ETERNAL LOVE : A LOVE STORY

Zhao Ming was furious but with Ji Cheng's support, she managed to calm down.

" Feng Ju, bring this man's daughter to the court." Ji Cheng said to Feng Ju who was standing beside him.

Hearing Ji Cheng's words, the merchant panicked and said, " Your Majesty, why do you want to bring that girl here? Even I didn't bring my son here, then how can she come here?" 

Ji Cheng glanced at the man and said casually, " Then bring his son as well." 

"-_-"

The man pursed his lips and said, " Your Majesty, how can you allow a girl to come to the court? When her father is here, why are you calling her here?" 

Ji Cheng raised his brows and glanced at Feng Ju, " Who made the announcement about this court session to the public?" 

Feng Ju was surprised but answered without any delay, " It was Minister Lao".

" Call him here ." 

Feng Ju nodded and was about to go back when he heard Zhao Ming's words, " Before that send someone to bring that girl here." 

Feng Ju pursed his lips and glanced at Ji Cheng for an order. Seeing Ji Cheng nodded, he bowed to Zhao Ming and ordered a guard to bring the girl here.

After a minute, Feng Ju brought minister Lao to the court.

" Minister Lao, what did you say to people when I asked you to make the announcement about the open court session to the public?" Ji Cheng asked nonchalantly, his hand was still holding Zhao Ming's hand.

Minister Lao was caught off guard with this sudden question, and replied with hesitation, " Your Majesty... I.. announced your exact words to the public. The same words from the edict were read to the public and there were no changes, as I am aware of." 

Ji Cheng nodded and asked, " In my whole edict, did I say that women are exempted from the court or are not allowed to the court?"

Minister Lao was dumbfounded when he heard his words. He pursed his lips and replied after a few moments of pause, " As long as I remember, you didn't mention any such rule. But if you want, I will make its arrangements…." 

He was hesitant at first because he was not sure if he remembered it right or not when Ji Cheng suddenly questioned.

But before he could complete his words, Ji Cheng cut him off and glanced at the merchant and said," There is no such rule written in that edict, then how come you assumed that women are not allowed in these sessions? Who made that rule? You?" 

Along with the man, everyone was shocked upon hearing Ji Cheng's words.

This was not something to write in the edict. This was accepted and known all along that women are exempted when such public edicts are made if they are not mentioned. 

If it is for them, it will be written in the edict. 

" But...Your Majesty, it has always been like this. What can women do even if they come to court? It's not like they have something to complain about. They stay at home and do nothing but relax. What can they do at the court?" The man scoffed as he thought that Ji Cheng was being ridiculous.

Even though he wanted to say more things but couldn't do so. He doesn't understand why Zhao Ming was sitting there as well. 

What can a woman do at court?

Zhao Ming pursed her lips and felt her blood boiling. 

' This jerk..' 

She was about to say something, when Ji Cheng spoke, " Hmm..right. women should not be allowed to court. But that used to happen before."

" However, since the late Emperor allowed the Empress Dowager to attend the court hearing, the long tradition has been broken. There is a woman in this court right now, and that's the Empress. So I don't think there is any need for such rules anymore."

Ji Cheng looked at everyone and said, " Seems like people are still not clear about this. I, the Emperor of the Ji Dynasty, is officially demolishing the tradition which does not allow women to attend the court hearings."

" Minster Lao, release another edict in respect to the previous one. From now on, women can also attend the court hearings. Also, not only that, they can come forward and make their pleas. In this court, no one is better than the other, be it, man or woman, all are equal." 

Everyone was shocked to hear his statement. Even Zhao Ming was surprised when she heard his words.

She never thought that he would make such a statement. In the history of the Ji Dynasty, it's the biggest change that he made.

Allowing women to the court? Calling men and women equal? That was not something that she ever expected to hear in this world.

She could not help but smile because Ji Cheng has changed a lot from before.

Even though his policies have always been progressive but he never went against the traditional norms and always abided by them.

But in a few months, he has changed tremendously. He not only punished Xiao Li and Wen Xu but also made a special people's court. And the biggest change is this, allowing women to the court.

Minister Lao was shocked but in the end, he nodded and left the court to make further arrangements. 

Since Wen Xu has been suspended from her position, the power of ministers has been curbed by Ji Cheng and now he can make policies even though it's not to their liking.

Though he needs their permission for some but many of them he can make himself.

It has turned many of them against him but a few of them are on Ji Cheng's side as well.

….

As they were discussing this, a guard entered the court with a girl beside him. Similarly, the other guard brought the son of the merchant with him.

The guard made the girl and the man to stand in front of Ji Cheng.

Seeing the girl, everyone started to make comments about her and were calling her a vixen and rude impudent girl because of her beautiful looks and her rebellious character because she denied the marriage.

Zhao Ming pursed her lips when she heard those comments. However, she frowned when she saw the girl and the man whom she was supposed to marry.

Her expressions turned darkened because she cannot believe that they were trying to make the girl marry this man.

'These people are sick.'

##

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