Chapter 105 A Heavy Sword Has No Edge, A Great Image Has No Form
Su Qingci led her to a secluded pavilion before smiling and saying, "When I was at my maternal grandparents' home in Jiangnan, I often heard people mention Lady Li's talent. Now I am finally fortunate enough to meet her. I wonder if Lady Li would do me the honor of playing a game of chess with me?"
Liu Liniang looked at her expressionlessly, her voice flat, "I'm afraid I'll have to disappoint Lord Su. I haven't touched a chessboard in a long time, and I've become rusty; I'm afraid I've forgotten how."
Su Qingci poured her a cup of tea before saying, "Your chess skills may have become rusty, but I think you must not forget the style of 'a heavy sword without an edge, an elephant without a shape'?"
Upon hearing this, Liu Liniang's expression froze slightly.
Those literary figures used these sixteen characters to describe her chess skills: "Great form has no shape, great sound is silent, heavy sword has no edge, great skill is without artifice."
It is said that she has no fixed routine when playing chess. Her moves seem plain and unremarkable, as if they are made casually, but in fact they are full of hidden meaning. She is good at accumulating strength unintentionally and finally crushing her opponent with absolute strength. Her moves are natural and unpredictable.
Liu Liniang remained silent for a moment before finally looking directly at Su Qingci and bluntly stating, "Lord Su specially invited me here, surely not for the purpose of playing chess?"
Su Qingci saw that she had seen through his intentions at a glance, and his admiration for her deepened.
“Of course. Since Lady Li prefers to speak frankly, I won’t beat around the bush either.”
"Her Highness the Princess is well aware of the suffering of women who have no means of support. Over the years, she has devoted herself to advocating for women all over the world and has overcome many difficulties to establish a girls' school, so that women in the capital and various prefectures can have books to read and education to attend."
"But would the officials in the court truly be happy to see women who have achieved academic success stand in the court and be ranked alongside them?"
Su Qingci's tone carried a hint of helplessness.
"Although girls' schools have been established, the teachers sent there are all old Confucian scholars who only know how to teach the Three Cardinal Guides and Five Constant Virtues, and the precepts and instructions for women. What they teach is nothing but the stale saying of 'a woman's duty and the husband being the head of the household.' They do not touch on the true knowledge of governing the country, bringing peace to the people, and managing the world. This is completely different from Your Highness's original intention of 'entering officialdom through learning.'"
She leaned forward slightly, her gaze sincere. "His Highness instructed me to find several truly talented female teachers for the girls' academy. I have long heard of Lady Li's talent; her poetry and chess skills go without saying, but she is also well-versed in classics and history, quick-witted and eloquent. Even the top scholar in the imperial examinations praised her highly in the past. Such genuine talent and learning far surpasses those pedantic old fogies. Therefore, I take the liberty of inviting you today to serve as a female academy professor, both to set an example for women throughout the land and to ensure that your learning is not wasted, lest it be buried within the confines of a secluded mansion."
A gentle breeze blew through the courtyard, carrying the scent of chrysanthemums, brushing against the hem of their clothes.
Liu Liniang sat on the stone bench, remaining unresponsive for a long time.
Su Qingci saw the deep concerns in her heart and softened her voice even more: "Lady Li, there's no need to worry about the Cui family. Now that the girls' school has been opened and the women's imperial examination is imminent, Prime Minister Cui is just worried about how to intervene. If a court official recommends you to serve as an academic official at this time, Prime Minister Cui will not only not object, but I'm afraid... he will even be happy to see it happen, hoping that you can win people's hearts among the female officials for him. Moreover, once you are appointed as a Doctor of the Imperial Academy, you will be a sixth-rank official of the court. At that time, even if Cui Dalang is dissatisfied, he will have to be more careful with you on the surface. How could he dare to act recklessly as before?"
Liu Liniang's lips curved into an almost imperceptible smile, a half-smile playing on her lips. "Lord Su is indeed very thoughtful. But, aren't you afraid that by paving the way for me in this way, you'll ultimately be doing all the work for the Cui family?"
Su Qingci responded frankly, "What I seek is to find a teacher with genuine knowledge and insight for the female students, so that they will not waste their time and can learn real skills to make a living. As for who they are willing to serve after they have completed their studies, that is their own choice. Your Highness and I never force anyone."
"Moreover, I also feel that someone as talented as you, Lady Li, should not be confined to the inner chambers of your home, watching the years slip by and leaving only regrets."
Liu Liniang finally raised her eyes, her emotions a complex mix. "Lord Su's words sound upright and honest. But if women were officials in the court, who wouldn't wholeheartedly support the Princess, who is also a woman? Your invitation to me today was truly entirely out of public interest, without the slightest thought that I should secretly switch allegiance to His Highness or inquire about the Cui family for you?"
She saw through Su Qingci's hidden intentions in a single sentence, causing the other party's expression to slightly harden.
Before Su Qingci could respond, Liu Liniang continued, her voice tinged with barely perceptible weariness, "Has Lord Su truly considered my predicament? I am ultimately a woman of the Cui family, adrift like duckweed, my words and actions constrained. Now, the Cui family and the Princess are at odds. If I accept this assignment, Cui Shiliang will surely see me as a pawn, forcing me daily to investigate the inner workings of the girls' academy and the progress of the special examinations, trying to win over the students for his own use. And if you and His Highness use today's favor to coerce me into investigating the Cui family's secrets... then, whom should I serve? Which side should I be loyal to?"
Her tone was icy: "Taking this step is nothing more than jumping from one visible cage into another, a more intricate and difficult-to-escape cage."
Su Qingci remained silent for a moment, knowing that what she said was true.
She did indeed try to persuade Liu Liniang to abandon the Cui family and follow the plan of helping His Highness.
She took a deep breath and said, "Lady Li, we are both women, how could I not know that you are walking on thin ice in the Cui family? If you are willing, I can inform His Highness and try to mediate to help you divorce Cui Dalang. His Highness is kind and would never stand by and watch you die."
"You wouldn't just stand by and watch someone die?" Liu Liniang suddenly chuckled, her sharp gaze fixed on Su Qingci. "Lord Su, you are grateful to His Highness for saving your life, but have you ever considered why His Highness was able to appear and save you so conveniently when you were assassinated on your way back to the capital? Have you never doubted the coincidences involved?"
Most people in the capital knew that Su Qingci encountered bandits on her way back to the capital, but was rescued by the Princess.
But now, Liu Liniang is not shying away from the truth, saying that this may be His Highness's elaborate plan, or that he knew about the danger but waited for the right moment to act, just to make her devoted to him.
Su Qingci's expression suddenly turned cold. She had considered the possibility of something being amiss, but she didn't mind.
“A gentleman judges by actions, not intentions. Regardless of why Your Highness saved me that day or what your purpose was, the fact remains that she saved me from danger and gave me a future. This kindness is heavier than Mount Tai. To put it bluntly, if it weren't for Your Highness, I would probably have been married into the Cui family by my father, just like you, silently rotting in that filthy quagmire of the Cui family, trampled on by everyone.”
"Now that I can stand in the court and realize my ambitions, shouldn't I be grateful to Your Highness?"
Upon hearing this, Liu Liniang pondered for a long time before finally revealing a genuine smile.
"What a fine example of a gentleman judging by actions, not intentions! Since that's the case, if Your Highness and Lord Su trust me, I'm willing to teach at the girls' academy and secretly gather information about the Cui family for Your Highness. I only hope that Your Highness will succeed..."
As she said this, a fierce hatred blazed in her eyes, "Give me the lives of everyone in the Cui and Liu families!"
Su Qingci met her gaze and solemnly replied, "Of course."
The Imperial College was equivalent to the ancient "Central Party School + the highest institution of learning (Tsinghua and Peking University)," and the Imperial College doctor was the top "professor and doctoral supervisor."
Imperial Academy Doctor: A sixth-rank official, responsible for instructing students at the Imperial Academy (called "Academy Students"). Although their rank was not high, their social status and prestige were very high because their duty was to impart the Confucian teachings, which were the "foundation of education." They held relatively low official positions, but everyone had to respectfully address them as "Teacher," because their students might become future prime ministers or high-ranking officials.
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com