Chapter 362 Bold Jiang Wan
"yes!"
The chief steward bent down and stepped back a few steps, then left silently behind the Queen's confidants.
Seeing those people walking away, the emperor quickly threw down the memorial and rushed into the inner chamber as fast as a happy roe deer.
"Wife, wife, what's going on? I was just outside and heard Hongzhu crying loudly. I couldn't hear clearly what happened. Can you tell me more?"
Jiang Wan was originally sitting by the bed looking at her son, but after hearing her husband's question, she sighed several times.
"My dear, Hongzhu is also responsible for my negligence in this matter. When she reported her illness, she only said she had a cold. I never thought that this would happen.
Alas, Imperial Physician Sun was a gynecologist. Since he said Hongzhu's injuries were severe, it must be difficult for her to have children in the future.
The Ma family wanted a child, and Hongzhu couldn't stand the prospect of separation between the couple, so divorce was the only option.
Li Chengxiu sat aside and listened attentively, and pointed out things in a very particular way.
"Has Ma Fei changed his mind?
He was so attentive when he wanted to marry Hongzhu, but now he's silent, right? Well, it's no wonder, wanting a son is almost a common problem for most men.
Of course, I'm not talking about myself. I'm one of those rare and unique people. I just have you."
The melon eater did not forget to show his loyalty and made a suggestion very attentively.
"Do you want me to come forward and speak?"
"What are you talking about? You're the emperor, and you're trying to tell your officials whether they want to have children or not? Those censors will criticize you to death!"
Jiang Wan snorted coldly before frowning.
"I'll handle this matter. Generally speaking, I'm the Queen Mother after all, and the affairs of the women of Dayu are closely related to me. Privately speaking, I'm the former head of the Ma family, and they dare not disrespect me."
"Since you already have a plan in mind, why are you so worried?"
Li Chengxiu couldn't bear to see his wife unhappy.
Jiang Wan turned her head and looked at him straight.
"Your Majesty, if I were to change the etiquette a little bit, would you agree?"
"Wife, what's wrong with you?!"
Li Chengxiu, who had been beaten since he was a child, was suddenly asked such a polite question by his wife that he jumped up in fright.
"Do you feel unwell somewhere? How about I call all the doctors over to take a look at you right now..."
"What are you doing? Sit down!"
"Okay!"
After hearing his wife speak normally, Li Chengxiu sat back down with peace of mind, feeling greatly relieved.
This is the right taste!
The Queen Mother, who originally wanted to appear virtuous and kind, was too lazy to wear that hypocritical mask and just spoke directly to the point.
"Tomorrow I want to summon the Minister of Rites to the palace to discuss whether some of the current outdated etiquette and rituals can be changed."
"…for example?"
As I said long ago, the emperor had no habit of contradicting the queen, but he was a curious roe deer and liked to ask questions about many things.
The queen sighed with a worried look on her face.
"For example, there are many rules inherited from the previous dynasty that are very harsh on women.
As I told you before, women are also a huge labor force. Look at the Dongling Mansion we managed to build under such pressure. How is it doing now? This should be a very convincing statement, right?
In the past few years, due to the endless wars, the entire Daqi lost half of its population. When my father and his men took over, this area was already devastated.
Resting and recuperating is easy to say, but how difficult is it to do? We shouldn't waste our productive forces and just leave the women aside. Do you understand what I mean?"
"Understand!"
The emperor nodded vigorously. On issues concerning people's livelihood, he never disagreed with the queen.
"It's not enough for you to understand it, the Minister of Rites must also understand it."
"Don't worry, leave it to me! Old Liu is not Old Man Liu. He is much smarter than his cousin! As long as we take a firm stance, he will definitely know how to handle the situation!"
The emperor patted his chest so loudly that it unexpectedly made the empress laugh.
Jiang Wan's eyes softened instantly.
"I want to do more than just let women step out of their boudoirs and break the old rules of not going out of the house or back door.
Since women can also serve the country, they should naturally enjoy the same rights as men.
Why are men allowed to have three wives and four concubines, while women are assigned the Three Obediences and Four Virtues? Who established these unwritten rules?
Hongzhu just told me that she wanted a divorce. In fact, she knew it in her heart, but it was just another way of being divorced. As a woman herself, this made me angry and helpless.
Aren't husband and wife always advertised as a pair of inseparable lovers? If you can divorce a wife, you can also divorce a husband!
There was a lot of determination in her voice.
"I want the word 'divorce' to have its true meaning, a fair and peaceful separation between both parties. I don't want the woman to be miserably kicked out of the house and then be wantonly bullied by the whole world!
Hongzhu is just one example. Behind her are many other women who were forced to be virtuous. Can you guess why I say forced?
Li Chengxiu, do you believe that if Hongzhu didn't have me behind her, she would be forced to be a virtuous woman. Otherwise, she would die with a heart full of grief and indignation.
Now that I'm the Queen Mother, I should be able to govern according to my position. I should be a qualified Queen Mother and help them, and work together to carve out a way for women to survive!"
No matter what, Jiang Wan wanted to muster up the courage to touch upon things that were firmly supported by men in a patriarchal society!
Li Chengxiu didn't know what to say, but he really understood what his wife meant.
"Wanjie'er, do you want to establish that marriage law you mentioned before?"
He asked uncertainly, but received a very firm answer.
"Yes! I just want to establish a marriage law!"
In the hall, Li Chengxiu recounted the serious speeches he had learned from his wife after racking his brains for half the night before. Then, under the glare of the Minister of Rites, he placed his wheelchair—ah, pah, the dragon throne—and began to speak nonsense.
"That's right, that's what I want to do! Where are you looking, Old Liu? Look at me!
I'm telling you, once this marriage law is enacted, the benefits it brings are so numerous I can't even begin to describe them in a day or two. So, listen to me, in short, it's this...
"Your Majesty, please be careful with your words!"
The emperor was rambling on for a long time, but the minister of rites didn't listen to a single word he said. He just stared at the empress beside the emperor with such sharp eyes that he felt like his back teeth were about to be ground.
Old Liu knew exactly who was the real troublemaker.
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