Di Daughter's Strategy - Chapter 29

Chapter 29

The pavilion was set in the osmanthus forest, surrounded by golden osmanthus petals and some fallen leaves. There were a few people standing in the square pavilion, with their backs to Luo Yi’er and her servant. The breeze carried the osmanthus petals, and they fluttered down.

Today, Fang Jinling wore a dark blue robe with golden threads embroidered on the edges and a pair of dark blue boots. His black hair was tied up with a jade hairpin, and a few strands fell loose on his shoulders.

The guard, Wei Feng, seemed to have said something, and Fang Jinling nodded and responded in a low voice. Luo Yi’er was too far away to hear clearly.

Fang Jinling seemed to sense something and turned around. His deep and dark eyes met Luo Yi’er’s gaze, which she hadn’t had time to withdraw. Fang Jinling paused, seemingly surprised to see her. The darkness in his eyes faded slightly, and a hint of warmth flashed across his face.

He looked at her flushed face, her slightly labored breathing after climbing the mountain, and her lips moving as she seemed to be tense under his gaze. She bit her lip lightly, and Fang Jinling’s gaze dropped. He saw that she was wearing a creamy white long dress with a sheep-fat white jade pendant at her waist. His eyes darkened slightly, followed by a flash of confusion.

He raised his hand to interrupt Wei Feng’s words. Wei Feng was taken aback but soon saw Luo Yi’er in the distance and understood. He bowed and retreated.

Luo Yi’er also came back to her senses. She tightened her grip on her handkerchief and then released it. She took her hand off Pan Si’s arm and bowed in greeting, smiling warmly, “Your subject’s daughter pays respects to Prince Jing.”

Fang Jinling nodded slightly, his gaze lingering on her face. His deep voice was low, “No need for such formalities.”

Pan Si helped her stand up, and Luo Yi’er apologized, “I didn’t know Your Highness was here. If I disturbed you, please forgive me.”

Fang Jinling saw her distant and polite demeanor and pressed his lips together. The expression in his eyes darkened slightly. He looked up at her and said, “Come here.”

Luo Yi’er was taken aback. She fluttered her eyelashes and lifted her skirt, walking towards him. As she stepped onto the pavilion’s high steps, the man suddenly reached out his hand. Looking at the palm in front of her, Luo Yi’er bit her lip, glanced at him uncertainly, and saw the deep darkness in his eyes. She pouted slightly and slowly extended her hand to place it in his broad palm.

Fang Jinling grasped her hand and pulled her up the steps with a gentle force. Luo Yi’er’s body landed beside his, and she looked up with a smile, “Thank you, Your Highness.”
As she finished speaking, she wanted to pull her hand back, but he didn’t let go. Luo Yi’er’s eyes turned pink with embarrassment, and she said softly, somewhat at a loss, “Your Highness…”

Fang Jinling lowered his head and responded softly, “Hmm.” His grip on her hand didn’t loosen. The servants nearby had already retreated from the pavilion, understanding the situation.

Luo Yi’er looked around and saw that he had no intention of letting go. She gave up trying to pull her hand away and lowered her gaze. Osmanthus petals floated by her nose, and she couldn’t help but lift her handkerchief to block them. Her delicate eyebrows furrowed slightly, and her eyes showed a hint of discomfort.

Fang Jinling noticed her reaction and frowned slightly. He led her to sit down on a stone bench and glanced at her clothes. He reached out to touch her forehead and asked in a low voice, “Are you feeling unwell?”

Luo Yi’er looked up at him and seemed to think for a moment before nodding obediently, “Yes, I caught a cold yesterday.”

Fang Jinling’s expression turned slightly cold, and he frowned inwardly. “Why did you come out when you’re not feeling well?”

His words contained a subtle concern that wasn’t immediately apparent. Luo Yi’er’s palm was a bit sweaty where he held her hand. She licked her lips and tucked a strand of hair behind her ear, turning her head slightly to avoid showing him the flush on her cheeks.
Her voice was soft, “Every year at this time, our mansion comes to Mingjing Temple to burn incense. I thought I was fine…”

As she spoke, she seemed to realize the concern in his words and smiled sweetly at him. Fang Jinling’s eyes flashed, but just as she finished speaking, she suddenly felt a tickle in her throat. She remembered what she had just said and bit her lip, trying to hold back the urge to cough. Her face turned red, and her eyes became slightly moist, showing a hint of watery brightness and discomfort.

Fang Jinling let out a low sigh that reached Luo Yi’er’s ears. She turned to him uncertainly, not understanding why he sighed. She saw a faint emotion flash across his eyes, and he looked down, saying softly, “Don’t hold it back.”

The tickle had already passed, and Luo Yi’er shook her head slightly, feeling a bit embarrassed. She lowered her head and said, “I apologize for my rudeness.”

“It’s fine.”

They sat quietly in the pavilion for a while. Luo Yi’er tilted her head, looking puzzled, and asked, “Did Your Highness come to burn incense too?”

When he heard her words, Fang Jinling suddenly remembered the words of the Buddhist master. His eyes flashed, and he heard the person in front of him call out again before he came back to his senses.
He responded softly, “Hmm.”

The two of them sat quietly in the pavilion. Luo Yi’er rested her hand on the stone table, propped up her chin, and looked at the osmanthus petals floating outside. Her eyes were filled with a gentle smile. Fang Jinling sat beside her, his expression dark and serious, watching her quietly.

Suddenly, she turned her head, her eyes filled with a shallow smile, and asked him, “Your Highness, does the mansion have osmanthus?”

“No,” Fang Jinling seemed to understand something and looked up at her. “If you like it, I’ll have someone transplant it from the palace to the Prince’s mansion.”

Luo Yi’er’s lips overflowed with a faint smile. She lowered her eyes and said, “I like to put fresh white orchids in my room and watch the gardenias climb up the window in June.”

Fang Jinling’s eyes flashed, and he gazed at her pale face. This seemed to be the first time she had talked to him about these things.

Fang Jinling pursed his lips and said, “Okay.”

The two of them spoke in low voices, and the atmosphere in the pavilion became warm. Luo Yi’er’s smile lingered on her face for a long time. Fang Jinling looked at her with a calm gaze, and there seemed to be some imperceptible warmth in his eyes.

Half an hour later, Linglong came over to call her back for dinner. Fang Jinling asked casually, “Won’t you return to the mansion today, Yi’er?”

Luo Yi’er had already stood up, and Pan Si carefully supported her. She looked at Fang Jinling and shook her head, “Yes.”

As she finished speaking, she bit her lip slightly. The hand that had been released seemed to still retain the warmth of his palm. She quietly blushed and lowered her head, “If Your Highness has nothing else, I’ll take my leave.”Fang Jinling nodded and watched her walk away slowly.

Wei Feng walked in and heard his calm and deep voice, “She won’t return to the mansion today.”

Wei Feng was taken aback, then turned to look at Miss Luo’s back, understanding the situation. He responded, “Understood.”

The room where Luo Yi’er stayed was a small courtyard with a slanting Chinese scholar tree. Just after nightfall, the sky turned dark with a hint of gray. A warm candlelight was lit inside the room, casting a dim glow through the paper window into the courtyard.

Inside, Luo Yi’er was laughing softly with two maids. After a while, she sat on the bed with a desk in front of her, covered with several sheets of Xuan paper. She waved her hand at the two maids and lowered her head, focusing on copying Buddhist scriptures.

After filling one sheet of paper with dense small characters, Pansi, who was waiting beside her, reminded her, “Miss, it’s late. Maybe you should continue tomorrow.”

On the other side, Linglong had prepared a bowl of clear tea and a medicinal pill. Because they were going out of the mansion, Linglong had specifically asked the family doctor for the pill yesterday. As for why she didn’t let Luo Yi’er take the pill yesterday, it was because the pill’s effect wasn’t as good as the medicinal broth.

Luo Yi’er paused, put down her brush, and leaned against the inkstone. Pansi tidied up the desk and saw that she was feeling a bit stiff. She gently massaged Luo Yi’er’s wrist. After a while, Luo Yi’er said softly, “It’s fine.”

Pansi smiled and retreated. Linglong handed her the pill, and Luo Yi’er frowned slightly before taking it. Linglong quickly handed her the tea, and she took a sip, swallowing the pill.

After a day out, she felt a bit tired. After taking the medicine, she felt her eyelids getting heavy. She leaned on Pansi’s hand and got onto the bed, saying, “You can go back to rest now. We have to get up early tomorrow.”

Pansi nodded, “Yes, this servant knows.”

The lamp inside the room was blown out, and Pansi and Linglong retreated, closing the door softly.

Luo Yi’er turned over in bed and slightly opened her eyes in the darkness. She thought about her interaction with Prince Jing in the afternoon, and her eyes deepened slightly before returning to calmness. She closed her eyes.

She didn’t know that at the same time, in the courtyard next to hers, a man was sitting coldly. It was none other than Fang Jinling, who had been with her in the afternoon. He listened indifferently to Wei Feng’s report, nodding occasionally. His voice was calm and detached, “As long as he doesn’t say anything he shouldn’t, I won’t make things difficult for him.”

Wei Feng bowed and acknowledged the order.

Just as Fang Jinling was about to dismiss him, a sudden sound of footsteps came from the roof. Fang Jinling’s eyes narrowed, and Wei Feng’s face changed. He instinctively stepped forward, his hand on the sword at his waist.

The footsteps on the roof only lasted for a moment before disappearing. Before they could relax, they heard a commotion outside, accompanied by frightened cries for help, “Fire! Help! Put out the fire!”

The sound of chaotic footsteps followed. Fang Jinling’s expression darkened. Wei Feng turned around, frowning anxiously, “Your Highness, it seems there’s a fire outside. We should go out now.”

As soon as he finished speaking, the guards outside shouted, “Your Highness, there’s a fire! It’s spreading fast towards this side. Your Highness, please come out!”

Fang Jinling didn’t hesitate. He stepped out of the room and saw that everything outside had descended into chaos. Thick black smoke billowed from the courtyard next door, spreading rapidly towards the room he had just left.

He suddenly thought of something, and his eyes narrowed. His entire demeanor turned cold and menacing. He grabbed a monk passing by and asked in a chilly voice, “Where are the people from the Hou Mansion staying today?”When Wei Feng heard his words, his eyes widened instantly. He looked at the king’s icy face and furrowed his brow tightly. Given the king’s importance to Miss Luo, if anything happened to her… Wei Feng shuddered at the thought and didn’t dare to think further.

The young monk was grabbed by the king and hadn’t reacted yet when he was intimidated by the coldness in the king’s voice. Before he could speak, a cry came from the burning courtyard nearby: “Miss! Where are you?”

Upon hearing the familiar voice, Fang Jinling suddenly released the young monk. The monk, realizing what was happening, stammered, “The female benefactor’s room is the one that’s on fire…”

Before he finished speaking, Fang Jinling turned and rushed towards the burning courtyard. Wei Feng followed closely behind, shouting anxiously, “Your Highness, no!”

When Fang Jinling entered the courtyard, he saw two maids who always accompanied Luo Yi’er. Their faces were covered in dust, and they were crying and calling out in the courtyard. However, the person they were looking for was nowhere to be seen. When they saw him, their eyes lit up, and they knelt down immediately: “Prince Jing, please save our miss! She’s still inside! Please, Your Highness!”

Fang Jinling’s heart sank, and he didn’t bother with the maids. He rushed into the burning house in a few swift strides. Wei Feng, who had arrived too late to stop him, shouted at the maids, his eyes red with anger: “If anything happens to the Prince, the entire Marquis Mansion won’t be enough to make up for it!”

The two maids felt a chill run down their spines, and tears streamed down their faces. They hadn’t expected the Prince to rush in himself. They had only wanted the Prince to send someone to save their miss…

Wei Feng kicked a nearby Chinese scholar tree in frustration. He didn’t scold the maids anymore; it was too late for regrets. He hoped that both of them would be safe. He turned to the guards who had followed him and said coldly: “We must get the Prince out!”

As soon as he finished speaking, he grabbed a bucket of water from someone nearby and poured it over himself. With determination in his eyes, he rushed into the house. If anything happened to the prince, those who served him closely wouldn’t survive. The guards understood this principle and followed suit. They shouted for people to put out the fire and then rushed into the house to rescue their master.

Fang Jinling, who had entered first, had a dark face, searching everywhere for Luo Yi’er’s figure. His eyes were as cold as ice in the depths of winter, and his voice was filled with anger and urgency, almost a low growl: “Luo Yi’er!”

The room in the temple was not big, and in just a moment, he saw Luo Yi’er lying on the bed, seemingly unconscious. His eyes showed a hint of red, and when he saw her, he felt a wave of relief. However, when he saw that she was unconscious, his heart sank. He raised his hand and slapped her cheek lightly, his voice low and urgent: “Luo Yi’er, wake up! I’ll take you out of here.”

As the fire grew larger, he didn’t have time to wait for her to wake up. He scooped her up in his arms and bent down to rush out. Luo Yi’er seemed to have been awakened by his movements. She coughed a few times and looked up to see Fang Jinling’s stern face. She was slightly stunned, and her eyes gradually turned red. She whispered, “…Your Highness…”

Fang Jinling only had time to glance at her before sparks landed on his sleeve. He glanced at it but couldn’t react because his hands were occupied with holding her. His voice was calm but authoritative: “I will get you out of here.”

Just as he finished speaking, they heard several people rushing in. When they saw that they were safe, they all breathed a sigh of relief. However, before they could come over to escort them out, they saw a beam from the roof about to collapse due to the fire. Their eyes filled with fear, and they shouted, “Your Highness!”

Fang Jinling’s heart sank, and he was about to turn around when he felt the person in his arms suddenly struggle and push him away. The small person shielded him from behind, but before he could pull her back, a heavy impact occurred. The small person cried out in pain.

When Fang Jinling turned around, he saw the massive beam had landed on her back, and her face turned deathly pale instantly. His eyes turned red with fury and fear, and he roared, “Luo Yi’er!”

At this moment, Wei Feng and the others finally caught up. They dragged and supported the two, getting them out of the house. Behind them, the fire raged, and there was a loud crash as the house collapsed. When Wei Feng and the others turned back, they felt a chill run down their spines.

Fang Jinling knelt on the ground, holding Luo Yi’er in his arms. He lowered his head, and his entire demeanor was as cold as ice. Luo Yi’er in his arms had her eyes tightly closed, her face pale, and her back was charred black from the beam. Her breathing was weak, almost nonexistent.

Fang Jinling grasped her chin, his eyes dark and cold. He leaned down and shouted at her in a low voice, “Luo Yi’er, open your eyes for me!” Luo Yi’er’s body swayed slightly with his movements, but she showed no signs of waking up.At this moment, Pan Si and the other maid rushed over. When they saw Luo Yi’er’s condition, their legs gave way, and they knelt on the ground.

However, they were intimidated by Fang Jinling’s expression and covered their mouths, not daring to cry out loud.

Wei Feng, who had regained his composure, saw Luo Yi’er’s pale face and remembered how she had selflessly saved the prince. He frowned and said, “Your Highness, Miss Luo’s condition needs to be treated as soon as possible!”

Fang Jinling released her chin, his voice cold and menacing.
“Prepare the horses, return to the mansion! Summon the imperial physician!”

The coldness in his voice sent shivers down the spines of those present, and they quickly moved to obey his orders.