Time passed slowly, and two weeks slipped away like the gentle gurgling of water. On this seemingly ordinary day, an imperial decree boomed like spring thunder across the capital. His Majesty solemnly decreed that women's night schools could henceforth be officially registered and established in all government offices. This great undertaking would be fully entrusted to Su Jinli, the daughter of the Prime Minister.
When the news arrived, Su Jinli was at Zhixia Hall, intently teaching a new group of students how to write the word "contract." Her gaze swept across the audience's glittering, star-like eyes, gleaming with a thirst for knowledge and a yearning for it. At that moment, Su Jinli felt an indescribable surge of emotion, as if all the grievances she had endured in her past life had been worth it. Those past hardships, like the sharpening of the dark, had forged her current unwavering faith and fearless courage.
"Miss, Jiang Zhuangyuan is waiting for you at the door." Lingge ran into Zhixia Hall with light steps, with a mysterious smile on her face, which seemed to hide endless joy and expectation.
Su Jinli was slightly startled, then stood up and walked out of Zhixia Hall with light lotus steps. Jiang Yan, dressed in a moon-white brocade robe, stood tall and straight like a pine tree, quietly standing under the old locust tree. He was holding an exquisite food box, his expression gentle, and his eyes were looking in the direction Su Jinli had come.
"Congratulations, Consul General Su." Jiang Yan bowed slightly and handed the food box to Su Jinli with a smile, "This is a sugar painting by Old Man Zhang from the south city. I left a message for him and made a dragon for you." His voice was like a spring breeze, soft and warm.
Su Jinli gently took the food box and slowly opened it. What came into view was indeed a lifelike sugar dragon. The dragon looked as if it was about to take flight, every detail meticulously crafted. In its mouth was a glittering, translucent sugar bead, which shone brightly in the sunlight. Looking at the dragon, Su Jinli couldn't help but recall her first time painting sugar at the market. Her drawings were so crooked back then that she joked they looked like earthworms. Thinking of this, she couldn't help but chuckle, "Do you still remember that my drawings looked like earthworms?"
"Of course I remember." Jiang Yan stared at her, his eyes full of tenderness and doting, as if he was recalling the beautiful past. "So this time I specially drew a real dragon to help you."
The two of them strolled slowly along the corridor side by side. The afterglow of the setting sun, like a golden veil, gently sprinkled on them, stretching their shadows very long on the ground, like a beautiful painting. When passing by the garden, Jiang Yan suddenly stopped, his expression becoming serious and focused. He turned his head slightly and looked at Su Jinli: "Jinli, there is something I have always wanted to ask you."
"Hmm?" Su Jinli raised her head slightly and looked at Jiang Yan with clear eyes, a hint of doubt in her eyes.
"Why are you working so hard to open a night school?" Jiang Yan's eyes were full of inquiry and concern. He was eager to understand Su Jinli's inner thoughts.
Su Jinli pondered for a moment, her eyes filled with warmth and hope as she looked towards the students playing in the garden in the distance. "So that they can be like me, no longer manipulated by others." She paused, slowly turned her head, and her eyes met Jiang Yan's. "Also, so that I can live a clearer life, understand everything in this world, and control my own destiny."
Upon hearing this, Jiang Yan's lips curled up slightly, revealing a relieved smile. He gently pulled a small, exquisite box from his sleeve pocket. The box's surface was intricately carved with patterns, shimmering softly in the setting sun. "My mother told me before she died that she wanted to give this to my future daughter-in-law." Jiang Yan's voice was slightly low, filled with deep longing for his mother.
Su Jinli's heart stirred, and her eyes fell on the small box. Jiang Yan slowly opened the box, revealing a jade hairpin made of fine mutton fat, quietly lying inside. The head of the hairpin was carved with a half-opened lotus flower, its petals delicate and flowing, as if swaying gently in the breeze, revealing a kind of lively beauty. Su Jinli looked at the jade hairpin, then at Jiang Yan's earnest and affectionate eyes. Suddenly, a vague image of her sickbed in her previous life flashed through her mind. In her chaotic consciousness, she seemed to have seen this familiar lotus flower before.
"You...your mother knows my mother?" Su Jinli asked with a slightly trembling voice, a complex emotion surging in her heart, both surprise and touching.
"Yeah." Jiang Yan nodded gently, his eyes filled with nostalgia. "They were close friends, and their friendship was deep." He reached out and gently held Su Jinli's hand, the warmth of his palm passing through her. "Jinli, my mother said that if I ever meet a woman as insightful and intelligent as your mother, I must cherish her and treat her well."
Su Jinli felt her heartbeat quicken, almost leaping out of her throat. Her fingertips felt the coolness of the jade hairpin, yet a surge of warmth welled up in her heart. She couldn't help but think back to every detail of her life, from the moment she resolutely overturned the teacup at her coming-of-age banquet to the successful night school she now had. Throughout it all, no matter the ups and downs, Jiang Yan had always been by her side, silently supporting her and accompanying her through every difficult moment.
"Jiang Yan," Su Jinli slowly raised her head, with a bright light shining in her eyes, like the brightest stars in the night sky, "Can you give me the phoenix you painted again?" Her voice was soft and a little shy, as if she had returned to the girl who was just beginning to fall in love.
"Of course." Jiang Yan's eyes were filled with a smile, a smile as warm and bright as the spring sun. He gently took Su Jinli's hand and walked towards the market. "Let Old Man Zhang teach you personally this time. I guarantee you won't draw an earthworm again." His words were filled with teasing and doting.
"Who said that! I can draw very well now!" Su Jinli pouted slightly and said in a pretended angry tone, but her eyes were full of playfulness.
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