Chapter 254 Only I can call her "Grandma"
In the rush last night, Lin Ruhai, half-conscious, seemed to hear Daiyu's voice.
At that moment, he thought he was about to see his deceased wife, but Daiyu's weeping brought him back to reality.
If I were to leave, leaving Daiyu all alone in this world, I fear that all sorts of demons and monsters would come to bully her.
Although Daiyu is now a princess and in good health, in Lin Ruhai's mind, she is still that gentle, weak, and sensitive little child.
This is his only child with his deceased wife, a continuation of Min'er's bloodline.
Aside from his official duties, Lin Ruhai devoted all his time to Daiyu.
He treasured the letters Daiyu sent him and the paintings she drew, keeping them with him at all times.
Even if the emperor did not order him to return to the capital to report on his duties this time, he would still find a way to come to the capital to see his daughter.
Although Yuan Hongqu's letter stated that everything was as before, Lin Ruhai still felt that the matter was inappropriate.
“Yu’er has grown quite a bit taller than last year. Mr. Yuan has raised you very well.”
He knew his daughter best. The monks and Taoists who came to his door said that if Daiyu wanted to live a healthy life, she had to become a nun or never shed a tear or see strangers.
Asking Yuan Hongqu to take care of Daiyu was extremely risky, but I never expected it to be the best decision I ever made.
Now, thanks to the care of Yuan Hongqu, Daiyu has a rosy complexion, is healthy and strong, and is lively, lovely, and mischievous.
He is exactly the kind of healthy child that every parent in the world hopes for.
This is all thanks to the original red lotus.
If Daiyu were to be abruptly removed from Yuan Hongqu's care now, it's uncertain whether she would be able to adapt.
Upon hearing her father praise Granny Yuan, Daiyu couldn't help but smile and say, "Father, Granny Yuan is really good, very good."
“Yu’er, Mr. Yuan’s current status is no longer suitable for him to be a governess. You can’t address her like that from now on.”
Lin Ruhai thought that if Daiyu addressed Yuan Hongqu in such a way in front of others, it would probably put Yuan Hongqu in an awkward situation.
“Father, Mr. Yuan belongs to everyone, but Granny Yuan belongs to me alone. Only I can call her that. That's what my granny told me, and she told me not to worry about it. She likes me to call her that.”
Daiyu answered very seriously.
Lin Ruhai coughed twice, and Daiyu quickly patted his back gently, whispering:
"Father, you don't need to worry about so much. Just stay home and rest. If you're worried, I'll ask the nanny to help you get a leave of absence."
Lin Ruhai was dumbfounded.
"Appointment for leave? Father went to the capital to report on his duties. He reported to the palace last night. As long as he has a breath left, he must go to the palace to see the Emperor today."
"It's alright, Father," Daiyu said hastily. "We won't be able to see the Emperor even if we go to the palace today."
Lin Ruhai found it strange. How did Daiyu know the Emperor's itinerary? He had heard that many graduates of the Women's Academy were serving as female officials in the palace. Could it be that they were the ones who spread the news?
That won't do; trying to find out the emperor's whereabouts is a major taboo.
As the headmistress of the girls' academy, Yuan Hongqu was definitely the one who handled this matter. It seems that this academy is not a good place. Daiyu would be better off dropping out! As for Yuan Hongqu, Daiyu should stay away from her as well!
Lin Ruhai was pondering when he heard Daiyu continue speaking.
"His Majesty is going to the Altar of Earth and Grain to offer sacrifices to Heaven today. The schedule was announced a month ago."
Hearing this, Lin Ruhai finally felt relieved. He realized that he had been judging Yuan Hongqu by his own petty standards, thinking that she was a treacherous villain who wanted to find out the inside story of the palace and even wanted Daiyu to leave Yuan Hongqu. Lin Ruhai felt ashamed, and his face burned. If it weren't for his sallow complexion, it would have been obvious at a glance.
"Last year, many people died or were injured in the capital due to the snow disaster. Many court officials said that the emperor should issue an edict of self-reproach, but the matter was diverted by the congratulations from all over the world. However, the emperor was afraid that there might be unforeseen events, so in order to pray for good weather this year, the emperor went to offer sacrifices to heaven almost every month from spring planting to autumn harvest."
These things are no secret; any storyteller on the street would know them.
Daiyu counted on her fingers.
"In spring we went to the Temple of Heaven and the Temple of Earth, and in summer we went to the Temple of the Sun and the Temple of the Moon. It's harvest season now, and I heard this year is a rare bumper harvest. We've prepared this year's new grains and chosen today to go to the Altar of Earth and Grain to offer sacrifices to Heaven."
After hearing Daiyu's words, Lin Ruhai suppressed the turmoil in his heart and returned to normal.
"Is Mr. Yuan also going to offer sacrifices to Heaven today?"
Daiyu shook her head. "Ms. Yuan won't go! She doesn't even want to go to the academy often." Lin Daiyu knew her nanny very well. When she talked about Yuan Hongqu's personality, temperament, and way of doing things, she was absolutely right.
“My nanny said that Her Majesty the Empress probably felt indebted to her and wanted to make it up to her, so she made her the headmistress of the girls’ academy. But she was afraid that the girls’ academy’s reputation wasn’t strong enough and that her backing wasn’t strong enough, so she forced my nanny to have a third-rank official position. My nanny doesn’t usually have to go to court, but the Empress often invites her to the palace to listen to her lectures. My nanny can go two or three times out of ten. In the past month, the Empress has invited her several times, but my nanny always says that she’s too busy at the academy to come to the palace.”
Daiyu smiled gently. It wasn't that the academy was busy; the nanny didn't care about anything at the academy. She just used that as an excuse and wouldn't make up any other excuses.
But I won't tell my father about these things.
The Empress knew perfectly well that Granny Yuan was lying, but she simply chose not to expose her; this was a strange tacit understanding between them.
As the father and daughter were talking, Xueyan came over, bowed to them first, and then replied:
"Master, Miss, the Second Master Lian and Second Mistress of Rongguo Mansion, as well as Second Master Bao, have come to visit you upon hearing that you have returned to the capital."
"They just happen to be the fastest, rushing over without letting Father rest properly," Daiyu said, feigning annoyance.
"Yu'er, please come in. I must thank them for taking care of you since you came to the capital." Lin Ruhai felt that he was still in good spirits. Although he could not get up to greet the guests, it was not a big problem.
“Alright, I’ll go entertain Sister-in-law Lian. Father, you can talk to Brother Lian. If you feel weak, please don’t push yourself. Brother Lian has made quite a fortune working for Granny Yuan, and he’s very respectful to her now. Sister-in-law Lian and Granny Yuan are old acquaintances, and they have a very good relationship, so Father, you don’t need to worry. Only Brother Bao…” Daiyu hesitated for a moment before speaking.
"Father will say a few words to him, ask a few questions about his studies, and then let him go play in the yard."
"Why is that?" Lin Ruhai was very puzzled. The Baoyu he had heard of before was a handsome and talented nobleman.
How come it seems rather unspeakable to Daiyu?
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