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

Chapter 189 Warm Fragrance Pavilion (Part 1)
Day two.

When Chu Yan woke up, Ling Guan, who had been sleeping beside him, also opened her eyes. Perhaps because of what happened last night, she had discerned some of Chu Yan's character, so she whispered, "Your Majesty, could you grant me a request?"

"You said."

"If His Majesty has a better maid in the future, I will be insignificant then."

After saying this, she felt very uneasy.

Looking at Lingguan's fair body, stained with traces of a night of passion, Chu Yan laughed: "Didn't you feel good last night?"

Lingguan was silent for a moment, then blushed and said, "Your Majesty, why ask... It's just that in this harem and the mansion, there are many young and beautiful girls and concubines, and I am just an insignificant one." She added, "Your Majesty is fond of beautiful women, but there is only one Consort Xie in the Qian Prince's mansion."

Chu Yan raised his hand and stroked her cheek. "It's rare that you thought of that."

Hearing her say that, Chu Yan remembered that Lingguan in the novel Dream of the Red Chamber had compared herself to a bird in a cage.

"Serve with peace of mind, and you will benefit from it in the future."

There are many girls in the garden, and in the future, some ministers' concubines will be sent to the palace. It is not uncommon for emperors in their fifties or sixties to take concubines.

"Yes, Your Majesty." Lingguan secretly breathed a sigh of relief. Although she hadn't served him much last night, she had still flattered and endured to win the emperor's favor and make him dare to say such things. But the emperor had no intention of letting her go.

Chu Yan smiled. Before any palace maids arrived outside the door, he reached out and played with the object for a while.

"His Majesty……"

Lingguan was overwhelmed with shyness. Last night was her first time receiving the emperor's favor. She had thought she would be heartbroken, but after the most painful moment, she was in a daze. She did whatever the man asked her to do. With the guidance of the virtuous concubine, she trembled even more under the emperor's favor.

Chu Yan laughed and said, "Are you still thinking about Jia Qiang? I don't believe that it will take several years to win you back."

Lingguan remained silent for a moment before whispering, "His Majesty has three thousand beauties in his harem. I am but a maid. I have neither the looks of Qingwen nor the talents of the other young ladies. How can I win His Majesty's favor?"

She glanced at Chu Yan, "I don't want to do things like vying for favor or currying affection!"

Chu Yan picked her up and held her in his arms, feeling her body with both hands. He casually asked, "How did you and Jia Qiang get together?"

Lingguan's singing was so continuous that she had no time to reply.

A moment later, a commotion came from outside, and Qingwen's voice came again, telling the palace maids to bring in buckets and hot water.

So Chu Yan released her and said with a smile, "You can continue sleeping. I have to go to the morning court. There's no need to go to the opera today. Tell the kitchen to make some good dishes and soup to nourish yourself."

He got out of bed and went outside.

Lingguan was still immersed in the feeling from just now, and after a long while she sighed softly.

Many things in this world are not as one wishes. She cannot be with Jia Qiang. Although Chu Yan is a good person and loves her when he is in favor, he is also the emperor. He has many concubines, girls, and maids around him. Just a moment ago, they were affectionate and kissing, but the next moment he got up and left.

She slept for a while longer, but was woken up by Fangguan.

Upon seeing her hiding on the emperor's bed with "scars" all over her neck, Fangguan was greatly surprised and hurriedly asked if the emperor had hit her.

Lingguan told her to leave in a bad mood, and then hurriedly called Sister Wenguan to come and pull the troublesome Fangguan away!
He told her, "You'll find out when you're ready to serve me in bed. Don't bother me now, I'm sleepy."

Di Guan blushed and laughed, "You should get up quickly. They're taking His Majesty to the Pear Fragrance Courtyard for the morning court. If they come back and see you still sleeping, Qingwen will scold us again. You know how formidable she is."

Lingguan had no choice but to get up, enduring the slight pain. Fangguan outside asked with a smile, "So this is what matters between men and women are like. Diguan, you and Ouguan are also a couple. Have you ever slept together? What was it like?"

Di Guan was greatly alarmed.

The civil official quickly pulled Fangguan away, telling her to stop talking!
Fangguan muttered a few words and ran out to find Xiren, Sheyue, and the others to play with. None of them were going to perform today, using the excuse that they had just moved and needed a day off.

Qingwen, Xiangling, and Yuchuan followed each other to the back gate of the garden.

Chu Yan said, "You can go back now. There's no need to see you off anymore."

Today was the first time they had helped him get up for court, and they had just escorted him to the garden gate.

Qingwen and the other two stopped and watched as the Emperor, dressed in a round-necked dragon robe, walked towards the entrance of Lixiang Courtyard, accompanied by a group of eunuchs. Imperial guards were already standing guard in front of the entrance and along the passageway of Lixiang Courtyard.

Compared to when the Jia family was raided, Qingwen's feelings upon seeing these soldiers again were completely different.

Chu Yan entered the Pear Fragrance Courtyard, where ministers such as Chu Ming were already lined up to wait. Because the Pear Fragrance Courtyard was small and had no back door, Chu Yan had to pass through them. Fortunately, he was a rebel emperor and had previously lived and ate with his subordinates.

If it were the person who inherits the throne walking among the ministers, he would probably feel very uncomfortable.

Upon entering the room, Chu Yan looked around and instructed the eunuchs, "Move out my desk and chairs. From now on, during the morning court session, set up the desk in front of the door, and have the ministers line up in the courtyard."

After waiting for a while, Chu Yan sat down, facing the assembled officials. After they bowed, he excused himself from further formalities and said with a smile, "The previous dynasty had the practice of holding court at the imperial gate, and now we also have the practice of holding court at the Pear Gate."

Xiang Shan suggested, "We can have someone renovate the front courtyard of Daguan Palace."

"No need, this is enough."

Chu Yan listened to their reports one by one. After the court session ended, Chu Ming stayed behind and reported: "The troops outside the city have been settled. However, I have not yet arranged for the Jia family members who are to perform corvée labor."

When the emperor visited the Jia family, although he changed the name of the Ningrong Mansion and did not grant them a pardon, many people in the court secretly discussed and speculated about the emperor's intentions, wondering how he would treat the families of the concubines in the harem.

Chu Yan said calmly, "Let things be as they are. If they die because of their corvée labor, that's their fate."

Chu Ming nodded and smiled, "Then let's settle the Jia family in one of the imperial estates in the West Garden, where they can grow vegetables and farm."

Chu Yan didn't say anything. Being able to perform corvée labor nearby was already a mercy to the Jia family. You should know that many of those who were exiled would die just on the way to the border.

In the afternoon, the official business was concluded.

When Chu Yan returned to the garden, Xia Shouzhong was still leading several eunuchs to accompany him. He asked with a smile, "Which girls does Your Majesty wish to summon? Or which girl's house would you like to visit? This servant will be happy to arrange it."

Chu Yan thought for a moment and decided that he would visit each of the young ladies' homes once, including Zilingzhou, Ouxiangxie, Hengwuyuan, and Fengnu's home. He would also visit Longcui Nunnery to have a cup of tea with Miaoyu, and then visit Tianxiang Tower to play with Keqing.

As for other places, such as Grandmother Jia's courtyard, although Daiyu, Xiangyun, and others often went there, it wasn't very interesting for him to go.

"Go to Nuanxiangwu."

He gave the order.

Of the Twelve Beauties, I have never had a close conversation with Xichun, so I'll just go and sit with her for a while today.

Xia Shouzhong hurriedly sent someone ahead. If the young lady was not at home, they could quickly find her and bring her back to await His Majesty's visit.

(End of this chapter)