Beibei trotted to her side and asked worriedly: "Is mom okay?"
"It's okay." Xiao Lingyue reassured, "Let's go out and have a look too."
Mother and son walked out of the front hall.
There were already dense crowds of people kneeling on the ground in the front yard, headed by the old Marquis. Even Shen Zhijiang, whose knees were so painful that he could not stand, was helped down and knelt on the ground with his head lowered.
Most of the Shen family servants looked frightened and confused.
Only Aunt Hua's face was filled with uncontrollable joy. Although she was kneeling on the ground, she would secretly glance up at the person announcing the decree from time to time. She kept stroking her belly with her hands, suppressing the excitement and expectation in her heart.
Xiao Lingyue looked towards the front again and immediately saw something was wrong.
Many people came to announce the decree.
In addition to the imperial guards and eunuchs who escorted the imperial edict, there were also officials from the Ministry of Etiquette in official uniforms. There were also some government officials with solemn expressions outside the open door. The atmosphere was solemn.
The eunuch who announced the edict, holding the bright yellow imperial edict in his hand, stood on the steps with a serious face. He looked around and said, "Are everyone in the Hou Mansion here? Our family is about to declare the edict."
The old Marquis said politely: "Please wait a moment, father-in-law. I have a granddaughter who has not arrived yet."
"Is it her?" The eunuch who announced the decree had already seen Xiao Lingyue's mother and son walking out of the front hall.
"Exactly." The old Marquis turned his head and said in a stern tone, "Shen Wan, why don't you come over and kneel down to receive the order?"
Xiao Lingyue stayed in Beibei, stepped forward and said to the eunuch who announced the decree: "Forgive me, father-in-law, I am already married, and I have severed my biological relationship with the Shen family. I am no longer a member of the Shen family, and it is inconvenient for me to accept the decree with the Shen family.
"
"Shen Wan!" The old Marquis never expected that she would say this, so he gritted his teeth and warned, "If you dare to talk nonsense in front of my father-in-law, shut up and kneel down to listen!"
Xiao Lingyue turned a deaf ear.
The eunuch who announced the decree and the officials of the Ministry of Etiquette were also stunned for a moment, looking at her with somewhat unclear expressions.
"Have you written a letter of separation since we broke off the biological relationship?" the eunuch who announced the decree asked in a high-pitched voice.
"Yes, please take a look." Xiao Lingyue took out the knot book.
The eunuch held the imperial edict in his hand, but it was difficult to hold it, so the official from the Ministry of Rites next to him took it over and opened it to take a look.
It was indeed a stern letter, with bitter words in it, such as "This woman is disobedient and will be expelled from the family with immediate effect, and will no longer have any kinship with her."
The signature below is Shen Zhijiang.
The expression of the official of the Ministry of Rites suddenly became subtle, and he said in a deep voice: "According to the laws of the Northern Qin Dynasty, both parties voluntarily sever their family ties, and they can write a letter of severance as evidence, and they will be completely separated from each other from now on."
This is just like the letter of agreement between husband and wife, it is recognized by the government.
However, out of filial piety considerations.
The Northern Qin Dynasty also stipulated that children could not voluntarily sever ties with their parents for any reason. Even if they wrote a letter of separation, it would be useless as the government would not recognize it.
But on the other hand, if the parents take the initiative to sever ties with their children and voluntarily write a severance statement.
The government recognized it.
to be honest.
Northern Qin only allowed parents to abandon their children, but did not allow children to abandon their parents, especially when their parents were old.
Although there is a certain degree of unfairness, the ancients ultimately recognized the importance of nurturing. Even though the folk customs of Northern Qin were relatively open, there were limitations in this regard.
Xiao Lingyue knew this in her heart.
That's why she didn't write it herself. Shen Zhijiang had to write it for it to be useful.
Xiao Lingyue said: "This cut-out book was written by Master Shen, the Marquis of Nanyang. There were many witnesses present, and the handwriting on it was also written by Master Shen himself."
The official of the Ministry of Rites nodded and said: "In that case..."
Before he finished speaking, the old Marquis interrupted with a livid face: "I don't agree, this knot book cannot be counted!" Hot 『』 This chapter has been completed!