Di Daughter's Strategy - Chapter 22

Chapter 22

Prince Jing’s mansion study room, Fang Jinling had just gotten the news about Luo Yi’er. He stopped writing with his brush and leaned back in his chair. His usually indifferent eyes seemed to have a hint of warmth. “She went to Jinxiu Pavilion?”

On the ground in front of the desk, a man knelt, dressed in black, his head deeply lowered. Despite kneeling there, his presence was extremely low-key. “Yes.”

This person was Prince Jing’s dark guard, arranged to enter the Marquis’s mansion three years ago when Fang Jinling left the capital.

Although he didn’t know what Luo Yi’er thought in her heart, when Fang Jinling’s eyes darkened, he knew that the person he wanted would never let go.

Went to Jinxiu Pavilion?
Fang Jinling thought of the welcoming banquet the day after tomorrow. His index finger curved slightly and tapped slowly on the desktop. His expression seemed to have lightened a bit.

The day after tomorrow was the banquet, and she would definitely attend. The time was too short, and there wasn’t even enough time to tailor clothes.

Thinking of this, his eyes flashed, and he remembered that he seemed to have brought back a white jade glass brocade hairpin when he returned from Western Liang. He put aside his thoughts and glanced faintly at the person kneeling in front of him. “Go back.”

After the study room was empty, he rubbed his fingertips together, as if about to do something. Fushan carefully held a tray with tea and walked in. He placed the hot tea on the desktop, bowed his head respectfully, and said, “Your Highness, please have some hot tea.”

Fang Jinling responded very faintly, was silent for a moment, and then instructed, “Send the hairpin I brought back to Marquis Qi mansion.”

The words fell, and Fushan seemed to have misheard. He looked up slightly surprised and confirmed that he wasn’t hallucinating. The prince was asking him to send a gift to Miss Luo?

Thinking that Miss Luo and the prince had already set a marriage engagement, he seemed to understand in his heart. He bowed his head and replied, “Yes, this servant will go and do it immediately.”

Fang Jinling was about to look at the documents when he suddenly remembered the conversation with her on the day he returned to the capital. His heart sank slightly, and the warmth in his eyes also faded. However, a doubt arose in his heart again.

That day, she went to the city gate, was it to see Luo Qiheng, or to see… him? She had a gentle temperament, and when facing unfamiliar people, she showed an inexplicable sense of detachment, yet was extremely courteous. Even though she and he were engaged, she might not necessarily want to marry him, so why would she go see him?

However… going to see Luo Qiheng would be redundant. Once this thought arose, it wouldn’t go away. The fingertips of his hand resting on his waist subtly moved, unintentionally touching the jade pendant hanging at his waist. He suddenly snapped back to reality, hiding all his emotions, and his eyes regained their indifference, as if the thoughts that had just occurred hadn’t stirred any waves in his heart.

He lowered his eyes and instructed in a low voice, “You may leave first.” Fushan didn’t notice his inner turmoil and, upon receiving the instruction, quickly retreated to carry out the task.

Luo Yi’er was completely unaware of what had happened in Prince Jing’s mansion. She was still handling matters in the courtyard. As the sky was getting dark, Linglong caught the person who had secretly sent the message – a second-class maid from Yunxia Courtyard. Because it was hot in the summer, she had been given the task of fanning in the room and had just learned that Luo Yi’er was going out of the mansion today.

She had been bribed with a large sum of money by Luo Ying and, tempted by greed, had sent the message. Luo Yi’er learned the truth and just let out a low laugh, which made Linglong and others nervous, bowing their heads and not daring to make a sound.

“It seems some people have had it too easy for too long and have forgotten the rules of Yunxia Courtyard.” She gently raised her eyes, which shimmered like ripples of water, seemingly with a hint of a smile, not much different from her usual gentle appearance.
The erring maid thought she might still have a chance to beg for mercy and immediately cried out, “Miss, Miss! This servant was wrong, please forgive this servant once! This servant will never dare again!”

However, Linglong and the others knew their mistress’s temperament well and sensed the maid’s fate in their hearts. Even Linglong, who had been furious earlier, felt a fleeting sense of sympathy when she glanced at the maid, but it vanished instantly.

Luo Yi’er saw her like this, and a hint of a smile appeared at the corner of her eyebrows. She rested one hand on the desk, lightly supporting her chin, and her voice was as soft as water. She let out a gentle sigh. “Why are you crying so pitifully?”

The maid looked at her with expectation, only to see that her eyes seemed to have a hint of coolness at the bottom, but her voice remained gentle, “Take her out and give her thirty strokes with a cane, then sell her!”

She pronounced the last two words very softly, but the maid didn’t feel any gentleness from her. It was as if she had been suddenly thrown into an abyss. She stuttered in disbelief and was about to beg for mercy when Linglong had already had her mouth gagged and dragged her away.

As she was being dragged out of the room, the maid’s eyes widened, and through her tears, she could only vaguely see the person stretching out her slender and delicate fingers, holding a bowl of cold tea, and sipping it slowly with a gentle face like a celestial being. The maid let out a sobbing sound, but the person’s eyebrows didn’t change, still carrying a hint of a smile.

Only after the room became quiet did Luo Yi’er lightly glance at the somewhat messy floor and instruct in a soft voice, “Clean it up.”

The maids in the room had already been scared pale. Upon hearing the instruction, they quietly retreated, making their footsteps as light as possible, as if they were afraid of making any sound that might provoke her anger. They half-knelt on the ground, carefully wiping with water and rags.

Luo Ying soon learned about what had happened in Yunxia Courtyard, and her face instantly turned deathly pale. At this moment, she knew that Third Sister was angry not because she was going to follow her into the palace, but…

She hurriedly asked Fuling, “Third Sister knows, what should I do?”
Fuling was also a bit flustered and could only comfort her, “Don’t be afraid, Miss. Third Miss only punished that maid, which obviously is a warning to you. If you go apologize to Third Miss and wait until she’s calmed down, everything will be fine.”

Luo Ying pushed her away, her eyes red with anger, and scolded, “You make it sound so easy! That maid was sold! Third Sister must already be unhappy with me. If I go out now, won’t I be asking for trouble?”

Luo Ying was panicked and lost her composure. Fuling was pushed and stumbled, watching her frantic appearance. Fuling opened her mouth to say something but ultimately closed it and stood beside her with her head bowed.

Time passed quietly. This time, Prince Jing’s flower appreciation banquet originally only had Luo Yi’er invited. Later, when paying respects to the old madam, the old madam mentioned that the eldest and second young ladies had also reached adulthood and should go out.

Madam Chu smiled and agreed, understanding the implication. After everyone left, Guan Mama couldn’t help but ask with confusion, “Old Madam, why are you suddenly getting involved in the mansion’s affairs?”

The old madam fingered the Buddhist beads, half-closing her eyes. “They are all young ladies of the mansion; there’s no need to favor one over the others.”
Guan Mama paused. Favor one over the others? The third miss is the legitimate daughter of the mansion. How could the other illegitimate daughters compare to the third miss?

The old madam’s expression was calm as she left these words with unclear meaning and walked towards the small Buddhist hall at the back.

Over here, Luo Yi’er was accompanying Madam Chu towards Fang Yun Hall. She listened as Madam Chu said leisurely, “Today at court, your uncle impeached the Liu family.”

Luo Yi’er had been puzzled by the old madam’s attitude but instantly understood after hearing Madam Chu’s words. The Liu family was the old lady’s maternal family, and the current head of the Liu family was the old madam’s brother.

However, the Liu family had been on the decline since the old lady’s father passed away. Despite Lord Marquis’s support, they still couldn’t get back on their feet. Especially the young master of the Liu family, who often committed egregious acts like abducting women and burning houses.

The old madam’s brother’s lineage now had only this one son, so naturally, he was pampered and protected. Therefore, the Liu family’s behavior was somewhat disgraceful.
Luo Yi’er guessed that the young master of the Liu family must have done something again, prompting her uncle to impeach them.

Before Luo Yi’er could ask, Madam Chu continued, “The young master of the Liu family abducted a woman last month and killed her fiancé. Unbeknownst to them, the fiancé was a close relative of Prince Yu’s favorite concubine. The matter caused quite a stir.”

Moreover, now that the Marquis Qi Mansion has almost aligned itself with Prince Jing, Prince Yu naturally wouldn’t let this matter slide. Having your uncle bring it up would allow the Liu family to receive lighter punishment. If Prince Yu’s people were to bring it up…

Madam Chu glanced at Luo Yi’er without finishing the sentence, but Luo Yi’er understood perfectly. Madam Chu continued calmly, “Your grandmother is annoyed because this matter was brought up by your uncle.”

Luo Yi’er furrowed her brow slightly, feeling concerned. “What about you, Mother?”

Madam Chu, as Luo Yi’er’s mother-in-law, would be affected if the old lady was displeased with her. Madam Chu chuckled softly, her eyebrows carrying a hint of coolness. “If she’s determined to take it out on her nephew, your mother will just have to take it.”

Her voice became softer as she continued, “It’s time for her to wake up. She’s been out of touch with the mansion’s affairs for too long. The Marquis Mansion now is far from what it was twenty years ago.”

As her daughter-in-law, Madam Chu had always shown respect and filial piety. However, that didn’t mean she couldn’t handle the old madam. After all, Madam Chu’s lips curled slightly, the old madam was aging, and the Marquis Mansion had already changed hands.

Luo Yi’er understood in her heart, and a hint of a smile appeared on her face again. Madam Chu glanced at her. “But the old madam is sharp and clear-headed; she might not necessarily cause trouble for your mother.”

Luo Yi’er knew this, but even if the old madam could see things clearly, if someone incited her, it might not end well.
Luo Yi’er’s thoughts drifted to one person, and her eyebrows rose slightly. The smile in her eyes carried a hint of coolness.