The Black Chamber Dream: Daiyu's Revenge

"Firstly, the evidence is conclusive, and Second Sister-in-law cannot escape her guilt. However, she is, after all, the head of the Jia family. If the matter is made public, it will obviously implicate Second Brother Lian and the Jia family."

"Secondly, my second sister-in-law lent money at exorbitant interest rates, and many of her victims were poor people. But there were also some who lent money for profit, and the circumstances of these people need to be carefully distinguished."

"However, we still need to teach my second sister-in-law a lesson."

Daiyu raised her head, her gaze clear and firm.

“After Yu’er came to the capital, she received some help from her second sister-in-law, so Yu’er thought she would go and see her sister-in-law herself and give it a try,” Daiyu suggested.

Lin Ruhai nodded with relief: "Good, Yu'er, don't worry, Daddy is here for you."

This is a great opportunity for my daughter to develop.

With her father's approval, Daiyu felt more confident.

On an ordinary day, Daiyu, accompanied by her maid, arrived at the Rongguo Mansion. She first went to pay her respects to Grandmother Jia, without mentioning the matter at all, only saying that she had come to see her sisters.

After chatting with Grandmother Jia for a while, Daiyu went directly to Wang Xifeng's courtyard.

As soon as Daiyu entered, Wang Xifeng put on a smile: "Oh, dear sister, what brings you here today? Please sit down, please sit down. Ping'er, bring some good tea!"

After Daiyu took her seat, she did not exchange pleasantries as usual. Instead, she looked calmly at Wang Xifeng and spoke in a clear and unhurried tone: "Second sister-in-law, I am not here for idle talk. There is something I must explain to you."

When Wang Xifeng saw Daiyu's serious expression, her heart skipped a beat, and the smile on her face gradually faded.

“I am fully aware of my second sister-in-law’s loan sharking activities,” Daiyu said bluntly, without any room for ambiguity. “Has my second sister-in-law considered the serious consequences of this matter?”

Wang Xifeng's face turned deathly pale instantly. Lin Daiyu found out? Then does that mean her husband also found out?

"Loan sharking for profit is not a legitimate business to begin with, and now it has caused widespread resentment both inside and outside the capital. Not to mention the common people who have been harmed, even the female relatives of some officials are involved. If it weren't for my second sister-in-law being the matriarch, she would probably have already been sued by the Prefectural Magistrate of the Capital."

"Second sister-in-law should know that the manor is not as good as it used to be. We've lost the title of Duke's manor and some in-laws." Daiyu didn't mention the Wang family, but Wang Xifeng understood immediately.

Wang Xifeng gripped the handkerchief in her hand tightly.

"Second sister-in-law, I am not here today to criticize anything. It is just that this concerns the reputation of the Jia family and also involves the future of my second cousin, so we must be careful. Now, there are only two paths before you."

She extended two slender fingers, looking at Wang Xifeng with clear eyes: "Either you continue to be willful, and the Censorate submits a memorial of impeachment to the Emperor, then it won't just be your problem, but the entire Jia family will be doomed. Years of hard work will be destroyed in an instant, and your second cousin's future will be ruined. At that time, how will you, second sister-in-law, face yourself?"

Wang Xifeng felt a chill run down her spine, and cold sweat poured down her back. She knew that what Daiyu said was true; not only the Zhen family, but even her uncle's family had been raided.

"The other way is for Second Sister-in-law to immediately cease all lending activities and gradually repay old debts." Daiyu's voice remained calm, yet carried an undeniable force.

“The ill-gotten gains should be returned to the victims in full. As for those who have been excessively exploited, Second Sister-in-law should personally step forward to make compensation. In this way, at least the Jia family's reputation can be preserved, and Second Sister-in-law's own life can also be saved.”

Wang Xifeng wasn't stupid; she just couldn't bear to part with her money.

“Sister-in-law, I came here today because I don’t want my cousin to find out about this beforehand. Otherwise, I’m afraid there will be a rift between husband and wife. Besides, lending money at exorbitant interest rates is such a shady business. Even if you don’t consider yourself, you should at least consider Qiao’er and your future nephew, right?” After explaining the reasons, she then appealed to her emotions.

Wang Xifeng truly loved her daughter, and the fact that she had no son was a source of great distress for her.

Wang Xifeng gritted her teeth, and all her resentment and bitterness finally turned into a long sigh.

"Sister Lin... Thank you for your guidance today. If you hadn't told me in time, I... I'm afraid I would have really caused a disaster!" She slowly stood up and gave Daiyu a proper curtsy.

"It's good that Second Sister-in-law understands." Seeing that she had finally given in, Daiyu's tone softened a bit.

"Don't worry, sister, I... I will definitely stop all lending business, check the accounts, and repay all the debts and interest in full. As for those... those families who have been wronged, I will personally send someone to apologize and make amends." Wang Xifeng's voice was choked with emotion. She had never been so humble, nor had she ever been so sincerely grateful to anyone.

Looking at Daiyu's beautiful face, she suddenly realized that this seemingly frail cousin possessed courage and wisdom far beyond her imagination.

"Sister Lin... I will remember your kindness today and never forget it!" This time, Wang Xifeng was completely convinced.

With Wang Xifeng's matter settled, Daiyu's wedding date was drawing near.

Empress Reborn – Granted a Royal Title and a Mansion, Daiyu Gets Married

Before the third prince got married, the emperor proposed to grant the three adult princes the title of Prince of the County and bestow upon them mansions.

It was supposed to be a joyous occasion, but the Second Prince, Xiao Tingkai, was simply unhappy.

When he was getting married, his father didn't make any offer. Now that it's the third son's turn, he and the fourth son have been granted the title of Prince and given their own residences.

Isn't this blatant favoritism?

The emperor deliberately punished Prince Teng, which also wiped out the Xue family's wealth.

Actually, it was just Xiao Tingkai overthinking things. The emperor felt that it was too crowded and inconvenient for all his sons to live in the palace after they were all married, so he decided to let them go out and establish their own households.

But it was still too late. Even if a mansion were granted now, it would be impossible to finish its renovation before the auspicious day chosen by the Imperial Observatory. Therefore, the third prince still had to get married in the palace.

According to royal custom, princes, being of the highest rank in the imperial family, were not allowed to personally go to the bride's home to fetch her when they married. Instead, an envoy was dispatched with a ceremonial procession to the bride's home to escort her to the palace. This was a manifestation of royal dignity and a rule passed down through generations.

Xiao Tingjun, however, had his own considerations.

He had made a bold request to the Emperor and Empress in private long ago: "Father, Mother, I would like to ask you both to grant me permission to personally go to the Lin residence to fetch Miss Lin on my wedding day. I do this not to break ancestral rules, but simply to express my respect for Miss Lin and to show the world how much the royal family values ​​their first wife."

Upon hearing this, the emperor's expression shifted slightly. He had always admired Xiao Tingjun's intelligence and sincerity, and knew that he was not a fool.

The Empress sighed, "In the previous life, the third prince personally went to the Rongguo Mansion to fetch his bride, and in this life, it's the same. Firstly, this truly shows that the third prince loves Yu'er very much; secondly, it seems that the third prince still harbors the intention of avoiding the Crown Prince's sharp edge."

"Your Majesty, since Jun'er is so willing, why not grant his request? Yu'er is also my elder sister's goddaughter, so she is different after all," the Empress said, speaking up for Xiao Tingjun.

The emperor finally nodded.

On the day of the wedding, the Lin family mansion was decorated with lanterns and colorful decorations, and the atmosphere was joyous.

When Xiao Tingjun, dressed in auspicious attire, rode a tall horse, and led the royal guard to the Lin residence in a grand procession, the people of the capital all stopped to watch, praising the Third Prince's deep affection for the Lin family's daughter.

However, this door is not so easy to enter.

Lin Daiyu's close female friends had been waiting for a long time, ready to give the future prince's groom a good "challenge." Tan Chun, Xiang Yun, Xi Chun, and even the younger sister of the Crown Princess Liu Ying, along with a group of sisters, led by the Eldest Princess, blocked the inner courtyard gate, laughing and chatting happily.

Xiao Tingjun alighted from the sedan chair and arrived at the door. He saw a red paper pasted on the door with a couplet written on it: "Where there is musk, there is fragrance; why bother knocking? Just scatter the betrothal money all over the ground."

Tan Chun said with a smile, "Your Highness, today you are going to marry our Sister Lin. The first challenge is for Your Highness to provide the matching couplet before you can enter."

Xiao Tingjun smiled bitterly to himself; Yu'er's sisters really knew how to create difficult problems.

After a moment's thought, he had an answer and quickly said, "Without jade, how can I ask for anything? It is only because of my deep affection that I am willing to give my heart to my beloved."

The sisters were taken aback at first, then burst into laughter.

This second line not only echoes the first line but also cleverly incorporates the character "jade" from Daiyu's name, expressing the author's deep affection for Daiyu. The line "My true heart is given to this beautiful woman" is even more tender and affectionate, defusing the difficult situation.

After the couplets, the next thing to do was to urge the bride to get ready for the wedding.

Xiangyun posed a difficult question: "Your Highness, today is a joyous occasion, and there should be poems to urge you to get married. You must compose three poems to show your sincerity in marrying Sister Lin."

Although Xiao Tingjun was prepared, he did not expect to be asked to write three poems in one go. He was good at reading, but his poetry was far inferior to Daiyu's.

After pondering for a while, I came up with three poems:

First: Red candles illuminate the curtains, awaiting the beautiful lady; a mirror on the dressing table reflects her crimson lips. East wind, do not envy the early spring; let the jade branches enter the painted gate.

Secondly: Her hair, newly combed, awaits the phoenix hairpin; her makeup complete, she seems like a banished immortal. Let no cosmetics obscure her beauty; she possesses a natural, unparalleled talent.

Thirdly: Red beans symbolize longing sent to distant lands, and today my long-cherished wish has finally come true. From now on, like phoenixes perched on the parasol tree, we will join hands and embark on a splendid journey together.

The sisters initially wanted to continue "making things difficult," but seeing Xiao Tingjun's sincerity, they couldn't bear to stop.

Xiao Lin also came to Daiyu's place to watch the fun today. Seeing her brother's pitiful state and noticing that it was getting late, she spoke kindly to Daiyu: "Sister Lin, your brother is so affectionate, please come out quickly, don't keep him waiting."

Then she took out the large red envelopes she had prepared and stuffed them into the hands of Tan Chun, Xiang Yun, Xi Chun, and the others, saying with a smile, "Dear sisters, I have offended you all today. Please accept these small tokens of my appreciation!"

Xiangyun laughed: "Well, Princess, you said you'd come along to make things difficult for the groom. It's clear you'd already planned to be an inside man."

With Xiao Lin's help and the generous red envelopes they received, the sisters all knew when to stop. Inside the room, Daiyu listened to Xiao Tingjun's poetry, her face already flushed, her heart filled with sweetness.

Once the veil was placed over her head, the matchmaker stepped forward to help her up.

The grand sedan chair entered through the main gate, accompanied by court music. Dozens of palace lanterns lined the way, resembling a cascading galaxy. The bride, her head veiled, was led by the groom, who held her by a red silk ribbon. They first stepped over a saddle, then over a brazier, and gracefully entered the bridal chamber.

The warm palace was still and filled with the fragrance of incense. Suddenly, the surroundings became quiet and ambiguous. A large hand took her in, and the two bowed to heaven and earth before slowly walking towards the dragon and phoenix wedding bed.

The mattress was soft and thick, its pattern of a hundred children and a thousand grandchildren digging into my fingertips. The other person leaned in to smell it, seemingly hesitant about what to say, and finally just brushed the veil aside.

The warmth of her body penetrated clearly through the layers of her wedding dress, and Daiyu's heart pounded like a drum, filled with both shame and anger.

What an indecisive person!

But when Xiao Tingjun finally couldn't hold back any longer and slowly lifted the veil, she only glanced at his gentle and affectionate smiling face before shyly turning her face away.

She stole another glance. Their eyes met, their emotions intertwined.

The young couple settled down in the tent, and five-colored love flowers and fruits fell like a sudden rain. Xiao Tingjun was afraid that his wife would be hurt by the noisy rain, so he subconsciously blocked them, which caused a burst of laughter.

Firecrackers were going off outside.

The gourd is split in two, with a red thread connecting the stems. The husband and wife each hold one end, exchanging drinks and eating together. They share food and drink from the same cup, from then on sharing joys and sorrows, living in harmony.

The phoenix's melody is melodious, and the luan's flute plays softly.

The newlyweds went to the Phoenix Palace to pay their respects the next morning.

The emperor sat upright, while Consort Qiao sat on his other side, both receiving tea as part of the ceremony, each with a lavish gift prepared.

Daiyu used to frequently visit the palace, and now that she had a new identity, she quickly adapted.

After the residence was tidied up, the young couple moved out of the palace.

That day, Xiao Tingjun returned and asked Daiyu very seriously, "Yu'er, do you want to go to Jiangnan?"

Daiyu was dumbfounded.

The Empress's Rebirth - The Young Couple's Journey to Jiangnan

When Daiyu heard about going to Jiangnan, she was first taken aback, then a hint of surprise flashed in her eyes, but it quickly dimmed again.

Of course she wanted to! Having left home at a young age, her heart and soul had always longed for the beautiful landscapes of Jiangnan.

But she also knew that Xiao Tingjun was now the Prince of Yi, and their status was different. They certainly couldn't travel around freely like ordinary people.

"Are you kidding me?" Daiyu sighed softly.

Seeing her like this, Xiao Tingjun couldn't help but smile. He reached out and took Daiyu's hand before telling her the truth: "Yu'er, you and I can't be like ordinary people. But this trip to Jiangnan is something Father Emperor intended, and there's a deeper meaning behind it."

He lowered his voice and slowly explained, "His Majesty is keen to recover the islands in the southeast to strengthen coastal defenses. However, the naval forces in Fujian and Zhejiang have always been led by the Prince of Nan'an. Father is not very at ease with the Prince of Nan'an, fearing that he will become too powerful to control. Since we are going to fight, we must be fully prepared and strive to take it in one fell swoop."

It turns out that the Empress also played a part in this.

The emperor wanted to send someone to investigate the southeastern navy, but he was unsure who to send.

After all, wouldn't openly sending people make the Prince of Nan'an resentful?