"Hurry and go see, the Prince of Zhenbei is going to burn the 'Women's Virtues and Precepts' in front of the Prefect's Mansion."

“I just saw the Prince of Zhenbei’s carriage enter the city. It’s not too late to set off now.”

A fair hand emerged from the antique-style carriage, and a man dressed in a deep blue robe stepped down first. His aloofness and disdain in his eyes made people afraid to look directly at him, and his noble temperament and handsome features made the girls who came to watch the spectacle unable to look away.

If you can't look directly at them, just steal a few more glances. Who doesn't love looking at handsome men?

Lan Tingche reached out and placed his arm beside the carriage, letting Huo Xiaolong, dressed in a python robe, help him down.

The girl whispered

"The heir of the Southwest King is my support, I feel so proud."

It's always the same. Even if there's a bit of an ambiguous atmosphere, it's never as entertaining as Long'er's strong, spicy flavor.

Can't she speak proper Central Plains dialect?

Of course I would say it, and I would say it very well.

But they didn't say that to Lan Tingche.

"Nonsense." The man's tone was slightly indulgent, but he didn't move his arm.

Huo Xiaolong raised his head slightly, surveying the prefect's work with the eyes of a superior. The prefect's residence was adorned with numerous admonitions and precepts for women's virtues—this was the first order given to him by the Prince of Zhenbei.

Of course, some people disagreed, and some people didn't understand, especially in Bac Ninh County.

Why can't my daughter read these things anymore?

Why can women serve in the military and engage in business just like men?

Furthermore, why should the government intervene when it comes to beating one's wife, which is clearly a family matter?

These questions are not only raised by men, but also by women.

Huo Xiaolong stood on the steps at the entrance of the prefectural governor's mansion, followed by a group of young people, including Li Jian, two young sisters, and her advisors.

The girl opened her mouth and said

“I know many of you want to ask why I wrote a ‘Letter to Women’, and some of you may think that such an act is like a hen crowing at dawn, ignorant of etiquette.”

"But I tell you, as long as women bear the responsibility of childbirth, they should see the world more and more, instead of being taught about female virtues and precepts from birth."

“Think about it carefully. What kind of good children can a mother who only knows about female virtues and precepts raise? Why do I make them study? Only when women themselves understand things will they understand the rules of this world.”

“Prince Zhenbei! The virtues and precepts for women are rules left to us by our ancestors. A new bride should follow the books. The three obediences and four virtues are a woman’s natural duty!”

There will always be dissenting voices, whether in Beining County or under Huo Xiaolong's own rule. Once they leave this area, the dissenting voices will only increase.

Huo Xiaolong remained calm and composed, just as before, and said...

"Did your ancestors make you rich? Did your ancestors leave you any ancestral property? Even if it's a rule left by your ancestors, if it's wrong, it's wrong."

"Starting with me, I hope that women all over the world can do what they want and no longer be bothered by these books."

The torch was tossed lightly onto the pile of miscellaneous books.

Hou Xiangxiang was a little excited; she remembered that she had talked to Huo Xiaolong about it before.

"If there were such things as female virtues and precepts, you would definitely burn them all."

Now, she is not only burning these things for herself, but also for women all over the world.

Some of the young ladies from wealthy families were also brought out by their mothers to watch the excitement today, but there were too many people and the carriages couldn't get through, so the girls just watched the rising black smoke from afar.

“From today onwards, I no longer need to learn manners, Mother?”

"No."

The woman's voice trembled slightly as she looked at the books that had been burned to ashes, as if the gloom in her heart had been burned away.

“My son is lucky, he was born in the right place at the right time.”

The girl nodded, somewhat happy. She could read every day and learn abacus from her teacher. Her goal was neither too big nor too small: to open her own small shop and watch people come and go, to experience the everyday life of ordinary people.

Instead of having to ask permission from home before going out, as is the case now.

Those wealthy and powerful families in the Four Directions region aren't so easy to marry into. Not every family can provide you with money to spend as you please, and plenty of servants to wait on you.

If you are not favored, even an old servant in the household can bully you.

legal wife?

What's the use?

You've only been here for a day, and their indentures aren't even with you yet. Who's going to listen to you?

You'll start by serving the old lady in this mansion, and gradually she'll be able to give you some power. If there are a few more concubines in the household, it will be even more lively.

If they are obedient, then minor squabbles and frictions are nothing to worry about.

I'm afraid of encountering those cousins ​​who were lost and found, the white moonlight and cinnabar mole of a life-saving grace.

What do I imagine my daughter to be like?

The lady stood by the window, watching the thick smoke below, and smiled with relief.

Previously, the best fate I could imagine was for my daughter to be proficient in music, chess, calligraphy, and painting, to be polite, generous, and sophisticated.

That way, we can find her a good family, at least she won't have to worry about food and clothing.

But now.

My daughter can do whatever she wants. Female virtues and taboos are no longer the only standard. It should be said that this trend has gradually emerged in Beining County for several years.

It seems to have started from that defense of the city.

That's right, isn't the Prince of Zhenbei raised by those girls from the brothel?

Thick smoke billowed, stinging people's eyes. Many girls gently wiped away their tears with handkerchiefs. From now on, their appearance would be entirely up to them.

The girl standing there, dressed in a bright red python robe, with her chin slightly raised and her hands behind her back, remained calm as she watched the raging flames.

"Is Long'er happy?"

Even though Huo Xiaolong pretended to be expressionless, the subtle twitching of his fingers behind his back still didn't escape the keen eyes of those close to him.

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