Lady Li achieved her goal—the Fourth Prince agreed to petition for her ennoblement.
Although it wasn’t yet finalized, the Fourth Prince’s memorial had already been submitted. It was basically a done deal.
What Lady Li had done was unknown to outsiders. Moreover, the Fourth Prince’s household had a total of six children, half of whom were hers. In outsiders’ eyes, the Fourth Prince petitioning for her ennoblement was not surprising.
This was good news for Lady Li, and also good news for Luo Yu.
Given the Fourth Prince’s current noble rank, if his secondary consort were newly married in, her background wouldn’t be too low. For Luo Yu, naturally “the old was better than the new.”
The Old Madam, upon learning of this, breathed a sigh of relief. She had been afraid some accident would occur.
She also had no mind to investigate thoroughly and figure out whether the Fourth Prince’s petition was for Lady Li and the children’s sake, or to keep a low profile and not expose his ambitions. She only needed to know this result, and that was enough.
Yun Shuyao was also happy for Luo Yu. Even if Lady Li was ennobled as secondary consort, she would still rank below Luo Yu.
Before long, news came that Prince Yong had received a special grace—his eldest daughter Yahui could remain in the capital and didn’t need to go to Mongolia.
The Emperor’s many princesses had basically all made marriage alliances with Mongolia, as had the princes’ daughters.
This news made Luo Yu rather unhappy.
She also had a daughter. Now that this grace had already been given, when it came to her own daughter’s turn, would there still be a chance to remain in the capital?
Although her daughter was still young, Luo Yu was already worried about her future.
Mongolia was not a pleasant place to live.
Setting aside other matters, the great distance and vastly different living customs—these two points alone made many people unable to adapt.
There were some things she couldn’t say aloud, but counting the Emperor’s daughters, how many were long-lived?
Luo Yu was troubled by this, but still had someone specifically find a nanny of Mongolian origin to teach her daughter about Mongolian circumstances.
In case this was the only outcome, she would need to find ways to adapt. Passive resistance was the most foolish approach.
Besides, it wasn’t as if there were no princesses who thrived in Mongolia.
Most importantly, one still had to stand on one’s own.
Hearing her plan, the senior maid attending her hesitated: “Secondary Consort, won’t this make Second Miss’s studies too numerous?” Her playtime would be reduced?
Although the child was only four years old, the Secondary Consort had already arranged curriculum for them.
The Fourth Prince was male and had already formally begun his education. The Prince personally oversaw this aspect, so stricter requirements couldn’t be helped. But the Prince wasn’t so severe with his daughter—only the Secondary Consort treated them equally.
However long the Fourth Prince studied, Second Miss also had to study that long. Although the content was different, watching the tiny person follow the nanny learning, unable to slack off or face punishment, she truly felt some heartache.
Second Miss was so young. In the future, regardless of whom she was betrothed to, wealth and honor would be inevitable. She didn’t need to support the family like a man. Wouldn’t it be better to be more relaxed?
Luo Yu looked toward the window: “It won’t be. Learning more does no harm. I know what I’m doing. She has plenty of playtime too.” She wasn’t making her daughter study all day—she wouldn’t be excessive.
When she was young, she had been the same as her brothers. At such a young age, she began learning while playing. Was it strict?
She did think as a child that Concubine Mother was too strict with them. How many children liked studying? She had even secretly cried under her blanket over this.
But now, Luo Yu was very grateful for Concubine Mother’s strictness back then, for arranging so many courses for her and not letting her be perfunctory.
If not for studying medicine, she wouldn’t understand the circumstances around her so thoroughly and wouldn’t worry about people making underhanded moves.
If not for reading many books, she wouldn’t be able to discuss almost everything with the Fourth Prince aside from political matters, and always have substance in her words, making the Fourth Prince regard her with special attention.
If not for practicing martial arts, she wouldn’t have such good health…
All of these were results obtained from putting in effort to study during those years.
Concubine Mother was right—the sweat one shed would not betray oneself.
Luo Yu had already retrieved the course schedule Concubine Mother had arranged for her all those years ago. With minor adjustments, it could be directly used for her daughter.
Just as she found a suitable nanny, news came that Yahui had been betrothed to Xingde of the Ulanara family. Luo Yu frowned slightly. Forming an alliance… for the Second Prince’s sake? Thinking of the Second Prince’s not very robust body, Luo Yu furrowed her brow. Speaking of these matters… was too premature.
——
The forty-ninth year of Kangxi was a draft selection year. For a time, businesses selling jewelry and rouge in the capital were extremely bustling, crowded with people all preparing for the draft selection.
For this session’s draft, Daiyu was of age, but Old Madam Lin didn’t want her to participate in this draft selection.
She discussed with Lin Ruhai: “Daiyu is only thirteen this year. You also know her health has been poor since childhood. With that stature, if we told outsiders she was ten or eleven, no one would doubt it.”
This was true.
Old Madam Lin: “Three years from now, Daiyu won’t be over-age and can still participate normally.”
Lin Ruhai didn’t speak for a moment.
Delaying participation in the draft selection was indeed a method, but actually, if there were influential people in the palace who could help, having her name removed and arranging her own marriage would be best.
Lin Ruhai was more inclined toward the latter.
“If we could do that, it would certainly work, but whom should we ask for help?” The Old Madam frowned. Logically speaking, the person with the closest relationship to the Lin family would be Consort De, but the Old Madam had no confidence in her. She was already indifferent toward Luo Yu. The Old Madam truly worried she would randomly match couples and point Daiyu to the Fourteenth Prince.
Daiyu was legitimate-born, Luo Yu was concubine-born. In terms of status, Daiyu was above Luo Yu.
Lin Ruhai: “I’ll arrange this matter. No need to make Daiyu ill.” Illness harmed the body—it wouldn’t come to that.
“Mother, do you have any preferred candidates in mind?”
Speaking of this, the Old Madam hesitated. She did have preferred grandson-in-law candidates, but without participating in the draft selection, it couldn’t be settled.
On this aspect they were unified—Daiyu’s health was poor and she couldn’t overexert herself, so it would be best if the match wasn’t an eldest son or eldest grandson, the family relationships shouldn’t be too complex, and a scholarly family would be ideal.
Daiyu liked reading. This way, husband and wife would have more topics to discuss. As for other things, such as family background, those were secondary.
Lin Ruhai nodded. This matter still required asking the Fourth Prince for help.
Although they appeared to have no contact, they had a tacit understanding. This was the most proper approach.
Besides Consort De, the Fourth Prince must have his own connections in the Imperial Palace—this was inevitable.
His adoptive mother had no other children. Even if some connections returned to the Tonggiya clan, a portion would be left for him.
However, these matters needn’t be spoken of too explicitly.
Compared to the Lin family wanting to be deselected, the situation at the Jia household was vastly different.
The one who reached draft selection age this time was Tan Chun—she was thirteen this year.
Regarding her draft selection, the Jia household’s opinions were not unified. If arrangements could be made, according to Second Madam Wang’s thinking, naturally she should enter the Imperial Palace to help her Yuan Chun—that would be the best use of Tan Chun’s value.
She was a concubine-born daughter—helping her elder sister was proper.
If Grandmother Jia could still make decisions, she might find ways to arrange for Tan Chun to try her luck with the Crown Prince. They had previously switched allegiance to the Eighth Prince and now returned to the Crown Prince’s side, but their status was far inferior to before. That the Crown Prince hadn’t settled accounts with them already made them grateful. Sending a daughter to him would also be a method of demonstrating their attitude.
Jia Lian and Wang Xifeng also didn’t approve of sending her to the palace to serve the Emperor. Yuan Chun was already there—no need to send another daughter. Moreover… the Emperor was truly getting old. Their thinking was it would be better to send her to the Fourteenth Prince.
The Crown Prince had developed reservations about them, the Eighth Prince already had Ying Chun there, and now the Fourteenth Prince’s prestige was also considerable. Having inherited some of the First Prince and Eighth Prince’s connections and influence, they felt the Fourteenth Prince might not lack opportunity.
Being unable to unify their thoughts was one problem. Unifying their thoughts but lacking connections to make arrangements was another problem.
This was also where others felt things were terrible after Grandmother Jia’s collapse. Some matters only the old ancestor knew. Now she couldn’t speak, couldn’t write, and lay in bed unable to do anything. When they wanted to accomplish something, they were helpless. It mainly still depended on Grandmother Jia.
Now… besides leaving it to fate, what other options were there?
Xue Baochai originally also had draft selection eligibility, but she wasn’t in the grand selection—rather the minor selection, because the Xue family were bondservants.
Of the four great families Jia, Shi, Wang, and Xue, the Xue family ranked last. Besides the reason that the Xues were merchants, there was also the fact that they were bondservants.
But bondservant status wasn’t particularly low. Bondservants were the Emperor’s servants. Many reached high official positions, such as the Zhen family, which was also of bondservant origin.
Xue Baochai wanted to enter the palace to try her luck—that way she could better look after the Xue family. But because of some matter involving her brother Xue Pan, someone had reported it upward. She could no longer participate in the minor selection.
This path to success through entering the palace… was cut off.
After being disappointed for a period, Xue Baochai rallied. Now in the Jia household, there was already talk of the golden-jade destiny.
Second Madam Wang had said more than once that Baochai was dignified and magnanimous, wanting to betroth Baochai to Baoyu.
Actually, there had been hints of this talk before, but every time Grandmother Jia heard it, she changed the subject. Clearly she was unwilling. Speaking of what made Second Madam Wang happy after Grandmother Jia’s stroke left her unable to make decisions, one was that Grandmother Jia could no longer boss her around or control Baoyu to prevent him from being close to her. The other was that regarding her son’s marriage, she as the mother could finally make her own decisions!
She had liked her niece very much upon first meeting her. Previously, when she was going to participate in the minor selection, that was one thing, but since she no longer needed to participate, the thought of betrothing her as a daughter-in-law grew increasingly intense…
One dramatic scene after another played out in the Jia household. Yun Shuyao divided out a bit of attention, learned of these matters, then set them aside. As long as they didn’t disturb her or disturb her daughter and the others, she wouldn’t interfere.
In the blink of an eye, the time for draft selection arrived. The Old Madam, harboring a heart full of worry, watched Daiyu board the carriage. “Daiyu, in the palace you must remember to be cautious in word and deed.”
“Don’t be reluctant to use the banknotes prepared for you.”
“Don’t conflict with others. Even if you’re bullied, don’t be afraid…” She gave instructions over and over. Daiyu, eyes red, kept nodding. Only because the hour was getting late did she reluctantly depart.
Watching the carriage gradually recede into the distance, the Old Madam covered her chest.
In the dream world, Daiyu had fallen ill and missed this draft selection. On the Jia family’s side in this draft, Tan Chun didn’t even pass the second round, having been specifically targeted.
Pulling one hair moves the whole body—many things were different now. Who knew what the result would be this time.
Batch after batch of draft maidens were sent into the Imperial Palace. For those without people inside the palace, there was no way to intervene in what happened next, unless some major incident occurred—in that case, perhaps they could receive some advance news.
The Old Madam recited scriptures before the Buddha to reduce her inner anxiety. Every time she heard someone come to report, her heart leapt.
Daiyu passed the preliminary selection!
Daiyu passed the second round!
And then?
When the time came for the answer to be revealed, each day felt like a year.
The Old Madam became inflamed from this, developing a large blister in her mouth that hurt piercingly at the slightest movement.
Daiyu was different for her. Her very existence proved that the dream world she had seen was not fictional. In some respects, Daiyu was her anchor.
Aside from speaking of it before the Buddha, she would never reveal even half a word about the dream world to anyone.
To her, this was a great fortune, but the Old Madam didn’t believe this fortune came without reason. At certain times, she considered herself also “inauspicious.” Her reluctance to adopt grandsons or great-grandsons included this consideration.
“Buddha, please protect this believer’s granddaughter Daiyu and let her name be removed so she can return home.”
“Ancestors, please protect her. If you have spirits in heaven, please protect granddaughter Daiyu and let her name be removed so she can return home.”
…
When someone from the palace emerged, but it was still unknown which household they were going to report to, the Old Madam had to take a medicinal pill to calm herself. Looking toward the main gate, she waited eagerly. Was Daiyu coming home? What was the result?