The Empress Dowager ordered the meal to be served, lightly letting the matter pass.
Daiyu was secretly puzzled. From appearances alone, the Emperor and the Empress Dowager seemed to dote greatly on Princess Yongkang, yet the relationship among them was truly both awkward and strange.
Seeing how accustomed Chu Heng appeared to it, Daiyu guessed that such situations must occur often, and that he usually played the role of smoothing things over.
Yet after he stepped in to defuse the situation, Princess Yongkang blatantly rolled her eyes at him, clearly not appreciative at all.
Chu Heng’s response was simply to tilt his head and shrug, hardly an act of repaying resentment with virtue.
Affairs of the imperial family were truly strange.
There were rules everywhere in the palace, especially during meals. Daiyu had to concentrate fully on responding properly and had no attention left to dwell on such matters.
Once the meal ended in silence, the Empress Dowager pulled everyone into casual conversation. Daiyu, as usual, sat beside the Empress.
The scene was somewhat reminiscent of gatherings in Grandmother Jia’s courtyard, where daughters-in-law, grandchildren by marriage, and grandchildren all amused the old matriarch together. Only here in the palace, Daiyu felt particularly constrained.
The Emperor glanced at the water clock and smiled at the Empress Dowager. “Mother, it’s time for Jie’er to go study.”
The Empress Dowager released the grandson she had been holding, straightened his clothes, and smiled. “It is indeed time. I was happy today and forgot. Go on.”
She then gave a few instructions to the palace attendants serving the eldest prince before finally allowing him to leave her side.
The eldest prince performed his bows one by one. The Emperor solemnly instructed him, “Study diligently. When classes are over, come to the Imperial Study together with Tuo’er.”
The second prince, Chu Tuo, was born of Consort Wu and was the same age as the eldest prince.
Hearing this, the Empress’s smile faded slightly. She said nothing, only tightening her grip on her son’s hand.
Watching the eldest prince’s departing figure, Daiyu sensed the turbulent undercurrents beneath the calm surface. She turned her gaze toward Chu Heng.
A prince of the imperial clan like Prince Duan would ordinarily be sent to his fief. Chu Heng, however, remained in the capital thanks to the Emperor’s and Empress Dowager’s favor.
The overt and covert struggles of the previous generation had already drawn to a close, but the contest among the princes was only just beginning. As long as he stayed in the capital, Prince Duan—the imperial uncle specially regarded by the Emperor—would likely find it difficult to remain uninvolved.
Judging by today’s situation, the Emperor and the Empress Dowager probably would not take the initiative to have Chu Heng go to his fief.
Daiyu wondered whether Prince Duan had any intention of distancing himself from this land of contention.
As her thoughts wandered, the Empress Dowager turned the conversation back to Daiyu and Chu Heng. “They both like that piece of calligraphy. Emperor, tell me—whom should I give it to?”
The Emperor smiled. “Mother, you put me in a difficult spot. I once had a piece myself, but it is now already at Fifth Brother’s residence. To find another at this moment would not be easy.”
Daiyu pressed her lips together. She had something she wished to say, yet could not find the right moment. Just then, Chu Heng spoke.
“Give it to Miss Lin.”
As soon as he spoke, everyone in the hall looked at him.
The Empress Dowager immediately beamed with delight. “Oh my, you know how to dote on people now. If it’s given to Miss Lin, won’t it still be yours in the future? You’re not losing out at all.”
Daiyu was utterly confused by Prince Duan’s words, and even more astonished. What was he intending to do?
Yet once the Empress Dowager said this, it became even harder for Daiyu to speak. She could only lower her head and twist the handkerchief in her fingers.
Chu Heng said leisurely, “Mother is unaware that I already have two such pieces, while Miss Lin has only one. If Mother bestows this one upon her, it would better show your fairness toward us juniors.”
As soon as he finished speaking, Princess Yongkang burst out laughing.
The Empress Dowager nearly failed to maintain her smile. She raised a handkerchief to her lips, her eyes fixed on Chu Heng.
Chu Heng looked innocently at his mother and smiled. “Could it be that Mother was only joking, and in truth you favor this piece yourself and are reluctant to bestow it on anyone else?”
The Emperor coughed lightly. “Fifth Brother, you’re about to be married. In the future, you must not make such childish jokes again.”
The atmosphere in the hall grew increasingly strange, and Daiyu found these peculiar members of the imperial family ever harder to understand.
“That’s right, Fifth Brother,” Yongkang chimed in cheerfully. “You’re already an adult—why do you still speak so carelessly?”
She did not think Chu Heng was implying the Empress Dowager’s usual favoritism; she was simply happy to see the Empress Dowager at a loss for words.
There were not many who could render the Empress Dowager speechless and crack her composed expression. Fifth Brother truly had that ability. Yongkang clicked her tongue in wonder.
The Emperor looked at her, his face stern. “Man’er, why are you still here? Shouldn’t you be going to your lessons?”
Yongkang snorted with a laugh. “Imperial Brother lectures his son, and now he lectures his younger siblings as well. Fine, I won’t stay here and offend your eyes.”
With that, she rose, performed a brief salute, flicked her sleeves, and hurried away.
The hall fell silent for a moment. The Empress seized the opportunity to smile and say, “That girl Man’er—she’s always so impulsive.”
The Empress had intended to change the subject, but the Empress Dowager said instead, “Her manners are lacking. Empress, you should find a couple of governesses to teach her properly. Indulging her like this is always inappropriate.”
The Empress forced a smile. “Mother is right.”
Having served as a royal daughter-in-law for many years, the Empress understood the Empress Dowager’s temperament well. She did not much like Yongkang, her youngest daughter, yet she would not permit anyone else to mention it—nor allow anyone to interfere in Yongkang’s affairs. As with her other children, the Empress Dowager could be exceedingly domineering.
Whether Yongkang was well-behaved was one matter; whether the Empress dared to discipline her was another.
The Emperor was a filial son. In the end, the one who would suffer would still be the Empress.
I truly should not have spoken rashly, the Empress regretted inwardly.
Once a harmonious atmosphere was broken, it could not be restored. The Emperor felt somewhat vexed and said, “Mother, I still need to review memorials. I shall take my leave.”
The Empress Dowager nodded, and everyone rose to respectfully see the Emperor off.
When they were seated again, the Empress Dowager had already resumed her gentle, kindly expression. She smiled at Daiyu and said, “Since this is Heng’er’s intention, Lin girl, I shall bestow this piece of calligraphy upon you.”
Daiyu rose and bowed in thanks. “Thank you for the Empress Dowager’s grace.”
The Empress Dowager nodded. “I am tired as well. You may all withdraw.”
After bowing together, everyone exited the main hall.
The Empress held the eldest princess’s hand and smiled. “I also have some matters to attend to and will return first. Fifth Brother, see Miss Lin home.”
The Empress had always acted according to the expressions of the Emperor and the Empress Dowager. Since the Empress Dowager had exerted herself so much to bring the two together, and since the Empress had just offended her earlier, she felt she ought to show some filial devotion and curry the Empress Dowager’s favor.
Chu Heng bent slightly and replied, “Yes. Safe travels, Imperial Sister-in-law.”
Daiyu performed her courtesy. After the Empress had boarded her palanquin and departed, Daiyu turned to Chu Heng and curtsied. “Thank you for the trouble, Your Highness.”
At last, the ordeal had come to an end. Though Daiyu was unwilling to have Chu Heng escort her, the Empress had spoken first, and she did not wish for trouble at the very end.
Fortunately, Chu Heng felt the same. He nodded and asked, “How did you come here?”
Daiyu replied, “By sedan chair.”
Chu Heng considered briefly, then stepped forward. “Take my carriage. Have your people carry the sedan back.”
A carriage traveled faster. Although Chu Heng did not wish to share a carriage with Daiyu, considering that he could admire Gu Da’s calligraphy along the way, and in order to complete today’s task as quickly as possible, he was willing to inconvenience himself.
Daiyu followed him and said in surprise, “Your carriage?”
“Faster,” Chu Heng explained. “And I can take another look at that piece of calligraphy.”
Daiyu was taken aback. The first reason was acceptable, but the second…
If he was so reluctant to part with it, why give it to her voluntarily? The imperial household was full of strange matters.
Daiyu said, “Since Your Highness likes it, I would not dare to take what you cherish. Please take it back to your residence and appreciate it at leisure.”
“No need.” Chu Heng refused swiftly.
When he said to give the calligraphy to Miss Lin, it was merely to speak that sentence which displeased the Empress Dowager. Before doing so, he already knew what the price would be; there was no reason to go back on it now.
Unable to discern his meaning, Daiyu said again, “It is not that Your Highness does not want this piece, only that… the calligraphy I have is a relic left by my late father. Filial duty comes first; it cannot possibly be transferred to another.”
Chu Heng savored the tone of her words and found it rather amusing. “Miss Lin, do you think I intend to snatch your calligraphy? Rest assured, though I am no paragon of virtue, I would not do such a thing.”
Prince Duan spoke far too bluntly, and Daiyu’s face flushed. “It was my petty suspicion. Please forgive me, Your Highness.”
Chu Heng replied casually, “Mm.”
Knowing she was at fault, Daiyu could hardly criticize his attitude.
They remained silent all the way until they boarded the carriage. Daiyu handed the scroll over and said, “Your Highness, please.”
Chu Heng lifted his chin, signaling Zhao Qing to take it.
Zhao Qing smiled ingratiatingly. “Miss Lin, let this servant take it.”
After carrying it the whole way, Daiyu’s wrists and arms were sore. She had no mind to quibble over such a small matter and only wished to relax as soon as possible, so she silently handed the scroll to him.
Chu Heng was permitted to bring attendants into the palace, but Daiyu had no such privilege. She could only rub her wrists and massage her arms on her own.
Chu Heng was wholly absorbed in admiring the calligraphy and did not notice Daiyu’s condition at all. Zhao Qing noticed, but with no one else in the carriage, he dared not remind the prince and could only lower his head and pretend not to see.
The journey was agony for Zhao Qing. Just as the carriage turned onto Ningrong Street and he was about to breathe a sigh of relief, he heard someone speaking outside.
“Your Highness’s arrival was not properly welcomed. Please forgive us.”
Zhao Qing asked softly, “Miss Lin, which lord from the Duke of Rong’s residence is this?”
The voice sounded unfamiliar. Daiyu thought for a moment before realizing—it was her eldest uncle’s voice.
Presumably, the servants who had carried the sedan chair had hurried back to report. The Jia family, learning that Prince Duan was personally escorting her home, would naturally come out to receive him.
Chu Heng raised his head, somewhat slow to react. “Who is speaking?”
Daiyu replied, “Your Highness, it is my eldest uncle, a first-rank general of the Duke of Rong’s residence.”
“Oh.” Chu Heng closed the scroll and handed it back to Daiyu, then asked, “Which entrance will you use?”
“The west corner gate will suffice,” Daiyu replied. She glanced at Chu Heng and added, “Your Highness, I must first pay my respects to my uncle.”
Zhao Qing hurriedly said, “We are still outside. It would not be appropriate for Miss Lin to show herself publicly. This servant dares to be presumptuous and go down to convey your greetings on your behalf. What do you think?”
It was not that Zhao Qing was eager to curry favor with the future princess consort. Rather, Miss Lin’s standing now also represented their prince’s standing, and he had to uphold his master’s dignity.
Daiyu said, “I would not dare trouble you, sir.”
“It’s fine.” Immediately after, Chu Heng spoke.
It was a small matter; Chu Heng was not so petty as to mind.
Moreover, with the marriage engagement settled, husband and wife would share honor and disgrace alike—an unchangeable fact.
Since Prince Duan was willing to give her face, Daiyu accepted his kindness. “Thank you, Your Highness.”