The Black Chamber Dream: Daiyu's Revenge

This act of bestowing rewards not only demonstrated the emperor's majesty and benevolence, but also stirred different thoughts among the wealthy merchant families fortunate enough to receive them: it seems that even merchant families must be aware of the situation. Don't be too clever for your own good, or you won't even know how you died.

After this series of combined attacks, Wang Ziteng had no choice but to back down. The reason he could still hold his position as Governor-General of Liangjiang was twofold: firstly, thanks to his previous victories in the southeast, and secondly, because he hadn't been here long enough for any corruption to be investigated.

But what to do next is something Wang Ziteng needs to think about carefully.

Prince Rui, Xiao Tingkai, also settled down. He realized that since his third son was named Crown Prince, he had made several bad moves. Just as Song Mingshi said, he should think carefully, remain calm and wait for the right opportunity.

The Emperor was in a great mood. If it weren't for the Censorate stirring up this matter, the Emperor wouldn't have planned to take action against Liangjiang right now. After all, the war in the southeast had only just begun, and things would have been resolved if things were done slowly.

Since the Censorate is going to investigate, let's just do a thorough investigation. The Emperor was prepared for Lin Ruhai's affair long ago, so it's easy to control the investigation.

Taking advantage of this opportunity to thoroughly investigate and bring down a large number of corrupt officials in the two rivers region, we can also increase revenue for the national treasury, achieving two goals at once.

The emperor, in high spirits, was pondering matters concerning the imperial tomb sacrifice. He summoned the crown prince alone.

In fact, after winning the battle in the southeast, the emperor had the idea of ​​personally going to the mausoleum to offer sacrifices. This was his greatest achievement since ascending the throne, the kind that would be recorded in history.

Following the appointment of the crown prince and the princess's first birthday, they also thought that going during the Mid-Autumn Festival would be fine, as it would be a good time for the autumn hunt. However, unexpectedly, Prince Teng's side unearthed Lin Ruhai's case.

Thus, the matter was delayed. Now that everything has been resolved satisfactorily, the emperor is ready to set off.

Chapter 200 The Emperor's Sacrifice at the Mausoleum Benefits Daiyu

Upon hearing that they were going to pay respects at the mausoleum, Xiao Tingjun calculated the time and asked, "Father, are you planning to go next year during the Qingming Festival?"

The Emperor was in a good mood: "Indeed, this time I intend to bring your mother, and you brothers should bring your families to accompany me."

Finally, the emperor added, "The little princess should also be brought along, and Consort Guo should accompany her. Oh, and please ask your aunt and uncle to bring Xin'er as well."

It seems a grand ceremony is about to be held. Xiao Tingjun could understand: after his father ascended the throne, apart from the grand ceremony held in the first year of his reign, he had never personally attended one since. His grandfather, on the other hand, would attend every three to five years during his reign.

Offering sacrifices at the imperial tombs was one aspect, but going out for a walk was another: being an emperor was tiring, and being a good emperor was even more tiring, unless one was willing to be a tyrant. In addition, the events in the southeast in the past two years had weighed on the emperor, so the emperor not only had many things to do, but was also mentally exhausted.

Although the palace is already very large, living there day after day, each palace and hall is ultimately the same. Besides, with the pressure of state affairs, everyone would want to go out and relax.

"Now that you are the Crown Prince, everything will be discussed by you, the Ministry of Rites, and the Imperial Household Department. The travel arrangements will be entrusted to you." This was the reason the Emperor summoned Xiao Tingjun.

"Yes, Your Majesty, I will make preparations immediately." It's still early. Since it's next year's Qingming Festival, it will only take about ten days from departure to the imperial palace, so there's still time to make preparations slowly.

Upon returning to Delin Palace, Xiao Tingjun immediately informed Daiyu of the upcoming trip: "That's great, Yu'er can go out and relax now."

Daiyu asked curiously, "Then, Father, will you go hunting while you're at it?"

The mausoleum and the imperial palace are not too far from the hunting grounds. Even if the imperial carriage moves slowly, it would only take three or four days to get to the hunting grounds from the imperial palace.

“It’s springtime now, so the hunt won’t be too large, but Father would still be happy to go for a stroll.” The Emperor hadn’t mentioned it earlier, and Xiao Tingjun had forgotten to ask. Now that his wife brought it up, he secretly made a note of it, planning to inquire about his father’s opinion later.

When the late emperor was alive, after visiting the mausoleum, he would usually go to the hunting grounds, because he loved hunting and often took the military officers from the capital with him.

However, his father wasn't particularly enthusiastic about hunting, so Xiao Tingjun had to ask him first.

However, the other women in the harem were not happy at this moment: the emperor only brought the empress and Consort Guo, and did not bring any of the other concubines, which made them very depressed.

Especially Consort Wu and Consort Xu, they both felt that the Empress was fine, she was the rightful Empress, and they couldn't compare to her, but the Emperor actually bypassed them and wanted to bring Consort Guo along. In terms of rank, they were higher than Consort Guo, and their sons were already princes, yet they were not as good as a Consort who had given birth to a daughter.

The two men complained to the Empress in anger, but the Empress remained calm and composed: "I'm afraid His Majesty has his reasons. There's nothing I can do about what His Majesty has arranged."

They were dismissed with a single sentence, which naturally made the two women even more dissatisfied: "You are the Empress, and you can accompany me, of course you don't care. You are like a well-fed man who doesn't know the hunger of a starving man."

However, Consort Wu had not gotten the emperor's favor on these occasions, so she returned to the palace to reprimand the palace maids and eunuchs, and that was the end of it.

But Consort Xu was still not convinced and pleaded aggrievedly before the Emperor: "Your Majesty is so biased. I haven't been out for so many years. I finally have a chance, but Your Majesty won't take me."

"I am going to pay homage at the imperial tombs, not to go sightseeing. I am traveling light this time. You stay here and help the Consort with palace affairs. Otherwise, I am worried that the Consort will not be able to handle things properly on her own." Consort Xu was not satisfied with the first part of the Emperor's words, but when she heard that she could stay and help the Consort with palace affairs, she was tempted again.

The Empress and the Crown Princess are both going, which means there will be no one to manage the harem. If it is left to Consort Wu, what if Consort Wu does something while I am away? I'm afraid I will suffer the consequences.

"Of course, I know that managing the harem is a tough job. If you and the Imperial Concubine do a good job, I will reward you handsomely when I return." Seeing that Consort Xu had been persuaded by his words, the Emperor did not forget to make a promise.

Consort Xu smiled immediately upon hearing this: "Then I will await Your Majesty's reward."

Seeing Consort Xu in such a state, the Emperor was in a good mood. He not only let her stay overnight but also rewarded her with a red lotus-dew teapot and a matching teacup. The teapot was decorated with a lotus scroll pattern in iron-red throughout, with two openwork panels on the belly. One panel depicted lotus flowers in a pond, and the other panel was inscribed with the Emperor's poem. It was quite exquisite.

Xiao Tingjun learned that the emperor was going to the hunting grounds and told his wife about it when he returned. Daiyu immediately smiled and said, "In that case, Fifth Sister-in-law should be happy."

“Yu’er, didn’t you learn to ride a horse with Fifth Sister-in-law? I’ll take you there. It’s open and comfortable over there.” Xiao Tingjun watched Daiyu instruct Zijuan and the others to pack their things, and then said, “Don’t think that it will be around Qingming Festival. It’s quite cool there at night, so bring a few extra layers of clothing to avoid catching a cold.”

"Yes, Mother also told me about the weather there." Yesterday, the Empress told Daiyu about the scale of the palace and the accommodations, and asked Daiyu who she planned to bring, since it was a trip and she couldn't bring too many people.

“I’ll take Xueyan and Chunyu with me. Granny Gu and Granny Xu are too old to go out, so I was thinking of bringing Mengshi along, in addition to Yueyue’s two wet nurses. What about you?” Daiyu asked Zijuan and the others. Zijuan volunteered to stay and look after the house. Granny Gu and Granny Xu had accompanied the Empress on trips in their younger years, but they were too old to travel anymore. Although they were with the Emperor, life outside was never as comfortable as inside the palace.

Zijuan is now extremely careful and clever. As a seventh-rank female official, she is highly valued by the Crown Princess. Therefore, the eunuchs and maids in the palace treat Zijuan with great courtesy.

This time, the Emperor is going on a trip with the Empress, and Daiyu will accompany them. However, the Consorts and other concubines in the inner palace will stay behind. Therefore, someone will need to keep a close watch on Delin Palace. Zijuan volunteered to stay and look after the palace, which put Daiyu at ease.

Xiao Tingjun had already made up his mind: "I don't need to bring anyone else here except Zhao Bingxin. Anyway, we have Father's guards. Yu'er, you just need to make arrangements for your side. Yueyue is still young, but Father specifically instructed us to bring her along."

The Emperor is very fond of this granddaughter now, and everyone in the palace knows it. Princess Yongjia and Princess Rongqing are the Emperor's darlings.

"Since I came to the capital as a child, this is the first time I've left the capital, except for a trip back to Yangzhou." Daiyu was very much looking forward to this trip, hoping to benefit from the Emperor's favor and visit the imperial palace and the hunting grounds. After all, both her Wanmei Villa and the Princess's Yingshui Villa were located in the suburbs of the capital.

Seeing his wife's expectant face, Xiao Tingjun's mood improved, and he couldn't wait to tell Daiyu about the scenery of the imperial palace.

Chapter 201 The Imperial Palace is Pleasant but Has Ulterior Motives

Since the current emperor ascended the throne, he has been diligent in governing and loves his people, and he dislikes extravagance. This is his second trip since taking the throne, but the number of people he brought with him is much smaller than when the previous emperor was alive.

The large procession departed from the capital in mid-March, heading northeast towards Jizhou City. Apart from a few princes and military officers riding horses, the rest traveled in carriages befitting their status.

It's quite interesting. Originally, the emperor and empress each had their own ceremonial carriages. However, the emperor said that the empress worked hard day and night to manage the harem perfectly, allowing him to focus on the court without any worries. To reward her, he asked the empress to ride with him.

Since the emperor had said so, the empress declined humbly but gladly accepted the order.

In this way, Daiyu's carriage as the Crown Princess was in the Emperor's entourage, and the straight-handled, three-eaved, nine-dragon umbrella shone brightly in the sunlight, making it particularly eye-catching.

The Crown Princess's carriage was entirely covered in golden satin, with golden pheasants painted on the four four-foot-seven-inch-high pillars at the corners, and various colorful birds adorning the bottom. The entire interior of the carriage, except for the light red double doors, was entirely golden.

Therefore, although it was not comparable to the emperor's ceremonial procession, it was still extremely luxurious.

Daiyu held Yueyue, who was curious about everything, in her arms. Yueyue's wet nurse and Xueyan were also in the carriage, while the others rode in the carriage behind.

Crown Prince Xiao Tingjun, like his brothers, rode a horse, as did the youngest, the sixth prince.

They could only rest at post stations along the way. Although the post stations were well prepared, they were still not as comfortable as the palace. Yueyue, who had been too excited along the way, fell asleep early. Daiyu held her warm little body and couldn't help but shake her head and smile.

Although weary, the scenery along the way was truly beautiful. Warm colors were just beginning to emerge, magnolias were in bloom, gracefully adorned, as if heaven had sent down a rainbow. Further on, we saw red apricot branches, the spring colors alluring, swallows flying diagonally, and doves cooing outside the curtain.

The imperial palace was even more beautiful, with its magnificent palaces and pavilions, and a vast expanse of glazed tiles. Everywhere you looked, the pavilions and towers were adorned with red pillars and carved railings, exuding the extravagance of an imperial family.

This mountain villa was originally the summer palace of the previous dynasty's imperial family. After the founding of this dynasty, it was expanded and renovated, making it even more luxurious.

It was already afternoon when they arrived at the imperial palace. The emperor was in high spirits and led everyone on a tour of the palace. The scenery inside was truly exquisite. It was Daiyu's first time visiting this royal garden, so she enjoyed the journey immensely.

On the contrary, Xiao Tingjun could not enjoy himself properly this time. He was still keeping track of the time on the way and sent someone to inform the emperor and others in advance so that everything would be arranged properly after the emperor and others arrived.

For example, while the emperor was touring the garden with his entourage, Xiao Tingjun had already summoned the palace staff to arrange the dinner—choosing Moonlit River Sound Island, a small island in the lake, inspired by Su Shi's two Odes on the Red Cliff. Whenever the moon rises over the eastern hills, the lake is filled with clear light, and all is quiet except for the gentle lapping of the lake water against the shore.

Originally, Daiyu was also going to help him, but Xiao Tingjun thought that it was Daiyu's first time visiting and that she was also bringing Yueyue with her, so he decided to do it all himself.

Xiao Tingjun finally breathed a sigh of relief when he returned to Qiutao Building, where he and his wife lived, in the evening.

Seeing him like this, Daiyu quickly handed him a cushion to lean on and rest: "This is filled with the finest chrysanthemums and mugwort leaves; using it will refresh your eyes and relieve fatigue."

Xueyan had already brought the tea. Daiyu took it and, seeing that it was honeysuckle and jujube tea, nodded: "Now that you have Sister Meng, you have learned a lot."

"That's right. This honeysuckle and jujube tea was recommended to me by Sister Meng. She said that honeysuckle can clear heat and detoxify, and jujubes can nourish the blood. Together, they can clear liver fire and replenish qi and blood." Xueyan held the tray of Magu's longevity offering in her hand, waiting for the Crown Prince to drink the tea before taking away the teacup and leaving.

Everyone would stay at the temporary palace for five days before the official day for the imperial tombs. The emperor was in a good mood upon arriving at the temporary palace and spent almost every day touring the area with his entourage.

When it came time to formally pay respects at the mausoleum, only the princes were brought along.

Daiyu then took Yueyue to speak with the Empress, where Consort Guo happened to be present with her daughter.

When Yueyue saw the princess, she clapped her hands and called her "Sister Su". Even the Empress couldn't help but shake her head: "What a glutton! Last time she saw Xin'er, she called her "Sister Tang", but now she's confused about the generations. What 'Sister Su'? This is your little aunt."

Princess Yongjia is now over two years old. When she arrived at the imperial palace, the kitchen specially made milk cakes for her. She loved them, but when the emperor teased her, she generously shared them with her little niece, Yueyue.

The eldest princess also brought Gao Xin over, and soon after, Zuo Jiangqiu also arrived.

Zuo Jiangqiu also brought two white porcelain whistles shaped like rabbits, with a red string tied to their tails so they could be hung around a child's neck.

Both children were born in the Year of the Rabbit, so it's clear this was prepared well in advance.

"I brought it with me when I set off, but I kept forgetting about it." Sure enough, Zuo Jiangqiu said with a smile and then demonstrated it to the children.

Gao Xin is past the age of liking to blow her sister-in-law's whistle, but the two younger ones, especially Yueyue, really like it. At first, she couldn't make a sound and pouted, but she didn't give up and kept trying. After many attempts, she finally succeeded.

"Whoa—"

Daiyu felt like she was almost deaf.

The two little ones were overjoyed, taking turns whistling, filling the room with the sound of whistles, while Zuo Jiangqiu and Gao Xinle laughed heartily.

Even the eldest princess couldn't help but shake her head: "Princess Consort Cheng really has the heart of a child."

Finally, the Empress couldn't stand it anymore and ordered someone to bring out thick cushions and bring out the rag doll, rattle drum, and mahjong, which finally diverted the two little girls' attention.

When the emperor returned from the imperial tombs, he could hear laughter coming from inside while he was still outside. He couldn't help but say to the princes, "It's so lively here, Empress. I'm afraid everyone is here."

He stepped inside and saw the little princess being pinned down by Yueyue. Then Yueyue rolled over, and the two of them ended up rolling around in a mess. The emperor couldn't help but burst into laughter.

The two children, the princess is more than two months older, but she is not yet walking very steadily.

Yueyue was even more mischievous; as soon as the emperor came in, she reached out for a hug.

The emperor didn't think much of it and picked up the child. The little princess reached out her hand, but not to the emperor; instead, she reached out to the empress and called her "Mother."

"They're all very clever." The Emperor was particularly pleased. He glanced around and noticed that the wives of his second and fourth sons were not there. He frowned. "I thought they were all with the Empress."

The words weren't explicitly stated, but everyone present understood. The Empress quickly smiled and said, "Anyway, since we're at the imperial palace, I didn't have them come to pay their respects."

The emperor said nothing more.

To Daiyu's surprise, Princess Rui and Princess Li, who did not go to the Empress's residence, seemed to have made a pact to come to Daiyu's place together.

Chapter 202 Deliberately Provoking Daiyu with Sarcasm

Although Daiyu was somewhat surprised that Princess Rui, Song Huilan, and Princess Li, Ge Xijia, appeared together at her residence, Qiutao Tower, she remained calm.

The two men were using the excuse of looking after their little niece, but Yueyue was already asleep. So Daiyu said directly, "What a coincidence, Yueyue is tired from playing."

The wet nurse had already taken the child to bed, so the two of them naturally didn't say goodbye. However, after Daiyu finished speaking, she didn't say anything more.