Chapter 3565 Legality
There were many laws etched into the jade slip, including all kinds of legal jargon with clauses and conditions. It would take some time for them to go through all of it, but they understood the gist of it.
For example, they could kill their enemies. It was pretty simple.
However, they cannot harm innocents or people who did them no wrong unless they belong to the enemy group. There were a lot of clauses explaining the intricacies, even about taking them prisoners and deciding later and whatnot.
But the one that had them smiling and soul-whispering to each other was the Marriage Act.
The Marriage Act allowed their male descendants to stay married to three wives at the same time, but only with the explicit and written consent of the first wife and the second wife. However, there were also other requirements for the second marriage and third marriage that needed to be fulfilled before they could take on the second wife and third wife.
For their female descendants, they could only be married to one husband.
As unfair as it seemed, Evelynn and the others also didn't want any of their female descendants sleeping around, so they were agreeable to this discrepancy.
Divorce was allowed as long as mutual consent was present. However, they could not marry for the next ten years. As for alimony, it was also present. However, the alimony was thirty percent of the income regardless of the earnings, lasting only for a hundred years and did not extend after that period of time.
However, there were many clauses within that, one of it stating if alimony is given, then sexual intimacy should also be exchanged within this period of time as a form of duty. If they didn't want that kind of arrangement, then the party who wants alimony could opt out. There was also another clause stating if the divorcée has sexual relations with others or remarries, then their alimony payments are to be stopped.
There were also many clauses for child support, leaving Evelynn and the others blinking.
If they got abandoned as a child, then they were abandoned. Only an orphanage could save them at that point, or some master could adopt them.
They had heard about alimony a lot of times, but it was not enforced much before, but… child support? That was new to them, making them intrigued.
Then… there was the most hateful of them all… tax!
However, they were intrigued by this as it seemed to be opt-in.
There were two types of tax brackets in the tax code.
One— they could pay ninety percent of their earnings and receive medical treatment, resources from the Treasury every month or year according to their wishes. As for the resources themselves, they would be favorably distributed to those who opted in for this tax bracket. In other words, they were given priority.
The other one was natural— where one didn't have to pay a single crystal!
However, they were exempt from most benefits except medical treatments. Even resource distribution for those who rely on this tax bracket was a low priority unless they raked in major achievements that would change the Treasury Department's mind.
Obviously, this tax bracket was discouraged, but it allowed soloists to do as they pleased without relying on the family but only themselves for resources.
However, it wasn't like people could change tax brackets anytime they wanted.
They could only change it three times, one when they reach adulthood at sixteen. They would have to start paying taxes even if they were not earning anything in order avoid complacency unless they were bound by special circumstances. The second was when they turned a hundred years old.
And the third was when they turned a thousand years old.
They would've set their tax bracket for the remainder of their life after thousand years old, so unless they got exiled, they would have to continue paying ninety percent of what they earn every month, year or decades or centuries depending on their age.
Evelynn and the others were impressed by Mingzhi as she seemed to have prepared for all- if not most scenarios in the future. They could feel her passion for the law that was going to decide the fates of their kin as punishments was also galore.
"Now, please don't ask any questions… my soul is still unstable, so I might curse out any objections that might come right now."
Mingzhi raised her hand, stopping anyone from raising concerns about her charter of laws.
"Of course, these set of laws I prepared are also open for amendment and the way we would do it is through the Law Enforcement Department, heralded by yours truly, me!"
"…?"
Mingzhi pointed at herself with pride, making the others gawk.
If they wanted to change the laws that she created, then should they go through her?
How would they even be able to confide and change it? It was no different than saying it to her face that she was wrong.
However, Mingzhi continued, "There are also two other heads, Tanya Frostblight, who oversees, and Schleya Vitalichor, who dishes out punishments. Eterna and Celestia, now I'm sure you can get away from thirteenth mother, but I'm also sure you don't want to be bad in front of twenty-fourth mother or it will cost you your lives."
"Eeeeh~"
Eterna and Celestia clasped each other's hands as they trembled, feeling targeted for their atrocities.
It made many chuckles as they could see Eterna getting arrested and imprisoned, even if not for Celestia.
"Don't worry. My fists will be soft, but my sword will behead without fail."
Tanya uttered in a warm voice, causing Eterna to jump and hide behind Claire. It made them laugh further as they finally saw Eterna becoming tame from that monstrous lady who always appeared at their doorstep and beheaded them without fail.
"…"
On the other hand, Schleya blushed in embarrassment as she lowered her head. She didn't want to be in the Law Enforcement Department at all since that would mean raising her twin crimson blades against a family member, but at Mingzhi's request multiple times, she had no choice but to agree.
However, this also meant she was trusted, so she couldn't help but feel moved.
"But fret not because not every set of laws is in the hands of law enforcement."
Mingzhi continued with a smirk, "We enforce most of it, but the laws like the Marriage Act are within the jurisdiction of the Administration Department, which is going to be headed by none other than Evelynn Cauldon, Isabella Ruth, and Shirley Ashton."
The big three nodded, appearing to be already notified of their positions. Their smiles denoted that they were more than glad to accept these positions that ruled over the family.
"Likewise," Mingzhi continued, "The Treasure Department will be headed by Ellia, Niera Alstreim and Iesha Frostrain."
"…!"
Ellia's lips curled a bit, but Niera and Iesha seemed shocked.
The latter two weren't informed of this decision at all, leaving them dumbfounded.
"This…"
Niera looked troubled. She wasn't sure she could be fair enough to distribute resources properly. On the other hand, Iesha nodded.
A lonely place like the Treasury felt like the best place for her, silent and encompassed in a frigid feeling of loneliness that would allow her to meditate there perfectly.
Mingzhi just smiled and didn't bother to explain herself why she chose them as she had already discussed this with Davis. She continued.
"The External Affairs Department will be headed by Natalya Astoria, Lea Weiss, and… Yilla Zyrus."
"…!?"
This time, it was Yilla who parted her lips as she went speechless, while Natalya and Lea appeared fairly accepting of the decision. After all, Davis had already informed Natalya, while Mingzhi informed Lea.