She paused, lowered her eyes, and lowered her voice: "Later, I saw Liu frequently interacting with people from the Wang family, and her words always revealed the intention of winning them over, so I became suspicious. It happened that the day before yesterday, Lu'e went to the street to buy silk thread, and heard the proprietress of the cloth shop say that the owner of Jufulou was holding Wang Erlang's IOU and looking for someone to exchange it for silver. So..." She didn't say anything else, but just bit her lower lip lightly, pretending to be scared but had to do it.
Su Hongye stared at his daughter's face, trying to find any trace of deception in her eyes. But the girl before him had clear eyes, and while there was a firmness between her brows, she also carried a hint of childishness. He thought of Liu's actions over the years: outwardly virtuous, yet secretly obsessed with paving the way for her son, Su Mingxuan, even at the expense of the legitimate daughter's happiness... A surge of anger quietly welled up in him.
He suddenly sighed, a sigh tinged with guilt. "I'm sorry for you." He put down the account book and looked at Su Jinli. "For all these years, I've devoted myself to the court, thinking I could rest easy with Liu taking care of the backyard. I didn't expect... I'd let you suffer."
Su Jinli's heart trembled slightly. This was the first time her father had apologized to her. She looked up and found that her father had more white hair on his temples than she remembered.
"I will thoroughly investigate the Liu family's affairs." Su Hongye's tone became firm again. "But now that you have reached marriage age, you must consider the important matter of marriage. Since you have already rejected the Wang family publicly, do you have any other plans in mind?"
The opportunity has come! Su Jinli's heart trembled, and she immediately knelt on the ground, straightened her back, and looked at her father with burning eyes: "Father, your daughter...doesn't want to discuss marriage too early."
Su Hongye frowned slightly: "Oh? Why?" In his opinion, it is right for a woman to get married early and settle down, especially after experiencing what happened today, it is right to find a reliable marriage as soon as possible.
"Father," Su Jinli took a deep breath and said what she had been thinking about many times in her heart, "My daughter wants to study."
"Reading?" Su Hongye was stunned, and the teacup in his hand almost slipped. "A woman's virtue lies in her lack of talent. What's the point of reading those classics, history books, and miscellaneous works?"
"Father," Su Jinli retorted calmly, "Confucius said, 'There is no distinction in education.' These sages' words do not exclude women. I don't aspire to be a female teacher, but I believe that reading more will help one understand the truth and appreciate the rise and fall of things. Even if I marry in the future, I can educate my children with poetry and literature, and assist my husband with wisdom, rather than just engaging in jealous strife in the harem."
She paused, her tone more earnest. "Besides, my younger brother is now studying with Master Li in the Hanlin Academy. Although I am a girl, I also long to listen to his teachings. If you agree, I am willing to study with my younger brother. If I slack off, I am willing to accept the punishment."
Su Hongye stared at his daughter in amazement. He had never imagined she would have such thoughts. In his mind, a woman's destiny was to support her husband and raise children, with literacy merely a bonus. But the glint in Jinli's eyes, a thirst for knowledge, a gleam he had never seen in his other daughters, reminded him of his late wife—a woman equally well-read and insightful.
If she were still alive, she would surely support her daughter...
The sunlight outside the window shines through the window lattice, casting mottled light and shadows on Su Jinli's white clothes. She kneels there, like a stubborn white chrysanthemum, delicate but with her own character.
After a long while, Su Hongye finally spoke slowly, with a barely perceptible hint of relaxation in his voice: "Do you really want to learn?"
"My daughter begs my father to grant my wish!" Su Jinli kowtowed heavily, her forehead touching the cold blue bricks, but a fire of hope ignited in her heart.
Su Hongye looked at his daughter's prostrate form, then glanced at the stack of account books on the desk that revealed the inner workings of the harem. A long-held barrier within him seemed to crumble. He recalled Liu's schemes, the wisdom of Jinli's biological mother, and finally, with a deep sigh, as if he had made a profound decision: "Very well! Since you have such a heart, I will grant your wish!"
He stood up, walked to the desk, picked up his brush and dipped it in ink. "Starting tomorrow, you will go to the study in the front yard with Mingxuan to study. I will personally write a letter to Master Li and ask him to teach you well."
"Thank you, father!" Su Jinli raised her head suddenly, her eyes gleaming with excitement, and kowtowed again, "I will definitely live up to your expectations!"
Coming out of Chengxin Hall, Su Jinli felt her steps light and brisk, even the breeze beneath the corridor carrying warmth. She knew she had made the right move. Her father's change of attitude was not only a counterattack against the Liu family, but also a crucial step for her to take control of her own destiny.
After returning to Suiyuxuan, before she could even settle down, she saw her eldest sister Su Qingyao arrive with two maids. Su Qingyao was Liu's concubine's daughter, and usually had a distant relationship with Su Jinli. But at this moment, she was holding a gilded lacquer dressing box, looking a little awkward.
"Here, for you." Su Qingyao placed the dressing box on the table, her tone somewhat arrogant, "Today in the front hall, I saw you with no makeup on, looking like a little nun in a temple."
Su Jinli looked at her with some surprise. In her previous life, although this elder sister didn't bully her, she never treated her well, let alone gave her gifts.
She opened her dressing box, revealing a layer of lilac-colored soft satin on which rested a small mother-of-pearl box. Opening the box, a delicate floral fragrance filled her face. Inside was a box of rouge as vibrant as the sunset glow—the most popular color of the moment, "Zui Liuxia."
"Thank you, elder sister." Su Jinli expressed her gratitude sincerely.
Seeing her accept it, Su Qingyao's tense face relaxed a little, but she still kept a straight face. "Hmph, you're smart. Let me tell you, studying is one thing, but you still have to behave like a girl. Don't run around like a boy all day. If you can't get married in the future, don't blame me for not reminding you."
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