Zhao Jiaqi felt her words were very fitting and to her taste, but they took on a different meaning in Song Fei's ears. This was clearly casting aspersions on Fang Mingjiang.
He slammed his hand on the table and berated her, pointing a finger at the ceiling. "Nonsense! Since ancient times, the husband is heaven. Taking concubines has always been a normal practice. When have you ever heard of a woman taking... cough cough. Don't ever say such things again. If you dare to do anything outrageous, I'll break your legs! I've raised you my whole life, and you can't possibly ruin the reputation of the Song and Fang families!"
"Husband is heaven" – the men's thinking here was deeply ingrained.
Clap, clap, clap. Zhao Jiaqi applauded Song Fei's impassioned speech, smiling mockingly. "Lord Song's words are simply immensely satisfying! It's just that I don't quite understand one thing. Why is it that you men can take concubines and keep several beautiful women, but we women can't keep several male consorts? We're all human. What is it that you men have that makes you so arrogant?"
After her rhetorical question, she saw Song Fei's face turn as red as a monkey's backside. She suddenly realized, "Oh... is it because you have an extra egg?"
Inside the room, several maids struggled to suppress their laughter. Even the guards outside grinned, but then they smacked their lips, feeling something wasn't quite right. This was clearly a mockery of them, the men. They quickly closed their mouths and cocked their ears, listening to the commotion in the warm chamber.
Song Fei's brows furrowed tightly. These words were too harsh, too vulgar. If it were an ordinary woman opposite him, he could unleash the most unpleasant words. But this was the Empress. He had a mouth full of words but couldn't utter a single one.
He felt a sense of powerlessness, like punching cotton.
"Madam, man is heaven, and women have always relied on men to live. It has always been so since ancient times."
Zhao Jiaqi: "Without women, what good is your heaven!"
"Even if man is heaven, woman is still earth. Without earth to set it off, your heaven would have collapsed long ago. I've only ever heard of the union of yin and yang. Yin is woman, and yang is man. See? Woman comes first, man follows. It's been called that since ancient times. This signifies gender equality. Our ancestors had this common sense. What, has it come to you, and you no longer agree with the ancestors' words?"
Song Fei was rendered speechless by her words!
Even if he wanted to reply, he simply didn't know how. Debating gender equality was like asking whether the chicken or the egg came first.
"I don't care what you think. From now on, if anyone dares to mention 'husband is heaven' in front of me again, I will ensure that for the rest of your life, you will live by the rule of 'wife is heaven.' Change your perspective, look at things from another angle, and you'll understand what kind of life a woman lives in this world."
Song Fei lowered his head and sat on the chair, very obediently, no longer refuting Zhao Jiaqi's words. It was unclear whether it was because her perspective-shifting argument had touched his heart, or because he feared living a life where his wife was heaven, hence he dared not retort. Regardless, he was very well-behaved now.
Song Lan, standing to the side, felt that Her Majesty the Empress was simply majestic. Her way of looking at problems was completely different. She would definitely learn from Her Majesty the Empress in the future.
Turning back, Zhao Jiaqi gave her a lesson: "As a wife, you must first trust your other half. Without solid evidence, don't just believe whatever fanciful stories women tell, even if they could shatter the heavens. Furthermore, even if the matter is true, what's the use of crying? How can you endure it silently? If I were you, the first thing I'd do is slap them hard, then order them thrown out, and even beat gongs and drums to announce it to the neighbors, so everyone could have a good look!"
The Empress's candid and uninhibited attitude stunned not only Song Lan but also made Song Fei break out in a cold sweat.
Song Lan's face turned red, and she was so ashamed she could barely lift her head. She mumbled, "I... I'm too embarrassed."
Look at that courage! She still wanted to divorce her husband?
"Then I'll teach you another trick. How to upgrade from a 'green tea bitch' to a 'white lotus' and use the tactics of a white lotus to fight cunning battles."
Song Lan's mind was now filled with question marks. "What are... 'green tea bitch' and 'white lotus'?"
Why did it sound like white lotus was very formidable!
Song Lan was humbly seeking advice. Song Fei, on the other hand, was learning these ultimate moves of women's combat, so that if he encountered any scheming women in the future, he would know where to start.
They were too careless. They didn't understand what a green tea was, or what a white lotus was.
Zhao Jiaqi directly used an example: "A green tea bitch is like that Pan Yuexin who came to the door today. Her scheming isn't deep enough."
"Then I'll tell you how the upgraded version, the white lotus, deals with a green tea bitch."
Song Lan perked up her ears, listening very seriously and gravely.
Zhao Jiaqi said, "First, you need to become close friends with the woman who's trying to steal your husband, the kind where you can talk about anything. Then, you badmouth your husband by telling her about his terrible habits, like farting and burping at midnight. At the same time, you need to act disgusted. Meanwhile, you should indirectly tell her how wonderful, considerate, and devoted to his family another gentleman is, even making the stench from a dung bucket sound sweet and fragrant to her. Imagine, a married man compared to a talented, beautiful, and wealthy young master. Which would that woman prefer?"
She had resolved her opponent without a single soldier, how wonderful!
After hearing this, the brother and sister were collectively ashamed.
Who could become close friends with the woman trying to steal their husband?
Those were people who wished death upon each other. Song Lan felt she couldn't learn the upgraded version of a green tea bitch. If one didn't have a strong heart, they couldn't learn this move.
Song Lan stammered, "I'd rather... rather be a green tea bitch. It's more refreshing!"
Zhao Jiaqi shrugged, indicating she didn't care. The method had been given to her; whether she learned it was up to her.
Song Lan didn't learn it, but Chun Fen, standing beside her, listened very attentively!
She said she was thirsty and wanted some tea to moisten her throat. Before she could put down her teacup, Fang Mingjiang returned with the prefect Xiao Bing, the governor, and a young maiden weeping pearly tears.
Su Ya, standing outside the door, came in to report, "Madam, Lord Fang, the prefect, the governor, and the governor's daughter are outside requesting an audience!"
Zhao Jiaqi put down her teacup, her head starting to ache. Judging by this, her identity had been thoroughly exposed.
Chun Fen helped Zhao Jiaqi to the head seat, and only then did she instruct Su Ya to bring them in.
As these people entered the room, Fang Mingjiang lifted the hem of his brocade robe and knelt. Those behind him also knelt and paid their respects to Zhao Jiaqi.
"Your humble servant pays respects to Her Majesty the Empress. May the Empress enjoy peace and longevity!"
The prefect knew that the Emperor and Empress resided in this mansion. After being instructed by the two lords, he had refrained from spreading the news and told no one.
However, he never expected that the governor would cause such great trouble today.
Lord Fang Mingjiang was a crucial minister of the imperial court, the Minister of Personnel, and the son-in-law of the Prime Minister's family.
The Prime Minister's family was close to him in both talent and appearance. His father held a first-rank ministerial position, wielding power second only to the Emperor. His elder brother was the Minister of Revenue, in charge of the nation's finances.
Whether it was his family background, appearance, or talent, none could compare to Pan Kun, the governor. Pan Yuexin, that foolish creature, dared to come to the door and mock Madam Fang. It was like annoying the mother and then opening the door to annoy the child, and annoying them all the way home.
That incorrigible wretch had dragged him down to suffer as well.