RWNEFE -Chapter 507 Concubines and Illegitimate Children Beat the Drum of Grievances!

“These words apply equally well to you!”

“There are rules for beating the Drum of Grievances. Those who beat it must first receive fifty strokes of the rod. I intend to investigate this case as quickly as possible, so I won’t have you beaten for now—otherwise you might be beaten to death, and we would lose our leads.”

Many officials showed looks of disdain and contempt.

Understanding propriety? Abiding by the law? Is that really how the law is supposed to be used?

Shen Lanxi gave a light laugh. “You can be beaten afterward.”

Quite a few of the people kneeling turned pale with fright at those words.

Shen Lanxi’s smile faded, and a cold expression slowly spread across her face.

“All those kneeling on the ground will be divided into three groups. The three judicial departments will verify your identities, investigate your family situations, and determine whether what you have said is true.”

Record their identities?

The kneeling crowd nearly collapsed in fear. They regretted coming; they should never have listened to others’ instigation.

If records were made, would their families still accept them afterward? Wouldn’t the court retaliate later?

At the thought, cold sweat poured down their backs.

Shen Lanxi continued, “Just now you said the concubine tax leaves you no way to live. Let me ask you this—did government soldiers put knives to your throats and try to take your lives?”

The people below said nothing.

“You cannot survive not because of the court, but because your families refuse to pay the tax for you.”

A bold illegitimate son raised his head and retorted, “If the court hadn’t imposed the concubine tax, our families wouldn’t be like this.”

Shen Lanxi’s face turned icy. “If your father can afford concubines, can he not afford to support their children? Which family are you from? Let me investigate how much property your household possesses.”

The bold youth instantly turned pale and bent his head.

Shen Lanxi sneered. “You dare not speak because you’re afraid your family will cause you trouble?”

“When they pushed you out to beat the Drum of Grievances, why didn’t they think about your lives?”

“Those who beat the drum must first receive fifty strokes. If any of you are weak, you may die before fifty strokes are even finished!”

Shen Lanxi rebuked them coldly, “You were pushed out to die, yet you still think of protecting your families’ interests?”

“Someone just said that concubines can be bought and sold. Today, I will revise another clause of Great Zhou’s law right here.”

“Concubines may not be bought or sold, nor may they be beaten to death. Anyone who buys, sells, or beats them to death will be punished as traffickers and murderers!”

Many of the kneeling concubines collapsed to the ground in relief after hearing this.

Wonderful… they would not be sold or killed anymore.

Shen Lanxi went on, “If your families are unwilling to pay the tax for you, then divide the household and establish a separate one. That way, you will not have to pay the concubine tax.”

Quite a few illegitimate sons’ eyes lit up.

“But…” Shen Lanxi changed her tone and continued, “Illegitimate sons who separate from their families must move out of the capital and settle in the northern regions.”

Someone muttered, “Isn’t this population relocation?”

“So that’s the Regent King’s real intention.”

“If she said population relocation directly, the people would never agree. But separating illegitimate sons from their households… that might work.”

“But if parents are still alive and sons separate the household, it would be seen as refusing to support their elders—extremely unfilial.”

The discussions buzzed noisily.

Wang Bao shouted, “Silence!”

Shen Lanxi continued: “No matter how vast a household’s property, illegitimate sons and daughters who separate may receive only one hundred taels as their share and dowry.”

“Concubines may never be promoted to the status of principal wife. Violators shall have their entire families executed.”

“The principal wife must not mistreat or abuse concubines or illegitimate children; violators shall have their entire families executed.”

“Those who dote on concubines and neglect or destroy their wives shall have their entire families executed.”

“If a concubine plots to harm the principal wife or her children, three generations of her clan shall be executed.”

“Children born to concubines may not participate in the civil service examinations; they may only take the military examinations, unless they render great service to Great Zhou and are granted an exception.”

“If a principal wife harms concubines or illegitimate children, three generations of her clan shall be executed.”

“If a household possesses property yet refuses to pay taxes for concubines or illegitimate children, the entire family shall be executed, and all their property confiscated into the national treasury!”

Shen Lanxi listed the clauses one by one, while the court historians and recorders rapidly wrote them down.

After finishing dozens of revised laws in one breath, Shen Lanxi looked at the kneeling crowd.

“Your husbands and fathers are unwilling to pay taxes for you. Do you still have objections?”

With entire families facing execution, who would dare object?

Some officials wanted to say the laws were too harsh, but since even the highest-ranking ministers said nothing, these lesser officials knew that speaking up would be like offering their heads to Shen Lanxi.

After waiting a while and hearing no response, Shen Lanxi continued, “Since there are no objections, then receive your fifty strokes and go home!”

She had just turned to leave when a young man shouted, “Regent King, spare my life! I did not want to come. My father threatened my concubine-mother’s life—I had no choice but to obey!”

Shen Lanxi said coldly, “Investigate who his father is. How dare he use such methods to threaten me?”

“If I do not make an example of someone, I will not have done justice to today’s situation.”

The officials were horrified. Shen Lanxi, stop talking nonsense—who set a trap for you?

“To the Court of Judicial Review: investigate the accounts. If it is true, make an example of them.”

The illegitimate son’s eyes lit up, and he continued, “Not just my father—my father’s principal wife, my grandmother, my uncles and aunts, the legitimate sons and daughters—they all threatened me. If I refused, they would beat my concubine-mother to death.”

Shen Lanxi sighed. “If the Court of Judicial Review verifies this as true, execute them all.”

The Left Prime Minister said, “Regent King, is this not too severe?”

Shen Lanxi replied smoothly, “Then exile them to Dongchuan to contribute to Great Zhou.”

The Left Prime Minister looked choked; he suspected Shen Lanxi had been waiting for someone to say exactly that.

“This illegitimate son has rendered meritorious service by reporting this. Reward him with one hundred taels of silver, and exempt him from the fifty strokes.”

The youth felt clearer-headed than ever before and hurriedly said, “Regent King, I am willing to take my concubine-mother and relocate to the north… to contribute to Great Zhou.”

Shen Lanxi clapped her hands and pointed at him. “Look—among these people, there are still some who understand.”

The officials were speechless.

In a good mood, Shen Lanxi added, “Since you were the first to report, you may take five hundred taels from your family’s property. The rest will be confiscated into the national treasury. The Ministry of Revenue will oversee this.”

The officials thought bitterly: Those villains in the Ministry of Revenue!

“Thank you, Regent King, for your mercy. My mother and I thank you for giving us a way to live.”

Shen Lanxi waved her hand with a smile. “Court of Judicial Review, Ministry of Justice, Ministry of Revenue—you may accompany him to handle the matter.”

Even after the young man had gone far away, his joyful shouts could still be heard.

“My mother and I will never be bullied again… we finally have a way to live…”

This stirred thoughts in many others.

“I also report my father…”

“I am willing to separate from my family and take my concubine-mother with me…”

“I was not willing—my mother and sister were all tied up…”

“I don’t want to be beaten and cursed by the principal wife anymore…”

Shen Lanxi quietly instructed Che Mingyuan, “Carry out the population relocation in an orderly manner. It must proceed peacefully, with both sides benefiting.”