Jiang Shuyue personally poured him a cup of tea and handed it to him.

"Your Majesty, I was referring to the nuns in the nunnery. Most of them were abandoned by their families and left destitute. When they were young, they did needlework to earn money, and some kind people donated a little to the nunnery, which allowed them to barely make ends meet."

"Has Your Majesty considered what will happen to them when they fall ill or grow old?"

Seeing Jiang Shuyue's compassionate gaze, Xiao Jingzhao nodded. "I will summon my ministers tomorrow to discuss this matter. Most ordinary women do not have the ability to make a living, which is indeed a problem."

Xiao Jingzhao took the teacup and sipped it. "Does Yue Niang have any good suggestions?"

Seeing the person in front of him looking haggard and not as energetic as before, Xiao Jingzhao felt a pang of pain in his heart.

In fact, Xiao Jingzhao misunderstood. The bed in the nunnery was not as comfortable as at home, and with Qiuju by her side, it was inconvenient to go into her space to sleep. Jiang Shuyue had not slept well for the past few days at Peach Blossom Nunnery.

Jiang Shuyue looked up and met that concerned gaze.

She thought for a moment and said, "I hope Your Majesty can care more about the weak. Taxes are taken from the people and used for the people. Those women who have not married and have gone to nunneries for various reasons can receive care from the court, just like the people of Ciyin Hall. They can have food when they are hungry and have imperial physicians come to treat them when they are sick. That would be enough."

Jiang Shuyue learned that the nuns in the nunnery looked after each other; when the older nuns were sick, the younger ones would serve them tea and water.

This practice has become a routine year after year, and the place is more like a group of women with tragic fates huddling together for warmth.

"Yes, I will carefully consider your suggestion."

The two chatted about the hardships of ordinary people while eating.

Xiao Jingzhao helped her serve the food as always.

“He has returned safely to Liang Kingdom. He is undoubtedly the future crown prince of Liang Kingdom. Yue Niang need not worry about him.”

Jiang Shuyue was slightly taken aback. She had just received the news, so how did Xiao Jingzhao also know about it?

As she stared at him with a puzzled expression, Xiao Jingzhao said, "I sent secret guards to escort him in secret. They sent him to the border of Liang and then sent a message back."

After the meal, Xiao Jingzhao did not linger. He said, "I will come again tomorrow," and left with Xiang Song and Xiang Yang.

After leaving the Jiang residence, Xiangyang asked with lingering enthusiasm, "When will Your Majesty visit the Jiang residence again? I'll arrange things and accompany you."

Xiang Song glanced at him sideways and said, "You should just tell the Emperor that you didn't get enough barbecue tonight and want to come over for dinner another day."

"Your Majesty, it's not as he said. I truly love the Jiang family. The entire household is harmonious, and I feel as if I've returned to the Prince of Yan's residence."

Xiang Song: "..."

The saying "A shameless person is invincible" probably describes this person perfectly.

The next day, Xiao Jingzhao brought up the matter of the nuns in the nunnery during the morning court session for the ministers to discuss.

When Su Huai-ren returned home yesterday afternoon, his wife told him about the situation of the nuns in Peach Blossom Nunnery.

Hearing the Emperor mention it, it became clear that the Emperor had met Jiang Shuyue.

He stepped forward, cupped his hands, and said, “Your Majesty, some say that the prosperity of a family depends on whether the men in the family are responsible and take good care of their wives and daughters, and the prosperity of a country also depends on how it treats women and children. Your humble servant agrees with the court’s policy of taking care of them.”

"I cannot agree with Lord Su's words. Does Lord Su not know that only women and petty men are difficult to support? They have done nothing to benefit the country and should not be supported by the court." A minister stood up to refute this.

Xiao Jingzhao naturally knew that Su Huai Ren's remarks came from Jiang Shu Yue.

Because she had discussed gender equality with him on more than one occasion.

Xiao Jingzhao never refuted what he heard, but what he really wanted to say was that women are naturally weak and men should protect them.

But when he thought about how omnipotent she was, he felt even less able to presumptuously say that he would protect her.

In the main hall, Su Huai-ren said neither humbly nor arrogantly, "I find it hard to agree with this statement. Perhaps it is because my wife is understanding and reasonable that I do not find her difficult to raise."

His words drew laughter from the crowd.

The minister blushed and said, "I'm not saying my wife is difficult to raise. Since ancient times, from the moment she enters school, teachers have always said this."

Someone followed Su Huai-ren's line of thought and laughed, "Then it must be that your wife is difficult to deal with, which is why you gentlemen came to this conclusion."

Xiao Jingzhao raised his hand, "Let's not get sidetracked. Everyone, let's discuss this properly. I'll make a decision in a bit."

Right Chancellor Cui Jing cupped his hands and said, "Your Majesty, I believe that the court should not be responsible for their later years."

"I heard that the Right Chancellor's sister-in-law has become a nun, and the Right Chancellor did not have any selfish motives. It is truly admirable." A minister who knew the matter bowed to him.

Xiao Jingzhao did not think the Right Chancellor was selfless when he said those things; instead, he began to doubt that he had misjudged him.

His deep eyes flickered slightly as he looked at the Right Chancellor and said, "Right Chancellor, what makes you say this? Do you have any basis for not supporting the court's responsibility?"

"Your Majesty, think about it. If all the women in the world were to stay in nunneries instead of getting married, I have two reasons for this. First, the government's support for them would result in insufficient tax revenue, making it unsustainable."

Secondly, the population of Wanling will decline sharply, so where will they find troops to recruit from on the frontier?

Before the Right Chancellor could finish speaking, Su Huai-ren said, "Since the Right Chancellor knows that women are of great significance to Wanling, why doesn't he value them? As a man, if you need them, why ignore them? This is shameless, and I cannot agree with it."

In this era, male superiority and female inferiority were deeply ingrained, and Su Huai-ren's remarks were not echoed by many of his colleagues.

Because he was the father-in-law of King Kang, most people either tried to smooth things over or remained silent, so as not to offend anyone.

No one knew that the Right Chancellor had his own ulterior motives for saying those words.

If that person hadn't combed their hair before leaving home, she would probably be the woman in his backyard.

After a heated debate, neither side would back down, and the Right Chancellor even suggested persuading all the nuns in the nunnery to return home and remarry.

Seeing that his words were becoming increasingly absurd, Xiao Jingzhao quickly raised his hand to interrupt him.

"Your Excellency is mistaken. Some of the nuns in the nunnery are nearly sixty years old. Their parents are gone, and they have no home. Who do you expect them to marry?"

"Your Majesty is absolutely right. They have their reasons for not marrying, and it would be unreasonable for anyone to interfere. Unless the Right Chancellor is willing to marry an old woman and take her home to raise, I admire you as a man of principle."

"Lord Su, you..."

The Right Chancellor was speechless. The person he wanted to take home and care for was not an old woman, but the gentle, virtuous, beautiful, and generous woman he cherished.

Seeing that the two could not reach a conclusion, Xiao Jingzhao looked at the ministers and said, "Speak up. If you have nothing to say, then take sides. Those who support the Right Chancellor, stand on the right; those who support Lord Su, stand on the left."

The ministers exchanged glances, then knelt down in unison, saying, "Your Majesty, we await your decision."

Xiao Jingzhao looked at the group of tough nut to crack and shook his head helplessly.