As time went by, the news of Empress Zhangsun's illness spread far and wide. It even spread to the common people, casting a shadow over the Spring Festival.
The officials were originally filled with righteous indignation and were waiting for the first court assembly to impeach the Mo family's prenuptial agreement, causing the people's resentment to soar to the sky. However, they suddenly received instructions from the head of the officials, Fang Xuanling, to request for amnesty and to guide people into the Dao.
"Pray for the Empress! And it's the Crown Prince who will take the lead. "The officials heard this and were all enthusiastic. How could they miss such a politically correct event?
Immediately, the officials burned the midnight oil and wrote furiously. They were all ready to show their skills in the first court assembly.
Soon, the tenth day of the Lunar New Year arrived as promised. The first court assembly officially began.
"Your Majesty!"
In the Taiji Palace, the officials gathered!
"Everyone, rise!" Li Shimin said tiredly. Even if Empress Zhangsun was seriously ill, Li Shimin, as the Emperor, had no choice. After all, national affairs were the most important.
"A year's plan depends on spring. Now that the Tang dynasty has begun, the three provinces and six ministries must be cautious and conscientious …" Li Shimin said loudly and methodically arranged the affairs of the court.
The officials of the three provinces and six ministries received the order one by one. Everyone could see that Li Shimin was a little absent-minded. They obviously sped up and quickly arranged the affairs of the court.
"If there's anything, please report. If there's nothing, the court assembly is dismissed!" Pande hurriedly said.
"I have a report!" Yu Zhining immediately stepped forward and said.
"Approved!" Li Shimin waved his hand and said.
"I want to impeach Mo Jiazi for corrupting customs and advocating prenuptial agreements, which led to chaos among the people. In just ten days, countless people broke off their marriages. The Mo family is guilty of causing chaos among the people." Yu Zhining accused.
Li Shimin was naturally mentally prepared. He had already warned Meton that there would be such a calamity. He immediately said in a clear voice, "Meton, do you have anything to say?"
"Lord Yu, you've been talking for a long time, but I still don't understand. This prenuptial agreement was implemented by me in the Mo Family Village. It's the Mo Family's business. Lord Yu, are you going to interfere?" Meton stepped out helplessly and asked loudly.
Yu Zhining snorted coldly, "The Old Man will naturally not interfere with the internal affairs of the Mo Family. However, if the Mo Family causes social unrest, the Old Man will have to intervene. The Old Man requests Your Majesty to annul the prenuptial agreement. "
Modun said in a clear voice, "Lord Yu, may I ask if this prenuptial agreement violates any law?"
Yu Zhining couldn't help being stunned, and then argued, "Although the prenuptial agreement doesn't violate the law of the Tang dynasty, it violates the customs and leads to the destruction of countless marriages. Shouldn't the Mo Family be blamed for this crime?"
"Yes, thousands of marriages in Chang 'an will be destroyed in just ten days. If it continues to spread, there will be more marriages in the whole country ruined by you." One of the imperial censors said angrily. He had done his homework well, and was well aware of the destructive power of the prenuptial agreement Moton had mentioned.
"Yes, what's more, many men have ruined their marriages three times in a row, all because of you." An official said angrily. His son was one of the victims, so he naturally gnashed his teeth at Meton.
All the officials in the court couldn't help but be in an uproar. They naturally knew the reason why Meton ruined his marriages three times, but they didn't expect that there were so many unlucky people. They couldn't help but feel embarrassed.
Meton was also a little stunned and couldn't help but say with shame, "I'm deeply ashamed of this matter, but I don't regret it. What I do is beneficial to the world."
Whether it was against the marriage of close relatives or against the sale of marriage, Meton was justified, including this prenuptial agreement. It was absolutely righteous to maintain absolute monogamy.
"Beneficial to the world? Ridiculous!" Yu Zhining snorted coldly.
"In the last years of the previous dynasty, the people had no way to make a living. Countless men died in the war, leaving a large number of women and children without anyone to take care of them. If everyone insists on absolute monogamy, how can those weak women and children survive? If concubines are forbidden, how can the population of the imperial court recover?"
Yu Zhining sneered in his heart. "Didn't Mo Jiazi like to argue with facts? Today, I will tell the truth about the current situation of the Tang dynasty. Let's see what Mo Jiazi has to say."
After Yu Zhining finished speaking, all the civil and military officials in the imperial court echoed. This was indeed the current situation of the Tang dynasty. If the Tang dynasty wanted to recover the population quickly, it was impossible to prohibit concubines. Moreover, weak women and children alone couldn't survive independently and could only rely on men.
Meton sneered and said, "This is the current situation of the Tang dynasty when it was founded. Now, it has been nearly 20 years since the founding of the Tang dynasty. The so-called men and women who were killed in the war have already aged. This situation no longer exists in the new generation of men and women. After I built the hospital for women and children for the princess, I have delivered thousands of children for women and children in Chang 'an. According to statistics, the ratio of men to women is 50/50. That is to say, for every boy born, there will be a girl born. If someone has three wives and four concubines, it will cause six men to become bachelors.
Yu Zhining argued with facts, and Meton also argued with facts. The problem of bachelors was not only in the future. In the era of polygamy, the problem of bachelors in the Tang dynasty should not be underestimated. The Village of Mo was the best example.
"Yes, in the cases of the Tang dynasty, the proportion of bachelors committing crimes is indeed very high, especially the vicious ones. Most of them are alone." Li Daozong, the Minister of Justice, sighed.
"No. Whether a crime is committed or not is a matter of the criminal's morality, not whether he has a wife or not. The two can't be confused and can't be determined based on this. What we are talking about today is the prenuptial agreement." Yu Zhining refuted.
Although Yu Zhining's words were reasonable, everyone knew that with family ties, people would definitely think twice before committing crimes. This was inevitable.
Meton solemnly said, "The prenuptial agreement is made to ensure the monogamy of the Mo family. Whether it is monogamy or three wives and four concubines, it is our own choice. Others, even our parents, can't interfere."
"However, the prenuptial agreement signed by the Village of Mo has led countless men and women in Chang 'an to follow suit and break countless marriage agreements! The resentment of the people is overwhelming. This is the public opinion! The public opinion can't be violated! "Yu Zhining angrily rebuked with the public opinion holding the court hostage.
Meton smiled and said, "Then are these marriage agreements broken by me? It must be that the man wants three wives and four concubines, and the woman wants monogamy. All the women in the world don't want three wives and four concubines. This is also the public opinion, and the public opinion can't be violated!"
Yu Zhining used the public opinion to threaten, and Meton also used the public opinion to refute. The two could be described as tit for tat, and neither of them gave in.
"Besides, why is it normal for a man to marry many women, but it is a big sin for a woman to marry many men? Therefore, monogamy is the ultimate ethical and emotional way. I believe that monogamy will prevail in this land one day. "Meton said firmly.
Yu Zhining snorted and said, "It's ridiculous. You have seen a teapot with four teacups, but have you seen a teacup with four teapots?"
Meton couldn't help but be stunned. He actually heard the famous teapot theory in the Tang dynasty.
"How can a teapot be compared with a person? It's just an excuse for men to satisfy their own desires. Let me ask you, which father in the world would be willing to let his daughter be someone else's concubine and live a precarious life without a title and status? Even the children born would not have the right to inherit." Meton looked around and asked.
The officials couldn't help but lower their heads guiltily. With their status, their daughters would be married as the principal wife at least. If the news spread that they were married as concubines, they would be ashamed in front of the officials. However, even if their daughters were the principal wives, they didn't want their son-in-law to have three wives and four concubines.
"This is indeed a social problem!" Li Shimin said in a low voice. He didn't speak to support Meton, but to prepare for the promotion of the Second Boon in the future. The Second Boon allowed the children to share the family property equally, so naturally, the concubine's children would also be taken into account.
"Your Majesty, there has never been a prenuptial agreement since ancient times. It's all because of Mo Jiazi's sudden appearance. If we don't stop it, it will definitely mess up the marriage of the Tang dynasty. I ask Your Majesty to order to abolish the prenuptial agreement." Yu Zhining shouted loudly.
"Yes, Lord Fang didn't sign the prenuptial agreement, but he still wants to live with Lady Fang for the rest of his life. Whether it's one wife and one concubine or three wives and four concubines all depends on personal integrity. How can there be a contract binding them? It's a big joke." An imperial censor said proudly.
In an instant, everyone focused their eyes on Fang Xuanling. Only then did they realize that there was an anomaly among them, and that was Fang Xuanling. Even if he was in a high position, he still wanted to live with his wife for the rest of his life.
"Fang Xuanling, what do you think of this matter?" Li Shimin thought and asked loudly.
Fang Xuanling was stunned. He didn't expect that he would be implicated. He immediately said, "Whether it's one husband and one wife or three wives and four concubines, it's a private matter and personal choice. I think it's better not to interfere. Otherwise, it will be strenuous and unrewarding."
Li Shimin couldn't help but be stunned. Then he suddenly understood. Indeed, if men mostly supported three wives and four concubines, while women supported one husband and one wife, it was inappropriate for the imperial court to support either side. The best result was not to interfere.
Moreover, as Meton said, the Tang dynasty had passed the era of imbalance between men and women. The ratio of men and women in the new generation had been balanced. At this time, monogamy was popular. As for three wives and four concubines, the imperial court neither opposed nor supported it. It depended on the ability of the man.
"The prenuptial agreement is a private agreement among the people. Both men and women are willing to sign it. One side is willing to hit and the other side is willing to be hit. There's no need to discuss this matter!" Li Shimin waved his hand.
If monogamy really prevailed, it could solve the problem of bachelors in the Tang dynasty. This was also good for the imperial court's rule. Li Shimin was naturally happy to see it happen.
"As Your Majesty commands!" Although Yu Zhining was dissatisfied, he didn't insist. After all, they had more important things to do today.
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