Di Daughter's Strategy - Chapter 53

Chapter 53

Luo Qiyan’s thoughts were somewhat perceived by Luo Yi’er, but she had no intention of making decisions for others.

Every choice should be made by oneself. Whether it leads to sorrow or joy, as long as one feels it is worth it and without regret, that is what matters.

However, Luo Yi’er looked at Qingya, who was sitting beside her and smiling, a profound light flickering in her eyes.

She sighed inwardly, then stood up with the support of Pansi’s hand, speaking gently, “Your Highness, please come with me to see my grandmother.”

Today was the Old Madam’s birthday celebration. Since the Princess had come, it was only fitting for her to lead the princess to pay respects.

As for the series of events that had occurred earlier in the Cihui Hall, Luo Yi’er’s gaze remained indifferent. Family shame would not be aired in public.

If there were no younger generations present in the Cihui Hall when seen by outsiders, what kind of spectacle would that be?

Therefore, regardless of whether Luo Yu’an explicitly stated it or not, Luo Yi’er would still go.

Qingya was clearly distracted, listlessly following Luo Yi’er and naturally agreeing to whatever she said.

Although she was born deep within the palace, there were few princesses in the imperial family. She had been doted on by her emperor father since childhood, and her own mother belonged to Consort Li’s faction.

Now that Consort Li was in charge of the harem, she treated Qingya exceptionally well. Qingya had hardly suffered any hardships since she was young.

Thus, compared to Fang Jinling and Fang Jinyu and others, she sometimes seemed strangely unaccustomed to palace life, carrying a trace of innocent delight that should not appear in someone of her station.

Luo Yi’er glanced sideways and suddenly noticed that the hairpin in Qingya’s bun was slightly askew. She leaned over, reached out, and straightened it for her.

In places no one else could see, a complex, inscrutable emotion flickered in Yi’er’s eyes, but by the time she withdrew her hand, all her emotions had dissolved into serene gentleness.

She led Qingya to the Cihui Hall. Luo Qian and the others had also arrived. Although Luo Yu’an had specifically warned Luo Qian, on a day like today, it was natural for Luo Qian to be present as well, so she stood inside with her head lowered.

A servant lifted the curtain, and she entered arm-in-arm with Qingya. When the Old Madam saw her, there was a moment of unease.

Yi’er offered a gentle, soft smile, curtsied gracefully to the old madam, then walked lightly to her side. She knelt beside her, speaking in a soft, clinging voice, offering many words of blessing.

Gradually, the Old Madam’s heart softened. Stroking Yi’er’s dark hair, her unease faded, and a slight smile touched the wrinkles at the corners of her eyes.

Many ladies had also gathered in the Cihui Hall. Seeing that Princess Qingya had come, they silently noted the remarkable connections of the marquis’s estate’s legitimate daughter.

After rising to greet Qingya, they all smiled and praised the deep affection between grandmother and granddaughter.

Luo Yi’er curved her eyes, accepting these compliments with gentle obedience. Seeing this, the old madam beside her felt even more remorseful, only able to tightly grasp her hand.

Yi’er’s heart wavered slightly, then suddenly understood something. She lowered her head with a soft smile, though thinking of Madam Chu, who was still in the front courtyard, she couldn’t help but sigh inwardly.

These ladies had also brought their own daughters, all of whom were hosted by Luo Yi’er. Qingya grew bored staying here. Not long after, Madam Chu also arrived at the Cihui Hall.

It was the Old Madam’s birthday; no matter how busy the front courtyard was, as the daughter-in-law, it would be improper for her not to be by her side.

After her arrival, someone smiled and said, “With all these young ladies here, they might feel constrained. Why not let them go out and enjoy themselves on their own?”

Hearing this person’s words, many young ladies from prominent families brightened up. After all, accompanying elders in small talk could be rather tedious.

Madam Chu smiled graciously and elegantly, turning to instruct Luo Yi’er, “Take good care of the young ladies from each family. Do not be impolite.”

Luo Yi’er stood up and curtsied: “Yi’er understands.”

Following Qingya at the front, the young ladies slowly withdrew, and the full room instantly lost some of its vivid color.

Outside the Cihui Hall, the group divided into several smaller parties. Luo Yi’er exchanged a few words and laughs with them before leaving with Qingya.

In fact, it had snowed heavily just yesterday. However, the Marquis’s mansion servants had risen early to clear the paths, so every small road throughout the estate was already walkable.

Luo Yi’er, leading her attendants, guided Qingya toward the rear garden, eventually stopping in a plum grove not far from Yunxia Courtyard.

Qingya raised a hand to stroke a plum blossom branch, suddenly feeling inspired, her eyes bright, “Yi’er, why not play a tune? I’ll accompany you on the flute!”

Amidst the white expanse dotted with clusters of red plum blossoms, the beauty in yellow robes smiled with curved eyes.

Luo Yi’er also felt a rare spark of interest and turned to order someone to fetch the zither and flute.

The zither was placed beneath the plum grove. Luo Yi’er sat leaning against the brown tree trunk, above her head the proud, blazing red winter plum blossoms.

Qingya sat beside her, holding a long flute, gently blowing against her lips. She lowered her gaze, the earlier trace of a smile fading, and in that moment of bowing her head, a tenderness emerged that tugged at the heartstrings.

The lingering, melodious notes of the zither rose. In the plum grove, two young women sat casually.

A few red plum blossoms seemed to drift down. The zither and flute harmonized. Several people who had just arrived not far away gradually paused, stopping at the pavilion to gaze over.

Fang Jinling stood beneath the pavilion, his gaze deep as he watched the young woman in red beneath the plum trees.

She tilted her head slightly, lowering her eyes to gently stroke the zither strings, her exquisite profile tinged with serene gentleness.

From time to time, she turned her head to offer a soft smile to the young woman beside her, every smile and glance full of tenderness.

He had always known her zither skills were exceptional, yet he had never heard them with his own ears, let alone witnessed such a scene.

When her zither artistry became famous throughout the capital, he was far away at the border. During those three years, he was not without regrets.

When he came back to his senses, Luo Yi’er over there had already finished a piece. Qingya’s interest had waned, and she casually handed the long flute to a servant nearby.

Bored, she turned and caught sight of Fang Jinling and Luo Qiheng under the pavilion. Her expression paused as she searched behind the two men.

Not finding the figure she sought, a flicker of disappointment passed through her eyes, though she was somewhat accustomed to it.

She blinked, then leaned close to Luo Yi’er’s ear and whispered something. Luo Yi’er froze, suddenly turning her head to see Fang Jinling and his party.

Understanding dawned instantly—the earlier scene had been witnessed by him. Her cheeks flushed slightly, and she gave Qingya a chiding glare before walking toward the pavilion.

In that short distance, her eyelashes fluttered slightly. Only after smoothing the wrinkles on her sleeves did her thoughts settle somewhat, and she arrived at the pavilion.

Before she could curtsy, Fang Jinling reached out to help her up. Out of the corner of his eye, he noticed her slightly reddened fingertips, his gaze pausing.

Then he saw the young woman before him asking with a soft smile, “Your Highness, why are you here?”

There were many people around the pavilion. After rising, she withdrew her hand. Now standing gracefully before him, she held her handkerchief with both hands.

He stood with his hands clasped behind his back. They stood very close; with a slight lowering of his gaze, he could fully see her occasionally trembling lashes and catch a faint, subtle fragrance.

“Nothing important, just taking a casual stroll,” he said, his voice somewhat cool yet resembling raindrops tapping on tiles, carrying a hint of deep, mellow resonance.

As if by her ear, Luo Yi’er quietly turned her head slightly, concealing her flushed cheeks. Qingya, who had followed Luo Yi’er over, saw this, her eyes sparkling with amusement as she teased, “Not bad at all! Coming out for a casual stroll might even lead to a chance encounter with someone!”

Luo Yi’er’s face reddened as she chided her, “Your Highness, don’t talk nonsense again!”

The two of them were betrothed, so such words were merely playful teasing. Others who heard them would only smile and let it pass—no harm done.

Qingya covered her mouth with a light laugh, not taking back her playful words, but instead saying with a smile, “Whether I’m talking nonsense or not, Yi’er can ask my elder brother.”

Her cheeks were flushed beyond compare. When she raised her eyes in a delicate, chiding look, they carried a hint of shyness.

A flicker of amusement passed through Fang Jinling’s eyes, but he turned his head toward Qingya and said calmly, “Stop teasing her.”

Qingya pouted and gave a soft huff, muttering, “I’m not teasing her…”

This mutter also reached Fang Jinling’s ears. He gave her a calm glance, and Qingya immediately conceded: “Alright, alright, you both protect each other. I’ll go find someone else to play with, is that okay?”

After their visit to Prince Jing’s estate last time, she had consciously started giving them space. Since Third Imperial Brother’s return to the capital, she had gradually realized that Yi’er was, after all, betrothed. Slowly, she no longer often brought Fifth Imperial Brother and Yi’er together.

Luo Qiheng nearby also tactfully excused himself. In an instant, only the two of them remained in the area.

Luo Yi’er twisted her handkerchief and said to him, “Does Your Highness wish to sit in the pavilion or take a stroll in the plum grove?”

Fang Jinling was dressed in his usual black attire today, the robes embroidered with a fine pattern of ferocious pythons, the edges outlined with golden thread, lifelike and vivid.

At his waist hung a piece of mutton-fat white jade, matching the one at Luo Yi’er’s waist to form a pair.

She slowly lifted her gaze and saw Fang Jinling curve his lips slightly, carrying a trace of almost imperceptible tenderness and indulgence as he asked softly, “Does Yi’er still wish to play another tune?”

Luo Yi’er looked up in surprise, thinking he wanted to listen, and was just about to agree when he gently took her hand.

His gaze fell on her fingertips, slightly reddened from the cold weather. She instinctively curled her fingers, whispering in confusion, “Your Highness?”

Fang Jinling glanced down calmly: “Yi’er never takes my words to heart.”

Luo Yi’er’s body tensed slightly, a trace of bewilderment in her beautiful eyes. She looked up at him, puzzled, “Your Highness, what do you mean by that?”

He glanced toward the plum grove, his gaze calmly settling on the zither within, and let out a soft sigh—a mix of helplessness and heartache: “Last time, I already said not to play the zither.”

He had changed his form of address, something Luo Yi’er immediately noticed. She also understood the seriousness in his words—he didn’t want her playing the zither in the cold.

No matter how beautiful the scene, when he saw her reddened fingertips, only a faint sense of pity remained.

Luo Yi’er’s face flushed slightly, and she lowered her head, mumbling softly, “I… forgot for a moment…”

“Are you sure it wasn’t never taken to heart?” Fang Jinling looked down at the crown of her head, his gaze like the sharpest sword, piercing straight to the heart, capable of discerning the deepest thoughts hidden within.

Luo Yi’er suddenly recalled that Mid-Autumn day when, feeling restless and weary, she had set up the zither beneath the plum trees and casually strummed the strings.

She blinked and said, “Naturally, I took it to heart.”

That time was not yet winter, so it couldn’t be counted.

But after speaking these words, the man before her instantly revealed a hint of amusement in his eyes. Only then did she realize what she had said.

In a rush, her cheeks flushed crimson. Embarrassed, she gave him a light tap and lowered her head to chide softly, “Your Highness bullies me…”

The trailing note carried a slight tremble, winding lightly, tugging faintly at the heartstrings.

A shadow of darkness flickered in Fang Jinling’s eyes. He hadn’t originally intended it, but now he couldn’t help wanting to tease her a little more…

However, people were everywhere around them. He couldn’t bear to see her flustered in front of others.

His eyes grew dark and deep as he looked at the top of her head, lowering his voice with a hint of hoarseness, as if holding back a multitude of emotions:

“This isn’t quite bullying yet…”

The slightly raspy voice made one blush, but upon hearing his words clearly, she was momentarily stunned.

If this wasn’t bullying, then what counted as bullying?