Chapter 460 - 300: Red-clad Men and Green-clad Women
Mrs. Xing couldn’t help but advise in a low voice, "Wives under the heavens all take Empress Zhangsun of the Wen De era as their model, and all read ’Women’s Rules.’ Wife, your behavior and demeanor are still lacking; you must read ’Women’s Rules’ again when you return."
’Women’s Rules’ is a text written by Empress Zhangsun to admonish herself on how to be a virtuous empress and mother of the nation. Even though its focus is not on restricting women’s thoughts, it contains content related to the prohibition of women’s involvement in politics, equating it to a hen crowing at dawn. Therefore, ’Women’s Rules’ was later shelved in the Great Zhou Dynasty. However, during the reign of Zhen Guan, Empress Zhangsun’s virtue was highly esteemed. Thus, her ’Women’s Rules’ naturally became a must-read for women.
Ran Yan didn’t like playing politics either, nor did she think that women had to be like Empress Zhangsun, so she nonchalantly agreed with a sound.
Being outside, Mrs. Xing didn’t think it appropriate to advise further, only sighed, and entered Jinxiu Manor with her.
"Is this Miss Ran Seventeen?" As soon as one foot crossed the threshold, a waiter immediately came forward to greet her.
Wan Lu said, "That is correct."
Ran Yan also took in the interior, truly befitting a high-end establishment beloved by noble ladies, with excellent sandalwood racks loaded with fashionable silk and satin fabrics, all appearing to be of considerable value. On the side, a white wall displayed a ’Winter Night Drinking Painting,’ imparting an air of transcendental purity.
The waiter, though only around eighteen or nineteen, was extremely adept at reading expressions. Seeing that Ran Yan’s gaze lingered much longer on the painting than on the fabrics, he seized the opportunity and said, "Wife has truly keen eyes; that painting is the work of Sir Sang Suiyuan, with poetry inscribed by the Secretarial Supervisor Yu."
The Secretarial Supervisor referred to is Yu Shixian, a literary master who held such high regard for Sang Chen because of his brilliant talent and good fortune. If not for the protection of these great scholars, Sang Chen, with his untainted nature, would have died many times over.