Chapter 22: Yongzheng Moves House

  Peaceful days are always short-lived, the New Year has passed, morning court has resumed, and Daiyu has also resumed her daily routine of reporting to the imperial palace. It's a bit dull to say, but sometimes there are surprises too. It was time for the consorts to pay their respects to Empress Dowager Xiaozhuang again, and Daiyu sat quietly beside her, with a calm and distant smile on her face.

  "After another year, the princess has grown up one more year." The Empress Dowager spoke with a gentle smile. Daiyu furrowed her brow, as she had noticed that the Empress Dowager's gaze at her over the past few days was somewhat strange, feeling like she was looking at a daughter-in-law. But would the Empress Dowager really help Yongzheng? Who would believe that? It must be for Yongyan to see. It seems that the handkerchief had indeed caused trouble. However, that handkerchief was snatched from Chunxiang's body by herself, were they thinking too much?"

  Daiyu didn't say anything, she just smiled slightly.

  "Yes, Jadeite will be able to get married in another five years. I don't know if I can wait until that day." Empress Dowager looked at Daiyu with expectant light in her eyes.

  "Of course, the empress can see it." The empress dowager hastily said, "The princess will definitely become a real member of our family."

  "The Empress Dowager will naturally be able to see it. I suppose the Princess also hopes for this." The Consort De continued.

  Daiyu's eyes flashed with a hint of impatience, and she thought to herself, "Ugh, this topic again, how boring." But her tone remained calm as she replied, "Of course Grandfather will be able to see it, after all, I'll be leaving from here when I get married." Get married? Maybe I'll just run away to the ends of the earth and make sure no one can find me, Daiyu thought casually.

  "De Fei, tomorrow the fourth elder is moving house, can you help with the preparations?" Xiang Zhuang still smiled, but Dai Yu detected a hint of dissatisfaction in her tone, it seemed that Xiang Zhuang had understood De Fei's meaning.

  "Nature is ready, the Empress Dowager can rest assured." De Fei was startled in her heart, but actually she had not prepared anything, just casually ordered her subordinates to prepare a bit. Anyway, Yongzheng didn't give himself good face, and she didn't have any feelings for him either. As long as she saw Yongzheng, she felt uncomfortable all day.

  Looking at the expression on Empress De's face, Daiyu roughly understood that what history said about Empress De and Yongzheng not getting along was true. This Empress De's heart is indeed biased. He moved away? Should she go take a look? Daiyu also thought of the two snowmen in the courtyard, which could be seen every day, but the person who built them had not been seen for several days, and it was unknown whether he was doing well or not.

  "Jade Hairpin..." Empress Xiaozhuang raised her tone.

  "What did our ancestors instruct?" Daiyu came back to her senses, somewhat embarrassed.

  "Tomorrow Lao Si is moving house, you go help me take a look at his new home and see where it's not suitable to help him tidy up."

  "Yes." Daiyu agreed without thinking, and casually raised her head to look at Xiaozhuang in surprise, helping Yongzheng tidy up the house. Isn't this what his woman should be doing? As expected, she saw a smile in Xiaozhuang's eyes. Daiyu felt a bit helpless. Was Xiaozhuang indirectly reminding these consorts that they already had an owner, so don't have any ideas? But would it work?

  De Fei's eyes flashed with calculation, then returned to calmness. Hui Fei's eyes were still gloomy, Yi Fei smiled like a flower, but it never reached the bottom of her eyes.

  The next day, Yin Zhen formally moved out of the Forbidden City and into his new home, now known as the Fourth Prince's Mansion, later renamed the Yongzheng Palace. Next to it was the Eighth Prince's Mansion. It is ironic that these two brothers who had been at odds with each other for a lifetime were still neighbors separated by just one wall.

  "Pay respects to the princess." Yinzhen's servants saw Daiyu hastily pay their respects.

  "Everyone get up and go to work, don't mind me." Daiyu walked into the Fourth Prince's mansion and immediately felt a coolness. It was indeed his place, with familiar sandalwood fragrance wafting before her face, very comfortable, and her heart was very calm.

  "Shall I take the princess for a walk?" A cold voice rose from not far away, Daiyu looked up and saw Yunzhong standing in the snowy ground wearing a white brocade robe, as if he would disappear at any moment. Disappear? Daiyu felt an inexplicable pang in her heart, how could he disappear?

  "Thanks, Fourth Brother." Daiyu nodded and Yongqi walked ahead of her to lead the way. Behind them, Liu Xiumei and Xueyan both unconsciously took a few steps back, leaving space for the two of them. Originally, Minghui was supposed to follow along, but she suddenly felt unwell, though such coincidences rarely happen in this world.

  Yongzheng and Daiyu walked one in front of the other, slowly Yongzheng's pace slowed down a bit, becoming parallel with Daiyu. "This is my study." "This is the master bedroom." Yongzheng introduced dutifully.

  "Where is your side sleeping?" Daiyu asked with a smile.

  "There is no concubine, only a wife. Here, there will be only one mistress, and no other women." Yongzheng said with a serious expression and solemn tone.

  "Does that count as a maid?" Daiyu looked into Yongzheng's eyes, the black pupils seemed like an ocean, and she almost fainted in them. Daiyu quickly shook her head and looked away from him.

  Yongzheng was taken aback by Daiyu's counter-question, and then smiled, "Do you still like snowmen?"

  "Not bad, Si Beile's craftsmanship is not bad." Daiyu smiled slightly, and in an instant, a mask appeared on her face, blocking out her true self, coldness was her outer garment.

  Baoyu suddenly took a step forward, closing in on Daiyu. "You..." His words were cut off as Daiyu dodged his feet and slipped backwards, instantly falling onto her back. Instinctively, she closed her eyes, thinking it was all over for her. But instead of the expected pain, she felt herself fall into a warm and gentle embrace.

  Huh? Daiyu opened her eyes, but didn't see Yongzheng. Wait a minute, could it be that... she propped herself up and saw Yongzheng lying under her, serving as a human cushion.

  "Are you okay?" The two people asked in unison and immediately turned their heads away.

  Baoyu stood up and pulled Daiyu up, "It's cold outside, let's go in and take a look."

  Daiyu didn't refuse, she just nodded and looked down at her feet. She was really careless earlier and almost fell. If her sister from the previous life knew about it, she would probably laugh herself to death. Sister Zhu? Daiyu's eyes became a bit dazed, it had been a long time since she last thought of her. This was a memory buried deep in her heart. In 2005, Sister Zhu was blown up and killed at sea, with no remains left behind. The only person from her previous life who could be considered family was also gone. As the past flashed through her mind, Daiyu's heart suddenly felt a sharp pain.

  Daiyu was lost in thought and didn't notice that her small hand had been grasped by Yongzheng, who pulled her into his study. Behind them, Liu Xiumei and Xueyan had vanished without a trace.

  On this day, a horse carriage quietly entered the capital and arrived at the gate of Rongguo House.

  "Mother, do we have to be so careful? We've been like this all the way, afraid of what, it's just a waste of money," Xue Pan said with a swagger, thinking in his heart when he could devour Xianglian.

  Madam Xue looked at her precious son and sighed, forgetting that Baoyu was not speaking to her. If her own son had half of Baoyu's cleverness, the Xue family would be satisfied.