Chapter 496 Those with daughters, step forward!

The summoned minister intended to reprimand Shen Lanxi for her nonsense, but was interrupted by the awakened Lady Song just as he was about to speak.

Shen Lanxi: "The law is not without human sentiment. If the people don't complain, the officials won't investigate. Song Niangzi and Tian Chunshan are a family. Will you sue or not?"

When the Tian family heard her say that, their eyes lit up immediately, and they shoved Song Niangzi's two children and begged her for mercy.

“Daughter-in-law, the children can’t live without a father. Are you going to just stand by and watch your children sue our whole family?”

"My wife, I was wrong. I will never do it again. It was all that little slut who bewitched me. You know I am usually the most loyal and honest person."

“Mother, don’t sue Father. If you do, we’ll pretend you’re not our mother.”

Madam Song's vision blurred, and she almost fainted again. She gritted her teeth and glared at these heartless, ungrateful bastards.

“You are all beasts. You eat my food, drink my water, use my things, and in the end you still want to kill me. Even after I die, you want to eat my flesh and drink my blood. You are not even human.”

"You little beast, you dare threaten me? Without me, you're nothing. Bah! I'm severing all ties with you today. It's not that you don't recognize me, it's that I don't recognize you."

"Tian Chunshan, you're the biggest ingrate! You pretend to be a sheep all the time, but you're actually a wolf in sheep's clothing. What do you mean by being bewitched? If you didn't have those intentions, would she have stripped you naked and forced herself on you?"

Tian Chunshan glared angrily, wanting to call her a vulgar and uncivilized woman, but unfortunately his mouth was gagged and he could only groan.

“Mother, how could you utter such vulgar words?” Song Niangzi’s son said with a look of disgust.

"Pah! Aren't I telling the truth? If Tian Chunshan wasn't in heat, would that slut be carrying a baby?"

"Tian Chunshan, you're an ungrateful coward! I was blind to have known you were right!"

Tian Chunshan's mother immediately protected her son and pointed at Song Niangzi: "Don't you dare talk about my son like that! What about you is not worthy of my son? Other people's wives are dutiful to their parents-in-law, serve their husbands, and take care of their children. What about you? What's the difference between you and a shrew from the countryside who only knows how to throw tantrums? If it weren't for my son's kind heart, he would have divorced you, you wicked woman, long ago!"

Madam Song's eyes were practically bulging with hatred.

Shen Lanxi: "I already know the specific details. You court officials should listen to their arguments; you should be able to learn something from them."

Seeing Shen Lanxi talking to the court officials, the man in the scholar's robe quietly retreated. When no one was paying attention, he turned and ran away.

Shen Lanxi: "By observing their words and actions, one can discern their character. Among the court officials who have come, those with daughters at home, please step forward!"

“I have a daughter in my family.”

“I also have a daughter in my family.”

At first, only one or two people stood up, but when the rest saw that so many people had stepped forward, they all stepped forward as well.

“This is because every family has a daughter,” Shen Lanxi chuckled.

"If your daughters were to marry into such a family, where they were exploited and murdered for their wealth, and whose children were raised to hate their mothers and be regarded as enemies by the whole family, how would you feel?" No one knows the pain until they are hit on the head.

Shen Lanxi pointed to someone: "Vice Minister of the Court of Imperial Sacrifices, I remember your brother had a daughter who died last year, right?"

The Vice Minister of the Court of Imperial Sacrifices changed his expression; the mention of his niece caused him a dull ache in his heart.

"Yes, my niece died of illness last year."

Shen Lanxi: "A few days ago, the Dali Temple submitted a memorial stating that your niece's maidservant brought a letter written in blood to the Dali Temple accusing your niece's husband's family of murder for money. The accusations are very similar to what happened to Madam Song today. I wonder if you are aware of this matter?"

The Vice Minister of the Court of Imperial Sacrifices felt a chill run down his spine, his eyes filled with struggle.

"Judging from your expression, you must have known about this. It's a pity that the maidservant, in order to make the Dali Temple take this matter seriously and to show her determination, committed suicide by running into a pillar after delivering the blood letter. Such a loyal and devoted maidservant is truly rare."

The Vice Minister of the Court of Imperial Sacrifices turned his head and glanced at the Vice Minister of the Ministry of War. After weighing his options, he said, "My niece did indeed die of illness."

Shen Lanxi: "According to you, that maid made a false accusation?"

The Vice Minister of the Court of Imperial Sacrifices remained silent.

Shen Lanxi said coldly, "Your brother's daughter died, and you're just going to let this matter go like this, without any clear explanation?"

The Vice Minister of the Court of Imperial Sacrifices remained silent.

Suddenly someone shouted

"It doesn't count!"

The person shouting pushed through the crowd and rushed to kneel down in front of Shen Lanxi.

"Regent, that doesn't count. That's my daughter, not my elder brother's. He can't sacrifice my daughter for his own future!" The man sobbed uncontrollably as he spoke.

The Vice Minister of War immediately rebuked him angrily: "We are talking about Lady Song's case now. Where did you come from, you troublemaker? Leave at once, or don't blame me for punishing you!"

When the Vice Minister of the Court of Imperial Sacrifices saw his younger brother rush out, his expression changed.

"Your Majesty, my niece's case has absolutely nothing to do with Lady Song's matter. My brother has lost his daughter, so it's understandable that he's emotionally unstable. I'll take him back to rest right away!"

Shen Lanxi laughed and said, "Your niece's case? So, you admit that your niece was murdered?"

The Vice Minister of the Court of Imperial Sacrifices turned pale, and his legs began to go weak.

"Since the two cases are similar, let's try them together."

The Vice Minister of War immediately retorted, "Your Majesty, didn't you summon us here to amend the laws? How did it turn into a trial?"

"Since it involves amending the law, let's return to the palace to discuss it. Discussing state affairs in the streets would be a joke, utter nonsense!"

Shen Lanxi's gaze swept over her coldly: "What, are you afraid that I will expose you for condoning your nephew's violent acts?"

The Vice Minister of War looked as if he had been slapped in the face.

"I remember you have six daughters, four of whom are already married, and two are still unmarried?"

The Vice Minister of War immediately stared coldly at Shen Lanxi. What was she planning to do?

Shen Lanxi: "What if it were your daughter who suffered this? Would you also swallow your anger and watch your daughter be hastily buried, watch your husband's family seize your daughter's property, watch your daughter's offspring be raised badly, and finally be kicked out of the house?"

The Vice Minister of War looked choked up, and it took him a long time to say, "They dare not."

Shen Lanxi: "Yes, you are the Vice Minister of War, so your daughter's husband's family dares not. But there is only one Vice Minister of War, while there are millions of people in the world. None of the daughters in those families have a father who is the Vice Minister of Personnel."

Wei Dongzhu: "Well said. The Regent is standing up for women, and even I, as a man, admire him greatly. Although I am a man, I have a mother and a sister, and I will have a wife and daughter in the future. If I were in such a situation, I would never allow my father to treat my mother like that, or my sister to be treated like that by her husband's family. If they dare to treat my daughter like that, I would risk my life to chop them all up to avenge my daughter!"