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

Chapter 139 Appreciating the Misty Peaks and Meeting Yun Dai

When Chu Yan returned to the inner palace to rest, it was already past 7 PM.

After sitting down, he instructed the eunuch: "Go and ask the three young ladies who entered the palace today. If they are not asleep, call them here. If they are asleep, there is no need to."

"It's Your Majesty."

Xia Shouzhong went off to do his work.

This morning, when the three young ladies entered the palace, the Emperor issued an order that they should all stay in the Linjing Hall, so he quickly found them.

"Girls."

Xia Shouzhong entered the room and said to them with a smile, "The Emperor summons you. Please follow me."

Daiyu, Xiangyun, and Xiuyan, who were chatting and laughing in the main hall of the west wing, suddenly fell silent.

Xiangyun spoke first: "Is His Majesty the Emperor in the back hall? Go and inform him first, and we'll change our clothes and go over."

They assumed the emperor was too busy to receive them that night, so they all changed out of the clothes they had worn during the day.

Xia Shouzhong said with a smile, "Ladies, you should hurry over. His Majesty will need to rest later. Besides, you've been to the palace several times already, so there's no need for you to dress up every time."

In fact, the emperor did not rest that early. According to past practice, the emperor would summon his concubines to serve him in bed, such as Consort Xiande, Consort Qin, or Noble Lady Zhou.

After summoning them, they would talk to them for a while before going to their rooms to rest. Only then would the eunuchs and palace maids' service for the day be over.

Daiyu said to Xiangyun and Xiuyan, "In that case, let's go see the emperor together." After hesitating for a moment, she added softly, "The sooner we go, the sooner we can come back and go to sleep."

Xia Shouzhong glanced at this Miss Lin secretly. She always spoke softly and was exceptionally beautiful. She had an indescribable charm and grace. No wonder His Majesty doted on her so much that he kept her in Linjing Palace for seven or eight days after their first meeting.

The three of them followed him out. Xiuyan was a little nervous, and she remembered what Sister Lin had told her before she entered the palace.

It's already past 7 PM, yet the emperor still summons them. Does this mean they'll be serving him tonight?

Feeling uneasy, Xiuyan followed them to the back hall and entered the east side room. She glanced at the tall man sitting on the soft couch. A palace maid came to place a prayer cushion, and Xiuyan, Daiyu, and Xiangyun were about to kneel down.

"Yun'er and Lin Meimei, you don't need to come here for the first time."

Chu Yan glanced at the beautiful and graceful new girl and smiled, "Are you Xing Xiuyan?"

The palace maid removed the two prayer cushions, so Xiuyan knelt down and kowtowed before saying, "Your Majesty, this servant is Xiuyan, a daughter of the Xing family."

"Yes, get up."

Chu Yan nodded, then looked at Xing Xiuyan's appearance and figure. She was quite beautiful, with delicate and refined features. She was slightly taller than Xiangyun and wore a lotus-colored cross-collar long coat. It was obvious that it was an old coat, and the fabric was far inferior to that of Xiangyun and Daiyu standing next to her. Her makeup was also very simple.

She was dressed in simple clothes, yet her natural beauty was undeniable. She was a girl of humble origins but with outstanding talent and looks.

Just as Chu Yan was about to speak, Daiyu knelt on the prayer cushion and silently kowtowed to him as well.

"Did Lin Daiyu not eat enough tonight? Is her leg too weak to stand?" Chu Yan feigned surprise.

Xiangyun chuckled and covered her mouth.

Daiyu raised her eyes, glanced at him, and then pleaded guilty in a reasonable manner:
“Your Majesty’s power is absolute; a single word can decide the life and death of countless people. I am but a weak young woman from a humble family. When I see Your Majesty’s countenance, I am filled with fear and dare not disobey.”

After hearing this, Chu Yan smiled at Xiangyun and said, "Is your Sister Lin showing off to me, or has she come to apologize to me?"

Xiangyun hurriedly said, "Sister Lin gave Brother Bao four hundred taels a few days ago, and I gave him one hundred taels as well, totaling five hundred taels. We two took it upon ourselves to make this decision, and I should kowtow to the Emperor to beg for forgiveness!"

She guessed why Lin Daiyu was kneeling, and she also wanted to kneel down and kowtow on the prayer mat.

"come over."

Chu Yan waved to her, "This little bit of money isn't enough to punish you. Lin Meimei, get up too, and Miss Xing, come and sit down as well."

Xiangyun felt a little embarrassed, but she went along with his wishes and sat down next to him.

Lin Daiyu stood up, knowing that the emperor had guessed why she knelt. She was using this as a pretext to apologize to him and avoid being held accountable later.

If she is held accountable, she will most likely be humiliated by him again.

She did this out of desperation.

Xiuyan sat down next to Daiyu, turned to look at Xiangyun, and saw that she was sitting side by side with the emperor, and the emperor did not hug her upon seeing her...

You can't kiss me now.

Xiangyun suddenly uttered a sentence that surprised all three people present, who looked at her in astonishment.

Xiangyun blushed on her charming and spirited face.

Chu Yan smiled and asked her, "The five hundred taels of silver that you and your sister Lin gave, was it given only to Jia Baoyu, or was it given to the entire Jia family?"

Daiyu looked at him with a puzzled expression. The words sounded familiar to her, as if she had heard them said before.

Xiangyun quickly recovered from her shyness and said, "It's for Brother Bao alone. He's in the military camp outside the city, and I don't know how much he's suffering. I thought that since this is the first time he's asked me for money, it would be unfair to us for not giving him some, given our friendship since we grew up together. So I decided to give him one hundred taels."

Then, dejectedly, he said, "I only found out yesterday that Brother Bao gave the money to that Qi Guan again, and it's gone in the blink of an eye. How hateful! Brother Bao is too trusting of others!"

What's hateful is Qi Guan; Xiangyun wouldn't turn against her second brother Bao for a hundred taels of silver.

Chu Yan said calmly, "That's where he went wrong. You should only do what you are capable of, and not squander money just because you are favored in the palace." He then said to Daiyu, "You apologized just now because I asked Baochai to punish you by forbidding you from spending money without permission again?"

"Both," Daiyu replied softly, but did not get up to apologize again.

After she finished speaking, Xiangyun quickly said, "Second brother isn't wasting money. He just can't stand seeing his loved ones suffer. That's just how he is; he's affectionate towards everyone."

Chu Yan laughed and said, "I think he is more affectionate towards beautiful people and disgusted by ugly people. However, this is only human nature. Ugly people can't even participate in the imperial examination."

Xiangyun chuckled, agreeing with him.

After discussing Jia Baoyu, Chu Yan looked at Xiu Xingxiuyan and asked her, "Miss Xing, how long have you been in the capital?"

Xiuyan quickly replied, "Last spring, my parents and I came to Chang'an from Jinling."

Chang'an was the name given by Emperor Taizu of Shun when he established the capital, imitating the Han and Tang dynasties. However, since it was located in the north and thousands of miles away from Chang'an during the Han and Tang dynasties, it was not commonly used and was simply referred to as the capital.

Chu Yan nodded and said, "It seems that you came to the capital to avoid this bandit."

"laugh."

Daiyu laughed out loud, Xiuyan blushed slightly, while Xiangyun clapped her hands and laughed, "Who in the world dares to say that the Emperor is a bandit?"

Chu Yan laughed and said, "That's hard to say. I'm not a mind reader, so you might be cursing me in your hearts."

Daiyu raised her dewy eyes and glanced at him sideways. This man knew her inside and out; he knew that she had once cursed him as a thief king in her heart.

Chu Yan added, “However, there is only one border post in the world that has not yet been subdued. Even if some people curse me, it cannot change the fact that I have gone from being a bandit to becoming an emperor.”

Daiyu fell silent for a moment.

Upon hearing this, Xiangyun sighed, "My brother the emperor is so young, yet he has conquered the world. It makes other men ashamed... Is there any border that hasn't been subdued yet? Are we still going to have to fight?"

Chu Yan was pleased with the admiration of the young lady and said, "Xining Pass is the farthest. It will probably take five or six days before we get any news back."

Xiangyun nodded and said, "Xining Pass is very far away. Even if it refuses to surrender, it has no provisions to use. If everyone else in the country has surrendered, leaving it alone will be of no use. It's good that we can congratulate our Emperor brother on pacifying the country ahead of time!"

She said with a smile.

Chu Yan was somewhat surprised and laughed, "Yun'er lives a secluded life, yet she has such insight."

Daiyu listened silently. From the moment he entered the city, she gave up hope that the Shun Dynasty could ever restore its kingdom. Since he had already occupied the capital, even if he were to retreat, the princes and nobles in the city would hardly escape unscathed. During that time of displacement and hardship, she died a few days later because she could no longer take her medicine.

Chu Yan then looked at Xiuyan and asked her, "Where are your parents now? I see your clothes aren't very nice. You get a monthly allowance, right? Why don't you buy some?"

Xiuyan replied, "When my parents came to the capital, they did not stay at the Jia family's residence, so my father still lives outside West Street." She then said shyly, "His Majesty gave me five taels of silver as a monthly allowance. I secretly gave two taels to my parents and two taels to my aunt."

Chu Yan nodded and said, "It's only right to give it to your parents, but why did you give it to your aunt as well?"

Xiuyan replied softly, "My aunt has lost her status as the first wife and is struggling to make ends meet. I thought about how she used to live a life of luxury, but now she is suddenly impoverished, so I gave her two taels of silver."

Chu Yan looked at her and asked, "Are the clothes you're wearing the ones you used to wear?"

Xiuyan nodded and said yes.

Daiyu sighed, "Sister Xing's family is poor. She came to the capital to stay with her aunt. She wears mostly old clothes. Ping'er gave her two pieces of clothing at the beginning of the year, but she pawned them."

Xiuyan looked ashamed, while Daiyu smiled at Chu Yan and said, "Your Majesty is a monarch who cherishes girls. Why not reward her with some silk to make clothes?"

Xiangyun, look over here.

Chu Yan smiled and said, "You know I cherish girls."

Daiyu remained silent.

Chu Yan then said, "Although the emperor possesses the entire world, he cannot squander it at will. Miss Xing, let me ask you, now that you have entered the palace, are you willing to stay in the palace as my concubine?"

Only concubines received rewards.

Daiyu glanced at him again. This man had clearly made up his mind to take Xiuyan as his concubine, but he still deliberately asked another question.

Upon hearing this, Xing Xiuyan blushed and lowered her head to fidget with the hem of her clothes. After a long while, she said, "I... I have already used the five taels of monthly allowance that His Majesty bestowed upon me. My parents are struggling to make a living outside, so I need to give them some money every month. Now that His Majesty does not mind my coarse appearance and is willing to take me as a concubine... I am naturally willing."

Chu Yan nodded and smiled, "Good, she's a filial girl."

Daiyu picked up her teacup and took a sip. She had known this would happen, so she wasn't surprised at all.

Xiangyun glanced at Xiuyan, then at Chu Yan, and suddenly exclaimed, "Emperor brother is going to stamp Sister Xing's seal too?!"

"Hahaha."

Chu Yan couldn't help but burst into laughter.

Xiuyan and Daiyu both looked over curiously, "What stamp?"

Xiangyun blushed and did not answer.

Chu Yan smiled and said, "I originally wanted to stamp it, but since you said it, it would be pointless to stamp it now. Let's do it later."

Then he said to Xiuyan, "After you go back, you don't need to send your aunt your monthly allowance anymore. I will give you another hundred taels of silver and some jewelry so that you won't be as poor as before."

Xiuyan hurriedly stood up, somewhat alarmed, and said, "Your Majesty, one hundred taels of silver is a bit too much."

Chu Yan said, "One hundred taels is not much. Some people have spent more than a thousand taels in just over a month."

Xiangyun burst out laughing again, pointing at Daiyu.

Chu Yan also laughed. Xiangyun was really straightforward and not afraid of offending anyone. However, in the current situation, it made Daiyu less ashamed.

Daiyu sighed, "How could I not know that a thousand taels of silver is a lot? But if I don't give Baoyu the silver, wouldn't I seem heartless?"

Everyone looked at her.

Daiyu said, “I have no mother, and my father has disappeared. I live in the Rongguo Mansion and am always carrying a medicine pot. Over the years, I have spent a lot of money from the Jia family. Now that I have received His Majesty’s favor, it is time to repay the Jia family.”

Chu Yan smiled at her and said, "Since that's the case, would Sister Lin be willing to enter the palace?"

Daiyu lowered her head and did not answer. Her two delicate eyebrows were slightly furrowed, and an indescribable sorrow and grief lingered on her brows. Even if Xi Shi were reincarnated and clutched her chest, she would not look like this.

Xiangyun didn't know how to offer any advice, so she just held her teacup and drank her tea.

Chu Yan wasn't angry; he still had plenty of time to waste with Lin Daiyu.

After chatting with Xiangyun for a while, Xiuyan, who was meeting him for the first time and was not very familiar with him, didn't say much. Daiyu, preoccupied with her own thoughts, also stopped talking.

So Chu Yan waved his hand and said, "Go back and rest. Stay for a few days before returning to your residence."

Xiuyan couldn't find an opportunity to bring up Miaoyu's matter, so she had to give up. However, she had some doubts in her heart, so she asked, "May I ask Your Majesty, why did you still allow us to return to the mansion?"

She thought that becoming a concubine meant living in the palace and waiting to bear children for the emperor.

Daiyu glanced at him again; she feared he was about to make advances towards Xiuyan and her in the next few days…

Chu Yan said, "The Ning and Rong mansions are now equivalent to detached palaces. I heard from Yun'er that the Grand View Garden has beautiful scenery and the girls there are even more beautiful, so I would like to visit it. After the world is at peace, I will stay in the garden for a few days."

Xiuyan understood. Sure enough, the emperor would visit the Grand View Garden. Even if Miaoyu didn't go to the palace, she would probably be summoned by him.

Chu Yan smiled and said, "Speaking of housing, Xiuyan, are you living with Yingchun now?"

Hearing him call her and her second sister by their names so suddenly, Xiuyan was a little unaccustomed to it and it took her a while to answer, "Yes, I live with my second sister."

"Are you comfortable here? Yun'er, are there any other places to stay in the garden? We can let Xiuyan and Sister Qin stay here."

Chu Yan remembered that both of them lived with other people.

Xiangyun thought for a while, but Xiuyan quickly said, "Your Majesty, I'll just stay with my second sister."

Chu Yan said, "You may be able to get used to it, but your second sister may not. The houses in the garden are not big, and you all have maids and servants to serve you. It will be uncomfortable to squeeze together."

Xiangyun suddenly realized and hurriedly said, "Sister Bao forgot, we should send a few maids and servants to serve Sister Xing. I'll talk to her about it when I get back."

Chu Yan couldn't help but chuckle again. Xiangyun really said whatever came to mind, unafraid of offending Baochai.

Why not say Lin Daiyu forgot? Probably because Lin Daiyu was always sick, and Baochai was in charge of the household.

Xiangyun smiled and said, "All the houses in the garden are occupied, except for Jiayin Hall behind the Provincial Villa and Yuyin Hall opposite Ouxiang Pavilion, which are still habitable."

She lowered her head and thought for a moment, then sighed, "Brother Bao's Yihong Courtyard can also be lived in. He probably won't be coming back. The Emperor won't allow him to come back to live there anymore. It can still accommodate a few people. Yihong Courtyard has the most rooms in the garden."

Upon hearing this, Daiyu was deeply saddened, yet there was nothing she could do.

Chu Yan smiled and said, "Alright, Xiuyan, go back and decide where to stay, and discuss with Baoqin to choose a place to live."

After Xing Xiuyan also entered the palace as a concubine, only Li Wen, Li Qi, You Erjie, and You Sanjie were missing from the Red Chamber. Chu Yan didn't think about them, he just remembered that these four people existed.

"Thank you, Your Majesty, for the reward."

Xiuyan rose and kowtowed in gratitude. She was not overjoyed by this favor, but she was not indifferent like Lin Daiyu either; her eyes showed a happy look.

"Go back and rest."

Chu Yan waved his hand again, telling the two of them to go back.

As for Xiangyun, she didn't need him to tell her to stay and keep him company for a while longer.

After they left, Xiangyun blushed and looked at him. Chu Yan smiled and reached out his hand to Xiangyun. She blushed and rushed into his arms like a swallow returning to its nest, her shy demeanor as she whispered to him.

After a while, Chu Yan and Xiangyun kissed. Having not seen each other for many days, Xiangyun missed him a lot and became much more proactive.

(End of this chapter)