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

Chapter 170 A Visit to the Grand View Garden: Hengwu Garden
After the emperor and his entourage left, Qiuwen patted her chest, looking terrified: "It was truly frightening!"

Qingwen rolled her eyes at her and laughed: "If you don't dare to breathe, won't you suffocate? I don't think the emperor is anything special, just taller, he doesn't have three heads and six hands!"

Everyone laughed. This was what people had been saying in private before the emperor entered the city, out of fear of the Prince Qian's power.

Musk Moon hurriedly said, "Shut up! Disrespecting the emperor is a capital offense."

The group dared not say anything more. Just as Qingwen was about to go inside, she heard a commotion outside. When she went out to look, she saw that Xiren had hurriedly returned.

"Where is the Emperor?" Xi Ren asked hurriedly.

"Leaved early."

"Hey!"

Xi Ren was greatly disappointed. "I thought the Emperor was going to visit the young ladies' homes, but I didn't expect him to come to Yi Hong Courtyard first... Who did the Emperor come with? Did you serve tea? What did the Emperor say?"

She asked three times, which showed how nervous she was.

Qingwen couldn't stand her behavior, so she turned around and went back to her room. Sheyue and the others told Xiren everything about how the emperor came in, what he said, and what Miss Yun said.

Upon hearing this, Xiren was extremely grateful to Xiangyun: "It's clear that my friendship with her hasn't been in vain; she still cares about me."

Musk Moon laughed and said, "That's right, we also benefited from this and got to go to the banquet hosted by the Emperor tonight with Ping'er. I heard that no one in the court who is not a fifth-rank official is qualified to attend the Emperor's banquet!"

Hearing their laughter, Qingwen felt increasingly choked up. Before, Baoyu was the master of the house, and everyone else was a maid, no one was more noble than anyone else. Now that there was no master in the house, they could only rely on the girls who had entered the palace if they wanted to have any face.

Xi Ren and Xiang Yun had known each other for many years. Xiang Yun was favored, so she would never be treated unfairly.

Qingwen and Mushe were able to attend the banquet this time entirely because of this connection.

Thinking it over and over again was of no use, so I could only dress up nicely tonight and attend the emperor's banquet.

……

Now, Chu Yan and his party left the Yi Hong Courtyard and turned right. They walked along the wall to a white stone bridge and saw the river flowing into the Ningguo Mansion. After crossing the bridge, there was a large area of ​​plum blossom trees in front of them.

Baochai smiled and said, "These are plum blossoms from Longcui Nunnery. His Majesty ordered Miaoyu to go and welcome them, and they should be back by now."

Chu Yan looked up and saw that Longcui Nunnery was located at the foot of a mountain made of strange rocks, with its gate facing south and surrounded by plum trees, making it quite secluded.

"I won't go to her place. Let's do it another day." He roughly knew Miaoyu's personality and knew that she didn't like crowds. Bringing a group of girls to her place wouldn't be very interesting.

So they continued walking along the pebble path.

Unbeknownst to Chu Yan and his group, after they left, Miaoyu pushed open the door of the Longcui Nunnery and walked out, glancing at his retreating figure from afar.

The young nun beside her quickly said, "Look, isn't that the emperor? I told you he was coming, but Master didn't believe me!"

Another young nun said regretfully, "The emperor didn't come here."

Miaoyu sneered, "The emperor is a man, what kind of behavior is it for him to come to a nunnery?"

After saying that, he turned and went back.

The young nuns exchanged bewildered glances, looking at her alluring figure in her water-striped robe. One of the older nuns muttered, "The Emperor is the ruler of the world; where can't he go?"

Another young nun hurriedly said, "I heard from Lin Zhixiao's family that the emperor is coming to visit the nunnery!"

Miaoyu suddenly turned around: "What are you talking about? Hurry up and come back to do your homework!"

The young nuns hurriedly followed her into the East Meditation Hall, no longer daring to disobey Master Miaoyu's words.

Chu Yan walked to the bend in the path and saw a small gate connecting to Ningguo Mansion. Tan Chun said, "This is the East Corner Gate, which connects to Huifang Garden in the East Mansion. When the Grand View Garden was built, the East Mansion also gave up some land, so the backyards of the two mansions are connected."

Chu Yan nodded, went through the gate and looked at Huifang Garden of Ningguo Mansion. He saw a three-story building standing in the garden not far away. Tan Chun smiled and said, "That is Tianxiang Tower of East Mansion."

Upon hearing the name, Chu Yan smiled and muttered to himself, "I wonder where Ke Qing has gone? I'll go to Tianxiang Tower with her another day."

Tan Chun, Bao Chai, and Bao Qin didn't understand the meaning behind his words. They thought he thought the pavilion was beautiful and wanted to go up there to drink with Consort Qin.

"Where is Yun'er?" Chu Yan realized that Xiangyun was not there, and then he saw that the princess was not there either.

Baoqin smiled and pointed behind her: "They didn't come; they went to play in that thatched hut over there!"

"Go back and see them."

Chu Yan led them back. Not far from the East Corner Gate, there was a thatched cottage with a stone wall and a pond nearby. The house was shaded by trees, making it seem like a secluded place in the mountains.

Upon entering, they found Xiangyun and Qinghe chatting and laughing inside. When they saw Chu Yan arrive, they hurriedly came out to greet him.

"The princess thought this place was nice and dragged me here to see it. Seeing how happy she was, I told her to stay," Xiangyun said with a smile.

Qinghe hurriedly said, "Sister Qin and Miss Xing don't have a place to stay yet. I arrived later, so it's not appropriate for me to take their place first."

Baoqin smiled and said, "I'm fine with wherever I stay, Princess, please feel free to stay here."

Chu Yan looked around and shook his head, saying, "This is not a place for people to live. There is no warm pavilion or porch."

The thatched hut was also enclosed on three sides, with three rooms in the middle. The roof was thatched, but it was probably just for decoration, as there were still tiles inside.

Qinghe smiled demurely and said, "Just have someone make some minor modifications to turn it into a warm pavilion. It's cool here and won't be too hot."

Chu Yan looked at it again before nodding: "Once we move into the Daming Palace, we'll have someone make some changes."

Qinghe was delighted to see that all the young ladies' rooms in the Grand View Garden had names, so he renamed this place "Dongli Hall" as well. Xiangyun pointed to the courtyard and laughed, "Princess, hurry up and plant these chrysanthemums. When they bloom next year, we'll come here to sit, drink chrysanthemum wine, and recite chrysanthemum poems together. We can also learn the refined taste of 'Picking chrysanthemums by the eastern fence, I leisurely gaze at the southern mountains'!"

Baochai laughed and said, "Yun'er doesn't want the elegance of chrysanthemums, she wants to drink wine!"

Everyone laughed, and Qinghe covered her mouth and laughed too. Tanchun looked at her and thought to herself that she was indeed worthy of being a princess, and her demeanor was more dignified than theirs.

Chu Yan also laughed and said, "You want to start a poetry club?"

Tan Chun looked on in surprise, and Xiang Yun was also puzzled. She smiled at him and said, "Why did you think of a poetry club, Emperor Brother? Third Sister said she wanted to start a poetry club, but it was put on hold for other reasons."

After listening, Tan Chun thought for a while and shook her head, "I have too many things to do right now, and I don't have the leisure to write poetry."

Chu Yan laughed and said, "It's my fault for entrusting the important task of managing the household to you."

"It's alright, there will always be times when I feel like writing poetry," Tan Chun said with a smile.

Chu Yan nodded and continued walking with them.

After crossing Qinfang Bridge, head north. On the left is the side hall of Daguan Tower, where Xiangyun lived. On the right is a pavilion, across which you can see Dongli Hall and Aojingxi Pavilion.

Continue along the pebbled path, circle around to the back of the Provincial Villa, walk down from the foot of the main mountain, and above is the Convex Jade Villa. Further ahead, you will reach the Hengwu Garden, where Baochai and Baoqin live.

Chu Yan went in to drink tea and saw that many exotic plants were planted in Hengwu Garden, such as Qingge, Danjiao, and Miwu. Although they were not as beautiful as blooming flowers, they had their own unique charm.

He and Baochai toured the place for a while before entering the house. The house was like a snow cave, and all the common decorations could not be found in Baochai's room. There was only a table with a vase containing several fresh flowers.

Baochai smiled and said, "I have never liked these flowers and powders, nor do I like jewelry. However, Sister Qin's room does have some decorations."

She lived in the east room, and Baoqin lived in the west room.

Chu Yan didn't look at it first, but sat down to chat. A maid brought tea, and when he glanced at it, he exclaimed, "Why does she look a bit like Ke Qing?"

This maid's figure and appearance are somewhat similar to Qin Keqing's.

Upon closer inspection, I noticed a touch of rouge between her eyebrows, and only then did I realize who she was.

Baochai smiled and said, "Her name is Xiangling. Everyone in the manor says she looks a bit like Consort Qin. Xiangling, come here quickly so the Emperor can take a look at you." She then said to her.

Upon hearing this, Xiangling looked up at Chu Yan, blushed, and then lowered her head to take a few steps closer to him.

In the past, she never met any men except for Master Xue Pan.

Xiangyun chuckled, covered her mouth with her hand, and whispered to Qinghe, "His Majesty the Emperor must have taken a liking to her!"

Qinghe raised her eyes and looked closely at the girl named Xiangling. She saw that Xiangling was graceful and had a similar charming figure to Consort Qin, but her expression and temperament were not like Consort Qin's. She was not as bright and charming as Consort Qin, but a pure and pretty girl.

She was puzzled. It was one thing that the young ladies of the Rongguo Mansion were beautiful, but even the maids were all good-looking. No wonder her emperor husband couldn't forget this garden.

Leng Zixing's judgment is truly remarkable.

Baoqin took a sip of tea, put down the teacup, and said, "Your Majesty, Xiangling was bought by my cousin to be his concubine."

Chu Yan shifted his gaze from Xiang Ling to Bao Qin's face, and seeing her blush, he turned away.

Baochai quickly gave her a wink and said, "Although she is to be a concubine, Xiangling has not yet had her wedding day due to some delays."

She had not yet been defiled by Xue Pan.

"I see."

Chu Yan smiled. Xiang Ling in front of him was indeed pleasing to the eye. She had Qin Keqing's delicate and graceful figure, but not Qin Keqing's charming and alluring nature.

It's not that being charming is bad, but a woman should have her own kind of beauty. Otherwise, if everyone has the same oval face and pointed chin, you'll get tired of seeing them after a few times.

Xiangling is sensible and well-behaved. The Qingwen that Chu Yan saw earlier, although she was also standing with her head half down, you could tell that she was not well-behaved, like a cat hiding its claws, waiting to scratch someone at any time.

Perhaps because she had been waiting for a long time, Xiangling became uneasy and lowered her head even further.

Chu Yan laughed and said, "Raise your head and let me see what you look like."

Baochai gently comforted her, "Don't be afraid. His Majesty won't eat people. Just look up and let His Majesty see you."

Xiangling slowly raised her head, her pretty, fair face flushed red with embarrassment, as if she had suffered a great humiliation. She pursed her lips and looked away.

Chu Yan nodded: "No wonder she's called Zhen Yinglian, she really does look pitiful."

The others looked on in confusion, and even Xiangling, who was filled with shame, was somewhat puzzled, wondering what this man meant by "truly deserving of pity."

Chu Yan smiled and said nothing more. Although Xiang Ling was pitiful, he had no intention of finding her parents yet.

She hadn't done anything meritorious, nor had she ever served him, so there was no reason for him to rush to find her parents.

So he said to her, "You should also attend the banquet tonight."

Xiangling was stunned. The girl told her to express her gratitude, and she knelt down and kowtowed.

Chu Yan smiled and said, "You don't need to kowtow or bow in the future. Since this is our first meeting, you only need to kowtow once. You may go now."

He sent Xiangling away. Not everyone can speak to him smoothly like Xiangyun and Baochai. Xiangling is also an unmarried girl, but she was assigned to be Xue Pan's concubine. She probably hasn't adjusted to it yet.

But it doesn't matter. Xue Pan won't be back for a while. Chu Yan will change her mind tonight, so she won't have to be Xue Pan's concubine anymore!
(End of this chapter)