Returning to the palace after the deer-hunting expedition on a chariot driven by seven zebras, the king issued a controversial royal edict: "From now on, no expectant royal lady would be allowed to enjoy any pre- and post-natal care." The pronouncement caused a stir among the royal ladies of the family, particularly the daughters-in-law and married daughters that they wasted no time in consulting the queen consort and expressed their defying amazement at the pronouncement. The queen, though, looked unperturbed ostensibly, yet her mind was racing here, there and everywhere to locate what possible reason had prompted the king to take such a drastic decision.

In the bedchamber, the queen, instead of directly confronting the king on his shocking decree, argued politely with the king to know the precipitating factor. The king fulminated that during the hunting tour, he noticed some women of the families who sit below the salt and that there was slung something behind their back while they were snowed under with chores, errands and labour. He asked his........

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