Chapter 507 The concubine and her illegitimate son beat the drum to appeal!
"That applies to you as well!"
“There are rules for striking the Dengwen Drum. The one who strikes it will be beaten fifty times. I want to find out the case as soon as possible, so I will not beat you for now, lest I beat you to death and lose all the clues.”
Many officials' eyes flashed with disdain and contempt.
What does "being polite" and "abiding by the law" mean? Is this how you use the phrase "abiding by the law"?
Shen Lanxi chuckled: "We can fight later!"
Many of the people kneeling on the ground turned pale with fright at those words.
Shen Lanxi's smile vanished, and frost slowly crept onto her face.
"The people kneeling on the ground were divided into three groups, and the three departments checked their identities, investigated their family situations, and verified whether what they said was true!"
Is this for recording?
The people kneeling on the ground were so frightened they almost collapsed. They regretted coming; they shouldn't have listened to others' instigation.
If this is recorded, will their family still be able to tolerate them?
Will the imperial court retaliate afterward?
Thinking of this, they were all sweating profusely.
Shen Lanxi: "You just said that the imperial court is implementing a concubine tax to leave you no way to survive? I would like to ask you, are the soldiers holding knives to your throats, about to take your lives?"
Those kneeling below remained silent.
Shen Lanxi: "You can't survive not because of the imperial court, but because your families refuse to pay your taxes."
One of the boldest illegitimate sons raised his head and retorted.
"If it weren't for the imperial court levying a tax on concubines, our family wouldn't be in this situation."
Shen Lanxi's face was cold and stern: "Your father can afford to take concubines, but he can't afford to support their children? Which family are you from? Let me investigate how much property your family has?"
The audacious illegitimate son instantly turned pale and bent over.
Shen Lanxi scoffed: "You don't dare to say it, are you afraid your families will cause you trouble?"
"When they pushed you out to beat the petition drum, did they not think about your lives?"
“Those who beat the drum to appeal will be struck fifty times. If any of you are weak, you will die before the fifty blows are finished!”
Shen Lanxi coldly rebuked, "You were all pushed out to your deaths, and you still think about protecting the interests of your family?"
"As someone just mentioned, concubines can be bought and sold. Today, I, the King, will amend another law of the Great Zhou Dynasty right here."
"Concubines must not be bought or sold, much less killed. If someone is killed during a sale, they will be punished for both trafficking and murder!"
After hearing this, many of the kneeling concubines collapsed to the ground, utterly exhausted.
Great, I don't have to die.
Shen Lanxi: "If your family doesn't want to pay taxes for you, then you should separate and establish your own household. That way, you won't have to pay concubine taxes."
Many of the illegitimate sons kneeling on the ground suddenly brightened up.
“But…” Shen Lanxi changed the subject and continued.
"The illegitimate sons who are separated from the family must move out of the capital and settle in the north."
Someone muttered, "Isn't this just a forced relocation of laborers?"
"So that's what the Regent was planning."
"If we were to speak frankly about relocating male descendants, the people would certainly not agree. Perhaps separating the sons of concubines from their families would be feasible!"
"While parents are alive, the family should not be divided. If a son born out of wedlock is separated from his parents, it is clear that the parents do not want to support them. This is extremely unfilial."
There was much discussion.
Wang Bao: "Silence!"
Shen Lanxi continued, "No matter how large the family's assets are, the children born out of wedlock will only receive one hundred taels of silver as property and dowry."
"A concubine can never be made the principal wife; anyone who does this will have their entire family executed!"
"The principal wife must not mistreat or abuse her concubines, illegitimate children, or other wives; otherwise, her entire family will be executed!"
"Those who favor concubines over their wives will have their entire family slaughtered."
"If a concubine murders the wife and children, her entire family shall be exterminated!"
"Children born to concubines are not allowed to participate in the civil service examinations, but can only participate in the military examinations. However, those who make significant contributions to our Great Zhou can be exempted from this requirement."
"If the principal wife harms concubines, illegitimate children, or illegitimate children, her entire family shall be exterminated!"
"Any family with property that refuses to pay taxes for its concubines, illegitimate children, and illegitimate children shall have its entire family slaughtered, and all the wealth of those whose entire families are slaughtered shall be confiscated and sent to the national treasury!"
Shen Lanxi recounted each point one by one, while the historian and the court attendant quickly picked up their pens to record them.
After reciting dozens of revised laws of the Great Zhou Dynasty in one breath, Shen Lanxi looked at the person kneeling on the ground.
"Your husbands and fathers are unwilling to pay taxes for you. Do you have any objections?"
They slaughtered the entire family; who would dare to object?
Some officials thought it was too harsh. Even high-ranking officials of the first rank in the court didn't say anything, but if these lowly officials dared to say a word, they would be handing their heads over to Shen Lanxi.
After waiting for a while and still no one spoke, Shen Lanxi continued, "That means there are no objections. Since there are no objections, then take fifty strokes and go back!"
Just as she turned to leave, she heard a young man shout, "Your Majesty, spare my life! I didn't want to come, but my father threatened me with my aunt's life. I dared not disobey!"
Shen Lanxi said coldly, "Investigate who his father is? How dare he threaten me with such actions?"
"If I don't make an example of him to warn others, I'll have failed to live up to the expectations of today!"
The officials were shocked. "Shen Lanxi, stop talking nonsense! Who set a trap for her?"
"If the Dali Temple's investigation confirms the truth, execute one as a warning to others!"
The illegitimate son's eyes lit up, and he continued, "Not only my father, but also his legal wife, grandmother, uncles, and legitimate sons and daughters—they all threatened me. If I didn't comply, they would beat my concubine to death."
Shen Lanxi sighed, "If the Dali Temple verifies that what he said is true, they will all be executed."
Left Chancellor: "Regent, aren't you being too harsh?"
Shen Lanxi readily agreed, "Then let him be exiled to Dongchuan to contribute to our Great Zhou!"
The Left Prime Minister looked speechless, suspecting that Shen Lanxi had been waiting for someone to say that.
“This illegitimate son has made a meritorious report; he shall be rewarded with one hundred taels of silver and spared fifty strokes of the cane.”
The illegitimate son who had made the accusation was clear-headed like never before, and hurriedly said, "Your Majesty, I am willing to take my concubine to the north to contribute to... to my Great Zhou!"
Shen Lanxi clapped her hands and pointed at the illegitimate son, saying, "Look, there are still some sensible people among these people."
Officials: "..."
Shen Lanxi was in a good mood and said, "Since you were the first to come forward to report this, you can take five hundred taels from your family fortune, and the rest can be deposited into the national treasury. The Ministry of Revenue will oversee this matter."
Officials: The Ministry of Revenue is a treacherous place!
"Thank you for your mercy, Your Majesty. My aunt and I are also grateful for your mercy in sparing our lives."
Shen Lanxi smiled and waved her hand: "The Court of Judicial Review, the Ministry of Justice, and the Ministry of Revenue, you can go with him to carry out your duties!"
Even after the illegitimate son had walked quite a distance, he was still shouting with joy.
"My aunt and I will finally stop being bullied... My aunt and I have a way to survive..."
This move has given many people pause for thought.
"Even a villain denounces his father..."
"I am willing to separate from the family with my aunt..."
"I didn't do this willingly. My aunt and sisters were all kidnapped..."
"I don't want to be beaten and scolded by the wife anymore..."
Shen Lanxi whispered to Che Mingyuan: "Carry out the relocation work in an orderly manner, and make sure it is carried out peacefully so that both sides can achieve a win-win situation!"
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