Di Daughter's Strategy - Chapter 52

Chapter 52

Once outside, he glanced at Luo Qian, who was bowing in greeting. Recalling what the Old Madam had just said, he frowned deeply: “The Old Madam prefers quiet. In the future, do not disturb her.”

Luo Qian’s face stiffened, and a feeling of resignation settled in her heart—it was always like this. Her father never missed any potential threat to Madam Chu and the others.

Even though he looked down on her, he still felt the need to guard against her. Luo Qian inwardly scoffed, but she lowered her head and obediently complied.

Luo Yu’an seemed not to notice the forced smile on her face. He gestured for the servants to go inside and attend to the Old Madam, then, accompanied by Rong De, headed toward the front courtyard.

After passing through the moon gate of the Cihui Hall and winding along a few small paths, he noticed the red lanterns hanging from the trees.

His eyes darkened as he stood with his hands clasped behind his back and asked Rong De, who was following him:

“What happened in the Cihui Hall?”

He had been inside for quite some time, enough for Rong De to have gathered all the details. Rong De bowed his head and recounted the events in the Cihui Hall without the slightest bias.

When he mentioned “the Third Young Lady knelt down,” Luo Yu’an’s expression darkened further.

After Rong De finished speaking, Luo Yu’an waved him off, pausing in place for a moment before continuing toward the front courtyard.

Guests had already begun arriving at the front courtyard. As soon as Luo Yu’an entered, he saw Madam Chu standing there, smiling calmly and handling everyone’s congratulations with ease.

Luo Yu’an stood still, watching her from afar for a while, until she turned and her gaze met his.

Madam Chu’s smile faltered slightly. Just as she was about to look away, she noticed a faint dust stain on his knee out of the corner of her eye.

Startled, she froze in place.

Luo Yi’er had just finished exchanging greetings with the daughter of a high-ranking official. Turning around, she noticed Madam Chu’s dazed expression.

Puzzled, she followed Madam Chu’s gaze and saw Luo Yu’an standing there. She lightly pursed her lips, gave a gentle curtsy, and offered a faint, obedient smile.

Luo Yu’an’s heart softened. He nodded to her. Luo Yi’er glanced at Madam Chu, took a few steps back to avoid disturbing them, and called for Pansi to accompany her back to her courtyard to change clothes.

Madam Chu was still lost in thought when Luo Yu’an stepped forward, supporting her arm as he asked softly, “Are you tired?”

Madam Chu’s gaze fell to his knee. Up close, she could see it even more clearly, confirming she hadn’t been mistaken earlier. Her eyes flickered slightly, a complicated emotion stirring in her heart.

When he spoke, she instinctively turned her head and replied, “Why has the Marquis come here so soon?”

Luo Yu’an ignored her question, stubbornly repeating his own: “Are you tired?”

Some guests nearby had already turned their attention to them. Flustered, Madam Chu quickly whispered, “No.”

A faint, almost imperceptible smile flickered across his brow. Seeing this, the slight awkwardness in Madam Chu’s heart eased somewhat.

She raised a hand to straighten the hairpin in her bun as if to cover her embarrassment, then shifted her gaze to the vermilion main gate. “Coming out to meet guests with disheveled clothing, doesn’t the Marquis find it improper?”

Only then did Luo Yu’an notice the dust on the hem of his robe. Seeing Madam Chu’s somewhat awkward expression of concern, the smile in his eyes faded slightly.

“Then I must trouble my Madam to remain here for a moment. Your husband will be back shortly.”

Madam Chu’s face suddenly flushed bright red. She turned her head to glare at him, only to see a faint sparkle of amusement in his eyes. She inwardly scoffed, still improper even in old age.

Before she could pull her hand away, his smile faded. Madam Chu paused slightly as she heard his voice lower slightly: “Mother’s matter… I have resolved it.”

Madam Chu was taken aback. Recalling the dust on his robe, she understood everything. Her emotions tangled as she lowered her eyes and whispered, “Hurry back and change your clothes.”

After he turned and left, Madam Chu watched his retreating figure, a hint of distraction in her eyes.

Someone nearby remarked enviously, “The Marquis and his Madam truly have a wonderful relationship…”

Only then did she snap back to attention, offering a faint smile as she exchanged pleasantries with the person, gracefully and properly receiving the guests.

Not long after, an announcement was heard: Princess Qingya had arrived.

Qingya was dressed in a long goose-yellow gown with a cloak draped over her shoulders. Her delicate face was lightly powdered, adding a touch of softness to her elegance.

She often visited the Marquis’s Mansion and was quite familiar with Madam Chu. After exchanging a few words with Madam Chu, she was about to go find Luo Yi’er when she spotted Luo Qiyan among the guests on the other side.

She lightly bit her cherry lips, her little thoughts no longer concealed. Her gaze kept drifting toward Luo Qiyan. Sensing her gaze, Luo Qiyan turned and met her shy eyes.

He paused, a gentle expression appearing on his face. After excusing himself from the others, he walked toward her.

Qingya lightly twisted a corner of her cloak. As that jade-like figure drew nearer, a blush spread across her cheeks.

A sense of shyness made her want to retreat, yet her feet seemed rooted to the spot, and she remained motionless.

Seeing the young lady’s somewhat restless hands, Luo Qiyan’s eyes revealed a hint of amusement, and his expression grew even gentler.

He stopped three steps away from her and was about to bow when she anxiously interrupted, “Second Young Master Luo, there’s no need for formalities.”

Luo Qiyan paused. Looking up, he saw the blush on the young lady’s delicate face, and his heart stirred slightly.

He clenched the hand hidden behind his back, suppressing the flutter in his heart, and smiled warmly: “Qiyan will escort Your Highness to find Yi’er.”

Qingya had waited for so long, only to hear these words. Unconcealed disappointment flickered in her eyes, but upon seeing the gentle man before her, her heart filled again with joy. She lowered her head, revealing her fair, slender neck, and said softly:

“I was just about to find Yi’er. Then I’ll trouble Second Young Master Luo.”

She slowly uttered the words “Second Young Master Luo,” her heart filled with joy but also tinged with a touch of bitterness.

She never used formal self-address in front of him, yet to this day, she had never received from him the words, “Just call me Qiyan.”

Silently, she repeated the two characters “Qiyan” in her heart.

In truth, she had already called them countless times in her mind but had never been able to say them openly even once. She lightly bit her cherry lips again.

She raised her almond-shaped eyes to look at the man before her. He had just finished speaking with someone else, and when he turned back, the tenderness in his eyes deepened even further.

She blinked. It was precisely this tenderness that made her feel there was something special about his regard for her. She always believed that, in his eyes, she was different from others.

Yet, she dared not confess her feelings to him, afraid she might have misinterpreted his intentions and that speaking out would only lead to awkwardness in future meetings.

Whether Luo Qiyan was aware of her thoughts or not, he simply spoke to her gently, leading her toward Yunxia Courtyard.

Zhu Qing followed behind his young master, glancing at the two figures walking side by side. They seemed like a match made in heaven. Regarding his young master’s feelings, he had an inkling, after all, it wasn’t the princess’s first time visiting the Marquis’s Mansion. It wasn’t as if she couldn’t find Yunxia Courtyard on her own.

Even if she couldn’t, it wasn’t as if there were no others who could escort her.

Yet, his young master had left behind his colleagues and guests, only to guide one person.

Zhu Qing scratched his head, feeling somewhat restless, and lowered his head, unwilling to think further.

Luo Qiyan stopped near a bamboo grove not far from Yunxia Courtyard. A flicker of hesitation passed through his eyes, but when he turned to Qingya, only gentle warmth remained: “Yunxia Courtyard is just ahead. Your Highness may proceed on your own. Qiyan will return now.”

Qingya felt a pang of disappointment. Seeing him about to turn and leave, she instinctively reached out and grasped his hand.

Only when he stopped in surprise did she realize what she had done. Flustered, she released him, her cheeks flushing crimson, and stammered, “I… I…”

Luo Qiyan looked at her, his hands clenching and unclenching inside his sleeves. His brows remained gentle as he spoke slowly, “Your Highness, don’t rush. Take your time.”

Qingya suddenly fell silent, simply looking up at him. A complex mix of emotions flickered in her eyes.

Under his gaze, she always felt an impulse to lay bare all her thoughts.

She wanted to tell him that she adored him, that every time she saw him, her heart overflowed with joy.

She wanted to ask him if his feelings were the same.

But she tightened her grip on her handkerchief, then loosened it, and finally lowered her head in defeat. When she looked up again, she forced a faint smile: “Farewell, Second Young Master Luo.”

Luo Qiyan let go, smiling warmly as he turned and left.

Qingya stayed where she was, watching as he disappeared around the corner of the rockery without a backward glance.

She lowered her head, and only when the maid behind her softly called out did she look up and whisper, “Let’s go.”

Meanwhile, on the other side, Luo Qiyan leaned against the rockery, coughing with a flushed face. One hand rested on the rockery, the veins on the back of his hand standing out.

His frame seemed even more frail and thin. After an unknown amount of time, his coughing finally subsided.

Beside him, Zhu Qing was so anxious he was almost in tears. But Luo Qiyan just leaned weakly against the rockery, his lips pale, a sickly pallor tingeing his face.

He tilted his head slightly to look toward the bamboo grove, then lowered his gaze, hiding the emotions within.

After a long moment, he used Zhu Qing’s arm to stand up. Seeing Zhu Qing’s tearful expression, he let out a soft, helpless laugh: “Why cry?”

Hearing his weak voice, Zhu Qing couldn’t hold back his tears anymore: “Young master, if you truly like the princess, go tell the Marquis! The Marquis can petition the Emperor! His Majesty will surely agree!”

Luo Qiyan’s smile froze, then gradually faded. Seeing his expression, Zhu Qing cried even harder.

After another long silence, Luo Qiyan lifted his gaze with a faint smile and began walking toward the front courtyard, speaking calmly, “With this failing body of mine, why delay her…?”

Zhu Qing wanted to say more, but he cut him off: “Enough. Let’s go quickly. The front courtyard is still busy.”

He withdrew his gaze from the bamboo grove and headed toward the front courtyard without looking back.

Zhu Qing wiped his tears, suppressing the ache in his heart as he followed behind him.

Luo Qiyan walked ahead, his spine straight as he moved step by step. But the hand clasped behind his back was tightly clenched.

The gentle smile he usually wore had completely vanished. A trace of bitterness flickered in his eyes, and he barely managed to tug at the corner of his mouth.

How could he not want to say it?

Every time he saw her wanting to approach but not daring to, it took all his strength to keep his heartache from showing.

She was a princess, deeply favored by the Emperor.
Who could she not be matched with?
Why waste her time on a worthless person like him?

It wasn’t that he didn’t want to, but that he wasn’t worthy.

She shouldn’t be delayed by a worthless person like him…

Luo Qiyan felt his steps grow heavier. Suddenly, he stumbled, nearly falling to the ground.

Fortunately, Zhu Qing behind him caught him in time. Zhu Qing’s face was full of alarm: “Young Master, what’s wrong?”

His expression calm, he waved a hand, supporting himself as he stood up. His voice was slightly hoarse, as if he hadn’t spoken for a long time: “I’m fine.”

He withdrew his hand from Zhu Qing’s grasp and walked ahead alone.

Zhu Qing stared blankly at his retreating figure, murmuring, “Young Master…”