The Black Chamber Dream: Daiyu's Revenge

The Empress Dowager looked at the children and smiled at Daiyu, saying, "It's so good to be young, carefree. I wonder if I'll ever see them all get married."

"Mother is still in good health. The imperial physicians send over the pulse readings of Father and Mother every day, and they seem to be doing very well." What Daiyu didn't say was that, in fact, the Emperor Emeritus's health was not as good as the Empress Dowager's. Just two days ago, Xiao Tingjun had told Daiyu that he would instruct the imperial physicians to take good care of Father.

Qiongnan's heart was churning. Yesterday, the Empress had specifically told her that she used to feel unfortunate, preferring to be born into an ordinary family rather than have parents like those. But now she felt that she was actually very lucky. Not only had her parents' mistakes not implicated her and her sister, but they had also grown up in luxury.

Through her years of studying, she has come to understand even more clearly that there are still many people in this world who suffer greatly, going hungry and cold. Therefore, she should be content.

She took the initiative to express her willingness to marry into Tibet because she understood that girls like her should also serve the country and its people, instead of only thinking about themselves.

I never expected the Emperor to be so decisive, managing to win in one battle.

What she didn't expect was that although her uncle and aunt were the emperor and empress, they treated her, their niece, no differently than their own daughter.

After witnessing the impressive demeanor of the newly appointed scholars, Daiyu returned to the palace and asked Qiongnan alone how Su Ziran had been. Qiongnan blushed and nodded.

Daiyu held her hand: "Don't rush. In a few days, I'll have Madam Liu make arrangements for you. Then you can talk to each other. With elders around, it's fine to chat. You can see what kind of person he is then. Don't wrong yourself; getting married is a big deal."

Qiongnan lowered her head shyly at this.

The Lady Liu mentioned by Daiyu is Xichun. Now that Liu Jishan is the Vice Minister of War, it is most appropriate for her to host the banquet.

Soon, Qiongnan's marriage was settled.

A year later, Qiongnan got married, but Daiyu did not expect that after the happy event, there would be a funeral.

Jia Lan submitted a memorial requesting to observe mourning for his father—Jia Zheng had passed away, and Jia Lan wanted to escort Jia Zheng's coffin back to Jinling for burial.

Chapter 326 Extra Chapter 8: Everyone Raises Children Hoping They'll Be Smart (1)

When Daiyu received the news of Jia Zheng's death, she was still somewhat saddened.

Xiao Tingjun, fearing that Daiyu would be saddened, took time out of his busy schedule to talk to her. Daiyu shook her head and said, "My second uncle was of age, so this can be considered a happy passing. Besides, he watched Lan'er pass the imperial examination, become an official, and have grandchildren; he must have left happily."

"Although I came to the capital from Yangzhou when I was young, I have hardly ever met my uncles. Not to mention me, even my sisters rarely see their father. At first, I thought this was the rule of wealthy families, but upon closer reflection, if it is a rule, then it is wrong."

"Let alone fathers and daughters, even fathers and sons rarely see each other more than a few times a year, let alone have a proper conversation. As a result, it often happens that fathers do not understand their sons and sons resent their fathers. It is clear that this rule needs to be changed."

Xiao Tingjun agreed with this. Seeing that Daiyu was not too sad, he sent someone to Jia Lan's residence to give him some instructions in addition to the funeral arrangements. He told him to observe a year of mourning before returning to serve the court.

After receiving the emperor's instructions and expressing his gratitude, Jia Lan first sent his grandfather's coffin to Juemi Temple on the outskirts of the capital. This was mainly because the temple was not usually very popular and was relatively quiet. In addition, the temple was located at the intersection on the way to Jinling, which would be convenient.

But Jia Lan never expected that the Second Uncle Bao, whom the family had been searching for for a long time without success, was actually in this Juemi Temple.

However, my second uncle has already shaved his head and become a monk.

Baoyu naturally didn't come forward to acknowledge him, and Jialan didn't even think of striking up a conversation—since his second uncle had decided to distance himself from the world, it was best not to disturb him. After all, so many years had passed, and saying anything now would be meaningless.

Baoyu's heart was not as calm as his outward appearance suggested.

At first, when he heard that someone was going to store a coffin in the temple, he had a slight doubt in his heart, wondering which family it was. But when he overheard the words "Jia Mansion" from a servant who came to make arrangements, Baoyu's heart was suddenly shaken, like a huge stone being thrown into a calm lake, creating ripples.

Twenty years have passed quietly. During this time, he never actively inquired about any news of the Jia family, as if trying to completely sever ties with that prosperous, dreamlike past. However, some things, even without deliberate seeking, are as clearly visible as stars in the night sky. For example, the downfall of the Rongguo Mansion after its confiscation of property, Xichun's glorious marriage, and the far-reaching crime of treason.

His master once said that he still harbored worldly desires, his attachments were too deep, and he hadn't truly seen through the ways of the world. Later, as time passed, he gradually let go of the grudges and affections that had once lingered in his heart, striving to completely bid farewell to the past. In recent years, the tranquil life in the temple had indeed brought him much peace of mind. He once thought that nothing and no one in this world could stir up any waves in his heart anymore.

However, when he saw the familiar coffin placed in a corner of the temple from afar, and when he inadvertently caught a glimpse of his nephew Jia Lan's inquisitive gaze, Bao Yu suddenly realized how difficult it was to truly achieve a heart as still as an ancient well and a body as solid as a rock.

He slowly closed his eyes, a bitter smile creeping across his face: It seems my cultivation is still insufficient after all...

As night fell, Baoyu arrived alone in front of the main hall where the coffin was kept. Inside, incense smoke curled and candlelight flickered, illuminating the cold coffin.

Baoyu slowly knelt down and respectfully kowtowed three times towards the direction of the coffin. This was his final farewell to his father and a ceremony to bid farewell to the past.

Standing up, Baoyu's eyes were now filled with tranquility. He knew that from this day forward, he would truly sever his ties to the world and devote himself wholeheartedly to Buddhism. The turbulent world behind him was no longer relevant to him. The ancient lamps and Buddha statues of Juemi Temple would be his companions for the rest of his life. His heart, once troubled by love and disturbed by the world, would gradually return to peace and serenity under the cleansing influence of Buddhism.

After observing a year of mourning in Jinling, Jia Lan returned to the capital and was appointed as the Left Vice Censor-in-Chief of the Censorate.

When Daiyu heard about it from Xiao Tingjun, she was still somewhat shocked: "He's so young, can he really do it?"

After she finished speaking, Daiyu laughed first.

“I always felt he was still a child. But when I think about it, so many years have passed.” Sometimes when Daiyu saw Jiayue or Cong’er, she would also feel that time really flies.

She recalled that when she first entered the Jia family mansion, Lan-ge was just a little kid.

Xiao Tingjun smiled and said, "Don't worry, I think Jia Lan is very steady in his work. In fact, he and Li Ke were both my sixth brother's study companions back then, but he is far inferior to my sixth brother. Li Ke is a military talent, and now he is under the command of the Left General and is highly regarded. Jia Lan is a civil official who is mature and moderate and does things in a very methodical way, so I sent him to the Censorate to gain experience."

Daiyu nodded, then turned to Xiao Tingjun and began to talk about the Emperor Emeritus's health.

"Father is getting old and always coughs. He was seriously ill earlier this year and has lost a lot of weight. His energy is also not as good as before." Daiyu's idea is to celebrate the Emperor Emeritus's birthday banquet properly this year.

"I understand what Father Emperor means. Instead of the old way, we should have a proper family meal. Aunt's health isn't very good these days, so it's just Aunt's family, Your Majesty and your brothers, that's enough. There's no need for the court officials." Daiyu suggested a complete family banquet.

"Okay, that's a good idea, but you'll have to take care of it, Yu'er." Xiao Tingjun held his wife's hand, and the two walked slowly in the garden.

Unexpectedly, Daiyu and the Empress Dowager shared the same idea.

Chapter 327 Extra Chapter 8: Everyone Raises Children Hoping They'll Be Smart (2)

The Emperor Emeritus's birthday celebration was truly a family banquet, attended by the Eldest Princess and her family, the Emperor's family, the Prince Li's family, the Prince Cheng's family, the Prince Fu's family, and the Empress Dowager and Imperial Concubines.

Qiongnan, who had married, had already gone to another place with her husband, but had sent gifts back ahead of time—opening the exquisitely carved mahogany box with wave patterns, a unique fragrance carrying the scent of the sea wafted out. Inside the box were not gold or silver jewelry, but several rare treasures unique to southern Fujian.

The box contained several packets of Wuyi rock tea carefully wrapped in oiled paper. The dark brown tea leaves were tightly curled and exuded a mellow tea aroma, as if one could taste the refreshing sweetness of the mountains of southern Fujian.

A box of fish skin peanuts, each plump peanut coated in crispy fish skin, golden in color and with an enticing aroma, is the perfect snack to accompany tea or wine, carrying a strong Minnan flavor.

There were also a few pieces of Quanzhou peanut brittle, carefully tied with red string. The white sugar pieces were interspersed with crunchy peanut crumbs and sesame seeds. It was sweet but not greasy, and melted in your mouth. It was a traditional candy that people in southern Fujian had to have during the New Year and other festivals.

There are also Zhangzhou woodblock New Year paintings, which depict adorable door gods and auspicious patterns, carrying a strong Minnan folk flavor and best wishes for the Emperor Emeritus's birthday.

The Emperor Emeritus was very pleased with Qiongnan's birthday gift. With the island nation returned, the southeast, now under the court's rule, was doing increasingly well. Even so, it was still a source of great comfort to both the Emperor Emeritus and the Emperor that Qiongnan's husband volunteered to go to Fujian when he was being transferred to a post elsewhere.

Due to its remote location, Fujian is not as prosperous as many places in the Central Plains. For this reason, the imperial court hopes to send capable officials there.

Meanwhile, Su Ziran, the husband of Qiong Nan, was a top scholar in the imperial examination and married a princess. He worked diligently and achieved outstanding results as a junior official in the Hanlin Academy for a year. He took the initiative to volunteer, which immediately won the admiration of many court officials. At the same time, it also inspired some officials to stop being greedy for wealth and status and instead apply to go to the harsh frontier.

As the Crown Prince and the Emperor Emeritus's grandchildren arrived to celebrate the Emperor Emeritus's birthday, a hint of worry flashed through the Emperor Emeritus's initial joy.

The Emperor has three sons, which is fewer than any emperor in history. The Crown Prince is excellent in both academics and archery, the Second Prince is young but also excels in both literature and martial arts, and the Third Prince is even younger but already shows great potential.

But all three children were outstanding, which made the retired emperor somewhat uneasy: when the children all grow up, there can only be one throne.

Concealing his unease, the Emperor Emeritus happily enjoyed an exceptionally warm family banquet. He knew that the Empress and Empress Dowager had been busy for a long time preparing for his birthday celebration, all to make him happy.

But that night, the retired emperor still summoned the emperor alone.

Looking at his son, who was already in his forties, the Emperor Emeritus felt the passage of time even more deeply—he remembered how overjoyed he was when Lady Qiao gave birth to their third son.

In the blink of an eye, the third prince has been emperor for many years.

"What do you think of the Crown Prince, the Second Prince, and the Third Prince?" The Emperor Emeritus didn't have time for sentimentality and asked directly.

Xiao Tingjun understood the Emperor Emeritus's meaning almost immediately: this was something Xiao Tingjun sometimes worried about. Although all three princes were born to Yu'er, and siblings from the same mother would have a better bond, it was the throne, perhaps the most tempting thing in the world.

Seeing his son's expression, the retired emperor knew that the emperor had understood his concerns.

"You really need to think this through. All three children are incredibly intelligent; we can't afford to cause trouble within the family again," the Emperor Emeritus sighed.

Xiao Tingjun felt that this was a more complicated matter than any other political affair, because if it wasn't handled properly, it would hurt people's hearts, especially Yu'er. As their mother, how heartbroken Yu'er would be if her brothers really turned against each other.

As he thought about it, Xiao Tingjun seemed to see Yu'er heartbroken for her sons, and his face suddenly turned sorrowful, as if he was about to cry.

The retired emperor stared wide-eyed at his son, who looked like he was about to cry. He had only called him in to discuss countermeasures in advance, but the emperor himself was behaving like this.

"Could something have already happened?" The Emperor Emeritus frowned, his worry growing.

Xiao Tingjun only snapped out of his grief upon hearing the Emperor Emeritus's voice, and smiled brightly: "I was just overthinking it. I imagined the brothers fighting amongst themselves, and that's why I was overcome with sorrow. I'm sorry to have made you laugh at me, Father."

Upon hearing this, the retired emperor was furious: "I summoned you here only to give you a reminder, how did it come to this? The children are still young."

"He's already an emperor, yet he's still so impatient," the retired emperor sighed and shook his head.

"Alright, alright, go back and discuss it with the Empress. I get angry just looking at you." The Emperor Emeritus waved his hand, deciding not to worry about it anymore, since it was all the Emperor and Empress's business anyway.

The Emperor paused for a moment, looking at the exhausted face of the Retired Emperor. Remembering what Yu'er had said—that his father's health hadn't been good this year and that he should rest—he then took his leave.

The retired emperor looked at the emperor's back and couldn't help but smile again—this child, even though he's already in his forties, is still a sincere person.

However, neither the retired emperor, the emperor, nor the empress dowager or the empress expected that the eldest princess, who had always seemed relatively healthy, would pass away first.

Chapter 328 Extra Chapter 8: Everyone Raises Children Hoping They'll Be Smart (3)

The passing of the Eldest Princess saddened Daiyu for a long time. Daiyu would never forget that when she was isolated and helpless, the Eldest Princess appeared in the Rongguo Mansion, and from then on, her fate changed.

Even after learning that it was all the Emperor and Empress's idea, Daiyu was still very grateful to the Princess, especially after she was decided to become the Third Prince's wife. The Princess treated her so well.

Because the eldest princess was in a superior position, she didn't need to win anyone over, which made her kindness to Daiyu all the more precious.

Seeing his wife so heartbroken, Xiao Tingjun would come to comfort her every day.

"Don't worry, I'm fine. It's just that I keep thinking about what happened back then." Daiyu knew that Xiao Tingjun was actually very busy as an emperor, so she tried her best to hide her emotions.

“Auntie was already seventy-three years old, and she passed away peacefully in her sleep without any pain, so Yu’er should be happy for her.” Xiao Tingjun held his wife’s hand tightly, and the couple walked slowly by the pool.

"That's why I told you not to worry." Daiyu understood, of course, that her aunt's life was already quite fulfilling.

After the passing of the eldest princess, the retired emperor's health deteriorated further. However, each emperor began constructing his own mausoleum upon ascending the throne, so all funeral arrangements were prepared.

With the recent death of the eldest princess and the serious illness of the retired emperor, the palace has been quiet these days, without a sound of laughter or merriment.

However, for Jia Yue's coming-of-age ceremony, the Emperor Emeritus specifically instructed someone to convey a message to the Empress, instructing that it be handled properly.

The retired emperor has shown particular favoritism towards this granddaughter over the years. He always remembered that when the child was born, the southeast region won a great victory. Therefore, the retired emperor always told the empress dowager that Jiayue was a blessed child.

However, once Jia Yue's coming-of-age ceremony was over, the imperial physicians came trembling to report that the Emperor Emeritus was on his deathbed. Xiao Tingjun and Daiyu could do nothing but grieve.

The Empress Dowager used a small red clay stove to cook porridge specifically for the Emperor Emeritus. The Emperor Emeritus had a sweet tooth, and she used to always try to control him, but now she didn't have to. Daiyu specially instructed the Imperial Household Department to send the best maltose to the Empress Dowager.

The small stove was always kept warm with porridge or sweet soup, and the Emperor Emeritus was sometimes lucid and sometimes confused. The Empress Dowager was almost always by his side.

While still lucid, the retired emperor summoned the emperor, empress, and crown prince Jia Cong.

The retired emperor looked at the thirteen-year-old crown prince and felt as if he were seeing himself at thirteen. The child was very lively when he was young, but he became more composed after becoming crown prince.

"Remember, although you are the Crown Prince, you are also your parents' son. If there is anything you cannot do, just say it honestly. If you feel you can't tell your father, tell your mother. Don't worry, your parents love you very much." The Emperor Emeritus held Jia Cong's hand. Throughout history, very few Crown Princes have been able to successfully ascend the throne, but some have. He thought that Jia Cong could be one.

Jia Cong agreed with tears in his eyes.

The retired emperor looked at the emperor again: "Emperor, remember, do not be suspicious of the crown prince, and do not test or neglect him."

Xiao Tingjun thought that perhaps his father had thought of his second brother. In fact, he hadn't told his father that his second brother was probably also dying.