Di Daughter's Strategy - Chapter 42

Chapter 42

The next morning, the embroidery room had already delivered the clothes she would wear that day. Luo Yi’er was sitting in front of a bronze mirror, allowing Pan Si to apply makeup for her.

Just as she was lost in thought, Pan Si suddenly leaned in close to her ear and whispered, “I’ve heard that yesterday, the Emperor arranged a marriage for Princess Heyi.”

Luo Yi’er’s attention snapped back, and she raised her eyebrows in surprise: “What?”

She turned her head, resting one hand on the dressing table, and asked Pan Si, “Who is it? What’s going on?”

It wasn’t surprising that she was surprised. After all, everyone had noticed that Princess Heyi’s target was Prince Wen, and Prince Wen was not someone who would be controlled by others.

Moreover, there hadn’t been any previous indication, and now suddenly, a marriage had been arranged?

Pan Si’s action of drawing eyebrows paused, and then she explained in detail, “I was also surprised, so when I heard about it today, I asked for more information.”

“The Emperor has betrothed Princess Heyi to Prince Yu,” Pan Si said as she smoothed out the hem of Luo Yi’er’s dress.
“I’ve heard that the princess went to the palace a while ago and met Prince Yu in the Imperial Garden when he was visiting Consort Ru. I don’t know what happened, but less than two days later, the Emperor decreed their marriage.”

Luo Yi’er frowned when she thought of Prince Yu. When she was studying in the palace, Prince Yu had often shown her favor, but she didn’t like him. Back then, she was only a little over ten years old, and whenever Prince Yu looked at her, he had a disgusting expression.

Given Prince Yu’s lustful nature, if he had encountered Princess Heyi alone, it wouldn’t be surprising if something had happened. However, considering the princess’s special status, Prince Yu shouldn’t have been too presumptuous. Maybe it was just some inappropriate words, but something must have happened for the Emperor to decree their marriage so quickly.

Pan Si saw her frown and paused, then lowered her voice. “Miss, I’ve heard that when the Emperor passed by the Imperial Garden, he saw something inappropriate between the two and got angry.”

“Moreover, after Princess Heyi was betrothed to Prince Yu,” she frowned, seemingly puzzled: “it’s not as the primary wife, but… as a Side Consort.”

Luo Yi’er was slightly surprised. Prince Yu already had a primary wife, and even so, with Princess Heyi’s status, it would have been possible for her to become a Equal Consort.
What exactly had happened to make the Emperor so angry that it led to this outcome?

Luo Yi’er suppressed her curiosity and raised her eyebrows, signaling Pan Si to continue applying her makeup. After everything was done, Pan Si helped her stand up. She seemed to suddenly remember something and asked softly, “Have there been any news about Prince Jing recently?”

After asking, she lowered her eyes to look at the exquisite pearls on her embroidered shoes, seeming like she was just casually asking.

Pan Si paused and exchanged a glance with Linglong before responding softly: “No.”

Pan Si seemed to see her lightly pursing her lips and lowered her head, feeling a bit sorry. Prince Jing had left for the frontier three years ago after receiving the Emperor’s decree, missing Miss Luo’s birthday three times.

Now that he had finally returned from the frontier, he was in Wuzhou, and it seemed likely that he would miss her birthday again.

Pan Si sighed inwardly and spoke in an even softer voice. “Miss, would you like to have breakfast now?”

Luo Yi’er’s lips curved slightly, and she said gently, “Serve it.”

After Luo Yi’er finished breakfast and went to pay her respects to Madam Chu, she still hadn’t heard any news about Prince Jing. Since the banquet was in the evening, everyone would head to the palace after lunch.

After leaving Fang Yun Hall, she felt inexplicably restless. When she walked into the garden, she caught sight of the plum trees that hadn’t bloomed yet and paused.

She turned her head and instructed, “Bring the guqin.”

Linglong bowed and hurried to the side room of Yunxia Courtyard to fetch the guqin, returning quickly. She saw that Luo Yi’er and the others were already waiting under the plum tree. After setting up the guqin, Linglong retreated to the side.

Luo Yi’er stood beside the guqin. Although she had asked for it on a whim, she didn’t feel like playing now. She sat down, lifting her skirt, and her fingers idly plucked the strings, unable to form a melody. Her expression grew increasingly indifferent.

Pan Si and Linglong exchanged a worried glance, unsure of their miss’s mood.

In the distance, on the path from Cirong Hall to Luoyun Pavilion, a woman in a light green dress stood still, looking toward the plum forest. She frowned slightly and said calmly, “Biyu, follow me to take a look.”

Since returning, she hadn’t heard Luo Yi’er play the guqin. Now, hearing the irregular notes, she felt both familiar and different from her past experiences.
As she walked over with Biyu, she saw Luo Yi’er sitting under the plum tree, her fingers aimlessly plucking the strings.

Her doubts were somewhat resolved, but she still felt a mix of emotions. Luo Qian’s expression turned cold.

The melody Luo Yi’er played was slightly altered, and almost everyone knew the original tune. The one who had altered it was the original owner, so Luo Qian felt like she was borrowing someone else’s creativity.

Luo Qian watched Luo Yi’er with a complicated gaze, her thoughts unspoken.

Luo Qian stood in the distance, watching her with a cold gaze. After listening to the melody, she became even more convinced that she had heard this tune before.

It was in the palace, during the fifth year of Fang Jinyu’s reign as emperor, when the Mid-Autumn Festival was grandly celebrated. As the wife of Prince Jing, Luo Yi’er would have definitely attended.

She remembered that night was a bit chilly. She had been preoccupied with the fact that Fang Jinyu didn’t want to touch her, so she drank a few extra cups of wine and went to the Imperial Garden to get some fresh air.
Unexpectedly, she heard the sound of the guqin.
She found it novel and pleasant.

After the banquet, she specifically sent someone to find the person playing the guqin, but they couldn’t be found. Later, someone heard about this and came to ask her about it.

At that time, she didn’t know who had played the tune and happily told them: “On the Mid-Autumn Festival day, I heard a melody in the Imperial Garden. I’ve been looking for the person who played it recently.”

The person smiled and asked, “Why are you looking for them?”

She thought the player was just a struggling palace musician and replied with a smile. “This person’s guqin skills are not bad. After I find them, I’ll have them serve in my palace so their skills won’t go to waste.”

When she said “serve,” the man beside her seemed to cool down slightly. She found it strange at the time but didn’t think much of it.

Now, after rebirth, she had finally found the person who played the melody. She realized why the man had cooled down back then – it was because she had insulted the person he cherished.

Luo Qian grabbed the tree trunk beside her tightly, biting her lip to prevent herself from laughing out loud. The emperor and empress’s love, which everyone envied, was just a joke.

Biyu looked at her puzzled. “Miss, what’s wrong?”

“Nothing,” she said, her eyes cooling down, and turned to leave.

Biyu blinked and quickly followed her.

In the distant plum blossom forest, Luo Yi’er stopped playing the guqin. Pan Si walked forward and suddenly paused, bending down to whisper, “Miss, look, it’s the Eldest Miss.”

She gestured toward the direction of Luoyun Pavilion. Luo Yi’er looked up and saw Luo Qian’s back. She raised her eyebrows slightly, feeling a bit puzzled.

Hadn’t Luo Qian been staying in Luoyun Pavilion all day recently? Why did she come out today?

She thought about it casually and then forgot about it. She no longer felt like playing the guqin. She stood up, leaning on Pan Si’s arm, and said softly, “Let’s go back.”

After lunch, Madam Chu sent someone to notify her to head to the front hall. Pan Si straightened her clothes for her.
She paused and said, “Pan Si, you stay here. Linglong will accompany me.”

She glanced at Pan Si, who nodded and stepped aside. Linglong was slightly surprised but quickly reacted and supported Luo Yi’er as they headed to the front hall.
Madam Chu was already waiting there.

On the way to the palace, the empress didn’t send anyone to summon them this time. They arrived at Taihe Palace without any issues. Luo Yi’er followed Madam Chu and looked around, not seeing the person she expected. She lowered her eyes slightly, and the smile on her lips faded.

The Mid-Autumn Festival banquet was just like any other year, uneventful. Luo Yi’er sat quietly beside Madam Chu, not in a good mood. She barely spoke throughout the banquet. Madam Chu noticed her mood and asked, “What’s wrong?”

Luo Yi’er looked up and smiled faintly. “Nothing. I just feel a bit bored.”

Madam Chu didn’t think much of it and said, “It’s always like this. It will be over soon.” She had been sitting straight for over an hour to maintain etiquette. After saying this, she relaxed slightly.

Luo Yi’er smiled slightly and glanced toward the hall entrance. She saw that it was already dark outside and shifted her gaze, picking up her wine cup and taking a small sip.

Until the banquet ended, she only stood up to thank the Emperor when he mentioned her birthday. Otherwise, she didn’t say a word.

After the Emperor left the banquet, the Mid-Autumn Festival celebration came to an end. As they stood up, Madam Chu asked softly, “You kept looking at the hall entrance. Who were you looking for?”

Luo Yi’er paused slightly and turned her head, smiling. “Who could I be looking for? Mother, don’t tease me.”

Her expression was normal, and Madam Chu frowned slightly without asking further. She just sighed inwardly, thinking about the day Prince Jing saved Yi’er in a fit of anger.
She wasn’t sure if it was good or bad for Yi’er.

After all, having feelings for someone in the royal family never ended well. Madam Chu couldn’t help but think of the empress in the central palace and frowned deeply, hiding her thoughts as she walked toward the palace gate.

As they passed through the osmanthus forest, Luo Yi’er just lowered her eyes slightly. However, when they turned a corner, she couldn’t help but look back.

The area was lit by lanterns, and osmanthus petals were falling. Even at night, it was still beautiful. But, as expected, there was no one there.

Luo Yi’er pursed her lips tightly, and a hint of disappointment flashed in her eyes. She smiled self-deprecatingly, thinking to herself: The person is far away in Wuzhou. Did she really expect him to suddenly appear in front of her like in a TV drama? She was being too sentimental.

After silently mocking herself, her eyes regained their clarity.
The distraction from earlier seemed to have never happened.

On the way back to the mansion from the palace, they had to pass by Pan Lake. The area around Pan Lake was still bustling. Luo Yi’er lifted the curtain and peeked out, her lips curving slightly upward. As usual, the mansion would have already prepared longevity noodles for her return.

The carriage rode quietly, stopping in front of the mansion just before Hai hour (9-11PM). Linglong got out of the carriage first and extended her hand to help Luo Yi’er.
“Miss, be careful of your step.”

Someone lifted the curtain, and she stepped out of the carriage, landing on a small stool before touching the ground.

Madam Chu, who was waiting ahead, called out to her, “Yi’er, hurry up.”

If they were a bit late, the day would be over. Luo Yi’er smiled slightly and responded softly. “Okay.”

Just as she finished speaking, they heard the sound of an approaching carriage. She seemed to sense something and turned her head to look.

When she saw the person driving the carriage, her lips parted slightly, and she was momentarily stunned.