Cui Ling is a decisive and efficient woman.
Since she said she would recognize Yu Luo as her legitimate daughter, it wasn't just empty talk.
Cui Ling brushed the dust off her shoulder, her tone leaving no room for argument.
Everything you had before is dead.
From that day on, the quietest courtyard in the backyard of the magistrate's residence became Cui Lingyi's exclusive territory.
Cui Ling practically emptied half the warehouse, filling it with the finest writing implements, paper, inkstones, and silk fabrics.
She even spared no expense to invite several renowned female tutors from the distant capital to teach music, chess, calligraphy, painting, classics, history, philosophy, and etiquette.
This was a huge gamble; she staked all her reputation and dignity on it.
The teachers initially looked down on her, after all, she was just a wild girl of unknown origin, what could she possibly know?
But in just three days, they were thoroughly humiliated.
The professor of the Book of Rites, Master Zhang, stroked his beard and stared at the girl in front of him who, in just one morning, could recite the complex chapters fluently and even offer her own insights. He was so astonished that he couldn't close his mouth for a long time.
"Madam, Miss Lingyi, she is truly a prodigy!"
Cui Ling held her teacup, a knowing smile playing on her lips.
She looked at Yu Luo, who was sitting by the window reading quietly. Sunlight streamed through the window and fell on her, as if gilding her with a holy halo.
This daughter is a treasure she found.
Cui Ling was in a great mood and immediately wrote a long letter to her family in the capital. The letter was full of praise for Cui Lingyi, almost praising her as a unique gem.
However, half a month later, the reply from her family was like a bucket of ice water poured over her head.
In the letter, her high-ranking mother used sharp and sarcastic language, with every word revealing disdain.
"How dare a wild girl of unknown origin bear the surname of my Cui family?"
"Ling'er, you're getting more and more confused as you get older!"
Cui Ling's fingers tightened around the letter, her knuckles turning white from the force.
"Smack!"
She slammed the letter onto the table, her chest heaving violently.
She took a deep breath, and when she looked up again, her face had returned to calm.
He quickly walked to Yu Luo's side and gently stroked her hair.
“Order”.
“Mother.” Yu Luo put down his book and looked up at her.
“A letter has arrived from the capital.” Cui Ling’s tone was calm. “They don’t think highly of you.”
Yu Luo's eyes remained unmoved, as if he were listening to something that had nothing to do with him.
“It’s alright.” Cui Ling smiled, a hint of arrogance in her smile. “Their opinions are insignificant.”
"Now that the new emperor has ascended the throne and opened up a new imperial examination for women, this is the east wind that Heaven has bestowed upon you."
"What you need to do is rise with the wind, stand at the highest point, and make those who once looked down on you look up to you, without even having the right to criticize you!"
Yu Luo nodded, her voice clear and firm.
"Mother, I understand."
In the dead of night, a dark figure, as swift as a raccoon, silently scaled the high wall of the magistrate's residence.
Yu Luo skillfully avoided the patrolling servants and arrived at the back alley of Chunfeng Tower.
Chunxue was already waiting there, and her eyes reddened as soon as she saw her.
"Xiao Qi, no, Miss Lingyi, why are you here again!"
Yu Luo stuffed a paper package into her arms; inside was the famous Osmanthus Cake from the capital.
Cui Ling specially asked someone to buy it from the capital, using the Wang family's best fast horse.
Since she's going to raise her daughter, she should give her the best of everything!
"I've come to see you all," Yu Luo said with a smile.
The older sisters gathered around, looking at Yu Luo's luxurious clothes and then at themselves, feeling somewhat ashamed of themselves.
They urged each other on, all talking at once.
"Lingyi, you should leave now! Don't come back!"
"Yes, you are now the legitimate daughter of the county magistrate's wife, a woman of noble birth. If people find out that you are mixing with people from our filthy place, it will ruin your reputation!"
Yu Luo listened quietly, then took out a small bag of silver from his sleeve and placed it on the table.
She would share the interesting things she had learned from the Master with them, and even teach them how to study and how to keep accounts.
"Don't worry," Yu Luo said softly, looking at their worried faces. "My mother knows everything."
“We are in the same boat, and she will erase all traces for me.”
"You all just eat and drink well, and wait for me."
Chunxue couldn't help but ask, "What are you waiting for?"
Yu Luo smiled, a smile that appeared exceptionally composed in the dim candlelight.
"Wait for me, I will redeem you all."
She paused, as if she were talking about something trivial.
"If all else fails, I'll find a way to buy this Chunfeng Tower."
In an instant, the entire room fell silent.
The older sisters stared wide-eyed, mouths agape, and the sunflower seeds in their hands fell to the ground.
Buy, buy Chunfeng Tower?
They felt their brains weren't working properly.
…
More than a month later, Yu Luo's words and actions were no different from those of the most prestigious noble ladies in the capital.
That day, Cui Ling watched her daughter skillfully brew a pot of tea and nodded in satisfaction.
"Lingyi, your chance has come."
Her eyes gleamed with a shrewd, strategic brilliance.
"Three days from now, I will host a flower-viewing banquet at my residence and invite many famous figures from Qingzhou."
"That will be the time for you to make a name for yourself."
She changed the subject, her tone turning somewhat cold.
"As for the Wang family, you don't need to worry about them."
"They might say a few sarcastic remarks, but they wouldn't dare to do anything to you."
Cui Ling stood up, walked to Yu Luo, and spoke each word with conviction.
"You'd better remember this."
"You are my daughter, Cui Ling's daughter. As long as I acknowledge you, you will undoubtedly be the legitimate daughter of the Cui family!"
"You are also the legitimate daughter of this magistrate's family!"
"As long as your talent is dazzling enough, those idiots won't be foolish enough to push away such a gem like you!"
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