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

Chapter 216 Crimson Pearl's Tears Run Dry, Yearning to Return to Heaven (Part 2)
Yangxintang.

The pale moonlight shone on Lin Daiyu's stunningly beautiful face, which was flushed with shyness from her words. The blush spread from her ears to her cheeks like a thin layer of light cloud, making her skin look slightly pale and adding to her delicate and fragile appearance.

Chu Yan looked at her for a while before whispering, "Then come here, let me hug you."

Daiyu said, "Even if you are the emperor, you cannot be without propriety, righteousness, and a sense of shame. Wouldn't it make you a laughingstock if word got out?"

Chu Yan laughed and said, "What's the big deal? It's just you and me here. Xiangling and the others are from the same room. Xiangyun and the others won't come over either. Besides, even if they did, they wouldn't say anything."

Daiyu sneered: "Of course they wouldn't dare say it out loud, for fear that you, the emperor, would punish them, but how do you know what they're thinking? You treat people like this, which girl... not just girls, anyone who is mocked like this would blame you!"

She added, "You are the emperor, so naturally no one will say anything."

Chu Yan didn't answer first, but stretched out his hand across the low table between the two of them and said, "Since you won't come over and let me hug you, then Lin sister, stretch out your hand, and I'll have a go first."

Upon hearing this, Daiyu remained silent.

Even scolding him won't work anymore. This treacherous and tyrannical king is obsessed with women, and he doesn't care at all. He's just saying "letting him have his fun"; he's clearly lustful!
After a long pause, Daiyu coldly laughed and said, "Since you don't want to talk anymore, come back to my room with me. You can hug me for a while, and then I'll go back!"

Chu Yan was somewhat surprised: "Sister Lin just said she wanted to dismiss the maids in the Old Madam's room, yet she's willing to stay and let me humiliate her. Could it be that she has something else in mind?"

Daiyu rose and bowed, saying, "Thank you, Your Majesty, for your gracious pardon. I shall return now."

"Sit down!" Chu Yan said. Daiyu glanced at him from her standing position before sitting down again with a slight smile.

Chu Yan said, "Going back to what you just said, you only know one side of the story and not the other."

Daiyu said, "I want to hear what brilliant ideas this tyrant has."

Chu Yan laughed and said, "You said I am a domineering emperor. If I didn't get close to the girls, how would they dare to be so unrestrained and playful? Even you, Lin Daiyu, would probably be so frightened that you would be careful every step of the way, afraid to say a word or take a step, for fear of offending me. How could you say that I am a tyrant to my face?"

Upon hearing this, Daiyu laughed and said, "I was frightened only by the King of Thieves, not by the Emperor."

She glanced at him again and said with a smile, "What you're saying doesn't make much sense. If you're willing to put in the effort and pamper the girls, wouldn't they be close to you? But you insist on using tricks and touching the girls inappropriately, which only makes them feel ashamed!"

Chu Yan laughed and said, "I'm not Jia Baoyu, I don't have that much free time to spend on romance with girls."

Daiyu immediately sneered and replied, "You came back this afternoon to mingle with the girls, so you must have plenty of free time. Besides, I've heard that the emperors of the previous dynasty often went to the West Garden to play. It seems that being an emperor isn't so difficult!"

Chu Yan said, "That's why the previous dynasty perished."

Daiyu smiled and said, "Don't try to fool me, I've read some books too."

"Oh? What books have you been reading?"

The two chatted about everything under the sun until Fangguan ran out of the side room with a smile, followed by Lingguan chasing after her. The two laughed and joked and played around in the courtyard.

Upon hearing the commotion, Qingwen came out of the room and angrily scolded, "His Majesty is chatting with Miss Lin, what are you all doing out here causing trouble?!"

The two were so frightened that they stood there, not daring to reply.

After chatting with Chu Yan for a while, Daiyu's mouth was a little dry. She took a sip of tea and smiled at them, saying, "Don't be afraid. Your emperor loves your playful antics. He must know your nature to have you come to the room to serve him."

As she spoke, Daiyu glanced at him with a smile, her eyes filled with a charming allure that made one's bones melt.

Qingwen looked at the Emperor and, seeing that he was not angry, had no choice but to let it go.

Chu Yan laughed and said, "Even so, you should still be punished for disturbing us. Come here."

Daiyu quickly said, "You're going to do something reckless again, I won't stand for it!"

Her voice was more charming and melodious, and her eyes, like pools of water, were captivating. She lacked the feminine allure of Qin Keqing, but possessed the shyness and reproach of a young girl.

Fangguan and Lingguan had already walked up to him, but Chu Yan's eyes were on Daiyu, which made Lin Daiyu turn her head away, her face flushing slightly.

Chu Yan withdrew his gaze and smiled at the two of them, saying, "Since Sister Lin has pleaded for you, I will spare you tonight."

Lingguan glanced at him, bowed, and prepared to take her leave.

Fangguan chuckled and said, "It was Lingguan and I who were fooling around. I'll accept His Majesty's punishment."

As she spoke, to Daiyu's astonishment, the young girl nestled into Chu Yan's arms, then left with a grin a moment later, saying, "Is this how Your Majesty punishes girls? Alright, I've accepted my punishment, so don't you dare criticize me again!"

The girl's expression was charming and innocent, yet she had another endearing quality. Amidst laughter, she pulled Lingguan back to the side room, and Lingguan looked back once before entering the room.

Before Chu Yan could speak, Daiyu sneered, "I guessed right, they really are the ones you've chosen, to be brought into your room to serve you!"

Fangguan is outstanding in appearance and straightforward and lovely in nature, quite like Xiangyun.

Lingguan had captivating eyes and a graceful figure, and Xiangyun and Fengjie once jokingly said that she resembled her.

The civil official was the leader of the young actors, and his appearance and temperament were beyond question.

As for Di Guan, she pretended to be husband and wife with Ou Guan in her room, and Daiyu suspected that he knew about it too.

It's clear that the actors he recruited weren't chosen out of thin air!

Chu Yan laughed: "Nothing can be hidden from Lin Daiyu. Fangguan is young and has been learning opera since she was a child. She doesn't know how to do needlework or other crafts, and she doesn't know how to please people. If we let her out, she will have a hard time surviving."

Even young ladies from wealthy families had to learn needlework, like Xiangyun and Baochai, while young actresses like Fangguan only knew how to sing opera; they were like caged canaries.

Daiyu suspected that there was something hidden in his words, but she didn't want to ask further, so she had to let it go.

In her heart, she agreed with what he said. Fangguan, Qingwen, Yuchuan, and even Yingchun, Xiangyun, and even herself, would probably only fade away after leaving the Rongguo Mansion.

Not to mention the men tilling the fields and the women weaving.

Thinking of how Baoyu couldn't bear the hardship of farming and wrote to her begging the emperor to grant him a pardon so he could become a monk, and recalling her own past naiveté, Daiyu couldn't help but feel a pang of sadness, and tears welled up in her eyes again.

"Why is Lin Daiyu crying again for no reason?"

Chu Yan reached out and stroked Daiyu's cheek. Her skin felt smooth and delicate, making it irresistible. A few teardrops rolled down his hand, and the sight of this peerless beauty weeping was truly pitiful.

Daiyu turned her head and said, "What do you mean by 'all of a sudden'? You're clearly making fun of me."

As they were talking, Xiangling and the other two came out carrying several bowls and plates, which contained some fruits and snacks.

Chu Yan instructed, "We're going back now, and we'll take the fruits with us."

As he spoke, he stood up and walked over, reaching out his large hand to lift the seated Daiyu up in his arms. The little sister Lin in his arms blushed and struggled incessantly: "What are you going to do now? Do you only stop when you make me feel embarrassed? Put me down!"

Qingwen and the others stopped in their tracks, watching as His Majesty carried the slender, wriggling Miss Lin back into the house, and then, under Zijuan's watchful gaze, into the east side room.

The three followed them inside, put down the fruits and snacks, and then left.

Daiyu gradually stopped struggling, closed her eyes, and remained silent, as if to say, "Do whatever you want, just finish this quickly!"

Chu Yan smiled, took off his shoes and climbed onto the bed. He embraced Lin Meimei's slender waist, lifted her skirt, and wanted to take off her shoes.

The moment his hand touched her ankle, Daiyu cried out in embarrassment, grabbing her skirt and asking, "What are you doing?!"

"No, I just want to hold Lin Daiyu tightly tonight!"

Chu Yan looked at her, and their eyes met. Daiyu trusted him to some extent, and remembering that he had seen her feet in socks when he came to Xiaoxiang Pavilion that morning, she resigned herself and said, "It's the same as before, you're not allowed to touch me."

As she spoke, she struggled slightly to free herself, took off her shoes, and then climbed onto the soft couch.

Her delicate face blushed even more.

He probably knew that once she took off her shoes and sat on the soft couch, it meant that the "humiliation" tonight would not end easily, and that she would be held in his arms for half an hour before he was satisfied.

As expected, as soon as Daiyu got into bed, the bandit king's strong arms wrapped around her slender waist. With a gentle pull, she involuntarily leaned into his arms, kneeling on his lap, with most of her body pressed against his chest.

"you!"

Daiyu blushed deeply.

Chu Yan looked at her; she truly had rosy cheeks and a face full of affection.

Lin Daiyu was not a little beauty. She was slender, but not petite. Among the girls in the Grand View Garden, she was considered tall. It was only her slenderness that gave her a delicate and frail appearance.

Chu Yan noticed several times when he held her in his arms that Lin Daiyu was not thin in places where she shouldn't be. The soft and delicate feeling of holding her in his arms was different from that of other girls.

In addition, Daiyu has a natural fragrance.

At least he really enjoyed the fragrance emanating from Lin Daiyu's body.

Seeing that she had her eyes tightly closed again, Chu Yan reached out and teased her stunningly beautiful face. Daiyu quickly couldn't stand it and opened her eyes, which were half-crying and half-shedding tears, glaring at him: "You're being indecent again, touching me like that!"

Chu Yan withdrew his hand and laughed, "How can you have a chat if Lin Meimei keeps her eyes closed and doesn't say a word?"

Daiyu said angrily, "Who wants to talk to you! You... hurry up, I need to go back and take my medicine and go to sleep."

Chu Yan nodded and called out, "Zijuan, go and get your girl's medicine. Boil it in the next room. Your girl is sick and needs to take her medicine on time."

Ziju lifted the curtain and peeked inside. Seeing that the girl was embarrassed and annoyed, but not resentful, she smiled and agreed.

Chu Yan then said, "Send a few people with you."

Zijuan responded again.

Daiyu hurriedly asked, "How long will it take you?"

Chu Yan said, "It's still early. I haven't even had a chance to chat with Lin Meimei for long."

Daiyu frowned her slender, delicate eyebrows, looked at him for a long time, and could only sigh and let it be, as if she were repaying the debt of gratitude she owed him in her dream.

After Zijuan left, Chu Yan put his arm around Daiyu's slender waist and adjusted his position on the couch, letting Daiyu's slender but fleshy buttocks sit on his lap. He put one arm around her slender waist and held her soft little hand with the other.

He held her completely in his arms.

Her whole body was pressed tightly against his, Daiyu's body tense, her breathing rapid. After a while, she slowly got used to being embraced so intimately by him.

The two did not exchange a single word, yet it seemed as if they had a thousand unspoken words. Their breaths mingled, and Daiyu struggled several times, but in the end, she was manipulated by the bandit king into the way he pleased, and collapsed into his arms.

"I can't defeat you, you tyrant..."

Daiyu tilted her head to the side, leaning halfway on his shoulder, her hand held by him, her body softening as she rested against his strong frame.

She could vaguely make out the way this lustful and foolish emperor looked at her—a look that seemed to want to take her to his bedchamber and have his way with her, as if he wanted to devour her whole.

After embracing her like this, Chu Yan was finally satisfied and laughed, "If Sister Lin says I am a tyrant, then I shall be."

"How shameless!" Daiyu sneered.

However, her cheeks looked as if she had applied rouge, making her appear delicate and beautiful.

Chu Yan said, "Don't worry, now that you've taken Lin Daiyu, I'll grant your wish. As long as your maternal grandmother and aunt's maids are willing to stay, they can remain in the manor."

Daiyu opened her watery eyes and looked at him, retorting sarcastically, "You just said you would reserve a sum of money for use every year, but now you've changed your mind and added more. It's clear you're a truly foolish ruler!"

Chu Yan laughed and said, "If there's too much here, just reduce it over there. Can't you even figure this out, Lin Meimei?"

Daiyu, with his arm around her waist and his hand in hers, still sneered, "His Majesty issues decrees of favor here and acts of kindness there. He even grants requests from young ladies, and he also supports the concubines and princesses of the previous dynasty. This year is an exception, and next year will be an exception. Gradually, it will become the norm!"

Chu Yan teased her smooth little hand with his fingers and said with a smile, "After observing the Jia family for so many years, Lin Daiyu has learned a few things."

“I’ve never studied these things; I’ve only seen them.”

Daiyu disgustedly threw his hand away, but Chu Yan grabbed her other hand. Knowing she couldn't escape, she acquiesced to the thief king playing with her palm.

only……

Perhaps even the King of Thieves didn't realize that after he played with her palm for a while, Daiyu felt that his hand was large and warm, and when it was held in her slightly cool palm, a warm current welled up in her heart and quietly spread throughout her body.

Her cheeks grew even hotter.

As Chu Yan slowly stroked Daiyu's soft little hand, he said, "Even if it becomes a practice, I have a way to deal with it."

Daiyu fell silent.

Chu Yan said, “The wealth of the world is not fixed. When people live in peace and contentment, they can grow more crops and produce more food. This is the most basic thing. There are many other ways to make people rich. For example, the new students of the Imperial Academy are the foundation for my confidence to ensure that everyone in the world has enough to eat in the future.”

Daiyu had not heard much about his governance of the country, nor did she care to ask more. Although she admired his grand ambitions, she also thought that she was about to die and that how he governed the country in the future would be none of her concern.

She said softly, "Thank you for taking care of me these past few days. I also thank you on behalf of the old lady and my wife."

Chu Yan laughed and said, "You are my man, how could I not take care of you?"

Daiyu sneered.

Chu Yan asked her what she was laughing at, and Daiyu turned around and said, "This hug was just now. I have something to ask of you. Whether you agree or refuse, it's up to you."

Chu Yan guessed as he stared at her and asked, "You received a letter yesterday; it was Jia Baoyu asking you for a favor again?"

Daiyu smiled and said, "I can't hide it from you."

Chu Yan also laughed: "You have asked me for help several times, but never for yourself. People say that a candle burns until it is ash before its tears dry. I think Lin Daiyu is the same."

As he spoke, he tapped her cheek with his finger, teasing her for crying so much.

Daiyu, however, thought of Jiangzhu and felt a pang of sadness. She said, "Baoyu begged me to ask His Majesty to issue an edict allowing him to be freed from corvée labor and become a monk. I was reluctant to agree, but..."

Her furrowed brows and sorrowful expression were heartbreaking.

"Go ahead," Chu Yan said softly.

The Yangxin Hall was originally quiet, but Fangguan's laughter came from the side room again. Qingwen had also gone there at some point and was playing around with her.

The laughter and chatter were perfectly timed.

Daiyu slowly relaxed her brows, looking at him with her eyes on him, nestled in his arms: "Baoyu said that after he became a monk, they would have nothing to do with each other. He severed ties with the mortal world and would no longer concern himself with worldly affairs."

Chu Yan couldn't help but chuckle.

Daiyu turned her head away. "I know you don't believe him. Just laugh if you want." Actually, she didn't believe him either.

Chu Yan said slowly, "If Lin Daiyu is also willing to sever ties with him, I will immediately issue an edict allowing him to become a monk at Huang'en Temple and even make him the temple's steward!"

Daiyu suddenly looked at him and said angrily, "Why did you have to drag me into this?"

Chu Yan said, "So, Lin Daiyu still has feelings for another man. I cannot agree to that."

Daiyu was even angrier and struggled to get out of his arms. When he wouldn't let go, she pushed his chest hard, her face flushed with anger. She insisted on getting out of his arms, and tears welled up in her eyes again.

She was clearly both ashamed and angry, and refused to get any closer to him!
Chu Yan then realized something was wrong and quickly said, "Was what I said wrong?"

Daiyu sneered, "What does it matter to me if he becomes a monk? What does it matter to you if I sever all ties with you? You are the emperor, and I was just a poor maidservant. I am not worthy to sit on the emperor's lap!"

Chu Yan put his arm around her slender waist and coaxed her with a smile, "I was wrong, don't be angry."

Daiyu sneered repeatedly: "Don't try to fool me. I know you love to use the word 'I' when you're spouting nonsense. Take your empty words, your falsehoods, and your shameless sweet talk and say them to a straightforward girl!"

Chu Yan couldn't tell whether these were words spoken in anger, resentment, or jealousy.

But what Daiyu said was probably true.

Chu Yan held her close, and after a long while he laughed and said, "Even I didn't notice. Oh well, from now on, you should avoid referring to yourself as 'I' in front of Lin Daiyu."

Perhaps exhausted from struggling, Daiyu slowly softened and was embraced by Chu Yan, leaning into his arms again.

Chu Yan picked up a piece of fruit and held it to her lips: "In the past, it was the concubines who served me. Today, I will serve Sister Lin. Are you satisfied, Sister?"

Daiyu was so angry that she laughed instead, raised her hand to refuse, and said only, "I am not fortunate enough to be served by the emperor."

Chu Yan still smiled and gave it to her.

Daiyu glanced at him sideways: "I'm giving you this stuff that your dirty hands have touched, so you can eat it! Let's see if you're disgusted by it!"

As she spoke, she reached out and took a piece of pastry, stuffing it into his mouth. It was meant as a joke, but to her surprise, Chu Yan opened his mouth and ate it, even taking two of her fingers into his mouth and gently swallowing them.

Daiyu trembled, quickly withdrew her hand, and was too ashamed to lift her head.

Chu Yan smiled and called Xiang Ling over, asking her to fetch water to wash her hands.

Xiangling glanced at the bamboo skewers on the melons and fruits, then turned to go out and give instructions to the palace maids.

Daiyu quickly stopped her: "Don't listen to him. The fruits are served with bamboo skewers, but he insists on using his hands. I thought my hands were dirty, and he punished me. That shows how domineering he is!"

Xiangling laughed upon hearing this, saying that it was quite amusing for Miss Lin to be with His Majesty.

Chu Yan waved his hand: "Then forget it, you can go."

Xiangling smiled and said, "I'll have someone make some tea. Your Majesty and Miss Lin can rinse their mouths after you've finished eating." She added, "Zijuan will probably be back soon. Come in later and ask Miss Lin when she's going to take her medicine."

Chu Yan nodded, leaned back on the pillow, released his arms from Daiyu, and said with a smile, "Sister Lin, feed me some."

Daiyu picked up a piece of melon with a bamboo skewer, held it up in her slender hand but not to give it to him, and said, "Logically, the people in the garden are all His Majesty's servants, and they will not be rewarded for serving him. But I am unwilling to submit. If you ask me to serve you, you should consider whether I am happy to do so."

Chu Yan held her soft little hand and smiled, "What would make Lin Meimei happy?"

Daiyu sat with her legs turned to the side, her eyes sparkling with charm, and said with a coquettish smile, "Now I know what it means to be penniless and unable to accomplish anything. If Your Majesty would be willing to return my original silver, I would be so happy that I would serve Your Majesty!"

Chu Yan sighed, "I thought it was something else. That silver was originally yours. So, is Lin Meimei happy now?"

Daiyu smiled, reached out, and offered him the fruit on the bamboo skewer.

Chu Yan lowered his head and ate the melon skewer from Lin Daiyu's hand. It tasted sweeter than any melon or fruit he had ever eaten before!

Daiyu fed him some, and Chu Yan let him eat some too. The two of them ate more than half of the fruits and snacks on the low table, most of which ended up in Chu Yan's stomach.

When Zijuan returned to Yangxin Hall with the medicine, Qingwen also helped Chu Yan and Daiyu rinse their mouths with tea.

Zijuan lifted the curtain and came in. She saw His Majesty stretching out his legs and leaning against the soft couch, with the young lady half-nestled in his arms. The two were talking. Suddenly, Zijuan felt that the two looked like a married couple...

"Zijuan is back?"

Upon noticing her, Daiyu blushed and quickly moved away from the emperor.

Zijuan smiled and said, "I'll go and prepare the medicine for you, Miss."

Daiyu sighed softly. She didn't want to take any more medicine, knowing she wouldn't live much longer, and taking it would only be a waste of the medicine.

But she also knew that if she didn't take her medicine, not only would Zijuan object, but the emperor would also refuse.

Chu Yan asked her, "Why are you sighing all of a sudden?"

As he spoke, he pulled Lin Daiyu into his arms again. Logically, the debt had been paid off long ago, but Daiyu did not refuse and obediently leaned into his embrace.

A delicate fragrance wafted into Chu Yan's nose again, making him feel refreshed and relaxed. Indeed, inhaling the Crimson Pearl Immortal Grass was addictive.

Daiyu didn't speak, but quietly nestled against him, determined to go back after taking her medicine. She thought that within two days, the dream would probably come true.

Chu Yan played with Daiyu's hair with his fingers and suddenly said, "If Lin Daiyu is willing to let me kiss her for a while, I will agree to send Jia Baoyu to a temple."

They were simply sent to the temple, not made managers.

Noble children, including Daiyu and Xichun, thought that entering the Buddhist order would sever their ties with the secular world, but only those who have experienced it know that being a novice monk or nun is no easier than performing corvée labor.

People in temples, nunneries, and Taoist temples only chant scriptures and cultivate themselves; they don't become immortals or Buddhas. Monks and Taoists also need to eat, bathe, and wear clothes. Where do these things come from?
If Jia Baoyu couldn't bear the hardship of corvée labor and went to a temple again, he would most likely cry and beg for mercy.

Daiyu sighed, "You don't need to say that anymore, I won't agree to it."

When Zijuan returned, it seemed as if she was about to leave, and she no longer wanted to think about anything else.

Chu Yan exclaimed in surprise, "Does Lin Daiyu not care about Baoyu at all?"

Daiyu sneered.

She had already said that Baoyu's becoming a monk had nothing to do with her, yet this person still used those words to ridicule her!
She would never become a nun for Baoyu and sacrifice her purity to be embraced and kissed by Chu Yan. If she did that, she would be ashamed even after she returned to Lihentian after her death!
"wrong."

Chu Yan sat up, pulled Daiyu close to examine her closely, and asked with a smile, "What's wrong, Sister Lin?"

Daiyu grew increasingly bored and simply said, "Nothing's wrong. I'll just take my medicine and go back. If His Majesty wants to humiliate me, he can hold me a little longer." She then added cautiously, "Other than that, you mustn't touch me!"

Chu Yan's expression was strange, yet he couldn't figure out the reason behind it.

After a while, Zijuan brought the medicine and helped Daiyu drink it, then gave her tea to rinse her mouth.

Perhaps it was the scalding hot medicine that made Daiyu drowsy. The tyrannical emperor came to hold her again, and thinking it was just one last time, she nestled in his arms, stretched out her arms to embrace him, and fell down on the couch with him.

When Zijuan entered the room again, she saw that the girl had already fallen asleep on Chu Yan's body.

(End of this chapter)