The Cloud Feather of the Red Chamber: A Marriage Arranged with Gong Yuanzheng at the Start

Inside the Lin residence, Jia Min finished tidying up Daiyu and Qingyu's clothes. Looking at her youngest daughter and son standing in front of her, and thinking of her eldest daughter who was already at the palace gates, she couldn't help but burst into tears.

Seeing how distressed she was, Lin Ruhai couldn't help but say, "Madam, why don't you go to the palace gate with Yu'er and Qingyu?"

Jia Min wiped away her tears and said seriously, "I can't go. If the mistress of the house doesn't show her face for a long time, it will definitely arouse suspicion."

The youngest children could be kept hidden, as everyone in Yangzhou knew that Lord Lin's family was in poor health.

It's understandable that Lin Qingyue is away praying and cultivating, and doesn't show her face.

As the matriarch of the Lin family, if she were to remain secluded at home for an extended period, it would certainly arouse the suspicion of those people.

These are turbulent times, with the entire Jiangnan region in turmoil. A single misstep could plunge the Lin family into utter ruin.

Lin Daiyu lowered her head in silence, her fingers tightly gripping Jia Min's clothes.

Although Lin Ruhai and Jia Min didn't say anything, she had a feeling that this trip wouldn't be so simple.

She was reluctant to leave her father and mother, but she would see her sister once she reached the palace gates.

For a moment, Daiyu was also caught in a dilemma.

Qingyu looked at Lin Ruhai and Jia Min with some confusion. He was too young to understand what was going to happen, but he felt a sense of panic for no reason.

Jia Min squatted down, looked at her young son and daughter, and tried to put on a smile.

"Yu'er, Qingyu, listen carefully to Young Master Jiao on the way. When you reach the palace gate, you will see your eldest sister."

Daiyu suppressed the stinging in her eyes and nodded.

Lin Ruhai picked up Qingyu, took Daiyu's hand, glanced at Jia Min one last time, and then walked towards the front hall.

Miyazaki had been waiting for a while.

He was taken aback when he saw the two children, one holding hands and the other hugging.

I knew the two children were frail, but I didn't expect them to be this weak. Their faces showed obvious signs of illness, especially the little boy, who was being kept alive by herbal extracts.

Lin Ruhai said to Gong Shangjiao in a seemingly casual tone, "Shangjiao, I've entrusted my children to the Gong family."

Gong Shangjiao smiled slightly and bowed to Lin Ruhai. “Lord Lin, you can rest assured. The Gong family and the Lin family are related by marriage. Daiyu and Qingyu are my younger brother and sister. I will definitely protect them.”

Lin Ruhai didn't say anything more and gestured for Daiyu to step forward.

Daiyu released Lin Ruhai's hand, stepped forward, and bowed to Gong Shangjiao.

"Daiyu greets Brother Shangjiao."

Gong Shangjiao couldn't help but squat down and look at the beautiful little girl in front of him.

He had never seen such a young girl before. She exuded a lively spirit, but her face was too pale. Once they reached the palace gates, he would make sure his younger brother, Yuanzheng, received proper care and treatment.

He tried to soften his voice, "Your name is Daiyu, which is a good name. Don't worry, I will make sure you are safely delivered to your sister's side."

Upon hearing her sister's name, Daiyu's eyes brightened slightly, and a smile involuntarily appeared on her face.

Gong Shangjiao reached out and carefully picked up Daiyu, not daring to use any force.

After standing up, she took the still somewhat apprehensive Qingyu from Lin Ruhai's arms.

At three years old, a baby should have some meat on their bones, but the child in my arms is so thin they're just skin and bones.

After seeing the siblings off onto the carriage, Gong Shangjiao bid farewell to Lin Ruhai, who had seen him off at the door.

Lin Ruhai turned around and saw Jia Min standing behind the door, her face full of reluctance.

He stepped forward and helped Jia Min up. "Madam, don't worry, when the children come back, all their chronic illnesses will be cured."

"Now that the palace has allied with the Crown Prince, and that young master on the expedition is deeply in love with Yue'er, the palace will not mistreat them."

Jia Min nodded, watching the departing carriage, and remained silent for a long time.

Gong Yuanzheng soon received a second letter from his brother. He had already picked up Daiyu and Qingyu, and they were on their way.

Because the Lin siblings are too weak to travel for long periods, they will not be able to return to the palace before the Lantern Festival.

In his letter, Miyazaki instructed that the siblings' residence should be arranged first.

They were too young. Gong Yuanzheng had never taken care of children before, and Lin Qingyue was not yet of marriageable age. So, the two siblings were arranged to live in Jiaogong.

In the letter, Gong Shangjiao specifically instructed that the siblings' residence must be far away from the medicinal herbs that Gong Yuanzheng was cultivating.

If there's really no place to plant them, then discuss it with Gong Zishang and move the medicinal herbs to the Shang Palace.

With mixed feelings, Gong Yuanzheng put down the letter in his hand.

In the letter, the older brother kept mentioning the Lin siblings, and he felt that his brother cared more about them than about him.

He shouldn't be jealous of those two little brats, but he just felt uncomfortable.

For the sake of these two children, his herbs had to be moved to the more distant Shang Palace.

Gong Yuanzheng looked at Lin Qingyue, who was sitting not far away reading a book. In Yue'er's heart, was her family ranked before him?

Gong Yuanzheng unconsciously clenched the letter in his hand.

Lin Qingyue noticed his gaze, put down the book in her hand, and looked at him with a smile.

"What's wrong? An expedition?"

Since we've already set off, it's no longer good to keep it from Lin Qingyue.

Gong Yuanzheng gazed intently at her and said softly, "Yue'er, your brother just sent a letter. He has already picked up your sister and brother, and they are on their way."

Lin Qingyue suddenly stood up, her face filled with disbelief. "You mean, Yu'er and Qingyu are coming to the palace gate?!"

Gong Yuanzheng nodded.

Lin Qingyue, on the contrary, seemed even more worried.

She missed her younger siblings very much, but she didn't want them to come to the palace gates; she didn't know what the miasma here was.

Yu'er and Qingyu are still so young and have poor health. Who knows what kind of harm it will do to their bodies if they absorb this miasma?

Gong Yuanzheng was somewhat stunned by Lin Qingyue's reaction.

"Yuanzheng, could you ask my brother to send them back to the Lin family?"

Gong Yuanzheng took Lin Qingyue's hand. He didn't want the Lin siblings to come to the palace gate, but they had no choice.

After Lin Qingyue explained in detail why the Lin siblings had come to the palace, she was truly speechless.

The ultimate goal was to seek refuge; rather than going to the Jia family, it was better to come to the palace gate.

Lin Qingyue sighed inwardly and stood up. "Then I'll go prepare a room for Qingyu first. Yu'er can sleep with me, and Qingyu's room can be arranged next to mine."

"Yue'er." Gong Yuanzheng took a deep breath and realized his brother's good intentions in letting the Lin siblings live in the corner palace.

Before anyone even arrived, someone already wanted to sleep with Yue'er.

Now that he's here, I'm afraid there won't be any place for him next to Yue'er.

“Brother said that we are too young and we are afraid that we will not be able to take good care of your sister and brother. Their accommodations are arranged in the Corner Palace. Brother is experienced and will take good care of them.”

Lin Qingyue shook her head. "Yu'er slept with me at home. Qingyu is only three years old. He also had to sleep with me when he first arrived at the palace. We'll let him sleep alone when he's braver."

Gong Yuanzheng took a deep breath, closed his eyes, and silently reminded himself that the person hadn't arrived yet. Once the person arrived, he would figure out a way to get the little brat to sleep on his own.

He didn't object, but said, "Yue'er, we still need to prepare the rooms first. It would be terrible if our younger siblings didn't even have a place to stay when they come."