Liu Shi had long been full of anger toward these two Qin family daughters and had wanted to scold them for a while, but since Third Sister-in-law advised her… she still held back.

Qi Shi maintained her composed demeanor of calm indifference…

“We are unwilling to remarry, not because we as members of the imperial family are unwilling to lead by example, but because as widows, I must judge what choice is best for me!” Fifth Madam Qi paced leisurely on the wooden steps of the pavilion, fanning herself. “If I had married into an ordinary family and my husband died… for the sake of my child, for the comfort of having a man to support me, naturally I would remarry. But I married into the Bai family… from the former Duke Zhenguo’s mansion to the current imperial family! This is thanks to my niece’s blessing! I am now the Female Emperor’s aunt – who in this world has a stronger backing than the Emperor?”

Hearing Fifth Aunt’s words, Bai Qingyan lowered her smiling eyes.

“His Majesty is someone who values loyalty and righteousness, and being a woman herself, she understands the hardships of us Bai family daughters-in-law, caring for us like our own mother. I now live in the imperial palace, and whenever there are tribute items that the Empress Dowager has, we aunts absolutely won’t lack for them, and even things the Empress Dowager doesn’t have, we aunts also have. My daughter… spends her days by her eldest sister’s side, their sisterly bond is deep, and His Majesty treats my daughter almost like her own child. My maternal family, the Qi family, also receives my niece’s protection because of my current status. Have I said a single word wrong in any of this?”

That Second Miss Qin hadn’t expected Fifth Madam Qi to be so shameless, actually daring to speak so openly about profit, and stared with shocked, wide eyes.

But others who heard Fifth Madam Qi’s words didn’t find her profit-seeking at all. Instead, they thought Fifth Madam was an honest person, saying… nothing but the truth.

“Ordinary widows remarry for survival, to… have one more person to help raise their children, or because they find those countless lonely days and nights unbearable! If I were a widow from an ordinary family, naturally, I would also remarry. But now I live such a carefree life. We Bai family sisters-in-law, have all weathered great storms together, our bond stronger than blood sisters, without scheming against each other, only mutual support. We gather together daily and are reluctant to part! Such a clear and clean family atmosphere… other families may not necessarily have!”

As she spoke, Fifth Madam Qi’s gaze swept across the pavilions of the noble families present: “At least I haven’t found any… suitable men for me to remarry, whose households could be like the Bai family, without scheming and infighting. Once I remarry… I’m afraid I’d have to move out of the imperial palace and get caught up in household struggles!”

“Just think about when our Second Miss married over there… it was also a den of filth, with the mother-in-law reaching for her daughter-in-law’s dowry, and the sister-in-law conspiring to harm the new sister-in-law’s life – utterly shameless!” Fifth Madam looked at Second Miss Qin, her gaze cold and stern. “If one marries into a good family, that’s fine! But if one marries into… a family like yours, the Qin family, with filthy mothers-in-law and shameless sisters-in-law, that would truly be seeking a path to death!”

“Since this is the case, why should we… look for trouble and remarry?” Fifth Madam fanned herself. “But ordinary widows are different from us. Those widows don’t have nieces and nephews as capable and filial as my husband’s family! Generally speaking, most widows receive no care from their families. If they have no children by their side, or only have daughters, it’s all too common for family property to be seized by the clan. Or widows who cannot raise their children alone and are forced to seek death together with their children – this is not uncommon!”

The Bai clan members felt their faces burning with shame upon hearing these words.

“In the new law, encouraging widows to remarry is to convey a very clear concept to the people – that under the Great Zhou Female Emperor’s rule, we strive for equality between men and women!” Fifth Madam Qi raised her voice. “After men lose their wives, they can remarry, but after women become widows, they must remain alone for life – how unfair is this? So… men can take second wives, and widows can also remarry! What’s wrong with this?”

The women present nodded in agreement – Fifth Madam Qi’s words struck right to their hearts.

“As for why the new law encourages widows to remarry…” Fifth Madam Qi spoke with clear logic. Encouraging widows to remarry is also to increase the Great Zhou’s population. Take ordinary families – one more child means one more laborer. As long as children grow a bit, they can contribute to the family and help support it! For noble families, one more child means one more person to help support each other among siblings in the future! The new law ultimately… is for the people’s prosperity, because only when the people prosper… can the nation be strong! Why does the Female Emperor implement new laws? Isn’t it to let the people live good lives and make our Great Zhou so strong that other nations dare not invade!”

Many people, after hearing Fifth Madam Qi’s words, nodded in agreement and couldn’t help but recall the Female Emperor’s speech at the Imperial Academy, suddenly feeling their hearts surge with passion.

Liu Rushi looked at Fifth Madam, suddenly developing deep respect for her in his heart. He had originally thought that only His Majesty in the Bai family was full of talent with heaven-and-earth governing abilities, never imagining that this Fifth Madam also had such profound wisdom.

“Whether it’s the Empress Dowager, or the Bai family’s Second Madam, Third Madam… or Fourth Madam, their children are gone… they have no heart to have more children. And I… when I gave birth to the Bai family’s Eighth Miss, I injured my body and cannot bear children! Since our current life is so comfortable, with our niece supporting us wholeheartedly, treating us like our own mothers, and she is already the Emperor! We either don’t want to or cannot bear more children… why should we remarry?”

Fifth Madam Qi seemed not to care at all about what outsiders might say about her reputation. She fanned herself with a leisurely tone, appearing unhurried: “All under heaven bustle for profit, all under heaven rush about for gain. We Bai family madams don’t marry because our current unmarried life is very comfortable for us and beneficial to our maternal families! Remarrying would certainly not be as good as our current life!”

“The same principle applies! The Great Zhou’s new law gives widows the right to choose whether to marry or not, so they won’t be forced to embrace chastity tablets and die alone! We widows are already so old… can’t we weigh the pros and cons ourselves?” Fifth Madam Qi glanced at the people present with their various expressions. “The new law has always encouraged widows to remarry, not forced widows to remarry! I choose not to marry… because it benefits me, while those widows who choose to remarry naturally also feel that remarrying benefits them! Have I said anything wrong?”

Everyone nodded in agreement. Indeed, from its promulgation until now, the new law has always emphasized encouraging widows to remarry, never forcing them.

Third Madam Li also fanned herself and spoke: “Exactly this principle…”