Chapter 41: Written Words
Hearing Jiang Li speak like this, Jiang Yuanbai was momentarily stunned, unsure what expression to wear.
The girl before him had unknowingly grown into a graceful young woman. She appeared more slender and delicate than Jiang Youyao, yet her features resembled his own more. When they sent Jiang Li to the nunnery, she was only seven years old—a chubby little girl. Eight years had flown by, transforming the plump child into a lovely maiden while erasing the last traces of familiarity.
Jiang Yuanbai felt estranged.
He had missed eight years of Jiang Li's life, leaving his memory of her frozen as that willful, spoiled, and unruly child. When that child now stood before him, gazing with clear black-and-white eyes while calmly stating her request, Jiang Yuanbai found himself at a loss for how to respond.
He said, "Do you understand what you're saying? You've never received proper education—how could you keep up with Mingyi Hall's curriculum..."
"Father, I am also your daughter," Jiang Li interrupted him. "We are both your daughters. Third Sister can attend Mingyi Hall, while I can only study superficial knowledge with tutors hired from outside. Father, you're being unfair."
Jiang Yuanbai was rendered speechless again. As he looked at Jiang Li, he suddenly remembered the time before Ji Shuran entered the household, when he had two daughters. The elder was a concubine's child, somewhat dull-witted. Jiang Li was his legitimate daughter, round and adorable. Back then, he cherished her deeply, often carrying her and letting her ride on his shoulders to play.
There had been moments of familial happiness. But later, Jiang Li's behavior became too excessive, gradually wearing away that father-daughter bond. Yet today, looking at Jiang Li, he found himself recalling those past memories for some reason. The words "Father, you're being unfair" suddenly stirred a pang of sourness in his heart.
At some point, Jiang Yuanbai himself had forgotten he had another daughter. He had pampered Jiang Youyao like a pearl in his palm while keeping his other daughter at a distance. Yet Jiang Li made no demands—she simply stood there, calmly stating her case, making Jiang Yuanbai feel ashamed.
Jiang Li noticed this flicker of shame and felt somewhat relieved.
She had long realized that Jiang Yuanbai wasn't completely devoid of fatherly affection for Second Miss Jiang. On the day Second Miss Jiang returned to the residence, Jiang Yuanbai's eyes had clearly shown some concern. Admittedly, Jiang Yuanbai wasn't a good father, but Ji Shuran must have played a significant role in this. Though Jiang Li held no affection for Jiang Yuanbai either, she was willing to maintain surface harmony by leveraging his guilt.
If she had delivered lengthy complaints about how poorly Jiang Yuanbai treated her, he might not have been moved. But by speaking calmly like this, Jiang Yuanbai would reflect more deeply.
"Li'er, Mingyi Hall isn't suitable for you now," Jiang Yuanbai said after a long pause. Though it was a refusal, his tone had softened considerably.
"Father's reluctance to let me attend Mingyi Hall stems from fear of gossip tarnishing the Jiang family's reputation. While your intentions are good, have you considered this: His Majesty praises women's education. As Grand Secretary and leader of scholars, if you keep your legitimate daughter studying with private tutors at home instead of sending her to Mingyi Hall, wouldn't that be slapping the Emperor in the face?"
Jiang Yuanbai froze.He was solely concerned about whether Jiang Li would be criticized and the Jiang family disgraced, but had completely forgotten about the Hongxiao Emperor.
"This is one reason. Secondly, Father, our Jiang family has four daughters. Besides Third Sister, both Fourth Sister and Fifth Sister have entered Mingyi Hall. Only I am kept at home—this is both unfair and an attempt to cover things up. Human nature being what it is, when matters are openly displayed, people won’t bother to gossip. The more you hide and conceal, the more others will pry. Father thinks that by hiding me away in the residence, others won’t discuss me, but that’s wrong. The more you do this, the more eagerly they will talk."
As Jiang Li said all this, she showed no particular emotion, as if discussing someone else’s affairs. Yet to Jiang Yuanbai’s ears, her words sounded profoundly reasonable. Moreover, even the third branch’s Jiang Yuanxing had sent gifts through intermediaries to get Jiang Yu'e and Jiang Yuyan into Mingyi Hall—how much more should their own main branch do the same?
"Father," Jiang Li lowered her eyes, "what happened back then was my mistake. But to err is human, and there is no greater virtue than correcting one’s errors. I was young and ignorant then, but now that I’ve grown, I naturally understand better. I lost my mother early and lacked proper guidance—does one misstep mean I must pay for it my entire life? I might be willing, but I am a daughter of the Jiang family, and I refuse to become a burden to our house."
The phrase "I lost my mother early and lacked proper guidance" struck Jiang Yuanbai’s heart directly. He trembled inwardly and said, "Li'er, but you..."
"Father, while I was at the nunnery in Qingcheng Mountain, I did not neglect my studies. I knew my father was the current Grand Secretary and that I couldn’t remain an illiterate fool to be laughed at. So I asked the literate young nuns at the nunnery to teach me reading and writing. Though my handwriting is poor, I’ve read all the foundational texts and can write many characters."
She suddenly walked to the desk, moved aside the character "Tranquility" that Jiang Yuanbai had just written, and spread out a fresh sheet of paper. Her movement startled Jiang Yuanbai, who instinctively turned his gaze to her.
Jiang Li lifted her sleeves and began grinding ink slowly. Her wrists were slender, her motions gentle, carrying a unique elegance that was pleasing to the eye. It was as if she had performed this action countless times—utterly natural.
Once the ink was ready, she dipped the brush fully and began writing. As she wrote, she spoke softly, "Father, although Mingyi Hall is a school, one can also form many connections there. As long as I avoid mistakes there and build good relationships, it will only benefit the Jiang family. My surname is Jiang—I always hope our family prospers more and more."
Her way of writing differed from Jiang Yuanbai’s. He wrote slowly and profoundly, each stroke drawn out with great deliberation. Jiang Li, however, was different. She appeared gentle and amiable, yet her writing carried a sense of battle readiness—like a soldier gripping a blade, ready to charge into combat and fight fiercely until dawn.
Jiang Yuanbai watched her profile: an elegant beauty, poised like jade, yet radiating a fierce, heroic spirit.
With one final pause, Jiang Li set down the brush with a crisp motion and said, "It’s done."
When Jiang Yuanbai looked up to see, he was astonished at first glance.
The characters were exquisitely beautiful, the brushstrokes powerful and vigorous. Such penmanship would require at least a decade of diligent practice to achieve—far surpassing Jiang Youyao’s handwriting. And it was not the delicate, floral-style script commonly used by women, but bold and expansive, squared and straight.
Within the squared forms lay strength; in the straight strokes, sharpness emerged.
Seeing the writing was like seeing the person—one who was open and upright, broad-minded and resilient.Jiang Yuanbai stared at the young girl before him as if she were a stranger. Jiang Li looked back at him with a beaming smile and asked, "Do you agree to let me go to Mingyi Hall now, Father?"
Ali: I scored full marks in calligraphy [smile]
(End of Chapter)
OpenNovel