Di Daughter's Strategy - Chapter 7

Chapter 7

Hongdou just got the news and hurried back to report, didn’t see Madam Chu just left Fang Yun Hall, only walked to the back garden and stopped.

Madam Chu turned her head to look at the peony tree in the garden, bright and gorgeous red, her eyes seemed a bit dazed.
Madam Chu’s father used to be the crown prince’s tutor, later the crown prince ascended the throne, the Chu family also rose with the tide, many people wanted to marry Chu family’s daughter, the Chu family’s doorstep was almost worn out. Her elder sister became the queen, and she and the current emperor were childhood friends. There were too few women in the court more noble than her.

Her beauty was unparalleled, the older she got, the more alert and guarded her elder sister became. After Madam Chu’s father ascended the throne, he feared his daughters would turn against each other, and knowing the deep palace was like a well, he pitied his youngest daughter and immediately sought a marriage for her. She and the Marquis got to know each other in the June sky, when peonies were in full bloom.

After their wedding, he planted a garden full of peonies for her, but now the scenery remained the same, yet people were not as they used to be.

Zhang Momo supported her arm: “Madam?”

Madam Chu was nearly forty now, but her appearance showed no signs of aging. She lowered her eyes, remained silent for a long time, and then spoke: “Let’s go back.”

“What about the South Garden?”

“Tell the Marquis I’m tired today.”

The maidservant beside her bowed and then ran towards the South Garden.

Madam Chu held a handkerchief in one hand and leaned on Zhang Momo, walking steadily back. Zhang Momo breathed a sigh of relief: “This is the way it should be. You’re of such high status; how could you lower yourself to go to the South Garden?”

After she finished speaking, Madam Chu looked at the scenery all over the courtyard and said, “One branch alone is too monotonous, it’s more lively with a hundred flowers blooming.” She seemed to be speaking from her heart, and after saying that, she didn’t wait for Zhang Momo to respond before continuing, “Alright, go back and wait.”

A group of servants followed behind her, their heads bowed extremely low, without making a single sound as they walked. They didn’t understand the lady’s words, but they knew the Madam loved quietness the most.

Crossing over the moon gate and entering the South Garden, there was a main house with six side rooms. The courtyard was filled with a patch of peach trees. Concubine Su loved peach blossoms and would often pull the Marquis to the peach forest for some intimate moments when the moon was high in the sky.

At this moment, the South Garden was not filled with the usual laughter and joy, but instead, there was a suppressed, delicate sobbing sound.
Concubine Su sat on the bed, her long black hair scattered over her shoulders, her almond-shaped eyes and cherry lips, holding a handkerchief to wipe away her tears, occasionally sniffing, looking pitifully beautiful.

She covered her chest with one hand, seemingly overwhelmed, and looked at the man sitting on the Kang with a pair of beautiful, sorrowful eyes.

Marquis Qi, Luo Yu’an, sat calmly on the Kang, his tall and straight figure, handsome face, and years of tempering gave him an air of elegance. Concubine Su was too busy crying to notice the subtle coldness in his eyes as he listened silently to her sobbing words:

“Marquis, I didn’t discover that I was poisoned until two years after I entered the Mansion. Who in the Marquis mansion has such skills? It’s the Madam who harmed me!”

As Jin Su entered the South Garden, Concubine Su’s maidservants tried to block her. Her face sank, “The Madam told me to deliver a message to the Marquis, how dare you block me?”

When a concubine enters the Mansion, she only brings a small package, and all the maidservants are assigned later by the mansion. Madam Chu’s authority is deep-rooted, and those slaves looked at each other and didn’t dare to block her again. After all, they were just the Marquis’ slaves.

Only the side room wasn’t that easy to enter. The Marquis’s close attendant, Rong De, stood there. Jin Su saw him and bowed slightly. Rong De was familiar with the maidservants from Fangyun Hall and knew at a glance that Jin Su was there to pass on a message from the madam. He knocked on the tightly closed door behind him: “Marquis, someone from Fang Yun Hall has arrived.”

A low, mellow voice came from inside the room: “Come in.”

Jin Su walked in without looking sideways, seemingly ignoring Su Yi’niwng’s pitiful appearance. She bowed deeply to Luo Yu’an and said respectfully: “Marquis, the madam says she’s a bit tired today and won’t be coming to the South Garden.”

Concubine Su’s eyes widened in reaction, her response was more intense: “Marquis! The madam must be guilty, that’s why she dare not come over.”

Luo Yu’an lowered his eyes, seemingly unaware of Concubine Su’s words, after a long while, he responded in a low voice: “I understand, tell the madam to rest well.”

Jin Su bowed slightly and turned to leave.

Concubine Su couldn’t believe the Marquis was taking this matter lightly. Her crying became more sincere, and after crying for so long without a reaction from the Marquis, she felt a growing sense of fear and uncertainty. She called out weakly: “Marquis…”

Luo Yu’an finally looked up at her, the coldness in his eyes was evident. Concubine Su’s shivered under his gaze, and her crying stopped momentarily.

“It’s because I’ve spoiled you too much, making you forget your place.”

Knowing he was displeased, Concubine Su’s body went limp, and she slid from the bed to her knees, her weak body prostrating at Luo Yu’an’s feet. She said tremblingly: “Marquis, I was just heartbroken because I couldn’t bear you a child, and I made a slip of the tongue. Please forgive me!”

Luo Yu’an kicked away her hand, stood up, and stood with his hands behind his back, looking down at her with cold eyes: “Remember, the madam’s crimes are not for you to judge.”

He spoke in a calm tone without any hint of anger, Concubine Su’s only felt the chill in her heart growing stronger, her voice trembled: “I remember, Marquis.”

Luo Yu’an turned and left directly, stopping at the door and saying in a light tone: “Concubine Su speaks recklessly, confine her to her quarters for a month.”

Concubine Su looked as if she had misheard, her face turned paler than when she was crying, her body swayed, and she collapsed to the ground, sobbing and crying, biting her lip tightly to avoid crying loudly, afraid of incurring the Marquis’s displeasure again.

Rong De, standing aside, also heard the Marquis’s words and couldn’t help but glance at Concubine Su, feeling a sense of sympathy. He thought that despite being spoiled for so long, Concubine Su still didn’t understand how to gauge the Marquis’s mood and didn’t know her place.

The relationship between the madam and the Marquis was that of a young couple, and the madam had given birth to two sons and a daughter for the Marquis.
In the Marquis’s heart, he respected the madam.

As for the other concubines, the Marquis treated them like playthings in the front courtyard, only paying attention to them when he felt like it.
Concubine Su attempt to rival the madam was like an egg hitting a rock, overestimating herself.

After Luo Yu’an left, the South Garden was quiet for a long time. Concubine Su’s maidservant, Hong Yu, walked in, looking worriedly at Su’s and wanting to help her up: “Concubine…”

Concubine Su sat on the ground, and after a long while, she said in a hoarse voice: “Tell the eldest miss, tell her I agree.”

Hong Yu’s expression changed slightly, and she couldn’t help but say: “Concubine should think twice, the eldest miss is just an unfavored illegitimate daughter.”

“A daughter who isn’t favored can still know things I don’t know, she’s not simple.”

Hong Yu wanted to advise again, but was interrupted by Concubine Su: “Don’t say anymore, do as I say.”

Hong Yu frowned and responded in a low voice. Since she was assigned to serve Concubine Su, she had been bound to her fate with Concubine Su. The next moment, she saw Concubine Su raise her charming face and whisper: “…now she’s not favored, but who knows what the future holds.”

She looked through the window at the peach forest, her heart filled with sourness and jealousy.
Favor?
How she was favored in the past was just a joke now.

Luo Yu’an came out of the South Garden and stood with his hands behind his back as he crossed the moon gate. Rong De, following behind him, looked up: “Marquis?”

He gazed in the direction of Fang Yun Hall, and Rong De glanced at the Marquis’s expressionless face, then remained silent.
He sighed inwardly, thinking that the Marquis must have taken Concubine Su’s words to heart.

After all, except for the madam, no one else in the mansion had given birth to a son. Although no one had mentioned it before, and the Marquis pretended not to know, it’s likely he was aware deep down.

Luo Yu’an rubbed his temples and walked towards Fang Yun Hall.
Rong De followed silently behind him.

In Fang Yun Hall, Madam Chu had just taken off her outer garment and was leaning on the soft couch when she heard the voice outside saying, “Marquis.” She opened her eyes and saw Luo Yu’an walking in. When he saw her lying down, he paused for a moment before walking over and sitting beside her.

Luo Yu’an’s eyes were deep and profound as he looked at her tired face. He reached out with his large hand and touched her forehead, then said in a low voice: “Tired?”

There was a hint of concern in his voice that was hard to detect. Madam Chu leaned against the sandalwood-carved couch, looking at Luo Yu’an’s mature and handsome face. She turned her body and leaned her head against his chest, responding softly: “Mm.”

Luo Yu’an held her, gently patting her back with his other hand. He spoke calmly about the matter in the South Garden: “I’ve confined Concubine Su to her quarters.”

The room was silent for a moment before Madam Chu looked up at him: “Won’t you investigate further?”

“It’s not necessary.” After saying this, he took off his shoes and lay down beside Madam Chu, holding her in his arms: “Take a nap.”
Seeing Madam Chu still looking at him, he lowered his head and added: “I’m here.”

Madam Chu felt a surge of sadness in her heart, and she buried her head deeply in Luo Yu’an’s chest. Thinking about the favors Concubine Su had received over the years, a hint of irony rose in her heart, but she didn’t know who it was directed towards.

She didn’t know if his “not necessary” was because he trusted her or because he already knew what he wanted to know.
Either way, it didn’t matter.

From the moment the incident in the South Garden was made public, Concubine Su’s fate was sealed. The Marquis wasn’t someone who acted on emotions. For concubines, aside from beauty, the only way to secure their position was through bearing children. Since Concubine Su couldn’t conceive, her outcome was predetermined. The Marquis wouldn’t make things difficult for his main wife over such a concubine.

Madam Chu fell asleep without realizing it, her beauty serene and peaceful. Luo Yu’an, however, kept his eyes open, watching her quietly. He suddenly remembered the day Madam Chu gave birth prematurely, the constant basins of bloody water being carried out of the delivery room, her weak and painful cries, completely overturning the image of the proud and flamboyant woman he had known.

It was then that he realized the harem had gradually changed her, and he was the one who brought about this change.

He and she were truly husband and wife, the ones who would support each other through life.

After Luo Yi’er woke up from her nap, she heard from Linglong about what had happened in the mansion.

She raised her eyebrows in surprise. Although she knew her mother would be fine, she hadn’t expected the matter to pass so calmly.
After all, her father had indeed spoiled the woman in the South Garden.

However, the woman in the South Garden seemed to have overestimated herself. Her eyes flickered slightly as she called Linglong over and whispered a few words in her ear.

Linglong’s eyes widened in surprise, and she nodded before hurrying off to take care of the matter.