Chu Heng, however, could not sleep soundly.
After hearing his master tossing and turning for more than half an hour without rest, Zhao Qing quietly approached and asked in a low voice, “Does Your Highness have something on your mind?”
Chu Heng replied sullenly, “Nothing.”
“Your Highness, is it because of the argument with Miss Lin today?” Zhao Qing asked again.
Having followed the prince for so many years, Zhao Qing had the courage to overstep just this once.
There was a brief silence within the bed curtains before Chu Heng ordered, “Open them.”
Zhao Qing hurriedly gathered the curtains. Chu Heng was sitting cross-legged on the bed, his expression grim as he said, “You really dare to listen to anything.”
Zhao Qing lowered his head with his hands at his sides. He was not deaf—he had been sitting outside the carriage, so how could he not have heard? And fortunately, he was not deaf. Otherwise, he would have missed the earth-shaking changes in the prince, which would have been a lifelong regret.
“This servant would not dare.”
Chu Heng lifted his hand slightly. “Sit.”
Zhao Qing gathered the other side of the curtains as well, then sat down on the footstool and said respectfully, “Please instruct me, Your Highness.”
“Speak plainly,” Chu Heng said stiffly. “How do I make Miss Lin trust me again and return to how we were before?”
Zhao Qing glanced at the prince’s expression and thought to himself: return to before? Before, you and Miss Lin were indeed harmonious, but there were still several layers between you. Do you not wish to go further?
Thinking this, Zhao Qing said cautiously, “Your Highness, this servant thinks that people say a kind word warms one through three winters, while a harsh word wounds one even in June. A heart is not so easily warmed again. This matter must proceed step by step; it cannot be rushed.”
Chu Heng considered this seriously for a moment, felt it was reasonable, and nodded. The forced sternness he had put on vanished at once. He scratched his chin awkwardly. “But I don’t know how to warm Miss Lin’s heart again. Would it work if I gave her Wang Youjun’s authentic calligraphy?”
Zhao Qing shook his head and said, “In this servant’s view, Miss Lin values external objects very lightly. If Your Highness wishes to give a gift, it must be something that truly reaches Miss Lin’s heart.”
“Heart…” Chu Heng pondered for a long time before saying, “The Jia family aside—she doesn’t want me to get close to the Jia family. As for her parents, I could petition to have Lord Lin posthumously honored and request a first-rank title for Madam Lin, but it would be better to submit that memorial after the wedding.”
Zhao Qing hurriedly said, “The posthumous honors for the old lord and madam can wait. Miss Lin has no other relatives in her hometown, but she still has her native place. Your Highness might as well find some items or local specialties from Suzhou to give to Miss Lin, to ease her homesickness.”
Chu Heng nodded. “That will do. Have a few people come tomorrow; I’ll give them instructions.”
Zhao Qing acknowledged this, and Chu Heng continued, “The twentieth is the date for the betrothal gifts, isn’t it?”
“Yes,” Zhao Qing replied. “All of that is handled by the Court of the Imperial Clan. The Empress Dowager has personally inquired into it. Does Your Highness wish to summon people from the court to ask about it?”
Chu Heng said, “Tomorrow I will first go see the Empress Dowager.”
“Yes,” Zhao Qing answered, then asked, “Does Your Highness have any other instructions?”
Chu Heng said, “I said I would give Miss Lin that set of jade chess pieces. Find them, then select a fine chessboard. Tomorrow, send them to Miss Lin first.”
That made three arrangements for tomorrow already. Zhao Qing silently committed them to memory and hurriedly agreed.
Chu Heng thought for a long while, then said, “That zither—Miss Lin praised it as well. If I give it to her, will she be unhappy?”
This… Zhao Qing could not say. “This servant does not know.”
Chu Heng thought again and said, “No rush, no rush… Send the chess set first. After seeing the Empress Dowager and settling the betrothal matters, I will need to pass some words to Miss Lin. At that time, I’ll give her the zither.”
Step by step… slowly.
Chu Heng slowly exhaled. He wanted to make Miss Lin happier—happier than the resentment of having to accept this engagement.
Her poetry was excellent. She liked Longhua Temple. She liked famous calligraphy and paintings. She liked fishing. She was lively, well-mannered, interesting, and lovely.
She might even want to raise the fish at Longhua Temple.
Chu Heng noted each of these down one by one, while also feeling deep regret. The days at Longhua Temple had been too short, and he had not cherished them enough, so his understanding of Daiyu was far too shallow.
Fortunately, there would be much time in the future. Chu Heng could come to understand Daiyu and let her live her life in joy.
She was the person Chu Heng would spend his life with. Just this single thought made his heart gradually warm.
…
Early the next morning, Chu Heng went upstairs at the back to find the jade chess pieces, then opened account books he had not touched in years and selected a purple sandalwood chessboard.
After watching the items be carefully packed, Chu Heng instructed Zhao Qing to deliver them to the Rongguo Mansion.
Zhao Qing glanced at the sun in the east and reminded him, “Your Highness, Miss Lin is likely having breakfast at this hour. It would not be good to disturb her. Perhaps wait another hour.”
Chu Heng looked at the clock in the room. It was indeed still early, so he said, “Call in the people going to Suzhou to see me.”
Zhao Qing quickly summoned several stewards from the prince’s residence who were responsible for procurement. Chu Heng rarely concerned himself with such matters, but Zhao Qing always reported to him, so he had a general idea.
After explaining what items they were to procure, Chu Heng looked the men over.
Procurement was a position with plenty of opportunities for profit, and long journeys even more so. Where water is too clear, there are no fish—Chu Heng knew this was impossible to control completely.
Chu Heng said casually, “If you handle this well, there will be additional rewards when you return. If you do not… I am not short of silver. Throwing away eighty or a hundred thousand means nothing to me—but I am even less short of people who can get things done.”
The men hurriedly knelt and kowtowed. “We would not dare.”
Chu Heng waved his hand, dismissing them. The remaining arrangements were left to Zhao Qing.
After attending the prince’s breakfast, Zhao Qing then led the people to the Rongguo Mansion. When they arrived, Daiyu was just eating in the Old Madam’s room, with Jia Tanchun and Xue Baoqin at the table.
A matron came to report to the Old Madam. “Old Madam, someone from the front says that Eunuch Zhao from Prince Duan’s residence has arrived, saying he is here by the prince’s order to deliver chess equipment to Miss Lin.”
The Old Madam was reclining on the couch. Hearing this, she quickly sat up. “Invite him in at once!”
Only then did Daiyu recall that Prince Duan had indeed mentioned sending her chess equipment after returning to the capital. After the unpleasantness between them yesterday, how could she still remember this?
Before the Old Madam could ask, Daiyu hurriedly said, “At Longhua Temple, His Highness mentioned it in front of the Empress Dowager. I thought it was said in jest, so I did not mention it to Grandmother.”
The Old Madam smiled. “How could it be said in jest in front of the Empress Dowager? Eunuch Zhao is the chief eunuch of Prince Duan’s residence, is he not? It would be fine to invite him into my room.”
A maid immediately went out to pass on the message. Before long, Zhao Qing entered with two young eunuchs. He first saluted. “Greetings to Miss Lin and the Grand Madam.”
The smile on the Old Madam’s face faltered slightly before she said, “Eunuch, there is no need for such courtesy. Please sit.” She then instructed the maids, “Serve tea.”
In the future, Daiyu would be a princess consort—higher in rank even than a duchess.
The Old Madam still could not quite adapt to it.
Zhao Qing smiled and said, “I would not dare.”
He then turned to Daiyu, bowed slightly, and said with a smile, “Miss Lin, you were exhausted yesterday. How are you feeling today?”
Daiyu smiled. “All is well.”
Zhao Qing smiled again. “If Miss Lin is well, then His Highness can be at ease. Miss Lin, this servant has come by order. This is the chess set His Highness promised to give you earlier. Please take a look.”
Daiyu rose and smiled. “Thank you, Your Highness.”
The two young eunuchs opened the boxes and presented the chessboard and pieces for Daiyu to see. Zhao Qing remained bent at the waist, smiling as he gestured. “Miss Lin, please.”
The purple sandalwood chessboard and jade chess pieces came into everyone’s view. Even Jia Tanchun, who had grown up in the Guogong Mansion, and Xue Baoqin, who had traveled widely with her father in business, not to mention the little maids who served the Old Madam, had all seen fine things before—but even so, they were dazzled.
After all, these were items Prince Duan could give away with a casual remark.
Who knew how many such fine things the Prince’s Residence possessed? In the future, all of these would be…
Their gazes turned toward Daiyu, the future mistress of the Prince’s Residence.
Daiyu’s expression did not change. After sitting down, she smiled faintly and said, “Thank you, Eunuch, for making this trip. Please sit and have some tea.”
Zhao Qing bowed in thanks and only then dared to sit to the side.
What great fortune this was, the Old Madam thought, and she could not help glancing at her own granddaughter, Tanchun. Although Daiyu was no different from her own granddaughters, still…
If it were her own granddaughter, Zhao Qing would not have bypassed her today to look only to the future princess consort’s expression.
Remembering that the prince still had to enter the palace to see the Empress Dowager, Zhao Qing did not dare to stay long. After taking a sip of tea, he stood and said to Daiyu, “Miss Lin, His Highness also instructed this servant to tell you that if you have any matters, you must be sure to give instructions.”
Daiyu rose and smiled. “I have no matters. Please trouble Eunuch to convey my thanks to His Highness.”
Zhao Qing bent even lower at the waist. “Yes. There are matters at the residence. Miss Lin, please allow this servant to take his leave first.”
Daiyu said, “Safe travels, Eunuch.”
Zhao Qing saluted once more. “Grand Madam, farewell.”
For a moment, the Old Madam did not respond. Daiyu, seated beside her, glanced at her and saw that she seemed somewhat absent-minded. She quietly tugged at her sleeve.
The Old Madam came back to herself, hurriedly smiled, and covered it up. “Old age does this to one. Eunuch, please do not take offense.”
“I would not dare,” Zhao Qing said with a smile. “Farewell, Grand Madam.”
The Old Madam had someone see him out. Once he had passed beyond the screen and left the room, she rubbed her forehead and said with a bitter smile, “I really am getting old. I’ve had no energy since early morning.”
Jia Tanchun quickly smiled and said, “You must be feeling drowsy after eating, Grandmother. If we chat for a while, you’ll feel better.”
The Old Madam glanced at her and felt even more regret. Although Third Miss was not as outstanding as Miss Lin, she was not lacking either. Surely she could have won Prince Duan’s heart as well. Why was it not she who had been chosen?
“Have this chess set put away properly. Miss Lin, since it was given by His Highness, we must not treat it lightly,” the Old Madam said, turning to Daiyu.
Daiyu nodded obediently and told Zijuan to have a few young maids store it away. As for what she was thinking inside, no one knew.
It was not until many days later, after the betrothal rites had been completed, when Jia Tanchun visited Daiyu’s room with her sisters and saw the chessboard displayed openly with the chess container beside it, that she realized Daiyu had only been placating the Old Madam.
Little did she know that Daiyu was thinking that fine things were meant to be used—why let them sit unused?
Although Prince Duan’s thoughts were strange and lofty, he was not the sort of person who would turn hostile just because someone used the chess set he had given.