Chapter 429: Whose king is bullied? I am the king!
The Empress Dowager glanced at the Third Prince, who was crying with snot and tears outside the palace, and then looked at the Sixth Prince.
Maybe Emperor Qingyuan chose Chu Li because he had no other choice.
The ministers secretly thought that His Majesty was indeed very fond of the late Queen many years ago, and it seemed that this matter was true.
Even if it was not true, they would admit it. After all, the current Great Chu is completely different from when Emperor Qingyuan was in power.
At least, His Majesty has never delayed their salaries, and the rewards and promotions based on performance are more transparent and fair. They support Chu Li in their hearts.
The Empress Dowager twirled the Buddhist beads with her fingers, sneered, and continued to add charges against Chu Li.
"Princess Chuchu, you have committed the crime of deceiving the emperor, which is punishable by death. I do not believe what Eunuch Li said at all."
"The crime of deceiving the emperor? Whose emperor are you deceiving? I am the emperor!" Chu Li's voice was oppressive, and he looked down at the Empress Dowager with the contempt of a superior.
The blood in the Empress Dowager's body was about to solidify. There was no one in the Great Chu Kingdom that Chu Li was afraid of, right?
Chu Li said coldly: "I will issue a succession decree from today. Princesses can also inherit the throne. Men and women are equal in the Great Chu Kingdom!"
She had made up her mind that in the future, she would let Xiao Yueyue inherit the throne and become the empress.
With a bang, the court was in an uproar.
The court officials were discussing the matter. If the princess became the empress and there was equality between men and women, would men like them still have a status in the future?
The Queen Mother pointed at Chu Li with trembling fingers, "Your Majesty, you disguised yourself as a man to deceive the people. How will the world and the people see you?"
Mu Feng looked at the deputy general, who presented him with a scroll.
Mu Feng walked out with the scroll in one hand, his voice clear and steady.
"Since your majesty ascended the throne, the people of Jiangnan have had their taxes reduced and all things have been revived. After the flood, the court responded quickly and provided timely disaster relief. This is the letter of gratitude to your majesty that the people of Jiangnan asked me to bring back. It has the signatures and handprints of tens of thousands of people."
He opened the scroll with his deputy in front of everyone.
Officials gathered around to read the Book of All Nations.
Mu Feng raised the corner of his lips. He knew that Chu Li would announce her female identity one day, so he went to Jiangnan in person just to get the Book of Ten Thousand People.
Although he had selfish motives, the people's book was truly written from the heart.
Pei Ye played with the ring, listening to what Mu Feng did for Chu Li, and saw that his heart and eyes were full of Chu Li.
If Mu Feng knew that Chu Li traveled thousands of miles to save Ye Hanting, he would definitely be heartbroken.
The officials were discussing, "Your Majesty's achievements are praised by the people. Since the founding of our dynasty, no emperor has ever received a letter from the people!"
"Yes, Your Majesty has been deeply loved by the people since he became the crown prince. This book also records many things about Your Majesty, such as trying unjust cases and taking in orphans."
The Empress Dowager’s back teeth were almost broken. Is Chu Li so loved by the people?
Chu Li's gaze fell on Mu Feng again.
Mu Feng presented the Book of All Peoples at the critical moment, which was the icing on the cake. She was very touched. Her uncle was always calm and steady in doing things, so she had unexpected surprises.
Prime Minister Li was excited and praised: "After your majesty ascended the throne, you have been frugal and caring for the people, worked hard to govern, appointed talented people to make innovations, understood the people's opinions, treated the wise with kindness and respect, reduced punishments and taxes, maintained a lenient political policy, and maintained peace with neighbors. I wonder if there is any other prince in the Great Chu who can compare to you, and any other man who is worse than you!"
His voice was sonorous and powerful. "As long as the Great Chu can be transformed into a new one and the people love me, I think the throne has nothing to do with gender!"
After a moment of silence.
Mu Feng stepped out and said, "I second the motion!"
"I second the motion!" Luo Mingchuan stepped out.
Li Jinglan stepped out and said, "I second the motion!"
Xie Jingchuan stepped out and said, "I second the motion!"
......
Ministers continued to come forward to support Chu Li's decision.
The Empress Dowager watched as her family members in the court became less and less powerful. She calmed herself down and thought, Chu Li is really capable!
Just wait, when Wan'er's child is born, she will find a way to get rid of Chu Li!
"I will not argue with Your Majesty. The Chu Kingdom has become a one-man show for Your Majesty. How sad and lamentable!"
After saying this, the Queen Mother was helped away. When she was about to reach the palace gate, she heard Chu Li's voice.
"Your Majesty, your niece is pregnant with a girl."
The Queen Mother gritted her teeth and looked at Chu Li. She was spreading rumors again to confuse the people. She asked someone to check and found that Wan'er was pregnant with a prince!
Just wait, when the child speaks, Chu Li won’t be able to laugh anymore!
Chu Li said in a clear voice: "My dear ministers, today I, as the Queen of Great Chu, will issue the first decree: For the people of Great Chu, men and women are equal. Women can go to school, be officials, and do business; women can divorce their husbands if they commit the seven reasons for divorce; domestic violence is against the law and will be punished according to the severity of the crime; brothels are not allowed to force the sale of women; anyone who abducts and sells children, or molests, rapes women and children will be put to death."
"Yes, Your Majesty!" The ministers' excited voices echoed in the hall.
The officials applauded because in recent years there have been many cases of child trafficking, forced sale of women in brothels, and many rapists going unpunished.
There has never been a law that clearly stipulates that anyone who molests or rapes women or children shall be put to death.
Chu Li could see that some officials with decadent and outdated ideas were opposed to gender equality, but she was the supreme rule maker and they dared not resist.
Chu Li placed his hand on the cold dragon throne. This is power.
Even if you are unhappy, you have to endure it. Anyone who dares to disobey the order will be sentenced to death.
All she could do was to fight for some rights for the lower class, especially women and children.
The Empress Dowager stood outside the palace, shaking with anger. "This is against the will of heaven and human ethics. My ancestors, the country of Chu is in danger!"
......
After the decree was promulgated, they supported all the decrees except the one on gender equality, which made some men unhappy.
However, those cowards did not dare to show their dissatisfaction with Chu Li.
The women standing in front of the notice had tears in their eyes. It turned out that His Majesty was a woman!
They are weak women who obey their fathers at home, their husbands after marriage, and their sons after their husbands' death, but they can also live like human beings.
......
Chu Li was busy in the palace all day and returned home to look after her children.
She tiptoed into the room and found two little heads poking out from under the quilt.
"Mom!" Xiao Yueyue and Xiao Ming lifted the quilt. Without time to put on their shoes, their smooth little feet ran on the ground and came in front of Chu Li.
Xiao Yueyue and Xiao Ming held Chu Li tightly.
"Mommy's little darlings!" Chu Li hugged the children, kissed their soft cheeks again and again, and put shoes on the two children.
"Mom, Xiao Yueyue misses you so much. Hey, what's in that big box? Is it the gift you brought back for us?" Xiao Yueyue asked curiously.