued, “If you make a mistake, no one in the Hu family will survive, including your missing brother.”

With that, she left the room under Hu Miaoyi’s watchful eyes.

Mingyue followed closely behind, stepping out into the front courtyard. “Wise as ever, sister. The princess consort finally understands now.”

Wen Zhaoyi sighed. “Feelings cannot be forced. If you like someone, you like them; if you don’t, you don’t. Even if you sleep beside your prince every day, resentment can linger.”

Mingyue looked around and said bitterly, “Too blind to see your blessings.”

Wen Zhaoyi rolled her eyes. “Who doesn’t love talented men or heroes? Only you and Zixia, foolish girls, would treasure a prince who knows nothing.”

Mingyue smiled. “Men like the prince are rare in this world.”

The dilapidated Yong’an Prince Manor had always been frugal, even with just one kerosene lamp at a time. Now, two lamps were lit at once.

The twelfth prince sat upright in the main hall, looking at the exquisitely carved little girl in front of him, then at the kneeling woman with a pale face, incredulous. “This is my daughter?”

Back in the palace, he had been reckless, and the women around him had warmed his bed.

By the time he established his own household, he had recklessly gotten a maid pregnant.

Before she gave birth, he had rushed away with the Heshun Prince’s carriage out of Ankang City.

Upon returning, everything had changed; servants and even the maid who had been pregnant were gone.

Now, with the new marriage law in effect, he reluctantly accepted his grandfather’s advice: royal children must set an example in gender equality!

He had to reclaim his child.

The little girl in front of him had just started walking, holding a piece of cake, oblivious to the world and the serious expression of the Yong’an Prince.

“Your Highness,” The woman suddenly cried, “I am Wen Yu! Don’t you recognize me?”

“Wen Yu.”

The twelfth prince sighed. “You weren’t this dark before.”

Lai Kuan carefully said, “Your Highness, she really is Wen Yu. I recognized her even after she was turned to ashes.”

Wen Yu grabbed the little girl. “Your Highness, if you don’t believe me, we can do a blood test. She is truly your flesh and blood!”

“A blood test?”

The twelfth prince scoffed. “That’s the least scientific thing imaginable.”

She had at least studied in a modern school and knew some basic chemistry and biology. Blood compatibility proved nothing.

“Your Highness,” Wen Yu hurriedly said, “Then I must die to prove my loyalty!”

She sprang to her feet, aiming for a nearby pillar.

Lai Kuan quickly intercepted her. “Your Highness hasn’t spoken yet. How dare you act so recklessly?”

“Yes!”

Unable to die, Wen Yu knelt again.

The twelfth prince hesitated, then picked up the little girl. Looking at her cheerful ignorance, he felt a sudden connection. “It must be true. She is my child. Tomorrow, write a document for the clan office, and register the princess in the Jade Register.”

Lai Kuan smiled. “Yes, Your Highness.”

“Thank you, Your Highness!”

Wen Yu kowtowed repeatedly.

The little girl laughed on his lap, flailing her hands.

“In the future, you will be a princess and won’t have to suffer anymore,”

The twelfth prince said, then looked at the kneeling woman. “You may leave now.”

“Your Highness,” Wen Yu tried to say more, but Lai Shun pushed her out.

“Wait in the servant quarters,” Lai Kuan instructed.

After sending her away, he returned to the twelfth prince, smiling. “Congratulations, Your Highness, on finding the princess who had been living among the people.”

The twelfth prince sighed. “Wen Yu was so beautiful before. How did she end up like this?”

Lai Kuan explained, “After leaving the palace and losing your protection, she worked hard manual labor all these years.”

The twelfth prince handed the little girl to Lai Kuan. “Tonight, let her attend the bedchamber. I need to interrogate her carefully.”

He couldn’t even remember how long it had been since he last touched a woman.