Su Jinli never expected that the Queen Mother would actually read her own storybook. Her cheeks flushed and she felt a little embarrassed. "I'm sorry to make you laugh, Queen Mother. I just wrote this in my free time."
"Alas, that's not the way to put it," the Queen Mother said earnestly. "To be able to create works that are loved by everyone is a rare and precious skill. I see you, child, with a straightforward character, frank and sincere, unlike those pretentious and squeamish ladies of noble families. You are very much in my heart."
Su Jinli was filled with joy at receiving such praise from the Queen Mother, and a sense of joy of being recognized arose spontaneously.
Afterwards, the two chatted enthusiastically for a long time. The Queen Mother inquired about Su Jinli's family situation and various matters related to the poetry club, and Su Jinli answered them in an orderly manner. The more the Queen Mother listened, the more admiration she showed, and the more loving she looked at Su Jinli, as if she regarded her as a junior.
"My dear child, I have a jade hairpin here, one I often wore in my youth. I give it to you now as a welcome gift." The Queen Mother said this, motioning for a maid beside her to bring a brocade box. The maid respectfully presented the box, and upon opening it, a jade hairpin meticulously carved from mutton-fat jade lay quietly within. The head of the hairpin was carved with a lifelike magnolia flower, its petals delicately textured, as if they would bloom at the slightest touch, a testament to the highest level of craftsmanship.
"This... is too valuable. I dare not accept it." Seeing this, Su Jinli hurriedly declined, feeling both moved and frightened.
"Just take it if I tell you to. There's no need to be so polite to me." The Queen Mother smiled and pressed the jade hairpin into her hand. "If you have free time in the future, please come to the palace more often to chat with me, okay?"
"Yes! Thank you, Her Majesty the Queen Mother!" Su Jinli gazed at the warm jade hairpin in her hand, a warm feeling welling up in her heart. She had never expected that this time when she entered the palace, she would receive such deep love and favor from the Queen Mother.
After sitting for a while, Su Jinli stood up and said goodbye to the Queen Mother. The Queen Mother specifically ordered Eunuch Li to personally escort her out of the palace, which showed how much she valued her.
Back at the Prime Minister's residence, Prime Minister Su and Lady Liu (though Lady Liu was filled with jealousy, she still had to feign concern on the surface) were already waiting eagerly inside. Upon seeing Su Jinli return, the jade hairpin in her hand, and hearing the details of the Empress Dowager's summons, Prime Minister Su's smile never faded.
"Good, good, good! My daughter, Su, is truly outstanding! To be so loved by the Empress Dowager is a great favor from heaven!" Prime Minister Su stroked his beard, his eyes full of pride and joy.
Liu also quickly echoed: "Yes, Jinli is really blessed." But in that smile, there was a hint of jealousy that was difficult for others to detect.
Su Jinli looked at her father's happy face and felt relieved. In this life, she not only wanted to live a wonderful life for herself, but also wanted her family to be proud of her.
When night fell, Su Jinli carefully put away the jade hairpin given by the empress dowager, but the figure of Jiang Yan involuntarily appeared in her mind.
I wonder what he is doing at this moment? Is he also thinking of me?
Thinking of this, Su Jinli's cheeks flushed again, like the gorgeous sunset glow on the horizon. She shook her head gently, trying to dispel Jiang Yan's shadow from her mind, but the figure seemed to take root, becoming clearer and clearer.
It seems that this top scholar who expressed his feelings frankly has indeed caused quite a stir in her heart, making her a little overwhelmed but secretly happy.
Since the Empress Dowager summoned her, Su Jinli's reputation in the capital has grown. Her poetry club, thanks to the Empress Dowager's attention, has attracted more prominent ladies and talented women to join, and has grown ever stronger. The scale and influence of the poetry club's activities have continued to expand, and they frequently host poetry competitions, calligraphy and painting exhibitions, and other activities, becoming a beautiful part of the capital's cultural landscape.
Su Jinli's vernacular writing became increasingly proficient, and thanks to the Empress Dowager's praise, Jianghu Laughter was in short supply. The bookstore continued to reprint it, and sales soared. It was not only a hot seller in the capital, but also spread to surrounding towns, becoming a hot topic of discussion.
Prime Minister Su's position at court was further solidified by his daughter's favor with the Empress Dowager. His colleagues offered him congratulations, and his voice in the court increased. All these changes made Prime Minister Su realize the immense value of his daughter's talent and influence, and he cherished and loved Su Jinli even more.
However, Liu's jealousy only grew stronger. She appeared increasingly affectionate toward Su Jinli, but secretly she was constantly grumbling with her closest confidants, plotting ways to suppress her influence. However, Su Jinli was now acting more cautiously, and with the Empress Dowager's attention and her father's protection, Liu found it difficult to find an opportunity to exploit her.
Meanwhile, upon hearing the news that Su Jinli had been summoned by the Empress Dowager and rewarded, Jiang Yan felt both happy for her and a touch of worry. He was well aware of the volatile situation at the palace and worried that Su Jinli would be drawn into unnecessary disputes. So, taking advantage of his free time, he wrote a letter and sent it to the Prime Minister's residence, earnestly expressing his concern and worry, while also encouraging Su Jinli to remain true to her original aspirations and not be seduced by the current state of affairs.
Su Jinli was deeply moved when she received Jiang Yan's letter. She carefully read every word, as if she could see Jiang Yan's concerned expression through the paper. She immediately picked up her pen and wrote a letter back to Jiang Yan, telling him about his experiences in the palace, his thoughts, and how much she missed him.
Their relationship deepened through their correspondence. Jiang Yan would often share his experiences at court and his views on current affairs, while Su Jinli would discuss poetry and storytelling with him. Their correspondence was not only an exchange of emotions but also a collision of ideas.
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