Di Daughter's Strategy - Chapter 2

Chapter 2

The maid, Hongdou, lifted the curtain and walked in, slightly bowing her body. “Miss, Second Miss said the peonies in the garden are blooming beautifully and sent someone to invite you to take a look.”

Luo Yi’er looked outside at the bright sun and raised her eyebrows. “Now?”

Hongdou smiled and said, “Indeed, Second Miss has been a bit anxious lately.”

When it came to this, everyone in the room knew what they were talking about. The Marquis’s mansion had five misses, and Luo Yi’er was the third. The other four misses were all born to concubines.

Three years ago, the emperor suddenly decreed that Luo Yi’er would marry Prince Jing, with the wedding date set after she reached adulthood. Second Miss was two years older than Luo Yi’er.

Second Miss, Luo Fu, knew that Madam Chu would never let Luo Yi’er get married before her two older sisters. Seeing that she would soon reach adulthood, she was naturally anxious. Although her mother had some favor with the Marquis, her marriage was in Madam Chu’s hands. These days, she almost ran to the Yunxia Courtyard every day.

As the legitimate daughter of the Marquis, Luo Yi’er often received invitations to banquets from noble families. If she could attend a couple of banquets with Luo Yi’er, it would be great to meet some sons of high-ranking officials. At the very least, Luo Yi’er could put in a good word for her with Madam Chu.

Luo Yi’er smiled lightly and slowly finished the ice bowl in her hand before standing up. “Let’s go, don’t keep Second Sister waiting.”

Linglong supported her as she stood up. Just as they stepped out, Luo Yi’er felt the sunburn on her face.
Seeing Luo Yi’er pursing her lips, Linglong couldn’t help but frown. “Second Miss really knows how to pick a time.”

It would be fine in the evening, but now the sun was at its strongest. This wasn’t a good time to appreciate flowers.

Hongdou had already brought out an oil-paper umbrella and held it above Luo Yi’er’s head. Luo Yi’er furrowed her brows but didn’t say much and walked towards the garden.
From a distance, she saw two women sitting in a pavilion beside a bamboo forest.

Luo Yi’er’s footsteps slowed slightly. Seeing that the female lead, Luo Qian, wasn’t there, her interest waned. Adding to that the scorching sun, she felt a bit impatient but didn’t show it. She still smiled warmly and walked towards the pavilion.

When they saw her from afar, Second Miss Luo Fu and the other woman quickly stood up. Luo Fu breathed a sigh of relief and said apologetically, “It’s so hot today, and I still made Third Sister come out. Sister didn’t choose a good time.”

Luo Yi’er sat down under the pavilion and glanced at the woman behind Luo Fu. She smiled and said, “It’s fine. Since Second Sister sent someone to invite me, I naturally had to keep the appointment.”

Luo Fu sat down happily. The woman behind her bowed slightly to Luo Yi’er and said softly, “Third Sister.”

“Fourth Sister,” Luo Yi’er nodded at her with a gentle smile in her eyes.

Compared to Luo Fu, who was eager to climb the social ladder, Luo Yi’er actually paid more attention to the usually silent Luo Yu, who followed Luo Fu. After all, the dog that bites doesn’t bark, and people who are quiet can be the most calculating.

After a moment, Luo Yi’er asked curiously, “Why didn’t you invite Eldest Sister and Fifth Sister?”

Luo Fu’s smile froze for a moment.
Fifth Sister? Although she was young, she had a lot of schemes. If she came, she would definitely want a share of any benefits.
Luo Fu didn’t like being with Fifth Sister much.

As for Eldest Sister, she didn’t even remember to mention her. Of course, she wouldn’t say it directly. She explained, holding the ice bowl, “Fifth Sister can’t tolerate the heat, and Eldest Sister is still recovering from illness, so I didn’t invite them.”

Luo Yi’er nodded with a smile. After Luo Fu breathed a sigh of relief, she wanted to ask indirectly if there were any banquets recently. However, Luo Yi’er talked about many things, but nothing Luo Fu wanted to hear.

Luo Fu couldn’t hide her disappointment but didn’t dare ask directly.
Luo Yi’er lowered her eyes, pretending not to see Luo Fu’s expression.
Did she still think she could use her?

The weather was really hot and uncomfortable, so she furrowed her fine eyebrows slightly and said, “The weather is really hot, Second Sister, I’m going back first.”

Luo Fu didn’t dare to stop her and could only watch as she left. Behind her, she threw the ice bowl in her hand in frustration.

Luo Yu was like a transparent person, quietly drinking tea without saying a word. This annoyed Luo Fu, who glared at her impatiently. She had specifically brought her along, but she was useless. What a waste of her having that mouth.

On the other side, Luo Yi’er led Linglong back to the Yunxia Courtyard. After lunch, she asked, “After I left, how did Second Sister react?”

“It seems she gave Fourth Miss a cold shoulder and went to Concubine Qiu’s place. Fourth Miss sat in the pavilion for a while longer before leaving.”

“Still so impatient.” Luo Yi’er just listened and didn’t care much.
She wasn’t worth her attention.

She sat on the sandalwood bed frame carved with pear patterns. Her gaze fell on a hidden box on the dressing table, and her eyes seemed to ripple. She shifted her gaze and asked, “How’s Eldest Sister doing? Is she really ill?”

Linglong replied, “The family physician went to see her before and said it was just excessive thinking. She’ll be fine after taking some medicine.”

Luo Yi’er tilted her head slightly, looking puzzled. “Eldest Sister has been ill for so long. As her biological mother, why isn’t Concubine Qing worried at all?”

Linglong lowered her head softly. “Concubine Qing has been in the mansion for many years, and she inevitably has some connections.”

“Concubine Qing has been practicing Buddhism for so long. She shouldn’t come out anymore,” Luo Yi’er said gently, lowering her eyes.

“Keep an eye on the Pear Garden. I don’t want anyone in the Pear Garden to receive any messages they shouldn’t.”

The Pear Garden was where Concubine Qing resided. The Marquis had only visited once when the eldest miss was born, and Concubine Qing had rarely left the Pear Garden in all these years. Those who remembered her, apart from the eldest miss, were Madam Chu and Luo Yi’er.

Luo Yi’er paid more attention to her only because she was the biological mother of the female lead. However, Madam Chu hated her.

Madam Chu hadn’t felt much about the Marquis’s concubines, but she particularly detested Concubine Qing.

Concubine Qing was originally Madam Chu’s personal maid, but she had climbed into bed with the Marquis while Madam Chu was pregnant with the Marquis’s second son.

Madam Chu had trusted Concubine Qing deeply, but after discovering their affair, she was so enraged that she went into premature labor. The second young master was born frail, and Madam Chu deeply resented Concubine Qing. The Marquis also felt guilty about the matter and hadn’t seen Concubine Qing since then.
He even heartlessly ignored Luo Qian, his eldest daughter.

Although Concubine Qing had claimed it wasn’t intentional after the fact, Madam Chu’s premature labor was a real consequence, and no one cared to know the truth about Concubine Qing’s affair with the Marquis.

Luo Yi’er was thinking about Concubine Qing’s past, while the person in the Luoyun Pavilion was instructing someone to visit the Pear Garden.

Luo Qian watched Qingling busily attending to her needs, and she couldn’t understand why Qingling had betrayed her.
There were no signs beforehand, and it caught her off guard.
She didn’t know if Qingling was truly loyal at this moment, but she dared not be completely open with her.

Before Luo Qian arrived at the Pear Garden, news had already reached the Yunxia Courtyard.
Luo Yi’er narrowed her eyes.

Had she guessed wrong?
Was there no correspondence between Concubine Qing and the female lead?
She tried to recall the original plot about Concubine Qing, but it had been too long, and she couldn’t remember much. She put it aside, thinking that caution was always better.

Luo Qian arrived at the Pear Garden, and the people there welcomed her.
Concubine Qing was already waiting at the entrance, and when she saw Luo Qian, she was filled with joy. She held Luo Qian’s hands and examined her carefully, seeing that she had gained weight and looked more energetic than before.
Concubine Qing breathed a sigh of relief and said, “Seeing that you’re not suffering, Concubine is relieved.”

Looking at Concubine Qing’s thin figure and seeing the joy in her eyes, Luo Qian felt a pang in her heart. Madam Chu was always meticulous and wouldn’t neglect her, and her living standards were no different from the other concubines’ daughters. However, compared to Luo Qian, Concubine Qing was the one being targeted.
The entire Pear Garden only had Concubine Qing and three maids living there.

Luo Qian was timid and afraid that Madam Chu would take out her frustrations on her because of Concubine Qing. It had been a long time since she last visited Concubine Qing.

She suppressed her emotions, not wanting Concubine Qing to worry, and smiled as she led Concubine Qing into the room.
“I’m fine, how about Concubine’s health?”

“I’m fine, just worried about you,” Comcubine Qing said with concern in her eyes.
However, she couldn’t help but feel joyful because of her daughter’s closeness. After the joy, she hesitated and asked, “Why did you send that letter?”

A few days ago, she received a letter from Luo Qian asking if there was anyone trustworthy in the mansion.
Concubine Qing felt a shock and then became worried.
She had been in the mansion for many years and naturally had some trustworthy people. As a former senior maid of Madam Chu, many people in the mansion owed her favors, and there were a few people she could rely on.

Luo Qian was silent for a moment and didn’t tell the truth.
She whispered, “I’ll be coming of age in a few months. Do you think Madam will choose a good marriage for me?”

Concubine Qing paused and said, “Madam isn’t someone who mistreats concubines’ daughters.”

“Can Concubine guarantee that she will treat other shu’ daughters the same way she treats me?” Luo Qian couldn’t bear Concubine Qing’s timid appearance and suddenly raised her head to question her.

Concubine Qing was taken aback and then forced a smile.
“It’s Concubine who’s dragged you down.”

Seeing Concubine Qing’s cautious behavior towards her, Luo Qian felt a pang in her heart. She opened her mouth to say something but ultimately didn’t press the issue further. “It’s not your fault, Concubine. Don’t be like this.”

Concubine Qing glanced at the time and hurriedly said, “Elder Miss, wait for a moment.”

Luo Qian watched as Concubine Qing walked into the inner chamber, closed her eyes, and sighed. Then she saw Concubine Qing come out with a stack of clothes and say with a hint of eagerness in her eyes, “These are the clothes Concubine made for Elder Miss. Take them with you.”

Concubine Qing handed the clothes to Luo Qian and didn’t dare to keep her any longer. If Madam Chu found out about their closeness, she was afraid it would implicate her only daughter.

Luo Qian gripped the clothes tightly and choked back a sob.
“Take care of yourself, Concubine.” She quickly turned around and left, afraid of crying in front of Concubine Qing.

She had too much grievance in her heart but didn’t dare to share it with anyone, not even her biological mother, with whom she should be close.

Only when she returned to her room and sent the servants away did she hold the note that had fallen from the clothes. She couldn’t help but lean on the desk and cry.

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