Changsheng: Peak at the Beginning

It is true that Shen Meizhuang was well-read, and her attainments in the Four Books and Five Classics were not inferior to those of men. However, she had never paid attention to the things that Yi Xin talked about, and she didn't even know them at all. Now she didn't know where to get these things, so she instinctively turned to the most knowledgeable person in front of her for help.

"My lady, I..."

Shen Meizhuang held Yi Xin's hand tightly and spoke anxiously but didn't know what to say.

Yi Xin smiled and held her hand, saying, "I know you are confused now and feel that the world is forcing women to die, but in fact, women have such a hard time. Although the root of the disaster was planted during the Tang Dynasty, it was actually the previous dynasty that persecuted women to this extent."

"The Qing dynasty has not been in power for long, but you may not have noticed that even girls from the orthodox Eight Banners have gradually learned the bad habits of the Han people, who lock girls up at home and do not allow them to go out. And as far as I know, some families have even started to learn from the Han people to bind their girls' feet!"

"Emperor Shunzhi and the previous emperor had issued decrees prohibiting foot binding, but the custom of foot binding has become worse and worse. What do you think is the reason behind this?"

"This world has been wrong for too long. Even the emperor cannot set things right. So in life, we can only start from the small things around us. Since ancient times, people who want to reform often have bad endings. And we must not rush for quick success."

"But even if it is extremely difficult at the beginning, if we really succeed, then the girls in the future will live a good life and will surely thank us for our efforts now."

So, don't lie in bed and be depressed. It will only make you look ugly and miserable, and it will not help at all. It is better to do some real things through various efforts so that the girl who comes later can really get something good from it.

Shen Meizhuang understood what Yi Xin meant, and the heavy burden on her heart was finally lifted. Seeing that she had calmed down a lot, Yi Xin quickly picked up the medicine beside her to test the temperature, and took the opportunity to drop a drop of diluted spiritual spring water, and helped Shen Meizhuang drink it.

This medicine has a calming effect. Shen Meizhuang felt sleepy soon after drinking it. Yi Xin asked someone to come in and clean up the medicine bowls. Then she told Shen Meizhuang to read the story she wrote when she woke up, and then she said goodbye with Xizhu.

In fact, what Yi Xin wrote was not really a story. She just recorded what she had heard about "self-combed girls".

Yi Xin has forgotten when the women who comb their hair themselves appeared, but their appearance itself reflects their dissatisfaction with the world's blind and dumb marriages, so they would tie their hair up like married women at a young age and go out to make a living. After making money, they would live with other women who also comb their hair themselves, support each other in their old age, and also support other women like them.

Yi Xin admired them very much, so she was prepared to exchange the wool for an imperial edict from the emperor, an edict that would declare to the world that if there was a person with bound feet in the family, they would not be able to take the imperial examination and become an official.

Originally, Yi Xin wanted to exchange the emperor for an order to establish a female household, but Yi Xin never underestimated the emperor who fought among a group of princes and became the ultimate winner. Although her intentions had been made known to the world without any concealment, if she showed it too much, the primary resistance would probably be the emperor.

Shen Meizhuang had been ill. Although the emperor did not show up at first, he specifically asked the imperial physician who was responsible for taking Shen Meizhuang's pulse at the Imperial Hospital. After learning that Shen Meizhuang was depressed, he thought that Shen Meizhuang was a little pretentious, but still asked Su Peisheng to go and send a lot of medicinal materials.

After Shen Meizhuang's condition had not improved for a month, he found some free time to visit Yonghe Palace.

The Yonghe Palace was different from the bitter medicinal smell that the emperor had imagined. Instead, it was the same as usual, except that the incense was replaced with seasonal fruits. The fruits exuded a fresh fruity aroma, which reminded the emperor of the queen, and he was a little dazed.

Although Shen Meizhuang still had her heart knotted up at this time, she already had a goal, so she was in very good spirits. Although her body was not fully recovered yet, she was still able to sit by the bed and chat and laugh with the palace maids.

When she met the emperor, Shen Meizhuang immediately stood up and saluted. She no longer felt like a scholar-official and a monarch with no moral integrity. At this moment, she only wanted to persuade the emperor to abolish the evil custom of foot binding first.

The emperor personally helped Shen Meizhuang up, and after carefully examining her complexion, he felt that her condition had obviously improved. He was finally a little happy, and said to Shen Meizhuang with a smile: "I don't know what you are worried about, Concubine Hui, that has caused you to be depressed, but in life, nine out of ten things are not as you wish, and you yourself have experienced ups and downs in the palace, so you should not joke with your body."

Because she looked at the problem from a different perspective, after listening to what the emperor said, Shen Meizhuang actually began to feel that the emperor was truly heartless when he was being heartless, but he was obviously also really close to those close to him.

Shen Meizhuang sincerely thanked the emperor for his concern, and also apologized for her previous disregard for her health. Seeing Caiyue bringing tea, she personally handed it to the emperor, "Since I am sick, I can't drink Longjing, Queshe and other teas. Now I only have this Keemunhong. Please don't blame me, Your Majesty."

The emperor was very happy to hear Shen Meizhuang's nice words, and her attitude no longer contained any hint of blame and resentment towards him. He smiled and said, "Both Longjing and Queshe are cold in nature. Mei'er, you are not feeling well, and you fell into the water, which caused the cold to enter your body. You are not suitable to continue drinking those. I still have some imported goods from Myanmar as tribute. Ask Su Peisheng to bring some to you."

Shen Meizhuang made the emperor happy. Although the emperor was still thinking about the affairs of the previous dynasty, he stayed in Yonghe Palace for dinner. In the afternoon, Su Peisheng went to Yonghe Palace again with two kilograms of tea, which made everyone in the harem look at Shen Meizhuang sideways.

At night, the emperor rarely stayed in Chengqian Palace, and told Yi Xin about Shen Meizhuang's previous resentment towards him. Yi Xin kept complaining in her heart, but said to the emperor in a gentle and leisurely manner: "People are all made of flesh and blood. Huipin was the eldest daughter in the family. The whole family had high hopes for her. She was also smart, so it was inevitable that she would be a little spoiled."

"Besides, Concubine Dunsu did not do things properly in those years. Who among the concubines that Your Majesty treated differently has not been taught a lesson by her? Your Majesty was concerned about the influence of the previous dynasty and was unwilling to reprimand Concubine Dunsu, causing Huipin and others to suffer a lot. If you were willing to say a few words of comfort, this little bit of grievance would naturally disappear quickly, and Huipin and others would not hold a grudge until now. But you keep everything in your heart, which is bound to cause misunderstandings."

The emperor felt a little ashamed by Yi Xin's words, but he still admitted that he was the kind of person with a good nature, but was misunderstood because of his poor speaking skills.