Chapter 422: Chapter 422
Nanny recounted the examples of foot binding, actually in the previous dynasty, even more people practiced foot binding. During the Xia Dynasty, small feet were considered beautiful, and many young ladies from prominent families had bound feet. This trend even spread to the common folk.
When the Great Qing dynasty was established after overthrowing the Xia Dynasty, the late emperor banned this trend, yet there are still some stubborn and unyielding families who continue to practice foot binding, and there are still men who adore small feet.
For example, in the family of Zhu the Imperial Censor, most of the women have bound feet.
Zhu Family, Song Ci searched her mind, and widened her eyes: "Isn’t that the Princess Consort Zhu of Loyalty and Illumination Commandery Prince?"
Song Ci gasped, she had seen her before, truly weak like a willow in the wind, tottering on the verge of collapse, always supported by maids, her figure so skinny. At that time, she thought a classical beauty should be like that.
Who would have thought, truly weak is truly weak. For heaven’s sake, feet bound like that, how could one walk fast?
"The Zhu family is truly perverse." Song Ci felt nauseated.
Nanny laughed, that Zhu family has been a family of scholars since ancient times, extremely pedantic and stubborn, especially the current Family Head Zhu Yang, who is a top official at the Imperial Censorate.
Hong You beside her also stuck out her tongue and said, "I also heard that the wife of Zhu the Imperial Censor has bound feet, and he looks for daughters-in-law with bound feet, demanding they see their husbands as the sky above, constantly reciting women’s rules and virtues."
"Being a daughter or daughter-in-law in their family is utterly unfortunate." Song Ci sneered.
She did not want to continue this topic, otherwise, thinking of foot binding cloth, she’d feel too disgusted to eat.
Suddenly, the carriage made a sudden stop with a neigh.
Song Ci, unprepared, banged her head against the wooden plank of the carriage, letting out an "ouch."
Nanny and Hong You were so frightened their faces turned white, rushing over, screaming, "Madam!"
Song Ci was helped up, rubbing her head and baring her teeth in pain. Nᴇw novel chapters are publɪshed on NoveI[F]ire.net
"Madam, are you alright? Does it hurt anywhere? Is your head dizzy?" Nanny anxiously checked the back of her head, then coldly scolded, "What’s happening outside?"
Hong You nearly wrapped her whole body around her, fearing that there might be an assassin outside.
She only hit her head a bit, not a baby, is it necessary to hold her completely like that?
She vaguely heard shouting, with a man’s pleading and a child’s crying outside, so she waved her hand: "I’m fine."
The coachman passed on the message that someone had suddenly dashed out, causing the carriage to stop abruptly.
Song Ci frowned, motioning for Nanny to open the small door of the carriage. Looking out, she saw that snow had started to fall again at some point, and someone was kneeling on the ground in front of the carriage, being dragged away by the guards of the Prime Minister’s Mansion.
Having stopped her carriage, the accompanying Madam Song sent someone forward to inquire.
Hong You, under Nanny’s indication, got out of the carriage to ask around, learning it was refugees who had escaped. Their home was crushed by the heavy snow, and the child was terribly sick, which made them run into the carriage, intending to beg for some silver to treat the child.
Song Ci looked out and indeed saw a woman in rags continuously kowtowing, carrying a child of unknown condition on her back, with two thin little girls crying beside her.
Feeling uneasy, Song Ci said, "It’s very cold, don’t make things difficult for them. Let Steward Fu Quan take them to the clinic to have the child checked, give them some silver, and take them to the relief station!"
Hong You responded and left.
Song Ci closed the small door and sighed, "This snow falls just , this year will probably be tough, with refugees already entering the city."