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

Chapter 158 Exploring Spring and Welcoming Spring, Sisters in Harmony (Part 1)
Jia family.

"Greetings to mother."

"I'm fine. I heard you're going to the palace tomorrow?"

In the evening, Tan Chun came to pay her respects to Madam Wang, and the two sat and chatted for a while.

Before Tan Chun could answer, Madam Wang frowned and said, "If there's something you can't decide, why ask her?"

Tan Chun's slender and beautiful eyebrows furrowed slightly. From this, one can see that her mother was very dissatisfied with Baochai's management of the household. Now that Baochai had finally entered the palace, it was her turn to manage the household, and her mother was naturally unwilling to let an outsider manage the household anymore.

Thinking to herself, she smiled and said, "There are some matters in the mansion that need His Majesty's decision, such as whether to keep the ancestral hall or move it."

Madam Wang had nothing to say. She had long suspected that the ancestral hall could not be saved, so she asked, "Have you asked the old lady?"

“I asked her, and the old lady told me to make the decision myself. I thought this matter was of great importance, so I thought I might as well go to the palace tomorrow to report to the emperor and respectfully ask for his decision. I can return in the afternoon or the day after tomorrow and send someone to tell my husband and the others to ask my second brother Lian to come back and take charge of moving the ancestral hall. If I do this, it will be just in time to welcome the emperor.”

Tan Chun recounted her story in detail. After thinking for a while, Madam Wang smiled and said, "It's remarkable that you are so meticulous and thoughtful in your work. You are nothing like your aunt."

It refers to Aunt Zhao, Tan Chun's birth mother.

Tan Chun used to call her birth mother "Auntie" in public, but only called her "Mother" in private.

Madam Wang continued, “I knew you were capable in the past, and now you’re doing a good job managing the household, no less than your sister Bao. Although this mansion is no longer ours, the people are still ours. I don’t feel comfortable letting an outsider manage the household, since we have to depend on others for everything.”

This was a direct instruction, telling her to find a way to get the power to manage the household from the emperor.

Although Baochai, the housekeeper, took care of them and sent people to deliver meals from time to time, they were, after all, her sister's daughters born after marrying into the Xue family, not her own family.

Moreover, Madam Wang had heard of the marriage proposal, but she pretended not to have heard of it. Her sister might not be without resentment towards her.

Tan Chun lowered her head and thought for a while before smiling at Madam Wang and saying, "Mother, why can't you figure it out?"

"Tell me, what did I not think of?" Madam Wang was not happy. This maid had only been in charge of the household for a day, and she was already saying such things to her!
Tan Chun said, "The stewardship of the two mansions has changed hands many times. In the East Mansion, the stewardship was first held by Madam Xiao Rong, then by Madam Zhen, and later by Sister Yun. Now Sister Yun doesn't stay in the East Mansion much. She spends five or six days out of ten in the palace. It is clear that in the future, we will all be going to the palace to serve the emperor."

Looking at her, Tan Chun continued, "Back then, who was in charge of the household was just a matter of the emperor's word. My purpose in coming to the palace this time is not only to report on matters, but also... to get closer to the emperor."

As she spoke, she blushed with embarrassment.

The closer one is to the emperor, the more likely one is to gain control of the household.

Among the four sisters of the Jia family...

Lady Wang suddenly sighed, "It's a pity your eldest sister was a concubine of the previous dynasty."

Tan Chun laughed and said, "What's the big deal? Madam Qin is quite favored in the palace now."

Madam Wang paused, then hurriedly asked, "I forgot to ask, was your sister-in-law really visiting Lan'er in the palace?"

Tan Chun sensed her worry but dared not reveal anything about palace affairs, nor did she know the details, so she gave a vague answer.

Madam Wang was very displeased and was about to speak when she suddenly heard a maid outside shout, "The First Madam is here!"

Tan Chun hurriedly got up to greet her, and Madam Wang was a moment later, but she also stood up. After a short while, Madam Xing walked in, and the three of them sat down and exchanged pleasantries for a while. Madam Wang then asked her what brought her here.

Madam Xing looked at Tan Chun and asked worriedly, "Will the third girl go to the palace tomorrow?" After receiving an affirmative answer, she sighed and said, "I'm worried about your second sister. She and Miss Yun were the first two to enter the palace. Miss Yun has entered the palace three or four times, but she just stays at home. With more and more emperors and concubines, how will they remember her?"

She continued, "She never goes to the palace, and people who don't know the situation might think she doesn't want to serve."

After hearing this, Tan Chun asked in surprise, "Second Sister won't agree to enter the palace?"

She realized that Madam Xing wanted her to act as an intermediary.

Madam Xing said bitterly, "Your second sister has nothing else to say, but her two maids, one named Siqi and the other Xiuju, speak with a sharp tongue. Now that the young lady they serve has entered the palace as a concubine, they don't even respect us ladies!"

"Such a thing?!" Madam Wang exclaimed in shock, calling out, "Caiyun, go and fetch the two maids from the Second Miss's room to report to the First Madam!"

"Mother!"

Tan Chun quickly grasped her hand and shook her head at her.

Madam Wang said angrily, "I can't even handle one maid? No wonder your aunt was so angry with those two cunning maids!"

Seeing that she had also been thwarted, Madam Xing felt a surge of satisfaction!
Tan Chun didn't know how to explain, so she could only smile and say, "Madam, why are you angry? I'll go to Second Sister's room later and have a good talk with her."

Lady Wang had no choice but to give up. Lady Xing gave her some instructions, telling her to persuade Yingchun to go to the palace as well, and not to be dull and cowardly, and not to just stay at home chanting some Taishang Ganying.

Waiting for the emperor's favor? Will that even happen?!

……

Purple Lotus Island.

"Why is the Third Miss here?"

When Siqi saw Tanchun, she hurriedly came out to greet her and then sent someone in to inform Yingchun.

"Don't rush, I have something to ask you."

Tan Chun pulled her outside and inquired about Madam Xing's matter.

Upon hearing this, Siqi hurriedly explained, "Miss, listen to me. The other day, the First Madam came and asked us to return the food, clothing, and other necessities that the First Madam provided. Miss didn't dare to refuse, but Xiuju and I couldn't stand it, so we said that the First Madam didn't even have any, and that Miss is now a concubine, so how could she act like the legitimate mother?!"

Tan Chun laughed and said, "The first half of what you said is fine, but the second half is that you shouldn't have interfered. This is a matter between the mother and daughter, and you shouldn't have gotten involved. You've just made the First Madam unhappy for no reason." Si Qi sighed and said, "How could she let it go if I didn't say these things? I won't hide it from you, Third Miss. Because our young lady isn't her biological daughter, she's always been harsh on her. It's one thing for her to ignore her, but she also wants to take away the young lady's five taels of monthly allowance. She even wants two taels from Miss Xing's monthly allowance. If I don't say something harsh, won't our young lady be bullied to the end?"

Tan Chun nodded and said, "You are a loyal maid. I know Second Sister's temperament. It's good that you are protecting her."

Siqi laughed: "If we maids don't appreciate the good things our mistresses do, won't people say we're wolves in sheep's clothing?"

"That's the truth!"

Tan Chun smiled and went in with her to see Ying Chun.

"Enter the palace?"

Yingchun was playing chess with Xiuju when she heard this, but she didn't think much of it and said with a smile, "Since my sister asked me to go with her, I'll just go to the palace with her."

Tan Chun had prepared a long list of things to say, but she was surprised that her second sister agreed so readily, which made her laugh.

Yingchun saw the meaning behind her smile and smiled back, saying, "There are fewer and fewer people left in the manor these days. Sister Lin, Sister Qin, Miss Yun, and even my sister-in-law has been to the palace several times... I often think that I might have to live in the palace in the future, so it's better to go sooner rather than later."

Tan Chun laughed and said, "You are quite easygoing, which is good. Unlike me, I think about this and that, and when I calm down, I find it all ridiculous. Thinking so much is useless. In the end, I still have to go to the palace to serve the emperor."

Yingchun smiled shyly and invited her to sit down and play chess.

Tan Chun readily agreed and, without rearranging the chess pieces, continued to move along the same path that Xiu Ju had just laid out.

The two sisters held the chess pieces in their delicate hands, and the black and white pieces fell onto the chessboard with a crisp and melodious sound.

Xiuju and Siqi watched the game from the sidelines.

All four were entering the palace for the second time, yet they no longer harbored any worries or resistance, as if they were simply visiting relatives and were determined to find peace of mind.

However, Tan Chun was now a housekeeper's daughter, and she had only been sitting for a short while when an old woman came looking for her to give a reply.

Yingchun smiled and said, "Sister, go ahead. Tomorrow we will pay our respects to the old lady and then go to the palace."

Tan Chun then took her leave.

The next day arrived in the blink of an eye. Knowing that Tan Chun was going to the palace and would probably stay there for a day, all the stewardesses, eunuchs, and maids came to wait outside Grandmother Jia's courtyard early in the morning. As soon as Tan Chun arrived, they rushed to surround her and talk about things.

After finally arranging all the affairs, Tan Chun and Ying Chun boarded sedan chairs and entered the palace with their maids, including Si Qi, Xiu Ju, and Shi Shu.

Half an hour later, the two entered the west gate of the palace. They first went to Changchun Palace to meet their elder sister, and then went to Linjing Hall as she instructed.

"The two young ladies from the Jia family have arrived."

In the west wing, a palace maid entered and reported. Daiyu rose to greet her, and the sisters exchanged greetings before sitting down to drink tea.

Yingchun smiled and said, "Are Lin Daiyu and Yun Daiyu still staying with the Emperor?"

Daiyu blushed slightly and said with a hint of resentment, "I wanted to move away, but he wouldn't allow it, so Sister Yun stayed to keep me company."

Tan Chun laughed and said, "We just came back from our eldest sister's place. Baochai told us that the Emperor is very kind to us and has even asked Lin Jie to live next to His Majesty in the Daming Palace."

Daiyu retorted angrily, "I'd rather not have his kindness!"

Tan Chun stopped talking. She could tell that the emperor was determined to take Daiyu as a concubine, and that the past friendship between Sister Lin and Brother Bao had to be severed. Her words just now were also meant to persuade her.

It's better for both of them to let go sooner rather than later.

After sitting for a while, and knowing their purpose, Daiyu sent someone to report, and soon received a reply: "His Majesty returned to the inner palace to rest at noon and asked the Second Miss and the Third Miss to wait."

He also told Daiyu, "You two can go back together this afternoon."

Daiyu, Xiangyun, Baochai, and others originally intended to go home in the morning.

Tan Chun asked her second sister, "There are still two hours until noon. Shall we go to the palace to find Yun and the others to play?"

Daiyu smiled and said, "You may go now. There's no need to choose a palace to stay in the palace. We visited the Daming Palace yesterday and selected a few places for you. When you move in, they will all be close to the emperor's residence, so you can wait conveniently for the emperor to summon you!"

The two sisters were extremely embarrassed.

When the emperor summoned them, that was the moment they offered themselves to him.

Daiyu covered her mouth and laughed, "What's there to be shy about now? Who was it that was teasing me just now?"

This is a rebuttal to what Tan Chun just said about the emperor's favor towards her.

Tan Chun laughed and said, "Sister Lin is really unforgiving. I dare not do it again."

As she spoke, she and Yingchun went out, intending to tour the palace thoroughly. Daiyu called out from behind them, "You can have the eunuchs bring the palanquin here."

Tan Chun agreed, but Ying Chun said, "There's no need for that trouble, we can walk this short distance."

Tan Chun insisted on calling them over, and pulled her second sister to sit in the palanquin together.

Now that they have entered the palace and are favored by the emperor, who has granted them the status of concubines, they should act like concubines.

If the other concubines rode in palanquins, but they walked the second time they came, it would inevitably make others look down on them!

(End of this chapter)