Dream of the Red Chamber: My Daiyu Has Been Reborn

Qin Keqing was taken to the Qin family by the Ningguo Mansion's carriage. As soon as she stepped into the courtyard, she saw her younger brother Qin Zhong sitting in the courtyard, staring blankly at the sunset.

"Jing Qing," Qin Keqing called softly.

Hearing the familiar voice, Qin Zhong snapped out of his reverie: "Sister is back." He quickly stood up and walked to Qin Keqing's side, his eyes full of curiosity. "Sister, how did the flower-viewing banquet at the Princess's residence go? Was it grand? Did His Highness speak with you?"

Seeing his appearance, Qin Keqing couldn't help but smile and reached out to straighten his collar: "Take your time asking questions, at least let me catch my breath first."

Qin Zhong smiled sheepishly: "I'm just happy for my sister. The Princess's residence is such a place; countless people in the entire capital would kill to get in, yet my sister was specifically invited."

Qin Keqing slowly sat down on the veranda: "The pomp and circumstance were naturally grand. The Princess also asked me a couple of questions, but it was just ordinary politeness."

"This is already quite a show of respect. Are you tired today, sister? I asked the kitchen to save some food for you."

"No need to rush," Qin Keqing shook her head. "While I was away today, did you study diligently at home?"

Qin Zhong's smile froze, and he guiltily lowered his head and touched his nose: "I...I read it."

Which article are you reading?

Qin Zhong stammered and couldn't answer.

Seeing this, Qin Keqing sighed, but did not blame him. She simply said softly, "Father is already working hard, you shouldn't make him worry."

Qin Zhong repeatedly agreed.

Qin Ye paced back and forth in his study. He hadn't slept a wink last night, and after seeing his daughter off this morning, he had been on tenterhooks all day.

Hearing the commotion coming from the courtyard, he suddenly stood up, took three steps in two, and walked to the study door, calling out, "Keqing, come to the study."

Qin Keqing was slightly surprised to hear the urgency in her father's voice, but she still responded respectfully, telling Qin Zhong to go back to his room first, while she straightened her clothes and opened the door to the study.

Qin Ye did not turn on the lights in the study, so the light was somewhat dim.

"Father." Qin Keqing bowed and looked up at Qin Ye. Seeing his unusual expression, she couldn't help but ask, "Father, are you feeling unwell? Why do you look so pale?"

"It's alright, I just stayed up too late last night and didn't sleep well."

Qin Ye looked his daughter up and down, and seeing that she was calm and showed no signs of distress, his heart, which had been hanging in suspense all day, finally eased a little. He waved his hand, "Sit down. How did your trip to the Princess's residence go today?"

"It went smoothly." Qin Keqing briefly recounted the events of the flower-viewing banquet, "The Princess's residence was extremely grand, with all the prominent ladies and young women of the capital in attendance."

Qin Ye picked up his teacup and ran his fingers along the rim. "Did you manage to speak with His Highness?"

Qin Keqing thought her father wanted to know if she had won the favor of the Princess, so she said, "It is I who have disappointed you, Father. Her Highness only exchanged a few pleasantries and then nothing more."

Qin Ye paused for a moment, as if he was pondering something.

He looked up and carefully examined his daughter's face: "Did you do anything impolite during the meal?"

Qin Keqing thought about it carefully for a moment, then shook her head and said, "I always remember Father's teachings and dare not overstep the bounds in the slightest."

"That's good." Qin Ye nodded, a smile appearing on his face, his tone becoming more relaxed. "It's already a blessing for your father that you were able to maintain proper etiquette in front of the Princess."

Seeing her father's expression soften, Qin Keqing felt slightly relieved, but she also vaguely felt that her father was different today. He asked her questions in extra detail, even asking about everything the princess had said.

However, she thought again that the Princess's residence was not an ordinary place, and it was reasonable for her father to ask a few more questions, so she didn't think about it anymore.

Qin Ye then changed the subject, seemingly casually asking, "Did anyone ask about our family during the meal?"

Qin Keqing paused slightly, then shook her head: "No. Although the ladies of noble families were all very polite, they only exchanged nods and pleasantries, and did not have any in-depth conversations."

Qin Ye breathed a slight sigh of relief, but said calmly, "That's good. Our family can't compare to those noble families, so we should say less and make fewer mistakes. There's no need to compare ourselves to others."

"My daughter understands."

Qin Ye looked at his daughter's serene profile, hesitating to speak.

He paused, then added, "The wedding is approaching, so prepare well. The Ningguo family is of high social standing. As a daughter-in-law, you must be careful in everything you say and do. Don't ask what you shouldn't ask, and don't say what you shouldn't say."

"My daughter has remembered it."

"You must be tired after a long day, go and get some rest."

Qin Keqing rose, bowed, and left the study.

……

The next morning, before dawn, an inconspicuous carriage drove out of the side gate of the princess's residence and headed towards the palace.

Inside the carriage, Li Shulan looked solemn.

"Your uncle is cautious by nature. Have you thought about how to bring this up?"

"Mother need not worry, Uncle is not a fool."

Li Shulan sighed, "Even so, I still feel uneasy..."

Gu Jinhong interrupted his mother, "Mother, we are just informing you of the news. As for how to handle it, that's up to Uncle to decide."

Li Shulan remained silent for a moment, then nodded.

The carriage stopped in front of the palace gate. The mother and son handed over their tokens to enter the palace and were led by eunuchs through layers of palace gates to the imperial study.

Emperor Yongxi, Li Chengzhao, was slightly surprised to see his younger sister arrive so early in the morning and asked her a question.

"My dear sister, what has happened so early in the morning?"

After taking her seat, Li Shulan didn't beat around the bush and went straight to recounting her discoveries from yesterday's flower-viewing banquet.

Upon hearing this, Emperor Yongxi's hand, which was holding a cup of tea, froze in mid-air, and his expression gradually darkened.

"You mean that the Qin family's daughter looks like Princess Su, the wife of Prince Yizhong?"

"Their eyebrows and eyes are about 70-80% similar."

Emperor Yongxi put down his teacup and turned to Gu Jinhong: "Jinhong, did you discover this?"

"Uncle, I just felt that it was unusual for the Ningguo Mansion to marry the adopted daughter of a minor official, so I paid more attention to it. Taking advantage of Mother's flower-viewing banquet, I asked Mother to take a look." Gu Jinhong then repeated what Jia Rong had said on the estate yesterday.

"Jia Jing..."

Emperor Yongxi let out a long sigh: "Back then, my brother... Father was indeed too ruthless. If that Qin woman is truly my brother's orphan, then I, as her uncle, should thank the person behind her for saving her life."

Neither Li Shulan nor Gu Jinhong responded.

The Imperial Study fell silent for a moment.

Emperor Yongxi remained silent for a long time. After a while, he looked up at Gu Jinhong: "You just said that Qin Keqing's wedding date is set for the end of next month?"

"That's right. The Ningguo Mansion is already making preparations."

Emperor Yongxi sneered, "You're certainly impatient."

Li Shulan frowned and said, "Your Majesty, if we allow the marriage to proceed, the Qin family daughter is still of royal blood. If her true identity is revealed to the world one day, she will already be married to the Jia family. This..."

"If we rashly cancel the engagement now, it will surely alert the person behind it." Emperor Yongxi also felt somewhat troubled. "Alright, I'll think of a way to handle this."