The Black Chamber Dream: Daiyu's Revenge

Seeing that the Duke's mansion wasn't paying much attention to them, the Sun family elder brother and sister-in-law became even more smug and determined to stay there. After all, this was the capital, the most prosperous city, and the Sun family's house was quite nice, much better than their hometown. Moreover, they had heard that the Lady of the Imperial Decree received a monthly stipend, which, although not much, was enough for the family's expenses. In that case, they wouldn't have to work the land anymore—what a wonderful thing!

Zijuan was sent by Daiyu to deliver some things to Yingchun six days ago, and that's how she happened to find out about this. When she got back, she naturally couldn't hide it from Daiyu, so she told Daiyu everything.

After hearing this, Daiyu rubbed her temples. Her second sister was always gentle and mild-mannered, and couldn't control anyone. But then she thought, could there be a noblewoman like her second sister?

Following this thought, Daiyu drafted a suggestion and sent it to the Empress. Upon seeing Daiyu's suggestion, the Empress turned around and happily discussed it with the Emperor.

The Emperor was deeply impressed by the flower-viewing banquet planned by Daiyu; the image of the flames was etched into his mind. Hearing the Empress's words, the Emperor sighed even more, "That child is truly thoughtful and intelligent. It is said that the falling of a single leaf heralds the coming of autumn, and she truly has the ability to see through the essence of things. Her suggestions are all very good. Indeed, orphans and widows may be bullied. In that case, I will issue an imperial decree."

Finally, the emperor added, "Even so, I'm afraid her cousin's matter won't be easily resolved."

"That's the good thing about her, she's kind-hearted," the Empress said with a smile. "But I think she does have a way to help."

"Kindness is a good thing, but it shouldn't put you in a passive position because of it. When you have time in the future, give her a few words of advice. Her parents passed away early, so I'm afraid no one will tell her." The emperor reminded the empress.

The Empress readily agreed and immediately sent someone out to deliver a message to Daiyu.

Daiyu had already begun to help Yingchun. She sent a guard from the Prince's Mansion to Sun Shaozu's hometown. The person Yingchun sent was just a servant. Although the local government wouldn't lie to him, they certainly wouldn't tell him anything unnecessary.

The situation was different when the guards of the Prince's Mansion went. Out of respect for the Prince's Mansion, the local government officials naturally told them everything they knew without reservation.

Just as Daiyu had predicted, when the guard returned to report to her, he told her: "Your Highness, Sun Shaomin and Sun Shaozu separated their families long ago. Later, when Sun Shaozu went to the capital to take up an official post, the two brothers lost contact with each other. As for the other members of the Sun family, they had long since dispersed and left. It was never a large family to begin with."

Daiyu thought for a moment and then called Zijuan over: "Go to the Sun family again and tell Second Sister what you have to say." After saying this, Daiyu thought for a while, got up and walked to the table. Seeing this, Zijuan guessed that Daiyu wanted to write, so she quickly stepped forward to help her grind the ink.

Daiyu quickly wrote a letter and asked Zijuan to give it to Yingchun: "After reading this, Second Sister should know what to do. If Second Sister is still undecided, I will step in."

Although Ziju didn't know what Daiyu had written, she guessed it was something to tell the Second Miss what to do. Since the Second Miss only had Xiuju by her side, Ziju went to deliver the letter and then asked Xiuju a few questions.

Xiuju was originally just a second-class maidservant by Yingchun's side, but after Siqi had an accident, she took her place and became a first-class maidservant.

But Xiuju has always been a loyal and protective girl. Back when Yingchun was still a second-class maid, she dared to quarrel with Wang Zhu's wife because they stole Yingchun's beaded gold phoenix and sold it.

Now that Yingchun has come to the Sun family, it is all thanks to Xiuju; otherwise, Yingchun's life would be even more difficult.

"You should try to persuade the second young lady. There are some things that I, as her maid, shouldn't be saying, but the second young lady needs to stand up for herself, otherwise things will be difficult in the future," Ziju said to Xiuju.

“How could I not try to persuade her? I’ve tried countless times. You know our young lady’s temperament. If only she had even a little bit of the temper of the Third Young Lady.” Xiu Ju sighed. “Fortunately, the Princess Consort is kind-hearted. Look at the other mansions over there, no one cares about anything.”

"That's how things are always in that household. This time, you should have a good talk with the Second Miss. I think the Princess Consort hopes that the Second Miss will handle this matter herself." Although Zijuan didn't know exactly what Daiyu had written, since the Princess Consort hadn't come directly, it was clear that the Princess Consort hoped the Second Miss would make some progress.

Xiuju nodded and personally saw Ziju out.

After returning, Xiuju indeed started persuading Yingchun whenever she had time.

Seeing that there was still no movement, Daiyu was about to go and check when Xiuju arrived first.

Chapter 118 Yingchun's Growth Makes Daiyu Feel Relieved

Xiu Ju came to Zijuan's surprise, but Daiyu had a rough idea. It seemed that her second sister had mustered up the courage to take action on her own this time.

Since that's the case, Daiyu shouldn't rush over; she should give Yingchun a chance to learn.

Sure enough, after Xiuju came in and bowed, she said, "Our young lady sent me here to borrow a few people from the Princess."

Daiyu nodded: "Whom do you need to borrow?"

"I need two guards, the taller kind, and I'd like to borrow Sister Ziju for a while." After Xiuju finished speaking, Ziju was stunned. Why was she involved?

"Of course you can, Zijuan, you don't have any objections, do you?" Daiyu smiled and glanced at the stunned Zijuan.

"It's not that I'm unwilling, but I don't know what you want me to do there?" Zijuan still didn't quite understand.

"Our young lady said that she doesn't need Sister Zijuan to do anything; she only needs the title of being Princess Yi's personal maid." Xiuju relayed Yingchun's words.

Upon hearing this, Zijuan quickly agreed to the task.

"Perfect timing. Take the things I asked you to pack a few days ago to Second Sister as well." After Daiyu gave the order, Zijuan hurriedly led a few maids to fetch the things.

Xiuju looked at Zijuan and the others taking out a lot of things and felt very moved: Princess Yi is really generous. Only Princess Yi would think of giving gifts to her daughter.

“This is a piece of cloud brocade bestowed by the palace. It’s as light and soft as clouds. It was sent from the south. I have some here, so I’ll share it with the sisters.” Daiyu pointed to two pieces of the brocade and said, “You have to tell Second Sister to be careful when cutting this, as it’s easy to snag.”

“This box contains several kinds of medicine. I recently had the Imperial Hospital prepare them. I’m afraid Second Sister might need them,” Daiyu said. Inside were the prescriptions and instructions. “The weather is getting warmer soon. Tell Second Sister what she needs and let me know.”

Xiuju quickly thanked Daiyu and went out with Zijuan.

She arrived in the Sun family's carriage, but Zijuan wouldn't ride in hers. After all, she was using the name of the Prince Yi's Mansion, so naturally she would ride in their carriage.

Xiuju led Ziju inside, but instead of going into the main room, they waited behind the screen and heard Yingchun talking to Sun Shaomin and his wife.

“Brother and sister-in-law, you’ve been staying here for almost half a month now. I heard you have land and houses back in your hometown, so you should go back and keep an eye on things. Otherwise, the authorities are worried something might happen to you. They’ve even sent people to inquire about you. I thought we were all family, even though we’ve separated our households a long time ago, we should still keep in touch. So I’ve let you stay for these few days and have treated you with great hospitality.” Yingchun decided to start with a softer approach.

But when they heard that they were to be sent away, Sun Shaomin objected: "Sister-in-law, what are you saying? We were just thinking that with my brother gone, you're all alone and easily bullied."

Yingchun smiled and said, "I should thank you for your kindness, brother and sister-in-law, but as you can see, I have long-term servants and laborers in my household, and I also have the protection of the Prince Yi's mansion. How could ordinary people dare to bully me? Don't you agree, brother and sister-in-law?"

Upon hearing that Yingchun was being carried out of the Prince Yi's residence, Sun Shaomin and his wife became somewhat apprehensive. They had inquired and learned that this Prince Yi's residence was no ordinary one; Prince Yi was the Emperor's third son, and they had heard that he was highly favored by the Emperor. The Princess Consort of Prince Yi was Yingchun's cousin, and they had always had a very good relationship.

It was at this moment that Ziju and Xiuju came in together.

"Oh, speak of the devil and he shall appear." Yingchun breathed a sigh of relief when she saw Zijuan arrive.

Zijuan pretended not to know what they were talking about, went in and first bowed to Yingchun, then had the maids bring up the things: "Our princess sent me to deliver something to you, aunt. This cloud brocade is perfect for summer, it's very cool and comfortable. It's a new product from the Suzhou Weaving Bureau, you can't buy it on the market. But there's not much, so I can only give you two bolts."

After inspecting everything, Yingchun ordered it to be put away in the storeroom: "You and Xiuju have been sisters for many years. If you're not in a hurry to go back, go and talk to Xiuju."

"Isn't it because I'm looking for Sister Xiuju? The Princess Consort saw that the shoes my aunt is wearing are beautiful, and they were embroidered by Sister Xiuju. This servant would like to ask for a few patterns." Ziju said, then took her leave.

Sun Shaomin and his wife had met Zijuan before, and seeing her again now, they were even more impressed: the maids in the Prince's mansion are all so well-dressed, they are truly different.

After Zijuan left, Yingchun continued, "Brother and sister-in-law know that I am a very understanding person. In the future, when our two families are in contact, and when the boy grows up and needs to go to school, I can still lend a hand. When the girl grows up and wants to find a husband, I, as her aunt, can also help to make an assessment. Don't you agree?"

Sun Shaomin and his wife were calculating in their minds. Given the current situation, if they didn't agree, things might really turn ugly. Yingchun had just said something that hit them where it hurt: the two brothers had already separated their households.

"Sister-in-law, it's not that I don't understand, it's just that we country folk haven't seen much of the world, and we'd like to see more of the capital." Cui was trying to stall, determined not to leave.

Yingchun nodded after hearing this: "That's true. I've arranged for someone to take my brother and sister-in-law, nephew and niece out for a stroll these next few days. But I heard from the local government that the Yellow Register registration is in ten days. If my brother and sister-in-law don't go back soon, their household registration will be cancelled, which would be troublesome. I was worried that it would be inconvenient for my brother and sister-in-law to travel, so I specially borrowed guards from the Prince's Mansion. The guards will personally escort you back. With the guards from the Prince's Mansion, the local government won't make things difficult for you, right?"

Upon hearing that Yingchun had even brought out the guards from the Prince's mansion, Zisun Shaomin and his wife realized that they had no choice but to leave—it is said that commoners should not contend with officials, let alone a prince, how could they dare to offend him.

These two were quick-witted. Upon hearing Yingchun's words, they knew there was no room for negotiation. Cui quickly said, "It's my sister-in-law who knows how to make arrangements. We, as the elder brother and sister-in-law, are naturally grateful. Just as my sister-in-law said, we will come to visit her during festivals and holidays. We are all family."

Cui was still thinking to herself that Yingchun had no children, and she didn't know if she could stay a widow. If she could, she could indeed help her children in the future.

Yingchun breathed a sigh of relief when she saw that they had agreed to go back.

Since Mr. and Mrs. Sun had come to their senses, they didn't stay long and packed their things to leave early the next morning. Yingchun wasn't too harsh on them, especially since the two children were lively, clever, and lovable; she even gave them some gifts.

Two days after seeing off Mr. and Mrs. Sun Shaomin, Daiyu came to visit, and even Xichun and Xiangyun came.

Although Wei Ruolan's legs are now useless and she can only move around in a wheelchair, Xiangyun is still optimistic.

“Now, with my meager income, although life is tough, my family is safe and sound, and I am content.” Xiangyun’s mindset has changed drastically after experiencing marriage, Wei Ruolan going to the battlefield, the division of the Wei family by the eldest wife, and her own family’s neglect. “Just a couple of days ago, my husband and I were joking that I can embroider anyway, and if we really can’t make ends meet, we can sell what I embroider and still survive.”

Daiyu remembered that the Empress had given her an embroidery shop. Both Xiangyun and Yingchun were skilled in this craft, and they had nothing to do all day, so perhaps they could do something.

Chapter 119 The Emperor Praises the Embroidery Manor's Righteous Deed

After hearing Xiangyun's words, Daiyu had an idea and said directly to her sisters, "What Sister Yun just said has reminded me. Whether in the capital or in other places, there are always people with similar titles or military dependents. These days, relying solely on the court's meager funds is not enough. If everyone is willing, we can finish our embroidery and send it to an embroidery shop, or you can all go to the embroidery shop together to keep each other company, embroidering and chatting. The finished products can be sold together, and each person will receive payment based on what they sell. What do you sisters think?"

Xiangyun had only meant it as a joke, but after hearing Daiyu's words, she was stunned for a moment, and then she wholeheartedly agreed.

"But, if people like us actually sell things, wouldn't it sound a bit awkward if word got out?" Yingchun seemed a little hesitant.

"What's the big deal? As Sister Lin just said, everything is standardized at the embroidery shop, and outsiders won't know who did the embroidery." Xiangyun was already more carefree than Yingchun, and now she had seen through many people and things, and felt more and more that it was important to be happy in life.

Daiyu added from the side, "Second Sister's concerns are probably the concerns of other noblewomen in similar situations as Second Sister or Sister Yun. It's alright, let's give it a try first. Her Majesty the Empress gave me an embroidery shop. If the sisters are willing, we can test it out in my shop. I will also go to the palace to tell Her Majesty."

Upon hearing this, Xiangyun thought of a distant cousin of Wei Ruolan, Madam Shen. Her husband, like Yingchun, had died in battle, but the difference was that her cousin and brother-in-law had been very loving. The Shen family was not as well off as the Wei family. They used to rely on her cousin-in-law's income to support the family, but now they had an elderly mother, a child under three years old, and a younger sister who was only fourteen years old, making their situation even more difficult.

Xiangyun immediately agreed with Daiyu's suggestion: "Sister Lin is very thoughtful. If possible, may I recommend my cousin?"

Xiangyun introduced Madam Shen's situation to Daiyu and the others: "She is a very kind and quiet person, but the family's situation is indeed not very good now."

“Of course. Since I’m going to test this in the capital, it would be even better if, besides you and Second Sister, the first batch included a few more families of fallen soldiers from the Southeast.” Daiyu knew who those people were, after all, she was in charge of the last flower-viewing banquet. As she said this, she already had a few candidates in mind, all of whom were in difficult circumstances.

"If Sister Lin has a set of rules, I'll definitely be the first to join," Xiangyun said enthusiastically.

Yingchun immediately agreed: "Me too. Although my embroidery skills are not as good as Sister Yun's, there's not much to do these days when I'm embroidering oranges. Let's do it together."

Seeing that Yingchun had no more concerns, Daiyu felt that there was hope for this: "Alright, I'll go to the embroidery shop later, tidy it up, and then invite Second Sister and Sister Yun to come and take a look. You can give me your opinions then and see if there's anything I haven't considered."

Xichun said from the side, "Sister Lin, although I'm not one of them, can I still help out?"

“Of course, Fourth Sister is the best at painting, and there are many ways she can be of help.” Daiyu was quick-witted. After returning from Yingchun’s place that day, she summoned Zijuan and Xueyan to arrange a trip to the embroidery shop the next day.

The embroidery shop bestowed by the Empress was located at the corner of the main street of South Street. It was divided into two sections: the front was a two-story shop, the middle was a courtyard with two rooms on each of the east and west sides, and the back had three rooms, some for the embroiderers to work and some for storage.

“This is more than enough.” Daiyu had never been here in person before, only seen the blueprints. Now, looking at the tall paulownia tree in the courtyard, she thought that there was no need for any reconstruction. Just by changing the layout, the backyard could be made available for everyone to use.

These ladies can come here together at set times to exchange embroidery skills, which is much better than staying at home alone. It's more lively with more people, and they don't have to show their faces in public.

Daiyu quickly drew up a revised layout herself, called Feng Youcai, the manager of the embroidery shop, and his wife to come over, explained the details, and then called Xueyan: "I'm leaving this matter entirely to you. I'll only ask you anything."

Xueyan readily agreed.

In just over ten days, the backyard of the embroidery shop was furnished and ready. Daiyu invited Xiangyun, Yingchun, and Xichun to come and take a look.

As soon as Xiangyun arrived, she exclaimed, "It's really nice! Such a courtyard, with flowers and trees, and such a house, provides a place for everyone to discuss things together."

The four of them first looked around the courtyard before entering the house. Inside, there were about ten embroidery frames, with several screens in front of them to block the intense sunlight in the morning and afternoon. The whole house was decorated very elegantly. The embroidery room was already full of the charm of a young lady's quarters, and now it was even more cozy.

Yingchun couldn't help but exclaim, "The princess's ingenuity is truly beyond the reach of ordinary people. Such a tranquil and cozy place makes one never want to leave."

Seeing that they all thought it was good, Daiyu felt relieved. The next day, when she went to the palace to pay her respects to the Empress, she brought up the matter of the embroidery shop.

"I'm thinking that most of these ladies of noble birth have had their husbands die for the country, and relying solely on the government's pensions isn't a long-term solution. Besides, many of their families aren't in particularly good financial situations. Moreover, they're often alone at home now, which can easily lead to worry and anxiety. So I thought, if we take out the embroidery shop, they might be willing to go there, or they could take some embroidery home. Having something to do would reduce their worries. Secondly, it could also supplement their household income. What do you think, Mother?" Daiyu explained her thoughts and also mentioned her cousin Xiangyun's situation.

"This method is quite novel, but will these ladies be willing to accept it?" the Empress thought, noting that many women still held the idea of ​​never leaving their homes.

“We can give it a try. My daughter-in-law’s cousin agreed with it. The rooms in the embroidery shop are all designed, so there’s no need to show your face in public. It’s even more liberating to take it home.” Daiyu told the Empress about the renovation of the embroidery shop.

"That's a good idea. If we can test it in the capital, we can do the same in other places. I'll discuss it with His Majesty later, and I'll send someone to inform you when there's news." The Empress thought this was a good idea, and the Emperor would probably agree.

As expected, the emperor was greatly impressed after hearing this: "The third son's wife's insight and strategy are truly extraordinary, and she has also solved a problem for the court. However, we should wait and see how it goes."

"That's what I think too," the Empress said hastily. "Yu'er said she'll try inviting a few noble ladies from the capital first. Whether they're willing or not is entirely up to them. We'll see how it goes, and if it works well, we'll mobilize more people."

The Emperor nodded and sighed, "Her method does have some merit in providing for the widowed, orphaned, lonely, and disabled. Tell her that if she has any difficulties or needs, she can just ask, and both I and you will provide full support."

Upon hearing this, the Empress began to look at Daiyu with even greater favor: His Majesty's satisfaction greatly increased the chances of the Third Prince's future.

However, seeing the enthusiastic and effective work done by Daiyu, Princess Ruijun couldn't sit still any longer.