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

Chapter 201 Qin Keqing's Soul Flies to Tianxiang Tower (Part 1)

"Your Majesty, the Second Mistress of the West Mansion is ill today."

That morning, Baozhu returned and told Qin Keqing some news: Fengjie had not gone to pay her respects to the old lady that morning, as she was sick and lying in bed on leave.

"sick?"

Qin Keqing was reclining on the couch doing some needlework when she heard this and couldn't help but frown slightly. She thought of the Emperor she went to see last night but couldn't find him. Later she learned that the Emperor had left Baochai's place and she didn't know where he went.

So he said to Baozhu, "Please go and greet your aunt for me later."

Baozhu agreed.

Half an hour later, she returned to report that she had seen Second Madam Lian and that she was almost fully recovered.

Qin Keqing asked in detail before she smiled and said to Baozhu, "I'm going to see my aunt. Go and ask the eldest mistress if she wants to go to the West Mansion together to chat with someone for a while."

Baozhu smiled and said, "I just came back from two trips, and it's still very hot right now. Ruizhu, go ask Grandma."

Qin Keqing looked out the window and saw that the weather was indeed getting hotter.

After a while, Ruizhu returned to report, saying that the eldest madam would be arriving shortly.

After waiting a while, Madam You arrived.

Upon entering the room, one immediately saw her former daughter-in-law leaning against a bamboo pillow. Due to the hot weather, Qin Keqing was not wearing shoes or socks, and her delicate feet were exposed. She wore loose trousers and only a light gauze shawl and a light white mandarin duck-patterned bodice, which barely covered her ample bosom.

Because of Qin Keqing's posture, her bodice had many wrinkles, making people marvel at her languid and graceful charm. Moreover, her two maids, Ruizhu and Zhuzhu, were fanning her with fans on either side, making her look like a wealthy concubine, which aroused people's awe.

Madam You said with a forced smile, "You want me to go to the West Mansion with you?"

Qin Keqing then noticed her, but did not get up. She simply smiled and said, "Why has Madam come? Why didn't you send someone to let me know first so I could change and get ready?"

Madam You quickly smiled and said, "You just go and change your clothes, it's alright if I wait a while."

Qin Keqing nodded and asked Ruizhu Zhu to fetch her clothes.

Madam You was immediately puzzled. Why wasn't she going inside to change her clothes?

But Qin Keqing simply put on a high-waisted dress and dressed herself up a little before smiling at her and saying, "Let's go."

Lady You was speechless for a moment. Ever since Qin Keqing returned from the palace, she had been wearing such light and flowing dresses, looking delicate and charming, which made Wang Xuanzhu dress up in the same way.

To gain the emperor's favor?

Lady You thought to herself, then thought of her husband, Jia Zhen.

As she was leaving, Baozhu handed Qin Keqing a white veiled hat with pearl tassels. Through the white veil, one could vaguely see her bright and charming face. Qin Keqing also had a slender and graceful figure. Accompanied by several palace maids, she was even more dignified as a noble consort.

Madam You felt even worse!

The two entered the Grand View Garden through the east corner gate. When they passed the Qingtang Thatched Cottage, they saw Miaoyu from the Longcui Nunnery lingering at the Qinfang Bridge. Qin Keqing and You Shi greeted her from afar before heading to Grandmother Jia's place.

After paying her respects to Grandmother Jia, Qin Keqing bid farewell to You Shi and went to visit Wang Xifeng at her home.

"Why are you here?" Sister Feng asked, quite surprised.

Keqing first scrutinized the radiant expression on Fengjie's face, which made Fengjie feel uneasy, before she covered her mouth and said with a smile, "I've come to visit Consort Feng! And by the way, congratulations Consort Feng on receiving His Majesty's favor on the dragon bed last night!"

Sister Feng blushed with embarrassment and spat at her, saying, "Have you gone mad? Trying to joke with me about something like this!"

Keqing sat down next to her, took her hand and laughed, "Auntie, you're still trying to coax me. I've served His Majesty before, and I know what it feels like for His Majesty to favor someone for the first time. I can tell at a glance whether you feel the same way or not."

She then added with a smile, "Yesterday afternoon, on my way back, I stopped by Yangxin Hall to pay my respects to His Majesty, but he was not there. This morning, my aunt also claimed to be ill and was in bed, which shows that she was taking care of His Majesty."

Fengjie was speechless for a long time. Seeing that she was very certain, she could only whisper, "Don't tell anyone about this. I was tricked by him in private."

Keqing hurriedly asked, "Where did you get it?"

Sister Feng looked at her strangely, and Qin Keqing asked with a smile, "Is it at your house?"

Fengjie blushed and mumbled, "Those thatched huts by the East Corner Gate."

Actually, it was behind the thatched hut, but she was too embarrassed to say it.

But this was enough to surprise Keqing. "It was there." She looked at her again and smiled. "Auntie, you enjoyed yourself last night. Tonight it's my turn to serve His Majesty. A few days ago, His Majesty wanted to summon me, but I couldn't because I was bleeding. Fortunately, Auntie took my place."

Unable to bear her blatant words, Sister Feng raised her hand and poked her forehead, saying, "You're getting younger and younger and you've lost all sense of respect!"

Keqing smiled and said, "When I was in the manor, I had parents-in-law to take care of. Now that I've entered the palace, I only need to serve His Majesty. Who am I supposed to respect? Serving His Majesty well is the most important thing. My aunt is the same as me now."

Sister Feng gave a cold laugh.

Ke Qing wanted to say a few words of advice to her, but seeing her like this, she knew that she did not regard herself as a concubine in the palace, so she stopped talking. After His Majesty summoned her a few times in the future, she would know that she should abandon her status as the Second Mistress of Lian and enter the palace to become the emperor's concubine.

After thinking it over, Keqing stopped talking, pulled her to sit down, and then called Ping'er and Baozhu over. The four of them played dominoes together.

She was idle and had nothing to do, while Fengjie was helping Tanchun manage the garden. She had to make many decisions. She had only been playing for a short while when an old woman came to report, but Ping'er sent her away.

Another maid came to report quietly that Keqing had heard that a hairpin was missing, but she didn't take it to heart.

Li Wan arrived shortly afterward, and Baozhu gave up her seat so that Keqing, Fengjie, Li Wan, and Ping'er, the four people who had been favored by the emperor, could sit together and play dominoes.

A while later, as the four were chatting and laughing, a maid came to deliver a message: "Madam wants Second Mistress to come over and ask about Zhou Rui's wife."

Sister Feng quickly got up and agreed, then pushed the dominoes aside and smiled at them, saying, "I can't play with you anymore, you guys continue playing."

Keqing laughed and said, "Sit down quickly. We're having so much fun playing, you're not allowed to hide."

Sister Feng laughed and said, "My wife is calling me."

Keqing said, "Could there be such an important matter that you need to go? Now that the Third Miss is in charge of the household, your mistress has nothing to do all day but chants Buddhist prayers. She has nothing to do in the morning or evening, but I came to talk to you and she sent someone over. You are not allowed to go. Stay here and keep me and Consort Li company!"

People inside and outside the house couldn't help but look at her in surprise.

Qin Keqing was originally Jia Rong's wife, and Lady Wang was her elder's elder, but now she doesn't respect her and is forcing Feng Jie to stay.

But she also called Li Wan "Consort Li," clearly using her status as a concubine to intimidate her.

Fengjie, however, thought one step further than the others, believing that Qin Keqing might have deliberately offended the Madam for her sake.

Sister Feng quickly smiled at her and said, "Good sister, you are now a concubine in the palace, and I would not dare to disobey you. But please, for the sake of our past relationship, allow me to go and inform Madam first, and I will play with you to my heart's content another day!"

Keqing looked at her before letting her go.

After replying, Wang Xifeng hurriedly returned to continue playing dominoes with Qin Keqing and Li Wan. She had also realized that Qin Keqing was no longer Rong Da Nai Nai; she was now the emperor's favorite concubine in the palace. Regardless of your original status, she didn't care at all and used her status as a concubine to oppress you.

The people sent by Madam Wang were clueless. When they saw Fengjie playing cards with her and even asked Fengjie to go over, Qin Keqing threw a tantrum and forbade Fengjie to go and reply.

Caught in the middle, Sister Feng could only beg Qin Keqing to give her face and let her go.

……

Before long, someone quietly told Madam Wang what Qin Keqing had said in the room.

Upon hearing this, Madam Wang's face turned ugly. Zhou Rui's wife sneered, "No wonder others don't respect Madam. Madam has two daughters serving in the palace, but they have never said a word for Madam. Madam is afraid of offending people, but now others are riding on Madam's head!"

Madam Wang grew increasingly displeased and ordered her, "Go and fetch the head maid!"

Her biological daughter is now in the palace, managing the harem alongside the former empress. She is favored by the emperor no less than anyone else. Why should others look down on her?
Zhou Rui's wife was overjoyed and hurried to find Yuan Chun. She quickly found her in the side hall and relayed her mother's message.

When the message was relayed, Yuan Chun did not stand up because her mother was relaying the message. Although she no longer held the rank of imperial concubine, she was still equivalent to an imperial concubine. Even though Lady Wang was her mother, she could not be respectful to her mother in front of others.

Yuan Chun asked first, "Why did Mother summon me?"

Zhou Rui's wife explained the situation, then kept glancing at the young lady, trying to see how she would handle it.

Upon hearing this, Yuan Chun sighed, "It was originally just a small matter. The maid who delivered the message could have simply avoided it since Consort Qin was present. But now it has escalated into such a mess."

Zhou Rui's wife laughed and said, "Madam ordered someone to summon Second Mistress. It wasn't a big deal, but Consort Qin refused to let her go. I'm afraid she knew that Eldest Miss was also in the palace and deliberately said those things."

Yuan Chun said, "Consort Qin is not that kind of person. When she was at home, the old lady also said that she was gentle and peaceful."

Zhou Rui's wife sneered, "Who knew she would change so much after entering the palace!"

Yuan Chun stopped speaking and instructed her, "I'm going to see Mother."

Zhou Rui's wife led the way, and Yuan Chun soon arrived at her mother's house. She persuaded her and calmed her down.

Lady Wang asked her, "Tell me the truth, among you, Consort Qin, and your two younger sisters in the palace, who is more favored?"

Yuan Chun thought for a while before saying, "His Majesty treats everyone the same, without favoritism, but he shows more favor to the young ladies. Among the young ladies, he favors Sister Yun and Sister Lin the most."

Hearing that none of the Jia family's daughters were the most favored, Lady Wang frowned and asked her again, "Lin Daiyu has angered the Emperor quite a bit because of Baoyu's matter, yet she is still favored?"

Yuan Chun laughed and said, "Lin Daiyu has been punished several times, but she is naturally beautiful and everyone likes her. In the past, His Majesty just took those things as jokes and amusement. How could we concubines in the harem really offend His Majesty?"

Daiyu, Xiangyun, Tanchun, and other concubines were merely objects of amusement in the emperor's eyes; he didn't take many of their affairs seriously.

After thinking for a long time, Madam Wang said, "Ever since Consort Qin entered the palace, she has become increasingly disrespectful to everyone else. She considers herself the only concubine in the harem, and no one else counts!"

Yuan Chun did not want any conflict with Qin Keqing, so she sighed and advised her mother: "The Jia family is different from the Qin family. She married into the Jia family. After she stopped being Rong Ge's daughter-in-law, she was no longer a member of the Jia family. Everyone in the palace calls her Your Majesty, and His Majesty has tacitly approved of it. It can be seen that Consort Qin has truly been made a consort. However, the maids and servants do not respect her, which makes Mother unhappy."

Lady Wang understood the implication in her words, snorted coldly, and said with dissatisfaction, "You're in charge of the palace, can't you let her suffer a little?"

Yuan Chun shook her head: "My daughter is still a criminal, and she must be careful in everything she does. How could she dare to make a single mistake?"

She sighed again, "Besides, Mother has seen it all. Many young ladies in the garden are waiting to be favored by His Majesty. At that time, who knows how many concubines will be in the palace? Once they fall out of favor..."

Lady Wang looked horrified, and only then did she stop her thoughts of finding fault with Qin Keqing. She instructed her daughter, "Now that you are favored, you should try to win the emperor's heart. It would be best if you could have a son or daughter so that it can last."

Yuan Chun nodded in agreement, and after sitting for a while longer, she took her leave and went back.

……

Now, let's talk about Qin Keqing.

After having dinner at Wang Xifeng's place, I went to Yangxin Hall. Upon entering the hall, I saw Qingwen and Fangguan. I quietly asked them and learned that His Majesty was inside, favoring Princess Qinghe.

Keqing chuckled softly, "Don't tell them I've come. I'll come again tomorrow night. I'm a little late today, I'll come earlier tomorrow."

Qingwen could tell that Qin Keqing was vying for the emperor's favor. She wanted to be able to enter the emperor's room before the other concubines and young ladies the next day. As long as she appeared in front of Chu Yan, she would have the ability to stay and serve him in bed.

Qin Keqing is gone.

After waiting for a while, Qingwen and Fangguan were summoned by Chu Yan and went in to help the princess change her clothes.

The next day arrived in the blink of an eye.

Perhaps Qin Keqing had made up her mind to please him tonight, because Qingwen saw her arrive at Yangxin Hall at noon. When she saw that His Majesty was not there, she went to sit with the Virtuous Consort. After a while, she went to chat with Xiangyun and the princess.

In the afternoon, Chu Yan and Baochai returned to Yangxin Hall and saw Qin Keqing, who was barefoot, wearing only two or three thin clothes with her bodice exposed, looking extremely cool. She was leaning against the pillow that Chu Yan usually leaned against, listlessly lying on the soft couch and low table.

Upon seeing Chu Yan enter, her eyes lit up. She abruptly sat up and knelt on the soft couch, bowing charmingly, "Your Majesty, I have been waiting for you for a long time~"

Chu Yan: "..."

He was pleasantly surprised to see Ke'er dressed so casually, but there was a dignified and composed Baochai beside him. He had just picked her up on the way and brought her back, but he didn't expect Qin Keqing to be waiting for him inside the house.

When Baochai saw Qin Keqing's appearance, her full cheeks flushed red with embarrassment. She lowered her head, wanting Qin Keqing to go back to her bedroom to get dressed, since the emperor had already returned.

But who knows.

Qin Keqing remained kneeling on the couch, smiling as she said, "Miss Bao has come too?"

Her period was over, and she was currently missing Chu Yan's strong body. She had gotten bored chatting with Xiangyun and the others, so she came early to wait.

So when she saw Baochai arrive, she didn't avoid her; at worst, she could serve His Majesty together.

Baochai blushed and lowered her head, saying, "So Sister Qin is here too."

Chu Yan smiled, noticing that Qin Keqing didn't want to change her clothes, so he pulled Baochai into the room and said to Keqing, "Ke'er, come and massage my shoulders."

"Ke'er?"

Baochai thought to herself, "Is this Qin Keqing's nickname?"
Looking over, she saw the emperor comfortably leaning against the cushions. Qin Keqing quickly moved closer and asked in a sweet, soft voice, "Your Majesty seems to be in a very good mood today, Miss Bao..."

She looked at Baochai, and then Qingwen and Xiangling came in.

Chu Yan said, "Let's rest for a while, then we'll go to Huifang Garden for a stroll. We haven't been to Tianxiang Tower yet."

Keqing agreed, then asked with a smile, "Why don't you come along too, Miss Bao? It'll be more lively with more people."

Just as Baochai was about to find an excuse to refuse, she heard the emperor say with a smile, "Miss Baochai, come along! We'll have dinner at Tianxiang Tower. We won't invite anyone else today; it'll just be the three of us eating upstairs!"

Baochai then agreed.

(End of this chapter)