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

Chapter 213 Layoffs, Lady You (Part 2)
Not long after, Daiyu returned to Xiaoxiang Pavilion.

As night fell and the Xiaoxiang Pavilion was about to close, several people arrived carrying lanterns.

"Jadeite, Glass, what brings you here?"

Upon hearing that they had arrived, Zijuan hurriedly went out to greet them and led them into the house.

While Daiyu was in her study, she heard their urgent pleas. Zijuan was in a dilemma, unable to agree or refuse. She persuaded them for a long time before finally getting them to leave.

"Girl, we've come to kowtow to you!"

Emerald Glass and several second-class maids from Grandmother Jia's room knelt down and kowtowed in front of Daiyu's study.

They hadn't bothered her before, but just before leaving, they couldn't help but come and beg her directly. Logically, they shouldn't be begging the girl, as it's against the rules, but they couldn't care less at the moment.

After kowtowing, they were about to leave.

"Please wait a moment."

When Daiyu went out, the others were pleasantly surprised to see her. They quickly stood at attention, looking at her with hopeful eyes.

Daiyu asked, "Do you all wish to stay in the manor?"

Zijuan said, "As you know, they are servants born into the household and grew up in the manor. Naturally, they are reluctant to leave."

The best way out for the servants of the Jia family was to be released, but being released did not mean they would have no connection with the Jia family anymore. Rather, it meant regaining their freedom and being able to earn money by relying on the Jia family. For example, the Lai family's son went out to become an official, but the Lai family still served the Jia family masters.

The emperor has only issued an edict to dismiss them, which is different from actually releasing them.

Jade whispered, "After we are dismissed, there will only be four head maids and a few junior maids serving the old lady in her room. Please, for the sake of the old lady, plead for us this time so that we can stay and continue to serve her."

That statement is reasonable and well-founded.

Daiyu sighed, “But you don’t know that His Majesty not only reduced the number of people here, but also laid off many eunuchs and palace maids in the palace.”

The group was filled with disappointment.

Daiyu looked at them and said, "Even so, I will still go and speak to the Third Miss on behalf of the Old Madam, and ask her if she can keep a few more maids to serve the Old Madam."

The group of people, whose worries turned to joy, quickly knelt down and kowtowed to express their gratitude before leaving.

night.

As Daiyu lay in bed, she felt uneasy for some reason, as if a knot of resentment was lingering in her heart, causing a dull ache in her chest. She frowned and clutched her chest until the third watch of the night before finally falling asleep.

The next day, after washing her face with clean water and invigorating herself, she dressed up and went to pay her respects to Grandmother Jia.

When Daiyu saw that Tanchun was also there, and was about to leave, Aunt Zhao pulled her hand and left. Daiyu had no choice but to return to Xiaoxiang Pavilion and wait for Tanchun to have time to visit her.

Unexpectedly, not long after, her wet nurse returned and told Zijuan that Aunt Zhao was forcing and making a scene, demanding that Tanchun keep several of her maids in her room. Tanchun cried and scolded her, and the two first argued at home, and later made a scene in the council hall, which was heard by many people.

Daiyu was stunned for a moment, then lost in thought, thinking to herself, "If I were still in charge of the household, Aunt Zhao might have come looking for me today. This shows how difficult things are for Third Sister."

She stopped bothering Tan Chun.

It wasn't until the afternoon, when the emperor returned to the garden, that Daiyu, upon hearing the news, waited for half an hour before going out with Zijuan to the Hall of Mental Cultivation.

Before even entering the door, they heard Xiangyun's laughter. Daiyu had intended to stand in the main hall for a while, but Xiangling had already announced her arrival. Baoqin then smiled and lifted the curtain to come out, taking her hand and saying, "Sister Lin is here, why don't you come inside?"

After saying that, Baoqin whispered to her, "His Majesty summoned me out."

For some reason, Daiyu smiled and followed Baoqin into the room.

Inside the room, the emperor, tall and imposing, sat on the couch, with Baochai and Xiangyun on either side of him. Tanchun, Xichun, Yuanchun, Li Wan, and several others accompanied him. The room was still filled with the sounds of birdsong and the vibrant colors of flowers.

Baochai smiled and said, "His Majesty guessed very accurately. When he heard that Daiyu was coming, he said that you would stand outside for a while before you would come in."

Everyone laughed.

Daiyu laughed and said, "If I came in without reporting like Sister Yun, wouldn't I become Sister Lin too?"

The joke was rather lame, and only Xiangyun and Chu Yan laughed.

Chu Yan nodded firmly: "Sister Lin must be feeling bitter. Come here to me, and I will spoil you too."

Inside the room, Li Wan and Baochai laughed shyly. Daiyu, having been teased by him several times, had finally tempered her thin skin a bit, so she was only embarrassed and annoyed, but not angry. She sat silently in the chair that Baoqin had given her.

Baoqin, needless to say, also got onto the couch, while Xiangyun sat right next to the emperor.

After chatting for a while, Chu Yan noticed that they all looked uncertain, so he guessed that they had something to say today, but none of them took the initiative to speak, and they were at an impasse.

Therefore, he didn't point it out, and continued to chat and laugh with them, putting his arm around Xiangyun's waist and asking her to feed him with a teacup.

Daiyu watched helplessly as Xiangyun leaned against him and fed him tea!

This clearly shows that she did have something to say.

Just as the stalemate was at hand, a palace maid outside the door announced, "Your Majesty, Consort Qin has arrived."

The concubines no longer needed permission to enter the room; they could simply barge in, but the consequence was similar to Xiangyun's: being caught and punished by Chu Yan.

Qin Keqing waited only a moment before lifting the curtain and glancing into the room with a smile.

Even amidst a room full of beauty, possessing both Baochai's round and lustrous features and Daiyu's ethereal and transcendent grace, Qin Keqing's face alone is enough to be called an absolute beauty.

"Your Majesty~"

Accompanied by a sweet, charming voice, Qin Keqing walked in with her graceful figure. Xichun got up to offer her a seat, but Qin Keqing told her to continue sitting. When she came to the soft couch, she swayed her body and fell into Chu Yan's arms, startling Xiangyun who was next to her.

Li Wan looked at her and felt that every part of Consort Qin was alluring—her eyes were alluring, her lips were alluring, and her dress covered her body perfectly, revealing her slender waist.

Baochai also looked at Qin Keqing, but after just one glance, she felt her face burning. Qin Keqing was extremely charming, as if she were the emperor's favorite concubine, and she didn't take them, the future concubines, seriously at all.

Chu Yan casually put his arm around Qin Keqing's waist and asked her, "Ke'er, besides wanting my favor, you must be asking me for something."

Qin Keqing chuckled, "I can't hide it from His Majesty after all. I have a request; please come with me to the East Palace."

"Now?"

Chu Yan was surprised, and Tan Chun and the others also looked over.

Everyone was waiting for the moment to plead for mercy, so why was Qin Keqing pulling the person away?
"Now is the perfect time!" Qin Keqing said with a smile. "Your Majesty, come with me to the East Palace and have someone prepare dinner for a few people. We'll arrive just in time!"

How many people?

Chu Yan tried to find the key words in Qin Keqing's words, but he couldn't guess who she was talking about. So he got up and said to Xiangyun and the others, "Ke'er and I are going to the East Mansion. You can make yourselves at dinner. I was thinking of inviting you to stay for dinner."

The group immediately became anxious, exchanging glances. In the end, Yuan Chun stepped forward and said to Qin Keqing with a smile, "Please wait a moment, Consort Qin."

He then took Chu Yan's hand and said with a smile, "We still have something to say to His Majesty!"

Chu Yan was puzzled: "You didn't say anything after sitting here for so long, why do you suddenly start talking now that I'm gone?"

Daiyu chuckled, clearly realizing that he was doing it on purpose!
Xiangyun chuckled and said, "I told you I couldn't hide it from His Majesty, but you didn't believe me!"

Tan Chun stepped forward to apologize, and said with a smile, "It is I who should plead with His Majesty."

Chu Yan sat down again and gestured to her: "Third Miss, have you seen clearly how to plead with me?"

Tan Chun blushed, and Qin Keqing giggled, pulling her hand. Tan Chun struggled a little, but couldn't resist Qin Keqing and was pushed into Chu Yan's arms.

The girls in the room all smiled shyly and remained silent.

Daiyu turned her head to look elsewhere.

"That's how it should be!"

Chu Yan put his arm around Tan Chun's waist and laughed, "Speak, what is it? No need to beat around the bush, just be frank like Yun'er."

Xiangyun laughed.

Tan Chun gathered her thoughts before apologetically saying in his arms, "His Majesty instructed me to manage the Daguan Palace. I should have acted selflessly, but being in the midst of it, I sometimes have no choice. The list of layoffs was compiled by me, which is public; my request for His Majesty to pardon a few people and keep them is private."

Chu Yan nodded, and then listened to Tan Chun explain why she had pleaded for them: Aunt Zhao, who was also her biological mother, had several maids and capable subordinates serving her, and her mother refused to dismiss them and insisted on keeping them.

If Chu Yan were to issue an order to expel them, Aunt Zhao would not dare to disobey. But now that Tan Chun has drawn up the list of people to be dismissed, Aunt Zhao is unwilling to give up.

"It's not your fault, it's just human nature."

Chu Yan put his arm around Tan Chun's waist without making any move, and said, "Your mother finally became a concubine, and she only has a few people to serve her. If we dismiss them, your mother will be no different from a housekeeper. And since you are the Minister of the Grand View Palace, she will be even more unwilling."

Tan Chun was filled with shame, yet also touched. His Majesty saw through her mother's fuss that morning at a glance, but she only understood after she had calmed down.

Daiyu looked over and asked, "Has His Majesty agreed to Third Sister's request?"

Chu Yan nodded, patted Tan Chun's waist and abdomen, and laughed, "I'm not cold-blooded and heartless. It's a small matter. I agree."

Tan Chun hurriedly got up, bowed, and expressed her gratitude.

"Who else asked?" Chu Yan looked at Daiyu, but Lin Daiyu turned her head away. The two seemed to be of one mind; Chu Yan guessed that she had asked for help, and Daiyu guessed that he had guessed as well.

"Your Majesty, I also wish to plead." The third person to plead was unexpectedly Xichun.

She was much more decisive than Tan Chun. After speaking, she got up and walked to Chu Yan, but she did not throw herself into his arms.

Chu Yan smiled, pulled Xi Chun into his arms, and made her sit on his lap. He asked with a smile, "So, Sister Xi Chun is also asking me for favors?"

Li Wan, Yuan Chun, Xiang Yun, Bao Qin, and Bao Chai were all watching and heard the emperor call Xi Chun by her name.

Baochai thought back and realized that the emperor didn't have a fixed way of addressing people by their names. He could call whomever he wanted. She, Yunmei, Dajiejie, Qinmeijie, and others had all been called that.

However, the emperor never mentioned Daiyu's name, and usually referred to her only as Sister Lin.

Xi Chun, with a hint of shyness on her sweet and lovely face, said, "His Majesty told me last time that people are not plants or trees, how can they be without feelings? Although I didn't take it to heart, it was His Majesty's decree after all."

After looking at him, she said, "Ruhua's family works in the East Mansion. During this layoffs, quite a few people came to her for help, and she also came to me for help. I was hesitant to speak up, but after seeing Consort Qin and Third Sister plead for leniency, I boldly came to ask His Majesty for help as well."

Chu Yan nodded: "How many people are there? If it's less than ten, I'll agree to your request."

Xi Chun smiled brightly in his arms, saying happily, "Only six people, thank you for your mercy, Your Majesty!"

She was truly happy this time!
Even though she was aloof and cold, she was now being valued by the man who was going to marry her. He held her and readily agreed to her request, which warmed Xi Chun's heart.

"Fourth Sister has a very sweet smile." Seeing her smile, Chu Yan reached out to tease her little face and said with a smile, "You can smile more often in the future."

The emperor flirted with Xichun in front of them, and the girls in the room were all a little embarrassed, their eyes darting away.

Xi Chun was somewhat at ease, staring intently at him until Chu Yan was about to lower his head to kiss her, at which point she became incredibly shy.

"No wonder it was so lively inside, turns out everyone was..."

Wang Xifeng's voice stopped abruptly. She rarely came here and had no idea that the emperor and the girls had progressed to the point of kissing in front of each other!

Yingchun followed behind her, and when she looked inside, she blushed as well. Ping'er followed in as well, but when she saw that there were too many people in the room, she went out again.

Chu Yan released Xi Chun and smiled, "Is everyone here?"

Xiangyun hurriedly said, "The princess is resting inside, and Sister Xing is at the Jade Emperor Temple and hasn't come yet."

Baochai smiled and said, "Neither of them needs to beg His Majesty."

Chu Yan looked at Ying Chun and asked, "Are you here to ask for help too?"

Yuan Chun quickly told her what had just happened, so as not to frighten her with the Emperor's words.

Upon hearing this, Yingchun blushed, but she slowly walked up to Chu Yan and was also embraced.

Daiyu secretly spat. This tyrant had taken Tanchun, Xichun, and Yingchun in one fell swoop, and all three sisters had been defiled by him.

After agreeing to Yingchun's request for help on behalf of Madam Xing, Chu Yan released her, stood up and said, "Those who still want to plead, come again tomorrow. I don't have time today."

As she spoke, she glanced at Feng Jie, then looked at Daiyu, and then pulled Qin Keqing away.

Sister Feng stomped her foot angrily, thinking, "This guy must have done it on purpose!"
She came with Yingchun, but the dog emperor only agreed to Yingchun's plea, deliberately leaving her aside. It was clear he wanted her to put on that shameful undergarment again and beg him in bed...

"Ping'er is here too? Why isn't she going in?"

Sister Feng heard the dog emperor's voice coming from outside.

Ping'er smiled and said, "There are too many people inside, so it's not appropriate for me to go in. Your Majesty, please go ahead. I'll go back with my grandmother later and come back tomorrow."

Chu Yan and Qin Keqing left.

He left behind a room full of beautiful women.

Yuan Chun quietly asked Daiyu, "Is Lin Daiyu asking about something from the old lady?"

Daiyu agreed, but Yuanchun took her hand and said, "The old lady has eight senior maids and about twenty junior maids in her room. His Majesty has already issued an edict to reduce their numbers. If you ask again, you might displease His Majesty." She then smiled gently and said, "Even so, His Majesty dotes on you. Perhaps you can get it done through your pleading, but I cannot plead for you any further."

Upon hearing this, Daiyu was slightly lost in thought.

She had always heard from others that the emperor favored them, but she had previously ignored it and let it go.

Hearing her older sister say these words now, she realized that perhaps he really did dote on them.

What Yuan Chun dared not ask for, she and Xiang Yun and the others dared to ask for.

……

Chu Yan and Qin Keqing returned to Tianxiang Tower. After sitting down, Chu Yan asked her with a smile, "Ke'er, what tricks do you have up your sleeve today?"

"This humble woman does not understand what Your Majesty is saying."

Qin Keqing smiled radiantly.

"A young woman?" Chu Yan asked with interest.

Qin Keqing raised her hand to cover her face with her sleeve and stepped back until she was outside the door, then said sweetly, "Please wait a moment, Your Majesty!"

Chu Yan was increasingly puzzled. What exactly was she planning to do?
After Qin Keqing left, Baozhu and Ruizhu came in to serve her, pouring tea and fanning her. After a while, they also left.

Only Chu Yan remained at Tianxiang Tower.

"How dare you leave the emperor standing here! If this isn't exciting, I'll spank her until her ass is soaked!"

Chu Yan waited patiently.

Finally, another woman appeared at the doorway.

It wasn't Qin Keqing, but a beautiful woman in her early thirties with a somewhat plump figure, wearing white mourning clothes and light makeup.

Chu Yan's spirits lifted!
People often say that if you want to look beautiful, you should wear mourning clothes, and the beautiful woman in front of you has just grasped the essence of this!

Dressed in white mourning clothes, her face was beautiful and charming, but her expression carried a hint of shame and humiliation, as if she had just lost her husband and was in a state of grief and vulnerability.

"His Majesty."

A beautiful woman dressed in mourning clothes walked in tremblingly, knelt down before him, and lowered her body. Her two buttocks were round and full, slightly wider than her shoulders.

Chu Yan seemed frozen in place. After a long while, he finally ordered, "Raise your head and let me see you!"

The beautiful woman slowly raised her head, her face filled with sorrow and shame, perfectly capturing the essence of a mourning woman. Even if Qin Keqing were to play the role, she couldn't portray this demeanor of a woman in mourning.

Chu Yan reached out and lifted the chin of the beautiful woman in white mourning clothes, then stroked her smooth and delicate cheeks, making the woman blush with embarrassment. She then exclaimed in surprise, "I recognize you. You are Lady You?"

"I... am Lady You." The beautiful woman's voice trembled: "My late husband was Jia Zhen, whom His Majesty ordered to commit suicide."

Chu Yan said, "No wonder!"

It turns out her husband really did die!
He then smiled and asked, "Why is Madam doing this?"

Dressed in mourning clothes, Madam You trembled, her breathing quickened, and she didn't know how to answer.

Chu Yan reached out and caressed her pretty face: "Could it be that you want to seek someone to rely on in the next life while your husband's body is still warm, to serve me and seek my favor?"

Madam You nodded tremblingly, looking at him with awe, waiting for this man to decide the fate of her life, death, honor, and disgrace.

Chu Yan laughed, picked her up, and with a grab of his large hand, tore a hole in her white mourning clothes.

"His Majesty!"

Madam You exclaimed in surprise, and hurriedly said, "Please, please wait a moment, please allow me to sit down!"

"Hmm? There are more variations?"

Chu Yan was somewhat surprised and asked her to sit down.

Madam You hurriedly covered her undergarment with her mourning clothes and called out, "Qin... Rong'er's wife, come in!"

Chu Yan was even more surprised.

A moment later, Qin Keqing appeared, dressed in her finest attire. She had changed out of her vibrant palace clothes and returned to the dignified and conservative style she wore as Madam Rong. Even her expression was gentle and serene. Upon entering, she didn't glance at Chu Yan, but immediately went to You Shi to pay her respects, saying:
"The daughter-in-law greets her mother-in-law!"

As he spoke, he finally glanced over.

But it wasn't over yet. Lady You shouted again, "Pei Feng Xie Luan!"

Two concubines, both under twenty, walked in gracefully. One was beautiful and charming, the other innocent and naive. They bowed to Madam You and said, "Greetings to Madam You!"

Yu's heart skipped a beat.

In a daze, she returned to the past, when she was still Jia Zhen's wife, the eldest mistress of Ningguo Mansion, with a stepson and a gentle and kind daughter-in-law.

But when he opened his eyes, he found himself dressed in mourning clothes, and before him stood the emperor, tall and strong, with a physique far superior to Jia Zhen's. He had taken a liking to him...

"Mother-in-law, what are we waiting for?" Qin Keqing smiled and pulled You Shi up, pushing her into Chu Yan's arms.

(End of this chapter)