The Darker the Night, The Brighter the Stars

The next morning, Zhao Yan was listening to Court Lady Choi who was teaching her about palace etiquette.

She stumbled upon a very surprising information while listening.

"Yes, my lady." Court Lady Choi didn't hide her amusement. Anyone who isn't in Zhao Country would be shocked to hear this as well.

"It has been a year since this law was passed on throughout the country. Although there are still many people, mostly men, who are not in favor of this law and are throwing a fit about it but His Highness Prince Jing has dealt with them. "

Zhao Yan asked, "Is this really the first law that His Highness..."

The older woman smiled. "Yes, my lady. Since my lady is from Tang Country, you are probably familiar with the fact that it is normal for men to have many women as wives. Some even young enough to be their daughters or children. It was to assert power over them. Zhao Country used to be like this a year ago."

Zhao Yan nodded. Of course, she knows. She was raised in an environment where men were held in high pedestal like they were gods themselves and their words were law...

It was very frustrating.

"It isn't a secret but the birth rate of women in Zhao Country has been decreasing lately. And it also doesn't help that some of them are mistreated and abused at home, shortening their lives. There are men who likes to hog women to themselves. I'm sure my lady knows about the previous emperor, right? He has 151 concubines in his harem."

Zhao Yan choked from shock. How was he able to keep up with 151 women?

Zhao Yan suddenly felt weak. Would this explain the reason why she got pregnant so easily after only spending one night with Fu Yanqing? Like father, like son?

Oh...

She shivered at the thought.

But, the previous emperor has low fertility and he was only able to have three children. This meant Fu Yanqing was different since he was able to--

Zhao Yan blushed and shook the dirty thoughts from her head.

"And His Highness Prince Jing, who was prone to cripple or kill any women that approached him, has added to the increasing death rate of women..."

Zhao Yan thought this was kind of funny. Fu Yanqing's actions were really ironic.

"Unable to bear it any longer, he passed on the Monogamous Law the moment he took grasp of the throne after killing the previous emperor..."

Fu Yanqing has the most number of kills when it comes to women but he made this law?

"This was applied to all the nation's citizens with the exception of the royal family who can have one main wife and one concubine since they need to produce an heir for the throne.

Due to this law, men were no longer allowed to have many wives or concubines. Of course, it was rumored that Prince Jing did this so he wouldn't have to be bothered by women any longer.

And he also said that the existence of a harem promotes promiscuous behavior that isn't suitable for a man that will rule the throne. If a man can't be loyal to one woman, then how can he be loyal to the country with its many citizens? After this, many began to respect His Highness Prince Jing but a lot of people also rebelled when the law was published because there were many men in the capital who has a lot of concubines in their home."

Zhao Yan nodded attentively. That must have been quite a show, having so many men voice out their frustrations just because they couldn't keep their wives anymore.

But Zhao Yan also believed that a man should only be loyal to one woman. It was very unfair that women alone had to fight and share their man with other women, being forced to scheme and to use various tricks just to get the man's attention.

Because if they couldn't get their husband's love and attention, it was the same as wasting away as an unfavored wife. If the women can't get pregnant within one year of marriage, they would question the women's worth instead of the man's capabilities.

Now with this monogamous law, women would at least have more standing and respect within the house. Zhao Yan's mood was very good upon hearing about this law.

But she was also sad about the women that had died and were abused in their women because of the deep rooted views surrounding polygamy. It was all to continue the family line and have descendants but this just made people think of women as nothing but child bearing tools.

It was as if, women had no other value other than giving birth and raising children.

Zhao Yan inwardly sighed. She wondered if Fu Yanqing made this law for himself or for the women who had suffered under the tyrannical power of men.

It felt like the reason was leaning on the first but she also wouldn't be surprised if it was both. With Fu Yanqing's hate for debauchery, he really would not be able to stand seeing so many women in a harem.

She smiled a little as she remembered his expression when talking about the late emperor who would randomly visit the harem with a blindfold and whoever yard he ended up with, the late emperor would sleep with the women on that yard.

'It's a disgusting and vile practice.' Fu Yanqing had told her with a dark expression as if remembering that very scene filled him with hate.

Zhao Yan thought that not all men were like the late emperor and not all women would throw themselves at men for power. But this kind of thing takes time to understand.

Yes, it would take time. And hopefully, Zhao Yan would at least have a harmonious and friendly relationship with the father of her child.

As for the Empress Dowager, she would be filial to the woman but that didn't mean that Zhao Yan would forget what the Empress Dowager did.

'The reason I am pregnant right now is because of the Empress Dowager. For a mother to drug her own son just so that son would finally have children or get married is really despicable...' She thought.

'I won't do anything about it but as long as our relationship is good and my child is safe, I'll be able to endure.'

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