Chapter 532: Chapter 532: Amazing 7_1 Chapter 532: Chapter 532: Amazing 7_1 As luck would have it, the three of them sat next to a young lady. Holding a bucket of popcorn and accompanied by her boyfriend, she took no more than a passing glance at them as they sat down next to her, not paying them much mind.
As the movie began, the low rumbling of background music started to fill the air, and the subtitles started to appear on the screen detailing the names of the producers, actors, and other contributors.
What filled the screen was a beautiful flurry of snowflakes, but not a single bud in the Plum Garden had blossomed. The scene shifted to the royal harem where the queen had just given birth to a child. A birth that should have been a joyous omen turned out to be a shocking revelation: the child was a girl.
In a history spanning five thousand years that was dominated by patriarchy, women were regarded as insignificant, hence, a queen’s birth would create upheaval. Therefore, the queen had no choice but to send the girl away and adopt a commoner’s son, Yueji.
Day by day, Yueji eventually grew up.
He despised his circumstance but had no choice. He took no pleasure in the royal court, preferring instead the freedom of civilian life. Due to disputes over sovereignty and territory, seven countries waged wars in what was purportedly a time of peace, yet was filled with smoke and destruction.
“Liunian, do women really have such insignificant lives as they say?”
Chen Lanjun, playing Yuhuang, stood at the edge of a high platform with a look of indifference on her face, her stubborn eyes revealing unwillingness and loss. Suddenly turning to Liunian, she asked, “Why have men ruled while women have been subservient since ancient times? They can have multiple wives and concubines, but why must we observe the concept of ‘three obediences and four virtues’? Liunian, I can’t accept this! They treat us as playthings and gifts, but why? Just because we’re women? This is not fair.”
“Miss need not worry, Elder Changsun wouldn’t give his daughter to just anyone. Only a man of extraordinary accomplishment is worthy of you.”
Still, Liunian knew very well that Elder Changsun had purposely arranged dinner at the Sparrow Platform to offer a beauty to the King of the Chu Country. This beauty was Yuhuang.
“No.” Yuhuang suddenly turned around, her face radiantly beautiful but painfully pale. Liunian saw her in this distressed state for the first time and fearfully took a few steps back.
This was a silent fear, Chen Lanjun’s performance was superb, and naturally, Qiao Xiaren couldn’t be overshadowed by her.
“What significance do women hold in this man’s world? My father? He’s just someone who treats his daughter as a sacrificial item, as a toy to be exchanged by men!”
“Liunian, do you know how unwilling I am? That old man, what right does he have to possess me? In my prime of youth and beauty, I should be enjoying the companionship of my beloved husband, yet I have to give myself to that old man! How…”
“I hate this. Why is it a man’s world? Liunian, do you know my pain?” Yuhuang suddenly cracked a smile, pointed at Liunian, and accused her with a cold and hate-filled expression, “It’s all because of you. Why did you kneel that day at the Sparrow Platform? If you hadn’t kneeled, maybe that old man from Chu Country would have chosen you and not me – Yuhuang!”
“Hahaha…” Yuhuang suddenly burst into laughter, a laughter filled with both sorrow and madness, her hand trembling, “Everyone tells me to accept my fate, but I, Yuhuang, refuse to comply!”
In just a few short lines, the audience’s hearts were quietly pierced. Thus, the unwillingness disguised in submission to a feudal system was skillfully displayed through emotionally numb expressions.