Chapter 62, Chapter 62, The Visit.
Whether it was because the King of Qi had committed too many evil deeds or offended too many people, by the time he was escorted back to the capital after the Dragon Boat Festival, Chu Heng and the other three had only just finished reviewing half of the evidence.
The good news is that this half of the evidence includes the part about his plot to rebel, so King Qi's life is definitely not going to be saved.
Accompanying the King of Qi to the capital were several large cartloads of evidence and witnesses. Chu Heng and his men needed to verify each of these, including participating in the final conviction process.
Chu Heng looked at the sudden increase in his workload and his vision went black.
Little did they know, the other three adults shared the same sentiment, but for a different reason than Chu Heng.
Although Prince Duan was proud and arrogant and very picky, fortunately he was not presumptuous and did not act on his own initiative. For the three of them, the process of working with Prince Duan was acceptable.
But they all hoped there wouldn't be a next time, since no one wanted to have to deal with another prince who was equally difficult to punish while investigating the crimes of one prince.
Chu Heng was very aware that he was disliked, and apart from official business, he did not have any private dealings with any of the officials he worked with.
The three officials, Chen, Fu, and Lu, breathed a sigh of relief. Otherwise, they would have had to report to the Emperor that Prince Duan was trying to win over court officials and form cliques for personal gain.
However, the Emperor himself was not very satisfied with this. He advised Chu Heng: "Going straight home after leaving the yamen every day makes people think that you can't live without your wife. Does that sound good? You should also go out with people to drink and talk about poetry, socialize more, and perhaps you can make a few friends you get along with."
The emperor had the air of an elder brother who was like a father to Chu Heng. When he looked at Chu Heng, it was like an older brother in an ordinary family looking at his good-for-nothing younger brother, helpless yet loving, and giving him earnest advice.
Chu Heng didn't know how much of his sincerity was genuine and how much was feigned. He only knew that if he did as the emperor said, one day these things would become evidence against him.
He will become the next King of Qi.
If the lips are gone, the teeth will be cold; if things of the same kind are harmed.
Chu Heng and the King of Qi were both sons of the late emperor and brothers of the current emperor. Sometimes, in the emperor's eyes, they were no different.
Chu Heng smiled and said, "Brother, I would like to go out for a walk, but as you can see, I don't have the time. I'm exhausted from working in the government office every day. I just want to go home and rest. I don't have the leisure to drink and write poetry. Besides, I don't like drinking and I can't write poetry."
The emperor said, "I was just using an analogy. You could do something else, like inviting scholars from the Hanlin Academy to your home to appreciate calligraphy and paintings. That would help them relax, wouldn't it?"
Chu Heng was immediately alarmed: "No, no! Your Majesty, if they take a fancy to my calligraphy and paintings, should I give them to them or not?"
The emperor was amused and said, "You're still short one or two paintings or calligraphic works?"
“Bad, very bad!” Chu Heng nodded vigorously. “If Your Majesty were to grant me another one now, I feel that it wouldn’t be so bad.”
The emperor laughed and said, "You brat, all you ever think about are the good things in my treasury!"
Chu Heng cupped his hands and smiled, "Your Majesty is wise!"
The emperor pointed at him and laughed and scolded him a few times, but eventually rewarded him with a calligraphy scroll from the previous dynasty. As for telling him to socialize more, he didn't mention it again.
...
When Chu Heng returned to the mansion with the scroll, Daiyu was looking at an invitation.
“It’s the fifth young lady of the Fang family. She said she wants to pay a visit,” Daiyu said. “I only saw her once last time during the Yongzheng Festival. It’s really strange that she suddenly came to see me this time.”
Chu Heng took the invitation. The handwriting on it was very delicate, and it looked like a young lady's handwriting. It should be a visiting card written by the fifth daughter of the Fang family.
"Is this visitor ill-intentioned?" Because of Wen An's unprovoked attack during the Dragon Boat Festival, Chu Heng was somewhat paranoid.
Daiyu said, "The Fang family is the Empress Dowager's maternal family, and I am the Empress Dowager's daughter-in-law. If they find fault with me, will people say that the people around the Empress Dowager are fighting amongst themselves? The Empress Dowager can't afford to lose face like that."
"Besides, she's just a young lady, and the Fang family isn't without anyone else." Daiyu took the invitation and put it away.
"Who knows what they're up to..." Chu Heng pondered for a moment, "I can't feel at ease without seeing her. I'll accompany you to see her tomorrow."
Daiyu smiled and shook her head: "No, they're here to see me, not you. You go out and do your errands. Don't worry, I'm in my own home, how could I let outsiders bully me?"
Chu Heng was still worried, so he bargained with Daiyu: "I'll stay at home and not show myself. You can go see her yourself, how about that?"
Daiyu stood up and said, "I'm hungry, please serve the meal."
Chu Heng caught up with her: "I'm worried about you being alone..."
"Don't worry." Daiyu offered him her hand. "I'll have Granny Zhao and Granny Wang come with me. They're people bestowed by the Empress Dowager, so it'll be convenient for me to use them to my advantage, okay?"
Chu Heng grasped Daiyu's hand and muttered, "The Fang family is the Empress Dowager's grandniece."
Daiyu then laughed and said, "I am still the Empress Dowager's daughter-in-law."
Chu Heng was about to speak again when Daiyu sighed sadly, "Don't you trust me at all?"
Chu Heng was on high alert and hurriedly said, "I didn't! Of course I believe you!"
Daiyu nodded in satisfaction: "So you should also trust me to handle tomorrow's matters on my own."
Chu Heng: "..."
"You did this on purpose," Chu Heng said, displeased.
Daiyu smiled gracefully: "Your Highness, don't you believe me?"
Chu Heng smiled slightly: "Miss Lin, I hold grudges very well."
That night, the vengeful Prince Duan held Princess Duan in his arms and gave her a good "revenge".
The next day, when Daiyu got up, Chu Heng was no longer at home; there was a floral note he had left on her pillow.
Daiyu felt a little sore and weak. She picked up the letter, glanced at it, and chuckled, "Sweet talk."
After washing up, Daiyu put away the flower-patterned stationery, ate her late breakfast, and rested for a while in the corridor. Then someone came to announce that the fifth young lady of the Fang family had arrived.
The fifth daughter of the Fang family, named Lanyi, is seventeen years old this year. She is already engaged, but the wedding has been delayed because her fiancé is currently observing mourning for his parents.
Granny Zhao said, "Miss Fang's grandfather was the Governor-General of Guangdong and Guangxi. He died in office last year. His Majesty was very sympathetic and posthumously awarded him the title of Grand Tutor. He also promised that Miss Fang's father-in-law would be appointed as the Vice Minister of Rites after the mourning period. Miss Fang's fiancé will also receive imperial favor."
Daiyu nodded. The Governor-General of Guangdong and Guangxi died in office, and the Emperor could not treat his family poorly for the sake of his reputation.
The Fang family's in-laws are all so capable. Even if they don't completely side with the Empress Dowager, there are always vested interests involved, so the Emperor is always uneasy.
Daiyu had a very good memory; although she had only met Fang Lanyi once, she still remembered what she looked like.
Soon, the girl from Daiyu's memory, followed by several maids and nannies, gracefully entered, bowed and greeted the princess: "This humble girl greets the princess."
Daiyu smiled and told her to get up, then offered her a seat and tea.
Fang Lanyi thanked them one by one before finally sitting down comfortably.
Daiyu smiled and said, "You are the Empress Dowager's grandniece, and I am the Empress Dowager's daughter-in-law. Logically speaking, we are not outsiders. Fifth Miss, there is no need for such formality."
Fang Lanyi smiled faintly and said, "Yes." She looked up at Daiyu, a bright-eyed and beautiful girl who was a year younger than her. However, Daiyu's seniority was obvious. Fang Lanyi had many elders younger than her, so she didn't feel any pressure when addressing her.
"aunt."
Daiyu, on the other hand, was quite uncomfortable. In an instant, she felt that she had aged more than twenty years, but on the surface, she still smiled politely and exchanged pleasantries with Fang Lanyi.
Soon, Fang Lanyi got to the point: "I have come here abruptly because I have something to discuss. Please forgive me, Aunt."
Daiyu thought to herself, "It's alright, just tell me what's wrong. Even though I don't go out, I still have your uncle here."
Fang Lanyi smiled and said, "I have nothing to trouble my uncle with, but I would like to ask my aunt if she would be interested in joining our poetry club?"
Daiyu was stunned: "What?"
Fang Lanyi explained, “My sisters and I, along with a few close friends, have formed a poetry club. We hold a club meeting every month. Last time, on my aunt’s birthday, I saw that my aunt’s poems were really good, so I wanted to invite you to join the club. However, you were preparing for your wedding at that time, so I couldn’t disturb you. I could only wait until now to invite you.”
The poetry club.
Daiyu recalled the days when she first entered the Grand View Garden. Those were the rare good days after she lost her parents and lived under the roof of others.
It's a pity that it was so short, so short that Daiyu could only recall very few happy moments from that time.
After finishing her speech, Fang Lanyi waited for a long time without receiving a reply, and finally asked, "Aunt?"
Daiyu came to her senses and looked at Fang Lanyi's beautiful face. She shook her head and said, "Thank you for your kindness, but I am not very knowledgeable and will not embarrass myself by doing so."
Fang Lanyi quickly said, "Auntie, you are too modest. I am absolutely not exaggerating. After reading your poems, all of us in the poetry club felt ashamed of our inability to compare. We invited you to join the club, and everyone agreed."
Daiyu shook her head again: "This is such a big manor. The prince is busy with things outside. I am the only one who handles everything. I have no free time."
Fang Lanyi knew that large families have many members and many things to do, but no matter how big the Prince Duan's mansion was, it only had two masters. No matter how many things there were, it was not like they couldn't spare a moment of free time for a whole month.
That's just an excuse to refuse.
Fang Lanyi was a lady from a respectable family, so she naturally understood the implication. Even though she was sincere and had considered the possibility of rejection, she still couldn't help but feel a little disappointed.
The first two pages of the poetry collection compiled in Yongkang were Daiyu's poems. Fang Lanyi read them dozens or even hundreds of times at home, she really loved her poems.
Therefore, she still did not want to give up, so she said, "Aunt, please forgive my impertinence. I know that you are very busy and cannot play with us casually. In the future, when we start a poetry club, may I visit you and ask you to appreciate my work? If you are interested, please allow me to copy any poems I write so that my sisters can read them. Please rest assured, Aunt, we have always strictly guarded the rules that our writings should not be circulated outside the home, and we have only ever circulated them among ourselves."
She spoke very sincerely, and there was a plea in her eyes, which made Daiyu, who had just refused her repeatedly, feel quite embarrassed.
Daiyu thought for a moment, then nodded and said, "If you have time next time, please feel free to come over. I wouldn't presume to appreciate your work, but I would certainly appreciate it if you could read my poems."
Fang Lanyi was overjoyed: "Thank you so much, Aunt!"
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Author's note: I apologize again, everyone. I was too busy and forgot again, but I won't forget this afternoon. I've saved everything this time.
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