Red Mansion: Picking up a Lin Daiyu

Chapter 513 Intentionally Enjoying the Joke?
The sun sets in the west,

The girls from Dingguo Mansion returned home safely. As soon as they stepped out of the Taoist temple, they surrounded Xueyan, chattering excitedly.

"What wish did Aunt Xue just make?"

Xueyan pouted and said, "I don't know anyone in this mansion called Aunt Xue!"

The people around her burst into laughter again; teasing Xueyan had become one of their recent sources of amusement.

Zijuan took the handrail, then linked arms with Xueyan and slowly descended the steps, asking with a light laugh, "It's no wonder the sisters are curious; we've never seen you pray so earnestly before."

"Is it because you are pregnant with the master's child that your mindset has changed? Are you also thinking about accumulating blessings for your children?"

Everyone crowded around to listen to Xueyan's answer.

Xueyan lowered her head awkwardly and whispered, "I don't think there's any difference. Just now, that little Taoist asked me to come forward to burn incense and plant a thought in my mind, and I just thought about it casually."

"So what exactly were you thinking?"

Xueyan pursed her lips, rubbed her belly, and said, "I was thinking that it would be great if the baby I give birth to could be just like me."

It has to be said that Xueyan is truly blessed with good fortune within the manor.

He never had to compete for anything, nor did he need to show off in front of Yue Ling, so he remained firmly in his position.

Now, she is the first to conceive Yue Ling's child, making her even more unique than others.

However, if Xueyan's child really does resemble her, then the two of them squatting together in the kitchen fighting for food in the future would be too interesting to imagine.

The people around them laughed and bent over, making a ruckus as they went to their respective sedan chairs.

Lin Daiyu was at the very end, and had not yet left the Taoist temple.

The Taoist temple's abbot, Zhang Zhenren, was actually a stand-in for the late Duke Rong.

When a son of a noble family is born, to avoid misfortune, he will find someone whose appearance and birth date are compatible with his to become a monk in his place.

It signifies that this body can shield its owner from calamities and karmic obstacles, pray for the owner's well-being, and protect them from disasters throughout their life.

However, Jia Daishan had been gone for a long time, while Zhang Zhenren was still healthy with white hair and a rosy complexion. Lin Daiyu didn't know who had taken the blame for whom.

"Does Princess Xiaoxiang intend to find a substitute for the unborn child of the Dingguo Mansion?"

Master Zhang escorted Lin Daiyu out of the Taoist temple. Before parting, he couldn't help but ask her more questions, thinking that after the fall of the Rongguo Mansion, he should do more for the Dingguo Mansion and find some shelter under a big tree.

Lin Daiyu shook her head slightly; she did not entirely believe in Buddhist teachings.

Touching the jade Buddha on her body, Lin Daiyu felt that she was also a believer in practical matters, believing in things when they were useful, as a form of inner comfort.

I don't believe in the idea of ​​a body double, which is obviously baseless.

"I did not intend to do so."

Responding calmly, Lin Daiyu asked again, "After the Rongguo Mansion was raided and its members were stripped of their titles, did Prince Teng, the commander of the Beijing Garrison, ever come to offer incense to my maternal grandfather?"

Master Zhang pondered for a moment, then shook his head and said, "We have had little contact with the Wang family lately, and I haven't seen the eldest master of the Wang family for a long time."

"When the princess asked about him, it was..."

Lin Daiyu shook her head, "It was just a casual question, please don't take it to heart."

Looking up again, one could see a man in a dark python robe in the distance, exuding a sharp and imposing aura.

Behind him, the guards stood in neat rows, their banners fluttering, a sight that instilled fear in anyone who saw them.

Lin Daiyu's expression shifted from aloofness to a smile, and she unconsciously quickened her pace.

Master Zhang stood still and bowed in greeting.

"Greetings, Duke Dingguo."

With one hand on his waist, Yue Ling stood side by side with Lin Daiyu and nodded slightly. "I apologize for disturbing your temple so much. Please forgive me, Daoist Master."

Sweating on Zhang Zhenren's forehead, he smiled and said, "Our humble temple is already blessed to have the Duke of Dingguo grace us with his presence."

Yue Ling bowed respectfully, "If anyone inquires about today's trivial matters..."

Master Zhang interrupted, "I know."

Yue Ling nodded slightly, and then, with Lin Daiyu in tow, turned and went to the front of the sedan chair.

As soon as she took Yue Ling's hand, a warm current washed over her, making Lin Daiyu feel very comfortable.

With a soft exhale, Lin Daiyu suddenly spoke, "Husband, there is something I am currently concerned about."

Yue Ling glanced sideways, raised an eyebrow, and asked, "Is it about Xueyan?"

Lin Daiyu shook her head, "It's not a matter within the manor."

"Just now, a flock of egrets suddenly took flight from the distant mountains. I suppose the firearms that my husband is planning have been completed?"

Yue Ling nodded again, "My wife knows me."

"My husband's preparations for war are probably not just about training a personal guard. In the capital, you are in a precarious position and need to be careful in every way, as well as be wary of your own people now."

“I just asked him, and after the Rongguo Mansion fell from grace, Wang Ziteng never came to the Taoist temple to offer incense to his maternal grandfather again. Once he left, that was the end of it all. He probably wasn't a particularly loyal person either. Now, with his husband's protection, he can escape the court's condemnation. In the past…”

Lin Daiyu also turned her head to look at Yue Ling. Seeing that he was silent and his eyes were deep and thoughtful, she asked, "Husband, am I being too nosy?"

Yue Ling picked up Lin Daiyu and carried her into the carriage, which was reserved for just the two of them. He smiled and said, "My wife is worried about me, so how could I feel that I'm meddling?"

"Madam is intelligent and discerning. If Prince Teng wants to clear his name of his previous crimes and completely side with the faction, he will probably have to wait until the civil officials are powerful enough to frame me as a powerful minister who can control the court and seize the emperor's power."

"Now that His Majesty is unwell, all matters in the court are being handled by the First Prince."

"And His Highness the First Prince does indeed seem to be wary of me, always asking for my opinion before making any decisions. In the eyes of some civil officials, he probably already has the ability to act as regent."

"If chaos breaks out in the capital, Wang Ziteng's choice will inevitably waver."

"Back then, both the Rong and Ning mansions were in a fence-sitting position, which can be said to be a lineage."

Lin Daiyu leaned against Yue Ling's chest, her cheeks slightly flushed.

Even though they had been married for several months, any intimate gestures still made her feel incredibly embarrassed.

"Does my husband have a solution?"

Yue Ling said, "I also have some old acquaintances in the Beijing garrison. It's not his sole authority. Just be careful. For important matters, General Shi can handle them."

"Will the Shi family's affairs implicate Sister Yun?" Lin Daiyu lifted the sedan curtain and glanced outside. Her gaze fell upon Shi Xiangyun and Xue Baoqin, who were still playing around, pointing at the street stalls and instructing Yun-ge to buy something, looking quite excited.

"That won't happen. With Shi Ding around, the Shi family won't fall. Let her play and frolic in the mansion without any worries. She may seem carefree on the surface, but she's actually quite different from Xueyan. She still has a lot on her mind."

Lin Daiyu covered her mouth and laughed, "That's right, Xueyan just said that the tea and snacks at the Taoist temple were not good, which made the Taoist priest and the young Taoist priest feel embarrassed for a moment."

Yue Ling smiled and said, "When we get back, I'll prepare some of her favorite foods for her." Lin Daiyu leaned closer and gently pecked Yue Ling's lips, whispering, "Then I'll let my husband try some of his favorite foods."

Yue Ling's heart skipped a beat. He was caught in a dilemma by Lin Daiyu's teasing. He put his arm around her shoulder and whispered, "That one bite isn't enough yet."

"Ugh... not again."

……

"Why make things so awkward to force me to show up? So many years have passed, what era are we in now? Do we still need to argue about who came first?"

Inside the Chai residence, Shui Rong removed the large robe covering her body, revealing a round-necked python robe worn underneath, and confronted Chai Pu with great rudeness.

Chai Pu sipped his water lightly. "You don't even care about the Rongguo Mansion, so what does the Shi family amount to?"

"What's the big deal?" Shui Rong sighed. "The Shi family is a vital source of income for me. Yue Ling has completely destroyed our revenue from the south. Do you know how difficult it is for me to generate new income now?"

Chai Pu raised his hand in a gesture of support, comforting him, "What's the difference between us?"

"Yue Ling has already allowed the Feng brand to extend its reach into the Gansu and Shaanxi regions. The next step will probably be to close the border horse markets and sever all ties with the areas beyond the Great Wall. The Shanxi merchants were squeezed out of the capital region by Yue Ling several years ago, and they have lost far more money than you have."

That makes perfect sense. Shui Rong had no intention of arguing any further and asked in a muffled voice, "Alright, what brings you here today? If it's not a foolproof plan, don't even think about dragging me into this again."

"We suffered a crushing defeat in the last match. How can we face Yue Ling head-on?"

Shui Rong feigned weakness, but Chai Pu, knowing his true nature, naturally couldn't see through him. He simply chuckled, "If you can't defeat him head-on, you can always outmaneuver him by luring him away from the mountain."

"But let me put this out in advance: Yue Ling is so aggressive now. If Your Highness doesn't tell me the truth soon, we're both probably doomed."

Shui Rong frowned. "What do you want to know?"

Chai Pu narrowed his eyes slightly, "Is Your Highness still going to play dumb? Choose one of the three!"

This forced Chai Pu to speak bluntly, which shows how much pressure Yue Ling is putting on him. Shui Rong couldn't help but smile, dipping his hand in tea and sketching on the table.

Chai Pu did the same, covering his face with one hand and drawing several lines.

The two men removed their hands at the same time, and surprisingly, they both wrote the character "昀".

Shui Rong said strangely, "How could you not support His Highness the First Prince? Establishing an heir based on primogeniture is an age-old principle. How could you, as a leading civil official, possibly go against it?"

Chai Puxian spoke the truth: "The eldest prince is timid by nature and bound by etiquette, so he dares not do anything out of line. But as long as His Majesty is alive, he will not dare to lay a hand on Yue Ling. How can I sit idly by and wait for Yue Ling to sharpen his knife and put it to my neck before I rise up and fight back?"

Shui Rong twitched the corner of her mouth. "That makes sense."

"And you, Prince of Nan'an, followed the Second Prince into the competition, why did you bet on the Third Prince?"

Now that it was time to speak frankly, Shui Rong no longer concealed anything, clearing his throat as he said, "The Second Prince is a martial arts fanatic and a master general."

"Thus, he became closer to Yue Ling, wanting to receive his guidance. He was also the only prince who visited Dingguo Mansion as soon as he left the palace. So even if we help him ascend the throne, he might not necessarily target Yue Ling."

"If His Majesty's affection for Yue Ling is one of favor, then the Second Prince's affection is more like worship. Worship is more terrifying than favor."

Chai Pu nodded slightly, agreeing with Shui Rong's statement.

After sighing, Shui Rong continued, "Only the Third Prince Liu Yun is like a dragon diving into the depths; he is no ordinary person. He is shrewd and composed, and adept at concealing his brilliance. This man is destined to ascend the throne."

Chai Pu asked in surprise, "I haven't had much interaction with His Highness the Third Prince. If he is really as clever as you say, wouldn't he be even more difficult to control after ascending the throne?"

Shui Rong sneered, "Once Yue Ling is gone, we'll each rely on our own abilities. Do you really intend to form an alliance?"

Chai Pu stroked his beard and smiled, "Your Highness Shui was too blunt today, which made this old man a little uncomfortable."

Shui Rong raised his glass to clink glasses, saying, "Yue Ling's power is overwhelming, leaving us helpless. Who would have thought that we would join forces to eliminate this villain?"

The wind blew the blinds by the window, making a crisp slapping sound.

Inside the room, people sat facing each other, burning incense and brewing tea, enjoying themselves immensely.

……

After playing around for a while, the girls got tired and went back to their rooms to rest.

Yue Ling remained alone in the outer study, continuing to handle government affairs.

Now that it's clear Chai Pu harbors rebellious intentions, the case can be pushed forward further, even targeting some high-ranking officials in Shanxi and pressing them step by step.

Unable to build an ironclad case based on various suspicions, Yue Ling had no choice but to openly defeat his opponent and force him to reveal his true colors.

Of course, a lot of political affairs had piled up during Du Zhengtang's honeymoon.

As June approaches, the Maritime Trade Office will once again set sail to open up trade routes.

The shift from canal transport to sea transport and the transfer of grain from the south to the north was also a major undertaking.

The shift from a monopoly by salt merchants to a more open system in the Lianghuai region was also a transformation.

Yue Ling had to review every single detail of the complex terms and conditions; only then could he truly be considered the Grand Secretary of the Cabinet.

A knock sounded at the door, but Yue Ling didn't even look up and casually said, "Come in."

Then, not hearing any footsteps, a woman in a pale yellow dress, adorned with a jeweled hairpin and an indigo sash stood before the table.

Yue Ling slowly raised his head, his eyes slightly open, and said, "So it's Miss Bao. Is something wrong at Feng Company?"

Xue Baochai shook her head.

Seeing that she looked unwell, Yue Ling thought she had encountered some great trouble, so he spread his hands and said, "Sit down and tell me slowly."

Surprisingly, Xue Baochai was very disobedient today and refused to sit down.

Such a rebellious act is unlike her usual style; it would be more reasonable for her to reveal Xue Baoqin behind her mask.

Yue Ling finally put down his pen, smiled helplessly, and said, "Miss Bao, just speak your mind. Why keep brooding to yourself?"

Xue Baochai parted her cherry lips slightly, "This humble woman is not sulking, nor would I dare to be angry with the Marquis."

With a sour tone, Yue Ling seemed to have realized Xue Baochai's intentions; she had probably come to interrogate him.

With a helpless grumbling in his mind that Xue Baoqin was a "little witch," Yue Ling could only comfort the person in front of him for the time being.

“It was my fault regarding Baoqin. I had feelings for you, and then I became intimate with her. If I had put myself in your shoes, it would have been unfair to you.”

Xue Baochai bit her lip lightly, "I did not come for this matter. It is not up to me to decide who the Marquis wishes to take into his household."

Looking up at Xue Baochai's solemn expression, which seemed genuine, Yue Ling paused slightly, then added, "Well... even if you accept her, you should at least give her a proper title first. After all, she is a young lady of the Xue family. To lose her virginity so ambiguously..."

Xue Baochai seemed to have extracted some key words. She quickly stepped forward, knelt on Yue Ling's lap, and placed her hands on Yue Ling's shoulders, pressing him aggressively, "The title, the title of Marquis was promised to me long ago. How can I let her steal it with her body by such clumsy means!"

"Does Your Excellency intend to make a fool of myself by making me address her as 'elder sister' instead?!"

(End of this chapter)