Chapter 243: Daiyu: Everyone Around Third Brother Seems to Be Mine!

Daiyu's small courtyard,

Zi Juan, upon hearing Daiyu mention Jia She and Mrs. Xing, recalled what happened in the Daylight Garden and couldn't help but cover her mouth and chuckle, saying:

"Today, Second Madam Lian returning to her room will probably be unable to sleep! This sudden rise and fall—within a blink, a first‑rank edict for a 'Duke's Consort' vanished."

"I saw her expression change then; she looked dazed and as if she had lost her soul."

Daiyu picked up the tea cup on the table, took a tiny sip, and her lacquered bright eyes twinkled.

She knew this was a private chat between Zi Juan and herself, not a mockery of Feng Jie.

Daiyu whispered an explanation:

"This may be bad news for Sister Feng, but it is good for Third Brother."

"Those civil officials and cabinet elders who want to grant a benevolent title to the great uncle are not acting out of kindness."

"Since ancient times, civil and military cannot coexist; their move is to dilute Third Brother's merits and to suppress him."

"Nevertheless, the Son of Heaven could still unilaterally appoint Eldest Brother as a first‑rank Jingguo Duke, showing that the emperor still holds Third Brother in great trust!"

Daiyu, already gentle and refined, intelligent and perceptive, and having recently read the *Lu Xuan Gong's Memorials* along with many political treatises and court reports, now also formed her own modest opinions on state affairs.

When the Princess of the Northern Tranquil King first mentioned this, she didn't grasp it at once; later, back in her courtyard, she pondered carefully and discerned the underlying mechanism.

Zi Juan, not well‑versed in these state matters, laughed upon hearing it:

"Miss, you are becoming increasingly adept at court politics; when Lord Hou returns and we discuss this, you will surely make him take a new look at you."

"I look at these not to… to make anyone take a new look!"

Daiyu, unable to hide her protest, retorted, her face flushing, her star‑like eyes carrying a faint hope.

When Third Brother returns, I will let him see a brand‑new "Lin sister".

No longer the frail, poetry‑reciting, spring‑sorrowful, weeping lover, but one who can aid him, understand him… a virtuous inner companion.

He keeps improving outside, and I am not idle at home either.

Seeing Daiyu's shy expression, Zi Juan did not linger on the topic, but turned her head and spoke of Mrs. Xing again.

She pursed her lips and said softly:

"As the Duke's status rises, several masters in the mansion have completely changed their attitude toward him!"

"I heard that the matriarch now constantly says 'Jia Jing is a filial son' and even says that when the great lord is gone, she no longer wishes Jia Lian Er and Second Madam to pay filial respect, but to share the Duke's blessings together!"

"However, her niece, Miss Xiu Yan, is actually a very nice person."

"Although her family has declined, her demeanor and speech are courteous, not covetous of wealth, but rather possess the charm of a refined lady."

"I heard the Xue Family aunt likes Miss Xiu Yan's temperament and wants to introduce her to the Xue Family patriarch, but fears it might ruin her."

"Later she intended to present her to the Xue Family's second young master, Ke Er, but the matriarch did not consent, saying Xiu Yan's marriage had already been arranged elsewhere."

Daiyu gave a faint "hm".

Her temperament is somewhat aloof and self‑satisfied, feeling above the world, and she is reluctant to pay attention to others, especially those she does not care about.

Zi Juan, seeing this, thought for a moment, her eyes flashing, asked:

"Miss, do you think the aunt's intention is not really about the wine?"

Having followed Daiyu for so long, Zi Juan can occasionally let out a refined idiom!

"Hm?"

Lin Daiyu, somewhat puzzled, had a flicker of doubt in her bright eyes.

Zi Juan lowered her voice and said:

"Could it be that the aunt seeks to become even closer to the Duke?"

"If the aunt's nephew marries the matriarch's niece, wouldn't their families become even closer, and their ties to the Duke also deepen?"

"It's like the aunt giving Xiangling to the Duke as a personal maid; she tends to 'make a move' on those close to the Duke."

Since Daiyu and Baichai became rivals, Zi Juan has grown more wary of the Xue Family, scrutinizing their every move in secret.

Especially, Zi Juan once saw Ying Er deliver a knee pad to Jia Jing, and she thought that maid didn't seem like a good person.

Thus,

Although Jia Jing has already restructured Rong Guo Mansion, he only reduced the overt illegal and disciplinary slaves, while the covert scheming remains unchanged.

Or one could say that within the great household, there can never be a complete absence of strategic clashes.

After all, no one can control everyone's thoughts.

Only an enlightened head of the family can keep the scheming within a reasonable scope and guide its healthy development.

Conflict can sometimes stimulate internal vitality, promote collective progress, and play a positive role!

Daiyu's star‑like eyes narrowed slightly; she dislikes speaking ill behind backs and warned:

"Perhaps the aunt truly likes Miss Xiu Yan's temperament; we shouldn't always think the worst of people, the aunt is generally kind to us."

"It's not that I think badly of people, but the aunt lately often goes to Jingwu Yuan to meet Xiangling for a catch‑up chat."

"In the conversation, intentionally or not, she always asks about the Duke's preferences and such," Zi Juan whispered.

Daiyu furrowed her delicate brows, felt a slight tension, then asked with some doubt:

"These matters... how did you come to know them?"

Daiyu thought these things were probably not told by Xiangling to Zi Juan.

"Xiangling is a simple girl; she couldn't do such things, and even if she wanted to speak, she would tell her own master, i. e., me!"

Zi Juan's complexion briefly tightened, and she said softly:

"It was Qing Wen who told me! She said… she respects your frankness and unsophistication even more…"

"Qing Wen…"

Daiyu murmured to herself, a flash of enlightenment in her eyes.

In her mind, she couldn't help recalling that flirtatious, clever, quick‑tongued, straightforward maid.

She is the senior maid by Third Brother's side, and was also trained single‑handed by the old lady.

After Zi Juan said that, she also recalled that Qingwen was indeed a bit closer to her than others.

This year, on her birthday, she even received a gift that Third Brother had prepared in advance.

Thinking it over… perhaps… she really is a good maid!

Through Qingwen, Daiyu couldn't help but think of the other two maids at Jingwu Yuan: Xiangling and Xiao Jiaoer!

Both of them seemed to have a very good relationship with her as well!

Xiao Jiaoer is closer to her than others, and Xiangling is even her sole disciple!

Daiyu was suddenly startled!

Just now Zi Juan also said that Aunt usually works on the people around Third Brother!

But now it seems the several senior maids by Third Brother are all people even closer to her!

What does that count as?

Is it that I unintentionally sowed a seed that grew shade, or that Third Brother had already arranged it?

Daiyu stared blankly, a little dazed!