Red Mansion: Picking up a Lin Daiyu

Chapter 520 Xueyan: It's really not tasty

Imperial City

A group of eunuchs arrived at the Qianqing Palace in a hurry.

Just then, Xia Shouzhong, looking displeased, squinted and lowered his voice, saying, "Master just rested, what are you doing here?"

The eunuchs looked embarrassed and pushed each other until finally one of them stepped forward to speak.

He knelt down and kowtowed deeply before slowly saying, "Ancestor, Ancestor Dai has returned."

"what?"

Xia Shouzhong thought it was tinnitus, so he leaned down and asked, "What did you just say to me?"

"It's Dai, Dai Zuzong has returned."

Xia Shouzhong's expression hardened, filled with doubt. "Wasn't our ancestor guarding the imperial tombs? How did he end up inside the imperial palace?"

Seeing the young eunuch trembling slightly as he lay prostrate on the ground, Xia Shouzhong bent down to help him up, and said with a smile, "Hey, what is it? The old ancestor has returned, so there is only one old ancestor in this palace."

Looking at the eunuchs behind him, Xia Shouzhong asked, "Did you see who the ancestor came back with?"

The eunuchs nodded repeatedly, vying to say, "Two women, both dressed as monks, followed behind."

"Yes, the one in the lead is quite old."

"Moreover, the ancestor treated that woman with utmost respect, and we don't know where she came from."

Xia Shouzhong's gaze finally fell on the eunuch who called Dai Quan "Ancestor". He smiled insincerely and said, "Very well, I understand. I will go and see him. How can we let the Ancestor stand guard in front of the palace gate? You are all so ignorant of the rules."

……

Xuanwu Gate

The Imperial Guards, unusually, did not maintain a stern expression. Instead, they took an embroidered stool from the side and offered it to Dai Quan to rest and wait.

"Chief Steward Dai, His Majesty has been unwell lately, so it will take some time to deliver the message. Would you please sit and wait?"

A junior officer from the Imperial Guard stepped forward to help him sit down, but Dai Quan stood with his legs ramrod straight, bowed to the old nun behind him, and said, "Please sit down."

This action drew the attention of the surrounding Imperial Guards, who couldn't help but secretly wonder about the identities of the monks and nuns before them.

The only people Dai Quan has ever respected are the late emperor and the current emperor. There has never been a third person who could make Dai Quan lower himself to such a degree.

Dai Quan not only oversaw the imperial palace and managed the emperor's daily life, but he also single-handedly strengthened the Embroidered Uniform Guard. During the coup of Emperor Longyou, he chose to stand on Emperor Longyou's side and subsequently withdrew unscathed.

Such a figure was someone that even low-ranking officers like them could only look up to, yet Dai Quan stood by like a servant, his face full of respect.

The old nun's face was ashen, showing no emotion.

Sitting on the embroidered stool, her body swayed slightly, supported by a younger female monk beside her.

"You need not be anxious. Let this old servant explain. His Majesty will make his own decision, especially since the one in Cining Palace is still here."

The old nun nodded slightly. "Alright, I'm not in a hurry. It's been decades, there's no rush. But you tell me, the Empress Dowager is still alive, I wonder if she will still make it difficult for us, mother and son, to recognize each other."

Dai Quan said in a deep voice, "His Majesty is in the prime of his life, and it is no longer something that others can interfere with or entangle him with."

"Alright."

The old nun felt slightly relieved and held Miaoyu's hand tightly.

Looking at the majestic palace gate, Miaoyu felt very nervous.

Unexpectedly, her master turned out to be the current emperor's birth mother, a position of immense importance, as she was the current imperial concubine.

Especially if the Empress Dowager passes away, it is common for the Imperial Concubine to be given the title of Empress Dowager.

No wonder Master always avoids the mortal world and doesn't want to get involved in worldly troubles. It turns out there's such a big event that could even shake the entire imperial court.

Looking down at her master, Miaoyu twitched her lips and couldn't help but secretly imagine the fate that led her master to meet the late emperor.

If Master just addressed this senior eunuch as elder brother, then they must be a member of the clan.

The most famous thing the late emperor did was to travel to the south of the Yangtze River several times. Since the master was from the south, there seems to be only one possibility: the late emperor had a romantic encounter with the master after arriving in the south.

However, after his master gave birth to a son, he was never able to return to the capital. Instead, he was ordained as a monk at Panxiang Temple on Xuanmu Mountain, where he remains to this day.

There must be some secrets she doesn't know about.

Out of the corner of his eye, Dai Quan noticed Miaoyu looking at him curiously. He couldn't help but smile and said, "As expected of the women from Dingguo Mansion, they all have similar temperaments. If you are to meet His Majesty later, you must not be disrespectful in front of the Emperor."

The old nun raised her head and glanced at Miaoyu.

Miaoyu could only stick out her tongue and shrink her head, "I understand, I will follow your teachings, Father-in-law."

Before they could finish, a group of people came out of the palace gate. Except for the leader, who wore a red-topped top with a yellow dragon pattern, the rest of them all wore black gauze hats and camel-colored short jackets.

Compared to the people walking towards him, Dai Quan's patched-up clothes were certainly not presentable.

But the visitors all greeted him politely. Xia Shouzhong, who was in the lead, bowed and said, "Ancestor, what brings such a strong wind back to us?"

Looking up at the pair of women behind Dai Quan out of the corner of his eye, Xia Shouzhong was also completely confused.

Without ceremony or sacrifice, what is the purpose of bringing two monks into the palace?
Dai Quan didn't waste any more words with him, and said in a low voice, "I need to see His Majesty."

Perhaps due to his long experience dealing with the princes, Xia Shouzhong habitually said, "His Majesty's health is still not fully recovered, and he is currently bedridden..."

After saying half a sentence, Xia Shouzhong suddenly sensed something was wrong and changed his words, saying, "Grand Ancestor, please come with me to the side hall and wait for a while while I go in and ask."

Dai Quan's expression relaxed, and he nodded, saying, "Thank you for your trouble."

Seeing that Dai Quan was about to help the old nun up, Xia Shouzhong couldn't help but ask, "Grand Ancestor, do they also want to see His Majesty?"

Dai Quan nodded, "This is an important matter for the imperial family, so there's no need to inquire further."

Seeing Dai Quan's serious expression and the obvious determination in his eyes, Xia Shouzhong didn't think that he was senile and would bring people to the palace to cause trouble.

Now, all they have to do is go and greet the emperor, to give Dai Quan face.

The group followed the palace entry procedures step by step and then went straight to the Qianqing Palace.

The once grand palace now appears somewhat dilapidated.

Inside the palace, there were not many elaborate displays or decorations, and large sections of the walls were empty.

Emperor Longyou was not materialistic, did not indulge in pleasure, and lived a very simple life.

Only a few palace lanterns illuminated the area in front of the hall. The old nun looked around and began to form a vague impression of the child she hadn't seen for decades.

If she were an ordinary person, she would surely be content with a simple life, just like her.

Thinking of this, the old nun was even more moved. Her long-cherished wish was about to be fulfilled, and tears welled up in her eyes.

"Chief Steward Xia, have you come to see me with something important to discuss?"

Emperor Longyou, dressed in a black casual robe and wearing a crane-feather cloak, walked out with faltering steps.

He was thin, with prominent cheekbones, and his mental state was obviously poor.

With the majesty of an emperor, he glanced at the three people standing in front of the hall, then slowly sat down in the seat of honor, and narrowed his eyes.

Emperor Longyou didn't have any particular feelings for Dai Quan, as Dai Quan had served the previous emperor diligently during the reign. However, during the final palace coup, Dai Quan chose Emperor Longyou's side.

Although the choice was correct and helped Emperor Longyou to some extent, as a eunuch, escaping the tide in this way inevitably earned him some contempt from Emperor Longyou.

Since he was a former retainer of the previous dynasty, Emperor Longyou still gave him some face and waved for someone to come and offer him a seat.

Dai Quan politely declined, saying, "I inquire about Your Majesty's well-being. It is late tonight and I will not disturb your peace. I have come here to introduce someone to you, which concerns the bloodline and ethics of the royal family. I would not dare to disturb Your Majesty's rest if it were not for this important matter."

Dai Quan's voice was like a grand bell, piercing through the sparse sounds in the hall and reaching everyone's ears.

As soon as he finished speaking, the palace servants standing by were all taken aback and cast surprised and doubtful glances toward the hall.

Emperor Longyou was also extremely surprised, and was drawn to lean forward slightly. His previously cloudy gaze suddenly became sharp as a knife, piercing the two people behind Dai Quan.

Xia Shouzhong, who was standing to the side, was greatly shocked and dared not breathe. If what Dai Quan said about the royal bloodline was true, then he had just overstepped his bounds, which would have been a capital offense.

But whose offspring from the royal family were left behind?
He had been by Emperor Longyou's side for a long time and was his childhood companion. He was naturally aware that Emperor Longyou had several children outside the palace.

Moreover, this old nun was old and faded, and didn't seem to have any connection with Emperor Longyou.

"Could it be Prince Kang?"

Xia Shouzhong pondered this in secret, but he still had no clue.

Before Emperor Longyou could give any orders, he quickly dismissed all the palace servants from the hall and returned to close the doors and windows tightly.

"Royal bloodline?"

Dai Quan has always been meticulous in his work, and is more like half of the late emperor's strategist. He has never made a mistake over the years, so it is unlikely that he would try to trick him at this critical juncture.

Looking closely at the old nun, Emperor Longyou noticed her well-proportioned figure, delicate features, and a strange sense of familiarity, as if he had seen her somewhere before.

However, this was, after all, a cultivator, and if he were to become involved with the royal family, it would be considered a scandal. Emperor Longyou could not help but be cautious again and again.

"Steward Dai, have you verified whose bloodline she is related to?"

The old nun responded by pulling away from Miaoyu's support and taking a few steps forward.

She walked extremely slowly, her trembling body heavy, and finally stopped and burst into tears.

For some reason, seeing the old nun shed tears, Emperor Longyou felt a strange pang of heartache and a sense of foreboding.

Dai Quan spoke up at the opportune moment, saying, "Your Majesty, the late Emperor expanded the territory and his achievements spread throughout the world. In earlier years, he mobilized a million river workers to dredge the canals in the north and south. When inspecting the waterways, the late Emperor went to the south of the Yangtze River several times. As his personal eunuch, I was fortunate enough to serve him by his side every day, almost never leaving his side."

"Even if I die ten thousand times, I will present this kinship, which has been buried for half a lifetime, to Your Majesty so that Your Majesty may understand it."

"This woman was the late Emperor's daughter who was granted imperial favor forty-six years ago when he traveled south to Jinling. She is also His Majesty's birth mother."

Emperor Longyou's eyes widened like a bull's. "What? I'm not the Empress Dowager's son?"

……

A cool breeze blows,

After a hearty meal, Xueyan, supported by Zijuan, took a stroll in the garden to relax.

Xueyan is a restless person, and even though she is now showing some signs of pregnancy, she still can't stay in her room.

Yue Ling and Lin Daiyu doted on her even more, so they arranged for someone to accompany her for a walk after meals every day. Today it was Zijuan's turn.

After wiping a peach clean with a handkerchief, Zijuan handed it to Xueyan and took her arm as they walked along the covered walkway through the mountains.

Xueyan took a crisp bite, and juice overflowed from her mouth.

Zijuan smiled as she watched, and wiped the corners of her mouth again.

"By the way, Sister Zijuan is with me today, who is looking after the room?"

Xueyan blinked as she ate the peach.

Zijuan smiled and tapped the tip of her nose, saying, "You don't need to worry about that. Yuanyang is already taking care of things in the room. Isn't she more attentive and considerate than us?"

Xueyan nodded heavily, "That makes sense."

The two wandered aimlessly through the garden, looking around. Xueyan frowned and asked curiously, "I don't think I've seen Qingwen today. Where did she go? She's not in her room."

Zijuan pondered and said, "She said she was going out of the manor after noon today, and it's getting dark now, so she should be back soon."

Xueyan clicked her tongue and said, "He really is a busy person, always having to leave the mansion."

“After all, they have business ties with the Xue family, so it’s not surprising,” Zijuan replied casually.

A plump peach was devoured by Xueyan before it even left the corridor. After sucking on the pit, Xueyan spat it into her hand and threw it forcefully into the pond, creating ripples.

"You're being silly again. There are lotus flowers blooming in the pond."

Xueyan said with a grin, "Those long-legged water crawlers on the water look so leisurely and yet so intimidating. I thought I'd throw a date pit at them to give them a good whack."

Zijuan rolled her eyes, inwardly grumbling.

Even though she's about to become a mother, she still acts like a child, showing no signs of change.

"I wonder what Xueyan's child will look like when he grows up. It would be best if he resembled the master more, and not as foolish as Xueyan, so that he can become more accomplished in the future."

But Zijuan seemed to be able to see in the near future that at the same table, a big glutton would be followed by a little glutton, fighting side by side for food, neither willing to give way to the other.

Helpless, Zijuan sighed and said, "Never mind, it's going to be windy tonight, we should go back."

Xueyan was also very satisfied. She stroked her slightly swollen belly and muttered softly, "With Mother, we'll have plenty to eat and drink, and lots of fun to play with!"

The two returned to the main courtyard. As soon as they entered the bedroom, they saw Qingwen pouring water in an odd posture by the tea table.

She was already petite and graceful with long limbs, and when she raised her buttocks and strained her waist to lift her lower body to put down the teapot, it looked even stranger.

Xueyan pointed and said, "Water reptiles!"

Hearing the sound at the door, Qingwen turned around abruptly, her face instantly turning bright red with embarrassment.

While no one was in the room, she intended to have a drink of water and then go to bed to rest, but unexpectedly, she bumped into the two of them returning.

Zijuan also abandoned Xueyan and stepped forward in confusion, saying, "What kind of posture is that? Why do you have to stick your butt out? Did you get jolted when you were traveling by car?"

Zijuan gently patted her, which made Qingwen scream, "Ah!"

Then she quickly covered her mouth, her face turning red and purple, and Qingwen pleaded in a low voice, almost hoarse, "Sister Zijuan, don't touch me, pour me some water first."

Upon noticing Qingwen's legs spread apart, Zijuan seemed to have thought of something and teased, "Xueyan is full, but I didn't expect you to be even fuller than Xueyan."

"What? What did Qingwen eat?"

"You've already eaten what Qingwen ate."

"Nonsense, I only ate a peach, and my sister saw it."

"I've never eaten this before, what's in your stomach?"

Xueyan seemed to have figured something out. She stared at Qingwen's trembling legs, and her cheeks gradually flushed with the same color as Qingwen's.

"That Qingwen, she really had a tough time. That stuff didn't taste good..."

(End of this chapter)