Red Mansion: Picking up a Lin Daiyu

Chapter 444 Yuanchun almost vomited blood
When these words were spoken, not only Xia Jingui was stunned, but even Lin Daiyu and Xue Baochai could not help but widen their eyes in surprise.

Even the two of them had heard that Jia Yuanchun was brought up by Grandmother Jia and brought up before being sent to the palace, but they did not expect that she would be treated so mercilessly today.

The aura of majesty was just in line with the dignity of the royal family. No wonder the dignified and beautiful palace dress looked so suitable on her.

Before Xia Jingui could come to her senses, Jia Yuanchun had already ignored her. She turned around and smiled again, saying to Lin Daiyu and Xue Baochai, "I'm sorry to have frightened you two sisters. Shall we go?"

The two of them didn't comment and said, "Okay..."

The group boarded the pleasure boat that had been prepared long ago, paddled with bamboo poles, and sailed away gradually.

Madam Xing, Madam Wang, along with a group of maids from the Jia family and the housekeeper's wife, arrived late. They saw only the shadows of boats floating on the lake in the distance, and Xia Jingui, who was thrown out by the palace maids and lying on the ground unable to get up.

Mrs. Wang didn't understand what was going on, so she quickly asked the maid beside her, "We are here to welcome the Imperial Concubine to visit the garden. Excuse me, where is the Imperial Concubine now?"

As the biological mother of Concubine Xian De, Lady Wang should be treated with more respect, but those who can survive in the palace, even the lowest-ranking maids, are treated differently according to the social status.

Today, the Imperial Concubine was so unhappy. Seeing that Madam Wang was not in a good mood, she said coldly, "Can't you see? The Imperial Concubine has already left on the boat."

"what?"

Madam Wang was surprised and asked, "Is there anyone accompanying the Imperial Concubine?"

The maid frowned, "Why are you talking so much? Of course you are accompanied by someone. Go to where you should go and wait until the queen summons you."

Mrs. Wang twitched her lips, not knowing what to say.

All the women in the mansion went to the ceremonial gate to welcome Yuanchun back home. There was only one person who didn't come out and allowed Yuanchun to accompany her to visit the garden. There was no need to guess who that person was.

Sighing, Mrs. Wang was at a loss as to what to do. She had to follow the maid's instructions and go to the side hall of the imperial courtyard to wait for an audience.

When he came to his senses, he noticed that Xia Jingui had not yet stood up, so he signaled to the servants to help her up.

But she looked depressed, her eyes were distorted, and she was still mumbling to herself, "I was wrong, really wrong."

Madam Wang asked with concern, "Miss Xia, what's wrong with you? What's wrong?"

Taking a deep breath, Xia Jingui stood up and said with a wry smile, "The ancestor called me here to take the queen to the Buddhist temple for a meeting, but the queen sternly refused and even told the ancestor to rest in the Buddhist temple. This..."

Xia Jingui, who completely trusted Lady Jia, had her self-confidence completely shattered.

All her plans failed incredibly because of the relationship between Lady Jia and Jia Yuanchun.

She invested a lot in this visit ceremony, more than 100,000 taels of silver, and also stepped in to help Jia Lian settle the matter, earning her a lot of praise from the Rongguo Mansion.

As a result, the most important Jia Yuanchun was not on the same page with the Jia family and was obviously closer to Duke Dingguo, which really stunned Xia Jingui.

The businessman was profit-driven and ended up doing a business that was losing money. How could she be willing to accept this?

After a moment of hesitation, Xia Jingui came up with another idea. "Since the Imperial Concubine is not the backer of Old Lady Jia, the power turmoil in the Jia family is a good opportunity for me to take over."

"Even Madam Wang was unable to board the Imperial Concubine's ship, which shows that the Imperial Concubine is very dissatisfied with most of the things going on in the mansion. In this case, it is my turn to adapt to the situation."

Having made up her mind, Xia Jingui calmed down her breathing and said to Madam Wang, who was stunned by the news, "I will go back and report to the old ancestor first. I hope you will pay more attention to the visit and don't anger the queen again."

After giving some kind advice and maintaining her image as a well-behaved and sensible daughter-in-law, Xia Jingui quickly returned to the Buddhist temple.

Once inside, it’s still cool.

Xia Jingui felt the same way.

After this experience, she seemed to have grasped the true nature of the Jia family. Looking at Lady Jia lying leisurely on the bed, she felt a completely different mood from before.

"Why did you take so long? The Imperial Concubine hasn't entered the palace yet?"

Hearing the footsteps coming in, Grandmother Jia narrowed her eyes, but only saw Xia Jingui coming back, and she felt a little unhappy in her heart.

Xia Jingui twitched her lips and said with a wry smile, "It's not that I didn't enter the mansion, but I was driven back by the queen."

Grandmother Jia frowned slightly and said in a tone of disbelief, "She was driven back? You didn't see the Imperial Concubine. It's impossible that she didn't see you."

"Yes, I have." Xia Jingui did not want to beat around the bush and said bluntly, "The queen just said that you should be quiet in the Buddhist temple."

Although Xia Jingui did not imitate Jia Yuanchun's decisive tone, it sounded like thunder to Grandmother Jia's ears.

Grandmother Jia's face suddenly changed. When she tried to turn over and sit up, she accidentally rolled off the bed to the ground.

There was a dull thud, and Amber and Liuli, who were waiting for orders in the ear room, ran out and hurriedly helped Lady Jia up.

Grandmother Jia ignored the pain in her back and asked Xia Jingui again, "This is not a joke, Xia girl, did the imperial concubine really say that?"

“Not a single word of it is false.”

Seeing Lady Jia lose her composure like this, Xia Jingui became even calmer.

Leaning against the bed again, Jia's mother took a deep breath, looking panicked, and said, "Impossible, impossible, how could the eldest lady ignore me?"

"The unfilial son in this mansion has forced me to come to this Buddhist temple. How could the eldest lady allow such a thing to happen? I don't believe it. I have to go and find her in person!"

"Come on, come on!"

Having made up her mind, Grandmother Jia ordered repeatedly, "Come and help me change my clothes, and help me go to the main hall to visit my parents!"

……

The residence for the imperial concubines was built at great expense, and was supervised by craftsmen from the Ministry of Works who designed the royal gardens. The scenery is very pleasant.

The pleasure boat slowly broke through the calm lake surface, creating some ripples.

Yuanchun leaned against the railing, admiring the beautiful scenery, but she was a little absent-minded.

When the boat passed by the Reed Ting Flower Pool, a few branches of weeping crabapples poked their heads into the porthole, and their rouge-colored petals fell on the table, attracting the attention of Lin Daiyu and Xue Baochai.

They had visited the park, but they had walked on land.

But the beauty of gardens lies in the fact that they always have different beautiful views when viewed from different directions and at different times.

Taking a boat on the lake, immersing yourself in the scenery, and then looking around at the pavilions and terraces on the waterside, you will be in a different state of mind.

Even the two of them couldn't help but pay close attention.

"Your Majesty seems to be worried about something?" Lin Daiyu paid more attention to Yuanchun's expression and couldn't help but express her concern.

Xue Baochai brewed tea with her bare hands and brought it to Yuanchun.

Jia Yuanchun forced a smile and sighed, "This courtyard is filled with smoke, colorful flowers, and lights everywhere, showing a rich and luxurious atmosphere. It is really extravagant and wasteful." "If the Dingguo Mansion and the Jia family were renovated together, it would be considered decent."

Lin Daiyu and Xue Baochai looked at each other and both understood the hidden meaning of Jia Yuanchun's words.

Not long ago, Yuanchun treated them with such courtesy that they were able to travel on the boat together, leaving behind Lady Jia and Lady Wang. It was not because of sisterly affection, but more because she wanted to find the Duke Dingguo's Mansion as a backer, which could make the recent absurdity of the Jia family justifiable and avoid impeachment by the officials, which would prevent the family from falling into an irreversible situation.

Of course, Dai and Chai are also very clear about their minds. They have never met Jia Yuanchun, so how could they have a sisterly relationship?
It can only be a matter of interest.

But this is also a solution for someone who is in a chaotic situation and has no other options.

Looking at Jia Yuanchun, who was dressed in gorgeous clothes, although she looked very decent, the two girls couldn't help but feel sorry for her.

Even though they have such good intentions, for them, Duke Dingguo's Mansion is the most important.

"This mansion was not built by the Duke Dingguo Mansion. Every blade of grass, every flower, and every stone was built by the Rongguo Mansion."

After Xue Baochai said this, it was visibly that Jia Yuanchun's face showed a bit more disappointment. She had no interest in looking at the scenery outside the window. She picked up the teacup and sipped the fragrant tea.

After calming down, Jia Yuanchun regained her composure and called the palace maids and eunuchs who were rowing the boat outside, saying, "Let's go straight to the main hall. I am a little tired too."

Without further ado, the group disembarked, abandoned the boat, and headed straight for the inner hall. When they saw the graceful Empress Palace and the majestic Gui Palace, Yuanchun's heart was gripped again.

There was even a stone tablet with the words "Heavenly Fairyland" engraved on it, which almost made Yuanchun vomit blood.

"Hurry up and have someone erase this word and just write 'Prospecting the Queen's Courtyard'."

But when you pass the gate, you will see a field of fragrant powder covering the ground, fire trees and beautiful flowers, golden windows and jade thresholds, indescribable curtains rolled up like shrimp whiskers, carpets covered with fish and otters, the aroma of musk brain wafting from the tripod, and screens lined with fans of pheasant tails.

In fact, the Golden Gate and Jade House, the immortal palace, and the Gui Palace and Orchid Palace, the concubines' home, shocked Yuanchun and she could hardly calm down.

Entering the main hall, according to Yuanchun's instructions, the etiquette eunuch went to the side hall to call the other sisters in to wait for the meeting.

Miaoyu walked out for the first time, worshipped Buddha, chanted scriptures, and sang praises of the Buddha's kindness.

Then, as the smoke of cigarettes gradually dissipated, the troupe that had been prepared long ago came out and sang the pre-arranged songs, and music filled the air.

The girls had bright voices and skilled singing skills. It was at this moment that Yuanchun relaxed for the first time and immersed herself in the singing.

There had not been a banquet in the imperial city for a long time, and if there was a banquet, Emperor Longyou and the Empress, who preferred simplicity, would not invite musicians to play music, and kept everything simple.

This made Yuanchun, who was bored in the palace, intoxicated as if she was drinking sweet sake. She just liked this music.

After a few songs, Yuanchun, who had forgotten her troubles, had not yet come back to her senses. She just clapped her hands unconsciously and asked Lin Daiyu beside her, "You played really well, it was the sound of nature. Can you play a few more songs?"

Lin Daiyu agreed and said, "I can't spoil your Majesty's interest."

Afterwards, he signaled to Qin Keqing and added a few more songs that had been originally planned as backup.

Yuanchun seemed to be reluctant to leave, but she couldn't help but sigh: "To find such a fine art in the mansion, must it have cost a lot of money?"

Lin Daiyu replied, "You don't have to worry, my lady. This is the opera troupe in the Dingguo Mansion. They were invited by the Second Madam to come and play music to entertain the lady when she comes home."

"what?"

Yuanchun suddenly came to her senses and asked in astonishment, "But Sister Lin just said that Duke Dingguo had no hand in this imperial residence."

Lin Daiyu nodded, "That's right, this chanting master and the troupe were invited here."

Yuanchun slowly closed her eyes, feeling extremely sad.

The mansion was extravagant and luxurious in every aspect, and it must have cost several million taels of silver. But in order to save money, the Duke Dingguo's Mansion was invited to help out at the ceremony of visiting the imperial family.

How could she have the nerve to do this? How dare they do this?
Thinking about it again, she had seen that the degree of favor that Emperor Longyou showed to Yue Ling seemed to be even greater than that shown to his own sons and nephews.

Just a visit to her parents' home can make Duke Dingguo work for her. If Your Majesty hears this, doesn't it mean that she thinks highly of herself and doesn't know what is good for her?
Yuanchun instantly lost interest in listening to the opera. Even anger could no longer arise in her heart. She only felt extremely weak, with a fishy-sweet taste in her mouth.

At this moment Yuanchun also began to understand. This was her last time out of the palace and the last time she would see her family.

"Let's go. It's time for me to change into my palace dress and greet my sisters."

After the music stopped, Yuanchun changed into her normal clothes and then summoned her sisters.

Lin Daiyu and Xue Baochai stood on the left and right. The three sisters came together, bowed to the ground and saluted, but were repeatedly called up by Yuanchun.

"Sisters must not perform such a great ceremony between each other. Come forward quickly."

Yuanchun did not have a very deep impression of these sisters. After all, she entered the palace when she was young and most of her sisters were still in their infancy.

But when I saw them again, I could recognize them at a glance without any introduction, as if my blood was beating.

Yuanchun suppressed her grief and forced a smile, comforting Sanchun, saying, "I have also heard about the recent events in the capital in the palace. I am sorry that you have been wronged."

None of the heads of the Jia family had such comforting words. As soon as they met the eldest sister who came to visit her parents, they were soothing. Sanchun could no longer hold back her tears, which fell to the ground with a plop.

Jia Yuanchun was also heartbroken when she saw this. She hugged her sisters together and sobbed as she comforted them, "I have been in the palace for more than ten years. It is a blessing to be able to return home today. You are crying before you even smile. Isn't this ruining the mood?"

"It's already night, and I have to return to the palace before five o'clock. I can't waste much time, so let's chat for a while."

Tanchun wiped away her tears. After seeing such a reasonable elder sister, she felt some hope again.

She couldn't reveal her plan, so she could only ask indirectly, "Madam, if you knew about the embarrassing things happening in the mansion recently, why didn't you send a message out of the palace to stop them? Now that it has become like this, and they have made mistakes again and again, how can we make amends?"

Jia Yuanchun was startled, then looked up at Lin Daiyu, forced a smile, and said, "I heard that you stayed at the Duke Dingguo's Mansion. How is it compared to the Rongguo Mansion?"

Tanchun nodded, "Of course it is very good."

Yingchun and Xichun also nodded in agreement.

Jia Yuanchun stroked the three people's heads and said with a forced smile, "That's fine. Just live your life as you wish and don't worry about anything else."

The voice was so subtle that only the sisters could hear it. Tanchun could not help but stand there in a daze, and even her tears stopped.

Looking at Jia Yuanchun again, it was as if she knew everything. She still smiled at him warmly and nodded heavily.

Tanchun's throat trembled slightly, and she asked tentatively, "Then, what should I do, elder sister?"

"I?"

Jia Yuanchun looked out the window and saw a flying petal falling to the ground...

(End of this chapter)