Chapter 10. Birds of a feather flock together.

When Jia Baoyu's voice reached Daiyu's ears, she thought she had misheard.

Wang Xifeng reacted quickly. As soon as she heard the noise, she went outside. Before Daiyu could even turn around, she had already grabbed Jia Baoyu.

"Brother Bao is here. We're busy here, so why don't you sit down with the old lady first?" As she spoke, Wang Xifeng quickly gave Ping'er a look, signaling her to go and call Yuanyang over. It was important to take this young master, whom no one dared to offend, away first.

"Sister, let me see Lin Daiyu," Jia Baoyu pleaded tearfully. "Good sister, please don't send someone to call the old lady. Let me say a few words first."

Wang Xifeng had always been on the same side as the old lady and was a staunch supporter of Yu'er. However, with the Emperor bestowing the marriage upon her, the old lady could not say anything else. She could only sigh to Ping'er in private.

Wang Xifeng kindly advised, "Good brother, there will naturally be other days for you to talk to your sister, it's just that she's really too busy right now, you..."

Before they could finish speaking, Jia Baoyu impatiently shouted, "Sister Lin, why aren't you saying anything? Say something, Sister Lin!"

"Even if it's an imperial marriage, does that mean all our past affection has been erased?" Jia Baoyu forcefully pulled away Wang Xifeng's hand, pushed aside the maids including Zijuan who were trying to stop him, and rushed to Daiyu, shouting loudly without regard for anything else, "Sister Lin, do you really have no feelings left at all?"

Hearing these words, Wang Xifeng felt dizzy. Good heavens! She was used to being lawless and unrestrained, but it was one thing to say such things in jest. What was she trying to do by shouting like that? Did she want all the servants in the Rongguo Mansion to come and watch her mistress make a scene?

"What if I say it? What if I don't care? What do you want?" Daiyu looked up at him, her eyes sparkling, her face without a trace of tears.

What can you do?

With tears streaming down his face, Jia Baoyu was stunned for a moment upon hearing Daiyu's series of questions. Overwhelmed with unbearable pain, he cried out again, "At least... at least let's talk some more. Even if we can't be together in life and death, we can still talk..."

Yuanyang had already been summoned by Ping'er. Wang Xifeng, along with the two of them and the maids, hurriedly tried to pull Jia Baoyu away. Jia Baoyu struggled fiercely, crying and shouting incessantly.

Daiyu stood aside, shaking her head helplessly. She could have said such things before, even if Jia Baoyu could never actually do them.

But now that her engagement with Prince Duan is irreversible, saying these things would only cause more trouble and worry.

The best ending for them is to never see each other again.

Although Daiyu had a clear conscience and had never overstepped her bounds, many servants in the Jia family were gossiping about her relationship with Jia Baoyu behind her back, and Daiyu was not unaware of it.

For young ladies, reputation is of utmost importance. If even the slightest rumor reaches the Empress Dowager's ears, it's not just Daiyu who will suffer. Otherwise, the old lady wouldn't be so strict with her most beloved grandson, allowing Lady Wang to confine him to his quarters.

Jia Baoyu's willful behavior pleased him, but he never considered the potential consequences.

Daiyu knew his temperament all along, and the old lady was the first to indulge him, so what could she do?

Seeing that their commotion was getting worse and worse, and that a group of young maids and old women had already gathered outside, Daiyu rubbed her temples with a headache. Just as she was about to speak, she suddenly heard a scream from outside: "Baoyu!"

Daiyu was startled and turned to look. She saw Lady Wang rushing in with Xiren, Yuchuan, and others. She grabbed Jia Baoyu and slapped him across the face.

Everyone in the room was stunned. Madam Wang had actually hit her precious son...

"Didn't I tell you to study quietly and focus? I only glanced at you for a moment, and someone instigated you to run out and cause trouble!" Madam Wang scolded sternly. "Who is this unruly brat! Or has some vixen bewitched you, teaching you to be so unruly and noisy!"

Such veiled criticism makes it clear to everyone who Lady Wang is actually insulting.

Daiyu's face turned pale instantly. She swayed and almost lost her balance, but fortunately, Zijuan caught her young mistress quickly.

Who taught Jia Baoyu to make such a fuss? Who taught Jia Baoyu to say those unruly things?

To distort the truth! To confuse right and wrong!

Such a bad reputation is a devastating blow to a young woman. Daiyu was so angry that her chest ached and her head spun, and she was speechless for a moment.

Having been slapped, Jia Baoyu dared not speak, standing hunched over beside Lady Wang.

Grandmother Jia arrived late, and holding Amber's hand, she said with a gloomy face, "What's all this commotion about now?"

Wang Xifeng rushed over to support her, saying, "How did you disturb the old lady..."

Grandmother Jia interrupted Wang Xifeng, her eyes flashing sharply at Madam Wang: "I may be old, but I'm not senile!"

"Now that Lin is getting married, she will be a member of the royal family. She has a good nature and doesn't care about hierarchy, but we must know what's important." Grandmother Jia's old but still sharp eyes swept over everyone present. "From now on, no one can be disrespectful in front of Miss Lin, and no one can talk nonsense!"

"Anyone who dares to gossip and whose words reach my ears will be punished severely!" Grandmother Jia declared decisively.

In front of her mother-in-law, Madam Wang could only swallow her anger. She was panting heavily, feeling extremely indignant. Had she said something wrong? Wasn't it the Lin family's maid who was seducing Baoyu? Over the years, this wild girl from the Lin family had made Baoyu only have eyes for her, and he had even forgotten his own mother!

Just as Lady Wang was feeling indignant, she was glared at by Grandmother Jia: "What are you still standing here for! Hurry up and take Baoyu back!"

Madam Wang suppressed her anger and said, "Yes."

Grandmother Jia, mindful of her son and grandson, didn't want to embarrass her any further, so she said, "Let's all disperse."

Seeing that everyone was about to leave, and the matter was about to be glossed over, Daiyu spoke up: "Wait, I have something to say..."

Grandmother Jia frowned and said, "Yu'er..."

Daiyu ignored her and continued, "Grandma, I was peacefully in my own room, and all the maids and nannies in the room were watching me. For no reason at all, they all came here and made a scene. I have no idea why."

"From now on, I don't want to be bothered by irrelevant people anymore." Daiyu looked at Madam Wang with a cold gaze.

Madam Wang's face flushed red with anger: "You..."

Daiyu indifferently looked away, standing tall and proud.

She can throw mud at Daiyu as she pleases, but is Daiyu not allowed to fight back?

Why should Daiyu suffer such an undeserved calamity!

Grandmother Jia understood Daiyu's meaning and couldn't help but sigh. Lin Daiyu really couldn't bear even the slightest grievance. It was also because her second son's wife was too troublesome; now that the second branch of the family and Lin Daiyu had fallen so far, it wouldn't be easy to mend things later. She was still counting on Daiyu, this princess, to protect the second branch and Baoyu in the future!

Fortunately, Daiyu doesn't have a proper maternal family, so she will inevitably have to rely on her uncles and cousins ​​in the future. Grandmother Jia thinks that she can slowly mediate and reconcile them in the future. It doesn't matter whether Daiyu cares about Lady Wang or not, she will always take care of her uncles and Baoyu.

Fearing that Lady Wang, who was not a brainless woman, would start arguing again, Grandmother Jia waved her hand, telling Wang Xifeng and Yuanyang to take them all out, while she stayed behind, wanting to have a few more intimate words with Daiyu.

Daiyu, supported by Zijuan, sat on the daybed and said weakly, "Grandma, I'm tired and need to rest for a while."

After saying this, Daiyu leaned against the soft pillow, closed her eyes, and remained silent.

Grandmother Jia opened her mouth, and this girl started throwing a tantrum at her.

But Grandmother Jia couldn't insist, so she held Amber's hand and said, "You should rest well, we'll talk again tomorrow."

Daiyu remained silent.

...

Two days later.

After breakfast, just as Grandmother Jia was about to ask Wang Xifeng if Daiyu's luggage was in order, an old woman hurriedly came in to report.

"Madam, Steward Lai said that the Prince has come to pick up Miss Lin."

Before the daughters-in-law and granddaughters-in-law who were serving Grandmother Jia's meal had left, everyone was shocked to hear this, and Madam Wang's face turned extremely ugly.

Grandmother Jia hurriedly said, "Quickly send someone to keep the Prince company!"

The old woman said, "The eldest master, the second master, and Master Lian have already gone over."

Grandmother Jia nodded, then said to Daiyu, "Go and change your clothes quickly. I'll take you to the front. Feng'er, go and watch over the preparations for your sister's luggage."

Wang Xifeng agreed and hurriedly left. Daiyu was initially surprised, but she had calmed down by now. The fact that Prince Duan had come in person must have been arranged by the Empress Dowager.

It was clear from the day before yesterday that Prince Duan was doing it reluctantly.

Daiyu, on the other hand, was unwilling.

They were all impatiently giving perfunctory replies to the Empress Dowager.

Daiyu pondered that perhaps Prince Duan intended to find a way to solve the problem once and for all, otherwise the Empress Dowager's constant tantrums were truly exhausting and frustrating.

When Grandmother Jia arrived at the front with Daiyu and a string of daughters-in-law and granddaughters-in-law, the men of the Jia family were sitting awkwardly at the bottom, while Prince Duan at the top was resting his chin on his hand, looking bored.

Upon seeing Prince Duan, Grandmother Jia was taken aback. She had assumed that Prince Duan, who had been ill for a long time, would look sickly, but she was surprised to find that he was a handsome, refined, and elegant young man.

She would be a good match for Daiyu.

"Greetings, Your Highness." Grandmother Jia led everyone forward to pay their respects.

Chu Heng nodded and said, "No need for formalities, please sit."

Jia She and Jia Zheng came over to help Grandmother Jia sit down. Grandmother Jia smiled at Chu Heng and said, "Thank you for making this trip, Your Highness. Lin is a lucky girl."

Chu Heng agreed to talk to the Jia family today for two reasons: first, he was thinking about how long he would be riding in the carriage today, and he wanted to stretch his muscles; second, he wanted to discuss with Miss Lin a way to deal with the Empress Dowager, so as not to be too disrespectful.

Chu Heng smiled politely: "I have met the Empress Dowager. I must leave the city soon, so I cannot delay any longer. Madam, please allow me to take Miss Lin to the palace first."

Grandmother Jia had prepared other things to say, but upon hearing this, she could only swallow them back and instead smiled and said, "It's not good to delay, lest we interfere with the Empress Dowager's affairs. Your Highness, please."

Chu Heng stood up and said, "Miss Lin, please."

Everyone looked at them with smiles on their faces, but Madam Wang's expression was quite interesting.

Daiyu was filled with surprise, wondering what Prince Duan was up to. Could this also be the Empress Dowager's decree?

It wasn't until the carriage left Ningrong Street that Daiyu learned of Chu Heng's scheme.

"Your Highness is being so polite today, it turns out you're trying to give me a benefit first, so I can help you deal with the Empress Dowager."

A note from the author:

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