Liu's face turned red and white from choking, and she moved her lips, but she couldn't say a word. She glared at Su Jinli, flicked her sleeves, and turned away.
The students looked at each other, bewildered for a moment. Su Jinli, however, remained composed, a reassuring smile on her face. "Don't worry about her. Let's get on with the class. Today, let's start by learning to write our names."
Meanwhile, outside the window, Jiang Yan was quietly leaning against the old locust tree. He stood tall and straight, the moonlight casting a shadow on him, outlining his slender figure. He casually twirled a jade pendant in his hand, which shimmered with a warm luster in the moonlight. He had just happened to be passing by the Prime Minister's residence and overheard the arguing coming from the west wing. He had instructed a servant to deliver a letter. The letter contained no words, only a drawing of a figure holding an abacus, and the words "Tuition can be used to pay for books" were scribbled next to it.
"Top Scholar, it's getting late. It's time to go back home." The servant whispered a reminder.
Jiang Yan tilted his head slightly, looking at the lively silhouette of Su Jinli on the window paper. The corners of his mouth unconsciously raised, revealing a doting smile: "Wait a little longer, I want to see how she makes this word 'money' come out in a fancy way."
As the class continued, Su Jinli patiently guided the students as they wrote their names on the sand table. Her voice was gentle yet firm, and it seemed to have a magical effect, gradually relaxing the nervous students. The students followed Su Jinli's instructions intently, writing each stroke carefully. Although their handwriting was crooked, their eyes shone with seriousness and dedication.
The silk shop owner muttered to herself as she wrote, "I used to think reading was a man's thing, but I never thought women like me could learn it. Once I learn to read, I won't have to ask the accountant for help when I need to look at my account books anymore."
The lady in charge of the embroidery workshop also nodded in agreement: "Yes, Miss Su's night school is really well run. We women also need to have some skills and can't always rely on men."
The concubines of the official family were whispering to each other excitedly. They had very few opportunities to study in the mansion on weekdays, so they naturally cherished this opportunity very much.
Su Jinli felt immensely gratified listening to the students' discussions. She knew that in this day and age, women facing numerous difficulties and prejudices in their pursuit of knowledge and independence faced numerous challenges. But she firmly believed that given the opportunity, women could demonstrate their talents and abilities.
As the night deepened, moonlight streamed through the window, filling the classroom with a sense of tranquility and peace. Jiang Yan stood quietly outside the window, listening to the bursts of laughter and chatter from the classroom. His heart was also filled with joy. He knew that Su Jinli was doing something remarkable, and he was willing to support her silently from behind.
Time slipped by unnoticed, and finally, the class drew to a close. The students thanked Su Jinli one after another, their faces filled with satisfied and fulfilled smiles. Su Jinli looked at them, feeling a sense of accomplishment.
After seeing off the students, Su Jinli walked out of Zhixia Hall and immediately spotted Jiang Yan standing under the old locust tree. In the moonlight, Jiang Yan looked exceptionally handsome, the jade pendant in his hand gleaming softly.
"Why are you here?" Su Jinli asked softly, with a hint of surprise in her eyes.
"I was passing by and heard there was an argument, so I came to take a look." Jiang Yan smiled and walked forward. "You performed very well today."
"Thanks to your letter." Su Jinli winked playfully, "Tuition can be used to pay for books. It's a good idea."
The two smiled at each other, their smiles radiant in the moonlight. At this moment, the west wing of the Prime Minister's Mansion, illuminated by the moonlight, appeared exceptionally peaceful and beautiful. Su Jinli knew that while the road to running a girls' night school might be fraught with obstacles, with Jiang Yan's support and the help of her older sister and younger brother, she was confident she could persevere. Jiang Yan, in turn, firmly believed that Su Jinli would realize her dream, opening the door to knowledge for more women and allowing them to have a different life.
In the days that followed, under Su Jinli's meticulous management, the women's night school gradually gained momentum. More and more women heard about the night school and signed up. The school also grew in size, and the curriculum became increasingly diverse. Besides literacy and accounting, it also added courses in women's labor, painting, and poetry.
Seeing that the night school not only did not stop because of her obstruction, but was actually becoming more and more popular, Liu's jealousy and resentment grew stronger. She began to rack her brains, thinking of new ways to trip up Su Jinli.
One day, while Su Jinli was out, Liu sneaked into the night school classroom. She looked at the neatly arranged tables, chairs, sand tables, and students' homework, and a sinister glint flashed in her eyes. She instructed the maid to secretly hide some precious calligraphy and teaching aids, and even deliberately messed up the classroom layout, hoping to disrupt the normal course of the night school.
However, Liu's actions did not escape Su Jinli's notice. When Su Jinli returned, she found the classroom vandalized and immediately realized that it was Liu's doing. Instead of making a public announcement, she secretly investigated and collected evidence.
Meanwhile, Jiang Yan also learned about the night school's destruction. Feeling sorry for Su Jinli's hard work, he decided to help her solve the problem. Using his connections and resources, Jiang Yan found several servants who had been under Liu's orders and persuaded them to reveal the truth.
With solid evidence in hand, Su Jinli decided to remain silent. She exposed Liu's actions in front of Prime Minister Su and everyone in the palace. Upon learning the truth, Prime Minister Su flew into a rage, severely reprimanded Liu, and demanded an apology from her.
Liu hadn't expected her plan to be discovered. She was mortified and angry, but under Prime Minister Su's pressure, she had no choice but to bow her head and apologize to Su Jinli. Su Jinli looked at Liu with mixed feelings. She knew that as long as the night school continued, Liu would continue to harass her. But she was no longer afraid, for she had the courage and wisdom to face any challenge.
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