Red Mansion: Picking up a Lin Daiyu

Chapter 523 Even the Heart-Cleansing Mantra Can't Suppress His True Nature

"My lord, what brings you here?"

Tan Chun stepped in front of Yue Ling, trying to block his view of Miao Yu, but ultimately failed because she was too short.

However, after her meddling...

The tender gazes between them vanished, and they quickly turned the conversation to business.

Scratching his head, Yue Ling said with a smile, "For military intelligence purposes, Tan Chun, you should grind out more lenses to make telescopes, the more the better."

"Is it urgent?"

Yue Ling shook his head and said, "Just do your best."

After a moment's thought, Tan Chun said, "Alright, I'll call my sisters to help. Don't worry, Lord Marquis, Tan Chun will not let you down."

Yue Ling affectionately ruffled Tan Chun's hair.

Tan Chun enjoyed it with a smile, and at first she also felt very comfortable.

But after a few breaths, he suddenly came to his senses.

The way Yue Ling looked at Miao Yu just now was possessive, as if he wanted to take advantage of her completely, but he still comforted her like a child.

Although Yue Ling may not have much difference in feelings for the two, for them they are worlds apart!
In other words, Yue Ling has never had any romantic feelings for her.

Looking at the radiant Miaoyu behind her, Tan Chun felt a pang of regret for suggesting that Miaoyu change into a casual dress.

There are already plenty of alluring and seductive women like Qin Keqing in the Ming family. Now, if there's another girl like Miaoyu who seems ready to be taken advantage of, these sisters, who have never been favored before, don't know when they'll get their turn.

But now that the die is cast, Tan Chun has no better options.

Especially her own sisters, one of whom was dull and the other was even younger than her, so she couldn't count on them much, which made her somewhat disheartened.

However, upon further reflection, Miaoyu had just mentioned that her elder sister might leave the palace.

Since that's the case, given the elder sister's experience in the palace, if she could share some of her knowledge with the sisters, they would surely benefit greatly.

At that time, it's not impossible for them to compete with the vixens in the mansion!
The more Tan Chun thought about it, the more hopeful she felt. Moreover, Yue Ling wanted her to do things for military needs, which was a prerequisite for making meritorious contributions, which made her even more determined.

In the blink of an eye, Tan Chun's mind raced, and she quickly came up with her future plans.

Yue Ling couldn't see any of this, but he noticed that she seemed very energetic. She pushed his hand away and immediately said, "From today onwards, we can't delay any longer. I have to go select materials, so I won't stay with you. Master Miaoyu will accompany you."

After Tan Chun left, Ying Chun and Xi Chun naturally followed suit.

After exchanging greetings with Yue Ling, they all headed straight for Tan Chun's workshop.

Miaoyu had no choice but to greet Yue Ling with a smile as beautiful as a peach blossom, and they walked out of the door together, standing side by side in the corridor.

Yue Ling's words just now had an immense power over her.

It was no wonder that even though she couldn't see the splendor of the palace, she was eager to return to Dingguo Mansion.

As she played with the strands of hair that fell beside her ear, Miaoyu felt a shyness she had never experienced before. But despite her shyness, she knew she couldn't refuse Yue Ling's unreasonable request at this moment.

This is the thrill of leaving the monastic life.

"By the way, did you see His Majesty in the palace? How is his health?"

Miaoyu's mind was filled with romantic fantasies, like pink bubbles, but Yue Ling popped them in an instant, and her thoughts returned to normal.

"Yes, I have seen him. He seems to be unwell and doesn't look well."

“I can’t move around freely in the palace. I need palace maids to lead the way to my master. Moreover, my master never mentions anything about His Majesty to me.”

Yue Ling nodded slightly. "Okay."

Miaoyu blinked and glanced sideways, saying, "Does Your Excellency have something to report to the palace? If you can't find a way in, I'll go to the palace to see my master and deliver the message..."

Yue Ling shook his head, smiled warmly, and said, "No need."

Yue Ling, who treats his girl with a sincere heart, will not be stingy with his gentleness. Seeing her hands awkwardly clutching the hem of her skirt, Yue Ling leaned closer, took her soft hand in his, and gently squeezed it in his palm.

"It's a good thing that your master was able to enter the palace to recognize his relatives, so let's not disturb him any longer."

"Now, I hope that our story will also have a happy ending."

Yue Ling looked up at the sky. Below the sea of ​​clouds, flocks of swallows and sparrows gathered, but they could never pierce through the cloud curtain. The light was warm, but looking at it for a long time would make one's eyes dry and feel stinging.

Seeing Yue Ling's melancholy expression, Miao Yu couldn't guess what he was thinking and regretted not having learned more about him in the limited time she had.

As Yue Ling said, her master has found his place, so it's time for her to find hers as well.

Leaning gently against Yue Ling's shoulder, with her other hand supporting his neck and shoulder, Miao Yu never lacked courage when she needed it.

"In my eyes, the Marquis has never made a mistake in his plans. Even if he does, I will follow him to the ends of the earth, until death do us part."

Yue Ling gently grasped her hand and said with a smile, "Thank you."

Then, under Miaoyu's yearning gaze, he slowly lowered his head and captured her moist, peach-like lips.

As Xing Xiuyan returned from her aunt's courtyard at the corner of the corridor, she peeked out and saw this scene. Her legs went weak, and she covered her mouth and nose before collapsing to the ground.

Even though Miaoyu was dressed in Yingchun's clothes, a pale yellow long dress, Xing Xiuyan could tell at a glance that the person who wanted to cuddle herself into Yue Ling's arms was her older sister who had grown up with her since childhood.

With a slight smirk, Xing Xiuyan couldn't help but think to herself, "Sister, is this really your true nature? No wonder even the Heart-Clearing Mantra couldn't suppress it!"

……

Several days passed in the blink of an eye.

Yue Ling sat at home and received a message from Zhao Hao and Liu Xianglian outside the capital.

After the Second Prince led his army on a rapid march, he arrived at the Tongzhou camp that very night.

After a brief replenishment of military supplies and provisions, they set off for Shanhaiguan before dawn the next day.

Lin Daiyu poured tea and sat down next to Yue Ling to watch the tea. She murmured, "The Second Prince is really eager to make a name for himself. If the Jurchens wait for him to tire himself out, he might make a mistake."

Yue Ling took Lin Daiyu's hand, held it to his nose and inhaled, feeling that his mental energy had recovered considerably, which made Lin Daiyu somewhat embarrassed and annoyed.

"He doesn't even act properly."

Yue Ling leaned comfortably closer to his seat and said, "The Second Prince is a bit too eager to show his ambitions and intimidate the court. He's young and impetuous, but he's not a fool. He probably won't rush to form ranks to defend against the enemy."

“The Jurchens, in particular, mostly use cavalry to plunder; deploying their troops in open terrain to fight is not their forte.” Lin Daiyu nodded slightly. “That’s true.”

As the two were chatting, Ni Ni rushed in from outside the door, lifting the sedan curtain without even knocking, and said hurriedly, "Master, Madam, many officials from the capital are heading to the imperial city on the main street."

“A palace carriage just stopped outside our mansion. The eunuch on board said that the master should go to the palace as soon as possible because there has been a change in the border war.”

Yue Ling was taken aback upon hearing this. Looking at the military intelligence report in his hand, he murmured, "Didn't the Second Prince just head towards Shanhaiguan? What could possibly have happened?"

Lin Daiyu stood up first, comforting the flustered Ni Ni, and said, "Alright, Master knows, go and rest. Zijuan, Qingwen, come and help Master tie his hair and dress him. Bring his clean official robe and crane cloak."

The maids quickly dropped what they were doing and responded by walking around the floor-to-ceiling screen, "Yes!"

……

Imperial Palace, Hall of Supreme Harmony

Upon receiving the news from the palace, the officials rushed to the front of the main hall as quickly as possible. They were all whispering and discussing among themselves below the jade steps.

The reason was simple: after arriving at the palace gates, everyone learned that while the Second Prince was leading his troops on the expedition, the northern barbarians on the grasslands had broken their previous agreement and cruelly murdered the daughter of the Prince of Nan'an who had been sent for a marriage alliance. They intended to march south, directly attack Yanmen Pass, and form a pincer movement with the Jurchens.

More than a decade has passed since the fierce battle to defend Beijing, and the people of Dachang have long since lived in peace and prosperity, far removed from the flames of war.

In particular, the country's strength has not declined; on the contrary, it is thriving under the vigorous reforms of the new law.

Even with the shadow of Emperor Longyou's poor health looming, no one felt that the situation was worse than the great war of the previous dynasty.

Everyone thought it was unwise for the Northern Barbarians to start a war at this time, but he did indeed come.

Inside the Hall of Supreme Harmony, gilded incense burners emitted wisps of blue smoke.

Behind the imperial desk, the chair back, adorned with nine dragons, hung empty and unoccupied. Beside the desk, the eldest prince, Liu An, sat in the position he had set up for overseeing the state. Dressed in a python robe and jade belt, his face was calm, and his gaze was like a deep pool as he surveyed the assembled officials in the hall.

The Third Prince Liu Yun stood at the head of the civil officials' group as usual, his expression indifferent, as if the war had nothing to do with him.

Not long after, Yue Ling arrived late.

When he entered the main hall, all the civil and military officials naturally focused their attention on him, and the atmosphere even became quiet.

Yue Ling may not be considered a regent now, but he has indeed served as a regent in military matters.

The scene of Yue Ling's absolute authority and the submission of all officials when he guarded the capital seems to be vividly present before my eyes now.

Whether to fight or make peace, and how to deploy the army, Yue Ling's opinion is extremely important.

But before he makes his statement, the officials also need to weigh the pros and cons and demonstrate their own value.

As expected, after the Crown Prince saw Yue Ling arrive and announced the start of the court session, civil officials immediately stepped forward from the ranks.

Liu Nian, the Vice Minister of War, stepped forward and said, “Your Highness! The Northern Barbarian Wolf Cavalry has been making frequent unusual movements. The beacon fires report that their vanguard has reached less than 20 li outside Yanmen Pass and is only 50 li from Daizhou, a key town in our northern frontier! The border is in dire need of attention!”

His voice suddenly rose, his gaze sharp as a hook, fixed on Yue Ling's back, and he declared loudly: "I believe that we should immediately dispatch a pillar of the state, leading an elite army, to march north day and night to repel the enemy! Looking around the court, among those with both literary and military talents, whose prestige shakes the world, none other than Duke Dingguo, the Grand Commander Yue, is fit to shoulder this responsibility of protecting the emperor!"

"Minister Liu, you are mistaken!"

Before Liu Nian could finish speaking, Marquis Zhongjing Shi Ding had already taken a step forward, his voice like the clash of metal, his back ramrod straight.

After the Shi family suffered a devastating blow, he relied on Yue Ling to escape unscathed, and now he is a staunch supporter of Yue Ling in the court.

The situation is indeed critical, but at this crucial moment, we should not allow Yue Ling, our pillar of strength, to falter.

Facing the eldest prince directly, Shi Ding neither avoided nor retreated, saying, "His Highness the Second Prince is leading his elite troops out of Shanhaiguan to confront the Jurchens. The capital region may seem peaceful, but in reality, it is indefensible. If the Duke of Dingguo were to lead his elite troops out again, our heartland would be empty."

"The Duke of Dingguo is the pillar of the nation. If we act rashly, we will fall into the enemy's trap of luring us away from our stronghold. What will become of the capital then? This is not a defense against the enemy at the border, but an act of self-destruction. I implore Your Highness to reconsider!"

After speaking, he bowed deeply, raised his head, and looked stern.

"Shi Ding! You've gone too far!"

A thunderous shout rang out, and the Prince of Dongping, with his white hair and muscular build, suddenly rushed out from the ranks of military officers. His old face was flushed red with anger, and his finger pointing at Liu Wenqing trembled slightly: "The daughter of the Prince of Nan'an has been murdered. Do you still want to negotiate peace?"

"Today, the Chinese Empire is a great nation, with no shortage of military supplies and provisions, nor is it lacking in elite troops and capable generals. The Duke of Dingguo is invincible in the world and his military strategy is divine. He will surely sweep away the fallen leaves like autumn wind and swiftly pacify the northern border!"

Shi Ding frowned slightly and said, "Old Prince, when did I say I wanted to negotiate peace? You can send others to fight the enemy! I am willing to personally lead the army!"

Among the civil officials, an imperial censor stepped forward and teased, "I thought the Marquis of Zhongjing was truly dedicated to serving the country, but it turns out he just wants to advance his own career and gain military merit. However, I think the Marquis of Zhongjing should not be too complacent. Back when you were guarding the border, you lost quite a few cities."

"If we don't want to be dragged into a quagmire by the northern barbarians and affect the Liaodong campaign, we must fight a quick battle if necessary. Otherwise, it would be better to negotiate peace!"

Not only were civil and military officials at odds, but many people held differing opinions.

The pent-up resentment of factional strife and the long-standing animosity between civil and military officials exploded like a powder keg being lit in front of the palace.

"quiet!"

The eldest prince, Liu An, spoke in a deep voice, and then slowly stood up.

Arguments in the imperial court were commonplace for Liu An, but this was the first time he had experienced the power of arrogant and fierce generals when it came to matters of war.

Before the war, they dared to look him in the eye.

They were simply taking advantage of his youth and lack of military connections.

Considering this, his second brother posed an even greater threat to him, which naturally displeased Liu An.

Before the court assembly, he went to the Qianqing Palace to ask his father for advice, but his father said he was too busy with court affairs and that he should decide based on the situation himself, which gave him a lot of authority.

Liu An first looked at Yue Ling and saw that he was standing steadily in the middle of the field, with no intention of expressing his opinion.

Fearing being turned away, Liu An had no choice but to approach Chai Pu and others, with whom he was closer, and ask first, "Lord Chai, what do you think we should do in the face of the northern barbarians' invasion?"

The crowd put aside their argument and looked up at the front of the civil officials' line.

Chai Pu coughed lightly, speaking frankly for the first time, and said, "This old minister dares to request to fight."

Liu An frowned slightly, feeling that this was different from what had been agreed upon beforehand.

If Yue Ling were to leave the capital, he could certainly achieve results and Liu An could trust him, but this would not enhance his prestige in the slightest.

However, if he were to send his trusted men into battle, there would be no one capable of leading the troops.

Given this situation, why did Chai Pu insist on playing?

(End of this chapter)