Chapter 185 The posthumous child born two years after the father's death

Xia Zhengqi said word by word: "There are more than 100,000 new widows in Daxia every year."

"There are so many!"

Instantly, there was a small commotion in the hall.

Many ministers whispered.

"Young and strong widows, because of the old ritual that a woman cannot serve two husbands, most choose to remain chaste and not remarry." Xia Zhengqi's voice was like a bell.

"But, this ritual is really suppressing human nature. The prejudice and requirements of the people against widows are even more harsh. Many women can't stand this kind of mental oppression. After years and months, they become unconscious and mentally ill."

[Dad actually understands the people's sentiments so well! ] Xia Miaoyuan looked at Xia Zhengqi with admiration.

[Isn't this Su Yushi's mother a living example? She was a widow for more than 30 years, and finally became insane.

Xia Zhengqi's eyes lit up. My precious daughter came to help her father again.

"Su Yushi, I remember that your mother was a widow for more than 30 years, right?" Xia Zhengqi looked at the middle-aged civil servant, Su Yushi, who had just spoken impassionedly.

Su Yushi's eyes reddened: "Yes, Your Majesty, my mother is chaste and virtuous, and she values ​​her reputation the most. She was afraid of gossip, so she was very harsh on herself for more than 30 years and didn't even go out."

But after saying this, Su Yushi seemed to feel full of pride.

He raised his head proudly.

His widowed mother was well-behaved and had no stain on her female virtues. She didn't go out or talk to outsiders for more than 30 years.

Xia Zhengqi continued to ask: "How is her physical and mental condition now?"

Su Yushi was stunned and stammered: "She..."

Xia Zhengqi stared at Su Yushi and said coldly: "I am the emperor, you must tell the truth and not lie to the emperor!"

Su Yushi's voice was very low: "Now she often talks to herself and suffers from insomnia at night."

When he spoke the latter part, Su Yushi already had a little crying tone.

Xia Zhengqi waved his hand at Su Yushi, indicating that he didn't need to say anything more.

[How pitiful women in ancient times were! Just for their own reputation, just for the evaluation of outsiders, they had to live like a living dead without their husbands. ]

[Feudal ethics really kills people! A woman should not serve two husbands. To put it bluntly, it is the saying that the patriarchal society oppresses women.

They keep saying that women should be chaste and a woman should not serve two husbands. But the requirements for men are very relaxed. Taking concubines, keeping mistresses, and going to brothels are all allowed by society. When

a wife dies, all the aunts and uncles rush to persuade the man to remarry. They say that if there is no wife in the family, life will not be possible and the family will not be a family.

But men are people, and women are also people. Why should they be required to have double standards?

Thinking of this, Xia Miaoyuan sighed helplessly.

Oh! Modern society is still good. Women have the autonomy to marry and have independent personalities. Men and women can divorce if they are not in harmony after marriage. Regardless of gender, if the spouse dies, the other party can remarry. 】

Xia Zhengqi listened carefully to his daughter's voice, and his blood boiled when he heard this.

It turns out that the fairy world follows such an enlightened marriage system, how wonderful!

Da Xia should also lean towards the fairy world.

He suppressed his thoughts and continued with what he had just said: "Some women are forced to remain chaste, but they are unwilling to be lonely in their hearts, and often do disgusting and dirty things. It corrupts the social atmosphere. In this case, why should they remain chaste?"

At this point, Xia Zhengqi looked at Chen Yushi meaningfully.

When Chen Yushi heard this, the expression on his face was a little flustered.

"Chen Yushi, you should know something about this situation. I heard that your sister-in-law gave birth to a posthumous child last year?" Xia Zhengqi raised the corner of his mouth.

Chen Yushi's face flushed: "Ah... this... Thank you, Your Majesty, for your concern. That child looks a lot like my elder brother."

Civil and military officials covered their mouths and laughed secretly.

"It's a posthumous child born two years after my father passed away!"

"Is it true? Is it so outrageous?"

"Really, his sister-in-law's house is on the same street as mine, and I didn't even have the embarrassment to hold a full-month banquet at that time."

"You live on the same street, the child can't be yours?"

"Don't talk nonsense, I'm a very good person."

Chen Yushi: I clearly said that concubines and imperial concubines are not allowed to remarry! I suspect you are changing the subject, but I have no evidence.

Xia Zhengqi said in a sonorous voice, "So, a woman cannot serve two husbands. It is not in line with human nature at all. It is the oppression of women by ethics!"

[Daddy is great! I didn't expect Daddy to have such a vision! 】

Xia Zhengqi lowered his head and smiled secretly.

At this time, more than half of the civil and military officials below showed an expression of admiration.

"Your Majesty is right! Instead of forcing women to remain chaste and causing all kinds of scandals that are harmful to morals, it is better to let them remarry openly."

"That's right. There are too many such scandals."

Chen Yushi's face was already red to his ears, and he was no longer able to refute Xia Zhengqi's point of view.

Xia Zhengqi stood up, waved his hand to the civil and military officials, and said in a sonorous and powerful voice: "I will issue an edict today to abolish the rule that women in Daxia must remain chaste after their husbands' death. Widows are allowed to remarry, and are encouraged to do so!"

"Widows who remarry will be rewarded with five taels of silver as a dowry. If they give birth to children after remarrying, the court will give them ten taels of silver for each child as a reward for their contribution to increasing the population of Daxia."

[Daddy is so wise and powerful!] Xia Miaoyuan clapped his hands excitedly.

"Your Majesty is wise!" The civil and military officials shouted in unison.

Xia Zhengqi stroked his beard, squinted his eyes with pride, and enjoyed the wonderful feeling of being praised by all the officials.

At this moment, a discordant voice sounded.

"Then, what about the concubines and childless concubines being released from the palace?" Su Yushi asked with a stiff face.

The other officials all looked at him as if he was a fool.

"As the emperor, I don't care if they leave the palace and remarry. Does Lord Su care more than I do?" Xia Zhengqi said slowly.

"No, no, no, that's not what I mean." Su Yushi waved his hands in panic.

...

In the mornings when she was not forced to go to court, Xia Miaoyuan felt that the sky was especially blue and life was especially beautiful.

In the morning, Nanny Li gently washed her and changed her into a beautiful dress.

Xia Miaoyuan sat happily at the table on the kang, eating a rich breakfast.

Suddenly, a familiar male voice came in.

"Is mother well! I am in good health! Don't worry."

Xia Miaoyuan excitedly let go of the spoon in his hand: "It's my second brother!"

Since Emperor Mingxi sent the second prince to the imperial army for training, he has lived in the barracks for a long time and rarely returned to the palace.

During the New Year a few days ago, he only returned to the palace for three days.

Therefore, Xia Miaoyuan was very excited when he saw his second brother returning to the palace.

Without waiting for the second prince to enter the room, Xia Miaoyuan stretched out her two chubby legs, slipped off the chair, and ran straight to the yard.

"Second brother!" Xia Miaoyuan called in a baby voice, and threw herself on the second prince.

"Ah, Miao'er!" The second prince picked her up and turned her around.

"Second brother, be close to me!" The second prince said, stretching his face over.

Xia Miaoyuan subconsciously turned her head away: "I don't want to be close to you, it hurts!"

The queen and the palace people couldn't help laughing. The

second prince blushed and explained: "Sister, I shaved this morning on purpose. If you don't believe me, touch it. My face is very smooth."

Xia Miaoyuan stretched out a small hand to the second prince's face doubtfully.

"Hey, it's true."

As she said that, Xia Miaoyuan gently touched the second brother's face.

The second prince felt full of happiness in an instant, and a warm current filled his heart.

Ah, having a sweet and soft sister is such a blessing in life.

The queen looked at her son and daughter lovingly, and her heart was filled with sweetness.

After calming down, the queen asked, "Is Chengnian not busy in the army today?"

The second prince replied happily, "It's not that I'm not busy, but I'm going to be busy soon, so I came to see my mother and sister today. Starting tomorrow, I'm afraid I'll be so busy that I won't have time to return to the palace for half a month."