In the carriage back to the palace, Qiao Jinniang said to Lu Chen unhappily, “Is there really no way to make Xie Yun marry Qiao Ruoyi?”
“Both of them hate each other. Giving a marriage is just creating a pair of resentful spouses. Moreover, there are many rules in the Xie family. The difference between the legitimate and illegitimate children is deeply rooted. The more aristocratic families like theirs care about the legitimate and illegitimate children.”
Hearing this, Lady Qiao said, “Aristocratic families are already at the end of their rope. They still care about the legitimate and illegitimate. Everyone says that children are important and take in concubines. However, when the illegitimate children of Chang ‘an are talking about marriage, they are greatly affected by the illegitimate children.
“What difference between the legitimate and illegitimate children? Men are happy for a moment. Instead, they let their children suffer. If Chang ‘an officials are not allowed to take in concubines, let’s see where they get the illegitimate children and where they get the legitimate children.”
Lu Chen smiled faintly. “That’s true. Except for officials, merchants don’t care about the difference between a son and a concubine.”
Qiao jinniang asked, “Then what if you make an imperial edict not to take concubines?”
Lu Chen smiled at her. “I still want to be the emperor for a few more years.”
Qiao Jinniang:”…”
Lu Chen looked at the Dankou in her hand and said, “However, it’s okay to let the sons and daughters of the first wife and concubines share the family wealth when they are separated from the family. Do you think that if the sons and daughters of the second wife and concubines gradually become more powerful, would those housewives still be willing to take concubines for their husband?”
Qiao Jinniang felt that it made sense. “They would definitely not be willing to take concubines. It doesn’t matter if they suffer some grievances for their mother, but once the interests of their children are lost, how could they still be willing to take concubines?”
Lu Chen said, “In this world, if a man wants to take concubines, he needs his wife’s permission. If those housewives are not willing to take concubines for their husband, it will gradually become the norm without the imperial edict.”
Qiao Jin felt that it made sense. Nowadays, most men took in concubines for the sake of their virtuous reputation or to avoid being called jealous.
In any case, when the children of concubines got married, they would not have much money in the public, and the children of concubines would not have much to share in the family business.
However, if the children of concubines and legitimate children were given the same amount, would those women still be so generous? Would they still be willing to take in a concubine for a man?
..
Qiao ruoyi was resting in bed, so she naturally could not go to the yamen of the Ministry of appointments. Hong Qifeng was even busier now.
The wedding invitations of the Marquis of Jingwu’s manor had been sent to all the important figures in Chang ‘an. Now that the wedding was not successful, Qiao Ruoyi’s pregnancy caused a commotion. Many people looked at the Qiao family as a joke, they could not find out who Qiao Ruoyi was pregnant with.
In a teahouse with many women in Chang ‘an city, they were all talking about the law that had just been enacted.
If the family was divided after the death of the parents, the family property would be divided equally between the son and the unmarried daughter, regardless of whether it was the son or the concubine.
In the past, most people divided the family property after the death of the parents, so no one dared to divide the family property when the parents were present.
Now that the son and concubine of the first wife had the same family property, what was the difference between the first wife and the concubine?
The number of officials who objected to this matter was pitifully small.
The scholars and officials placed more importance on marrying the daughter of the first wife and the daughter of the second wife. They did not want the name of the daughter of the first wife to ruin their son.
However, giving the son of the second wife and the son of the second wife and the son of the third wife and the son of the third wife would be considered a matter of the afterlife. Moreover, the son of the second wife and the son of the third wife was also their son. Although the emperor’s imperial decree was inappropriate, it was not so acceptable.
However, the wives of the noble and high-ranking officials were dumbfounded. Their son had lost so much of his family property. Although this was a matter of the afterlife, which woman would not plan for her own child?
The young wives had agreed with a common enemy not to take concubines for their husband. Their husband would not be able to take in concubines without their consent.
If they had an outer chamber, then they would have an outer chamber. In any case, the illegitimate son of the outer chamber would not even be able to pass the imperial examination. which woman would be willing to ruin the life of her own child for an outer chamber?
Nowadays, a woman could do business for a female household with the help of the government. Those who did not have the ability to do business could even get the government to act as an embroidered maid and make pastries… if she could support herself, who would be willing to be an outer chamber.
There were also some madams who gave sterilization medicine to their maidservants.
However, there was also an imperial edict that the sterilization medicine was not to be sold in folk pharmacies.
“How could his majesty give such a good edict?”? “My husband was unwilling to give his family business to his brother-in-law, but he hugged his son and said that he did not need to worry about him in the future. I was almost angered to death. If he wants to take in concubines in the future, I can’t play with him anymore.”
“That’s right. I will not take in concubines for my husband anymore. If I bear the name of being unvirtuous, I will just admit it. I Can’t let my son suffer all the grievances.”
By the time many men realized that this imperial decree had caused their wives to no longer agree to take concubines for themselves, it was no longer appropriate to submit a petition to change it.
The first-born granddaughter of Marquis an Yuan’s manor had a full moon wine, and it was extremely lively. Princess Shou ‘an ordered someone to forge a palm-sized golden calf for her granddaughter.
Even the retired emperor and Empress Dowager Zhou, who were far away in Jiangnan, sent many rewards.
When Hong Qifeng came to the An Yuan Marquis residence as a guest, he did not see Qiao ruoyi, so he suggested to Zheng Xiao that he should go and see Qiao ruoyi.
Zheng Xiao replied, “You go.”
When Hong Qifeng went, Ye suxin, who was at the side, also followed and said, “Where are you going? Are you going to see Qiao Ruoyi? I heard that she is pregnant, but it is really a disgrace. The Empress actually did not punish her!”
Hong Qifeng looked helplessly at this person who was about to become his own son’s sister-in-law. “Don’t follow me.”
Ye Suxin didn’t give up and followed after her. She had disliked Qiao ruoyi for a long time. She was obviously the daughter of a concubine, but she was above her in everything.
..
Qiao Ruoyi was basking in the sun under a tree in the courtyard. She gently waved her fan. Not long after, she heard a sound and opened her eyes.
She saw a servant girl beside Xie Yun and gave her a few green oranges.
“A few days ago, I heard from the fifth lady that it is acerbic. These are green oranges that were specially picked from the Shu lands. One bite and it will be sour.”
Qiao ruoyi said to the servant girl beside Xie Yun, “Don’t bring these to me in the future. Even if you bring them, I will not eat them. Who knows if Xie Yun has poisoned them to harm my child?”
Xin Lan, the servant girl of the Xie family, said, “This was specially ordered by master. How could he poison them? Master thinks highly of the young master in Your Arms.”
Qiao ruoyi sneered. If she thought highly of him, why would she immediately ask her to abort the child.
Lan Xin said, “Master knows that you like to raise orchids, so he specially built an orchid garden for you. You can also raise those orchids in Chang ‘an. Do you want to go and take a look?”
Qiao ruoyi covered her abdomen and said, “Is Xie Yun thinking of forcing me to abort the child after he tricked me into going to the Orchid Garden?”
At first, Qiao Ruoyi did not want the child, but she heard the advice of others. The child had lost so much blood, but she still kept it. This meant that the child was fated to be with her. Gradually, she could not bear to give up on the child.
“How can that be? Master has never been so kind to a woman. Back in Jiangnan, master doted on the Empress as much as she did. Master just feels that he can not marry you. He has let you down and wants to make it up to you.”
Yan Yu’s voice came from outside, “Miss Hong, Miss Ye, why aren’t the two of you entering the courtyard?”
Ye Su was thinking about what she had heard just now. was the Xie Yun that Qiao Ruoyi mentioned the Dead Xie Yun?
That Xie Yun was clearly a woman. How could she have become a man?
