Red Mansion: Picking up a Lin Daiyu

Chapter 374 Yuanchun is walking on thin ice, Jia Mansion ice figure skating

"Come and see how I look in this outfit."

In Kunning Palace, Emperor Longyou stood in front of a bronze mirror, fiddling with the folds of his clothes and measuring himself sideways.

The Queen came forward and stood by, looking in the mirror, lowered her head and chuckled, "Your Majesty looks the same as before, and you are still as powerful as ever. Why are you still so obsessed with such trivial matters?"

While chatting, the empress went around behind Emperor Longyou, smoothed his robe behind him and straightened his hat and clothes.

Emperor Longyou sighed slightly, "I still remember that when Yue Ling went south, I had not yet ascended the throne. Time has passed, and eight years have passed. This is the first time I have met him as the Son of Heaven."

"On his way back north, he met the common people on both sides of the canal. When he returned to the capital, he couldn't help but pay attention to people's livelihood."

"I have worked hard for years to handle government affairs, and the people of the capital have been peaceful and prosperous. I think I have done a good job. He has been instrumental in protecting me many times and helped me ascend the throne. I would like to hear what he thinks of it."

The Queen walked around to the other side, looked at the majestic figure of the Emperor Longyou in the mirror, and said with a smile: "So, Your Majesty is nervous? Worried that Yue Ling will come back and say a lot of shortcomings?"

Emperor Longyou also laughed and said, "That's not entirely true. People are willing to hear praise, but since I ascended the throne, when the officials meet me, it is difficult for anyone to refute my opinion in person. I see respect on their faces, but I can never hear the truth."

"True?"

The queen repeated leisurely.

Emperor Longyou shook his head, took a few steps, and said, "It's not the truth, it should be the whole story. It's human nature that ordinary people would only tell what is beneficial to themselves, and not tell me the whole story."

"Every time I am in the Hall of Supreme Harmony, I always feel that although I am only a few steps away from all the officials, these steps are a distance that never ends, as vast as the sea."

"If Yue Ling comes back and can tell me more about the real situation outside, I'm looking forward to it. But if he doesn't say anything, I..."

Emperor Longyou sighed and stopped talking, but a hint of disappointment flashed in his eyes.

The Queen came up to him again and consoled him, "In my opinion, Your Majesty is worried that these eight years of hardships have worn down Yue Ling's edges, making him blend into the officialdom and become no different from others. It's better to think about it. He has made great contributions and is very successful. If he returns to the capital, you will be more worried that Your Majesty will change."

Emperor Longyou stroked his beard and smiled: "Have I changed?"

The queen nodded without hesitation, "It has changed."

Emperor Longyou stared slightly and asked in surprise: "What has changed?"

The Queen pursed her lips and said, "When Yue Ling came to the capital, he heard the news that His Majesty had taken a concubine. Wouldn't he feel that His Majesty had changed?"

The tense breath of Emperor Longyou suddenly relaxed, and he couldn't help but spread out his hands and hugged the Queen's shoulders, causing all the palace maids around him to turn their backs and face the wall.

"Didn't you promise me that you would not care about this matter anymore?"

Emperor Longyou looked worried.

It was the Empress who initially proposed taking a concubine, and Emperor Longyou had tried to refuse. Later, he thought of some benefits and would be able to give an explanation to the Empress. Unexpectedly, after he agreed, the Empress would bring up the matter every now and then, causing Emperor Longyou to feel guilty.

Emperor Longyou came closer to comfort her, and the displeasure on the empress's face immediately disappeared. She covered her mouth and smiled, "Your Majesty and I are both very old. Could it be that I would still keep thinking about this matter? However, Your Majesty has really changed. At least the hair on your temples has turned gray, and you have not been on the battlefield for a long time. The flesh on your thighs has grown back. You should know that you don't have to do everything yourself."

"It just so happens that Yue Ling has just returned from his training. Let's go ask him."

Emperor Longyou rolled up his sleeves, clenched his fists, looked at the loose muscles on his arms, shook his head secretly, and walked out the door.

"Okay, I'll go out first."

The Queen asked again, "Why are you leaving at this hour? The boat won't arrive in the capital until noon, right?"

Emperor Longyou turned around and said, "I will go to the palace gate to wait for him."

The figure gradually disappeared, and the queen withdrew her gaze. She looked around and saw palace maids all silent as a mouse, with their heads bowed, waiting for orders.

After walking a few steps further inside, she saw Jia Yuanchun standing behind the sandalwood chair. The queen said in a gentle tone, "Now, you are no longer considered a maid in my palace. Why do you have to come here to serve me every day?"

At this moment, Jia Yuanchun's mind was still full of the conversation between Emperor Longyou and the Queen.

The content really frightened her and she couldn't recover at all.

It was common knowledge in the palace that Marquis Anjing was a close minister of the Emperor and was favored by His Majesty, but Jia Yuanchun had never expected that he was favored to this extent.

Emperor Longyou consulted his ministers on state affairs, and also consulted the young Marquis Anjing.

He was even more concerned about the regret that Yue Ling was not present when he ascended the throne, so he went to Xuanwu Gate in person to greet him.

This is not just a favor, it is a great favor. Even if a prince is appointed, he may not receive such courtesy.

Thinking again about the news that had come from the Jia Mansion, that Grandmother Jia disliked Marquis Anjing and that Jia Baoyu had angered Marquis Anjing several times, and that these things were only settled when the two old masters were around, Jia Yuanchun felt dizzy and almost fainted.

This time, Marquis Anjing has returned with glory and is an existence that the Jia family looks up to. Even if they cannot establish a friendship with him, they should not provoke him. This is the top priority at the moment.

After all, although she is now a concubine, she still regards herself as a palace maid in front of the queen in order to seek stability.

"No, they are not peaceful. We must quickly send a letter home to tell them not to associate with the Anjing Marquisate casually, let alone provoke them, otherwise the Jia family will be in danger."

Just as I was thinking this, I heard the Queen call out, "Xian De Fei? I'm talking to you."

The maidservant beside her hastily nudged her with her elbow, and Jia Yuanchun woke up as if from a dream. She quickly knelt down and said, "This servant deserves death, this servant deserves death."

The queen leaned over to help her up, patted her palms to comfort her, and said, "Xian De Fei, I have told you many times that you are not an ordinary palace maid. How can you perform such complicated etiquette? It is beneath your status."

"Besides, am I some kind of sarcastic person? Why do you feel so scared?"

Jia Yuanchun's throat moved slightly, and she shook her head repeatedly, saying, "No, the Queen is kind and compassionate, and it is I who am wrong."

The Queen shook her head and said, "It's not a mistake. Tell me, what were you thinking about just now?"

The Queen felt a little regretful when she saw Jia Yuanchun's eyelashes drooping, like a fog covering the cold river, and her eyes opening up like the snow and clouds, with a bright and radiant look in her eyes.

A girl with such appearance, being well-behaved and sensible, really shouldn't have been born in the Rongguo Mansion, a place full of troubles.

"In reply to the Queen, my family sent me a letter not long ago, but I was distracted for a moment, thinking about things at home."

She wanted to correct Jia Yuanchun and told her not to call herself a slave, but the queen didn't say anything. She knew this, which was a sign of her intelligence. She then said, "It's a family matter. Is it that the old lord in the mansion is not feeling well?"

Jia Yuanchun nodded, "Yes, it is true."

The queen raised her eyes, looked out of the moon-shaped window, and sighed, "Spring goes and autumn comes, and this time comes. However, after the title is determined, you should be able to go back to visit your family. When the time comes, you can reunite with your family and spend time with them."

"Thank you, Queen, for your grace."

The queen turned around and went back to her room to rest, but after taking a step, she turned back again, startling Jia Yuanchun who was about to go forward to support her. "Does the queen have any other instructions?"

The Queen pondered and asked, "Do you know that your Rongguo Mansion has a friendship with An Jinghou?"

Jia Yuanchun was startled, and bowed her head respectfully, "I don't know the details."

The Queen explained, "Didn't you hear that the old man of Rongguo Mansion was saved by Marquis Anjing and saved his life? The old man of Ningguo Mansion was also rewarded with meritorious service under Marquis Anjing, and was able to regain his title. Without this kindness, the Jia family might have been confiscated long ago."

Jia Yuanchun was deeply shocked. She had entered the palace at a young age and was appointed as a maid after her husband's death. She thought that the emperor favored the Jia family, but she didn't expect there was such a reason behind this.

What’s even worse is that no one in the Jia family told her.

As the most humble maid in the palace, she could not hear any news from the outside world. Her family members even covered her eyes and ears. This made her more certain of her previous thoughts and she became even more worried about the affairs at home.

Seeing Jia Yuanchun's trembling face without answering, the Queen knew the answer and could not help but frown and said, "Is there no one in the Jia family who can help you with this matter? You are really heartless and disloyal."

As soon as these words were spoken, the surrounding palace maids all looked at her with sympathy.

Often, when family members gain power outside, they may not necessarily be able to help them, but if they lose power, the first ones to be implicated are them, the maids in the palace.

Since the Queen made such an evaluation, Jia Yuanchun could not live in peace even if she became a concubine.

Jia Yuanchun bowed hurriedly again: "Your servant, I will definitely write a letter to find out clearly."

The Queen did not go to support him this time, but instead said in a colder tone, "You are also a member of the palace, and you can always hear some of the things happening around His Majesty. If you want your family to be safe, you must do some things with your heart, and don't wait for trouble to happen and burn you."

"Your Majesty cannot summon all the people in the Jia Mansion to come to him immediately, but he can call you."

Jia Yuanchun pressed her forehead to the ground, sweat dripping down her face, and replied weakly, "I will follow the Queen's instructions."

The queen lowered her head and looked, wanting to say a few more words.

After all, Lin Ruhai's vision was even more ruthless, and he had long considered Yue Ling as his son-in-law, thinking that he could help the court. And the vision of the old Duke Rong was equally good, and he picked Lin Ruhai, a son-in-law from a noble family with four generations of nobility, from the list of sons-in-law, which was almost like a lineage.

Relying on this relationship, the Jia family also has the opportunity to stand firm in the face of great waves.

But there were so many people around and it was difficult for the empress to explain it in too simple terms. Considering Jia Yuanchun's intelligence, she should be able to think of this, so she didn't say any more.

Sighing softly, the queen turned around and walked slowly back to her room.

……

"Whoa!

The reins were pulled in the horses' mouths, and bursts of neighing sounds were heard. The convoy of Marquis Anjing's mansion came to an abrupt stop.

The driver's face was filled with anger. He raised his whip, pointed at the person below and shouted angrily, "How dare you! How dare you, a blind wretch, stop the carriage of Marquis Anjing's mansion?!"

Jia Yun also stood up and got off the carriage. After a few careful looks, he realized that it was Mrs. Wang, the second wife of the Rongguo Mansion, who was waiting at the street corner.

The Anjing Marquis Mansion and the Rongguo Mansion are in two directions of the capital, one is East City and the other is West City. They are not on the same road. There is probably no other reason for them to appear here.

Jia Yun came to his senses after a moment, bowed and saluted, and then confirmed: "Second Madam, why are you here?"

Mrs. Wang, who was supported by servants on both sides, patted her chest and took a few deep breaths.

She was also frightened by the horse just now, but she didn't expect that even the horses in Anjing Marquis's Mansion were so fierce. After steadying herself, she said in a friendly manner, "Is it Brother Yun from the fourth room? I haven't seen you for many years, and you have become much more mature and stable. A man should try his luck outside."

"Thank you, ma'am."

Mrs. Wang continued, "I have nothing else to do here, but I want to invite Miss Lin to come to my house. First, the sisters in the house miss you very much and remember the joy of the boudoir. They want to come and invite you in person, but it is not convenient for them to show up, so I have to come because of my busy body."

"Secondly, the old ancestor also missed his granddaughter. He even visited the mansion the last time he returned to Beijing, didn't he?"

"Third, my master also wants to ask about my brother-in-law Ru Hai's recent situation. I heard that it's time for him to be sent back to Beijing?"

Of course, these polite words of Mrs. Wang were not meant for Jia Yun, but for Lin Daiyu in the carriage.

After each sentence, he paused for a few moments and looked upwards.

There was no response from the car, so he made up another excuse.

When I finally got to the third one, there was a reaction in the car.

The curtain of the sedan chair was raised from the inside. Lin Daiyu leaned out and bowed to Mrs. Wang. She said, "Yu'er has come to see my aunt. I am tired from the journey and wanted to go back to rest. But since my uncle and aunt have invited me, I can't refuse. Before leaving, my father gave me many instructions. I would also like to burn incense and offer sacrifices to my grandfather on his behalf."

"Aunt, please, let's go to Rongguo Mansion together."

Lin Daiyu raised her hand to invite Mrs. Wang to come up and sit down. Mrs. Wang waved her hand politely and said, "No need, no need. This is the Jia family's sedan chair. I will take Miss Lin back. The old ancestor will be happy to see the girl."

Lin Daiyu nodded slightly and called inside, "Qingwen, come and drive the carriage with the coachman."

"Housekeeper Yun, please take the luggage back to the Anjing Marquis's Mansion and stack it in the courtyard immediately. We will sort the luggage when we return."

Jia Yun bowed and said, "It's my job. Miss Lin, take care of yourself. If you need anything, you can come to my house."

Lin Daiyu nodded slightly and returned to the carriage.

Seeing Qingwen and Lin Daiyu appear alternately, Mrs. Wang's wrinkled face twitched suddenly. She never expected that this vixen who was driven away by the Jia family would suddenly gain power and enter the Anjing Marquis Mansion.

When Qingwen saw Mrs. Wang, she felt sad, but she also remembered that she was now a maid in the Anjing Marquis's mansion. Even if Mrs. Wang was really angry, she couldn't do anything to her. So she didn't say hello, pretended not to see her, puffed out her chest arrogantly, and sat down on the cushion behind the horse.

Seeing this villain gaining power, Mrs. Wang gritted her teeth, snorted coldly, turned around and went back to her sedan chair.

"This shameless thing relies on her fox skin to mislead the young men in the mansion. She drove them out, but it made her successful. She then went to Anjinghou's mansion to sell her charm."

"The rumors about Yue Ling are indeed true. He is so lustful that he brings all the smelly things into the mansion, and Yu'er doesn't mind the dirtiness."

Yuchuan, the head maid, knew that Mrs. Wang had been waiting here for a long time and was unhappy about it. Then she saw that Qingwen, who was originally driven out by the Jia family and left to fend for herself, was now living an even more comfortable life. She knew that Mrs. Wang was furious at the moment.

The curtain of the sedan chair was raised tremblingly, and Yuchuan asked timidly, "Madam, shall we go back?"

Madam Wang spat, "Go back! Where do you want to go if you don't go back? Do you want to go out and sell your body?"

"You are such a worthless person, your life will be worthless wherever you go!"

(End of this chapter)