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

Chapter 146 A Visit to the Jia Family
Linjing Hall, early morning.

More than thirty civil and military officials knelt in obeisance, but Chu Yan still waived the subsequent formalities and ordered them to present their reports.

"Your Majesty, I have a report to make!" Right Chancellor Xu Zhiyi stepped forward, but then turned to look at Left Chancellor Chu Ming.

"Your Majesty, I also have something to report!"

The two prime ministers stepped forward together, causing the officials standing in the Linjing Hall to look on with suspicion, wondering what momentous event had alarmed them.

Chu Yan sat on the rosewood dragon throne and smiled at them: "It seems that the two prime ministers have something to advise me today. Just speak, and I will listen."

Xu Zhiyi bowed and began to present his memorial. He first praised Chu Yan for his great achievement in establishing the dynasty, and then said, "Now that the world is at peace, there is still one matter that makes us uneasy. Therefore, we are here today to request Your Majesty's decision."

Chu Yan nodded, "I guessed what you wanted to say."

Chu Ming also bowed and said, "What we are talking about is the matter of the crown prince. This is related to the stability of the country. Therefore, after the emperor surrendered, the Right Chancellor and I immediately discussed it. Today, we dare to respectfully request Your Majesty to select a concubine as soon as possible to give birth to a prince."

Everyone then realized that this matter was indeed of great importance and required the two prime ministers to step forward and strongly urge the emperor to choose to have children as soon as possible.

Why choose early?

For ordinary people who want to have children, they can only leave it to fate, take more wives and concubines, and have more sexual relations.

The current emperor is different from ordinary people; he is the true sage of heaven descended to earth, and he will have offspring whenever he says he wants them.

Chu Yan said, “When I read history books, I saw that in various dynasties, the crown prince who had been in the position for a long time would often develop a rift with his father, the emperor. This was true for Qin Fusu, Emperor Wu of Han, and Li Yuan and his grandson. Therefore, I thought that I was still young and could reign for several more decades, so there was no need to rush the matter of the crown prince.”

In reality, he has a system that allows him to live to be a hundred years old without worrying about getting sick. He also has healing medicine provided by the system, making him invincible in the human world. Therefore, there is no need to establish a crown prince too early.

Otherwise, when they are in their fifties or sixties, their sons will be in their thirties, ambitious, and if they have seven or eight sons, there will be a struggle for succession, which would be very troublesome.

Therefore, Chu Yan planned to have a son ten years later, and just have a few daughters before that.

However, even though he displayed his extraordinary abilities, Chu Ming and others, as his subjects, dared not gamble that a prince would definitely be born ten years later.

Since Your Majesty was able to have the prince born ten years later, you can certainly do so earlier, preferably this year. Even if he is not made crown prince, all the civil and military officials in the court can rest assured.

Seeing that he could not persuade the ministers, Chu Yan had no choice but to say, "There will definitely be a concubine who becomes pregnant this year."

He had said it would be a princess, but the courtiers still looked delighted.

Chu Ming laughed and said, "Your Majesty is vigorous and powerful, and now that the world is at peace, why doesn't Your Majesty take more concubines?"

Civil and military officials all agreed and urged the emperor to issue an edict to select unmarried women from various regions to fill the imperial harem.

After thinking for a moment, Chu Yan issued an edict: "I will move to Ningrong Mansion in five days and stay there for a while. After I return, I will move into Daming Palace to escape the summer heat."

The emperor's relocation was no small matter; memorials from various regions, civil and military officials, and other documents all had to be moved along with it, and the reporting process also had to be changed.

Xu Zhiyi advised, "Since Your Majesty is visiting Ningrong Mansion, it would be advisable to change the names of the two mansions as soon as possible and use them as Your Majesty's temporary palace."

"I'll make changes after I've seen it."

After the morning court session ended, Chu Yan reviewed some memorials and returned to the rear palace to rest in the afternoon.

Xia Shouzhong came to request an imperial decree: "Your Majesty will visit the former Shun, Ning and Rong mansions in five days. You may issue an imperial decree to the people in the two mansions, instructing them to prepare to receive Your Majesty as soon as possible. The people in the palace should also make arrangements in advance to avoid any mishaps."

Chu Yan instructed, "Go and summon the Empress, the Virtuous Consort, Consort Qin, and Lady Li, and also summon the three young ladies."

"Yes, Your Majesty!"

Xia Shouzhong hurriedly sent someone to invite him.

A little while later, Lin Daiyu, who lived in the west wing, arrived first.

Because they had been instructed to do so beforehand, the palace maids did not stop her. They simply called out, "Your Majesty, Miss Lin has arrived," and then let her in.

Chu Yan sat in the main hall and looked up to see the graceful and slender Lin Daiyu walking in like a willow in the wind. When she saw him, she probably still remembered his debauchery the night before and did not give him a good look.

He gave a simple bow and, without waiting for Chu Yan to speak, sat down in the second chair on the west side.

Chu Yan laughed and asked, "Who has made Lin Daiyu angry again?"

Daiyu said, "I am not angry or upset. How did Your Majesty know that?"

Chu Yan said, "Yun'er told me that her sister Lin is 'more insightful than Bi Gan and more beautiful than Xi Shi when she is ill,' but she doesn't know that I am Bi Gan."

This was the first time Daiyu had heard such words. After thinking for a moment, she understood what he meant. She covered her mouth and laughed, saying, "Bi Gan was a virtuous minister and a sage. You are the emperor. Comparing yourself to him would be beneath your dignity. How could you say that?"

Chu Yan laughed and said, "I praised Lin Daiyu as being more beautiful than Xi Shi, and Lin Daiyu actually accepted it. She is indeed a beauty with pride."

Daiyu blushed at his words, turned her head away, and said, "No one else teases people like you. Just because you're the emperor doesn't mean you can act recklessly. You can't even make people angry..."

As she spoke, she lowered her head and glanced at him, afraid that he might really get angry.

Chu Yan smiled: "Now that you're the emperor, you should have the right to do whatever you want. You felt great just now. I've never punished you for anything you said. I've always coaxed you when you were angry. I've never made things difficult for you."

Daiyu lowered her head and thought carefully. She was a suspicious person, but what she had seen and heard these past few days could prove that what he said was true.

Especially the night before last, he came to her room in the middle of the night...

But he just wouldn't allow her to be with Baoyu.

"What do you want with us?" Daiyu asked him. The eunuch had only said that he had summoned her and Sister Yun, but had not said anything else.

"We'll talk about it when they arrive. How long are you going to stay in the palace this time?"

Chu Yan also noticed that Daiyu had become much more talkative in front of him, speaking more casually and daring to say sarcastic and cutting things to his face.

For Chu Yan, this was just right; this was the Lin Duidui he wanted to be.

Daiyu glanced at him, her soft voice tinged with resentment: "What's wrong with going back to the Grand View Garden? I'll have to come back here eventually anyway, and you're forcing me to stay like this..."

Chu Yan nodded and said, "Sister Lin, please stay a few more days. I'll go back to the garden with you."

Daiyu frowned at him, about to ask a question, when Empress Zhang and Jia Yuanchun arrived together. Daiyu quickly got up to greet them.

"His Majesty."

The two women gave him a curtsy, and Chu Yan told them to sit down.

With others around, Daiyu didn't say much.

After a while, Shi Xiangyun, Xing Xiuyan, and Li Wan arrived together. Upon seeing Chu Yan and Daiyu, Li Wan blushed slightly and quickly bowed her head in greeting.

Chu Yan told them to sit down.

"What does His Majesty want with us?" Xiangyun asked him.

The people present were also puzzled, as this was the first time the Emperor had summoned them to the Linjing Hall.

"Wait a little longer, Consort Qin hasn't arrived yet," Chu Yan said, chatting with them.

A moment later, the beautiful and charming Qin Keqing arrived. Today, she was still wearing a Tang and Song dynasty-style dress that revealed her bodice. Her fragrant shoulders and fair chest accentuated her delicate beauty, truly outshining all the other concubines.

"I'm late~, please forgive me to Your Majesty and my sisters." Qin Keqing said with a smile, bowing to everyone in apology.

Chu Yan also asked her to sit down.

Xiuyan looked around and, even with her carefree and unconventional nature, couldn't help but feel somewhat discouraged.

Every woman present was beautiful and unique: Qin Keqing was graceful and delicate, Empress Zhang was dignified and majestic, Jia Yuanchun was noble and elegant, not to mention Lin Daiyu and Shi Xiangyun.

"Does His Majesty intend to visit the Grand View Garden?"

Upon hearing Chu Yan's words, Jia Yuanchun's full and bright face revealed a look of surprise.

Shi Xiangyun was overjoyed, but Daiyu had already guessed it, and at this moment she only remained indifferent.

Chu Yan laughed and said, "I'll stay in the garden for a few days, and when I come back, I'll move into the Daming Palace to escape the summer heat!"

Shi Xiangyun hurriedly said, "We should have gone to escape the heat a long time ago. I felt quite hot even when I was sleeping in the house last night. It's much cooler in the garden."

Chu Yan laughed and said, "Just bear with it for two more days, and you'll soon be able to move back to the Grand View Garden. It'll be cooler in the Daming Palace than in the Imperial Palace."

Xiangyun smiled and said, "There is a very large lake in Daming Palace, so it is naturally very cool. The trees are also growing lushly, making it even cooler."

Empress Zhang also laughed and said, "That lake is called Langchi. Qinghe didn't tell you about it when she went to visit it with you last time."

Daiyu laughed and said, "Your Majesty the Empress doesn't know, but Yun'er will go crazy when she goes to a new place to play. I still remember the first time she entered the Grand View Garden, she was so happy that she skipped and jumped all the way from the garden gate to Hengwu Garden."

Everyone laughed, and Li Wan also laughed and said, "Last time when the Imperial Concubine came home to visit her family, Yun'er didn't get to see it and kept asking us about it for a long time. This time, she's going back with His Majesty and can finally see it with her own eyes."

Xiangyun glanced at her secretly, thinking of how she looked so beautiful and alluring as she nestled in Chu Yan's arms last night.

Yuan Chun hurriedly said, "How can my homecoming visit to my family compare to His Majesty's visit to the Grand View Garden?"

Chu Yan said, "This time when I visit the garden, it doesn't need to be too extravagant. Just refer to the time you visited your family last time, and it would be best to replicate it exactly."

When Yuan-chun visited her family, the main expense was in building the Grand View Garden. The remaining expenses for craftsmen making lanterns, preparing fireworks, candles, and other items were not much.

As for labor costs, there was no concept of overtime pay in ancient times.

"Yes, Your Majesty," Yuan Chun said gently. "After my last visit to my family, I also told them not to be extravagant. Your Majesty has now asked us to be frugal and reduce the number of palace servants. I will remember this well."

Chu Yan nodded and said, "I called you here today to discuss the matter of going to the Grand View Garden. Would the Empress like to come along?"

Empress Zhang said tactfully, "It is inconvenient for me to go with you. I will stay in the palace and manage the affairs of the palace for Your Majesty."

It wasn't that she longed for the position of Empress, but rather that she and Jia Yuanchun had been managing the harem together these past few days.

"Alright." Chu Yan said to them, "Tomorrow I will ask Miss Bao to go to the palace, and we will visit the Daming Palace again. After that, you can go back to the garden first, and leave Yuan Chun and Ke Qing to go to the Jia Mansion with me."

He then smiled at Daiyu and said, "Sister Lin has never been to Daming Palace. We'll go together tomorrow. You can choose a place to stay in the back garden of Daming Palace. First come, first served, regardless of rank or age."

Knowing she couldn't avoid it, Daiyu acquiesced.

Qin Keqing smiled at Daiyu and said, "His Majesty is so kind to Lin Daiyu. Knowing that you have never been to the Daming Palace, he took you there with him. We will choose a place to stay for the others first."

Daiyu blushed, feeling embarrassed by the stares of others, and inwardly annoyed. She didn't want such favor! He could leave his favor to the other concubines; why bother to give her special treatment?
Xiangyun wasn't jealous at all, and asked with a smile, "Should we only invite Sister Bao tomorrow? Should we invite Sister Qin and Second Sister as well?"

Chu Yan smiled, summoned Xia Shouzhong, and instructed him: "Send someone to the Jia family to deliver an edict, summoning Miss Bao to the palace early tomorrow morning to tour the Daming Palace with me. As for the others, they may come as they please, regardless of who they are."

Xia Shouzhong hurriedly accepted the imperial decree and stood at the doorway in attendance.

Yuan Chun looked over: "His Majesty will be visiting the Grand View Garden in five days. I'm afraid they won't have time to prepare everything."

Chu Yan casually said, "Prepare as much as you can, or you can send some people to help."

Yuan Chun agreed and prepared to assign several female historians and palace eunuchs to help the Jia family.

After discussing it for a while and basically settling on the matter, Xiangyun suddenly said, "How about we call the princess along too? She's bored staying in the palace, and the little princesses have the Empress to help take care of them."

Chu Yan laughed and said, "It's my fault. I completely forgot about her. Go ask her later. She'll come with us to the garden tomorrow."

Empress Zhang glanced at him. The emperor did not mention Consort Wu and others from the old dynasty. Perhaps he had forgotten them, not completely forgotten them, but rather neglected them.

With so many concubines and such limited energy, how could the emperor possibly take care of everyone?
Today the emperor favors her and says he will bring her back from Huang'en Temple in the future, but six months or a year later, the emperor may not even remember her.

Well, she was fortunate enough to spend her remaining years at the Imperial Grace Temple after the fall of her kingdom.

"And Consort Wu and the others." Chu Yan looked at Empress Zhang. "Go and tell them that when we go to the garden tomorrow, they should also choose a place to stay. In addition, it is hot in the palace in the summer. I heard that the Dowager Consort and the others will also go to Daming Palace to escape the heat. Let them move there together. There is enough room in the rear garden of Daming Palace."

The emperor was not a heartless man after all!
Empress Zhang and Jia Yuanchun rose to express their gratitude on behalf of the Dowager Consort and others.

"That's settled then. You can all go back now and prepare to go to the park together tomorrow!"

Chu Yan was in high spirits and planned to return after the morning court session the next day to tour the Daming Palace with them.

The group dispersed, and before leaving, Daiyu glanced back at him before returning to the west wing with Xiangyun.

……

Rongguo Mansion.

Baochai and Baoqin rushed from their home to Rongxi Hall to receive the emperor's edict.

The two locked eyes, and Ping'er, Wang Xifeng, Madam Wang, Yuanyang, Madam Xing, and others were also present. Everyone was surprised.

The emperor really wants to visit their household!
The eunuch who delivered the imperial decree smiled and said, "Miss Bao, the Virtuous Consort has something else to tell you. She said that someone from the palace will be coming to the Rongguo Mansion tomorrow. Since you will be going to the palace to accompany the Emperor on a stroll in the garden, please remember to have someone arrange everything properly so as not to make any mistakes."

Baochai laughed and said to Wang Xifeng and Madam Wang, "We have the old lady, the madam, and the second mistress here. We also received the Imperial Concubine during her visit home last time, so there's no chance of any chaos."

The eunuchs all laughed and said, "How can the Imperial Concubine's visit to her family compare to His Majesty's imperial entourage?"

After saying that, they all left.

After they left, Wang Xifeng said, "The Emperor actually came to our house..."

As she spoke, she couldn't help but look at Ping'er. The two women exchanged glances, and Ping'er guessed her grandmother's worries and couldn't help but smile.

He was glared at by Wang Xifeng.

Madam Wang looked worried: "We need to discuss this with the old lady about how to receive the emperor... Bao'er, you're going to the palace again tomorrow, and the men in the house are gone. Will we women be able to do our jobs?"

Wang Xifeng smiled and comforted her, "Madam, please don't worry. The girls are all favored, so it doesn't matter if they make some mistakes. Besides, there are people from the palace to help us. We just need to do whatever they ask us to do."

Madam Wang nodded reluctantly and said, "Let's go back to the old lady's place and discuss it further."

So the group went to Grandmother Jia's place.

On the way, Ping'er whispered to Wang Xifeng, "Grandma is also favored..."

Wang Xifeng glared at her again, her phoenix eyes filled with anger. This little vixen had become even more unruly after being favored by the emperor!

(End of this chapter)