The Black Chamber Dream: Daiyu's Revenge

Soon, news spread throughout the household that Jia Zheng had dismissed the guests and taken inventory of the calligraphy, paintings, and antiques. Daiyu naturally learned of it as well.

Daiyu fell into deep thought. Seeing that Daiyu seemed to be wavering, Zijuan and Xueyan spoke first: "Miss, you mustn't be soft-hearted. This is what they should give you."

Zijuan quickly chimed in, "That's right, that's right. I think they deliberately put on this show to soften your heart, Miss. Don't fall for it."

Daiyu shook her head and asked the two maids, "Do you still remember how many sets of furniture were in the dowry when Princess Rui got married?"

Zijuan remembered it very clearly: "One hundred and twenty-eight stages, that was quite a spectacle back then, the whole capital was talking about it."

"Do you remember the rumors we heard? There was a saying that the Wu and Song families had joined forces, and their 128 dowry items were comparable to those of the former crown princess?" Daiyu continued to ask.

Upon hearing this, both Zijuan and Xueyan felt an invisible pressure.

“I think the Ge family set the dowry at 108 taels to avoid suspicion—a family like the Ge family might not be unable to afford more, but that would be too ostentatious.” Daiyu knew that both maids were thinking of her wholeheartedly, but they were not thinking comprehensively. Not to mention the lessons of history, there were examples in this dynasty alone, and she could not be a “thoughtless” successor.

“But I am different from the Ge family girl. I have no father or mother. If my dowry is too much, wouldn’t that make people more suspicious?” Daiyu thought. Xiao Tingjun and the Empress clearly wanted to play dumb, so she should cooperate even more.

"Take stock of what I've received from the palace recently. Include the birthday gifts as well," Daiyu pondered, trying to figure out how to secure things she could use in the future without appearing too ostentatious.

Zijuan and Xueyan realized at this moment: the young lady wanted to keep a low profile, after all, she would be the princess consort in the future, and being too flamboyant might cause trouble.

Xueyan was still somewhat unwilling: "Wouldn't that be letting them off easy?"

Daiyu smiled and shook her head: "Sometimes, you have to think long-term. You can't have your cake and eat it too. You all should read more books."

Upon hearing about reading, Zijuan's head throbbed: "Good girl, we'll listen to you, but please don't make me read anymore. Xueyan is intelligent, let her read."

When it comes to being engrossed in reading, Zijuan is no match for Xueyan.

"Alright, let's get on with this first, we'll talk about the rest later." Daiyu began to ponder carefully, and even got up to go to her desk and pick up her pen to write.

After writing it down and letting the ink dry, fold it up, put it in an envelope, and hand it to Zijuan: "Have your brother deliver it to Zhao Bingxin, who is by Prince Yi's side."

Now, Xiao Tingjun and Daiyu had already discussed how to contact each other, and Daiyu felt that they could tell Xiao Tingjun about it first.

Xiao Tingjun's reply was delivered to Daiyu the next day.

Chapter 60 Daiyu's Far-sighted Decision

Xiao Tingjun strongly agreed with Daiyu's idea, which further strengthened Daiyu's resolve.

Zijuan and Xueyan have already tallied up the rewards and birthday gifts that Daiyu received from the palace, totaling sixteen items.

"Alright, let's go and pay our respects to the old lady." Nowadays, Daiyu rarely calls Grandmother Jia her maternal grandmother anymore; the old lady and maternal grandmother are different.

Nowadays, Daiyu rarely leaves Xiaoxiang Pavilion. Upon hearing that Daiyu had arrived, Grandmother Jia couldn't help but wonder what she had come for.

After a series of formalities, Grandmother Jia was even more surprised when she heard Daiyu mention her dowry.

“Originally, these matters should not be of concern to Yu’er. It’s a pity that Yu’er’s parents’ fate was shallow, so I have no choice but to speak to the old lady myself.” Daiyu wiped away her tears as she said this.

Upon hearing this, Grandmother Jia also shed two tears. Her sorrow was genuine. After the grandmother and granddaughter cried for a while, Zijuan came up to comfort them.

"These past few days, I've overheard the gossip among the maids and servants. I've learned that it's because of me that the old lady, my uncle, and my aunt have been put in a difficult position." As Daiyu spoke, she observed Jia Mu's expression. Sure enough, it was the old lady. At this moment, she looked kind and gentle, just like always.

"What are you saying, Yu'er? Your father and mother prepared things for you back then, but all these years, the people in the manor have been useless." Ever since the Princess came to the manor to reprimand her, there were many things that Grandmother Jia wanted to hide from Daiyu, but she couldn't. So she simply told the truth in exchange for the little bit of affection that Daiyu still had.

"Now that Yu'er has married well, your uncles and aunts are very happy. Yu'er doesn't need to worry about the dowry." Grandmother Jia wanted to speak well of her two sons in front of Daiyu. "Your eldest uncle has prepared jade bonsai and a self-ringing clock. Your second uncle has also sent famous paintings and calligraphy, ancient ink and Song paper. In any case, the family will definitely make sure that Yu'er has a grand wedding."

Upon hearing this, Daiyu stood up first, gave a solemn bow, and then said with a slight sob in her voice, "Granddaughter thanks the old lady and also thanks the uncles."

Grandmother Jia quickly invited Daiyu to sit down, saying that this was only right.

“Yu’er has also heard that the Ge family girl’s dowry is 108 taels of silver. I suppose the old lady and uncles feel sorry for Yu’er and will definitely want to match it,” Daiyu continued. “But Yu’er thinks that it is absolutely not possible. It is not right for Yu’er’s marriage to make it so that her uncles will not be able to entertain guests in the future. For example, at Second Uncle’s place, it would be inappropriate for a guest to come occasionally and the place would look empty.”

"Therefore, Yu'er has thought it over carefully and decided that the dowry should not be so large." Seeing that Grandmother Jia was about to speak, Daiyu said in time, "Grandmother, if you listen to Yu'er's thoughts first, you will not object."

"Everyone in the court and among the people knows that Yu'er's parents have long since passed away. If the dowry is too much this time, who knows what outsiders will think of Yu'er's parents and the Rongguo Mansion?" They might think that Lin Ruhai was a corrupt official, or that the Rongguo Mansion is so rich that it has so much stuff for a granddaughter's wedding.

"Besides, Yu'er has also inquired and found out that when the Empress married His Majesty, her dowry wasn't this much." Daiyu brought up the Empress to make it difficult for Grandmother Jia to refute her. "Zijuan and Xueyan have also sorted out the rewards Yu'er has received from the palace these days, which total sixteen taels. So Yu'er thought that Second Uncle wouldn't need to sort and count them anymore."

Daiyu's words made Grandmother Jia take a closer look at her granddaughter: Yu'er had truly grown up, even more intelligent than she had imagined. Yu'er's words were both heartfelt and reasonable. The issues Yu'er had considered were far more comprehensive than Grandmother Jia had anticipated.

After a moment of silence, Grandmother Jia patted Daiyu's hand and said, "Yu'er, you've thought this through. In that case, let's set the dowry at ninety-nine tiers, which will symbolize longevity. What do you think, Yu'er?"

Grandmother Jia's statement of ninety-nine was a deliberate decision. She had originally prepared sixty-four units, plus the sixteen units sent by Jia Zheng. Now that Yu'er had sixteen units left, she decided to add a few more, which would be just right.

“Alright, I’ll listen to Grandma.” Daiyu nodded. “It’s my fault for making Grandma worry about me.”

"Yu'er, what are you saying? I used to love your mother the most, and now I naturally love you even more. As for what happened back then, Her Majesty spoke up, and there was nothing I could do. But now that I see Yu'er married well, I'm happy. No matter how much I worry, I'm happy." Seeing that Daiyu didn't hold any grudges about the past, Grandmother Jia was genuinely happy.

"The day is drawing ever closer, and Yu'er won't have many more days to enjoy comfort at home. Once you're at the Prince's Mansion, if you encounter any difficulties or grievances, just come back and tell me." After saying a lot to Daiyu, Grandmother Jia invited her to stay for lunch.

After leaving Grandmother Jia's main room, Daiyu walked quite a distance before turning back to look: years ago, when she entered the mansion, she stepped out of the sedan chair and walked step by step through this gate. Her feelings then were completely different from now.

After watching for a while, Daiyu, this time, took Zijuan and left without looking back.

Within half a day, the news that Daiyu had voluntarily reduced her dowry spread throughout the mansion, and even Jia Zheng in the outer courtyard heard the news. He sighed deeply as he looked at a painting in his study.

That painting was done by Jia Min back then. My father liked it very much and hung it in his study.

How did things come to this? Jia Zheng couldn't understand.

When the servants learned that Miss Lin had voluntarily requested a reduction in her dowry, some said she was foolish, as a woman's dowry should be as large as possible; others said she was considerate and didn't want to put the old lady in a difficult position; still others said that Miss Lin was going to be a prince's wife, and the royal family had so much gold and silver, she wouldn't care about this little bit...

Daiyu didn't care what the people in the mansion thought. As the weather got hotter, Daiyu, who was already suffering from summer heat, felt even more irritable because she was about to get married.

The dripping water in the ice vat, the gentle turning of the windmill, and the chirping of cicadas in the garden made it impossible for Daiyu, who had intended to take a nap, to fall asleep.

Now that Granny Xu and Granny Gu have returned to the palace, only the mistress and her servants remain in Xiaoxiang Pavilion. Unable to sleep, Daiyu got up and saw Zijuan and Xueyan doing needlework in the corridor, so she simply took her fan and went outside.

"Why aren't you asleep, Miss?" Xueyan saw that Daiyu had also sat down on the railing, so she quickly got up to move a rattan chair.

"No need, I'm perfectly fine sitting here." Daiyu waved the fan in her hand, and a breeze blew through the corridor, making her much more comfortable.

"I think Chunyu and Chunxian are becoming more and more sensible. When the time comes, we can all go together." Daiyu had already decided that, in addition to her wet nurse Wang Mama, four maids would be enough.

Just as Zijuan was about to speak, Chunyu was already spreading the word that Sister Amber had arrived.

It turned out that someone from the palace had come again.

Chapter 61 A Sudden Intention: The Emperor Bestows Favor

People from the palace came to inspect the Rongguo Mansion and Xiaoxiang Pavilion, mainly to check if there were any violations of regulations in the architecture, or if any objects had inauspicious meanings.

"The old lady is personally entertaining you right now, Miss, please pack your things and go over there." Amber came to inform Daiyu, because the eunuchs would also be coming to Xiaoxiang Pavilion for inspection later.

Zijuan and Xueyan hurried over to tidy up Daiyu. Daiyu had been taking a nap earlier, so her hair was all loose. Zijuan combed her hair, and Xueyan brought out a set of pearl and kingfisher feather hair ornaments, but Daiyu shook her head: "No need for such a complicated look. On such a hot day, something light and refreshing is fine."

Amber felt it wasn't quite right, but she wasn't Daiyu's maid and had always been somewhat afraid of Daiyu, so she didn't say anything. While Zijuan was quickly combing Daiyu's hair, she said, "If it's too simple, won't people look down on us?"

"No, the Empress and the Prince both said that the people in the palace are cunning and sharp-eyed, and they don't care whether they look down on someone or not." Daiyu was quite clear-headed. "Just style her hair into a hairpin style and put on that magnolia and kingfisher feather hairpin."

Upon seeing Daiyu dressed up, Amber couldn't help but think to herself: No wonder I heard that Prince Yi likes Miss Lin so much. Even dressed so simply, she looks like a fairy.

Amber took her leave to invite the eunuch, and soon returned with four eunuch supervisors.

As soon as Daiyu came out, four eunuchs bowed to her in unison. The one leading them was Li Zhong, the head eunuch of the Empress's palace. Daiyu recognized him, smiled, raised her hand to waive the formalities, and said with a smile, "Please, Eunuch Li."

"Your Highness still remembers your servant." Because Li Zhong didn't serve the Empress much, he mainly managed the eunuchs in the harem. However, he had been with the Emperor and Empress since they were still in the Prince's residence, so he held considerable weight in front of the Emperor and Empress.

In the past, Daiyu had not seen Li Zhong many times when she entered the palace, but this time Daiyu remembered him, which made Li Zhong very happy: the current Princess Ruijun was somewhat biased towards Consort Wu's side and did not care much about eunuchs like Li Zhong.

Zijuan and Xueyan brought tea, using a set of Ding kiln white glaze lotus petal patterned cups. Li Zhong and the others bowed to accept the tea, took a sip and found it to be Longjing tea, and felt even more valued.

After the inspection was completed, Zijuan came up and presented a red envelope.

Li Zhong returned to the palace to report, and coincidentally, both the emperor and Prince Yi were with the empress. Li Zhong then praised Daiyu extensively. Having served the emperor and empress for many years, he was well-versed in the art of conversation and could praise people subtly.

The emperor did ask what the Xiaoxiang Pavilion looked like. Although Li Zhong was a eunuch, he was literate. When he heard the emperor ask, he quickly replied, "From afar, you can see hundreds of bamboo groves within the pink walls. Once you enter, you'll find winding covered walkways. The paths are paved with pebbles, and there are only three or four rooms in total. It's not very big."

The emperor frowned slightly upon hearing this: "Such a small place? Didn't everyone praise the Rongguo Mansion for building such a large villa for the emperor's family visit back then?" His words revealed a hint of dissatisfaction with the Rongguo Mansion.

The Empress said from the side, "I did hear that girl mention it. She said she liked that place; it was quiet and elegant, with a Jiangnan style."

The emperor was satisfied with this and then asked about Xiao Tingjun's residence. After Xiao Tingjun explained, he nodded and said, "It's just right. I will issue an edict to have the Imperial Household Department decorate it properly and use it as your new home. Then you two won't have to live in Zichen Garden anymore, it's too cramped there."

Xiao Tingjun quickly expressed his gratitude. The emperor looked at his son and thought of his concubine who had passed away many years ago. Qiao was an extremely gentle and talented woman who was proficient in all the arts, including music, chess, calligraphy, and painting. She was also exceptionally beautiful. Of all the concubines, Qiao was the most favored.

Thinking of the deceased Lady Qiao, the emperor felt a sense of guilt towards this son, especially since his second and fourth sons had both asked their mothers for this or that at their weddings. But this son's mother was no longer alive. Although the empress was his adoptive mother, as the saying goes, no adoptive mother is as close as a biological mother. Moreover, the empress was in the central palace and could not speak carelessly, otherwise she would break the rules.

So the emperor asked the empress, "Is everything prepared for the third prince's wedding?"

The Empress was somewhat puzzled: there were established rules for the marriages of princes and dukes, so why was the Emperor suddenly asking about it? However, the Empress immediately replied: "Yes, the Imperial Household Department sent them over a few days ago. I have seen them; there are ninety-nine pairs of auspicious items."

"Since I have nothing else to do today, I might as well go and take a look." Upon hearing the emperor's words, the empress was even more surprised.

"Third Prince, come along too. Take a look at your things and see if they're okay. If not, just have them replaced." The Emperor lifted his foot, and the Empress naturally followed. Meanwhile, she sent Li Zhong to deliver a message to the Imperial Household Department.

The Imperial Household Department was quite surprised. The things from the Second Prince's wedding were only seen by the Empress and Consort Wu. Why did the Emperor come personally for the Third Prince's wedding? Could it be that the Emperor prefers the Third Prince? But recently everyone has been saying that the Second Prince is doing very well in the Ministry of Justice, and the Emperor has praised him highly.

Completely bewildered, the Imperial Household Department quickly checked again, waiting for the Emperor and Empress to enter with Prince Yi. Everyone hurriedly bowed.

"This Five Treasures Beast Ornament lacks luster; isn't there anything better?" The emperor examined it for a while and then found a fault.

The Imperial Household Department quickly agreed and ordered the Imperial Workshops to redo the work.

Unexpectedly, after inspecting the items, the Emperor found that he was dissatisfied with more than ten of them, which forced the Imperial Household Department and the Imperial Workshops to work overtime.

Only now did the Empress realize the Emperor's thoughts: the Emperor was most likely missing Lady Qiao. Back when the Emperor was still a prince, his most beloved concubine was the thoughtful and literate Lady Qiao.

Nowadays, everyone praises Consort Xu for being favored, but in fact, Consort Xu's appearance is somewhat similar to that of Lady Qiao. For a time, the Emperor also seemed to think that Consort De, Lady Jia, was quite good, but the Empress knew that it was only because Lady Jia played the zither very well, and Lady Qiao's zither skills were even better than Lady Jia's.

The play goes something like this: the living can't win against the dead.

What surprised the Empress even more was that the Emperor suddenly praised Xiao Tingjun for his outstanding work in the Ministry of Works: "You are a good boy. You can stay calm and focused. I heard Tian Jingmin praise you, saying that you contributed to the improvement of the waterwheel and the upgrade of the winch. Now that you are getting married, with your meager income as a prince, it will be difficult for your family to make ends meet. I am thinking of giving you double the salary of a prince."

Upon hearing this, Xiao Tingjun was so frightened that he immediately knelt down and begged to resign: "I dare not accept such a title. My second brother does such a good job in the Ministry of Justice, yet he does not receive the double salary of a prince. Moreover, I learned from Lord Tian and his colleagues in the Ministry of Works. It was Lord Tian and his colleagues who taught me well."

Upon hearing this, the Emperor realized that giving him double pay might not be a good idea. After pondering for a while, he looked at his son, who was kneeling and always quiet and unassuming, and smiled: "That's true. But that girl from the Lin family is all alone and has no family to support you. Her father has devoted himself to my country. So I'll just give her an estate as a wedding gift from me."

Xiao Tingjun was about to decline again when the Empress spoke up first, saying, "Your Majesty dotes on your son and daughter-in-law, so I should also do something in return. I had an embroidery shop back then, so I'll give it to Yu'er."

The emperor was even more pleased to see the empress being so generous.

When the imperial decree was delivered to the Rongguo Mansion, Daiyu was shocked to hear that the Emperor and Empress had actually added to Daiyu's dowry, and in such a lavish manner.

Chapter 62 Jia Zhen's Thoughts Arise Upon Seeing Enshang

The Emperor granted Daiyu a manor on the outskirts of the capital, Wanmei Manor. Anyone familiar with the market would know that it was a genuine imperial manor, located right next to the Princess's Yingshui Manor. Although it wasn't particularly large in size, its output was extremely abundant, and with proper management over the years, it had generated considerable income.

This undoubtedly shows that the emperor values ​​the Lin family girl very much.