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

Chapter 160 Min Tan Chun is selected as the Minister of Ningrong Mansion
Chu Yan and Er Chun had lunch. A palace maid came to remove the tables and chairs, and he had just sat back on the soft couch when he heard a palace maid outside calling, "Miss Yun is here."

Despite having previously encountered Chu Yanchong and Li Wan, Xiangyun remained unconcerned. As soon as the palace maid's voice had finished calling, she entered, smiling, and said:
"Have you finished your meal? I'd like to have a chat with you for a while."

Chu Yan waved to her: "Come sit down and we'll talk."

Xiangyun sat down next to him, while Yingchun and Tanchun sat on the other side of the soft couch.

Chu Yan leaned against the pillow, his arm around Xiang Yun's waist. He was a little sleepy after eating, so he just chatted with them casually.

Xiangyun was embraced by him, but she didn't blush. She continued to talk to Tanchun and the others with a smile.

Tan Chun glanced a few more times at the waist that was being held.

Xiangyun suddenly laughed and said, "Third Sister has also been 'approved' by His Majesty the Emperor?"

As soon as she finished speaking, Tan Chun blushed. Chu Yan laughed, and just then Lin Daiyu staggered in. Seeing this scene and hearing these words, she also blushed slightly and said, "I've come at an inopportune time. I didn't know His Majesty the Emperor was reviewing memorials."

Hearing her words, Xiangyun laughed even louder.

Tan Chun blushed even more, but she knew that Daiyu had not been "approved" by the emperor, so she couldn't do anything to her.

Yingchun was also shy, but she didn't talk much in front of her sisters.

Chu Yan smiled and said, "You don't need to stamp memorials to review them. Is it because you've never seen one before, Lin Meimei, that you're so concerned about it? If so, I'll have you set up a chair behind the screen another day so you can watch."

"What kind of nonsense is this?"

Daiyu glanced at him with her dewy eyes.

Chu Yan simply smiled and asked her, "Why didn't any palace maids announce your arrival?"

Daiyu then said, "Sister Yun came to see if you had lunch. If you have gone to sleep, she will go back."

Chu Yan guessed what she meant and asked them, "Are you here to say goodbye and go back?"

Xiangyun said, "It will take some time to pack my luggage, and I also need to go and call Miss Xing and the others." As she spoke, she looked at him with a hint of reluctance.

Chu Yan thought for a moment, then nodded and said, "It's good to go back. I'll go to the Grand View Garden in three days."

Seeing that Daiyu had nowhere to sit, he pointed outside and asked her to have someone bring in a chair.

Daiyu understood his meaning and asked Zijuan to bring the chairs from the main hall.

After she sat down, Chu Yan asked her, "Are you still in charge of the household?"

Daiyu was taken aback. After thinking for a moment, she saw Tanchun there and guessed what was going on. She smiled and said, "Your Majesty, just take back my management of the household and let the Third Miss manage it. She is better than me. I am sick all day and can't manage anything. I am just occupying the position of the head housekeeper."

Tan Chun hesitated to speak, so she looked at the Emperor.

Chu Yan smiled and said, "I think there's some sincerity in what you're saying, it doesn't sound like you're trying to be sarcastic."

Daiyu was speechless at his words!

Chu Yan continued, "As the saying goes, a country cannot be without a ruler for a day, and an army cannot be without a general for a day."

Xiangyun quickly asked with a smile, "May I ask, Your Majesty, what is the second part of the saying? I've never heard of it before."

"I made it up."

Chu Yan chuckled, “But if there are two generals in the army, that would be a disaster. Some time ago, I ordered you to each manage two prefectures, intending to see if you had the talent Leng Zixing had mentioned. Who knew it would backfire and make you take turns managing the households.”

Tan Chun didn't mention these things to the Emperor, but he remembered them, which shows that he pays attention to the garden and knows the drawbacks of several girls taking turns managing the household.

After thinking for a moment, Chu Yan said, “Now that you four sisters have entered the palace, your families must miss you. I also think that Yun’er and Qin’s sisters must also miss their families, and I can’t bear it. How about this, you can go home for a few days every ten days or half a month, and Third Miss, you can stay at home for a longer period of time and take care of the affairs of the mansion.”

"As for Lin Daiyu and Yun'er," Chu Yan looked at them and said with a smile, "According to the custom of the Shun Dynasty, each palace has honorary positions such as Minister, Grand Eunuch, and Inner Minister, with the Empress in charge of all palace affairs. For example, the Minister of Fengzao Palace was appointed when your eldest sister, the Virtuous Consort, was granted the title. The other palaces include Cining Palace, Qianqing Palace, Kunning Palace, Daming Palace, the Six Eastern and Western Palaces, and the Western Garden."

There were also eunuchs in the Yeting Palace, but no concubine was willing to be promoted to the position of Minister of the Yeting Palace.

"His Majesty the Emperor wants to appoint us as female ministers in the palace?" Xiangyun asked in surprise.

Tan Chun was also moved, but Ying Chun and Dai Yu did not show any expression, perhaps because one knew she could not do it, and the other did not want to.

Chu Yan laughed and said, "According to custom, the ministers of each palace are imperial concubines, but you can't be them now."

Xiangyun smiled shyly.

Daiyu asked, "Why not make Consort Xie empress?"

The group looked at her in surprise. The selection of an empress was a matter of national importance, and as imperial concubines, they could not speak out lightly.

Chu Yan said calmly, "It is inconvenient for her to become empress."

Daiyu did not ask any further questions.

Tan Chun looked at her thoughtfully. Lin Daiyu asked him this question not because she wanted to know why the emperor didn't establish an empress, but simply because she wanted to know if he would be angry.

After thinking it over again, Chu Yan smiled and said, "Alright, after we reduce the number of palace servants, we'll set some rules. Tan Chun, you will temporarily take over the position of Minister of the Two Offices."

Tan Chun was deeply shaken. Not only the Rongguo Mansion, but also the Ningguo Mansion, were entrusted to her management by the Emperor!

Daiyu smiled at her and said, "Congratulations, Third Sister, on being appointed as a Palace Attendant!"

Xiangyun chuckled, realizing that what Sister Lin meant by "certain palace" referred to the Ning and Rong mansions, which would definitely be renamed in the future.

Tan Chun then came to her senses and hurriedly stood up to bow and express her gratitude. Chu Yan smiled and said, "Sister Lin, Yun'er, and Second Miss, you will all live with me in the palace like everyone else, so you don't need to manage the household. However, you are still allowed to use money for emergencies, so the rules don't need to be too rigid."

All three agreed, as they had never originally intended to retain control of the household.

"Alright, that's enough for now. Go back and pack your things, and head home. Come back to me again when you're ready to leave," Chu Yan instructed.

The four of them got up to say goodbye. Zijuan wanted to come in and take the chair out, but Chu Yan told her not to bother. He said the chair should stay here so that there wouldn't be only one soft couch to sit on in the east side room.

Chu Yan rested for half an hour and read a book for a while before the girls arrived together and came into the room.

"Everyone come in."

He instructed that he would not come out of the main hall to receive them again.

So Daiyu, Xiangyun, Baochai, Baoqin, Xiuyan, Li Wan, Tanchun, Yingchun, Junyi, Xuanzhu, and others all entered the West Study, filling the small room to the brim. In an instant, the room was filled with fragrance and beautiful sights everywhere you looked.

Chu Yan looked at them with admiration, which made the girls blush and lower their heads shyly, and Li Wan also blushed.

But young Wang Xuanzhu boldly met his gaze.

"Three days later, I will visit Ningrong Mansion again."

Chu Yan smiled and first told Baochai and Baoqin about the arrangements he had just made. Baochai smiled and said, "My sister and I are only temporarily in charge, and we are outsiders to the Jia family. It is just right to hand it over to the Third Miss now. Thank you for coming to tell us, Your Majesty."

The emperor mentioned this specifically to consider their feelings.

Baoqin's crescent-shaped eyes flickered slightly, and she couldn't help but look over. Although he had many concubines in his harem, he remembered each and every one of them. "It's good that you didn't take it to heart."

Chu Yan nodded, then asked Xiuyan, "Does Miss Xing often visit Longcui Nunnery?"

Xiuyan quickly replied yes.

Chu Yan issued an imperial edict: "Go back and convey my oral message to Miaoyu, instructing her to come out and greet me at that time."

Xiuyan was somewhat surprised, but she had no choice but to accept the decree.

Chu Yan thought for a moment and then smiled and said, "It's alright, you can go back now. Remember to arrange accommodations for Miss Xing and Miss Qin. If you can't find suitable places, just wait for me to go to the Grand View Garden."

Tan Chun hurriedly asked, "What's going on?"

Xiangyun smiled and said, "It's no wonder you didn't know; Sister Lin and I almost forgot too. I'll tell you later. First, let's say goodbye to His Majesty the Emperor."

So they bowed and went out together.

On the way, Xiangyun told Tanchun about the matter. Tanchun smiled and said, "Although His Majesty has appointed me to manage the household and temporarily serve as the Minister of the Two Dukes, I think, how can I manage two Dukes' mansions by myself? I really need your help."

This means that they are still the housekeeper's girls.

Baochai smiled and said, "His Majesty has already appointed Third Sister as Minister of the Two Offices, how can we possibly try to take her away?"

Xiangyun laughed and said, "His Majesty the Emperor even allows us to spend money. That's great! We don't have to manage a household, and we still have money to spend!"

"Are you talking about me or you?" Daiyu asked. Both of them had spent money, but Daiyu had spent more.

Everyone laughed, and then they arrived at Xihua Gate and took a sedan chair back to the Jia family.

The dozen or so sedan chairs, including their maids', came out of the palace, inevitably attracting onlookers on the street. As they looked out from behind the curtains, many people watched their sedan chairs and discussed them.

The fact that these sedan chairs entered the Ning and Rong mansions attracted even more attention!

Upon returning to the Jia family, Lady Wang, Lady Xing, Wang Xifeng, Aunt Xue, Second Aunt of the Shi family, and Lady Wang Ziteng, among others, had already received the news and were waiting at the ceremonial gate.

After Tan Chun got out of the sedan chair, she hurried to Madam Wang's side and said, "Mother, it would be too much of a burden for me to come and greet you."

"That's right, Auntie, you've come to welcome us too!" Xiangyun said.

Baochai, Baoqin, and others all said the same thing, but Aunt Xue just smiled.

"Mother~"

Wang Xuanzhu rushed into her mother's arms and acted coquettishly. Lady Wang Ziteng hugged her tightly and called her "my good girl" and asked her how she was doing in the palace.
Wang Xuanzhu said with a grin, "His Majesty the Emperor is in good health, and he's handsome and imposing!"

Wang Junyi hurriedly tugged at her dress, seemingly worried that her sister might reveal the secrets she had shared with her that night in front of everyone—things like how she couldn't bear the Emperor's advances and how incredibly strong he was, which would be incredibly embarrassing.

With a smile on her face as beautiful as peach blossoms, Wang Xifeng said, "I advised Madam that it would be better for me to come and greet the young ladies, but Madam insisted on coming, saying that it was not easy for the young ladies to enter the palace, and that they would become empresses in the future, so it was right for me to come out and greet them!"

These words made everyone both embarrassed and amused, so they went inside together to pay their respects to Grandmother Jia.

Li Wan had not returned to the Jia family for several days. She saw that the mansion was bustling with activity, with lanterns and decorations everywhere, in preparation for the emperor's arrival.

Upon arriving at Grandmother Jia's courtyard and entering the house, everyone took turns bowing and paying their respects to Grandmother Jia. Li Wan hesitated for a moment, then bowed to her mother-in-law, Lady Wang, once more.

While Daiyu, Xiangyun, and the other young ladies were laughing and chatting with Grandmother Jia, Lady Wang asked her coldly, "How many days did you spend in the palace this time?"

Li Wan lowered her head slightly, silently calculated for a moment, and then said with a forced smile, "It's been about seven or eight days."

Madam Wang sneered, "You've been in the palace so long, you can't even remember the days!"

Li Wan lowered her head and dared not utter a sound. Over the years, she had become accustomed to being cautious and timid in front of her mother-in-law, but now she still made a mistake.

But this matter... we can't blame her too much.

Because there were many people, Madam Wang didn't say anything and turned to chat with Tan Chun.

When the quick-tongued Xiangyun mentioned that "the clever Tanchun was chosen as the Minister of the Ning and Rong Mansions," all the ladies of the Jia, Wang, Shi, and Xue families in the room were both surprised and delighted, and hurriedly asked for details.

After hearing this, Madam Wang said with a beaming smile, "His Majesty has discerning eyes. He can tell at a glance that our third daughter is quick-witted and capable, and is a wife who can manage the household."

Tan Chun hurriedly said, "It's only temporary. His Majesty felt that having too many housekeepers might cause chaos, so he temporarily put me in charge."

Aunt Shi Xiangyun laughed and said, "Although it is only temporary, it is still an honor. After our Yun'er enters the palace, I wonder when she will be able to serve as a Minister!"

The words "Minister Feng is the same as Consort Feng" made Shi Xiangyun a little shy.

After chatting for a while, Xiuyan got up to say goodbye, saying, "I have to go to Longcui Nunnery to convey His Majesty's oral decree to Miaoyu, so I won't chat with the old lady any longer."

Grandmother Jia and the others were quite surprised and complained to her, "Since you are here to deliver an imperial edict, why are you chatting with us? Go quickly!"

Xiuyan smiled and said, "It's alright. His Majesty is just issuing a verbal order, and I'll just have to deliver it."

After saying this, he left Grandmother Jia's courtyard and went straight to the Green Bamboo Nunnery.

Miaoyu initially thought she was joking, but Xiuyan quickly said, "How dare I spread the imperial edict? It's absolutely true! The emperor orders you to go outside the Jia family's gate in three days to welcome the emperor!"

Miaoyu was stunned for a long time, her elegant and beautiful face still showing disbelief. After a long while, she asked her, "Did the Emperor remember me on purpose?"

Xiuyan laughed and said, "Have you forgotten the two words Miss Lin passed on to you last time: 'Tai Zhen'?"

Miaoyu's heart trembled, as if a torrent of energy surged through her stomach, instantly spreading throughout her body. A thought suddenly arose in her mind, completely occupying her thoughts:
The emperor...is coming to visit her!

Seeing her like this, Xiuyan mistakenly thought that she was confused and lost, so she sighed and said, "The emperor has also reserved a place for you and the fourth young lady of the manor to stay in Daming Palace. Miaoyu, you... I'm afraid you can't escape it."

"He reserved accommodations for both me and Fourth Sister?!"

Miaoyu suddenly became angry again and sneered, "Whoever wants to go to the palace can go. Even if he comes to my Longcui Nunnery, I won't entertain him!"

Xiuyan laughed and said, "You're talking in anger again. This is a capital offense. You should at least show some hospitality."

Miaoyu thought for a while before saying, "The snow water I collected from the plum blossoms five years ago is something even the emperor couldn't drink!"

Xiuyan was relieved. As long as she didn't say anything, the emperor wouldn't know that the snow water she collected five years ago was the highest form of hospitality.

After talking for a while, Xiuyan returned to Yingchun's residence in Zilingzhou to rest.

Not long after, a eunuch came to deliver the emperor's reward, and the emperor gave her one hundred taels of silver and many jewels.

A group of maids and servants came to watch the spectacle, and Madam Xing also rushed over upon hearing the news. Xiuyan thought she would have to have a few words with her, but to her surprise, Madam Xing just looked on with envy and dared not ask for her money again.

Only then did Xing Xiuyan feel relieved. She gave the maids and servants some reward money and put the rest of the rewards into the box.

From then on, she settled down to serve the emperor in the palace.

(End of this chapter)