The Aloof Lord's Mysterious Wife
Chapter 396: The Contradiction of Imperial Aunt

Chapter 396: The Contradiction of Imperial Aunt

Nanli was deeply moved.

In this era, men were the beneficiaries. It was rare to find those who genuinely cared for women’s interests and fought for their rights.

She had reviewed the suggestions and proposed amendments written by Chu Huan, which were surprisingly thoughtful and detailed, more so than she had anticipated. They could easily be submitted as they were.

Nanli’s expression brightened as she said, "Third Brother, you’ve written exceptionally well. There are aspects where even I hadn’t thought of."

Not only could these proposals make it easier for women during divorce proceedings, but they also included suggestions on child custody. The fact that ancient people had such ideas was already commendable.

Chu Huan smiled embarrassedly, "I discussed and finalized these with several colleagues. It’s not solely my merit."

Nanli raised an eyebrow, thinking that a man who respected women’s rights like this must have a good character. Presumably, he could also excel in his official duties. The Royal Heir seemed shortsighted; the court clearly had many talented individuals, but they were not being utilized.

She said, "In that case, let’s not delay any longer. Third Brother, gather your colleagues and let’s go to the palace together to present these."

Chu Huan was taken aback and instinctively said, "Sixth Sister, this isn’t proper. If we want to amend laws, we must first submit the proposals to the Ministry of Justice. After their review, it goes to the Cabinet and then for the Emperor’s approval. We cannot disregard the proper procedures."

The process of amending laws was indeed complex and could take a considerable amount of time.

If they directly went to the palace, while it was straightforward, they would still face criticism. They might even face ostracism in the court later on.

Seeing Chu Huan’s hesitation and concern, Nanli said, "I understand your worries, Third Brother. But if we submit these to the Ministry of Justice, they will likely disappear without a trace and never reach the Cabinet."

Those who initially crafted such stringent laws that made it difficult for women to divorce clearly benefited men. How could they be easily amended?

It wasn’t that Emperor Muwu wasn’t a wise ruler, but as someone in such a high position, he rarely understood the hardships of the common people.

Nanli had come to understand Ming Ying only recently and realized how difficult it was for women to seek divorce.

Being a woman herself, with the ability to change this situation, she certainly wanted to do so.

Chu Huan remained silent with lowered eyes.

Nanli didn’t rush him and let Chu Huan consider it on his own.

If Chu Huan and the others were unwilling to step forward, she would go to the palace alone.

After all, this endeavor was thankless and would likely offend many people.

After a brief hesitation, Chu Huan raised his head with determination in his eyes, "I will accompany Sixth Sister to the palace. But as for the others, I need to consult them first about their opinions."

Nanli nodded, "That’s appropriate."

Afterward, Chu Huan sent a servant to invite others.

The ones who came were young officials around Chu Huan’s age. They seemed to share a mutual understanding. Among them were scions of aristocratic families and those from humble backgrounds, all standing tall and spirited, without any signs of extravagance.

Mu Nation’s fortune was still favorable, and these individuals were indispensable in supporting it from below.

However, they were still relatively weak at present. Given time, they would become an inexhaustible force.

After hearing Chu Huan’s explanation, they exchanged glances and said, "This sounds great. With the Ninth Princess leading the way, we can save effort and have a higher chance of success!"

None of them showed any signs of hesitation.

Perhaps this effort would be in vain and a waste of time. However, time often worked this way: if you put in the effort, there was still a slim chance of success. But if you didn’t, you wouldn’t even have that slim chance.

Time was of the essence, so they all went to the palace together.

Deep in the autumn season, Emperor Muwu felt less fatigued, especially with Ye Siheng absent from the capital. He was no longer neglecting state affairs as before. Occasionally, he would still review important documents and discuss them with Prime Minister Lu and other senior officials.

Inside Qianlong Palace,

Upon hearing that Nanli was waiting outside the hall, and unable to manage state affairs, Emperor Muwu hurriedly summoned her into the hall. Ye Chengyan and Prime Minister Lu were left to their own devices. If someone else had interrupted, Prime Minister Lu might have shown some displeasure, but upon hearing it was the Ninth Princess, he smiled kindly.

As the Prime Minister of the country, he already had numerous state affairs to handle, but the Ninth Princess was even busier, dabbling in talisman drawing, refining medicine, and catching ghosts, among other things. His own daughter often complained in front of her, finding it harder to meet the Ninth Princess than to see the Emperor.

Emperor Muwu squinted his eyes and saw Nanli dressed plainly without any luxurious attire. His restless mood couldn’t help but relax a little. Nanli only needed to kneel and bow, while Chu Huan and the others knelt and performed a grand ceremony.

Emperor Muwu knew that if there were no urgent matters, Nanli wouldn’t enter the palace. A few days ago, Qingyang had reported to the palace about various things Yao Sheng had done during his lifetime, but she had not come in person.

He asked, "Sixth Little Sister, what important matter brings you to the palace today?"

Nanli didn’t beat around the bush and directly presented the documents, saying, "The laws in Mu Nation regarding divorce are extremely harsh on women. I would like to request the Emperor to amend these laws to ensure fair treatment for women."

Emperor Muwu had thought it was some other important matter and was momentarily taken aback upon hearing it was about amending laws.

"May this minister take a look?" Prime Minister Lu asked.

Nanli nodded.

Prime Minister Lu picked up the documents and looked them over, his expression inscrutable for a moment. He was astute enough to have Emperor Muwu glance over them and then had Ye Chengyan examine them closely.

Emperor Muwu pondered for a moment and said, "You’re right. These laws are indeed overly harsh on women. The amendments you’ve proposed..."

He looked towards Chu Huan and the others, "Did you discuss and write these together?"

As the leader, Chu Huan bowed and said, "Yes."

Ye Chengyan immediately grasped the key point. It seemed this wasn’t the Emperor’s intention, but rather Nanli paving a path for her own brother.

His mind raced. He couldn’t help but feel that Nanli’s actions were contradictory. Though he now knew the Emperor had no desire for the throne, as long as he remained obedient and made no mistakes, the throne would inevitably be his. But if Nanli promoted her own brother, the influence of the Marquis Anyang Mansion would be too great in the future. How could he suppress it, especially since they lacked a close familial relationship?

Thinking of this, he interjected, "The laws are indeed harsh and unfair to women. It’s appropriate to amend and establish new laws. However, the changes proposed in these documents are quite extensive. Once implemented, they may cause considerable repercussions, stirring unrest both in court and among the people."

Emperor Muwu nodded slightly. As a man and a high-ranking official, he naturally wouldn’t easily empathize with women.

"The Royal Heir is right. Changes can be made, but not hastily or extensively," Emperor Muwu said, "Sixth Little Sister, I will have the Ministry of Justice carefully consider this matter. You can rest assured."

Chu Huan knew it wouldn’t be that easy and couldn’t help but darken his expression.

Suddenly, Nanli asked, "Your Majesty, are the new laws proposed by my Third Brother and others really so extreme? When a woman wants a divorce, she must face beating and imprisonment, while men do not. These new laws simply emphasize equality."

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