As the inner city drew nearer, the harmonious atmosphere grew stronger.
Looking at the empty stalls, where no one was seen stealing, Helian Jinli marveled, "Things here are so safe that people don't even need to lock their doors at night. I truly envy this!"
His remark drew a chuckle from Yumeng. "Brother Helian, if anyone dared to steal, the punishment would be severe once caught. That's why serious crimes like murder, arson, or robbery are virtually non-existent here. Moreover, there are no more bandits, so the public security is very good."
Seizing the opportunity to converse with the woman he fancied, now that she was finally willing to speak with him, Helian Jinli eagerly continued, "Oh? Then I'd like to know, what kind of punishment do you impose on thieves you catch!"
"Eunuch them."
Yumeng's two-word answer made Helian Jinli swallow hard a couple of times.
This... this punishment seemed a bit excessive. To have a man so cruelly castrated was truly inhumane.
Seeing his complexion change drastically, Yumeng burst into laughter, tears welling up in her eyes. "Haha, I was just teasing you, Brother. Look at you, you're so scared your face has turned pale."
Now it was his turn to feel embarrassed. He subtly rubbed his nose; he had to admit, he had been genuinely frightened.
After her laughter subsided, Yumeng's expression turned serious. She replied solemnly, "Regardless of the thief's initial intention, punishment is certain. While it's not castration, they would be shamed throughout the entire inner city and paraded through the streets. After the punishment, the thief would be unable to establish themselves here and would ultimately have to leave. Moreover, living conditions outside are not as good as in our inner city. Therefore, we hardly have any thieves here."
Living in such a prosperous place, as long as one wasn't lazy, money could be earned just by stepping out. Who would resort to thievery?
Helian Jinli found this approach quite admirable and worth emulating. Unconsciously, he began to learn from it.
Both he and Baili Fengge were aware of Fan Zehao's identity. If even a mere farmer could manage this fiefdom to such prosperity, and if the Emperor had always been him, then Yun Country's ascent to unprecedented heights wouldn't be impossible.
As they passed by, people accustomed to the scene paid little attention to the procession, continuing with their daily activities, merely casting a glance at the convoy.
Baili Fengge observed the people on the street. Occasionally, a few children in open-crotch trousers ran about, and the rest were adults, the youngest appearing to be eighteen or nineteen.
He found this peculiar and didn't quite understand where the children of this place were.
He asked Helian Jinli beside him, "Crown Prince Helian, have you noticed that there are hardly any children around here?"
Having been here for half a year, Helian Jinli was quite knowledgeable about some local matters. However, if it meant more opportunities to speak with the girl he liked, he was willing to feign ignorance.
Helian Jinli explained to him, "Children here, as soon as they reach the age to attend private schools, they go. And it's all free. So, you won't see any children on the streets."
"When boys reach sixteen, they must join the army and study for two years. Upon their return, they are permitted to marry at the age of eighteen."
Baili Fengge was astonished. He had never considered such possibilities, assuming the children were out working in the fields.
Marriage at eighteen?
Baili Fengge chuckled and shook his head. "To be frank with Crown Prince Helian, at eighteen, we already have fathers. And here, they are only allowed to marry? It truly broadens my horizons."
Helian Jinli smiled. He himself was studying medicine and knew that later marriages were beneficial for men's health, and even more so for women.
He found himself in strong agreement with this point.
"Brother Baili, in the inner city, anyone wishing to take a concubine must pay a fine of one hundred thousand taels. If they keep an outside mistress and the authorities find out, they will face a penalty ranging from being ruined financially to being forced into hard labor for two years before being allowed to resume their lives."
Baili Fengge was suddenly speechless. Free education for children, he could tolerate.
Military service at sixteen, he could also tolerate.
Marriage at eighteen, although late, at least it didn't strip away the joys of being a man, so he could tolerate that too.
A hundred thousand taels of silver to take a concubine – how much wealth would a household need to afford one? If they couldn't afford a concubine, they couldn't keep an outside mistress either?
What if his wife couldn't bear a son? Wouldn't the family line end, and their fortune be passed on to outsiders?
This, he could not tolerate. It was a blow to a man's pride.
Baili Fengge looked as though he had eaten a pile of feces, his expression extremely awkward. Helian Jinli smiled and shook his head repeatedly.
When he had first heard about this last rule, he too had been quite shocked. However, after some thought, he realized that anyone who could afford a concubine wouldn't shy away from spending a hundred thousand taels.
Those without money, whether they had sons or daughters, still lived well. Therefore, one would never see a preference for sons over daughters here. It was possible that one might only have a daughter to care for them in their old age, so if they didn't treat their children well, they might suffer in their later years.
However, this possibility was quite slim.
As the two men chatted enthusiastically, Fan Lao Er rode his horse forward and asked, "What are you talking about that's so lively?"
Baili Fengge took the initiative to say, "We were discussing how taking concubines is not allowed here. If a wife in the family cannot bear a son, wouldn't the family line end?"
Upon hearing this, Fan Xudong burst into hearty laughter and replied, "Does your family have a throne to pass down? We common folk don't have any thrones to inherit, nor do we have gold mines. Ending the family line? Is a daughter not your child, but someone else's?"
He scoffed and waved his hand dismissively. "Stop talking nonsense. It's a disgrace to men. Without women, where would Crown Prince Baili have come from? Never underestimate women. In our inner city, women are half the sky."
Both Helian Jinli and Baili Fengge stared at Prince Dingbei, who spoke of women as if they were celestial beings, truly remarkable.
Overhearing their conversation, Fan Zehao leaned closer. While they hadn't given much thought to these conditions initially, they had amended the regulations later.
"It's alright if a wife cannot bear a son. As long as it's reported to the authorities, she will not be divorced for the rest of her life, and favoring a concubine over the wife is not permitted. If these two conditions are met, a concubine can be taken. If the concubine still cannot bear a son, then that is the end of it for life." httpδ:/m.kuAisugg.nět
Fan Xudong hadn't mentioned this point to the two princes, believing it unnecessary. However, Fan Zehao's thoughts were entirely opposite.
They were both foreign princes, and it was necessary to explain these inner-city regulations to them, lest they be perceived as tyrannical and overbearing.
While they were chatting, they arrived at the Prince's mansion.
Butler Wang, seeing the Prince return, happily greeted them with the young servants and maids of the mansion.
Fan Zehao helped his wife and daughter dismount and, without freshening up, went directly to Songhe Garden to pay his respects to his parents.
Fan Xudong, acting as butler, arranged for the two princes to stay in guest rooms. Since they were both princes, it was inconvenient to house them in the same courtyard. Thus, two secluded and interconnected courtyards were found.
Before leaving, he instructed Butler Wang, "These two are distinguished guests. Do not pay them excessive attention. Continue with your usual duties. Remember, do not allow any women to serve in these two courtyards. Assign only young male servants. Do you understand?"
The butler understood the Prince of Dingbei's words perfectly. "Yes, this old servant will absolutely not let a single female fly past this gate. Your Highness can rest assured."
Fan Xudong shook his head and mused, "I'm not worried about young ladies trying to sneak into their rooms. Rather, I fear these virile princes might bully them."
He would feel pained even if someone were to bully a female fly, let alone a woman.