Dream of the Red Chamber: My Daiyu Has Been Reborn

On his way to the princess's residence, Gu Jinhong was deep in thought with a serious expression.

Although Prince Yizhong is dead, he had cultivated his influence for many years, planting countless spies both inside and outside the court.

If Qin Keqing is indeed, as he suspects, the orphan of Prince Yizhong, then her being sent to the orphanage, adopted by Qin Ye, and now about to marry into the Ningguo Mansion, is very likely being manipulated by someone.

Although the Ningguo Mansion is not what it used to be, the intricate relationship between the Jia family and the Four Kings and Eight Dukes should not be underestimated.

If someone truly intends to use Qin Keqing as a pawn to achieve something, then this marriage is not a simple matter of marriage, but rather a strategic move.

Emperor Yongxi had only been on the throne for a few years, and the undercurrents between the old guard and the new elites in the court never subsided. Gu Jincheng's transfer to Liaodong was a result of the retired emperor's power backlash.

Although Emperor Yongxi was willing to reform the regime, he was hesitant to exterminate the four princes and eight dukes because the retired emperor was still alive.

With the Emperor Emeritus seriously ill, both sides are secretly gathering their strength. If, at this time, someone were to exploit Qin Keqing's identity and revive the old banner of Prince Yizhong, it would not be a simple power struggle within the court; it would be a cataclysmic upheaval.

"Second Master, we've arrived."

The voice of a guard came from outside the carriage. Gu Jinhong snapped out of his thoughts, lifted the curtain, got off the carriage, and walked towards the main courtyard.

Li Shulan was leaning back on the warm couch, looking at a list of things to prepare for the flower-viewing banquet. When she saw her son enter, she merely raised her eyelids and asked, "How is it? Yu'er hasn't been mistreated at the Rongguo Mansion, has she?"

"How could that be? With my mother protecting me, who would dare to neglect her?" Gu Jinhong smiled and sat down at the lower seat.

"Why did you look so troubled when you came in?"

Gu Jinhong pondered for a moment: "Mother, I was just delivering a letter when I passed by Ningguo Mansion and remembered something."

"Oh? What is it?"

"Jia Rong, son of Jia Zhen of Ningguo Mansion, is getting married soon."

Li Shulan raised an eyebrow: "Jia Zhen's son? I haven't heard much about him. Which family's daughter did he marry?"

"The adopted daughter of Qin Ye, the Director of the Construction Department."

"Qin Ye?" Li Shulan ran through the name in her mind, but she didn't have much of an impression of it. "The daughter of a fifth-rank doctor, and an adopted daughter at that, she's quite capable to be able to marry into the Ningguo Mansion as the eldest grandson's wife."

"I heard that although the Qin family girl comes from an unremarkable background, the Ningguo family has put a lot of effort into this marriage."

Li Shulan glanced at him and frowned: "Since when have you become so interested in other people's marriages?"

Gu Jinhong carefully considered his words: "Mother also knows that the Jia family is always willing to do anything for personal gain. Although I have not entered officialdom, I know that the current situation in the court is delicate. The Ningguo Mansion is going to great lengths to marry the adopted daughter of a minor official, which is probably not just for the sake of arranging a marriage."

Li Shulan's expression hardened slightly as she slowly sat up straight. Since her brother ascended the throne, there had been constant open and covert struggles between him and the old faction left by their father. Although she couldn't intervene, she had witnessed it all.

At this delicate moment in the political landscape, if Jia Zhen's marriage for his son is just an ordinary match, then so be it. But if there's more to it than meets the eye, then we must be very careful.

"You mean... there's a problem here?"

"I'm not sure either," Gu Jinhong smiled. "I just think that Mother might invite the Qin family's adopted daughter to the flower viewing banquet this year, so we can get a closer look at that Qin family girl. If there's nothing special about her, then so be it. But if there's something fishy, ​​we can let Uncle make plans in advance."

Li Shulan pondered for a moment: "Alright. I'll send someone to Ningguo Mansion to deliver a message later."

Having achieved his goal, Gu Jinhong stood up: "Then I won't disturb Mother's rest any longer."

Li Shulan waved her hand, watching her son's retreating figure. She had always known that her youngest son was no ordinary person, and now that he had suddenly brought up that woman from the Qin family, it seemed that the woman truly had something to do with him.

Ningguo Prefecture.

Lady You stared blankly at the messenger for a long time.

She hadn't expected that after receiving the invitation to the flower viewing banquet in the morning, the Princess's residence would send someone to deliver another message in the afternoon.

The messenger was quite polite, saying that the Princess had heard that the young master of the Ningguo Mansion had arranged a good marriage, and that the Qin family girl was said to be very good. She suggested that the princess bring her to meet her at the flower viewing banquet.

"I will remember to inform the Princess, Granny." Madam You smiled and had her personal maid take the reward money and slip it to the nanny before politely seeing her out the door.

Once the old woman left, the smile on Madam You's face faded a bit, and she sat in her chair for a long time without saying a word.

Who is the Eldest Princess? She is the Emperor's own sister, one of the most prominent noblewomen in the entire capital. Inviting the Ningguo Mansion to a flower-viewing banquet is one thing, but why specifically request to see that girl from the Qin family?

She's not even married into the family yet, how did the Princess know? The more Madam You thought about it, the more suspicious it seemed, but she dared not be negligent. She immediately sent someone to the Qin family to deliver a message, and also ordered someone to invite Jia Zhen over to discuss it.

Before long, Jia Zhen lifted the curtain and came in. Hearing You Shi's words, he was taken aback at first, then clapped his hands and laughed, "This is a good thing. The Princess is of such high status that she can send that girl from the Qin family to the banquet. It is a great honor for our Ningguo Mansion. Originally, I thought it was inappropriate for Father to insist that Rong-ge'er marry Qin Ye's adopted daughter, but now it seems that it is definitely a good thing."

Madam You hesitated and said, "But... the Qin family's daughter is not yet married into the family, so it's probably against the rules for her to show her face in public like this."

"What rules?" Jia Zhen waved his hand dismissively. "Since it's the Princess who has spoken, then those are the most important rules. Just have your people make proper preparations and make sure you don't lose your manners in front of the Princess."

Hearing him say this, Madam You could not say anything more and could only agree.

Qin family.

When Qin Ye heard the steward's message, he almost dropped the teacup in his hand.

"Princess Anning... wishes to see the eldest daughter?"

"Reporting to Master, this is what the messenger from Ningguo Mansion said. It was a nanny from the Princess's residence who came to deliver the message personally. The nanny also said that the Princess had heard that the eldest daughter of the Qin family was very good, and that she wanted to bring the lady of Ningguo Mansion to meet her at the flower viewing banquet."

Qin Yeqiang suppressed the turmoil in his heart: "I understand. Tell the young lady to prepare well and not to be impolite."

The steward acknowledged and withdrew. As soon as the study door closed, Qin Ye's composure crumbled instantly, and he felt his whole body stiffen.

He had been very careful all these years, keeping the child hidden away in seclusion, hoping that he could be free once she was married into the Ningguo Mansion.

Is Princess Anning's request to see Qin Keqing unintentional, or has she sensed something?

The more Qin Ye thought about it, the more a chill ran down his spine.

Qin Keqing was embroidering a handkerchief in her boudoir. A maidservant lifted the curtain and entered, excitedly saying, "Miss, word has come from the Ningguo Mansion that Madam will personally take you to the flower-viewing banquet at Princess Anning's residence."

Qin Keqing stopped what she was doing and looked up in disbelief: "The Eldest Princess?"

"Yes! Princess Anning is the Emperor's own sister. The fact that she specifically requests to see you shows how much respect she has received."

Qin Keqing was somewhat lost in thought.

How could the eldest princess know about her?

She was raised in seclusion since childhood, and although she was engaged to the Ningguo family, she had not yet officially married into the family. Logically speaking, a minor official's adopted daughter like her would not even catch the eye of those truly powerful and wealthy people.

"Miss?" The maid called softly when she saw her lost in thought. "What are you thinking about, Miss?"

Qin Keqing snapped out of her reverie and smiled faintly, "It's nothing. Did the Ningguo Mansion give any instructions?"

"Just tell the young lady to prepare well and dress appropriately so as not to be impolite in front of the princess."

Qin Keqing nodded: "I understand."