Red Mansion: Picking up a Lin Daiyu

Chapter 508 Boudoir Joy
"Third brother, don't you think eldest brother has become too complacent? Today, Father asked him to preside over the court, completely ignoring the major event of the assassination of the Duke of Dingguo. Didn't he consider why Father suddenly convened a court assembly?"

In the Third Prince's residence, the Second Prince Liu Yi and the Third Prince Liu Yun sat facing each other at a table in the main hall.

Liu Yi, who was skilled in martial arts, was naturally more imposing, while Liu Yun was a quiet and reserved person. Sitting together, they complemented each other perfectly, making the atmosphere even more harmonious.

"The Duke of Dingguo is a pillar of the court and also our mentor. We should not forget him."

The second prince smiled and turned his head to look at you, saying, "That's right. That's why my brother likes to come and see you. He always hears things from you that he wants to hear. If you were in front of my royal brother, I'm sure you would have a different story, right?"

The third prince was terrified and hurriedly shook his head, saying, "Right and wrong will be judged in time. How could I be like a treacherous villain, speaking one way to one person and another way to another?"

The second prince stood up, put his hands on his hips, and paced back and forth in the hall, pondering, "The Duke of Dingguo once taught us that if you can always hear what you want to hear from someone, then it proves that he is saying these things because he wants you to hear them, and his level is far superior to yours. So I would like to ask my third brother if this is true."

The third prince also hurriedly got up, his face grim, and said, "Why would my second brother think of me like that?"

The second prince smiled and turned around, helping the third prince to sit back in the chair, saying, "I was just joking with you, please don't take it seriously."

As he spoke, he poured a full cup of tea for the Third Prince and presented it to him. The Second Prince continued, "Since what you have been saying has always been the truth, then I do have something I would like to ask for your opinion on."

After taking a sip of fragrant tea to calm his mind, the Third Prince nodded and said, "Brother, please ask. I will answer whatever I know."

The Second Prince wanted this attitude, and then leisurely asked, "In your eyes, who is more deserving of the title of Crown Prince, my elder brother or me?"

The third prince's hand trembled, the teacup overturned, and tea spilled onto the table, forming a small cascade of water.

"Haha, Third Brother, why be so extreme? Just tell the truth."

The Third Prince's cheeks twitched, especially his upper and lower lips, which seemed to be fighting. He said in a trembling voice, "Second Brother, it's probably inappropriate for you to discuss this matter."

The second prince smiled and said, "I just wanted to hear what my younger brother had to say."

The Third Prince said, “In my opinion, the Second Prince and the First Prince each have their own strengths, but if we really talk about the position of Crown Prince, the First Prince is too conservative and may not be able to fulfill Father’s great ambition. He is also not the same kind of person as the Duke of Dingguo.”

"If we look at it this way, the second prince is more suitable."

The second prince clapped his hands and laughed, then shook his finger and said, "It really is you, always saying things that others like to hear."

"That's the truth."

"Would you still say that in front of your elder brother?"

“The eldest prince has his own advantages. For example, he has close ties with civil officials and is more likely to gain their support. Father Emperor intends to have him preside over the court today because he still considers the eldest prince as the heir apparent. In particular, the eldest prince is the eldest son of the legitimate wife, and the rule of primogeniture over merit is a rule passed down from our ancestors.”

The second prince's expression froze, his smile solidified, and gradually disappeared.

He sighed softly, but didn't get angry. Instead, he sat back down in his chair and picked up his teacup.

"That's true. But as you can see, I also have the support of my uncle and the Prince of Nan'an. I will be leading troops into battle soon."

"I wish you great success, brother."

Changing the subject, the Second Prince said, "I won't beat around the bush anymore. During my absence from the capital, I need you to take good care of Father's health, and not let me get too complacent, or lose my composure like I did today."

The second prince spoke in a cold tone, uttering some shocking words in a veiled manner, causing the third prince to break out in a cold sweat.

The Third Prince bowed and clasped his hands in greeting, but remained silent.

The Second Prince narrowed his eyes and asked, "What, you don't want to come with me? You know that my elder brother and the Duke of Dingguo are not on good terms. The Duke of Dingguo now commands eight hundred personal guards, and his power in the capital is second only to my father. Do you think my elder brother's position as crown prince is still unshakeable?"

"As long as the Duke of Dingguo remains in the court, he will never ascend to the position of Crown Prince!"

The second prince slammed his fist on the table and stood up, his emotions running high.

The third prince wiped the sweat from his brow with his sleeve and said in a low voice, "I understand."

The second prince nodded slightly, then lowered the hilt of his sword and strode out the door.

The third prince watched them go, but his breath caught in his throat, and veins bulged on his forehead, indicating poor blood circulation.

Suddenly, applause rang out from inside the warm pavilion. Shui Rong walked out as if bathed in a spring breeze and praised, "Your Highness is truly a great actor. If I were the Second Prince, I would definitely have been fooled by you too."

The Third Prince composed himself, his expression returning to its usual calm. He wiped the damp table and said softly, "I have not uttered a single falsehood, and my conscience is clear."

Shui Rong beamed and teased with great interest, "So, between the First Prince and the Second Prince, you choose the Second Prince. If we also consider His Highness himself, then His Highness will be the Crown Prince."

The Third Prince remained silent, but Shui Rong interpreted it as an admission of everything.

Shui Rong sat down in front of him, gently fanning himself with a folding fan, and breathed a sigh of relief, saying, "Indeed, Your Highness and I are kindred spirits."

The Third Prince raised his eyes and asked, "Fellow travelers? What fellow travelers? Your Highness and I are neighbors, but we're not exactly acquainted."

Shui Rong spread his hands and said, "Does Your Highness intend to stand idly by while the Second Prince has already threatened you so much?"

The third prince closed his eyes and sighed, "I don't want to disappoint my father and mother."

"There is no kinship in the imperial family. Your Highness, do not forget how His Majesty ascended the throne. If you remain indifferent, you will be like fish on a chopping board. The most terrifying thing about the struggle for the throne is that no matter which side you choose or do not choose, you will be passively involved because of your status."

"If you remain neutral, whoever ascends the throne will harbor resentment because of your inaction and will continue to cause you trouble in the future."

"The middle strategy is to choose a side, while the best strategy is to join in and play the role of the mantis stalking the cicada, unaware of the oriole behind."

The Third Prince looked on coldly and mocked in a tone full of ridicule: "Now that the Duke of Dingguo is thoroughly investigating the assassination, he has followed the clues to the Marquis of Baoling's mansion. As a family of four kings, eight dukes and twelve marquises, you actually stood by and did nothing, and even came to my mansion to offer me advice."

"With the stories of the Ning and Rong mansions before us, and now others suffering undeserved misfortune, I think even with your reputation, people can no longer fully trust you. It's like a clay Bodhisattva crossing a river, needing me to burn incense for it."

The Third Prince's sharp tongue caused Shui Rong's face to darken. He said in a low voice, "The Duke of Dingguo is certainly not to be underestimated, but he is not invincible either. Nothing is without cause; there is someone plotting behind the scenes to force me to show myself."

“That man is cunning and scheming. If I don’t fully understand His Highness’s intentions, I might not be able to convince him completely when I stand in front of him.”

"However, if we join forces, bypass the Duke of Dingguo, and help His Highness ascend the throne, it would not be impossible."

The Third Prince twitched his lips and said coldly, "The Duke of Dingguo has never been defeated, yet you are indulging in wishful thinking. If you want to bypass the Duke of Dingguo, I think you should have a proper discussion with someone and then come up with a convincing plan to visit me."

Having said that, he picked up his teacup.

The water-soluble substance suddenly tasted bland, and the Third Prince was not only wary but also completely unresponsive.

He orchestrated the pressure campaign within the Second Prince's residence, staging a grand spectacle, yet the Third Prince refused to reveal his true feelings and even went so far as to threaten to kick him out.

"Very well, very well. Without going to great lengths, we wouldn't be able to achieve such a great undertaking. In that case, Your Highness, please wait for me to contact you again."

The Third Prince closed his eyes to rest, not even finishing the formal farewell, a barely perceptible smile playing on his lips.

"Prince Bei Jing, put on a good show, don't disappoint..."

Dingguofu,
Before the bronze mirror on the carved long table, Lin Daiyu sat demurely, a smile always playing on her face.

“There are things that my husband is not good at. I think it would be better to let Sister Zijuan do it.”

Yue Ling held Qingdai in one hand and a fine brush in the other, meticulously drawing Lin Daiyu's eyebrows.

Yue Ling had no prior experience with this kind of intimate pleasure, but upon trying it for the first time, she found it to be a unique and irresistible experience.

"It's because Madam is always smiling that I find it so difficult to write each stroke of the pen."

Lin Daiyu couldn't help but cover her mouth, struggling to suppress her laughter. "These days, my husband has been selecting strong men to practice martial arts in the training ground every day, wielding spears and sticks. Now that he's picked up a fine brush again, it's like Zhang Fei embroidering. Anyone who sees this will laugh."

Yue Ling curled his lips and said unconvinced, "How could I be as clumsy as you say? It's just that Madam is naturally beautiful, which made me think that I had no idea where to begin."

Lin Daiyu's eyes lit up, but she looked away in embarrassment.

That's why their eyes no longer met, making the eyebrow drawing process smoother.

After Yue Ling straightened up, he was very pleased with his masterpiece. "Look in the mirror, is it finished?"

Lin Daiyu raised her eyes, looked around, and said, "The tail of the eyebrow needs to be drawn lighter. Let me do it myself."

Yue Ling didn't insist and obediently handed over the eyebrow pencil, watching Lin Daiyu touch up her makeup in front of him.

Her face originally had a slightly childish look, but after the exquisite makeup was applied, it was completely concealed, making her look more like the mature first wife of the household.

With her delicate figure and alluring face, Yue Ling couldn't help but adjust his belt.

Lin Daiyu warily stepped back, asking, "What are you going to do?"

Yue Ling smiled awkwardly, "I didn't mean to do anything, I just remembered what my father-in-law said earlier."

What did your father say to you?

Lin Daiyu tilted her head up curiously.

“My father-in-law said that I should be prepared for everything. So, we are now carefully selecting guards for the mansion. Once the selection is finalized, we will have to go to the Ministry of Works to request armor and bows and arrows.”

"However, what I care about most is firearms. The current matchlock guns are still too inefficient and have limited firepower. They cannot penetrate armor at long distances, and if it is a rainy day, there is no way to light the match with a tinderbox, and there is even a risk of the barrel exploding."

"I wonder if the firearms workshop under the Ministry of Works can help us improve firearms."

Yue Ling sighed softly, her thoughts drifting further and further away as she looked out the window.

Lin Daiyu gently tugged at his sleeve and pulled him back to her side. "Hasn't Sister Qin been busy with this matter lately, searching for the best craftsmen? If His Majesty allows it, what's wrong with us doing it ourselves? We have no shortage of money, no shortage of skills, and no shortage of craftsmen."

Yue Ling nodded slightly, "What you say is absolutely right, Madam."

After Lin Daiyu put the fine brush back into the brocade box and took out the rouge powder, Yue Ling snatched it away first and said, "I'll do this."

Lin Daiyu was extremely happy to be served by Yue Ling, and she tilted her head back so that Yue Ling could wipe rouge on her face.

But to everyone's surprise, Yue Ling did not play by the rules at all. He lifted Lin Daiyu's cheek and kissed her.

With a crisp pop, the two separated.

Lin Daiyu's eyes were lifeless, as if Yue Ling had drained her soul.

"You, what do you do?"

"Rouge is bad for the skin. Now, Madam's cheeks are even redder than if she had applied rouge!"

Lin Daiyu was embarrassed and angry, and raised her hand to pinch him. Yue Ling pouted and leaned closer. Lin Daiyu couldn't resist and had to dodge.

"Okay, okay, I admit it, alright?"

Corridor,

Shi Xiangyun, who witnessed Yue Ling's battle against the enemy assassins, still vividly remembers the scene.

From a young age, she was fascinated by the legends of chivalrous heroes in the martial arts world, and she especially loved the fighting scenes. After witnessing it with her own eyes, how could she forget it?

Now, a group of strong and capable guards have suddenly entered the mansion.

She lived near the drill ground, and whenever the guards got up to practice in the morning, she would get up and lean on the windowsill to watch.

In her mind, she fantasized about the day when she would stand on the front lines, sword and spear in hand, like Yue Ling, directing the battle.

After watching for a few days, he still wasn't satisfied, so he wanted to ask Yue Ling if she could join in and just learn from the sidelines.

But to everyone's surprise, when the felt curtain was lifted, they saw Yue Ling sucking Lin Daiyu's soul.

Shi Xiangyun quickly covered her eyes, but still managed to peek through a thin slit with her fingertips to observe the two men's movements.

"My third uncle said he wants me to marry the Marquis. Does that mean I'll end up like Sister Lin, spending all my time doing this with the Marquis? And this is during the day!"

Lin Daiyu noticed Shi Xiangyun's presence, her eyes widened, and she hurriedly patted Yue Ling's back.

Yue Ling understood and stood up, saying, "Madam, please bear with me. I've just finished my makeup. I should go see my father-in-law, aunt, and sisters. We'll talk again when I return tonight..."

"You're kidding me!"

Lin Daiyu angrily shoved Yue Ling and turned his head toward the door.

Shi Xiangyun waved her hand awkwardly, "My lord, I have something I want to ask you. I apologize for disturbing you and Sister Lin... I can go back first, you can continue."

Yue Ling smiled wryly and said, "Since you're already here, just say what you need to say."

Shi Xiangyun smiled shyly, "I want to learn martial arts. Could you please allow me to go to the training ground, Lord Marquis?"

Yue Ling pondered for a moment and said, "Martial arts are something that one must learn from childhood, and one also needs a good physical foundation. It may take several years to see any results."

Shi Xiangyun lowered her head in disappointment. "Is that really how it is?"

Yue Ling added, "However, I do have another method that you should be interested in as well."

"what?"

(End of this chapter)