RWNEFE -Chapter 498 Revising the Marriage Laws

Just as the Assistant Minister of War was about to speak, Shen Lanxi interrupted him.

“Anyone who pleads for them will share the same guilt!”

“And furthermore—whoever pleads for them is failing to accumulate virtue for the daughters in their own family, and failing to consider their daughters’ future. You had better pray to Heaven that your daughters never marry into such a household!”

Many officials’ faces turned ugly, especially the Assistant Minister of War.

If something happened to his sister, his own reputation would also suffer.

Shen Lanxi ordered, “Court of Judicial Review, take people and exhume the coffin!”

The Assistant Minister of War said, “It’s not practical for us to all wait here. By the time the coroner finishes the examination, it may already be several days later.”

Shen Lanxi replied decisively, “For these next few days, I will handle no other matters—only this one. I will wait here. Only after the examination is finished and the case concluded will I return to the palace!”

The officials had not expected Shen Lanxi to be so resolute.

The surrounding commoners looked at one another—some were moved, some skeptical, others wondering whether Shen Lanxi would truly succeed, how far she would go for women, and whether she would be able to carry it through to the very end.

Though doubts and speculation filled the air, not a single person left. Instead, the crowd only grew larger.

Shen Lanxi continued, “The second article to be added in revising the marriage laws is this: the woman’s natal family has the right to reclaim her dowry.”

The court diarists and historians quickly wrote it down.

Someone objected: “That cannot be. The previous marriage law already states that if a woman dies and has children, the dowry is used for the children’s marriages.”

Shen Lanxi asked, “What if she has no children? Does the law say anything about that?”

It did not.

The official who had objected fell silent.

Shen Lanxi said, “Then add this article: the woman’s dowry shall be divided between her children and her natal family. If the husband’s family uses the excuse that the children are too young and misappropriates the dowry, all property will be confiscated into the state treasury, and the entire family will be conscripted!”

An official from the Ministry of Revenue immediately stepped forward. “That works. That is acceptable.”

The official who had objected earlier glanced helplessly at the Ministry of Revenue officials, clicking his tongue in frustration.

What was wrong with those people? Didn’t they know whose side they were on?

Shen Lanxi smiled. “I am not ruling by myself alone. I summoned you not merely to listen, but to discuss and revise together. Let all of you express your views. By gathering the strengths of every household, we can certainly create a more complete marriage law.”

The official who had spoken earlier felt as if he had been slapped across the face; his complexion alternated between red and pale.

Shen Lanxi continued, “If the woman has no children, the dowry shall be returned to her natal family.”

“If the woman has no close relatives—meaning parents or siblings—the dowry shall be confiscated into the state treasury.”

The Ministry of Revenue official said again, “That is also acceptable!”

Another official muttered, “Couldn’t the woman’s uncles or elder relatives receive it?”

Shen Lanxi replied, “No. Have you considered that if a woman has only a young younger brother or sister, what if those uncles murder them for the property?”

“Surely not. They are family, after all. It would be understandable for uncles to help care for young nieces or nephews.”

Shen Lanxi said coolly, “I fear that in the end, the help would end up in their own pockets.”

The speaking official fell silent.

Shen Lanxi added, “Add another clause here: if anyone within the clan attempts to seize the property of orphaned children, once verified, the entire family shall be conscripted!”

Madam Song said, “Good. Better to let it rot at home than let it benefit ungrateful wolves—cough, cough…”

Shen Lanxi glanced at her somewhat helplessly and continued: “A woman’s dowry is her personal property. If the husband’s family seizes it, they will be conscripted!”

No one objected to this clause. After all, misappropriating a dowry was already disgraceful for men.

Shen Lanxi said, “What I can think of is limited. People, if any of you have grievances or doubts about any law, speak now.”

The commoners fell silent.

Shen Lanxi said, “Since no one has questions, I will continue.”

“Regarding marriage fraud—regardless of the reason—if the woman did not consent, all those involved, along with their families, shall be conscripted. If the crime is especially grave and involves loss of life, the punishment shall be death by slow slicing.”

Madam Song said fiercely, “There is so much land in Dongchuan—better to send more people there to farm!”

Shen Lanxi clicked her tongue. “That is called the price of breaking the law.”

Madam Song quickly nodded. “Yes, yes!”

“Regarding marriage arrangements—if a woman is forced into marriage against her will, the instigator and their entire family shall be conscripted.”

After Madam Song bluntly revealed that Shen Lanxi’s ultimate purpose in imposing severe penalties was to send criminals to farm in Dongchuan, the officials no longer wished to speak lightly.

After all, matters of state stability and national prosperity were at stake. Not directly relocating the population was already the court’s final concession to dignity.

Shen Lanxi continued, “A woman’s marriage must be based on mutual consent. If there is coercion or bullying, all those involved, along with their families, shall be conscripted.”

“In addition, let it be noted: if such cases truly occur, anyone who reports them will be rewarded. The court will not disclose the informant’s identity, and once the case is verified, the informant will receive a reward of twenty taels of silver.”

—This clause was ruthless. It effectively sealed off any who might think of committing such crimes, stopping them before they even began.

Just as Shen Lanxi was about to add more, someone suddenly rushed forward and fell to their knees with a thud.

“Your Highness the Regent, please redress this common woman’s grievance…”

Shen Lanxi said, “If you have a grievance, I will surely redress it.”

“I am from the capital. My father was not favored by my grandparents, so he was separated from the family early. When we split, we were given nothing but a dilapidated house. My father had no choice but to become a trader, often going deep into the mountains to buy furs, while my mother sold them. Little by little, they built up some property.”

Shen Lanxi listened, and so did the crowd around them.

“Five years ago, my father did not return for a whole month. My mother went to look for him, and more than two months later, news came that both of them had died. They were killed by bandits. I was the eldest child, with a younger brother and sister. But before my parents’ bodies had even grown cold, my grandparents hurried to drive the three of us out of the house. That winter was especially cold. My younger siblings were small and caught a chill, and we had not a single coin on us.”

“I went to beg my grandparents. I knelt outside their house for two days, but they would not give me any money. When I returned to see my siblings… they had already… already become two cold, lifeless corpses!”

The woman was sobbing uncontrollably.

“No one stood up for me. The clan head and village chief both said it was a family matter. When my grandparents saw me seeking help, they beat me unconscious and sold me into the mountains. Fortunately, the man who bought me treated me well—otherwise I would have died long ago!”

Shen Lanxi nodded. “This case involves the second clause we just revised—illegal seizure of property—as well as forcing a woman against her will.”

Wei Jie, the Chief Justice of the Court of Judicial Review, reminded her, “There is also the crime of human trafficking.”

Shen Lanxi raised an eyebrow. “That is a serious crime. Death would not be enough.”

The woman knelt and said, “My lord, this common woman does not want them to die so easily. Death would be too cheap for them. I also wish for their entire family to be sent to Dongchuan, to serve as slaves to the armored troops and contribute to Great Zhou.”

Shen Lanxi looked at Wei Jie. “Is that possible?”