As soon as these words were spoken, the scholars burst into discussion. Some stroked their beards, expressions of admiration on their faces, seemingly moved by Jiang Yan's proposal; others whispered to each other, doubtful, and concerned about this unprecedented proposal. I quietly gazed at Jiang Yan's smiling face, feeling a surge of emotion. Suddenly, I remembered that in my previous life, when I was seriously ill in the cold courtyard, I was all alone and helpless, unable to even get a bowl of hot soup. And now, someone was willing to stand at the forefront of the storm for me, fighting for my rightful rights. A warm feeling suddenly welled up in my heart, and my eyes moistened slightly.
The young marquis suddenly tugged at my sleeve and nodded at Liu Yuru. I followed his gaze and saw, amidst the chatter, Liu Yuru slipping a slip of paper into Editor Wang's sleeve. Her fingernails, stained with the vibrant red of the Impatiens flowers, were etched with the handwriting I knew so well—it was the small, hairpin-shaped calligraphy Liu used so often.
"Liu Yuru, what are you doing?" I keenly noticed her abnormality, took a step forward, and the hem of my skirt gently swept across the gravel at Liu Yuru's feet.
"No... I didn't do anything!" She was so startled by my sudden questioning that she hurriedly stepped back, tripping over the steps and causing a letter to fall to the ground. I quickly stepped forward, picked it up, and unfolded it. The ink on the plain paper was still wet: "Please, editor, please do not discredit Su Jinli. Once you succeed, I will give you a hundred taels of gold. - Liu."
Editor Wang read the letter, his goatee trembling with rage. His hand, gesturing at Liu Yuru, trembled constantly, as if he were too angry to speak. "You... you dare to bring such a filthy thing upon me!" he finally roared in anger. With that, he turned and walked away, leaning on his cane, not even bothering to pick up his fallen glasses. His disheveled figure betrayed his panic and fury.
Liu Yuru slumped on the steps, her hair disheveled and her pearl hairpins scattered across the floor. She looked utterly miserable. "Impossible... Mother said that as long as I disrupted the poetry gathering, I could..." she muttered, her eyes filled with despair and helplessness, as if all her hopes had been shattered in an instant.
"You'll never win people's hearts with schemes and tricks." I handed the letter to the young marquis calmly and said, "Send it to my father, and note that Liu is still restless during her house arrest." My voice was steady and firm, as if announcing to Liu that her conspiracy would never succeed.
The sun gradually set, its soft afterglow like honey, tinting the academy's plaque a warm hue. The crowd gradually dispersed in the afterglow, leaving only me, the young marquis, and Jiang Yan. Jiang Yan walked briskly to my side, gently tapping the back of my hand with his folding fan, a smile in his eyes. "I'll submit a petition to the court tomorrow morning. Are you willing, Su Da, the talented lady, to accept the position of headmaster of the Women's Academy?"
I looked at the expectation in his eyes, then turned to look at my younger brother who was waving a wooden sword to disperse the last few onlookers who were watching the scholars. My heart was filled with relief and joy, and I couldn't help laughing: "Okay, but the wages must be paid with Zhang's sugar paintings, three paintings a day, and I will go on strike if I can't produce one less." I said half-jokingly, trying to ease the tense atmosphere.
Jiang Yan laughed heartily, the tassels of his bamboo flute brushing against my fingertips, as if conveying a sense of intimacy and joy. "Deal. Just the sugar painting..." He leaned slightly closer to my ear, his warm breath gently brushing against my temples, tickling me like a feather. "I'll have to draw it for you myself." Jiang Yan's voice was gentle and low, filled with deep affection.
The chirping of cicadas still echoed in my ears, and the vermilion lacquer gate of the academy, illuminated by the afterglow, shone with a soft, solemn golden glow. The young marquis came bounding over, carrying a wooden sword, its scabbard still stained with the stones he had just swatted away. "Sister, will they dare to scold you again?" he asked innocently, his eyes filled with concern and worry for me.
"I won't dare anymore." I smiled, reaching out to gently touch his sweat-soaked hair, my gaze following Jiang Yan's receding figure in a blue shirt. Suddenly, it felt as if the gates of this academy, sealed for a thousand years, were slowly opening to the women of the world, amidst the chirping of cicadas and the whispers of laughter. And I knew that behind these doors lay a world more fascinating than any storybook: a place where I could find the support of my family, the companionship of my loved ones, and countless legends of women waiting to be written. In this era of hope and change, I will bravely embark on a new journey with those around me, writing our own glorious chapter.
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