Di Daughter's Strategy - Chapter 59

Chapter 59

As if favored by heaven, the thick layer of dark clouds from yesterday had now dispersed. Strands of sunlight, carrying a hint of warmth, streamed down.

Luo Yi’er was draped in a cloak, its upper part entirely lined with red fox fur, making her jade-like complexion appear even fairer.

She walked a few steps behind Fang Jinling, following at a leisurely pace. The man’s back was tall and straight; the hem of his dark, sleek robe occasionally lifted by the cold wind. Having shed his usual aloofness, he occasionally glanced back.

Both were well-acquainted with the route and soon approached the Imperial Garden.

However, when passing by the osmanthus grove—though it was now withered and bare, both paused briefly. Wei Feng and Pansi and the others retreated a few steps, following at a distance.

Luo Yi’er’s eyelashes fluttered slightly. She curved her lips, seemingly curious: “Your Highness, how did you learn of this humble daughter’s birthday back then?”

It was precisely that jade pendant that seemed to have improved their relationship, unlike their previous encounters where they merely nodded and exchanged formalities.

“Out of curiosity, I sent someone to investigate.”

She had always been doted on in the Marquis’s mansion, so how could her birthday have never been celebrated?

The year she first entered the palace, he hadn’t received an invitation. Only in her second year in the palace did he recall the matter.

Since it wasn’t a secret, he sent someone to inquire and immediately found out.

Luo Yi’er lightly pursed her lips, a faint ripple stirring in her eyes. Prince Jing had always been of a cold, detached nature; why would he suddenly become curious about someone else?

He even sent someone to ask about her birthday and prepared a birthday gift for it.

She discreetly twisted her handkerchief, yet a trace of bitterness welled in her heart. When had he developed feelings for her?
She had to admit, it troubled her deeply.

She had no desire to carry another person’s emotions, even if that person was the original owner of this body, even if she was now the one benefiting.

That faint sense of something stuck in her throat wasn’t something Prince Wen’s kindness toward her, due to the original owner, could alleviate.

As for the reason, perhaps she knew, but she didn’t want to delve deeper.

Fang Jinling stopped and turned to look at her. The young lady stood with lowered gaze, her hands holding her handkerchief properly as she stood before him. Yet, for some reason, a touch of distance had emerged just moments ago.

Fang Jinling frowned almost imperceptibly, a shadow flickering in his eyes: “What is Yi’er thinking?”

He knew that due to some concerns, her heart remained closed off, unwilling to emerge. But she never spoke directly, so he couldn’t guess.

Even if he asked outright, the young lady might not say. Facing several hundred thousand troops from Xiliang hadn’t seemed difficult, yet now, merely seeing the young lady’s somewhat subdued expression before him, he felt utterly helpless.

Looking up and seeing his expression, Luo Yi’er was taken aback, then couldn’t help but laugh softly.

She raised a finger to lightly cover her lips with a smile, deftly changing the subject, “Yi’er was momentarily distracted. I hope Your Highness does not mind.”

Fang Jinling seemed to let out an almost imperceptible sigh. The smile at the corner of

Luo Yi’er’s lips stiffened slightly as the man beside her spoke, carrying a hint of barely detectable helplessness: “If Yi’er has anything to ask, you may do so directly. There is no need for hesitation.”

The light in Luo Yi’er’s eyes grew even more shallow. Her hand holding the handkercher curled slightly, but in the end, she didn’t voice the question.

She smiled gently and said, “Yi’er understands.”

A flicker of disappointment passed through Fang Jinling’s eyes. In the end, it was still like this. His thin lips pressed into a straight line before he finally said, “That is good.”

The two continued forward, though the atmosphere seemed somewhat tense. It was then, as they passed by the pavilion in the Imperial Garden, that they faintly heard people inside discussing Prince Wen and the Marquis of Qi’s mansion.

By the time they passed that spot, they had already reached the rear palace’s plum grove.

Luo Yi’er reached out and plucked a petal, as if casually chatting, “Now that my Fourth Sister is about to enter Prince Wen’s mansion as a Side Consort, what does Your Highness think?”

Fang Jinling seemed to sense something, his gaze darkening.

The words he uttered were somewhat stiff and sharp: “What should I think?”

Luo Yi’er didn’t look up at him; her movements didn’t change at all as she casually switched topics, “I heard that in Prince Yu’s mansion, the Side Consort entered first and is greatly favored by Prince Yu, having long overshadowed the Principal Consort. Now, Princess Heyi has also entered as a Side consort…”

“Luo Yi’er!” Fang Jinling frowned fiercely, suppressing a thread of anger in his voice as he interrupted her.

Luo Yi’er’s movement paused. The petal she had been holding all along fell from her hand. She stared somewhat dazedly at the fallen petal.

Fang Jinling looked at her somewhat stiff back, closed his eyes for a moment, and spoke word by word, “I am not him. Once you enter Prince Jing’s mansion, no one can surpass you.”

The young woman before him lowered her gaze, her voice extremely soft, yet it suddenly chilled Fang Jinling’s eyes: “Your Highness’s words imply an intention to take concubines?”

His nature had always been aloof and detached; even with myriad emotions, others couldn’t discern them.

Yet now, his anger was evident. The hand behind his back clenched tightly as he looked at the young woman before him, his gaze growing colder and colder.

Finally, he said flatly, “What does Yi’er want me to promise you?”

The young lady’s expression didn’t change, only a slight furrow appeared between her brows as she carefully chose her words, as if discussing with him: “Yi’er dares not. But if Your Highness truly intends this, could you first discuss it with Yi’er?”

Before even entering the Prince’s mansion, she was already being so magnanimous, displaying the demeanor of a great household’s principal wife.

Yet, looking at her, he felt increasingly uncomfortable inside. He could still recall the young lady’s flushed cheeks in the Marquis’s mansion’s plum grove.

His expression cooled inch by inch, a note of sarcasm entering his words,

“The Marquis’s mansion educates well, no jealousy, no envy. Truly a model principal wife.”

Luo Yi’er’s face instantly lost all color. The fingertips clutching her handkerchief turned white, her pink lips pressed tightly together.

Fang Jinling’s heart ached slightly, wanting to apologize for his earlier words, yet he found the words still lingering in his ears extremely grating.

From then on, silence fell between them. Fang Jinling’s expression turned indifferent. He looked deeply at the young woman before him.

He could indulge her in hiding; if her heart held concerns, he was willing to wait. But today’s words, he didn’t want to hear another sentence like them.

Just as he was about to speak, the hand hanging by his side was suddenly grasped. He paused slightly, lowering his gaze to look at the young lady before him.

Luo Yi’er, at some unknown moment, had taken his hand. Her grip was light and small, easily shaken off.

Yet Fang Jinling didn’t move at all; even the anger in his heart unknowingly faded as he watched her quietly.

Luo Yi’er’s eyelashes trembled slightly. In an instant, moisture gathered on her lashes. She lowered her head, her grip small and light, her voice as soft as a newborn kitten’s, carrying a trace of unease: “Yi’er spoke out of turn. I beg Your Highness’s forgiveness.”

Fang Jinling’s heart suddenly lurched. He barely managed to draw the young woman into his embrace.

A flicker of self-blame passed deep in his eyes as he spoke somewhat stiffly, “I apologize. It was I who spoke out of turn.”

Luo Yi’er’s eyelashes trembled, and tears instantly rolled down her cheeks. She still kept her head lowered, but her grip on his hand grew tighter and tighter.

Her voice held a soft, flustered tone: “Yi’er doesn’t know why Your Highness is so good to her. Her heart is uneasy, even fearful. Please don’t be angry, Your Highness.”

He couldn’t see her expression, but this voice tinged with a sob was enough to make the man before her crumble, retreating step by step.

Fang Jinling felt a slight bitterness. The young lady before him was both obedient and fragile. He reached out and gently stroked her dark tresses.

The faint fragrance was intoxicating. His palm was dry and warm. Concealing the deep emotions in his eyes, he spoke word by word, clumsy with words yet sincere and serious, “I have no such intentions.”

“Once you enter the estate, you will be the only one in Prince Jing’s mansion.”

“Yi’er, my heart is pleased with you.”