Chapter 23 Gift Giving.

Chu Heng, however, could not sleep peacefully.

Hearing his master tossing and turning for most of the hour, unable to sleep, Zhao Qing approached and whispered, "Is something on your mind, Your Highness?"

Chu Heng said in a muffled voice, "It's nothing."

"Your Highness, is it because of the argument you had with Miss Lin today?" Zhao Qing asked again.

Having served the prince for so many years, Zhao Qing only dared to be so arrogant once in a while.

After a moment of silence inside the tent, Chu Heng commanded, "Open it."

Zhao Qing hurriedly drew the bed curtains. Chu Heng was sitting cross-legged on the bed, his face grim, and said, "You dare to listen to anything."

Zhao Qing lowered his head and put his hands down. He wasn't deaf; he was sitting right outside the carriage, so of course he heard it. It was fortunate he wasn't deaf, otherwise, he wouldn't have heard about the prince's dramatic changes, which would have been a lifelong regret.

"This servant dares not."

Chu Heng raised his hand and said, "Sit down."

Zhao Qing drew the other side of the bed curtains, then sat down on the footstool and respectfully said, "Please give your orders, Your Highness."

"Speak plainly," Chu Heng said sternly, "How can I make Miss Lin believe me and return to how we were before?"

Zhao Qing glanced at the prince's expression, thinking, "Go back to the way things were before? You and Miss Lin were certainly on good terms before, but there were still several layers between you. Don't you want to take things a step further?"

Thinking this, Zhao Qing said cautiously, "Your Highness, this is what I think. People say that a kind word warms the heart for three winter months, while a harsh word chills the heart for six summer months. People's hearts are not so easily warmed. This matter must be handled step by step and should not be rushed."

Chu Heng pondered for a moment and agreed that this made sense, so he nodded. He put aside the seriousness he had been putting on and scratched his chin in distress: "I just don't know how to warm Miss Lin's heart again. Would it be feasible to give her Wang Xizhi's original calligraphy?"

Zhao Qing shook his head and said, "In my opinion, Miss Lin doesn't care much about these material things. If Your Highness wants to give a gift, you must give one that touches Miss Lin's heart."

"Heart..." Chu Heng pondered for a long time before saying, "The Jia family is fine, she doesn't want me to be close to the Jia family. Besides, there are her parents. I can petition for Lord Lin to be posthumously honored and for Madam Lin to be granted the title of First Rank Lady, but it can only be done after the wedding."

Zhao Qing hurriedly said, "The posthumous conferment of titles on the old master and madam can be delayed. Miss Lin has no other relatives in her hometown, but she still has a hometown. Your Highness may find some Suzhou items and local gifts to send to Miss Lin to ease her homesickness."

Chu Heng nodded and said, "That's feasible. Call a few people over tomorrow, and I'll give them instructions."

Zhao Qing responded, and Chu Heng added, "So, you'll be betrothed on the 20th?"

Zhao Qing said, "Yes, all of this is handled by the Court of Imperial Clan Affairs. The Empress Dowager personally oversaw it. Does Your Highness wish to summon the people from the Court of Imperial Clan Affairs for questioning?"

Chu Heng said, "I will go and pay my respects to the Empress Dowager tomorrow."

"Yes," Zhao Qing replied, then asked, "Does Your Highness have any other instructions?"

Chu Heng said, "I said I would give Miss Lin that set of jade chess pieces. Find them and pick out a good chessboard. Send them to Miss Lin tomorrow."

There are three things to arrange for tomorrow. Zhao Qing silently noted them down and quickly agreed.

Chu Heng thought for a while and said, "Miss Lin also praised that zither. If I give it to her, will she be unhappy?"

Zhao Qing couldn't answer: "This servant doesn't know."

Chu Heng pondered for a moment and said, "No rush... I'll send the chess set first. After I meet the Empress Dowager and discuss the betrothal, I need to send some words to Miss Lin. Then I'll send the zither."

Take it one step at a time... take it slow.

Chu Heng slowly exhaled, wanting to make Miss Lin happier than to feel the unpleasantness of having to accept the marriage agreement.

Her poems are excellent. She loves Longhua Temple, calligraphy and paintings by famous artists, and fishing. She is a lively girl, polite and well-mannered, very interesting and lovely.

She might also like to raise the fish from Longhua Temple.

Chu Heng wrote everything down, feeling deeply regretful. His time at Longhua Temple was too short, and he hadn't cherished it enough, which led to him knowing so little about Daiyu.

Fortunately, there is still plenty of time in the future for Chu Heng to get to know Daiyu and make her happy throughout her life.

She was the person Chu Heng wanted to spend his life with, and this one thought alone warmed Chu Heng's heart.

...

The next morning, Chu Heng went upstairs to the back and found the jade chess pieces. He also opened the account books that he hadn't touched in years and found a sandalwood chessboard.

After seeing that the person was properly dressed, Chu Heng asked Zhao Qing to send him to the Rongguo Duke's Mansion.

Zhao Qing glanced at the sun in the east and reminded him, "Your Highness, Miss Lin is probably having breakfast right now. It wouldn't be good to disturb her. Perhaps we should wait another hour."

Chu Heng glanced at the clock in the room; it was indeed still early. He then said, "Summon the person who went to Suzhou to see me."

Zhao Qing hurriedly summoned several people from the Prince's residence who were in charge of purchasing. Chu Heng rarely managed these miscellaneous matters, but Zhao Qing had been reporting to him regularly, so he had a general idea of ​​what was going on.

After telling them what he wanted them to buy, Chu Heng looked them over.

Purchasing is a lucrative business, especially when traveling long distances. But as the saying goes, "If the water is too clear, there will be no fish," and Chu Heng knew this couldn't be controlled.

Chu Heng said casually, "If things are done well, there will be a reward when we get back. If they are not done well... I don't lack money. I can just throw away 100,000 or 200,000. But I don't lack people to do things."

The men quickly knelt down and kowtowed, saying, "We wouldn't dare."

Chu Heng waved his hand, dismissing them. Zhao Qing would take care of the rest.

After serving the prince his breakfast, Zhao Qing led his men to the Rongguo Duke's Mansion. When he arrived, Daiyu had just finished eating in Grandmother Jia's room, with Jia Tanchun and Xue Baoqin at the same table.

The old woman came to report to Grandmother Jia: "Grandmother, we heard that Eunuch Zhao from Prince Duan's mansion has arrived. He said he was sent by the prince to deliver chess sets to Miss Lin."

Grandmother Jia was reclining on the couch when she heard this, so she quickly sat up and said, "Please come in quickly!"

Daiyu suddenly remembered that Prince Duan had indeed said he would send her chess sets when he returned to the capital. They had a rather unpleasant argument yesterday, so she had no recollection of it.

Before Grandmother Jia could ask, Daiyu hurriedly said, "At Longhua Temple, the Prince mentioned something like that to the Empress Dowager. I thought it was a joke, so I didn't tell you, Grandmother."

Grandmother Jia laughed and said, "How can it be considered a joke in front of the Empress Dowager? Eunuch Zhao is the chief eunuch of Prince Duan's mansion, right? You can invite him to my room."

Immediately, a maid went out to deliver the message, and before long, Zhao Qing entered the room with two eunuchs. He bowed first and said, "Greetings, Miss Lin and Madam."

Grandmother Jia paused in her smile before saying, "No need for formalities, sir. Please sit down." She then instructed the maids around her, "Bring tea."

Later, Daiyu became a princess, even higher than the Duchess of the State.

Even Grandmother Jia couldn't adapt.

Zhao Qing laughed and said, "I wouldn't dare."

After saying that, he turned to Daiyu, bowed and smiled, "Miss Lin, you had a long day yesterday, how are you feeling now?"

Daiyu smiled and said, "That's all good."

Zhao Qing smiled again and said, "If Miss Lin is well, then His Highness can rest assured. Miss Lin, I have come on orders. These are the chess sets that His Highness was supposed to give you, as agreed beforehand. Please take a look."

Daiyu stood up and said with a smile, "Thank you, Your Highness."

Two eunuchs opened the box and showed Daiyu the chessboard and pieces. Zhao Qing, still bowing, smiled and said to Daiyu, "Please, Miss Lin."

The sandalwood chessboard and jade chess pieces caught everyone's eye. Not to mention Jia Tanchun, who grew up in the Duke's mansion, and Xue Baoqin, who traveled all over the country with her father to do business, even the little maids in front of Grandmother Jia, who had all seen good things, were still dazzled by these.

After all, this was something that Prince Duan could give away with just a casual remark.

Prince Duan's mansion has countless more such treasures; in the future, these will all be...

They all looked at Daiyu, the future mistress of the Duan Prince's Mansion.

Daiyu remained expressionless, and after taking her seat, she smiled and said, "Thank you for making this trip, sir. Please sit down and have a cup of tea."

Zhao Qing bowed in thanks before daring to sit down.

What a blessing! Grandmother Jia thought, glancing at her own granddaughter, Tan Chun. Although Dai Yu was practically identical to her granddaughter, yet…

If she were her own granddaughter, Zhao Qing wouldn't have overstepped his bounds today and would have only considered the future princess's feelings.

Knowing that the prince still had to go to the palace to see the Empress Dowager, Zhao Qing did not dare to linger. After taking a sip of tea, he stood up and said to Daiyu, "Miss Lin, the prince has instructed me to ask you to give me any instructions if you have any matters to attend to."

Daiyu stood up and said with a smile, "I'm fine. Please thank the Prince on my behalf."

Zhao Qing bowed even lower: "Yes. I have other matters to attend to at the manor. Miss Lin, please allow me to take my leave."

Daiyu then said, "Please wait, sir."

Zhao Qing bowed again: "Madam, farewell."

Grandmother Jia did not reply for a moment. Daiyu happened to be sitting next to Grandmother Jia. She glanced at the old lady and saw that she seemed a little lost in thought, so she quietly tugged at her sleeve.

Grandmother Jia snapped out of her daze, quickly smiled, and said, "That's how it is when people get old, please don't take offense, Father-in-law."

"I wouldn't dare," Zhao Qing said with a smile. "Farewell, Madam."

Grandmother Jia had someone escort him out. After he passed behind the screen and left the room, she rubbed her forehead and said with a wry smile, "I'm really getting old. I'm already so listless this morning."

Jia Tanchun quickly smiled and said, "You must be feeling tired after eating, Grandma. We'll wake up after talking for a while."

Grandmother Jia glanced at her and felt even more regretful. Although the third girl was not as good as Lin girl, she was not bad either. She should be able to win over Prince Duan's heart. Why was she not chosen?

"Put this chess set away first. Lin girl, it was a gift from the Prince, so we can't be rude to you," Grandmother Jia said, turning to Daiyu.

Daiyu nodded obediently and told Zijuan to take a few maids to put it away. As for what she was thinking, no one knew.

It wasn't until many days later, after the betrothal ceremony, that Jia Tanchun and her sisters went to Daiyu's room and saw the chessboard laid out in the open, with the chess basket beside it also open. Only then did she realize that Daiyu was just going through the motions to appease the old lady.

Little did she know, Daiyu was thinking that good things should be used, and it would be a waste to leave them unused.

Despite his strange and aloof thoughts, Prince Duan was not the type to turn against someone just because the chess set he had given away was used by another.

A note from the author:

----------------------