In the dim light of the morning, Li Jie led Miss Zhang to the Bao Ci Hall to pay homage to Liu E.
After paying homage to her uncle and aunt, Liu E took Miss Zhang into the cabinet, apparently ready to have a private chat.
After a while, Liu E walked out of the cabinet. She glanced at Li Jie with a strange expression, and then shouted.
"Guan Jia, come here."
When he saw Liu E's expression, Li Jie probably guessed what she was thinking, but he still pretended to be confused and said with a puzzled expression.
"Lady?"
Liu E hesitated for a moment and finally decided to ask.
"I heard from the queen that you didn't perform the Zhougong etiquette last night?"
"Um."
Li Jie nodded slightly.
"But the palace official made an oversight?"
The meaning of Liu E's words is very clear, that is, the palace servants who are not teaching are not paying attention.
"no."
Li Jie shook his head and said: "Madam, before we got married, I went through the medical classics and found that if you lose your Yuan Yang and Yuan Yin too early, it will have an impact on your foundation."
"Is there anything else?"
Although Liu E had read all the history books, she knew nine out of ten and knew nothing about medicine.
"Indeed."
Li Jie continued: "Later, I asked Dr. Zhang of the Hanlin Academy and got a positive answer."
"Not only that, Dr. Zhang also told me another thing. If you give birth at a young age, it may increase the probability of dystocia."
"oh?"
Hearing this, Liu E was thoughtful. The officials said that Dr. Zhang was a sage in gynecology, and all the midwives in the palace were taught by Dr. Zhang.
These words came from the mouth of Dr. Zhang, which undoubtedly gave Liu E a little more trust.
"Did the imperial doctor Zhang tell me what age is appropriate?"
Not long after, Liu E asked further, she still wanted to have her grandson soon.
Although the official family is still young, the prince is related to the country's foundation, so naturally the sooner he is born, the better.
"The best years are when you are in your prime."
"As high as the crown?"
When a man reaches the age of 20, he will be crowned, but now officials are only fifteen. If they have to wait until they reach the crown, won't it still take five years?
Too long.
Liu E was just about to express his feelings, but then he thought, this matter is related to the health of the official family, so it is necessary to be more cautious.
"I understand."
After a moment, Liu E nodded slightly.
"The oral message."
"Summon Dr. Zhang to Baoci Hall."
Although Liu E believed that the officials would not lie to her, five years was still a bit too long. She planned to ask Dr. Zhang face to face if there was any way to give birth to a child without harming her body.
On the sidelines, Li Jie saw that Liu E was planning to summon Dr. Zhang to the scene for questioning, but Li Jie did not panic at all.
Since he dared to say it, he was certainly prepared.
He was even prepared to take the opportunity to talk about the best age to have children.
According to later generations of genetic research, if the mother is too young and has not yet matured, it will not only affect the baby's development, but also damage the mother's body.
After a large number of experimental studies, it has been shown that the best age for women to become pregnant is between twenty-three and thirty years old.
As for the best childbearing age for men, it is between 30-35 years old.
Of course, the research results of later generations cannot be copied mechanically and placed in ancient times.
After all, the average lifespan of ancient people was even lower. In ancient times, if they were thirty to thirty-five years old, if they moved faster, they might even have grandchildren.
But just because you don't adapt doesn't mean you can't change.
It is definitely beneficial to appropriately increase the age at which women have children.
Twenty years old is a quite appropriate age.
When a woman reaches the age of fifteen, it also means that she has reached the marriageable age.
Although the imperial court stipulated that women could get married at the age of thirteen, the regulations stipulated that there were not many examples of marrying at the age of thirteen.
Especially in areas where the custom of thick marriages is prevalent, the more popular the custom, the older the average age at which women marry.
For example, in Bianliang, many women will not get married until they are twenty years old.
Dowry is a huge burden on marriageable families. Some families even have to borrow money to purchase the dowry.
Just like the betrothal gift loans of later generations, there were similar loans in the Song Dynasty, but it was the other way around, from betrothal gift loans to dowry loans.
For some families with insufficient financial resources, the marriageable age of women in the family may even be postponed to twenty-four or five years old.
About a quarter of an hour later, a young old man in his fifties came to Baoci Hall.
"See Your Majesty!"
“Join the Queen Mother!”
"flat."
Liu E raised her hand: "Yi Zhang, please sit down."
"I heard from the officials that Dr. Zhang thinks that if you are too young to perform the Zhougong etiquette, it will be harmful to your health?"
"Back to the Queen Mother, it's true."
With that said, Doctor Zhang raised his head and glanced at Li Jie.
"The Queen Mother, this matter is related to Your Majesty."
"Last year, His Majesty found me and asked me to follow up on pregnant women in Beijing."
"After a year of visits and surveys, Xiao Chen found that children born to women aged around 23 will be healthier."
"At the same time, if a woman is over twenty years old and gives birth, the chance of dystocia will be smaller."
"After seeing these statistics, Xiao Chen suddenly understood."
"This is consistent with Xiaochen's past experience in medical practice."
"Previously, I had vaguely noticed that women who give birth at the age of fourteen or fifteen have a higher chance of miscarriage (miscarriage) and dystocia."
"It's just that the minister didn't make any reference and comparison at the time, so he couldn't report it in advance."
"It wasn't until His Majesty came forward that I had an epiphany."
"Um."
Liu E glanced at Zhang Yuyi, then at the official family.
"I understand."
It seems that the officials have been prepared for this.
Too.
Officials never fight unprepared battles.
"Big empress."
At this time, Li Jie intervened in the topic at the right time.
"Having a child at the age of fourteen or fifteen is too young. It is not good for the mother or the child."
"I am going to declare to the world in the name of the great empress that the childbearing age of women will be adjusted to eighteen to twenty years old."
"Every time a mother and child are rescued from a difficult birth, it is a blessing for the eldest lady."
"Of course, this policy is just a suggestion, not a mandatory requirement."
"Officials are benevolent and filial."
Upon hearing this suggestion, Liu E was immediately moved. To this day, the official family already knew that she was not his biological mother.
However, even so, officials still care about themselves in everything.
"This is benevolent policy, and the eldest lady naturally agrees."
"Let's just leave this matter to the eldest lady, okay?"
After saying this, Liu E turned her head and glanced at the official family.
"The prison lady over there is too troublesome."
Li Jie nodded. He didn't care about such small things. Besides, he originally wanted Liu E to do it.
If you are idle for a long time, something will happen. It would be good to find something for Liu E to do.
On the other side, Liu E proposed to handle it herself, and she also had some thoughts. She was ready to share some of the credit with Concubine Li Xian.
When the policy is effective, she can take the opportunity to welcome Concubine Li Xian back to the palace.