Princess Xiangrui in Huanzhu

Ji Xin sobbed and cried. She knew what Ji's father was thinking. She had knelt down and begged him before, but Ji's father remained unmoved.

But she still had a glimmer of delusion when she saw Ji's father.

Ji's father's words plunged her into despair again.

"Dad, do you know what you are saying? You are pushing Xinxin into the fire pit!"

There was a flash of pity in Ji's father's eyes, but then he became firm again.

"Ji Yao, let go of your sister."

"No! Dad, this is wrong. My sister cannot be ruined." Ji Yao shook his head excitedly.

"Ji Yao! Didn't you hear what I said? This is your sister's duty!"

Duty! Duty again!

Is duty more important than Ji Xin's lifelong happiness?

But in Ji's father's eyes, this is the natural thing to do.

From the moment they exchanged the engagement letters, Ji Xin became a member of the Xia family.

Ji's father's ideas are old-fashioned and stubborn.

He came from a scholarly family, but he only passed the examination to become a Tongsheng and stopped there.

Ji's mother came from a merchant family. Although she was rich, she had always been in a disadvantaged position at home.

Ji's father always said that Ji's mother was lucky to marry him, and that she, who reeked of money, was marrying up.

Even though the family's food, clothing and other expenses all depend on Ji's mother, Ji's father still feels superior.

Ji's father was not engaged in production, and the expenses on the imperial examinations were very high every year. Gradually, the financial situation of the Ji family became increasingly tight.

Later, Ji Yao and Ji Xin were born one after another, and Ji's father had no choice but to admit that his talent in imperial examinations was not outstanding.

He turned to train Ji Yao, but unfortunately Ji Yao seemed to have no interest in the imperial examination.

On the contrary, Ji Xin is quite talented. In Ji's father's mind, a woman's virtue lies in her lack of talent, and no matter how much she learns, she will still be someone else's.

So Ji Xin's wish to study was ignored.

Ji's father also often PUAs Ji's mother, saying that it is because of their family that the bloodline of his Ji family has been damaged and that he has no talent for learning.

Ji's mother seemed to agree as well, and she obeyed Ji's father's every word.

The family's financial situation has always been grim, and Ji Yao, at a young age, had no choice but to go out and do business.

The Ji family had received help from the Xia family in the early years, so they arranged a marriage for Ji Xin and Xia Bin.

After Xia Bin's accidental death, the Xia family proposed that Ji Xin become a nun to keep herself chaste for Xia Bin.

Ji's father thought it was natural and agreed without much hesitation.

Although Ji's mother felt that it was inappropriate and felt sorry for her daughter, she did not dare to resist because of her years of obedience.

I could only hold back my tears and ignore Ji Xin's cries.

After learning that Ji Yao had returned, Ji's father was worried that something might happen, so he took Ji's mother to Xia's house quickly.

As expected, his son was the most rebellious and even wanted to cancel the engagement.

This would poke Ji's father in the lungs, so he immediately spoke out to stop it.

As soon as Father Xia saw Father Ji coming, his expression immediately softened. He and Father Ji were good friends and naturally knew Father Ji's temper.

With him here, today's matter will be easier.

Ji Yao couldn't believe that his father was willing to push his daughter into the fire with his own hands, just because of his stubborn ideas.

Ji Xin looked at Ji Yao nervously. Now only her brother could save her. She was still so young and didn’t want to spend the rest of her life with a secluded mind.

Ji Yao sensed Ji Xin's fear and tightened his grip, as if trying to comfort his sister.

Ji's father was very confident. He didn't think this was wrong. A woman should obey her father at home and her husband after marriage.

Now that Xia Bin died young, she has to remain a widow, which is an example of a virtuous woman.

As his daughter, Ji Xin must never tarnish the reputation of the Ji family.

Ji Xin cried out of breath and knelt on the ground begging: "Dad, please, I really don't want to die, please save me!"

Ji Yao was angry and powerless. He watched Ji Xin crying and begging again and again, but failed to move Ji's father at all. He just felt it was extremely ironic.

"Dad, my sister has done nothing wrong, why should she endure such suffering!"

"Why? This is only natural. Xia Bin is a child with a tragic fate. As his wife, isn't it only natural for Xinxin to remain a widow for him?"

Father Ji didn't think there was anything wrong with what he said, and even the people present didn't think there was anything wrong.

Ji Yao looked at his father with disappointment. He disregarded his daughter's happiness for the sake of fame. Is he really the father he admired the most?

But the sense of responsibility as an older brother gave Ji Yao instant strength.

"Dad, we have to keep Xinxin. We can't let her life be ruined like this! If you don't want to, then I'll do it!"

The implication is that it would be fine even if he had to support Ji Xin for his entire life.

"Xinxin, don't worry, I will protect you!"

Ji Xin looked at Ji Yao with emotion. This was the most reassuring moment she had felt in all these days. She had someone to rely on.

Father Ji couldn't believe his ears. Raising Ji Xin? What a joke!

In his mind, his daughter will eventually get married, so how can he support her for the rest of her life?

Father Xia saw that the Ji family was about to fall into chaos and wondered whether Father Ji was really that useful.

Ji's father seemed to have lost face and started to act tough.

"Ji Yao, don't make trouble here, come back with me!"

"Dad, unless Xinxin comes home with me, I must save my sister today." Ji Yao said firmly. He would not give up Ji Xin. She was his sister, the sister he had loved for more than ten years.

How could he bear to watch Ji Xin suffer?

Ji's father was almost going crazy with anger. Ji Yao had really grown powerful and dared to disobey him.

"It's all your fault. A loving mother often spoils her son. Look, Ji Yao and Ji Xin actually dare to question me!" Ji's father scolded Ji's mother and attributed all the faults to her.

Ji's mother wanted to say something but stopped herself. She looked at Ji's angry father and then at her own children.

Ji Xin looked at her mother, and the light in her eyes gradually faded. She should have known it earlier. How could her mother dare to resist her father?

She should have known this! But now that her brother is back, there is still hope for her, right?

He Xi Qing'er and Lan Xin saw what happened from the side.

Perhaps because they are women, they can feel more deeply about Ji Xin's experience.

The persecution of women has never stopped in this era.

In fact, even in Hexi's previous life, these potential injustices were not completely eliminated.

It's just that this era is more shameless and blatant.

Under Hexi's subtle influence, Qing'er and Lanxin gradually gained some basic understanding of women's rights.

At least I don't agree with things like widowhood and chastity arches.

But you have to admit that given the social atmosphere, one or two people alone cannot have any effect at all.

Now that they had seen real examples and real people being persecuted, Qing'er and Lanxin felt uneasy in their hearts.

Qianlong and others also witnessed this farce, but they were not as deeply touched as Hexi and the others. They just felt sorry for Ji Xin's miserable life and Ji's father's cold-bloodedness. Can you say how much they hated it?

Not necessarily.