Di Daughter's Strategy - Chapter 57

Chapter 57

Exactly as Luo Yi’er had guessed, within just a few days, the matter had become the talk of the town outside. Madam Chu had still sent someone to the Prince’s mansion with gifts of gratitude.

What the Prince’s mansion said in response, Luo Yu had no idea. However, during her daily greetings, she remained as humble and obedient as always.

Neither Madam Chu nor Luo Yi’er paid her much attention. Instead, it was Luo Qian who, like Luo Yu, attended the greetings daily these past few days, occasionally casting complex, inscrutable glances at Luo Yu, only to quickly withdraw them whenever Luo Yu looked up in confusion.

Luo Yi’er had even heard that Luo Fu, who had a relatively close relationship with Luo Yu, had once openly mocked and satirized Luo Yu, suggesting that Luo Yu had intentionally fallen into the water.

Just as Luo Yu stood there, ill at ease, Luo Qian happened to pass by and couldn’t help but stop to watch them.

When she heard this news, Luo Yi’er felt increasingly amused. The plot of the original story was something she hardly remembered anymore.

However, after Luo Qian’s rebirth, she had focused all her energy on seeking revenge against Prince Wen and Luo Yi’er.

Her relationship with Prince Jing, for some reason, seemed more like mutual benefit.

Yet, as Luo Yi’er held her teacup, ripples formed slightly on the water’s surface. She lowered her gaze, her expression growing even more indifferent.

Prince Jing had once been the male lead, inexplicably creating a sense of distance in her heart.

The closer it got to the New Year, the colder the weather became. Last night, it had snowed again, falling silently to the ground. By the next morning, the ground was blanketed in white.

On this day, after paying her respects, Luo Yi’er was kept by Madam Chu to review account books. Madam Chu suddenly remarked, “The young ladies are all growing up, and their little thoughts are becoming more numerous.”

The rumors outside the estate naturally reached her. After learning of them, she had someone investigate. Within two days, she knew exactly how the news had spread.

After all, as long as she wanted to know about the small schemes within the estate, they couldn’t remain hidden.

Luo Yi’er took a sip of tea and smiled gently, “His Highness Prince Wen is of noble status, gentle and refined. Naturally, it’s easy for young ladies to admire him.”

A flicker of sarcasm passed through Madam Chu’s eyes: “This admiration is a bit too forceful.”

Without first expressing her feelings to the mistress of the household, she instead spread the news directly, forcing both the Marquis of Qi’s mansion and Prince Wen’s mansion to take action regarding the matter.

“Mother should also understand Fourth Sister’s sense of propriety. How could she easily reveal her true thoughts?”

Luo Yi’er turned a page of the account book before her, raising her head with curved eyes to smile at Madam Chu.

Madam Chu gave a slight tug at the corner of her mouth, offering no comment on this indirect approach.

Women’s circumstances were humble. Regarding Luo Yu’s desire to secure a good future for herself, Madam Chu didn’t harbor much dissatisfaction.

However, Luo Yu was not very discerning in her choice. Among the many young masters from prominent families who had come to the mansion that day, she had to run into Prince Wen.

Even if Prince Wen appeared gentle and approachable, having stood firm in the imperial court for so many years, how could he be a simple character?

The Marquis’s mansion naturally aligned itself with Prince Jing. These concubine-born daughters, unwilling to accept their lot, insisted on creating a connection between the mansion and Prince Wen.

If Prince Jing were displeased, how would the Marquis’s mansion explain itself to him?

How would Yi’er handle the situation in the future?

The path before Luo Yu was straightforward.

One option was exactly as Luo Yi’er had suggested that day, take no action and wait for the matter to fade into obscurity.

However, she had great ambitions in her heart and was naturally dissatisfied with this. With her own little maneuvers, she had stirred the matter into a frenzy.

Now, three other paths remained.

First, she could be sent to a country estate belonging to the Marquis’s household, perhaps to live a life of quiet solitude. But judging by her actions, she definitely wouldn’t choose this path.

Second, she could marry into a family far from the capital. If that was what she wanted, she wouldn’t have stirred up such a commotion.

The third option was to wait for word from Prince Wen’s mansion and enter his household as a concubine.

She would certainly be satisfied with this outcome.
However… the Marquis’s mansion would never form any connection with Prince Wen’s mansion.

She would essentially be giving up the support of the Marquis’s household. And as for herself, how could she possibly catch Prince Wen’s eye?

A flicker of light passed through Luo Yi’er’s eyes. She wasn’t concerned about Luo Yu’s little schemes. Luo Yu’s situation was merely the same as Luo Qian’s in her previous life.

However, she was a bit cleverer. Yet, Prince Wen might not be satisfied with her, because what he wanted was a consort who was easy to control.

Therefore, Luo Yu’s actions had actually placed her at a disadvantage.

She couldn’t be bothered to worry about these matters. However, one thing suddenly came to mind, Luo Qian’s actions in the Cihui Hall that day.

Her fingers lightly tracing the account books paused slightly. Pinching her fingertips gently, she lowered her gaze with a soft laugh:

“Mother, Eldest Sister isn’t young anymore either.”

Madam Chu paused, shifting her thoughts away from the matter of Luo Yu and looking at her. Luo Yi’er raised her eyes to meet her with a faint smile, and Madam Chu understood her meaning.

Indeed, Luo Qian wasn’t young anymore. Almost two years had passed since her coming-of-age ceremony.

However, she had been too inconspicuous in the Marquis’s estate before, and the ceremony hadn’t been grand, so not many families had come to propose marriage.

But then she remembered Luo Qian’s recent series of actions, and her expression grew even more indifferent. In that case, this matter should also be put on the agenda.

Luo Yi’er then lowered her gaze to the account book, the smile at the corner of her lips deepening.

She had always been narrow-minded; the incident in the Cihui Hall that day had remained fresh in her memory.

That night, Madam Chu discussed this matter with Luo Yu’an. Luo Yu’an simply said everything was up to her and didn’t inquire further.

Afterward, the estate began making arrangements for the Eldest Miss’s marriage.

When this news reached the various masters in the mansion, their reactions varied.

In Luoyun Pavilion, Luo Qian had just received this news when her face suddenly changed dramatically.

After her rebirth, the reason she had targeted Luo Yi’er instead of Prince Wen was simply that the only person she could come into contact with was Luo Yi’er.

If she were really betrothed, she wouldn’t even be able to see Luo Yi’er, let alone talk about avenging her previous life.

Moreover, the Old Madam’s birthday had just passed not long ago. For the mansion to suddenly bring up her marriage at this time must be related to Luo Yi’er.

That person always pretended to be gentle and magnanimous but was actually the most vindictive.
How could she easily let her off?

Suddenly, she remembered her previous life, she had been rescued by Prince Wen and married into his estate.

Now, this had happened again, but this time it had happened to her fourth sister. When she saw Prince Wen rescuing Luo Yu from the water, that was the third time she had seen him since her rebirth.

He remained unchanged, yet she couldn’t describe the feelings in her heart, complex and obscure, full of clear hatred, yet mixed with an indescribable sense of melancholy and regret.

She sat dazedly in Luoyun Pavilion. Biyu stood by her side, watching quietly without speaking.

Leaving aside Luo Fu’s reaction for now, when Luo Yu received this news, a trace of joy rose in her heart.

Why arrange her eldest sister’s marriage at this particular time?

There must be a reason. She couldn’t guess anything else, only knowing that there was one thing happening now, the matter between her and Prince Wen.

She still had three elder sisters ahead of her. Logically, she would have to wait until the eldest sister married before it would be her turn.

Arranging the eldest sister’s marriage at this critical juncture made her think twice.

However, this joy didn’t last long. Within a few days, all her connections within the mansion were severed.

In the past, when there had been no movement, Madam Chu, busy with many affairs, might not have noticed. But now, with activity stirring, it had caught her eye and been uprooted completely.

After all, the matter with Luo Yu had indeed displeased her somewhat.

The connections within the mansion were merely a warning Madam Chu gave to Luo Yu.

Luo Yu no longer felt any joy. Even if she entered Prince Wen’s mansion, with her background, being a side consort would be the highest she could aspire to.

Although she could break away from the Marquis’s mansion, she was well aware that without the support of her maternal family, she would struggle to advance within the Prince’s mansion.

Moreover, her mother was still in the Marquis’s mansion.