Chapter 8: The Draft Begins

  "Pay respects to the ancestors." A cold voice rang out, Daiyu's heart skipped a beat, it was him. In her daze, Daiyu didn't notice the fleeting smile in Xiangzhuang's eyes.

  "Fourth brother, send Jade back home."

  "Great-grandson obeys." Yongzheng made a bow, looked towards Daiyu, and unexpectedly got the chance to be alone with her, "Princess, this way please."

  Daiyu nodded at Yongzheng and got into the carriage, leaving the Forbidden City.

  Yongzheng rode his horse around the carriage, feeling that there was something he wanted to tell Daiyu alone, but she was still young, only a seven-year-old child. Yongzheng couldn't help but smile wryly, wondering what was wrong with himself, as for three months without seeing her, every day he would think of her and even drew her portrait, but always felt that it didn't look like her, lacking some spirit.

  Two people went all the way without saying a word, until they arrived at Lin's residence. Daiyu got off the carriage and said, "Thank you, Fourth Prince." Daiyu nodded slightly towards Yongzheng, who opened his mouth but didn't say anything. He just quietly watched as Daiyu entered the gate and disappeared from his sight. He stood there for a long time, until he felt cold from the wind, before he came back to himself and got on his horse to return to the palace.

  "Miss, Fourth Brother has left." Daiyu returned to her room and did nothing for half a day, Xueyan kindly reminded.

  "What are you talking about, Xueyan?" Daiyu's face turned cold when she heard Xueyan's words. She hated it the most when someone tried to guess her thoughts, let alone that she really had thought of Yongzheng just now? Daiyu's heart tightened, such a thing was absolutely not allowed to happen, how could there be a man's shadow in her own heart?

  Xueyan saw that Daiyu's face was not right, and she hurriedly lowered her head to admit her mistake. However, she found that Daiyu did not speak again for a long time, but only waved her hand to let her go down.

  Did I really have a good impression of Yongzheng? No, no, it's just that our personalities are mutually attracted to each other. That's right, that's it. Daiyu shook her head and nodded again, deceiving herself into thinking so.

  On the second day, Daiyu entered the palace early, with bleary eyes, and she was also very helpless. Xiaozhuang was delighted to see Daiyu and gave her many things to eat, but Daiyu only ate a little of each dish and then stopped, causing Xiaozhuang to furrow her brow.

  "Ancestors, Daiyu has eaten a lot already." Daiyu said somewhat helplessly. "The time is almost up, and Daiyu is also curious about those showgirls." Daiyu casually found an excuse that fit the situation.

  "All right, you go and take a look. I heard that you have already been promised to marry a lady official. Is this true?" Empress Dowager Ci Xi had already investigated Liu Xiumei and found her to be a gentle and virtuous person, but unfortunately of humble birth. If she served Daiyu well, perhaps in the future she could marry into a good family.

  "Yes, Miss Liu is a good person." Daiyu changed her words and no longer called Xiumei "sister". "Ancestor, the palace has so many rules, can I take Xiumei with me now?"

  "As long as you like, it's nothing." Xiaozhuang did not object, but suddenly she frowned, and didn't know if Xuan Ye had talked to Lao Si. If Xuan Ye insisted on arranging a marriage, this father-son pair would really have some trouble.

  "Alright, I'll go take a stroll in the Rongguo Mansion and pick her up at the same time." Daiyu had already stood up and unconsciously taken two steps towards the door.

  "All right, I see you're in a hurry, go ahead." Xiangzhuang said with a smile. Daiyu bowed and left with Xueyan and Chunxiu, followed by the two female officials assigned to her by Xiangzhuang.

  Inside the Cui Xiu Palace, it was not quiet at this time, and it could even be said that there was a commotion. The hundred young masters waiting for the sacred election each had their own plans in mind, and naturally, many things were stirred up.

  "Wow! A daughter of a provincial governor has entered the final sacred selection?" Ye Nian said with disdain, "But it's just a fantasy, I reckon she can only be a palace maid at most." Ye Nian had been finding all sorts of excuses to belittle Liu Xixue during this time. Liu Xixue was indifferent to all this, and hadn't even told her own mother about being appointed as a female official by Daiyu, otherwise Ye Nian wouldn't have dared to bully her like this.

  "What's all the commotion about?" A pretty woman walked over, and from her expression, you could tell she had a quick temper. "A few southerners know how to make a fuss."

  "Mind your own business." Another woman walked out from behind Guo Luoluo's Hui Xin, with a dignified and noble appearance. "You don't need to bother with this matter either."

  "Ming Hui, don't think about that matter all day. The Emperor has already made up his mind, just wait for the imperial edict to arrive." Xue Er grabbed Ming Hui's hand, they were close friends and often went horseback riding together. Even if the Fourth Prince didn't want to marry by imperial order, Ming Hui would still be the Fourth Princess, after getting married, the Fourth Prince would surely like her personality, who knows what Ming Hui is worried about.

  "Ming Hui, I'm fine." Nala Ming Hui smiled wryly and shook her head. She had secretly pledged her heart to the Fourth Prince after that one meeting, but if he really didn't want to marry her yet was forced to do so, she probably wouldn't be happy in the future either.

  Ye Qian gazed at Nala Minghui and Guo Luoluo Hui Xin, her eyes filled with jealousy. She could only be a secondary Fu Jin, while they were both legitimate Fu Jin. What was the reason for this? A spark of anger flashed in Ye Qian's eyes, and she made a secret decision in her heart, which ultimately led her to her own grave.

  "How lively is it here?" Daiyu's clear and cold voice sounded, she walked in accompanied by two Shouxikong palace maids.

  "Participate in the princess." Seeing Daiyu's dress, Guoluo and Nara bowed down first, and the people around also knelt down.

  "Everyone get up, I just came to take a look and pick someone up." Daiyu casually swept around the room, seeing Ye Jian's changed face and also Liu Xiumei's calm expression. Huixin and Minghui were both well-informed about Daiyu's background and so on, and they looked at this little girl who was six years younger than themselves with some curiosity.

  "Sister Xiangyun, how are you?" Daiyu asked.

  "Thank you for your concern, Princess. Xi Yue is doing well."

  "Let Xueyan proclaim the edict." Daiyu nodded, and had Liu Xixue, this confidant she had just cultivated, stand by her side, making things much easier for herself.

  Xueyan quickly finished reading the imperial edict, and Yejia beside her looked a bit silly. Xishuang calmly accepted the edict and walked to Daimu's back. "The old ancestor asked me to take a look at the selection of the show, I hope you don't mind if I take a look around." Daimu had no expression on his face, he really didn't want to smile at these people anymore, it was exhausting.

  "Nature is indifferent, Princess this side please." Huixin walked over to lead Daiyu.

  Daiyu nodded and followed her, Hui Xin was the predetermined Eighth Princess, naturally having the qualifications to walk together with her. Moreover, seeing Hui Xin, Daiyu didn't feel disgusted, after all, she had a good impression of that bold and fierce Eighth Princess in history.

  "Both sisters, please." Daiyu also called out to Minghui who was somewhat dazed, she had a premonition that Minghui would probably not become the fourth wife, and couldn't help but feel some pity for her.

  A glance of jealousy and envy flashed by, evil thoughts invaded his mind, and something happened that night.