Chapter 56. The Purpose of the Visit.

Grandmother Jia helped Yuanyang out of the sedan chair. Zhou Mama, who came to greet them, smiled and said, "Grandma, just ahead is the main house of the Prince and Princess. The Princess is considerate of your advanced age and specifically instructed that the sedan chair should be carried to this side before it can stop."

Grandmother Jia forced a smile: "Princess Lin... has been good since childhood. Although she is now of noble status, she is not arrogant or conceited."

Granny Zhou smiled and said, "Whether the Princess is good or not, we servants dare not say much. But, Old Madam, you don't know, the Empress Dowager said that our Princess is well-mannered and has good manners. She also said that she is gentle and quiet, and that even the Princess in front of her should learn from the Princess... Oh dear, look at me talking nonsense, Old Madam, please don't take it seriously. It's just that the Empress Dowager likes her daughter-in-law. Although our Princess is the daughter of a Duke, how can she compare to a princess? However, Princess Yongkang treats our Princess well, not like a sister-in-law, but like a sister."

While Granny Zhou was talking animatedly, Grandmother Jia was pondering every word. She didn't mention Prince Duan in any of her words, yet every word contained his name.

If it weren't for Prince Duan's high regard for his wife, even if Daiyu was exceptional, she wouldn't have won the favor of the Empress Dowager and the Eldest Princess.

Based on Grandmother Jia's previous experience, Prince Duan valued Daiyu too much, to the point that he was almost at her mercy.

Thinking about the purpose of her visit, Grandmother Jia pondered what to do with Daiyu and Princess Yongkang, how much influence she had with the Empress Dowager, and whether Prince Duan would truly obey her in everything.

Thinking this, Grandmother Jia secretly gave a wink to the old women who came with her. They were familiar with the four old women who came with Daiyu as part of her dowry, and they could take the opportunity to ask them some questions later. This time, in addition to Yuanyang, Grandmother Jia also brought Amber. She and Zijuan had been together since childhood, so she could also find an opportunity to ask her some questions.

Just then, they arrived at the main house. Several young maids were feeding the birds under the eaves. When they saw someone arrive, they quickly and respectfully curtsied and said, "Greetings, Madam."

Then a maid lifted the beaded curtain and invited Grandmother Jia and her entourage inside: "Please come in, Madam. The Princess is waiting for you!"

The etiquette was indeed impeccable, but since she was still the elder, Daiyu didn't come out to greet her, and Grandmother Jia was already seething with anger before she even entered the door.

But since she was under someone else's roof and needed their help, Grandmother Jia had no choice but to lower her head and help Yuanyang across the threshold.

Daiyu was sitting in the main seat. When she saw someone arrive, she stood up and said, "Grandma."

She didn't bow, and Grandmother Jia didn't dare say anything more. However, there were two maids given to Daiyu by the Empress Dowager standing beside her, so Grandmother Jia didn't dare not bow: "Greetings, Princess."

"Why are you being so polite, old lady?" Daiyu said. "Please sit down."

Grandmother Jia felt a lump in her throat and sat down at the lower end of the table. Daiyu then ordered someone to serve tea.

"Neither the prince nor I like tea, and we don't have any good tea at home, so please make do with what you have, madam," Daiyu said.

She was polite and courteous; if not for nitpicking, Grandmother Jia would truly have no fault to find with Daiyu. But it was precisely this attitude that made people feel quite uncomfortable.

There was no intimacy whatsoever; they were extremely distant. Grandmother Jia had initially thought she had a 50-60% chance of success on this trip, but now she felt that her chances were probably going to be diminished.

Zijuan served tea, and Grandmother Jia glanced at Zhao and Wang, but hesitated to speak, knowing that what she wanted to say could not reach the Empress Dowager's ears.

"The old lady doesn't like to go out, but I heard she came today because of something important. May I ask what it is?" Daiyu asked bluntly.

Grandmother Jia smiled and said, "It's nothing serious at home. I just wanted to talk to you about your sisters' affairs."

“Logically speaking, I can’t be ungrateful for the old lady who raised me,” Daiyu said. “But as the saying goes, a married daughter is like water spilled from a cup. Besides, the Jia family is just my maternal grandparents’ family, and there’s a distance between us. Now that I’m married, there are many things I shouldn’t ask about, and many things I shouldn’t say. The affairs of my sisters are for my uncle, aunt, and you, the old lady, to decide. As an outsider, I really have no right to interfere.”

Daiyu's attitude of drawing a clear line was too obvious, which made Grandmother Jia even more heartbroken. She forced a smile and said, "You sisters have been together day and night for so many years, so there is some affection between you."

Daiyu said, "There is affection involved, of course. I'm just waiting for the old lady to send me the wedding invitation."

Seeing that the topic had gone completely off track, Grandmother Jia was anxious and quickly spoke more bluntly: "Not only are the sisters of marriageable age, but Baoyu is also of marriageable age, it's time to talk about marriage."

Daiyu paused, then realized that Grandmother Jia's purpose was not to bring her, the princess, any joy through the girls' marriages, but rather for her precious grandson whom she cherished dearly.

But what can Daiyu do? Should she be asked to act as a matchmaker for Baoyu?

"Oh," Daiyu said calmly, "Has a date been set?"

This girl still cares about Baoyu in her heart. When Grandmother Jia saw her scolding, she was secretly pleased. As long as she still had Baoyu in her heart, she was confident that she could persuade her.

Thinking about it this way, Grandmother Jia became somewhat proud. She smiled and said, "Baoyu has grown up with you sisters since childhood. He's no different from a brother. When he's better off in the future, he'll take care of you."

Daiyu found it truly strange. How could this be considered in the eyes of a princess? The old lady had found such a good father-in-law for Baoyu, how could she dare to say such a thing?

"Grandma, I wonder which family's daughter Master Bao has betrothed to?" Daiyu couldn't help but ask curiously.

Grandmother Jia felt even more confident. She glanced at Zhao and Wang and smiled knowingly, "We've been here for so long, and we haven't even exchanged a few words yet."

Daiyu found it quite amusing; was Baoyu's marriage something he couldn't even show to others?

However, since this was her purpose in coming, and in order to get rid of the person quickly, Daiyu still asked all the servants from the Prince's mansion to leave the room, leaving only her own dowry to serve her.

Grandmother Jia was now relieved: "The other day when I went to the palace to pay my respects to the Empress, I heard her say something. Now that you are the Empress Dowager's daughter-in-law, you must know about it. I heard that Princess Yongkang is choosing a husband."

Daiyu was truly astonished by Grandmother Jia this time. It turned out that the wonderful father-in-law Grandmother Jia had chosen for Jia Baoyu was the late Emperor!

Moreover, she really wanted Daiyu to act as a matchmaker for Jia Baoyu!

As for Jia Yuanchun, she is now only a Noble Lady and cannot be addressed as Empress. Daiyu even forgot to remind Grandmother Jia that she should change her address.

Grandmother Jia's idea of ​​having Jia Baoyu marry Princess Yongkang was truly audacious!

The Emperor and the Empress Dowager are arguing fiercely over the selection of Yongkang's consort. The Jia family is interfering in this; do they want to die even faster?

Daiyu shook her head and kindly advised, "Grandma, the marriage of the Eldest Princess is decided by the Empress Dowager and the Emperor. How can I interfere? Besides, it's best not to meddle in royal affairs if you don't know the inside story. Otherwise, you might end up getting into trouble instead of benefiting yourself."

Grandmother Jia, however, thought she was jealous that Baoyu was going to marry someone else, and said earnestly, "Yu'er, how could I not know about the affection between you two in the past? But what's done is done, there's no going back. You and Baoyu are destined to be apart. Alas, my good child, you have always been a person of great affection. Don't you want to see Baoyu doing well? If you get married, you can see each other more often in the future, and you can take care of each other. You know Baoyu; among the sisters, he has always cared about you the most."

These words made Daiyu frown deeply. What did she mean by this? Was she using the past to blackmail and force her?

Daiyu suppressed all her emotions and looked at Grandmother Jia with utter indifference: "Grandmother, why don't you take these words to the Prince and the Empress Dowager and let them discuss whether my relationship with Baoyu is enough to make him the Prince Consort!"

Grandmother Jia clearly did not realize the strong threatening meaning in her words. What's more, she was used to being the matriarch and once she relaxed, she still treated Daiyu as a junior who could do whatever she wanted.

Upon hearing Daiyu's words, Grandmother Jia was taken aback: "How...how could you say such a thing?"

Shouldn't Daiyu be moved to tears when they reminisce about their past? Why did her expression suddenly change?

"Grandma, I have other matters to attend to and cannot keep you company. In the future, please refrain from visiting our humble place." Daiyu stood up. "Zijuan, see the guest out!"

"You... why are you being so temperamental again!" Grandmother Jia stepped forward and tried to pull Daiyu back, but Xueyan blocked her way.

"Madam, please don't pull on the Princess." Xueyan spread her arms to block her.

Grandmother Jia stepped past Xueyan and said to Daiyu, "Speak properly, why are you in such a hurry? The Empress Dowager and the Emperor are having a hard time choosing a husband for Princess Yongkang. Wouldn't it be good for you to offer a suggestion? Isn't the Duke's family of high social standing enough to marry a princess? Baoyu is a kind and caring man; if he and the princess get along well in the future, won't you benefit from that?" She frowned slightly and lowered her voice, "In the end, you and Baoyu won't be together. Even if you're unhappy, you have to..."

Daiyu couldn't bear to listen any longer: "I'll say it one last time, Grandmother, if you have anything to say, just say it to the Prince, the Empress Dowager, or even the Emperor. Don't say another word to me!"

After saying this, Daiyu walked away without stopping, leaving only an angry back view for Grandmother Jia.

Grandmother Jia was puzzled for a long time; she still couldn't understand why Daiyu was so angry.

Zijuan came over and said, "Grandma, let me see you off."

...

As soon as Daiyu returned to her bedroom, Chu Heng excitedly handed her a piece of floral stationery: "Look!"

Daiyu was stunned for a moment, and when she glanced at it subconsciously, she couldn't take her eyes off it. It was a written agreement that they had just been joking about.

We share wealth and hardship.

Chu Heng and Daiyu.

"Do we need to put our fingerprints on this?" Daiyu's voice was choked with sobs as she spoke, and a tear slid down her cheek in the blink of an eye.

His warm palm caressed her face, and Chu Heng said softly, "You broke your promise. If you put your handprint on it, you'll be punished."

Daiyu shook her head: "There was nothing wrong, that's why I didn't ask you to come over."

“You’ve been wronged, isn’t that a huge deal?” Chu Heng helped Daiyu to sit on the couch. “Is she still in the manor? I’ll scold her back for you right now.”

Daiyu couldn't help but laugh out loud: "If she were scolding me, I would have scolded her back long ago. In my own home, why should I let her scold me? It's just that what she said was really infuriating! You would never guess what her purpose was in coming here. She actually wanted Jia Baoyu to plot to become Yongkang's son-in-law. How utterly ridiculous!"

They didn't even know the cause and effect, and only heard a few words from Jia Yuanchun, yet they dared to make a move on the Princess. They were truly ignorant of their own limitations!

Chu Heng was taken aback: "Jia Baoyu?"