Red Mansion: Picking up a Lin Daiyu

Chapter 521 Lin Daiyu: I won't do this thankless task.
After the old nun pointed out the several birthmarks on his body, Emperor Longyou's heart gradually calmed down.

Now he understands why Empress Dowager Sun favored her brother, Prince Kang, and turned a blind eye to the losses he suffered.

Back then, Empress Dowager Sun had tried her best to encourage the two brothers to get along, but a few days later she was assassinated at the Prince Kang's residence.

If Yue Ling hadn't been vigilant and resourceful enough to prepare in advance, he wouldn't be where he is today.

Emperor Longyou would never believe that Empress Dowager Sun was not involved in his brother's assassination plot.

He raised his head again, and Emperor Longyou's face showed a hint of hardship, but his tone softened slightly.

"Guards! Make proper arrangements for the Empress Consort in the inner palace! Send word to Kunning Palace that the Empress should come out to greet me..."

Emperor Longyou's gaze gradually sharpened, and he rose to leave.

Xia Shouzhong hurriedly followed behind, shouting in a shrill voice, "Prepare the carriage!"

As the supreme ruler, the family reunion ceremony was not so tragic. Emperor Longyou's warm gaze lingered on the old nun's face for a moment before he nodded and left.

Emperor Longyou never expected that the secrets concerning the imperial family were related to him, and he was eager to confront Empress Dowager Sun.

In the blink of an eye, we arrived at Cining Palace, which was as tranquil as ever.

In a corner of the inner hall, a palace maid was simmering a medicine stove, and the bitter smell of medicine filled the air.

Empress Dowager Sun leaned against the couch, her withered fingers resting on the brocade quilt, while an elderly palace maid fed her a thick, dark medicine soup with a small silver spoon.

Over the years, Empress Dowager Sun looked decades older.

Now he is emaciated, with a full head of silver hair and cloudy eyes.

The palace coup ten years ago was a huge blow to her.

The once harmonious royal family, where brothers were loving and fathers and sons were in accord, was completely changed by that struggle. She lost her son in middle age, followed by her husband, and was left to sit alone in the deep palace, where no one paid her any attention.

Several years ago, she also tried to reconcile with Emperor Longyou, and even attended the "Essay Meeting".

Seeing Emperor Longyou and his beloved general Yue Ling looking so dashing, she couldn't help but think of her eldest son again, and her face fell.

Worrying every day gradually weakens the body, and even the most precious Chinese medicine can only keep it barely hanging on.

"His Majesty."

When the people inside the hall saw Emperor Longyou approaching, they were initially slightly surprised, assuming that he was in poor health and recuperating in the Qianqing Palace. However, they quickly came to their senses and left the hall side by side.

The old palace maid kneeling before the phoenix bed immediately put down the medicine soup, placed it on the table, and withdrew through the door.

Empress Dowager Sun slightly raised her eyes and could see that Emperor Longyou looked serious and had come in a hurry, with his hair disheveled in the wind. She couldn't help but feel a little wary.

"Your Majesty has not visited me at Cining Palace for many days."

Empress Dowager Sun spoke weakly, her voice dry and rough, as if sanded.

Emperor Longyou flicked his hand behind him, and Xia Shouzhong quietly withdrew, closed the palace door, and stood guard outside.

Emperor Longyou did not bow at all, his gaze fixed intently on Empress Dowager Sun's face. He took a deep breath and said bluntly, "Mother, you truly love peace and quiet. For over forty years, you have enjoyed this tranquility all to yourself, and yet you have never been plagued by nightmares?"

Emperor Longyou's words were sharp as knives. Empress Dowager Sun's expression changed slightly. She raised her head and asked in return, "What does Your Majesty mean by this?"

After a few cold laughs, Emperor Longyou slowed his speech, as if the pent-up frustration of many years was finally being released, and he was no longer in a hurry.

Emperor Longyou pulled up a chair and sat down, saying indifferently, "Today, Chief Eunuch Dai entered the palace with a woman from Jiangnan. She has been tending to an ancient temple with a green lamp for over forty years."

Empress Dowager Sun's withered body trembled almost imperceptibly, her throat bobbed, and a mocking smile appeared on her lips.

Now that things have come to this, there's nothing left to hide.

Empress Dowager Sun lowered her hand and read aloud, "Your Majesty, so you've come for that old nun. She's a lowly village woman who dares to try and seduce the imperial family, offering herself to serve the master and climb into these golden-tiled, red-walled palaces. Humph, what a fool's dream."

Emperor Longyou narrowed his eyes slightly, his abdomen already silently circulating his inner energy.

"It was also because I took pity on you. It was a rainy night, and I saw Steward Dai holding you in his arms. You were no bigger than the palm of my hand, so I took you in."

"You are now in a position of great power, and it is not a big deal that you squeezed out your elder brother's position, but you still want to settle scores with me, a lonely man?"

Emperor Longyou clenched his fists tightly and said, "Then you shouldn't have stopped my mother and me from seeing each other for decades."

Empress Dowager Sun straightened up, and with her last bit of strength, she hysterically said, "Did you force my father to his death and kill my brother? Did that hurt me less?"

Emperor Longyou was furious, saying, "Prince Kang has colluded with the enemy and wants to sacrifice the people for his own selfish purposes. How can I let him live?! How can personal feelings be compared with matters of state?!"

"The eldest son should be chosen, not the most virtuous. You are born out of wedlock, so what right do you have to take your brother's position? If you hadn't refused to let go time and time again, would your brother have risked going to war and colluded with the enemy to deal with you?"

Emperor Longyou believed that Empress Dowager Sun had been biased in the past, but now she had become even more biased and prejudiced than before.

"The fate of the nation and its people depends on capable individuals; how can we concern ourselves with etiquette and rules?"

Empress Dowager Sun was too exhausted to argue any further. With a smile on her lips, she said, "Very well, I'll see which of your three sons you will pass the throne to!"

Emperor Longyou waved his arm, sweeping the soup on the table onto the ground. "I have my own way of handling this matter! As for you, you are morally deficient, usurping the throne and your crimes are unforgivable!"

"Effective immediately, the title of Empress Dowager is stripped, and she is moved to the Cold Spring Palace in the Western Palace for 'quiet recuperation'! Without my personal order, she shall never step out of the palace gates again! All palace servants who attended to her shall be replaced, and all her provisions shall be allocated according to the rations of a concubine!"

Having said that, Emperor Longyou did not look back at the old woman on the bed who was barely breathing, and strode out of the palace that had suppressed bloodshed and lies for decades.

A cold wind swept across the hall; summer was ending and autumn was approaching, and it was almost time to raise the flags and set off for war.

……

When the Empress learned of what had happened in the Qianqing Palace, she was also greatly shocked.

She hurriedly led palace servants to welcome the birth mother of Emperor Longyou. Despite being dressed in a magnificent palace robe, she immediately performed a grand ceremony and bowed, saying, "Your Majesty, I know you have suffered for many years. From now on, you can live in peace within the palace. I am sure His Majesty will soon reach a conclusion on the matter."

Faced with such a display of power, even the old nun lost her composure.

She was not someone who coveted great wealth and status; otherwise, she would have already found a way to enter the palace and claim her family.

Her purpose was to see her newborn son. Once she met Emperor Longyou, the old nun felt a connection to the infant she had given birth to.

With that, the old nun's wish was fulfilled, and she didn't even want to linger in the palace any longer and cause them any trouble.

But now the course of events is no longer within her control.

Especially since her child has become emperor, and a very capable one at that, there is no need for anyone to criticize him.

"I..." The old nun first helped the empress up, preventing her from performing the grand ceremony, then lowered his head, not knowing what to say, and could only turn his gaze to his disciple who had accompanied him into the palace.

The Empress also noticed the person behind the old nun and forced herself to ask, "This... is His Majesty's sister?"

Miaoyu hurriedly waved her hand, "No, no, I am my master's disciple. My master raised me to adulthood and taught me Buddhist teachings."

Seeing her flustered appearance, the Empress felt that she looked somewhat familiar and couldn't help but chuckle, saying, "Alright, then she can come to the palace as well."

Now Miaoyu was in a dilemma. Although the palace was nice, it was not as good as Dingguo Mansion.

She couldn't refuse in person, so she had no choice but to go to Kunning Palace with him.

Palace maids lined up to serve fragrant tea, which was then placed before the Empress, who chatted with the two men quite casually.

"May I ask where Your Highness was kneeling earlier?"

"Years ago, I practiced at Panxiang Temple on Xuanmu Mountain in Suzhou Prefecture." Looking at Miaoyu beside her, the old nun sighed and said, "Later, I followed her to the capital and now I am temporarily staying in Dingguo Prefecture for about a year."

"Dingguo Mansion?"

Now it was the Empress's turn to be surprised, and she couldn't help but look at Miaoyu beside her.

Miaoyu blushed and explained, "When the Duke of Dingguo went south to Suzhou, he tried a case involving the Suzhou prefect, which was my father's case. In that case, both my parents were murdered by villains, and it was the Duke of Dingguo who helped my parents clear their names."

"From then on, we were bound by fate. After the Duke of Dingguo returned to the capital, we ended up living there by some twist of fate. However, the most important thing was my master's illness. Diabetes required precious medicinal herbs to treat. If we continued to stay outside and guard the old temple, we would definitely not be able to make ends meet."

Looking back now, Miaoyu seems to have realized why her master, a Buddhist disciple who eats vegetarian food every day, could develop diabetes, a disease of the wealthy.

In front of the Empress, Miaoyu's explanation seemed more like an attempt to cover up the truth.

Especially given Yue Ling's reputation, it's likely that none of the women in his household are innocent, and even Miaoyu, who is a nun, is even more suspicious.

However, the Empress would not expose her directly, but instead instructed the palace servants around her: "Go and summon the imperial physician to examine Her Majesty."

The old nun looks quite well; she must have been well cared for at Dingguo Mansion.

Unintentionally, the royal family owed Yue Ling another favor.

The royal family owes Yue Ling far too much, and there is nothing left to make up for this debt. The Empress felt an increasing headache as she thought about it and couldn't help but sigh inwardly.

"If His Majesty knew... His Majesty would surely have his own considerations."

After pondering it over, the Empress instructed, "Send someone to send a message to the Dingguo Prefecture, explaining the situation here to Yue Ling."

Miaoyu shifted her position slightly, reluctant to leave her master and unable to rush back to the manor.

However, she was not someone who could stay in the palace for long, and her status was truly inappropriate.

Perhaps sensing her worries, the Empress said, "If you miss Yue Ling, go back in a few days. There may still be some old acquaintances of yours in the palace. The Virtuous Consort is still practicing meditation in the Buddhist nunnery every day. If you want to see her, you can go and talk to her."

Although Miaoyu and Yuanchun only met once, there were three sisters in the Jia family, and they must have been concerned about the situation of their eldest sister, Yuanchun.

Miaoyu went to gather information without hesitation, also to give the Empress and her master space to speak, as she, as an outsider, needed to stay out of the way.

"Very well, Miaoyu will follow the Empress's arrangements."

……

Dingguo Mansion, main hall and bedroom.

On the bed, Lin Daiyu nestled in Yue Ling's arms, looking at the letter that had been sent from the capital with him.

As her gaze shifted, Lin Daiyu couldn't help but murmur in surprise, "Miaoyu's master is actually His Majesty's birth mother? Is there such a coincidence in the world?"

"However, after nearly fifty years, it is a good thing that the mother and son can be reunited."

"Fortunately, we did not mistreat Miaoyu and her master while they were in the manor. We provided them with ample silver and medicine, which were directly deducted from the accounts. Otherwise, it could have led to a terrible incident."

Yue Ling gently rubbed Lin Daiyu's cheek with his fingers and sighed, "When has such a thing ever happened in the manor? Even the lowly maids and servants can get a few doses of commonly used medicine in the main hall. Isn't that a rule you set? Not to mention the monks and nuns who have attained spiritual power."

"However, as far as I know, the Empress Dowager did indeed have a bias towards the former Prince Kang. It took so many years to unravel this cause and effect. I suppose that in addition to the joy of recognizing his mother, His Majesty must have also resolved a knot in his heart."

Yue Ling placed the letter on the table to the side, wrapped his arms around Lin Daiyu's waist, looked up at the agate pendant hanging in the bed curtains swaying gently, and his thoughts gradually drifted away.

Lin Daiyu rested her head on Yue Ling's chest, her eyes also glazed over.

The two had only been married for less than six months, but they were already like an old married couple.

When they are together, their minds go blank, and they enjoy the leisure time of being together.

After a long silence, Lin Daiyu suddenly said, "Looking at it this way, Miaoyu's status is much higher than before. At most, she can be considered an adopted daughter taken in by the royal family. It's really unfair to her to do such trivial things as coaxing children in the mansion."

"Speaking of which, it's time for my husband to think about how to rank all the girls in the manor."

Yue Ling raised an eyebrow slightly. "What nonsense are you spouting without any basis?"

Lin Daiyu pinched Yue Ling's arm gently and said coquettishly, "If you don't want anyone to know, then don't do it in the first place! Your outer study is no longer a study; it has become your secret love nest!"

Yue Ling guiltily scratched the tip of his nose and, following Lin Daiyu's words, said, "It's best to leave the decisions of the household affairs to Madam."

Although Lin Daiyu felt comforted by this perfunctory remark, she didn't offer a smile at all. Instead, she pouted, turned her back, and spat lightly, "Pah, I'm not going to do such a thankless task. If this one is too high and that one is too low, and I try to take care of everyone, won't they hold a grudge against me?"

"Don't even think about dumping this mess on me. I don't care about you. It's all your own fault for having affairs."

Yue Ling immediately turned to the side and hugged Lin Daiyu from behind, resting his chin on her neck and whispering in her ear, "Sister Lin, don't be angry. I'm not trying to embarrass you."

"Besides, what kind of ranking system is there in this mansion? Those are just rules for outsiders."

"In this mansion, apart from you, the First Madam, everyone else is just the same."

Lin Daiyu's ears were tickled by Yue Ling's blowing, and she turned around and said, "You're just saying that. Besides, the sisters also need your care. It would be better to choose an auspicious day to give them a proper status. They can't just play around with you every day."

"What nonsense are you talking about?"

Lin Daiyu suddenly sat up, straddled Yue Ling, and placed her hands on his chest. "Alright, let me see if you've been fooling around today!"

"what?"

Lin Daiyu's shift from passive to active caught Yue Ling off guard.

However, before an incense stick could burn, Lin Daiyu collapsed onto the bed, patting the brocade quilt and saying, "Alright, alright, I won't be stubborn anymore. You're not being unreasonable, please let me off the hook..."

(End of this chapter)