Dream of the Red Chamber: My Daiyu Has Been Reborn

After Li Shulan said this, the entire garden fell silent.

Although the ladies present already had their answers, hearing Li Shulan publicly acknowledge the marriage made their gazes toward Daiyu instantly more solemn.

Princess Consort of Nan'an rolled her eyes and clapped her hands first, laughing, "So that's why Your Highness isn't in a hurry for Hong-ge'er's marriage at all. It turns out that a good match has already been made for him. Look at Miss Lin's appearance and demeanor, she and Hong-ge'er are truly a match made in heaven."

Princess Bei Jing smiled and said, "Your Highness is very fortunate." While she smiled, her thoughts were elsewhere. It was common knowledge that Lin Ruhai was currently battling it out with the salt merchants of Lianghuai in Yangzhou. As a daughter of the Zhen family, she was well aware of the relationship between the Zhen family and those salt merchants. She wondered if this incident would create many complications.

Princess Consort Zhongshun added a few words of praise. She didn't have any particular thoughts on it, as it was none of their business. Prince Zhongshun was at odds with the Jia family, but Lin Daiyu didn't share the Jia surname.

For a time, the garden was filled with flattering remarks.

Standing beside Li Shulan, Daiyu felt the gazes directed at her from all directions. This feeling of being the center of attention made her quite uncomfortable.

She knew perfectly well that Li Shulan's public announcement of the engagement was a great honor for her, and also a declaration to the entire elite circle of the capital that Lin Daiyu was the Gu family's chosen daughter-in-law, and no one could disrespect her. How could she not appreciate such thoughtfulness?

However, such a grand display also meant that she was now inextricably linked to Gu Jinhong, with no way out.

However, she no longer needed a way out.

Standing in the crowd, Grandmother Jia's feelings were complex and difficult to describe. Although she often made mistakes regarding Jia Baoyu, she knew what was in the best interest of the family. She immediately smiled and stepped forward, bowing to Li Shulan: "This old woman thanks Your Highness for your kindness towards Yu'er. Yu'er has had a hard life, losing her mother at a young age. To receive such care from Your Highness is truly a great blessing for her."

Li Shulan helped up Grandmother Jia and said with a smile, "Grandmother, what are you saying? Yu'er is my future daughter-in-law, so it's only right that I, as her future mother-in-law, dote on her. Don't worry about those little things from the past. From now on, we're all family, so there's no need to be so polite."

The two of them chatted back and forth, and they seemed to be having a very pleasant time.

Lady You led Qin Keqing to stand at the edge of the crowd, inconspicuous among the noblewomen in the courtyard.

Qin Keqing's gaze fell upon Daiyu, who was the center of attention, her eyes filled with a barely perceptible hint of envy.

She was raised in seclusion from a young age, under extremely strict care, and rarely saw outsiders. Although her adoptive father, Qin Ye, treated her well, she always felt like a drifting duckweed, dependent on others, and Qin Ye didn't seem to fully consider her his daughter.

Seeing that this Miss Lin, though also a guest in her maternal home, had someone like the Princess to arrange her birthday and publicly recognize her status, Qin Keqing couldn't help but feel a little envious.

How wonderful it would be if I could have such good fortune.

……

Meanwhile, at the manor at the foot of the Western Hills outside the capital, the atmosphere was far more lively than at the flower-viewing banquet at the Princess's residence.

Today, the ladies and young ladies of noble families in the city were all invited by Princess Anning to enjoy the flowers. The young masters of various households had nothing to do, so they decided to go out of the city together for a horse race.

This estate belongs to the Marquis of Jinxiang. When Gu Jinhong arrived, a dozen or so young gentlemen had already gathered there, chatting and laughing in twos and threes. When they saw Gu Jinhong arrive on horseback, they all came forward to greet him.

The first to greet them was Han Qi, the eldest son of the Marquis of Jinxiang: "Second Brother Gu is here. It's like speaking of the devil! We brothers were just saying that you probably wouldn't be able to get away today. The Princess is holding a flower-viewing banquet at her residence, how come you, as her son, have run off to avoid being idle?"

Gu Jinhong dismounted, tossed the reins to his accompanying guard, and laughed, "That flower-viewing banquet was arranged by my mother. She invited ladies from various households. What was I, a grown man, doing standing there? Was I supposed to judge which peony was the most beautiful?"

Hearing this, Jiang Zining, who was standing nearby, smiled and came closer. He was the eldest son of the Marquis of Pingyuan, and because his father had passed away, he inherited the title of Second-Class Baron.

"What you're saying, Brother Gu, is fine even if you go. It'll be a good opportunity for the ladies and young women of all the mansions to see what kind of handsome young master Gu, the famous young master of our capital city, really looks like."

Gu Jinhong glanced at him indifferently: "Your tongue is certainly sharp today. What, you lost money here last time, are you trying to make up for it today?"

Jiang Zining's face stiffened when he heard him recount the past. The young men around him immediately burst into laughter. They remembered clearly that last month, Jiang Zining had lost miserably to Gu Jinhong in a horse race, and upon returning home, he was reportedly scolded by his mother all night long. This incident was still a laughing stock in the elite circles.

Chen Yejun from the Duke of Chen's mansion and Qiu Liang from the Marquis of Jingtian's mansion also gathered around, chatting and laughing, creating a lively atmosphere.

Jia Rong and Jia Lian arrived a little late because they had each been instructed by their families. Before they even got close, Jia Lian cupped his hands in a respectful greeting to Gu Jinhong from afar.

"Second Master Gu, what a coincidence!" Jia Lian said with a smile as he dismounted and walked up to him in a warm tone. "I didn't get a proper chat at the manor the other day. So, when I heard that Master Han was organizing a gathering, I thought I should at least join in the fun."

Gu Jinhong's impression of Jia Lian wasn't actually bad. Although the man was a bit lecherous, it wasn't considered a major flaw in their elite circle. He was also quick-witted and reliable. He nodded, "Second Master Lian, you're too kind."

Jia Rong then joined in, grinning broadly and being exceptionally solicitous: "How is Uncle Gu? I heard Father mention the other day that we'll be related by marriage from now on, so we should visit each other more often."

His pronunciation of "Second Uncle Gu" came so naturally that everyone present was taken aback and turned their attention to him.

Unable to contain his curiosity, Jiang Zining immediately asked, "What brings you to that conversation, Rong-ge'er? What kind of in-law relationship?"

Jia Rong explained with a smile, "Gentlemen, you may not know this, but Second Uncle Gu and Lord Lin Ruhai's daughter were already engaged. What else could we be but in-laws?"

Upon hearing this, the expressions of everyone present varied. Jia Rong's words were not entirely wrong, but the Ningguo Mansion was, after all, the residence of a Duke, and Jia Rong's eagerness to establish kinship was rather blatant.

"So there was this connection between us. That's really a good thing."

Jia Lian sensed their slightly strange gazes, but his smile remained unchanged.

When he arrived, Wang Xifeng repeatedly instructed him to cultivate a good relationship with Gu Jinhong, and ideally, to get Gu Jinhong to speak on his behalf before the Emperor. If he could secure a respectable position in the Six Ministries, he would be extremely grateful.

Jia Lian himself understood that although he was the eldest grandson of the main branch, the whole family's attention was now focused on the phoenix egg in the family. If he didn't find a way to make a future for himself, he might not even be able to keep the title left by his father after Jia She died.