After sending off Tao Fen and the others, Tang Xiaobai returned to Bright Moon Building, called for Cheng Zi, and asked, "Why aren’t you going to the academy anymore?"
Since she returned to the capital, she hadn’t seen Cheng Zi go to school.
Initially, Tang Xiaobai thought Cheng Zi had taken leave to pick her up, and later, being busy, she didn’t notice Cheng Zi wasn’t attending school.
Later, she thought maybe the family was cutting ties with the academy, and Cheng Zi couldn’t go to school as a result.
It wasn’t until today that she learned Cheng Zi had dropped out for over half a year.
When she asked now, Cheng Zi’s face showed a hint of panic, and she lowered her head, saying, "I... I’m not young anymore, I can’t keep studying forever..."
"Why can’t you—" Tang Xiaobai stopped mid-sentence, reconsidering, and asked, "If you don’t study, what do you want to do?"
Cheng Zi remained silent for a mont and said, "I am Second Miss’s person, naturally I should focus on serving Second Miss."
Tang Xiaobai frowned, feeling sothing was amiss, and glanced at Tao Zi.
Tao Zi, who had been anxiously on the verge of speaking for a while, bounced up upon receiving Tang Xiaobai’s glance: "If you won’t say it, I will!"
She directed this at Cheng Zi.
Without waiting for Cheng Zi to stop her, she began swiftly: "Second Miss, since you just returned ho, you don’t know. Cheng Zi’s mother arranged a marriage for her half a year ago, forbidding her to go to the academy. She also sought approval from the Madam, but since Cheng Zi belongs to Second Miss, it was delayed until now. Recently, her mother is pushing Cheng Zi to ask Second Miss about the marriage, but Cheng Zi said that Second Miss was injured, so it was delayed again!"
Cheng Zi kept her head down and said nothing.
Tang Xiaobai asked, "Who did they choose?"
"The Bu Family in Huai De Lane, West of the city. They have two clothing shops in West Market," Tao Zi quickly replied.
It was a rchant family.
When Cheng Zi enrolled in the academy, Tang Xiaobai had already removed her slavery status. Theoretically, she could marry on her own without the Tang Family’s consent now.
However, Cheng Zi’s parents were still servants for Duke Yan, and out of respect for their master, they first sought Tang Xiaobai’s permission.
"What is that person’s na?" Tang Xiaobai asked again.
Cheng Zi hesitated, still saying nothing.
"He’s called Bu Defang! He’s over thirty and his first wife passed away," Tao Zi said.
Tang Xiaobai frowned, "So you’ve never even t this person?"
"t him once," Cheng Zi whispered.
"Do you want to go through with it?" Though Tang Xiaobai asked this, she already had the answer in her heart.
Not even able to say his na—didn’t seem like she wanted it.
Cheng Zi bit her lip and said, "My father and mother said they originally wanted to pair with soone in the household, but since I’ve read a few years, no one would have —"
"Bang!"
Tang Xiaobai angrily slamd the ruyi in her hand onto the seat.
Tao Zi quickly ran up to take away the ruyi: "Second Miss, even if you’re angry, don’t take it out on yourself. This ruyi is porcelain, and if it breaks, it might cut your hand. What then?"
"I’m not mad!" Tang Xiaobai shouted in anger.
If her foot weren’t still injured, she’d want to jump up in frustration.
Taking two deep breaths, Tang Xiaobai let out a chilly chuckle and said, "No one wants you? Do they represent everyone? They don’t want you? Are they fit to have you?"
Cheng Zi still kept her head down, saying nothing.
Tang Xiaobai suddenly cald down and asked, "What do you think yourself?"
Suddenly Cheng Zi’s eyes brimd with tears: "Second Miss, my mother asked, what’s the use of reading all these years, can it find a good family, or bring a son... I... I don’t know—"
"You don’t know, then let tell you!" Tang Xiaobai said.
"If your goal is to find a good family to marry into, or to have a son soon after marriage, then indeed, studies are of no use;"
"The purpose of studying is for you to realize that what you want isn’t really those things;"
"As the University says, to govern your ho, you must first cultivate yourself; ncius says, if you are poor, preserve your own integrity; if you succeed, contribute to others;"
"For thousands of years, sages have taught us to first better ourselves in whatever we do!"
"We study so that we treat ourselves a bit better, stand a bit higher, see a bit farther, know a bit more, and not be easily fooled or deceived by others;"
"Those people, they don’t dislike you; they fear you—they fear your excellence, your knowledge, your being difficult to fool, your unwillingness to toil without complaint for them, so they prefer those innocent and simple girls who can be easily manipulated—"
"It’s not just educated girls they fear, they also fear those with strong wills. Look at how those people speak about my elder sister?" At this point, Tang Xiaobai thought of Li Xiao’s words and snorted coldly, "Are they even worth my sister’s glance?"
Cheng Zi’s eyes were red, lips pressed tight, silent.
Tang Xiaobai beckoned her over, and as she approached, he pulled her close, gently hugging her and patting her back.
"I admit, girls reading books might not lead to official exams or rank, so its utility seems limited. You don’t have to go to the academy, nor do you have to beco soone of great talent, but I hope—" At this, Tang Xiaobai glanced at Tao Zi, "I hope both of you, do not stop improving yourselves."
"As won, we must make ourselves ever more outstanding, so those who rely wish to control us can only speak of how they don’t want us with envy!"
"Right!" Tao Zi exclaid excitedly, "Those shaless ones, secretly calling fierce and not virtuous, ha! Do they even look at themselves, are they worthy of my virtue?"
Tang Xiaobai chuckled, "Exactly! Our Tao Zi is plainly capable and virtuous, but right now it seems only I am worthy of Tao Zi’s virtues!"
Tao Zi blushed and smiled.
Tang Xiaobai thought of the young man she had t before and took a glance at Cheng Zi, giggling, "People have differences; so think you reading will make you disobedient, unsuitable to marry, while others eagerly co asking why you’ve dropped out."
She didn’t say who, but Cheng Zi blushed deeply.
"Who? Who ca asking?" Tao Zi hastily probed.
Tang Xiaobai leaned her chin on her hand, looking at Cheng Zi: "That Luo Xiong, was he originally in Class C?"
Luo Xiong was among the classmates Tao Fen brought earlier, the only one Tang Xiaobai didn’t know.
Unfamiliar with him, he hadn’t formally co to visit her—but to inquire about Cheng Zi.
Cheng Zi nodded: "Yes, last year he moved up to Class B." Her eyes showed a slight gloom.
Tang Xiaobai observed this and asked, "Do you want to go back to school?"
"I..." Cheng Zi still showed hesitation in her eyes.
"You’re different from other girls," Tang Xiaobai said, "You have !"
Cheng Zi’s gaze quivered.
"No rush, take your ti to decide." Tang Xiaobai said, then instructed them to bring out writing materials.
She was going to work now.
The maid outside saw the conversation had ended, approached the door, and announced, "Second Miss, there’s soone outside claiming to be a student of Huntian Academy, saying there’s an urgent matter and requesting to see Second Miss!"
A student from Huntian Academy? Didn’t a batch of them just leave?
Tang Xiaobai wondered, "Did they say who it was?"
"They said their surna is Luo."
Cheng Zi suddenly raised her head.
Tang Xiaobai replied with an "Oh," and said, "Not seeing them!"
Cheng Zi lowered her head again.
But Tao Zi couldn’t hold back, "Second Miss—"
"I’m still a patient! Can’t I not see everyone who cos?" Tang Xiaobai leisurely ground the ink, "Let Cheng Zi see him for !"
...
Originally thought Cheng Zi would be gone a while, but unexpectedly, just as the ink was ready, Cheng Zi rushed back in a hurry.
"What happened? It wasn’t Luo Xiong?" Tang Xiaobai asked in surprise.
Cheng Zi nodded, then shook her head, anxiously saying, "Ah Luo says Brother Tao was taken away by the Imperial Guard!"
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