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

Chapter 177 Qingwen, Xiangling, and Yuchuan
After a while, Yu Chuan asked them, "What does His Majesty want with us?"

Xiangling felt uneasy, her face flushed, and she stammered, "Perhaps...perhaps they want us to come and serve them in the room, to attend to them in bed."

She was bought by Xue Pan to be his concubine, and she was already prepared to be taken into his room.

She was supposed to go to Xue Pan's room to serve him, but Aunt Xue had told her that if the emperor summoned her, she should go without worry and not worry about things at home.

Xiangling had only met the emperor once, and he had stared at her for quite a while. She thought to herself that the emperor had summoned the three of them late at night so that he would have them serve him in the room.

She just didn't quite understand how many women a man needed to serve him in one night.
"Humph."

Qingwen's delicate and beautiful face was cold as she snorted and remained silent.

She was also guessing that the emperor had summoned them tonight so that they would sleep in his room and be treated as his concubines.

How could she possibly speak politely?

Yu Chuan was speechless for a moment.

She was originally a quiet and reserved person, but she gradually became more sensible after her older sister passed away.

Qingwen turned her head to look out the window, lost in thought.

Xiangling stared intently at the palace lantern, and couldn't help but recall what the emperor had said to her during the day, telling her that she was truly pitiful and that she looked so delicate and pitiful.

Why did the emperor call me by that name?

Just as Xiangling was wondering what was going on, she suddenly heard a palace maid's voice from outside: "His Majesty has arrived."

Xiangling and the other two quickly stood up and bowed. She lowered her head slightly and saw the tall emperor walk straight to the couch and sit down. Xiangling glanced at him and saw that he was wearing a short-sleeved shirt, revealing his strong and powerful arms. He looked very imposing and much more powerful than Master Xue Pan, whom she had served for the past few years.

"Please sit down."

Chu Yan, who had just finished a quick shower, smiled and gave instructions to the three of them.

After seeing them sitting in front of him, he carefully examined their appearance.

In the novel Dream of the Red Chamber, Yu Chuan is not particularly outstanding. Now, seeing her, her appearance can only be described as young and pretty. She is not as good as Xiang Ling, whom Xue Pan insisted on buying as a concubine, nor as good as Qing Wen, who is the first in the secondary register.

Xiangling has the looks of Qin Keqing, and both of them are gentle in nature. However, Qin Keqing has an inner charm and will always inadvertently reveal her allure. She is especially charming and captivating when serving others.

Xiangling, however, was somewhat dull and conservative in nature.

Qingwen's eyebrows and eyes are somewhat similar to Lin Daiyu's. She has a slender waist and narrow shoulders. Since she is still a maid, she wears a light green vest with a floral cross-collar long gown. The inside of the gown is bulging, full of youthful charm.

Judging from their expressions, Xiangling was gentle and peaceful, Yuchuan seemed a bit nervous, and Qingwen was indifferent, not looking very happy.

Among the characters in Dream of the Red Chamber, Yuanyang, Qingwen, Siqi, and Jinchuan are the most fiery-tempered, so it's not surprising that Qingwen has such an expression.

But the emperor was sitting in front of her, and no matter how strong-willed she was, she dared not offend him and could only lower her head slightly.

After thinking for a moment, Chu Yan first asked them, "What are your names? How old are you? Do you remember anything about your family?"

They were both of marriageable age. Qingwen and Xiangling didn't remember their parents and relatives, but Yuchuan was born into a family and her parents and relatives were still at home.

After learning about their situation, Chu Yan said to them, "I toured the garden today and found you to be beautiful, obedient, and clever. That's why I summoned you here, intending for you to serve me in my room from now on. Are you willing?"

The three of them finally looked up together, their faces showing some surprise. Xiangling didn't think too much about it; since the Madam and the young lady wanted her to go to the palace, and now the Emperor had spoken, she agreed, saying:

“I am willing to serve His Majesty, but I am not familiar with the rules of the palace and I am afraid there may be some things I do not know.”

Chu Yan laughed and said, "You should still follow the old rules for serving others. Just remember that palace affairs should not be spread outside the palace, and don't bully others just because you are my maids. There's nothing else to worry about."

After he finished speaking, Yu Chuan quickly agreed, feeling overjoyed.

She left the madam's place and went to work as a maid outside Miss Lin's room. Although Miss Lin took her in, she didn't treat her like one of the family members. She would thank her for everything she did.

Yu Chuan thus knew that Miss Lin would eventually release her and would not keep her for long.

Now that she has been transferred to serve in the emperor's quarters, it is like a meteoric rise for her!
"it is good."

Chu Yan nodded, then looked at the last one.

Qingwen mustered her courage to meet his gaze and asked, "His Majesty wants us to serve in the room, just like when we served our respective masters before?"

Chu Yan laughed and asked her, "When you were in Master Bao's room, did you serve him while he slept?"

Qingwen's face immediately turned red, but she couldn't lash out, so she could only reply, "Your Majesty, please don't misunderstand. I have no secret relationship with Master Bao. Without my wife's designation, who would have anything going on with whom? I wouldn't do anything like that!"

She spoke with a very stubborn expression, as if she would rather die right there if others misunderstood her.

Chu Yan laughed and said, "I originally intended for you to serve me in bed, but since you've said that, I can't very well summon you."

All three of them blushed with embarrassment, never expecting the emperor to say such things.

Actually, Chu Yan wanted to summon them to serve him and, incidentally, to cultivate a relationship with them. There were many other girls in the garden waiting for him to favor them, so there was no rush to get the three maids he had just met.

Chu Yanchao said to Qingwen, "The Yihong Courtyard will be occupied by twelve young actresses in the future, and your Master Bao will not be able to come back unless you are willing to go with him."

Qingwen lowered her head and remained silent.

Chu Yan asked in surprise, "Could it be that Miss Qingwen really intends to follow Master Bao outside?"

Qingwen suddenly looked up: "Who wants to go with Second Master? I was just sad for Second Master once. He used to be closest to Xiren, and it's Xiren who wants to go. What does it have to do with me? His Majesty wants to take us into his room, but he still tries to pressure me with words..."

Her temper was provoked, but she trailed off halfway through her sentence, her face flushing red. Chu Yan burst into laughter and said, "Do you know what Xiren says about you behind your back?"

Qingwen immediately perked up her ears to listen.

"She said you're a hot potato, ready to explode at any moment. Today I've truly witnessed it firsthand," Chu Yan said with a smile.

Qingwen blushed and lowered her head, sneering, "That does sound like something Xiren would say. What kind of person talks about someone like that behind their back? I'll settle the score with her when I see her again!"

Chu Yan said, "In that case, you will serve me from now on, and you will be rewarded accordingly."

Qingwen understood the emperor's unspoken meaning: if she served him well, she could also be granted the title of concubine, or perhaps, she could only be granted the title of concubine after having a child.

For a moment, Qingwen felt a sense of relief, and her heart, which had been hanging in suspense, was finally at ease.

It wasn't that she didn't want to be a maidservant, but rather that she didn't want to sleep with her master in an ambiguous way. For example, Xiren served Baoyu at night for several years, but she couldn't even be called a proper concubine, and she didn't dare to tell anyone. She was only favored by Baoyu in private.

Although the emperor has not yet given them official titles, he has promised that there will be a time when he will bestow upon them the title of imperial concubine.

When Master Bao wanted to take a concubine, he couldn't make the decision, but when the emperor wanted to take a concubine, he could decide with a single word.

Qingwen looked at him and tried to ask, "People say that the emperor is the most noble person in the world, and that his words are like golden edicts. Was what Your Majesty just said true?"

Chu Yan said calmly, "Why would I lie to you? Even if I don't bestow titles upon you as concubines, and I summon you to serve me in bed, you will have no choice but to come."

These words were indeed spoken in the tone of an emperor.

Qingwen was relieved, stood up, and knelt down to kowtow properly.

Only then can she truly be considered to be serving him in his room, and from then on, she will have no further connection with the brothel.

"Ah."

Chu Yan nodded secretly. It was true that Qingwen was a troublemaker, but she was not ignorant of the rules; otherwise, Grandmother Jia and Lady Wang would have driven her away long ago.

"His Majesty--"

Seeing Qingwen kneel, Xiangling and Yuchuan both stood up, intending to kneel as well.

"Sit first."

Chu Yan waved his hand and asked Xiangling again, "I remember Miss Bao saying that you were bought by Xue Pan to be his concubine?"

Xiangling nodded and said, "Master Xue bought me from Jinling five or six years ago and brought me to the capital... He originally said he would perform the facial surgery last year, but it was delayed due to some things."

She blushed as she said this because she heard the emperor ask if Qingwen was still a virgin, which is why she made the remark.

Yu Chuan also noticed this matter. After thinking about it, she did not bring it up herself, since she used to serve Lady Wang and was naturally clean.

Chu Yan smiled and said to her, "You don't need to think about becoming Xue Pan's concubine anymore. Just stay in my room and serve me. I will also issue an edict to find your parents later." He paused and said, "Your real name is Zhen Yinglian. Zhen is your surname, and Yinglian means heroic spirit and lotus flower."

Xiangling was stunned.

Qingwen and Yuchuan were also surprised, wondering why the emperor knew Xiangling's name!
"How do you feel when you hear your own name? Are you happy?" Chu Yan asked with a smile when he saw her staring blankly.

Xiangling slowly shook her head. "Although I don't know why His Majesty knows my name, I am not happy. I have failed His Majesty's expectations."

She said, “I have long forgotten what my parents look like, and I don’t even know where my hometown is. I have lived a good life in the Xue family for several years now… Now that His Majesty has summoned me to serve you, I dare not disobey. I only wish to ask His Majesty to release Master Xue so that my wife and daughter can be happy. They have been heartbroken these days, and it makes me sad too.”

Qingwen hurriedly said, "Foolish girl, what are you pleading for? Don't you remember what His Majesty said in Rongxi Hall this afternoon?"

Xiangling hurriedly got up to apologize.

Chu Yan said, "Although you are kind and righteous, I cannot easily pardon them. Get up, and serve them well from now on. You don't need to think about your Master Xue anymore."

"Yes, Your Majesty."

Xiangling obediently kowtowed and then went back to sit down.

Chu Yan chatted with Yu Chuan for a while, and after she kowtowed, he said, "The three of you will serve in my room from now on. You can order the palace maids and eunuchs outside to do things, but you have no rank and your status is below theirs. Remember this clearly and don't deliberately make things difficult for people because of small things."

Even the lowest-ranking official in the emperor's court is still a very important official in the eyes of others. A fifth-rank censor can attend court every day and be ranked alongside the heads of various departments.

Although Qingwen, Xiangling, and Yuchuan had no official rank, they could act with impunity in the palace because they served him closely, and some concubines might even have to defer to them.

Therefore, Chu Yan first warned them, especially Qingwen.

"...Your Majesty, what is 'pinji'?"

Qingwen uttered a sentence that left Xiangling and Yuchuan completely bewildered. Chu Yan laughed and explained the ranks of female officials to them.

The three of them then realized what was happening, and while they were happy, their faces also showed fear.

They were originally second-class servants or concubines bought by the Jia family, but now they have risen to a higher position, even more powerful than female officials with ranks.

"Your Majesty, Lady Li has finished bathing and changing, and is waiting inside the room," a palace maid reported from outside the curtain.

Chu Yan nodded and instructed them, "You don't need to serve me tonight. Go back and rest. Pack your things and come to me tomorrow. Go now."

Xiangling got up to kowtow, but Chu Yan waved his hand, telling them that they didn't need to kowtow anymore except to express their gratitude, since they were maids serving in the house and ordinary etiquette was unnecessary.

(End of this chapter)