Dream of the Red Chamber: My Daiyu Has Been Reborn

Wang Xifeng's courtyard was deserted; apart from the sound of Ping'er's footsteps, there was no one to talk to.

Wang Xifeng lay sprawled on the soft couch, resting her foot, wrapped in white cloth, on the embroidered stool, idly fiddling with a handkerchief in her hand.

"Those who are usually so good at scheming and currying favor are nowhere to be seen today." Wang Xifeng snorted coldly, tossing her handkerchief aside. "They've all gone to the Princess's residence to join in the fun, leaving me all alone at home."

Ping'er laughed upon hearing this, "Grandma, what are you saying? The imperial physician advised you to rest quietly because of your foot. Isn't it good that they won't bother you?"

"What do you know?!" Wang Xifeng glared at her. "It's rare for the Princess's residence to host a flower-viewing banquet. I bet all the prominent ladies of the capital are there. And I missed it all because of this wretched foot injury. Tell me, am I not angry?"

She grew angrier as she spoke, slamming her hand on the edge of the bed: "Why did I have to fall now of all times? Is fate deliberately working against me?!"

Ping'er quickly stepped forward to soothe her: "Grandma, please calm down, your health is important. If you miss this flower viewing banquet this year, there might be another one next year."

As soon as she finished speaking, she heard a series of chaotic footsteps and the voices of the old women outside.

"The old lady and the girls have returned home!"

Hearing the noise, Wang Xifeng sat up with a start, ignoring her still-injured ankle, and grabbed Ping'er's arm: "Quick, help me out!"

Ping'er stamped her feet anxiously: "Grandma, your foot is still injured!"

Wang Xifeng, limping, went to greet them at the second gate. She saw that the sedan chairs of Grandmother Jia and her entourage had already been unloaded, and the maids and servants were helping their mistresses inside. Upon seeing this, Wang Xifeng immediately put on a smile and, with Ping'er by her side, hurried forward.

"Grandmother is finally back. You have no idea how restless I've been all alone at home. I wish I could fly to the princess's mansion right now and see what's going on."

Supported by Yuanyang, Grandmother Jia saw that Wang Xifeng still had a plaster on her forehead and was walking with a limp, which amused her.

"If you're injured, you should be resting inside. Why did you rush out to greet me like that?"

Wang Xifeng immediately looked aggrieved: "Grandmother took my sisters to a banquet, how could I, her granddaughter-in-law, possibly stay still? That's why I'm eagerly waiting for Grandmother to come back and tell me about the exciting things that happened at the flower-viewing banquet."

Then she glanced back and took in everyone's expressions.

Daiyu wore a smile, seemingly in a good mood, and even the two maids beside her looked cheerful. Madam Xing, as always, appeared indifferent, while Madam Wang wore a sullen face, looking as if someone owed her eight hundred strings of cash. The three sisters, on the other hand, were chatting and laughing together.

Wang Xifeng was extremely shrewd, and she immediately guessed that something must have happened at the flower-viewing banquet.

After everyone took their seats in Rongqing Hall, Wang Xifeng instructed a maid to serve tea, and then eagerly asked, "Grandmother, please tell me quickly, what was the flower-viewing banquet at the Princess's residence like today? Although I wasn't fortunate enough to attend in person, just hearing the rumors about the sea of ​​flowers displayed at the entrance is enough to make it worthwhile!"

Grandmother Jia picked up her tea to moisten her throat before recounting the events of the day, even describing in detail the strange and unusual cake.

Upon hearing this, Wang Xifeng slapped her thigh and deliberately made an exaggerated expression: "Oh dear, what a wonderful occasion I've missed! Unfortunately, my leg injury came at the worst possible time, preventing me from witnessing it firsthand. I knew Lin Daiyu was incredibly lucky; Her Highness the Princess personally arranged her birthday celebration. What other young lady in the entire capital has ever received such treatment? Your Majesty, this is truly a momentous occasion!"

Grandmother Jia nodded in agreement: "That's exactly right. It's her good fortune that Her Highness the Princess values ​​Yu'er so much, and it's also a matter of honor for our Jia family."

Madam Xing, unusually, spoke up this time, smiling as she added, "That's right, from now on our household will be related to the royal family." As she spoke, she glanced at Madam Wang, intentionally or unintentionally.

Madam Wang's face turned even uglier.

Grandmother Jia witnessed the entire scene and glanced at Lady Wang indifferently: "Are you feeling unwell?"

Madam Wang forced a smile: "Thank you for your concern, Madam. I am perfectly fine. It's just that today the Princess publicly acknowledged the marriage agreement in front of so many people, which will surely become the talk of the town. If something unexpected happens in the future, wouldn't that be..."

"shut up."

Grandmother Jia's face immediately darkened, and she angrily rebuked, "Her words are law, how dare you question them? Besides, what a deep bond Min'er had with the Princess when she was alive! Don't utter such ominous words again. If I, this old woman, hear you speaking so recklessly again, you can go to the Buddhist hall to copy scriptures."

In an instant, Rongqing Hall became so quiet you could hear a pin drop.

Lady Wang felt humiliated after being publicly reprimanded. She wanted to say something, but when she met Grandmother Jia's sharp gaze, she swallowed her words and dared not utter another utterance.

Madam Xing picked up her teacup and slowly sipped. She was usually overshadowed by Madam Wang, and seeing her so humiliated made her feel quite pleased. Li Wan stood meekly behind Madam Wang, pretending not to see or hear anything.

Seeing the awkward atmosphere, Wang Xifeng immediately clapped her hands and laughed, "Grandmother is absolutely right! If you ask me, with our Lin Daiyu's looks and such good fortune, it is truly a blessing for our Jia family."

With Wang Xifeng's intervention, the atmosphere finally relaxed a bit, and Grandmother Jia's expression softened.

Grandmother Jia ignored Lady Wang and instead took Daiyu's hand, as if her earlier anger had never occurred, and said kindly, "Your second aunt is a muddle-headed person, and her words are always unpleasant to hear. Don't take it to heart. If she acts foolishly again, I will punish her myself."

Upon hearing this, Daiyu smiled faintly: "Grandmother, don't worry. Second Madam must have just misspoke. I didn't take it to heart."

Grandmother Jia nodded, feeling even more that she was sensible, and praised her a few more times while holding her hand: "You are a sensible child."

Grandmother Jia was getting on in years, and after a long day, she had just lost her temper; her face was now showing signs of weariness.

"Everyone's had a long day, and my old bones are tired too, so let's call it a day."

Yuanyang, with great tact, helped Grandmother Jia to her feet. Seeing this, everyone excused themselves.

Wang Xifeng, supported by Ping'er's arm, limped out of Rongqing Hall. Just as she turned the corner of the covered corridor, she saw Jia Lian had returned from outside and was standing at the courtyard gate untying the sash on his cloak.

"Second Master is back?" Wang Xifeng's eyes lit up. Ignoring her sore feet, she hurried over to greet him. "Judging from your complexion, Second Master, you must have had a much more comfortable day outside than I have at home."

Jia Lian laughed and said, "You know what, it's quite lively at Han Qi's estate today."

"Did Gu Jinhong go? How are things going with you?"

Upon hearing her question, Jia Lian paused slightly in his movements. Earlier that day at the estate, Gu Jinhong had been chatting and laughing with Feng Ziying, Wei Ruolan, and their group. Although he had gone up to them and said a few polite words, Gu Jinhong had treated him no differently than anyone else; it was just ordinary courtesy.

At least Jia Rong could chat with everyone because his fiancée was invited to a banquet by the Princess, but he himself was just a supporting character from beginning to end.

But could I tell Feng Ge'er the truth? If I did, given her temper, she would inevitably say that I was incompetent.