si-mexico Chapter 353 Jiang Suining's Reminder
Chapter 353 Jiang Suining's Reminder
Everyone looked in the direction of the sound and discovered that it was the maid who was serving tea in the Third Prince's mansion who accidentally bumped into Xiao Yue who was walking out from behind the rockery.
The tea she was holding also spilled onto Xiao Yue's hand. Although the tea was not boiling hot, it still burned the back of Xiao Yue's hand and made it a little red.
The maidservant was so frightened that her face turned pale and she fell to her knees, kowtowing and apologizing repeatedly.
The third prince Xiao Ling, who was originally talking to court officials, frowned when he saw this and directly ordered someone to drag the maid away and punish her.
Just as the servant stepped forward and was about to take the maid away, Xiao Yue stopped him.
"No need, it's just some tea spilled, it's nothing serious." Then he turned to the maid kneeling on the ground and said, "Get up, and be more careful next time."
The maid looked up at Xiao Yue, and then kowtowed quickly, "Thank you, Princess. Thank you, Princess!"
It was just a small matter, and seeing that Xiao Yue didn't pursue it, Xiao Ling didn't say anything more.
This little episode did not attract too much attention from everyone. Everyone looked away and continued the conversation.
Jiang Suining, however, was still looking at Xiao Yue.
Although it is not surprising that such a small matter was not pursued, especially in front of so many people, if it were someone else, they would probably make a big deal out of it.
But Jiang Suining discovered that when Xiao Yue was talking to the maid just now, there was a different feeling between her eyebrows.
There is no forgiveness from superiors, nor is there any choice of forgiveness out of consideration for others. It is a kind of level gaze that truly feels there is no need to care, and it happens naturally.
Jiang Suining was surprised.
This seemed to be the first time she had seen such a look from all the women in the imperial city she had come into contact with.
When he looked away, Jiang Suining suddenly had a new opinion of Xiao Yue.
After lunch, the banquet was coming to an end and Jiang Suining walked to Xiao Yue's side.
Looking at Jiang Suining who came over on her own initiative, Xiao Yue smiled, "Could it be that Miss Jiang has thought it through?"
Jiang Suining bowed and performed all the formalities before speaking with a smile.
"Have you ever heard of Sikong Yu, Princess?"
Xiao Yue shook her head, "No."
"She is the daughter of the prime minister of the previous dynasty. I heard that she is very talented. She learned to read at the age of three and could write poems at the age of five. When she reached the age of 15, her paintings were highly sought after and were worth a fortune."
Xiao Yue was full of curiosity and asked, "With such talent, what happened next?"
"Later, her father passed away, her brother was not ambitious, and the family business gradually declined. When she was 19 years old, she married the then Prince of Zhennan as his second wife. When she was newly married, she was very popular with her husband because of her talent and reputation, and he often took her to various banquets."
"She just got married like that?" Xiao Yue frowned. "Did she build a career of her own after getting married?"
Jiang Suining glanced at Xiao Yue and continued, "Later, she accidentally fell into the water at a banquet and was rescued by a stranger while dripping wet. After this incident, rumors soon spread, and because of her reputation as a talented woman, this incident was particularly discussed. The Prince of Zhennan was furious and regarded her as a disgrace. He no longer took her to any banquets and locked her up in the backyard. A few years later, she died of depression, and the poems and paintings she left behind were also burned."
Xiao Yue was stunned and asked in disbelief: "That's it?"
Jiang Suining nodded, "Yes, that's it."
"The King of Zhennan treated her like this. Didn't her family members stand up for her?"
"The former Prime Minister's Mansion has long since fallen into decline. How can the Zhennan King family vent their anger? Moreover, what reason can they vent their anger on?"
"But she was a talented woman after all. She died just like that. Isn't there anyone who will stand up for her?"
"Of course there are sympathizers, but who would dare to confront the King of Zhennan for this? Moreover, after Sikong Yu fell into the water, the rumors were talked about with great relish, and they have long surpassed the attention paid to her talent."
Xiao Yue was silent for a long time and looked at Jiang Suining with a complicated expression.
"You said this to tell me that even though I am famous and talented, I will end up like Sikong Yu?"
Jiang Suining shook his head.
"Princess, you have misunderstood. I dare not have such intentions. Moreover, you are of noble status, a princess of the royal family. How can you be put in the same category as Miss Sikong, whose family business is in decline? However, I dare to think that if the princess only wants to achieve the goal of opening up the imperial examination to women with her talent and reputation, it may be difficult."
Let’s not talk about whether Xiao Yue’s so-called talent in poetry can be spread. Even if it is spread, what good will it do?
There is no shortage of talented women in every era. Even a talented woman like Sikong Yu, after she lost the protection of her prime minister father, those who initially offered huge sums of money to beg her for paintings gradually fled.
As for the Prince of Zhennan, perhaps he did not care about Sikong Yu's talent at all. Her talent and reputation were like the pendants he used to decorate his robes. He would wear them every day when it could bring him face.
But when the ring had cracks and it would be impolite to wear it outside, he would just throw it away at home.
Later, the King of Zhennan probably felt that Sikong Yu's talent and fame had worsened his loss of face, after all, the romantic affairs of a talented woman were more likely to attract discussion. So in the end, even her poems and paintings were burned and never passed down.
Of course, she also believed that there were men who truly appreciated and even admired Sikong Yu.
But in this world, a woman's talent is like an exquisite poem or painting hanging in a hall, quietly placed there, and receiving countless praises when people appreciate it.
But once these pens and ink fly out of the painting and land on the answer sheet of the scientific examination, many people will jump up and down in opposition.
Xiao Yue pursed her lips and looked at Jiang Suining. Although she was not angry because of her words, her expression was indeed not very good.
"Ms. Jiang, thank you for your reminder, but why didn't you tell me these words just now?"
"I am a humble girl, and I dare not speak freely, fearing that the princess will misunderstand and get angry. But after thinking about it just now, I still want to talk to the princess about this story."
Although Xiao Yue did not act like the fifth princess when they met today, and mostly referred to herself as "I", she was a princess after all, so she naturally had to be cautious.
Moreover, Xiao Yue's previous confident and arrogant words really made her unwilling to continue wasting time talking to him.
But the look Xiao Yue gave the maid just now made her feel that no matter how unreliable Xiao Yue's words were, she probably really wanted to change something from the bottom of her heart.
Feeling the kindness conveyed in Jiang Suining's words, Xiao Yue thought it was a good sign and raised the corners of her mouth to speak.
"Miss Jiang, I really didn't make a mistake about you. But don't worry, I won't be the second Sikong Yu."
Jiang Suining spoke silently in his heart, of course not, after all, the Fifth Princess's talent and reputation might not be spread out.
After a moment of silence, Jiang Suining continued, "Although the princess has made up her mind, there is no need to rush to the next step. It is better to observe secretly to see if your previous actions at the banquet have achieved the goal."
Xiao Yue thought Jiang Suining was just making a casual suggestion. When she was about to speak, she met Jiang Suining's gaze and her heart suddenly skipped a beat for no reason. "Miss Jiang, are you hinting at something?"