The wives of the concubines are empresses

Shangguan Wanjun complained immediately after hearing this: "Ordinary people? Are they just full and bored? They can't even take care of their own land, and yet they imitate the rich and steal people. I think they are just too full."

"And those scholars are the same. They don't cherish their wives at home and go out to have affairs with other women. The books of sages and wise men have all gone to waste."

Listening to the empress scolding, some people remained silent, while others thought that the empress scolded well and was simply a mouthpiece for them.

Shangguan Wanjun became angrier the more she thought about it, so she stood up and took a deep breath.

“He who loves his wife prospers with prosperity, and he who neglects his wife may not gain a single fortune, nor fear death by poverty or starvation.”

"When you, the Ministry of Rites, select talents in the future, you must pay attention to how they treat their wives, husbands, and parents on both sides of the family, especially the wives and husbands who have shared their hardships.

As long as they have outstanding abilities and are in good health, men, women, young and old can serve as officials in this dynasty, but their words, deeds, and past must also be thoroughly investigated."

Today is the first grand court meeting since returning to Beijing, and all the officials from the Ministry of Rites bowed in unison.

"Yes, Your Majesty."

"What do you think about these chickens, ducks, geese, dogs, etc.? Can we use something to stamp them, something that can't be removed? This might help reduce the people's property losses."

Imperial Tutor Li frowned, "Your Majesty, it's easy to be a thief for a thousand days, but it's impossible to be on guard against thieves for a thousand days."

"What the Grand Tutor said is true, but some people just want to be cheap, just like the men and women who cheat on their partners. Are these men and women really that addicted? Even if they are, they don't have to cheat. If they have wives and husbands, are they just decorations? Especially these men, don't they have brothels? It's immoral to steal someone else's wife, but he can go to a brothel to get it done. Otherwise, all the brothels would have to close down."

If a man has many wives and concubines and still cheats on his wife, that's even more unreasonable. Besides, he's not afraid of not being able to bear it."

The court officials wondered why the empress kept talking about this topic.

Shangguan Wanjun looked at Ming Guifu - Liu Haiming: "Most of them are married, or most of them are unmarried."

"According to statistical records, more married people are promiscuous."

Shangguan Wanjun walked down quickly and stood in front of him, which scared Ming Guifu - Liu Haiming.

"More people are getting married? Is this too much?"

"I don't know."

"I think their sense of responsibility and accountability is getting worse and worse, and I'm even afraid that there is very little tolerance and understanding left between husband and wife.

They say it's up to the royal family and the officials, but I've always treated everyone equally. What's the problem? Is it that you officials are setting a bad example?"

All the ministers were so frightened that they all fell to their knees and said, "Your Majesty, we are innocent."

The Right Prime Minister said even more aggrievedly: "Your Majesty, I have a wife and concubines, I dare not do anything reckless."

Shangguan Wanjun didn't expect that her casual words would frighten all the civil and military officials in the Golden Palace to kneel down and refute her.

"Why are you so excited? I'm just guessing. The innocent are innocent, and the innocent are innocent. You're all like cats seeing mice. If you don't know, you might think you've done something wrong."

The kneeling ministers all said in unison: "Your Majesty is terrified."

Shangguan Wanjun was helpless: These ministers are really...

"Alright, everyone, get up. Why make the atmosphere so depressing?"

She remembered what she had said before about farming and weaving herself, and looked at the officials of the Ministry of Rites.

"Your Ministry of Rites is quite busy. The fifteenth is almost here, and we need to start preparing for the plowing and weaving ceremony."

The Right Vice Minister of Rites said, "Your Majesty, the ceremony is ready and can be held on time in three days."

"Oh, are you so fast? Have you selected the representatives from the shops and the people?" These ministers are becoming more and more capable, which is really great.

The Right Vice Minister of Rites bowed and said, "Your Majesty, yes, the merchants have chosen the owner of an old shop and his wife, as well as the owner of a new shop and his wife. Furthermore, the common people have chosen a loving couple in the city and a loving couple who farm as representatives."

Shangguan Wanjun nodded with great satisfaction after hearing this: "Not bad, you are still thinking hard, you are worthy of being my subjects. Whoever came up with this idea, I will reward him."

The Minister of Rites Gao Xinghua quickly looked at the officials and asked seriously.

"Who among you paid for it?"

Smaller officials dare not speak casually.

The Left Vice Minister of the Ministry of Rites said, "Your Majesty, it's a senior official from the Ministry of Rites' Shrines Division."

"What's your name?"

"Shen Qiu."

"How old are you this year?"

"Thirty-eight."

"At such an old age, how long has he been in the Ministry of Rites?"

"ten years."

"After so long, who has adopted his advice?"

"minister."

Upon hearing this, Shangguan Wanjun gave him a kind smile.

"You have a good eye. Bring him to have lunch with me after court."

The Left Vice Minister of Rites looked up, flattered, and said, "I thank you for your grace. I will bring him before you after the court session."

"Ah."

"The Ministry of Rites will have to work hard these days, and the Ministry of Revenue must ensure that money and supplies are in place."

The Minister of Revenue, Mu Qinghai, bowed and saluted: "Yes, Your Majesty."

"It's a rare opportunity to have a grand court meeting. If you have something to say, speak up. Don't hide it. Many people, including me, have been away from the capital for a while, so we should all listen to the latest happenings in the capital."

The adults who participated in the hunting ground looked at the lower-ranking officials behind them, hoping to hear something.

Today's grand court meeting lasted for two hours. In the middle, Shangguan Wanjun directly asked the palace maids to give all the ministers seats and continued to report and make memorials.

When it was over, she almost died of thirst and hunger.

"Muxiang, please prepare something to eat for me." She talked a lot today, and the pastries she had eaten before the morning court had already been finished.

"Your Majesty, I have already arranged for mung bean cakes, osmanthus cakes, peach blossom cakes, hibiscus cakes, as well as perilla water and honey water."

Shangguan Wanjun looked at her with admiration: "Our Muxiang is really good."

Lying on the soft couch, looking at the cakes and drinks on the small coffee table, Shangguan Wanjun and the others tasted them one by one after Liu Cheng had people test them for poison.

When she had almost finished eating and saw that there was still some left, she looked at everyone and gave them instructions.

"You two can divide the rest."

Lianhua, Ouhe, Muxiang, Sun Yuewei and others bowed and thanked: "Thank you, Your Majesty."

After eating and drinking, Shangguan Wanjun stretched her body slightly and then began to deal with memorials.

When it was almost lunchtime, the two adults who were to have lunch with her also arrived.

The two men bowed respectfully and said, "Your Majesty, I pay my respects to you."

"I'm here. No need to be polite. Please sit for a while. Master Muxiang has gone to prepare the meal. Please wait for a moment."

The two men bowed again: "Yes, Your Majesty."

Shi Qingxue arranged for the palace servants to bring two chairs, and the two adults sat down with honor, nervousness and fear.

While waiting for her meal, Shangguan Wanjun processed several memorials.

Mu Xiang brought the imperial kitchen staff to the imperial study: "Your Majesty, the meal has arrived."

"Okay, send it to the kitchen."

"Yes."