After the rebellion was successful, I realized that this place was the Red Mansion

Chapter 118 Returning to Xiaoxiang Pavilion
Day two.

Li Wan changed back into the clothes she had worn when she left the manor and instructed Yuan Chun, "I'm going back to the manor. When I'm not in the palace, please cover for me."

Yuan Chun's expression was slightly strange, but she agreed and comforted her, saying, "Sister-in-law, just go back and don't worry. If His Majesty asks, I have a way to deal with it."

Now, hearing her call her "sister-in-law" again always makes Li Wan feel a little uncomfortable, and the events of that day resurface:

She was held in the emperor's strong arms, kissed and caressed wantonly, while her sister-in-law watched from the side, pretending to be indifferent, which was utterly humiliating.

Composing herself, Li Wan smiled and said, "I'm just keeping an eye on things; His Majesty might not even remember me."

A few days ago, Yuan Chun summoned her to Linjing Hall. When the emperor saw her again, he didn't pay much attention to her. There were countless beautiful concubines and palace maids in the palace. That day, it was probably just a passing fancy of the emperor.

Yuan Chun didn't know how to answer. His Majesty was determined to have her enter the palace and had deliberately kept it from her. He would also do those "interesting" things with Li Wan again in the future.

After talking with her for a while, Li Wan called Xiangyun and Daiyu to go to Fengzao Palace to say goodbye to the Dowager Consort and to give Jia Lan some more instructions on how to listen to the Dowager Consort and the Imperial Consort in the palace.

In the afternoon, the three left the palace.

As the sedan chair left the palace gates, Daiyu gently lifted the curtain, gazing at the palace gates receding into the distance, still feeling lingering fear.

These past few days, she had been living with Emperor Chu Yan, and the first few days had truly made her feel like she was dying. It was only after Xiangyun came to keep her company that she felt a little better.

He only hoped he would never have to go to the palace again.

But she also knew that even if she didn't go to the palace to plead for Chu Yan, he would still go to the Grand View Garden.

Upon returning to the Jia family mansion, the eunuchs placed the sedan chair outside the hanging flower gate. Numerous maids and servants came to greet them, and Wang Xifeng, accompanied by Ping'er, also arrived. She lifted the curtain for Daiyu and Xiangyun, and said with a smile:

"The girls are finally back! It was Lin Daiyu's first time in the palace, and she stayed for seven or eight days. The old lady has been missing you for a long time!"

Upon hearing her mention her maternal grandmother, Daiyu's eyes welled up with tears. She hurried into the mansion and arrived at Grandmother Jia's room. Before she could even pay her respects, tears were already streaming down her face.

"It's good that my girl is back! She's safe and sound. Don't cry anymore, or I'll start crying too."

Grandmother Jia embraced her, knowing that she had suffered grievances in the palace but could not say it.

After this dramatic change, Grandmother Jia no longer longed for the company of her children and grandchildren and the joy of family life; she only wished for their safety.

Tan Chun was somewhat suspicious. Sister Lin had been in the palace for seven or eight days. Could it be that she was truly favored in the palace?
Daiyu slowly stopped crying, and Xiangyun smiled and told them about going to the palace. After she finished speaking, she hurriedly took her leave and went home—that is, back to Ningguo Mansion—to see her grandmother, her second aunt, and the Shi sisters.

"Has His Majesty issued an edict to find your father's whereabouts?"

Grandmother Jia asked again, "Xiangyun mentioned it earlier, but didn't explain it in detail."

When her father was mentioned, Daiyu became happier and recounted the events in detail.

Grandmother Jia nodded in praise: "Girl, you are a reliable person. Your father's fate is currently unknown, so you should restore the Lin family's ancestral home first. Only when he sees it will he know that the court has pardoned him. Even if he has unfortunately passed away, his relatives and friends will see it and tell him where your father's grave is. Then you can ask the emperor to send someone to bury him back in the ancestral grave."

After saying that, he praised, "His Majesty's grace has not only helped you find your father, but also allowed your Lin family to restore its ancestral home."

"Indeed, His Majesty's grace is boundless."

Everyone in the room said that with Song En's help, the Jia family was still in ruins, but once Lin Daiyu went to the palace, her family would be well again.

This is what a favored concubine of the emperor should look like!
Daiyu's expression was somewhat strange as she said, "Grandma, it was the Emperor who ordered the restoration of my family's old house. I dare not claim credit for it!"

Grandmother Jia laughed: "So it's because His Majesty is so considerate of you and thinks of you so thoroughly."

The people inside the room began praising Lin Daiyu again, saying that she was favored by the emperor.

Daiyu remained silent. In the past, she would have been ashamed and angry, but having been humiliated by that treacherous king several times in the palace, she no longer cared about these harsh words.

Furthermore, she couldn't defend herself.

Just as Sister Feng said, she stayed for seven or eight days on her first visit to the palace, and even stayed with the emperor in the Linjing Hall. Even if she had a thousand mouths, she couldn't tell the truth.

She only hoped that after Baoyu found out, he would still believe what she said in the letter, and that she would still be innocent...

Madam Xing smiled and said, "Grandma, Miss Lin has returned from the palace. Shouldn't we hold a banquet tonight to welcome her back? It's fine to say it's a celebration, but we can't let Miss Lin stay the same as before."

Upon hearing this, all the maids and servants looked over, waiting for the old lady's reply.

How could they not see what Madam Xing was thinking?
It's nothing more than being hungry for ten or fifteen days, so we'll hold a banquet and have a good meal when Miss Lin comes back!
Since Baochai returned to deliver the imperial decree, Madam Xing, Madam Wang, Aunt Zhao, and others have been eating the meals provided by the maids. Occasionally, Grandmother Jia would bestow upon them one or two dishes, and they usually eat vegetarian food with very little oil in it.

Not to mention being able to compare with Wang Xifeng in the household, even Ping'er, Yuanyang, Wang Shanbao's wife, and Lin Zhixiao's wife are not as good as her—these maids and servants either serve others or assist in managing the household, and their rations are better than those of Madam Wang and others who do not do any work.

Grandmother Jia also wanted to treat everyone to a good meal, but she wasn't in charge of the household affairs. Only Lin Daiyu, Xue Baochai, and the favored Xiangyun could make the decisions.

As for the others, although Ying and Tan Chun also entered the palace, they didn't have much say in things.

Seeing Lin's hesitant look, Grandmother Jia rejected Madam Xing's words, saying, "The girl has just returned from the palace and is tired and needs to go back to rest. Let's discuss the banquet another day."

The excited and expectant expressions of everyone in the room immediately faded.

It seems I can't have a good meal just because of Miss Lin.

Daiyu looked up at her aunts and other relatives before finally making up her mind. She smiled and said, "Grandmother, how could I refuse such kindness from my aunt? I'll go back and rest for a while, and then come to the banquet tonight." Grandmother Jia laughed, and Madam Xing also smiled, glancing at her daughter Yingchun as if to say, "You useless girl, it's only thanks to Miss Lin that your mother can have a decent meal!"

Yingchun remained silent, making one wonder if she had seen Madam Xing's gaze, or if she had but chose not to acknowledge it.

Li Wan didn't talk much either. Apart from answering the old lady's questions about Jia Lan, she stood quietly the rest of the time.

Apart from Grandmother Jia, no one in the room asked about Jia Lan in the palace. Lady Wang did bring up Bao Yu in the military camp, but no one responded to her question.

……

When Miss Lin announced the start of a banquet, the entire Jia family became lively.

Wang Xifeng took the old women to the government office to collect the silver, and then instructed them to go out and buy all sorts of things, kill chickens and ducks, and prepare for tonight's banquet.

When the Ningguo Mansion learned of this, they all went to ask Shi Xiangyun for help, and soon the old women also went out to buy things with great joy.

Grandmother Jia sent someone to invite Aunt Xue's family to a banquet.

Daiyu thought of Xing Xiuyan's family, so she asked someone to send them some food. Then, remembering what the emperor had said about nuns and Yang Guifei, she asked her maid to send some food for the young ladies to Miaoyu at Longcui Nunnery.

Miaoyu was a nun, and although she could not eat fish or meat, she could still eat some delicate pastries and finely stir-fried vegetarian dishes, so that she wouldn't go hungry and become thin.

Since food has been distributed to all areas, the twelve girls performing at the Pear Fragrance Courtyard should not be left out. A portion of food should also be sent to the eunuchs serving outside the second gate.

Things are done.

Daiyu returned to Xiaoxiang Pavilion, intending to rest for a while before attending the banquet.

Returning to a familiar place inevitably brings back many memories of the past, and tears well up in my eyes again.

Seeing her like this, Zijuan assumed she was thinking of Master Bao, so she offered her some words of advice.

Daiyu said, "I didn't want to owe him any favors, but I just got back and he already borrowed his money to treat the people in the mansion to drinks. Next time I go to the palace, I'm bound to be bullied by him again."

Upon hearing this, Zijuan smiled and said, "Since you can't avoid disaster, why don't you try to think more positively? The emperor hasn't pardoned the family yet, and you still have to repay favors. You'll still have to go to the palace eventually, so thinking too much won't help."

Daiyu sighed softly, then lay down on the bed and closed her eyes to rest.

Zijuan didn't disturb her any further. She could tell that although the girl said she was being humiliated, she felt better than before.

After a while, a young maid from Longcui Nunnery arrived and said that Miaoyu had sent her to thank Daiyu for the food she had given her. She added that if Daiyu visited Longcui Nunnery another day, she should thank her again.

Seeing that the young lady was resting, Zijuan grabbed a handful of money and gave it to the maid, telling her to go back and report.

Half an hour later, Daiyu called her in to pour tea. Only then did Zijuan tell what had just happened, and said with a smile, "Miaoyu is quite worldly-wise. She even knows to send someone to thank you after receiving your kindness. I have misunderstood her before."

Miaoyu usually stayed at the Longcui Nunnery and rarely interacted with the other girls in the garden. Daiyu, on the other hand, visited the nunnery more often than the others to drink tea and chat about Buddhist scriptures with her.

Zijuan had also heard Miaoyu speak, and she often made sarcastic remarks. It was fortunate that the young lady could tolerate her temper.

Daiyu said, "Miaoyu is a bit eccentric, but she wouldn't be so eccentric as to not even say thank you."

After saying that, he frowned, thought for a moment, and said to Zijuan, "Send someone to tell her that I haven't had time to go to her place for tea these days. Also, please tell her two words: Taizhen."

Zijuan hadn't read many books and didn't know what those two characters meant, only guessing the allusion they referred to.

After a while, Daiyu finished changing her clothes and dressing, and went to Grandmother Jia's room with Zijuan and Xueyan to have a banquet.

The Rongguo Mansion gradually became lively, with the sounds of maids and servants drinking and playing drinking games filling the air.

Xing Xiuyan did not follow the crowd to drink.

Her mother lived elsewhere, and her aunt was not close to her. Although Yingchun invited her to the banquet tonight, she made an excuse to decline.

The maids in Zilingzhou were also drinking and making a lot of noise. Xiuyan knew they would drink until midnight, so she went out and headed towards Longcui Nunnery.

Upon arriving at the mountain gate, Xiuyan saw that the plum trees outside had already borne unripe fruit, hanging on the branches. She couldn't help but feel happy when she saw this and stopped to look at them for a while.

"What are you doing here?"

Suddenly, a voice came from inside the temple gate. Xiuyan turned her head and saw Miaoyu, dressed in a gray monk's robe and with a slender and graceful figure, standing on the threshold, looking down at her indifferently.

Xiuyan smiled and said, "I haven't been here for a while. I didn't know the plums had already borne fruit."

Miaoyu glanced at Meizi, then looked at her and sneered, "You've just eaten and drunk meat, why come to my quiet place?"

Xiuyan replied, "Guests are guests. If the old lady, the madam, or even the imperial concubine or the emperor come to visit you another day, are you going to kick them out?"

Miaoyu frowned. "How did you know the Emperor would come?"

Xiuyan was a little surprised, "Did I actually guess right?"

He then went inside with her, intending to discuss the matter in detail.

(End of this chapter)