Ignoring Li Rui’s furious and resentful gaze, Su Leyun calmly opened the Analects on the desk.
The teacher, seated at the lectern, had already begun the lesson. Apart from glaring, Li Rui dared not make any other move.
“Water can carry a boat, but it can also overturn it. All of you are future statesmen destined to serve in the court. Who would like to share their thoughts on this saying?”
The teacher stroked his beard, his long sleeves swaying gracefully, exuding an air reminiscent of the Wei and Jin dynasties.
The students offered their opinions one by one, and the teacher listened to each, nodding in satisfaction.
Li Rui sat down, his eyes glinting mischievously as he spoke with a mocking tone.
“Teacher, the Second Young Lady of the Su Family hasn’t spoken yet. I’d like to hear her profound insights!”
He deliberately emphasized the words “profound insights,” aiming to embarrass Su Leyun.
The teacher glanced at Su Leyun. He had heard about the Second Young Lady of the Su Family—switched at birth, raised in the countryside. The Marchioness had even asked him to look out for her.
She likely couldn’t even recognize a single character, let alone understand the meaning of this saying. How could she offer any insight?
As the teacher hesitated, Su Leyun gracefully rose to her feet, her voice clear and melodious.
“The people are the foundation of the state. Only when the common people live well can the nation endure. The rise and fall of dynasties are matters for the rulers, but it is always the common people who suffer. Only when the people prosper can governance last.”
As her words fell, the teacher’s eyes lit up with admiration. He stepped down from the lectern, walked over to Su Leyun, picked up the characters she had written on her desk, and marveled.
“Young Lady Leyun’s insight is truly remarkable. You have truly impressed this old man.”
Raised in the countryside, yet she carried no trace of vulgarity or coarseness. What was even more remarkable was her extraordinary understanding.
The others also looked at Su Leyun with awe, whispering in amazement. They had assumed a country girl wouldn’t even recognize a single character and had been waiting to see her make a fool of herself. To their surprise, Su Leyun wrote beautifully, which explained the rumors that had circulated in the Su residence a few days earlier.
It was said that Su Leyun was also an imposter, not the legitimate daughter of the Su Family.
Now, it seemed these rumors were not unfounded. She truly did not resemble a country girl.
Su Leyun knew what everyone was thinking and spoke calmly to explain.
“Although I grew up in the countryside, after finishing household chores and farm work, I often listened outside the doors of the village school. Over time, I picked up a little knowledge.”
The teacher nodded, his admiration growing. To achieve this merely by eavesdropping—now, under the guidance of a renowned scholar like him in the capital, she could likely even pass the imperial examinations. It was a pity she was a woman…
“Persevering in hardship, diligent and eager to learn—excellent.”
As his words fell, the expressions of the others shifted from disdain to sympathy and admiration. If not for the misdeeds of Su Wan’er’s mother, how could the legitimate daughter of the esteemed Su Family have been reduced to doing menial labor in a farming household!
Only Li Rui sneered contemptuously.
“Household chores, farm work—engaging in such lowly tasks and taking pride in them instead of feeling ashamed. Truly, she is nothing but a commoner!”
Hearing this, the teacher’s slightly wrinkled brow furrowed. Before he could speak, Su Leyun retorted without hesitation.
“May I ask this young master, without the labor of commoners, where would a single grain of rice, a ladle of water, a strand of hemp, or a thread of silk come from? You may come from a noble family, but apart from your lineage, have you ever contributed even an inch to the state or its people?”
As Su Leyun finished speaking, applause echoed from the doorway, followed by a clear, gentle male voice.
Su Ye led Prince Jin inside.
Seeing Prince Jin, Su Leyun’s eyes flickered slightly, and she turned her face away. They had met only twice before, and both times unexpected events had occurred. She wondered what had brought him here this time.
“Su Ye, your sister’s words were truly satisfying!”
Prince Jin entered, and everyone rose in unison to bow to him.
“Greetings, Your Highness Prince Jin.”
“All rise, there’s no need for such formality outside the palace.”
With that, he walked over to Su Leyun with a smile in his eyes, personally helping her up.
“Miss Su, we meet again.”
“Thank you, Your Highness.”
Su Leyun wore a smile on her face, subtly stepping back two paces to deliberately maintain distance.
Noticing her small gesture, Prince Jin smiled indifferently and turned to continue speaking with Su Ye.
“Let’s go to the front, we shouldn’t disturb the teacher’s instruction here.”
Su Ye cast a warm, proud, and delighted glance at his sister before reluctantly leaving.
After class, Su Leyun returned to her courtyard accompanied by Chunxing. Upon entering, she found Sun Jiarou already waiting in the main hall, anxiously looking outside.
“Mother.”
Su Leyun lifted her skirt and ran smiling to Sun Jiarou’s side.
Sun Jiarou embraced her daughter, looking her over with unease.
“How was school today?”
“It was fine, the teacher even praised me.”
Seeing her daughter’s beaming smile, Sun Jiarou’s heart, which had been anxious all day, finally settled. She pulled her daughter to sit beside her, dismissed the servants, and spoke intimately.
“Did you see the Li Family’s young master?”
Su Leyun nodded, finally voicing her confusion: “As an outsider, why would he come to our family school?”
Given the strict separation between men and women, Marquis Su truly spared no effort to curry favor with Imperial Tutor Scholar Li.
“The teacher from the Royal Academy has gone traveling, so he’s temporarily attending our family school for a couple of days. Since the teacher once instructed him and there are many brothers and sisters together, what does it matter?”
Sun Jiarou tapped Su Leyun’s forehead with a mix of doting and exasperation. Her daughter, a young girl at the age of budding romance, was more conservative than the adults.
“What do you think of the Li Family’s young master?”
Having suffered so much hardship outside for years, now that Su Leyun had finally returned to her side, how could Sun Jiarou not plan carefully for her future?
Li Rui, the eldest son of Academician Li’s family, had been betrothed to the Su Family’s legitimate daughter since childhood. Now that the legitimate daughter had returned, this marriage should rightfully belong to her daughter.
Li Rui was handsome, intelligent, and diligent in his studies. In terms of family background and talent, he was among the best in the noble families of the capital. Given time, he was sure to achieve great things.
Entrusting her daughter to such a well-known family would set Sun Jiarou’s mind at ease.
“Speak up, are you shy even with your mother?”
Seeing her daughter silent for a while, Sun Jiarou teased her with a smile.
Su Leyun pondered for a moment, wondering how to dissuade her mother from making misguided matchmaking plans, when a hearty laugh suddenly came from outside the door.
“Mother, don’t trouble little sister. That Li Rui is simply unworthy of her!”
Su Ye strode in boldly. Remembering Li Rui’s arrogant and foolish demeanor earlier, he wished he could beat him up. How dare he call his little sister a lowly commoner without even looking at himself in the mirror!
Prince Jin followed him inside, having clearly overheard the conversation between the mother and her two children.
Seeing him enter, Sun Jiarou immediately stood up.
“Aunt, no need for formalities. Su Ye and I are as close as brothers. After speaking with the Marquis in the front, I specifically came to visit you.”
Before Sun Jiarou could complete her bow, Prince Jin stopped her and seated her back in the host’s position.
His words drew a sidelong glance from Su Ye, who hadn’t realized his relationship with Prince Jin was this close. This fellow had just been putting on princely airs while speaking to his father earlier—how had his demeanor changed so completely upon entering the inner quarters?
Meeting those dark, tranquil eyes, Su Leyun’s gaze flickered. She curtsied and offered her greetings.
Prince Jin smiled as he observed the slender girl before him—fragile in appearance yet bright-eyed and resilient, possessing an inner strength.
“Yun’er has only just been found; there’s no need to rush her marriage. In time, a worthy young man suited to her will surely appear.”