Chapter 277: Chapter 277: The Marvelous Xichen
The next day, everyone donned disguises and set off towards Zi’an.
Along the way, Su Li observed and listened with a curious gaze, full of wonder.
Indeed, Xichen was vastly different from other nations.
Most of the people walking on the streets were women. Unlike in Tianqi, the women of Xichen did not walk with cautious steps, meticulously mindful of their demeanor. The women of Xichen, however, carried themselves with their heads held high and chests puffed out, exuding confidence.
A burly woman passed by, gripping a man’s ear.
"You shameless hussy!" she bellowed, "The moment my back is turned, you go and cheat on me! Just wait until I get you home, I’ll divorce your sorry hide!"
Su Li’s mouth fell open in astonishment.
Mò Lei rode his horse forward and explained, "Young Mistress, don’t be surprised. When we first arrived in Xichen, we were even more astonished than you. Now, we’ve simply grown accustomed to it."
Su Li retracted her astonished gaze. The status of women in Xichen truly was high.
Mò Lei continued, "I heard that when the Moon Emperor was on the throne, the women here had high status, but it wasn’t to this extreme. Now, the men of Xichen practically have no dignity whatsoever, yet they dare not voice their anger."
Su Li asked curiously, "With such a vast disparity in power between men and women, do none of these men resist?"
"Resist?" Mò Lei scoffed, "In Xichen, power isn’t about martial strength, but about poison arts. Women here, upon entering school, learn nothing but how to concoct poisons, while men are not permitted to enter any academy."
Su Li nodded in understanding.
In the past, women in Tianqi were also forbidden from entering academies. Later, the prevailing societal attitudes gradually became more enlightened, and daughters of noble families could attend girls’ schools, but what they learned was strictly limited to feminine conduct and etiquette.
She couldn’t help but wonder what kind of person this Violet Emperor truly was.
"It’s almost noon," Mò Yang stepped forward and said, "Let’s find somewhere to eat."
Mò Lei replied, "There’s an inn up ahead; their signature dishes are quite good. Let’s eat there."
The group entered the inn, and a somewhat stout woman approached them with a smile. Seeing Su Li walk in front, she immediately called out, "Oh, my dear sister, you have such good fortune!"
Su Li was bewildered. Why did she have ’good fortune’? Noticing the proprietress’s eyes constantly lingering on Mò Yang and the others, she instantly understood. Mò Yang and the others had only changed their clothes; their faces weren’t disguised. Only Su Li and Jun Mo had disguised themselves, precisely because their appearances were far too striking.
Jun Mo’s face darkened. He stepped forward and pulled Su Li into his embrace.
The proprietress immediately chuckled even more suggestively. "Well, well, looks like we have a possessive one here!" She thought, ’Who would have thought this sister, though not particularly attractive, has such capability? Her family must be quite wealthy.’
Su Li offered a faint smile. "Proprietress, you misunderstand."
"Oh, what’s there to misunderstand?" the proprietress waved off. "You’re here for a meal, aren’t you? Please, come in. The second floor is already full; only a few tables remain in the main hall on this floor."
Mò Yang said, "Then we’ll take a table on the first floor. Bring out all your signature dishes, and make it quick, we still have to travel."
"Alright then! Please, have a seat."
The group went in, sat down, and poured themselves some tea to drink.
Most of the diners in this inn were also women, with only a few occasional men. Thus, their group was quite eye-catching.
As Su Li sipped her tea, listening to the conversations of the other diners, she couldn’t help but exclaim once more, "Xichen truly is a miraculous place!"
At the table opposite them sat two women, provocatively dressed, openly discussing their romantic escapades from the previous night, as if no one else were present.
"Last night, I went to the Pure Breeze Pavilion. Oh, the male courtesans there are truly handsome!"
"Indeed, sister. Shall we go again tonight?"
"Of course! I’m even thinking of buying Young Master Pure Breeze’s freedom."
"But he’s their top performer! Do you have enough money?"
"Pfft, if it’s not enough, I’ll just go home and get more!"
To their left sat two men; one was drinking with a face full of sorrow, while the other seemed to be comforting him.
"Alas," one man lamented, his voice heavy with despair, "I’ve only been married for two months, and my wife hasn’t even conceived yet, but my mother-in-law already says I’m barren and wants to divorce me! If I truly get cast aside, how will I ever live?!"
"Every family has its own set of unspoken troubles," the other chimed in, sighing deeply. "My wife keeps bringing home one child after another she’s conceived outside, and I, too, have sorrows I can’t express! I still have to earn money to raise these illegitimate children!"
"Oh, why are our lives so bitter, you ask? Come, let’s toast to that!"
"I can’t drink anymore," the first man said, shaking his head. "I need to go back and cook. Otherwise, when my wife returns and finds no food, she’ll fly into a rage again!"
Su Li turned her head again to look behind her. There was a young couple there, who seemed far more ’normal’ by comparison. The woman was eating with gusto, while the man beside her meticulously served her dishes.
Just then, the dishes for their own table were served.
Jun Mo picked up some food for Su Li, saying, "Eat quickly. We still have to travel after we finish."
These conversations were simply unbearable, completely overturning his understanding of the world. No wonder Xichen had no relations with other nations. If Xichen were to open its borders, it was likely that not a single man would remain here.
The group quickly finished their meal, then left the inn to continue their journey.
Jun Mo rode his horse, using his cloak to completely conceal the woman in his arms.
Su Li poked her head out from his embrace and asked, "Ziyan, what do you think? Is it right for men to be superior to women, or is it better for women to be superior to men?"
Before Jun Mo could answer, Su Li continued, "Although what I’m about to say might sound utterly rebellious to you, I believe both are wrong, and both are unfair. We are all sentient beings, so why must we be divided into high and low, noble and base? Why must one side always step on the other to assert its own superiority?"
Jun Mo kept his gaze fixed straight ahead, his voice soft as he replied, "Li’er speaks with wisdom. True love cannot exist where there is inequality. Li’er, those rigid rules and conventions need not concern us. We cannot change the world, but we can change ourselves. Therefore, with me, there is no such thing as men being superior to women."
Su Li tilted her head back, gazing at his smooth Adam’s apple. Even though he was disguised at the moment, she could almost envision the sincerity and doting affection on his gentle face. A warmth bloomed in Su Li’s heart, and she nestled closer into his embrace.
"Ziyan, you’re truly wonderful."
Jun Mo chuckled softly. "Moved already? Li’er, you’re truly easy to please."
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