Di Daughter's Strategy - Chapter 48

Chapter 48

The study was filled with the fragrance of sandalwood incense, which was known for its calming properties.

A few wisps of smoke rose from the jade-green incense burner, and the man stood on the steps, his gaze fixed on a famous painting on the wall.

He suddenly turned around, his white sleeves sweeping over the incense burner, disrupting the mist.

He walked a few steps and stopped beside the desk, slowly sitting down. A faint smile appeared on his face, carrying a hint of inexplicable darkness and obsession.

On the black desk, there was a red invitation card. The Old Madam of the Marquis’s mansion, as a noble of the first rank, would naturally celebrate her birthday in grand style.

Half a month before the birthday banquet, the mansion had already sent out invitations widely. Even the Wang family had received an invitation, despite the unknown allegiance of the Marquis’s mansion.

When he received the invitation, he also learned a piece of news: yesterday, the legitimate daughter of the Marquis’s mansion had visited the Prince of Jing’s mansion at his invitation to appreciate the plum blossoms and had returned home after lunch.

It had snowed the night before, and the ground still bore the marks of snow. Now, the sun was shining brightly outside, making it hard to look directly at it.

Fang Jinyu wore a moon-white long gown, which should have been a gentle color. However, it seemed to carry a hint of coolness that penetrated to the soul, like the snow on the ground.

The sunlight reflected off the gold foil on the invitation card, casting a cold glow on his face.

He was alone in the study, surrounded by silence. He looked at the invitation card, his slender fingers holding one corner of it. The back of his hand showed prominent veins, and the intense emotions in his heart eventually turned into a gentle smile on his lips.

He remembered the first time he saw Luo Yi’er. She was still young then, a delicate and lovely little girl. Despite being taught to sit quietly, she had a faint smile on her face, with shallow dimples on her cheeks.

At that time, he was also young. His mother, Concubine Li, was not favored, and he was in a lowly position. Almost everyone in the palace could step on him. He had watched as the third prince received his father’s favor, being personally taught to read and ride horses.

Concubine Li was indifferent to him, and the people in the palace followed suit. One day, a favored concubine who had recently lost a child harbored resentment toward the princes in the palace. Her procession accidentally collided with his, and he was pushed into the lake.
Everyone hurriedly left.

When he was rescued by the palace servants, he saw a little girl standing on the pavilion, quietly looking at him.

He recognized her as the legitimate daughter of the Marquis’s mansion, a true daughter of heaven, with clear eyes and a spotless reputation. Everything about her was precious, like a little fairy from the heavens.

The annoying purity.

He was soaked to the bone but forced himself to look at her. She held a handkerchief in her hands, showing great propriety despite her young age. She asked him curiously why a concubine could bully him like that.

He was surprised. He didn’t expect her to understand the situation. He knew he must have looked disheveled. With a strange thought, he said it was because his father didn’t like him.

When he thought she would sympathize with him, she tilted her head and said, “Then you should smile often, and people will like you.”

As she spoke, she curved her eyes, revealing shallow dimples. Her appearance was lovely, and her eyes seemed to contain countless stars, making one want to hold her in their hands.

From then on, there was a gentle and refined fifth prince in the palace.

Later, he became the Prince of Wen, favored by his father and recognized by the courtiers. Even his cousin lost her sense of propriety and fell in love with him.

He slowly let go of the invitation card and called for someone to come in.
He spoke in a gentle tone, “Prepare a birthday gift for the Marquis’s mansion.”

An Chong bowed and responded, his brow furrowed with concern. The Prince had sat alone in the study for three hours after receiving the invitation, and now he seemed peaceful. An Chong couldn’t help but feel worried.

However, he couldn’t say anything more. He couldn’t advise or dissuade the Prince.

After An Chong left, he slowly smiled, his smile gentle and approachable, but his eyes seemed almost obsessive.

“You said that if he smiles, people will like him…”

No one knew his thoughts. At this moment, Luo Yi’er was sitting in Yunxia Courtyard, burning incense and copying Buddhist scriptures to calm her mind.

The weather was getting colder, and her fingers were stiff from the cold.

There was a thick stack of papers beside her that she had already copied. Pansi silently picked up a heavy object to press down the papers, preventing them from scattering.

Luo Yi’er lowered her head, writing slowly and carefully. Her expression was gentle, without any sign of impatience.

It wasn’t until the sky grew darker, with only the remaining sunlight casting a reddish glow, that Pansi reminded her, “Miss, it’s almost time for dinner.”

The brush paused, and she frowned, stopping her writing. She loosened her grip on the brush, and her fingertips showed signs of fatigue. Linglong came forward to collect the scriptures she had copied. Pansi half-knelt beside her, gently massaging her hands.

She waved her hand, and after dinner, she would rest.

Because she had started copying the scriptures late, she finished one book just three days before the Old Madam’s birthday.

She went to ask Madam Chu for permission to visit the temple, but Madam Chu frowned slightly. She still remembered Luo Yi’er’s injury at the temple and was worried.

However, knowing that it was a tradition, she didn’t object, but the number of guards accompanying her increased.

Luo Yi’er understood Madam Chu’s concern and smiled gently without refusing.

Just as she was about to leave, Madam Chu called out to her, her expression calm: “Lady Qiu has been at Mingjing Temple for nearly four months. Let’s call her back for the Old Madam’s birthday.”

“When you go there, ask her to come back with you.”

Luo Yi’er’s eyebrows arched slightly, unnoticeably. She had just received news about Luo Fu and Luo Qian, and now Madam Chu was asking Lady Qiu to return.

Was there a connection between the two? She looked at Madam Chu’s calm demeanor, smiled softly, and agreed.

She walked along the busiest street in the capital today. In previous years, she would have chosen a quieter path.

However, she hadn’t prepared any gifts other than the Buddhist scriptures, so she had to come to the Jewel Pavilion to pick something out.

If she waited until she returned from Mingjing Temple, it would be too late.

She got out of the carriage at the Jewel Pavilion. The snow hadn’t melted yet, making it even colder today. She wore a fox fur cloak, and a jade orchid hairpin on her hair swayed gently as she walked.

She chose a string of sandalwood prayer beads, which the shopkeeper said had been blessed by a great master. Luo Yi’er smiled faintly, not paying much attention to the claim. Just as she was about to ask Pansi to pay, she saw a figure walking down the stairs and was slightly taken aback.

The man was dressed in white, like snow. It was the Prince of Wen.

Apart from the Mid-Autumn Festival, she hadn’t seen him for nearly four months. On the 16th, he had sent her a birthday gift – a few packets of Yun Wu tea and a set of jade tea utensils.

They knew that if he sent clothes or jewelry, she definitely wouldn’t use them. So, after receiving the imperial decree, he had sent her tea or decorations for her birthday, never making things difficult for her.

She composed herself, took a step back, and bowed gracefully: “Your Highness, greetings.”

The man walked up to her and smiled: “Why so formal, Yi’er? Please, get up.”

His gentle laughter seemed to carry a hint of emotion. Luo Yi’er’s eyes deepened slightly. She smiled faintly, stood up, and clasped her hands in front of her, looking elegant and gentle. Her lowered eyelashes carried a softness that could touch one’s heart.

Fang Jinyu stood three steps away from her, maintaining a respectful distance. The smile on his lips was gentle but not too deep.

He glanced at the prayer beads she wanted to buy and turned to instruct An Chong to pay for them.

However, Luo Yi’er quickly stopped him: “Your Highness, please wait. These prayer beads are a gift for my grandmother’s birthday. I should pay for them myself.”

Hearing her formal and distant address, Fang Jinyu’s expression cooled slightly for a moment. His smile deepened, and he apologized, “I was rash.”

Luo Yi’er nodded to indicate that Pansi should hurry up and pay. When Pansi held up the brocade box, she bowed slightly to Fang Jinyu, “I have to leave the city, so I’ll take my leave first.”

Without waiting for his response, she lowered her head and exited the Jewel Pavilion. Pansi and the others followed silently behind her.

Just as she was about to step into the carriage, she heard a movement behind her. She turned her head to see Fang Jinyu walking out of the Jewel Pavilion, dressed in white.

He stood not far from the carriage, smiling: “I have nothing to do, so I’ll escort you out of the city.”

Although his eyes seemed to be smiling, Luo Yi’er detected a hint of imperativeness in his tone. Her fingers, which were resting on the carriage door, twitched slightly. She pursed her lips.

Fang Jinyu noticed her hesitation and clenched his fist inside his sleeve, feeling a pang of pain. He forced a smile: “I…”

“Thank you, Prince Wen,” she interrupted.

Fang Jinyu was taken aback, his words caught in his throat. He smiled slightly, and An Chong, who was standing beside him, led the horse over. Fang Jinyu relaxed his grip on the thumb ring and watched as she stepped into the carriage.

Luo Yi’er sat inside the carriage, her lips pursed for a moment. After a while, she lifted the curtain and looked out the window, her eyes fixed on Fang Jinyu, who was riding his horse ahead. She felt a bit lost in thought.

She remembered the first time they met, after she had been chosen to study in the palace. It was winter, and snowflakes were falling from the sky.

As she got out of the carriage, she saw him standing at the palace gate, dressed in white. He had a gentle smile on his face, and his eyes seemed to carry a warmth that made her feel at ease.

“Miss Luo, I am here to escort you into the palace,” he had said.

The memory of his voice still lingered in her mind, but it had been four years since then. Things had changed, and they were no longer the carefree youths who could meet and laugh together.

Fang Jinyu seemed to sense her gaze and turned to look at the carriage. However, he could only see the curtain swaying gently, unable to catch a glimpse of her. It was as if he had missed his chance, just like the imperial decree that had changed everything.

He turned his head back, his eyes gradually cooling down. What did it matter if he was late? If it weren’t for her reputation, he wouldn’t have had to be so patient. One day, she would belong to him, and everything would be right.

Luo Yi’er didn’t know what he was thinking. She leaned back in the carriage, lazily holding a cup of hot tea and taking a sip.

As the carriage approached the city gate, she heard the sound of horse hooves approaching from outside the city.

The sound grew louder and closer, and Luo Yi’er felt a sense of surprise. Horseback riding at high speed was not allowed within the city. She wondered who the rider could be.

Just as she was curious, the sound of horse hooves suddenly stopped. It seemed like the rider was very close. For some reason, Luo Yi’er felt a sense of unease.

Before she could lift the curtain, she heard Fang Jinyu’s gentle voice: “Third Prince…”