Jiang Bai and Jiang Henian both looked at Jiang Lingyun simultaneously. "Lingyun, what do you mean by that?"
Jiang Lingyun said thoughtfully, "I've heard that the Crown Prince is not only virtuous and benevolent, but also possesses a perseverance that refuses to stop until his goal is achieved. That's how he earned such a reputation for wisdom today."
"I'm worried, Grandfather, that even if you report this matter to His Majesty, and His Majesty agrees, there's no guarantee that the Crown Prince won't come to find Nian'er personally."
Jiang Lingyun's concern struck Jiang Henian as not without reason.
"Lingyun, do you have an idea?"
"Grandfather, in that case, why not start looking for a suitable young man for Nian'er right now? As long as Nian'er finds someone to her liking, we'll settle the engagement immediately, and that will put an end to the Crown Prince's intentions."
"But this—"
"Absolutely not!"
Jiang Bai was just about to respond to Jiang Lingyun's suggestion when he was startled by Jiang Henian's suddenly raised voice.
Among the five siblings, Jiang Henian was the youngest and therefore the most favored. Yet she had never been lax in her etiquette and propriety because of it.
But today, she had rudely interrupted Jiang Bai's words.
For a moment, both grandfather and grandson stared at Jiang Henian, feeling that her behavior over the past two days had been somewhat different from usual.
Fortunately, Jiang Henian quickly composed herself and regained her usual calm.
"Elder Brother's idea is good, but it does have certain problems."
"The Crown Prince has already expressed to Grandfather his intention to make me a Side Consort. If we go around looking at potential matches at this critical moment, wouldn't that be slapping the Crown Prince in the face?"
"Grandfather has chosen not to take sides, but we cannot afford to offend the Crown Prince over this matter."
Jiang Henian took a deep breath, then said against her conscience, "I only met the Crown Prince today, and he's already sent a letter. It must be a momentary impulse on his part. Once he thinks it through, he won't keep pursuing this."
"He is the Crown Prince of the Donggong—what kind of woman couldn't he marry if he wanted? How could he fixate on me alone?"
What she really wanted to say was that Lu Huan was despicable in his conduct, ruthless in his methods, and utterly vile in character! But this time, she had a way to keep the Crown Prince quiet for a while.
Yet she couldn't say any of that.
Who among them would believe her about matters of past and present lives?
Jiang Bai was still weighing how much sense Jiang Henian's words held when Jiang Lingyun had already let out a sigh of relief.
"So that's what you're worried about! I thought you didn't want to get married, Nian'er."
A thought stirred in Jiang Henian's mind. "That's not entirely out of the question."
Even though she had deliberately lowered her voice, the other two still heard her clearly.
Jiang Lingyun grew anxious. "Nian'er, you can't have that kind of thinking! It's not that the family can't accommodate you, but if a woman doesn't marry, people will gossip behind her back!"
"Besides, if you don't get married, what do you plan to do?"
"Grandfather often teaches us that rather than seeing everyone in the world as wicked, it's better to see everyone in the world as good!"
Jiang Henian looked at Jiang Lingyun with extremely clear eyes and continued, "Even if people talk about me behind my back, what do I have to fear? If I live my life according to others' opinions, then I would no longer be me!"
"Moreover, even if I were to marry according to convention, could I guarantee that I would never be criticized for my entire life?"
"Since I can't satisfy everyone, why not be open and honest in being myself!"
As Jiang Henian finished speaking, she instinctively glanced toward Jiang Bai.
Jiang Bai was also looking at his most beloved granddaughter at that moment. Hearing her say those words, something stirred in his heart.
"Nian'er, you… you've always cared deeply about your own reputation and the family's reputation. How is it that you suddenly say such things today? Has someone outside been bullying you?"
"Why can't I say such things?"
The suspicion in Jiang Lingyun's eyes was nothing compared to the shock he felt at Jiang Bai's words.
Jiang Henian knew that even if her grandfather hadn't fully agreed with her viewpoint, at least he wasn't opposed to it.
Jiang Bai shot a glare at Jiang Lingyun, then looked back at Jiang Henian.
"Since Henian doesn't wish to marry, why not tell us what you would like to do with the rest of your life?"
Jiang Henian suddenly gripped the handkerchief in her hand, but her gaze was extremely resolute as she looked at Jiang Bai.
That white-haired old man was looking at her with eyes even gentler and more benevolent than usual, as if encouraging her to speak the thoughts deep in her heart.
"Grandfather, if I could choose not to marry, I hope to be like you—to teach and nurture others. To let every person in Da Qi understand what benevolence, righteousness, and morality truly mean, and to possess a heart of broad love and tolerance."
Jiang Henian's idea was nothing short of audacious.
At least in Jiang Lingyun's view, if Jiang Henian's words today were to spread, they would surely stir up quite a storm.
He hurriedly looked at his grandfather. "Grandfather, you can't—"
Before Jiang Lingyun could finish his words, he heard Jiang Bai burst into hearty laughter, as if he had just heard some extraordinarily wonderful news.
Jiang Henian let out a soft sigh of relief, her heart filled with joy.
Jiang Lingyun, on the other hand, was completely dumbfounded.
Did these two, grandfather and granddaughter, truly understand what those words just spoken represented?
Jiang Bai suppressed his smile: "Henian is indeed a fine child raised by my own hands! Daring to speak what others cannot speak, daring to do what others cannot do!"
Jiang Lingyun was nearly in tears: "Grandfather, Nian'er is being reckless. How can you follow along with her mischief?"
Jiang Bai let out a snort, then cast a look of disappointment at Jiang Lingyun.
"You boy, you're nothing but a bookworm! After all these years of study, you've managed to read away your courage as well?"
Jiang Lingyun felt that Grandfather was being overly indulgent toward Jiang Henian—how could he approve of something so heretical and unconventional? He was growing frantic.
"Whether she marries or not, we can set that aside for now. But Grandfather, setting aside the matter of a female teacher, our Da Qi has never had a precedent of women entering the academy!"
Jiang Henian lifted her chin: "Then I shall be the first!"
"What I must do first is rid the world of these prejudices! Let everyone know that women, too, have the right to choose their own future!"
Jiang Bai slammed the table hard: "Excellent! With such lofty aspirations, Grandfather will support you with all his might!"
Jiang Henian knew that her grandfather had always been a broad-minded man, but that he would so unconditionally agree to something that defied the ancestral traditions of Da Qi—that she truly had not anticipated.
Even after returning to her own courtyard, she still felt somewhat dazed that the wish she had harbored across two lifetimes was about to come to fruition, so much so that it felt unreal.
Yet even knowing that the road ahead was fraught with thorns, she felt not a trace of fear.
"Miss."
Bai Zhi glanced around, saw that Qingju was not there, and then slipped in quietly.
But she noticed that Jiang Henian seemed not to have heard her call at all. She simply sat there at her desk, staring blankly at the tall stack of books piled before her.
"Miss?"
Jiang Henian snapped back to her senses and began tidying the books with an air of nonchalance.
"Where did you go all afternoon? I couldn't find you anywhere!"
Jiang Henian's tone sounded somewhat annoyed, and Bai Zhi quickly explained herself.
"Miss, didn't you say today that you wanted me to find a way to deliver a message to His Highness, to arrange a meeting with him?"
"Worried that someone might see me, I went to the Donggong under the pretext of purchasing cosmetics and powder for you."
Jiang Henian's movements suddenly paused for a moment, then resumed as normal.
"You went? What did the Crown Prince say?"