Mother Zhang looked at her daughter with concern, fearing she might be hurt by the idle gossip, but Miss Zhang, having experienced the disillusionment of love, was clearly not as fragile anymore.
These people were right.
She had been foolish, stupid! Blinded by love!
Everyone thinks they're the exception, that they're special, that the person they love deeply is an exception, but in the end, they all become tragic examples!
Of course, there are very good men in this world.
Men who are responsible and dependable, who give and understand, who are faithful and consider you in everything they do. Even if their love fades one day, they will still play the role of a good husband out of a sense of duty.
But such men, once loved, are in it for life, rarely available in the market, and even less likely to be encountered by her.
Miss Zhang covered the self-mockery in her eyes and said to her mother with a smile, "Yes."
"What they say makes sense. This official's daughter was indeed very confused and easily deceived before. She thought she was an exception, but in the end, she became an example."
"Still, she's also very lucky."
She was very lucky to have met Gu Sang.
After Gu Sang finished telling the whole story, her expression suddenly turned serious.
This seriousness made all the common people panic for a second.
Gu Sang deliberately chose a rather emotional BGM before she began to speak: "This official's daughter is not afraid of being surrounded by rumors. She selflessly allowed me to tell this story, not for you to mock her."
"She hopes that girls all over the world will be more cautious when facing love."
"Don't blindly believe in love just to defy your parents. Especially those sweet words that cost nothing to say - promises are very cheap things. We shouldn't look at what he promises, but at what he sacrifices for you when facing adversity!"
"It's not to say that all mismatched couples are bad, but the vast majority don't fare well. When a high-born marries down, their values are different from the start."
"You might think lamp oil is ordinary, but in others' eyes, it's a precious commodity. You might think hardship is eating vegetables and steamed buns, but for others, even wild vegetables have to be fought over."
"You might think a hairpin for ten taels of silver is cheap, but he might see it as his living expenses for a year or several years."
"In such a clash of values, you will only argue day after day, until love is exhausted in the end."
Hearing this, all the ancient commoners were stunned.
Poor families couldn't believe a hairpin could cost ten taels of silver.
Rich young ladies and gentlemen couldn't understand why lamp oil was a precious commodity when their families kept candles lit in the corridors all night long.
They all whispered, discussing who was right and who was wrong.
But in the next moment, Gu Sang's voice rose again. She said, "Actually, neither is wrong. The fault lies only in the difference in family circumstances. These trivial matters will be countless in future life, and will eventually drive people to breakdown."
"Moreover, in such times, you feel you've sacrificed everything for him, even severing family ties, demanding he be unconditionally good to you."
"Perhaps he will be good to you at first, but over time, he will also get tired of your constant reminders, then arguments will erupt, and in the end, both will regret it."
"A good relationship should be based on shared values, detailed plans for the future, and ideally, both parties should be equally matched. It should never be one person abandoning everything for the other, or being subservient, or even losing oneself..."
No one can endlessly tolerate you.
Because you can't endlessly tolerate others either.
All the ancient commoners present, whether men or women, old or young, were silent.
This time, the goddess had spoken to them about surreal problems that happened around them, or that happened every day.
Arguments are an inevitable problem for every couple.
In the past, they had never taken the time to think about why they argued.
They seemed to have habitually and rightfully believed that since I abandoned everything for you, since I sacrificed so much for you, you must be unconditionally good to me.
No one had ever taught them the true essence of love. Suddenly hearing the goddess speak about love, they felt lost and pensive.
Most of them had arranged marriages, often only seeing each other after the wedding ceremony. How could they have time to understand what kind of person the other was?
Even if they married the wrong person, that's how they would spend their lives.
And now, in the silent plague-stricken city,
The Elder Princess waited until Gu Sang finished speaking before turning to face the people, laying the foundation for her upcoming rules: "Did you hear that? This is the tragedy of arranged marriages."
"Parents disregarding their children's wishes, arranging marriages at will, which leads to children wanting to rebel and stepping into the abyss."
"And those girls who are deceived, it's still because they've met few men, and want to escape their parents' control..."
"From today on, the plague city will learn from the future and implement a policy where unmarried men and women can meet and make friends! Parents must not object!"
The plague city's citizens were all shocked, their jaws dropping as if about to hit the ground.
Meeting and making friends!!!
If men and women could meet and make friends, wouldn't the next step be free love?!
These four words seemed like a huge tornado, attacking their thoughts.
Some young men and women, upon hearing the princess's order, shouted joyfully, "Long live the princess!" While other older parents, hearing the happy voices of the young people, gradually came to their senses.
They saw the determination in the Elder Princess's eyes, they saw the joy in Gu Sang's eyes.
Both of them had great confidence in this matter and wanted to implement it.
The Elder Princess and the goddess, what they did was always right.
Since they both had such thoughts, what disagreement could the plague city's citizens have: "Yes, the goddess is right. How can people who are to spend a lifetime together decide so hastily without even meeting?"
"I support men and women being able to meet and make friends!"
"I agree too. Who knows if we're marrying a human or a ghost, whether we can live together for a lifetime, and why should women be despised just for talking to men?!"
"The women of the future are so confident and graceful. I support the Elder Princess's decision!"
The citizens of the plague city all shouted their agreement.
This was the first time the Elder Princess felt truly moved.
She disliked the idea of forcing people to accept the concept of free love, so she took it step by step, slowly. First, she allowed men and women to socialize without restrictions, and then they could engage in free love!
She wanted to save this world.
Because... she too was a victim.
Even as the noble Elder Princess, she could not escape the fate of an arranged marriage.
