Chapter 37: The Du Family's Daughter Enters the Palace (Part 1)

  The Seventh Princess saw her daughters and Lin girl go to the garden to admire flowers, leaving only Yan nurse to talk.

  Yan Yun is an elderly woman in the palace, who has gained the trust of the princess. This time, she was sent to the Lin family to teach Daiyu etiquette, which is also a gesture towards Lin Zhiyuan. Yan Yun naturally understands this reasoning, so she is very dedicated to teaching Daiyu.

  Yan Niangniang accompanied the princess into the flower hall, personally served tea to the palace owner, and then stood respectfully on the other side of the table.

  "Sit down, Grandma. There's no outsider here."

  Yan's aunt hesitated for a moment before lightly sitting down on one corner of the chair.

  The Seventh Princess had always regarded Yan as her confidante, so she asked without any reserve: "What do you think of this Miss Lin's way of handling things?"

  "In my humble opinion, the young lady of the Lin family is a rare good girl, with good character and appearance, but only slightly weaker physically, and also somewhat proud, inevitably thinking too much." Madam Wang's words were quite fair, pointing out Daiyu's strengths as well as her shortcomings.

  The Seventh Princess sighed: "I also saw that this girl is exceptionally clever, but she handles things with great care and caution, and can't help but be a little timid. It's probably because in all these years, there hasn't been an elder who truly cared for her to guide her. If it weren't for Jin Yu begging me in person, I would never have sent you, Hua'er, to the Lin Manor."

  The strict nanny looked at the princess with kindness, as if it were yesterday, the little girl who was learning to walk in the palace had become a wife and mother. The strict nanny and the thorny nanny beside the princess were both old people who had taken care of the princess since childhood, so they couldn't bear to leave the princess for the capital. However, the princess had her own thoughts, and for the sake of the princess's heart, the strict nanny was willing to do everything. She said: "Lin girl is a good person to get along with, in my opinion, our eldest miss and Lin girl have a very good relationship, and the eldest miss is also a considerate person, so she will definitely..."

  The Seventh Princess stopped her with a wave of her hand: "It's too early to say these things, although the Marquis has this intention in his heart, but we still have to wait until Jinyu is older before talking about it, otherwise everything is just empty talk. Let's not mention this for now, Yanyan, this time when you go to the capital, you only need to teach Daiyu with all your heart, I've never treated Jinyu as a child, his mind is afraid that even our Marquis can't win, fortunately, Xiu Jie is his friend, otherwise, I would really be worried. This is also the reason why I was hesitant to listen to Master's words and agree to marry Yanran to Jinyu."

  Yan's mother naturally knew what was on the princess's mind.

  This Lin family's young master seems to be good, but that is in front of people. In the past three or four years, even Madame Yu has seen through it a bit. Whenever Master Hou encounters something difficult, he must invite Lin's young master to discuss it. At first, I also thought it was because Master Hou admired him, but according to the princess's words, it turned out that Lin's young master helped with planning and strategy, and each time they were able to make the East Ping Hou Mansion stand undefeated. To think that at that time, Lin's young master was only 14 or 15 years old, if he becomes an official in the future and enters the imperial court, it is unknown whether this will be a blessing or a curse.

  It's because of this that the princess is worried, worried that their family's eldest daughter will marry someone unsuitable.

  The Seventh Princess obviously didn't want to mention this matter again, so she changed the subject. "I had Jinyu bring a lot of things for Big Sister this time. I've already told him that when the time comes, you'll personally deliver them to Eldest Princess's place and take the opportunity to see Huaiyi."

  The old lady smiled with a pursed mouth: "I know, I know, Your Highness, it's just that we're thinking of the future daughter-in-law of our family."

  "Big sister helped me a lot back then, to be honest, if it wasn't for my sister, I'm not sure if I could have survived in that deep courtyard with high walls. Now, since big sister is willing to become relatives, I am also delighted. Huiyi, I've seen her, she's a good kid. Just waiting for next year when she turns 17 and then she'll come over as my bride!"

  The Seventh Princess seemed to have thought of something and hastily said: "I heard Jin Yu say that this time when we enter the capital, we will be staying at the Jia residence. Nian Mama, you..."

  The old woman naturally understood the princess's meaning and said, "Princess, rest assured that I am going to instruct Lin girl, not as a servant of the Jia family. Even the young master of the Lin family has to show respect for me because of your face, how could they dare to make things difficult for me? Besides, the old lady in their house is also advanced in years and may not be able to recognize me again, it doesn't matter."

  The Seventh Princess said: "It turns out you were all acquainted with each other."

  "Princess, let's not mention past matters. Our family and the Shi family have been acquainted for generations, but when my father was in trouble, the Shi family not only didn't help, but instead kicked us while we were down. I'd rather not recognize their daughter either! After so many years in the palace, this old slave has experienced many things, seen a lot, and my heart is now at peace. Now, let Lady Shi enjoy her wealth and glory, and let me live out my remaining years in peace, we have nothing to do with each other."

  The princess looked at Yuanyang and thought that although she was already in her fifties, she had taken good care of herself and looked to be only around forty years old. She probably wouldn't be recognized by the people from the Jia family either. She said: "It's good that you can think this way. There's another thing, Jin Yu told me that the Jia family has been eyeing the Lin family's property for many years and is likely to plot against Jin Yu and his sister during their visit to the capital.

  Yan's mother thought it was amusing. That Lin family's son wasn't even calculating against others, that's already not bad! Who else would dare to be so tactless?

  "Jinyu dislikes the second lady of the Jia mansion very much. It is said that Lin's illness also has a great deal to do with this lady. After you go, you must watch Lin take her medicine and guard against those people. Moreover, Jinyu also said that there are some things that men cannot handle, nor can they personally persuade Lin. There is a boy in the Jia mansion who was born with a jade pendant, and he is very close to Lin's daughter. After you go, you must remind her repeatedly to be careful of the rules of the Lin family, after all, boys and girls should not sit together after the age of seven, Lin should know this principle."

  "Old slave understands, please don't worry, Princess. With me keeping an eye on things, they definitely won't cause any trouble. I used to think that the girl from the Shi family was good too, but as she got older, she became more and more muddle-headed. Xueyan, who is by Lin's side, told me that the old lady of the Jia household had arranged for that jade-wearing boy to live with Lin. Although they are cousins, it's still improper, no wonder young master Lin was so angry."

  The Seventh Princess smiled and said, "When Jinyu told me about this matter, she was still gritting her teeth. I'm afraid that the Jia Mansion has invited a heavenly demon star to deal with them! Jinyu's methods are not something ordinary people can handle."

  The master and servant were talking intimately when they saw the princess's personal maid walk in, "Princess, someone from the Du family has arrived."

  The Seventh Princess asked in doubt: "If it's Ruan Jie'er who has come, then call her to go and play with the girls!"

  The maid shook her head and said, "Please report back to the princess, it's not Miss Du of the Du family, but rather Easy Auntie from the Du estate."

  The Seventh Princess immediately knew that something had happened at the Du's residence when she heard this, otherwise Madam Du wouldn't have sent her personal maid, Yi Gu Gu. She hastily said: "Quickly invite her in."

  Before long, a woman walked in from outside the door. It was Mrs. Du's aunt who had come with her from her hometown. Yi Auntie was only in her thirties, with a flowery bun and a white jade hairpin adorned with a peony, dressed simply and unadorned. As soon as she saw Seventh Princess, she paid her respects.

  "Quickly help Auntie Yi up. Auntie Yi, I and Sister Du are also old friends, just speak directly, is there something wrong at home?"

  Yi's aunt knew that Yan was a trusted confidant of the Seventh Princess, and what she was about to say would soon spread throughout Jiangnan anyway, so there was no need to hide it. She said, "Yes, Your Highness, we just received an imperial edict saying that our master and mistress are to bring our eldest daughter to the capital immediately. Our eldest daughter has been betrothed to the Crown Prince as his princess consort."

  The Seventh Princess's heart skipped a beat when she heard this, having been married to Jiangnan for decades, but knowing everything big and small that happened in the capital. If she had married someone else, it would have been fine, but the eldest prince was different - his mother was just a palace maid who had accidentally gained the emperor's favor and given birth to an heir. However, the emperor had never liked the two of them, and now the eldest prince's mother had long since passed away, while the eldest prince himself was often studying at the border. Marrying him would not be a good match. No wonder E'niang's face showed no joy.

  "What does your wife mean?"

  Mrs. Yi said, "The madam says that this is the emperor's kindness, and our eldest daughter being able to marry into the imperial family is also the blessing of our ancestors. However, in recent years, our family has been living a peaceful life in Jiangnan, although we have inherited titles, but after all, we don't want to get involved in court affairs." Mrs. Yi glanced at the Seventh Princess and quickly lowered her eyes, "Our madam knows that Your Highness and the Marquis are both noble and powerful people, and she wants to ask Your Highness to discreetly inquire about why the emperor chose our family's eldest daughter!"

  The Seventh Princess smiled and said, "My husband's family and your madam have been close since we were in the capital, and now that we're both married into families in Jiangnan, we should be helping each other out. I'm delighted that my nephew can marry your sister-in-law, it's a great match! You go back first and tell your madam about this, just say I know about it already. Oh, by the way, when is your family planning to set off?"

  "We've just received the imperial edict, and our family isn't prepared at all. The eunuchs in the palace haven't left yet, and Master is still accompanying them. Madame says that collecting and packing will take at least ten days or so."

  The princess thought of Jin Yu and Daiyu sisters also going to the capital, why not have the two families travel together, on the way there will be someone to take care of each other. So she said: "You go tell your wife, Lin's family brothers and sisters are also going to Beijing, let her send someone to ask, if the two families can travel together, wouldn't it be nice to have someone to take care of?"

  "Master and Madam have already sent someone to the Lin's house with an invitation, asking Young Master Lin to come over for a talk!"

  The Seventh Princess listened and turned her head to glance at Yan Laolao beside her, smiling: "How coincidental! The Lin siblings are actually in my estate right now! What's going on? Didn't Wan Jiejie tell you all that she promised to come today to see off the Lin sister?"

  "To be honest, Princess, our eldest daughter has received this news and has retreated to her own room. The household will certainly be in an uproar for the next few days, and I'm afraid it won't be easy for you to come out."

  Yi Gu Gu conveyed Du Fu Ren's meaning to Seventh Princess and hastily left, Seventh Princess knew that their family was busiest at this time, and didn't detain her much, letting Yan Ya Ya personally see her off to the gate.

  When the empress dowager returned, she curiously asked: "Princess, what is His Majesty thinking? Among so many noble ladies in the capital, why did he choose the eldest daughter of the Du family?"

  The Seventh Princess had also been thinking about this matter just now and couldn't figure it out no matter what.

  Although she grew up in the capital since childhood, she was not favored and had few opportunities to meet with the princes. She was particularly unfamiliar with her third elder brother, who was two years older than herself. On the other hand, the emperor's own sister, the Grand Princess, had always been kind to her, and it was thanks to her elder sister's care that she could live a peaceful life in the palace until her marriage.

  So when Queen Mother asked the princess for the reason, Princess Qi also couldn't say anything.

  "Our master must have known about this matter too. Strict nanny, please go and invite our master to come over. If Zhenyu is also there, call her over as well."

  "Yes, master."

  PS: Today is Wednesday! The time for the next update is getting closer and closer, but the click rate is still not high. Hope those who follow "Hong Lou Ye Hua" will click on the collection! Jing He's current collection rate is less than 300, so pitiful~~~~⊙﹏⊙b sweat