Chapter 52. The weary Grandmother Jia.

Grandmother Jia's mood at this moment was completely different from that of the Empress Dowager.

Since Chu Heng and Daiyu's wedding, Grandmother Jia had been looking forward to their return to their parents' home. Although she knew that the Jia family would hardly get any benefits from the Prince Duan's mansion, it at least meant that they could still save face in the outside world.

Unfortunately, no one from the Prince Duan's Mansion came after a long wait. Instead, Grandmother Jia received an imperial edict posthumously honoring Lin Ruhai and Jia Min.

When her own daughter received the posthumous title of First-Rank Lady, Grandmother Jia couldn't even feel happy, regretful, or sad. In that instant, all she could think was that it was all over. The Jia family had truly and utterly offended the Prince Duan's mansion.

With the imperial concubine's family name gone and having offended Prince Duan's mansion, Grandmother Jia could hardly imagine the future of the Jia family.

She hurriedly summoned Jia She, Jia Zheng, and Jia Lian, and said wearily, "The Emperor issued an imperial edict today, you all know about it, right?"

Surprisingly, only Jia Lian nodded; Jia She and Jia Zheng both looked bewildered: "What imperial edict? Does it have anything to do with our family?"

Jia She has always been lazy in his official duties and only knows how to take concubines. Grandmother Jia has always been very clear about this, but when did her second son also become so oblivious to the world around him?

Jia Zheng was indeed different from his elder brother. He did not indulge in wine and women; he was disillusioned with his official career and had recently been spending his time chatting and composing poetry with his guests behind closed doors, completely ignoring the affairs of the outside world.

However, Jia Lian, who was in charge of the Rongguo Duke's Mansion and often traveled outside, heard about this matter immediately.

Seeing the old lady's face fall, he hurriedly said, "Prince Duan requests the bestowal of titles. His Majesty posthumously conferred upon my uncle the title of Duke and upon my aunt the title of First-Rank Lady."

Both Jia She and Jia Zheng were taken aback upon hearing this. After a long while, Jia She said, "Lin girl is indeed filial to her parents."

Grandmother Jia grew increasingly displeased; this eldest son was consistently unlikable. She looked at Jia Zheng and asked, "What do you have to say?"

Jia Zheng was in a daze for a moment. He suddenly thought of his daughter, who was still in the palace. When she was made a Noble Consort, her parents did not receive any official title. Now, in the Jia family, few people mention her anymore. The glory of the Noble Consort is gone forever.

Thinking back on how he had never been valued by the emperor, he felt not only heartache but also dejection. He simply said, "My son has nothing to say; no matter what he says, it's not up to us to decide. Speaking of which, the children at home are all grown up. Old lady, perhaps you should worry about their marriages..."

"What use are you to me!" Before he could finish speaking, Grandmother Jia pounded the bed and roared, "Look at the state of you all now! You have no concern for the future of the family at all. This family is about to be ruined. I wonder how you will face your father in the future!"

Grandmother Jia, who was already exhausted and living in fear, could no longer bear to see her sons like this.

Jia She and Jia Zheng hurriedly knelt down to beg for forgiveness. Although the old lady had not named them, Jia Lian dared not stand any longer.

But apart from that, the three of them had nothing more to say.

Grandmother Jia was extremely disappointed, but there was nothing she could do about it. She had worried about them her whole life, and now that she was old, she still couldn't find peace of mind. It was truly... a terrible thing.

"You... may leave." Grandmother Jia waved her hand wearily.

The three of them stood up. Jia She wanted to turn around and leave immediately, as he was impatient to listen to the old lady's lecture. However, since the other two did not move, he had no choice but to stand still as well.

Jia Zheng hesitated, wanting to bring up the marriage arrangements for the younger generation again, but he knew the old lady wouldn't listen now.

Sigh, he was still counting on the next generation. Now Jia Lan seemed like a good one, and he was just waiting for Bao Yu to have another successful grandson so that he could give an account to the ancestors of the Jia family.

Jia Lian didn't leave simply because his elders wouldn't move first.

The Jia family's century-old legacy won't be squandered so easily; the old lady is worrying too much.

At least on this point, the three of them reached a consensus.

...

After dinner, they sat down and chatted for a while before Chu Heng took his leave. The Empress Dowager insisted that they stay, but Chu Heng politely declined. After exchanging a few words, Yongkang abruptly interrupted them, saying to the Empress Dowager and the Emperor, "Mother, Imperial Brother, may I visit Fifth Brother's residence tomorrow?"

Without a second thought, the Empress Dowager objected, saying, "Why are you running around like that? Stay in the palace and learn your manners properly."

Yongkang pouted and said, "I've learned the rules quite well."

The Empress Dowager said, "You've learned your lesson, yet you still talk back to me?"

"Isn't this just making trouble?" Yongkang was about to retort when he saw Chuheng glance at him. He subconsciously knew that listening to his fifth brother was the right thing to do at this time, so he closed his mouth again.

Sure enough, the emperor replied, "Mother, Yongkang is still young, and it's understandable that he likes to play."

“She’s already a fourteen-year-old girl, she’s still too young.” The Empress Dowager rubbed her forehead in worry. “It’s all because of you three older siblings who have spoiled her.”

Chu Heng then smiled and said, "Mother only talks about us, but you also love her very much, otherwise Yongkang wouldn't say whatever comes to mind in front of Mother."

Seeing that they all said this, the Empress Dowager finally calmed down, but she still said with a worried expression, "We have to spoil her less in the future, otherwise this girl will really become unruly."

Daiyu quickly grabbed Yongkang's sleeve, stopping her from speaking again.

The Emperor laughed and said, "With your mother's guidance, Yongkang knows proper etiquette and manners. How could such a thing happen?" After saying that, the Emperor quickly changed the subject, "It's getting late. Your fifth brother and sister-in-law should hurry back to their residence. Yongkang, tomorrow I will send someone to take you to your fifth brother's residence."

Yongkang nearly jumped up: "Thank you, Your Majesty!"

The Empress Dowager narrowed her eyes. The Emperor was truly going all out. She would have to think of another solution.

Chu Heng and Daiyu rose, bowed, and took their leave. Yongkang followed them out to see them off.

"That suits you." As Chu Heng stepped off the platform, he reached out to support Daiyu, but his words were directed at Yongkang.

Yongkang laughed and said, "Who told me to be the most likable person!"

Chu Heng shook his head: "In terms of lacking self-awareness, you're number one."

Daiyu turned her head and smiled, "Don't mind him, Yongkang, you go back first. Don't sleep in tomorrow, come and play early."

Yongkang stuck out his tongue at Chu Heng, said goodbye to Daiyu, and then turned to go back.

Chu Heng muttered, "I should have known better than to help her. I even invited her to my house to try and steal you from me."

Daiyu chuckled softly, "She helped us too, so just consider it repaying her a favor."

If Yongkang hadn't suddenly interrupted, they wouldn't have been able to refuse the Empress Dowager. Staying in the palace for one night would have been much more awkward than Yongkang visiting their home.

"That's true." Chu Heng smiled. "However..."

He glanced around, swallowed his words, and only after leaving the area of ​​Renshou Palace did he say softly, "No matter how many times I've taught her, she still hasn't made any progress. She's so impatient. She says she's helping us, but she expects us to help her in return. That's bad enough, but we're also giving away the chance to be a good older brother to His Majesty."

In that situation, no one can take it from her; the emperor has to be the rightful older brother first before Chu Heng can catch up. That silly girl Yongkang owes the emperor so much that she can't repay him, so she'll have to let him do as he pleases.

Daiyu knew that this was Chuheng's personal experience. Although he verbally expressed his dislike for his younger sister Yongkang, if there was anyone among his blood relatives that Chuheng cared about, it would definitely be Yongkang.

“When Yongkang arrives tomorrow, I will teach her,” Daiyu said. “However, you cannot interfere with me, lest you two quarrel again. Why don’t you find an excuse to do something else when the time comes?”

Chu Heng: "..."

This is truly a case of shooting oneself in the foot.

Chu Heng was dissatisfied, but he had to be careful with his words at the moment. He only said, "Let's talk about it after we get in the car."

Daiyu knew he would refuse, but she also knew he would eventually agree, though he would have to pester her for a while.

What difference would it make if we separated for a while? Daiyu thought to herself, "He's always clinging to me, doesn't he get annoyed?"

This was supposed to be a sweet complaint, but before Daiyu could even finish thinking about it, she suddenly paused. Was she annoyed?

She glanced at Chu Heng. Would passion eventually cool? Would he one day grow tired of her?

Love breeds sorrow, and Daiyu, too, became an ordinary person at this moment, feeling uneasy and anxious.

Chu Heng noticed her emotional change, but didn't know why. He could only think about what they had said before and said, "It's a good thing that you're willing to teach Yongkang. Don't worry, I definitely won't cause you any trouble tomorrow."

Daiyu snapped out of her reverie and smiled instinctively, "Okay..." She paused, then added, "It's not that you're causing trouble. You and your brother have always been like this, there's nothing wrong with it. It's just that Yongkang is used to it, and he doesn't really listen to you. Even if I say something, it might not make any difference, but..."

“Daiyu,” Chu Heng suddenly spoke.

Daiyu was taken aback and asked, "What's wrong?"

Chu Heng gripped her cold hand tightly, his brows furrowed with worry and concern: "...Let's talk after we get in the car."

The roads in the palace are long. Chu Heng had always felt that they had no end, and today, eager to comfort Daiyu, he felt the road was even longer.

After a long while, they finally got into the carriage and left the palace.

"Why are your hands suddenly so cold?" Chu Heng warmed her hands and asked anxiously, "What are you afraid of?"

Daiyu suddenly understood his urgency along the way, which was like a reassuring pill. Although it could not completely eliminate her anxiety, it made her feel more at ease.

“I…” Daiyu lowered her eyes and said, “I thought Yongkang was having a hard time in the palace and was a little sad, but I wasn’t afraid of anything.”

Chu Heng stroked Daiyu's hand, not entirely believing her words, but he couldn't figure it out and couldn't force Daiyu to tell the truth, so he could only comfort her by saying, "Don't overthink it. She's a princess, pampered and spoiled since childhood. Even if she marries an unsuitable consort, her life will still be full of gold and jade. It won't be much different. What's there to be sad about?"

Daiyu said, "That's not how it works. Everyone has their own difficulties."

"You're too soft-hearted, so considerate of others." Chu Heng took her hands into his palms. "Teach her a lesson tomorrow, teach her a little shrewdness, and her future will be much easier."

Daiyu nodded, and after a moment reminded him, "Don't say things like 'learn to be shrewd' in front of Yongkang, or she'll make a fuss about it again."

Chu Heng shrugged: "She's always been a bit dim-witted."

“If she makes a fuss with you tomorrow, I won’t stop her,” Daiyu said.

Chu Heng shook Daiyu's hand: "That won't do. We're close, so you have to side with me!"

Daiyu chuckled: "You look just like Yongkang. No wonder you two are siblings."

Chu Heng was shocked: "I look like her? Am I that stupid?"

Daiyu couldn't help but laugh out loud.