Le document est clair pour le monde entier

Chapitre 4

Pang Di glared at him and said casually, "Yes, I'm regretting it now." After spending the last two days together, she found her husband to be easygoing and friendly, so she gradually learned to joke with him.

Wang Pang smiled and stood up, taking the hairpin and crown and saying, "Come, let me let my wife try it on."

Just as Wang Pang was about to put a hairpin on Pang Di, he suddenly saw a maid carrying tea for guests walk past the window. Wang Pang thought to himself, "Who could be visiting so early in the morning?" So he called the maid to stop and asked her.

The maid replied that it was Censor Cheng Hao who had come to visit, and that he was discussing matters with the Prime Minister by the pond in the garden.

Upon hearing this, Wang Pang immediately strode towards the garden, neither tying up his hair nor washing his face, nor changing into formal attire. He let his long hair and morning robes flutter in the wind, and he held Pang Di's hairpin in his hand.

Pang Di thought to himself, "How can they receive guests like this?" But still feeling uneasy, he followed after them.

Upon approaching Cheng Hao, Wang Pang did not bow, but instead asked his father directly, "What are you discussing, Father?"

Wang Anshi said, "It is precisely because the new laws are being promulgated that many people are obstructing them, which is why I am discussing this with Mr. Cheng."

The new laws, though well-intentioned, were not entirely effective. Officials exploited loopholes to deceive their superiors and oppress the people, causing immense suffering. Few officials dared to speak frankly and offer advice, but several senior officials, such as Han Qi and Fu Bi, persisted in submitting memorials urging the emperor to halt the new laws. Wang Anshi's officials, always reporting only good news and concealing the bad, focused solely on the benefits of the new laws, so he and his son were unaware of the actual hardships faced by the people, believing only that the old officials were deliberately obstructing and retaliating. Cheng Hao, who initially supported Wang Anshi's reforms, seeing the unfavorable situation, consulted with Wang Anshi, asking whether the most crucial Green Sprouts Law should be temporarily suspended.

Therefore, Wang Pang was furious upon hearing this, and glared at him, saying, "Why bother discussing this further! Just behead Han Qi and Fu Bi in the marketplace and display their heads to the public. I'm not afraid the new laws won't work!"

Seeing Cheng Hao present, Wang Anshi felt it was inconvenient for his son to speak so frankly, so he quickly said, "My son is mistaken."

Wang Pang ignored Cheng Hao and continued, "I am not wrong! If the new law is to be implemented smoothly, it is necessary to eliminate those who have dissent first, as has been the case throughout history."

Cheng Hao, a staunch follower of Confucianism, was already quite uncomfortable with Wang Pang's unrestrained manner. After hearing his words, he could no longer contain himself and coldly said, "I am currently discussing state affairs with the Prime Minister, and it is inappropriate for his sons and grandsons to participate."

Upon hearing this, Wang Pang glared angrily at Cheng Hao, almost ready to throw a punch. He had always disliked this old Confucian scholar, and seeing him so disrespected, he was furious. His skin was already very fair, and now, in his extreme anger, the veins on his skin bulged out clearly.

At this moment, his father saw Pang Di following behind and hurriedly said, "Di, why don't you help your husband back to his room to wash up!"

Wang Pang had always been gentle and kind to Pang Di, never showing the slightest displeasure. Pang Di had never seen anything like this before and was almost stunned. He only came to his senses when he heard his father-in-law speak. He walked to Pang's side, took his arm, and whispered, "Let's go back."

Seeing his wife gently trying to persuade him, Wang Pang barely suppressed his anger, took his wife's hand, and stormed off.

Back in his room, Wang Pang, still furious, said to Pang Di, “Our current emperor is open to advice, implements new laws, and is determined to reform, comparable to Yao and Shun. My father also has capable ministers like Gao, Kui, Ji, Qi, and Fu Yue. Unfortunately, every dynasty has its villains; even Yao and Shun could not be without the Four Evils. Therefore, to build a prosperous era, we must eliminate the Four Evils; this is the way to govern a country.” (During the reigns of Yao and Shun, the Four Evils plagued the land, causing great suffering to the people. These four were Huan Dou, Gong Gong, Tao Wu, and the Taotie tribe. Huan Dou and Gong Gong formed a gang and terrorized the countryside; Tao Wu was violent; and the Taotie tribe frequently robbed and plundered the people's food. Shun resolved to expel the Four Evils and exile them to remote areas.)

Pang Di remained silent for a long time.

Wang Pang pressed further, "Doesn't my wife agree?"

Pang Di replied, "I just feel that what you just said—that if the new laws are to be implemented smoothly, it is necessary to first eliminate those who have objections—seems similar to the way Qin Shi Huang governed the world."

Wang Pang said, "If Qin had not first had Shang Yang's reforms and then the First Emperor's courageous rule of law, how could it have unified the six states and standardized writing, currency, weights and measures?"

Pang Di originally wanted to say, "It is a pity that the Qin Dynasty perished after only two generations," but seeing that Wang Pang was in a fit of anger, he felt that saying it would be pointless and would only increase his anger. Therefore, he kept quiet and changed the subject to persuade Wang Pang gently.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Sex tourism

Several more days passed. One afternoon, Wang Pang ordered his servants to prepare clothes for him to go out. The maid brought out several sets of clothes, but he glanced at them and waved his hand, saying, "They've been washed once or twice, and the colors have faded." When a new robe was brought out, he still shook his head, saying, "These were sewn last year but I haven't worn them yet. The style is too old now, and I can't wear them anymore." Finally, he took out a new robe that he had ordered from Xie Jinniang, the most famous tailor in the east of the city, a couple of days earlier. The color was bright, the cut was novel, and the workmanship was exquisite. Only then did he finally agree to wear it. Then he ordered someone to bring out an incense burner and carefully perfumed the clothes.

Pang Di noticed that he didn't seem to be going to the palace. If he was visiting a friend, his attitude was too cautious. Pang Di was very puzzled and finally couldn't help but ask him, "Where does the gentleman intend to go?"

He straightened his neatly scented sleeves, turned around with a leisurely smile, and said, "A brothel."

Pang Di, suspecting he had misheard, frowned and asked, "What?"

Wang Pang walked to her side, leaned down and whispered in her ear with a leisurely laugh, "A brothel. A place of pleasure. A den of iniquity."

Before Pang Di was married, she had vaguely heard that he was fond of pleasure and often drank and sang with famous courtesans, but she never expected him to be so audacious as to openly and clearly tell her that he was going to a brothel.

He was so angry that he was speechless.

He said "I'm going" and walked out, gently waving his folding fan, as if he were just going for a spring outing.

"You're not allowed to go!" Pang Di shouted angrily, and before she finished speaking, two tears welled up in her eyes.

"Oh, my wife, are you so worried about me?" Wang Pang quickly turned back, pulled her into his arms, and gently kissed away her tears, as if he didn't know why she was sad. He "comforted" her, saying, "It seems my wife can't be without me for a moment. In that case, why don't we go together?"

"Going together?" Pang Di looked at him in surprise. "Going to brothels together?"

His sly, handsome grin resurfaced: "Adi, do you know how incredibly dashing you are in men's clothing!"

Half an hour later, Pang Di, dressed in men's clothing, left the Prime Minister's residence with her husband and took a sedan chair to "Fuxianglou", the largest brothel in Bianjing.

As soon as he reached the door, the middle-aged madam came out to greet him upon hearing the voice. Seeing Wang Pang, her eyes practically disappeared in a smile, and she exclaimed repeatedly:

"Greetings, Young Master Wang! It's been so long since you've visited. I suppose you've been promoted recently? Yanran has missed you so much that she's lost weight..." Upon entering the hall, she immediately instructed a male servant, "Quickly, go and invite Yanran out! Young Master Wang has arrived!" Then, turning to Pang Di with a beaming smile, she asked Wang Pang, "Is this your friend, Young Master?"

Wang Pang replied with a smile, "He is my cousin, so please don't neglect him."

"Of course!" the madam exclaimed, eager to present her treasures. "We recently brought two young ladies from Hangzhou, whose beauty surpasses even that of Yanran. They are skilled in all the arts, including music, chess, calligraphy, and painting. This young master will surely like them. They are still getting ready. Please come upstairs and have a seat, gentlemen. I will bring them over later."

Upon reaching the upper floor, a beautifully made-up woman hurried out to greet him. She wore a light pink silk dress, her hair styled in a fashionable updo, and her eyes were still sleepy, as if she had just woken from a dream. When she saw Wang Pang, her eyes narrowed, filled with resentment, and she said softly, "I heard that Young Master Wang has taken a new wife. I thought you had long forgotten about me."

Wang Pang put his arm around her waist and laughed, "How could that be? Ah, this is my cousin, Young Master Pang. Adi, this is Miss Xiao Yanran, whose beauty is renowned throughout Bianjing."

Upon hearing this, Xiao Yanran bowed to Pang Di. Pang Di, seeing Wang Pang's intimacy with her, was deeply displeased but could only nod. The reason she had agreed to come with him was because Wang Pang had told her that the girls here were the most beautiful in the capital, "only three points less beautiful than you." Any woman would be curious to hear others compare her appearance to that of another woman, so she wanted to come and see for herself. However, before leaving, Wang Pang had asked her not to be jealous easily, so although she was very uncomfortable now, she couldn't show it.

The woman was clearly much older than Pang Di, and not particularly beautiful, but her smile was charming and captivating. "Xiao Yanran," Pang Di thought with a cold smile, "so that's what Xiao Yanran means."

Pang Di entered Xiao Yanran's room and sat down in the small hall. It was Pang Di's first time in such a brothel, and he couldn't help but secretly look around. He found that the room was decorated in a very elegant manner. The furnishings were not necessarily expensive, but they were all exquisite. The carved screen and incense burner were the kind of things that ladies from well-to-do families would use. There were some paintings and calligraphy hanging on the four walls. Pang Di was secretly surprised when he looked closely. They were all made by famous people of the time.

Wang Pang began to inquire about her well-being and ask how she was doing, but she just complained, "What fun am I having if you don't come? I just sleep all day long."

"Really?" Wang Pang feigned doubt: "I've heard you have quite a few guests."