“The Family School is located in the Boya Academy at the front. Besides our family’s girls, several of your clan brothers also study there together. Since you’re just starting, don’t rush. If there’s anything you don’t understand, just come ask Mother.”
Tomorrow was the day to enter the Family School. Sun Jiarou looked at Su Leyun with concern. This child had grown up in the countryside; how could she keep up if she suddenly entered the Family School?
The more she thought about it, the more uneasy she became. Sun Jiarou held Su Leyun’s hand and spoke as if she had made up her mind.
“Forget it, we won’t go to the Family School. I’ll go find your grandmother right now and specially hire a tutor to teach you privately.”
With that, Sun Jiarou stood up to leave. Su Leyun quickly hugged her arm to stop her, her eyes and brows smiling as she persuaded.
“Mother, your daughter isn’t as incapable as you think.”
“My daughter is of course the most outstanding, it’s just…”
Sun Jiarou was afraid Su Leyun would be unhappy and carefully tried to explain. Before she could finish, Su Leyun smiled and interrupted, massaging her shoulders thoughtfully while comforting her.
“Although I grew up in the countryside, I haven’t been completely uneducated.”
“The Li Family was willing to hire a tutor for you?”
Sun Jiarou looked disbelieving, thinking her daughter was just trying to comfort her. She had heard the Li Family was very poor, struggling even to make a living—how could they have spare money to send a girl to school…
“There was a private school in the village too. After finishing household chores and farm work, I often went there to secretly learn. Although I didn’t learn much, I’m not completely illiterate either.”
“Yun’er, you’ve suffered all these years.”
Pressing down on the hands massaging her shoulders, Sun Jiarou couldn’t help but tear up. No wonder Yun’er’s hands were so rough, without any of the delicate softness a young girl should have.
If not for that poisonous woman from the Li Family, how could her daughter have endured such hardships!
Yet her daughter was kind-hearted, still calling those two old people “Father and Mother Li,” stubbornly refusing to let the Su Family send that nest of snakes and rats into exile.
In her past life, the Li Family’s son was sentenced to beheading for murder, and the two elders were exiled to the northern border. Although they deserved their punishment, Su Wan’er had often used this to attack her, accusing her of being ungrateful for their upbringing and having a malicious heart. Unfortunately, those in the capital with savior complexes ate that up.
Su Wan’er later became a princess consort, and within a year she brought her biological parents back to the capital to enjoy luxury. After Prince Yu ascended the throne, they even became the emperor’s father-in-law, enjoying immense wealth and honor.
Since that was the case, why should she bother doing anything extra? Better to earn a good reputation instead.
Once she avenged her past life’s grievances, she certainly wouldn’t let them off!
“Mother, let’s not talk about them—it’s such a downer.”
Su Leyun playfully winked at Sun Jiarou, then sat down at the desk, picked up a brush, and tried writing a few characters.
In her past life, in order to marry into the Hanlin Academy’s household without being looked down upon, she had put considerable effort into practicing calligraphy, eventually mastering Sun Jiarou’s elegant Flower-Style Small Regular Script.
Now, Su Leyun didn’t dare reveal her full ability, only writing a few lines from the Thousand Character Classic in a deliberately shaky, uneven hand.
“Mother, is it passable?”
Picking up the rice paper, Su Leyun ran over to Sun Jiarou with a deliberately proud expression.
“Good, good! To achieve this just from eavesdropping—given time, my daughter’s literary reputation will surely astonish the entire capital!”
Sun Jiarou held Su Leyun’s writing, unable to put it down. Although the brushstrokes were slightly immature, the structure was elegant and upright, showing the style of a master.
“Does Mother feel reassured now?”
Su Leyun leaned into Sun Jiarou’s embrace, smiling sweetly and innocently.
“Reassured, reassured.”
Sun Jiarou held Su Leyun close, gently stroking her hair, wishing she could make up for all the love missed over the past decade.
Early the next morning, as dawn’s light began to break, Su Leyun pushed aside the quilt and stretched lazily in the warmth, drowsily allowing Nanny Zhang to dress and groom her.
“Our young lady truly has the makings of a natural beauty, though she is too thin. A little more fullness would make her even lovelier.”
A golden hairpin was inserted at a slight angle, completing the look.
Su Leyun gazed at her reflection in the mirror and nodded in satisfaction. Her brows were lightly traced, and her cheeks glowed with rouge. After just a few days of care, her complexion had improved significantly, already hinting at the beauty she possessed in her past life.
“Young lady, Bitiao is already waiting outside with the book box. Shall she accompany you to the family school today?”
Nanny Zhang took the cloak from a maid and draped it over Su Leyun’s shoulders, asking softly.
“Let Chunxing go with me.”
Raising an eyebrow, Su Leyun glanced at the maid eavesdropping outside the door, her eyes darkening. It was better to keep such people under close watch to control them. The humiliations Su Wan’er had inflicted on her in her past life—she intended to repay them one by one.
Passing through the covered walkway and then a grove of emerald bamboo, she finally arrived at the family school in the front courtyard.
Upon entering, Su Leyun froze for a moment, frowning slightly as a sense of unease settled in her heart. Why was he here?
In the front row, Li Rui sat beside Su Wan’er’s seat, a book spread open before him, gazing at her with infatuation.
With a soft scoff, Su Leyun took a seat as far away from the two as possible. She had endured enough in her past life; this time around, she had no desire to be disgusted by them again.
“Yun’er, you’re here.”
Su Wan’er approached with a graceful, gentle smile, placing an exquisite rosewood box on her desk.
“You grew up in the countryside and never had the chance to study. I specially prepared a fine goat hair brush for you—perfect for beginners.”
Su Leyun pushed the box away, her gaze cold as she glanced dismissively at Su Wan’er. She was clearly trying to ensure everyone knew she was an illiterate farm girl, deliberately announcing it loudly.
Hmph! Did she think this would make her back down? Wishful thinking!
“Thank you for your kindness, elder sister. Mother has already prepared a fine lake brush for me. I dare not be so greedy as to accept yours as well.”
As soon as the words fell, Li Rui immediately rose from his seat.
“Truly raised in the countryside—ungrateful! Wan’er, let’s ignore her!”
Su Wan’er timidly picked up the box from the desk, her eyes reddening as she tugged at Li Rui’s sleeve, pitifully saying, “She didn’t mean it that way. Please don’t speak of her like that.”
Watching her act like the ultimate white lotus, Su Leyun inwardly rolled her eyes hard. Su Wan’er had played this trick countless times in her past life.
Forcing something she herself had no use for onto her—if she accepted it, rumors would spread that she was shallow and easily impressed; if she refused, she would be labeled ungrateful…
Su Leyun’s red lips curved slightly as she looked playfully at Li Rui, the heartless man who had wounded her deeply in her past life.
“I wonder which clan brother this young master is? To meddle in matters between us sisters over nothing more than a brush. Elder sister Wan’er hasn’t even said anything, yet you rush forward to speak on her behalf.”
With a single sentence, she deftly redirected the focus onto Li Rui.
Several of the clan sisters present chuckled softly, whispering among themselves and pointing fingers at Su Wan’er and Li Rui.
“A legitimate daughter turned adopted—how dare she still show her face.”
“This is getting interesting. With the true legitimate daughter revealed, I wonder how the marriage arrangement with the Li Hanlin Family will be settled?”
“I’ve long been fed up with Su Wan’er’s haughty attitude!”