RWNEFE -Chapter 508 A Thousand-Person Matchmaking Event!

Many officials were seething with anger. Those foolish women and unfilial sons had actually dared to accuse their own elders—how vicious!

The Vice Minister of War angrily said, “A son reporting his own father is utterly rebellious, a complete overturning of moral order. Such a person is unworthy to be called a son and should be beaten to death with sticks!”

Shen Lanxi’s expression darkened.

“Vice Minister, if I remember correctly, your daughter is still a widow in Prince Chen’s residence, isn’t she? Do you not want her to remarry?”

The Vice Minister froze for a moment, then angrily replied, “She is a woman. If her husband dies, she should remain chaste for him at home. A virtuous woman does not serve two husbands. My daughter has always followed the rules, unlike certain people.”

Shen Lanxi knew he was speaking with hidden sarcasm but did not get angry.

“Then I shall amend another marriage law here and now. If a woman’s husband dies and she wishes to remarry, her husband’s family must not stop her, nor may they withhold her dowry or property. Otherwise, the entire family will be exiled to serve in the army!”

The Vice Minister choked on his words.

“If the woman does not wish to remarry, her husband’s family must not make things difficult for her either. Otherwise, the same punishment applies—exile to military service, and confiscation of property!”

As soon as the words confiscation of property were heard, not a single person from the Ministry of Revenue stood up to oppose it. On the contrary, they strongly supported it.

Shen Lanxi’s voice turned low and steady. “The same applies in all matters: if someone in the family commits wrongdoing, whoever steps forward to report it is acting in the name of righteousness over family ties.”

“After verification, if the report proves true:

Officials will be promoted two ranks.

Commoners will be rewarded with silver from ten to five hundred taels, with no upper limit.

Merchants will receive a one-year tax exemption.”

After saying this, she looked provocatively at the Vice Minister of War. She was not afraid of anyone finding fault—every person who tried would become another stepping stone beneath her feet.

“Vice Minister, do you have any further objections?”

The officials were uneasy. If things truly happened as Shen Lanxi said, sons accusing fathers and family members turning against one another for profit—wouldn’t households descend into chaos?

Mei Nanhua frowned. “This policy has flaws. If everyone starts reporting each other, won’t the court fall into disorder?”

Shen Lanxi replied, “Only those who have done wrong fear being reported. The innocent remain innocent—what is there to fear?”

Mei Nanhua said, “I have always been upright and unafraid of shadows!”

Shen Lanxi answered calmly, “Only severe laws make certain people look up and see the blade hanging over their heads, so that when they are tempted to take risks, fear restrains them.”

That reasoning did carry some weight.

Shen Lanxi then turned and walked toward the palace interior.

Wang Bao announced, “Court dismissed!”

The matter of concubines and illegitimate sons beating the Drum of Grievance was quickly published in the official bulletins. Soon afterward, government offices saw a surge of families dividing their households.

Very few people actually reported their relatives; most chose to separate instead.

In the past, when children proposed dividing the family, elders would suppress them with the saying, “As long as the parents live, the family must not divide,” using filial piety to pressure them.

Now, without even needing the illegitimate sons to ask, families hurried to divide the household themselves.

To avoid being reported, many families gave more than the one hundred taels stipulated by law.

Most concubines left with their sons, and some took their daughters as well.

Dividing a household meant buying property, furniture, firewood, grain, oil, and salt. After the cultural exchange delegation left the capital, Beijing once again experienced a buying boom.

At the women’s academy, many ladies who did not wish to reveal their names quietly sent donations and then departed just as quietly.

A secret guard reported: “Among those donating, most are principal wives, with a few concubines. After sending silver, they dispatched servants to ask when the academy would begin admitting students.”

Shen Lanxi nodded. “They are kind-hearted and know gratitude. People like this should not remain unknown.”

“Tell the head of the academy: since they do not wish to reveal their names, record them on the Wall of Merit under the names of flowers.”

“Yes!”

Che Mingyuan entered holding a register.

“In less than three days, thirty households—over four hundred people—have already relocated to the northwest.”

Shen Lanxi nodded. The results were good, but the momentum was still not strong enough.

At court, Shen Lanxi made another astonishing announcement.

“I intend to hold a thousand-person matchmaking event in the capital. All unmarried men and women of suitable age may participate.”

The entire court erupted in an uproar.

“The court has never organized such an event. Marriage is arranged by matchmakers—government involvement would make it seem frivolous.”

“No one will participate. Since ancient times, marriage has been arranged by parents and matchmakers. Private matching would be no different from illicit relations!”

“Without a matchmaker or betrothal gifts, it is nothing but cohabitation. Without parents as witnesses, it is unfilial!”

“The court must not interfere in civilian marriages; the people will surely complain.”

No one was optimistic.

Shen Lanxi said, “There are three reasons for this.”

“First: to support the defense of Dongchuan and the northwest. Many soldiers there are orphans or refugees who lost their families. To protect the people of Great Zhou, they have sacrificed greatly, and many have never married.”

At this, many officials fell silent.

“Second: to give women a way to live. In recent years, war and conscription have left many households with only women and children. In some places, entire villages have no adult men. Some women can at least band together for warmth, but those alone are often bullied by villagers—their fate needs no explanation.”

“Third: population. War and natural disasters have reduced Great Zhou’s population. Some regions have more women than men, others only men and no women. If this continues, how will our population recover?”

The officials fell silent again. These were problems they had never considered.

Some felt ashamed, some regretful, and some stared fixedly at Shen Lanxi.

“Issue orders to all prefectures and counties. Women must register voluntarily—no one may be forced. If I discover coercion, not only will the official lose his hat, his entire family will be executed!”

No one spoke.

Shen Lanxi continued, “This activity will be held in the capital to prevent corruption. I will personally attend—no one will be allowed to falsify anything.”

“For women of suitable age who register in other provinces, the court will provide travel expenses and personally escort them to the capital.”

This policy spread quickly among the people through official bulletins and storytellers who relayed it to those who could not read.

Soon, after the marriage law reforms, public attention in the capital shifted again to the matchmaking event.

As for the earlier rumors that rebels possessed a descendant of the former Crown Prince?

That news had already gone stale. The common people cared only about matters affecting their own lives; the former Crown Prince felt too distant.

On the first day, women mostly watched cautiously. That afternoon, a few ragged, beggar-like women registered.

On the second day, more people began to sign up little by little.

On the third day, registrations surged—widows with children, emaciated beggar women, and even brightly dressed women clearly from pleasure houses.

On the fourth day, men began to arrive as well, having heard that those who enlisted in Dongchuan or the northwest would be assigned wives.

On the fifth day, officials from nearby towns began arriving in the capital with ox carts, donkey carts, and horse-drawn wagons, transporting people to participate.