Escape: I rely on the food exchange system to survive to the extreme

Chapter 245 Female Household (Part )

"I never told you about women."

The candlelight flickered in the Tai Chi Hall. Inside the hall, Mei Qian knelt on the cold floor tiles.

As early as when she said this to those women, she knew that she would be summoned by Qi Chen.

Although the secret decree had not yet been announced, Qi Chen had already returned to the palace and was handling official business in the Taiji Hall. Everyone understood what he meant.

Mu Ying, standing in the shadows, looked at Mei Qian, who was kneeling alone in the middle of the hall. Who would have thought that on the first day back in the Imperial City Division, Mu Ying would have received such news.

He didn't expect Qi Chen to directly have someone bring Mei Qian over.

He didn't know that Mei Qian came and didn't even ask any questions, but just knelt there.

"Mu Ying, you go out first."

What Mu Ying didn't expect was that Qi Chen actually wanted to kick him out.

Mei Qian looked up and was startled when she saw Mu Ying suddenly appearing from the corner of the hall.

She thought it was just herself and Qi Chen, but suddenly Mu Ying jumped out. Mei Qian felt lucky that she stayed calm today and didn't speak.

"Here."

Before leaving, Mu Ying glanced in the direction of Mei Qian again. Seeing that she was still kneeling there honestly, he said no more. Instead, he continued to kneel there and left without saying a word.

It was not until Mu Ying left completely that Mei Qian heard footsteps approaching her in the hall.

It was not until the pair of boots embroidered with dragon patterns in gold thread came into her sight that Qi Chen's voice came again from above her head:

"During the day, when you were talking to those women, weren't you very talkative? Why are you silent in front of me now?"

"Since Your Majesty knows everything, you should understand that everything I do is in accordance with the law and I have not acted on my own.

Are there any problems in settling refugees, re-registering their household registration, or relocating them?"

The moment Mei Qian raised her head, she saw Qi Chen reaching out and grabbing her arm to lift her up.

"You know, that's not what I'm asking."

Seeing that Mei Qian would rather kneel there and avoid the main issue, Qi Chen simply pulled her up.

After hearing what Qi Chen said and seeing his actions, Mei Qian stood there obediently after being pulled up, and asked in return: "Is there any law in Anguo that explicitly prohibits women from living there?"

“Although there is no prohibition in the law, the corvée and tax collection for female households are different from those for ordinary households, and in some aspects they may even be slightly preferential.

In order to prevent some families from evading taxes and labor service by falsely changing their names to female households, the establishment of female households is more stringent in reality.

It's so harsh that some of them may have become abnormal.

Qi Chen did not say that Mei Qian was wrong, but just explained again why there were so few female households. Mei Qian also said after hearing this:
“First, the new household registration I gave them clearly mentioned that their family members were no longer around.

As an orphan with no one to rely on, the conditions of this female household are sufficient.

Besides, if she finds a trustworthy man to marry in the future, the woman's household registration can be changed."

Mei Qian also explained his views on the female households of these women, but it was obvious that Mei Qian had more to say.

"Secondly, Anguo had just experienced war, many men died on the battlefield, and there were many orphans and widows at home.

Although widows should be encouraged to remarry, but... widows are not picky. "

Qi Chen listened to Mei Qian's words and the corner of his mouth twitched. It seemed that these words were not serious again.

"Many women want to establish a female household in order to protect their husband's original property and raise their children who have not yet grown up.

There are also women who have left their families for various reasons, such as divorce, being divorced by their husbands, the death of their parents or relatives, or having no brothers to rely on. These women can all establish female households. "

"As for the widows you mentioned, raising children with their deceased husband's property, it is indeed possible to establish a female household. But for the last ones, let alone whether they can establish a female household, they may not even be able to live independently and support themselves."

"Why can't you even support yourself? Your Majesty, do you also assume that these women who have been divorced and abandoned by their families have nothing?
What about their dowries, the money they deserve after years of marriage with their husbands? The government verifies their property as part of the criteria for establishing a female household. "I'm not just talking about property, the means of making a living is also important. Are you going to live off your savings?"

"If you don't have the means, then go and learn. There is no rule in the world that women should not go out of the front door, right? If a female household is established, the female head of the household should have the same rights as men, farming mulberry and hemp, doing business..."

"Including the imperial examination and becoming an official in the court, right?"

Suddenly, Qi Chen said the last words that Mei Qian wanted to say.

Mei Qian heard what Qi Chen said, took a deep breath, raised her eyes and looked fearlessly at Qi Chen's sharp eyes, and replied: "That's right!"

This time, it was Qi Chen's turn to take a deep breath.

"Do you know what will happen if your words get out?"

"Your Highness, will you spread this?" Mei Qian asked back.

Qi Chen, who usually doesn't get angry easily in front of Mei Qian, was also angered by Mei Qian's words today.

"Of course I won't, but do you think what you said will succeed? Or why do you think I would help you do something that would cause turmoil in the court?"

"Your Highness is not doing this for me. Although I have selfish motives, this matter is not completely without benefits."

"benefit?"

Qi Chen wanted to know what other good things Mei Qian could say.

"Aristocratic family." Mei Qian said word by word, "Your Highness should be like the new emperor in Jiangnan, and both hate aristocratic families, right?"

Qi Chen pursed his lips. He really hated it.

But the example of Qi Yu was there. He was sure that once he released the secret decree, he would not even need to lead troops. Those aristocratic families would be able to work together to overthrow Qi Yu and then send him to him in Jiangbei.

The power of these aristocratic families, whether it is the imperial examination system established by their ancestors, or Qi Yu's unconventional approach and extreme suppression of the aristocratic families in Jiangnan, all show their dissatisfaction with the aristocratic families.

He thought that when he ascended the throne in the future... he would also have to find a way to continue suppressing the aristocratic families.

Seeing that Qi Chen stopped talking, Mei Qian curled the corners of her mouth and said:

"Take the imperial examination for example. If the prince ascends the throne in the future and opens a special examination, if there are too many casualties in the war, now everyone can participate regardless of gender, and women will naturally participate.

A woman who dares to take part in the imperial examination must have considerable talent and ambition.

Your Majesty, you can guess what the origin of the woman who finally stood out from the crowd of men was?"

Mei Qian finished speaking and added, "People like me who come from a grassroots background should be rare."

She could have just said to select girls from noble families to serve as officials in the court.

Then, Mei Qian continued, "When a woman serves as an official, she should be set up as a female household. The property obtained by the female household is naturally the same as the property obtained by brothers dividing the family."

A daughter of aristocratic family becomes an official, but she has to be separated from her family.

Not only does she have to come out, but her property must also be taken out.

The power of the aristocratic families is enormous, and those who can gain power from the female households are only rare.

Qi Chen thought so, and this rare case might not be as simple as Mei Qian thought.

"The children of aristocratic families, even girls, are taught from a young age to 'put family first'. There are many girls from aristocratic families who gave up at the last minute, as you said."

Qi Chen shook his head after he finished speaking. Although what Mei Qian said made him very excited, it was still a bit idealistic.

"is it?"

Mei Qian didn't think she was so idealistic. She looked at the candlelight not far away and whispered, "Your Majesty, you also said that there were many girls from noble families who gave up in the end, but didn't you say all of them?

As long as there is a... prince among them, you will make a profit."

Mei Qian: I also made money, I gained helpers.