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

Chapter 218 Daiyu (Part 2)

"Sister Lin."

Xiangyun lowered her usual playful voice and walked in slowly with Baochai and the others. They breathed a sigh of relief when they saw Chu Yan sitting in a chair.

The girls didn't all crowd around her; Baochai stepped forward and gently inquired about Daiyu's condition, while Xiangyun and the others comforted her from the side.

Daiyu kept saying she was fine, but kept wiping away her tears with her handkerchief. Baoqin, with her sharp eyes, noticed that the pillow and sheets were wet, but she didn't say anything.

Xiangyun sat down on Daiyu's bed, took her hand, touched her forehead, and asked with a smile, "Sister Lin, why are you crying again? Did His Majesty the Emperor upset you? He rushed back from outside to see you because he was worried about you!"

Daiyu feigned weakness and said, "I didn't mean to upset anyone; I just caught a cold last night."

Xiangyun said, "Don't try to comfort me. Look at you, you've been crying for who knows how long, your eyes are all red."

Tan Chun also said, "Zijuan just told us that you are seriously ill. Where do you feel unwell? His Majesty is here, and the imperial physician will be here soon."

After several people tried to comfort her, Daiyu said she was fine, but she couldn't stop crying, which made them even more skeptical. They all said they would call the imperial physician and go tell the old lady and the madam.

Daiyu could only look at them with pleading eyes. Chu Yan understood and said with a smile, "Sister Lin is like this because of something else. Since she refuses to see the imperial physician, let her be. We'll see if she feels better after we eat."

The group had no choice but to give up.

So Chu Yan had Zijuan and Xiangling serve him in the room, while he, Xiangyun, Baochai, and the others went out to sit in Daiyu's study.

After a while, Grandmother Jia, Lady Wang, and Lady Xing also sent people to visit. Xiangyun said with a smile, "If it weren't for the Emperor, Grandmother would definitely have come to visit in person! Grandmother always dotes on Sister Lin the most."

Chu Yan said, "I think he should love Jia Baoyu the most."

Xiangyun remained silent, staring at him intently for a long time, while Baochai and the others did not respond.

They sat for a good half hour, and when Zijuan said that Daiyu's condition was alright and had not worsened, they wanted to go back, but then they saw that Chu Yan had no intention of leaving.

"You should all go back and rest," Chu Yan said.

They didn't leave either.

After a while, Tan Chun took Bao Chai to visit Dai Yu in her room again. She was surprised to see that Dai Yu was still crying, and she became nervous again.

When it was time for dinner, Chu Yan and the others ate a quick meal in the study. Then he went to see Daiyu and saw that she had only managed to eat two bites before lying back down, completely exhausted.

Chu Yan sensed something was wrong, so he went to the bedside, bent down, and reached out to touch her forehead. It was covered in cold sweat. He then reached out to touch her back, which was also covered in sweat.

"Sister Lin!"

Xiangyun shouted it out immediately.

Daiyu said weakly, "I'm fine, don't worry too much."

Zijuan quickly said, "I'll go brew the medicine; the young lady will feel better after drinking it!"

When Baochai saw Chu Yan's hands, she said, "Give Lin Daiyu a clean set of clothes so that her sweat won't be absorbed back."

Several girls stood outside the door, at a loss.

As night fell, Daiyu changed her clothes and lay down again. Her condition worsened; her lips were dry and her face was pale. She coughed several times after speaking a single sentence. Seeing her constantly shedding tears, the people tried to give her water, but most of it spilled out with each sip. She didn't even have the strength to swallow.

Xiangyun cried incessantly beside Chu Yan, but dared not disturb her.

Grandmother Jia sent someone to inquire again.

After a while, Xueyan finished brewing the medicine and brought it over to Zijuan to give to Daiyu. After only two sips, Daiyu coughed and vomited a mouthful of blood, staining her clothes and quilt red, a shocking sight.

Daiyu collapsed onto the bed, and Zijuan burst into tears, alarming the others who rushed into the room to see what was happening. They were all terrified, and Xiaoxiang Pavilion was thrown into chaos.

Before Chu Yan could give any instructions, maids and servants hurriedly went to deliver a message to Grandmother Jia and Lady Wang. Before long, Grandmother Jia, supported by Yuanyang and Lady Wang, arrived at Xiaoxiang Pavilion, trembling.

“Yu’er!!”

Grandmother Jia was also in tears. She held Daiyu's hand and looked at her again and again before asking Zijuan what was wrong with Daiyu, whether she had taken her medicine, and then begged Chu Yan to fetch the imperial physician. Madam Xing and the others were also wiping away their tears.

About half an hour later, people from the Wang and Shi families also came to visit. Yingchun, Xichun, Xiuyan, and others also came to visit. Seeing that there were many people, Grandmother Jia was afraid of disturbing Daiyu, so she told them to go back first.

Madam Wang and the others were also worried about her health, so they advised the old lady to go back and that they would stay and look after her at Xiaoxiang Pavilion.

Chu Yan was in Daiyu's study when Grandmother Jia, supported by Yuanyang, came in to pay her respects and take her leave. He then said, "You should all go back. Miss Lin's illness today is extraordinary and difficult to cure with medicine. I will personally stay by her side tonight!"

Grandmother Jia and Lady Wang were all taken aback. Grandmother Jia quickly said, "Your Majesty's love for my granddaughter is a great blessing for her, but Your Majesty should also take care of your health."

Chu Yan simply said, "I have my own plans. You should go back."

Seeing that they could not persuade them, Grandmother Jia and the others had no choice but to give up, bowed, and take their leave.

Before leaving, Xiangyun whispered in his ear, "Brother Emperor, I have something to tell you, please don't be angry." She paused, then whispered again, "Sister Lin is probably thinking of my Brother Bao, which is why she keeps crying. If we want her to feel better, we'll probably have to call Brother Bao back from outside the city so that the two of them can at least see each other."

Chu Yan laughed upon hearing this, pinching her adorable cheek: "Your Sister Lin isn't doing this, so just go back without worry. Tomorrow I'll return you a healthy Sister Lin!"

Xiangyun had no choice but to leave. Before leaving, she went to visit Sister Lin one last time, holding her hand with tears in her eyes.

Baochai and the others also told Daiyu to take good care of herself before they left one by one.

Only Chu Yan remained in Xiaoxiang Pavilion, accompanied and served by Zijuan, Qingwen, Xiangling, and others.

Chu Yan sat on Daiyu's bed and looked at her for a while. Just as he was wondering if she could still speak, Daiyu's weak voice came: "Thank you for staying."

Chu Yan laughed and said, "Instead of thanking me now, you should think about how you're going to thank me when you're better."

If it were the usual Daiyu, she would have already sneered, but now she could only sigh softly: "You... cough, cough."

I want to say something, but I can't say it.

Zijuan couldn't help but shed tears again.

After a while, Daiyu's breathing became more even. Chu Yan pulled up a chair and sat down next to the bed. Zijuan and Qingwen went out, leaving only the two of them in the room.

Daiyu remained silent for a long time.

As night deepened, she finally turned around with difficulty, her face pale, and asked with a smile, "Why aren't you leaving yet?"

Chu Yan said, "You say I can't save you, but I just don't believe it."

Daiyu smiled and said, "What can you do to stop my tears?" She raised her slender hand to wipe her eyes again. "I've been crying all day, and my eyes are sore, but I still can't stop. It seems that fate has decreed that I cannot recover."

Chu Yan also laughed and said, "What fate? It's all up to you."

Daiyu glanced at him a few times before saying softly, "You once told me about Jiangzhu repaying her debt of tears. At that time, I was suspicious, but today I realize that you meant well for me." She glanced at him again and said, "But I am still suspicious and afraid that you are a treacherous person."

Chu Yan said, "How could an emperor not be shrewd? Even Lin Daiyu is quite calculating."

Daiyu laughed, then coughed involuntarily. After catching her breath for a while, she sighed, "I have no one to blame for my current situation; it is my own fault."

Chu Yan grasped her icy hand: "Why are you saying that!"

Daiyu pointed to the box on the dressing table with her other finger: "I put the letter that Baoyu gave me there."

Chu Yan nodded, but didn't take it, not caring what he said.

Daiyu said in a low voice, "I was naive and innocent, not knowing the hardships of the world. I thought that if we were together, I would be willing to die." After catching her breath, she said, "Baoyu told me that if we could leave in a few years, he would farm the land and I would weave cloth, and we would just live our lives in a haphazard way. Who knew that Baoyu couldn't bear the hardship of farming, and after only two or three months, he thought I had gone to the palace... and no longer thought about the past."

After coughing for a while, she finally said, "Baoyu wrote to me, begging the emperor to pardon him. I knew then that I wouldn't have to worry about him anymore, and the two of us could let go..."

"As soon as this thought arose, I had a dream that night. A fairy told me that a welcoming banquet had been prepared in the Heaven of Separation and Hatred, and that she was just waiting for me to return to heaven after my tribulation was over."

Daiyu looked at her with a smile: "I just realized that what you, my foolish emperor, said about Crimson Pearl repaying her debt of tears was indeed true."

Her words finally explained the whole story.

It turns out that Daiyu felt there was no hope of ever seeing Jia Baoyu again. Once this thought arose, her reason to stay in the mortal world disappeared, and thus she had to die in tears.

Chu Yan laughed and said, "It's clear that Jiangzhu is a fool."

Daiyu smiled and was about to speak when she coughed again and spat out another mouthful of blood.

Chu Yan quickly got up and wiped her down, telling her to lie down and not talk.

Daiyu still smiled and said, "It's fine if others don't know, but why are you telling me to rest? I can still talk now, but after I finish crying, I won't be able to talk anymore."

Chu Yan said, "I can save you!"

Daiyu smiled with her lips pursed, then felt her lips were dry and cracked, and pleaded with him, "Pour me a glass of water. If I feel indebted to you, just hug me."

Chu Yan laughed, poured some water, held her in his arms, and slowly fed it to Daiyu.

It looks like they're taking care of a patient.

It's more accurate to say that it's about taking care of patients.

After drinking some water and calming down, Daiyu said, "After I die, cremate my body and send my ashes back to Suzhou." She added, "If my father is still alive, please tell him that I am unfilial and can no longer serve him."

She wanted to say more, but Chu Yan stopped her: "Does Sister Lin still remember the bald-headed monk who came to visit you when you were little?"

Daiyu thought for a while before catching her breath and saying, "So you knew too. That monk said I must not see my relatives or hear crying again before I can live a peaceful life. I didn't expect it to come true." She looked at him and said, "That monk is a strange person, just like you. I heard from Baochai that she also saw that monk."

Chu Yan smiled and said, "It's a pity that I haven't been able to see them yet, but don't worry, I can save you even without them."

Daiyu lay back down, her back to him, and said, "I don't need you to save me."

Chu Yan asked in surprise, "Does Lin Daiyu really want to die?"

Daiyu retorted angrily, "Even ants cling to life, who would be so eager to die?" She glanced back at him, "I'm just afraid that someone will take advantage of my kindness and force me to do something shameful. I'd rather die!"

Chu Yan said calmly, "Life and death are not something to be taken lightly."

Daiyu sneered: "If I die, I'll cry myself to death tonight. Please go back, there's no need to stay any longer."

Chu Yan looked at her for a long time before laughing: "Sister Lin is still angry about what happened back then."

Daiyu simply said, "You are a lustful and foolish ruler; everyone in the garden knows that. Why should I be angry?"

Chu Yan grasped her hand, but Daiyu, though weak, insisted on shaking it off. After a few tugs, she started coughing and gasping for breath, forcing Chu Yan to let go.

"Alright," Chu Yan coaxed her, "This time it's my turn to save you, so you don't need to repay the favor. Just let me hug you again from now on."

A slight blush rose on Daiyu's pale face, and she couldn't help but cough again. After a while, she pushed him away and laughed, "What a foolish emperor! He has taken in countless beautiful concubines, yet he is still not satisfied. He always thinks about girls rushing into his arms."

Chu Yan laughed and said, "Although there are many concubines in the harem, it's like a person's heart is missing a piece if Lin Daiyu is not there."

Daiyu sneered: "That's just a joke. You should say it to Sister Yun and Sister Qin."

Chu Yan smiled again and said, "Yun'er just told me that you are so worried about your second brother Bao that you have fallen ill. She asked me to summon him in so that you can meet at Pear Fragrance Courtyard."

Daiyu looked up at him: "You agreed?"

Chu Yan was about to speak when he remembered how she had been unsure whether to agree or disagree with Lin Daiyu's temperament in the past.
Before he could speak, Daiyu closed her eyes listlessly: "I don't want to see anyone anymore, you should leave too." Chu Yan said: "No, I have to stay and save you."

After a pause, realizing that Daiyu truly had thoughts of returning to the Heaven of Sorrow, he took the initiative to say, "Once you're better, I'll issue an edict to let Jia Baoyu become a monk."

"you……"

Daiyu tried to sit up, but in her haste, her chest ached terribly, and she covered it with her hand, coughing incessantly. Chu Yan quickly went to check on her and helped her lie down again.

But then she started to cry.

This time it was real crying; sobbing, there were no longer just clear tears, but the sound of weeping.

Although Chu Yan was used to Lin Daiyu's personality traits, he still couldn't figure out what she was thinking at this moment.

Daiyu wiped away her tears and choked out, "I doubt you, and you doubt me. You don't believe anything I say. I said whether he becomes a monk or not is none of my business. Do you think I have other thoughts in my heart? I don't owe him anything. I gave him a thousand taels because I was worried that he was not living well, but he used it for other things. Does he expect me to serve you in bed in exchange for him eating and drinking well outside? There is no such logic in the world."

He added, "He wants to become a monk, and you refuse, fine. But do you expect me to threaten suicide to force you to agree?"

Chu Yan thought for a while, and Daiyu said again, "Think carefully, is this right?"

Chu Yan couldn't help but laugh: "I'm good at fighting, but I'm not good at romantic relationships."

Daiyu smiled, blushing, and said, "What do you mean by romantic love? It's just my heartfelt sentiment. I'm sorry you had to listen."

He took a long breath, seemingly finally feeling a bit better.

Chu Yan said, "Even so, the Emperor's word is law. For the sake of Xiangyun, Tanchun, and Yuanchun, I will allow him to become a monk. However, becoming a monk also requires the consent of his parents. You should go and talk to your aunt when you recover."

Daiyu spat at him: "What's wrong with calling someone by a girl's name? Are you some kind of Leng Zixing?"

This made both of them laugh.

Daiyu added, “Baoyu once said he wanted to be a monk twice, and now it has come true. But I’m afraid I can’t tell my aunt. Whether he becomes a monk or not is none of my business.”

Chu Yan said, "If you're happy that he's become a monk, then just wait patiently for me to save you."

Daiyu was about to get angry, angry that he still didn't understand a woman's feelings, but then she thought about it again, and her pale face couldn't help but blush a little. She closed her eyes and didn't say anything.

After a while, Chu Yan reached out to check her breath, and Daiyu laughed: "I'm not dead yet."

Chu Yan touched her cheek: "There are still tears. It's clear that Jiangzhu is a heartless fool."

Daiyu said, "Why are you scolding me?"

"I cursed Jiangzhu."

“Jiangzhu is me. Just now you were indirectly insulting me.”

Hearing her say that, Chu Yan laughed and said, "In that case, you brought it on yourself."

Daiyu was taken aback for a moment, and then said, "Thank you for your concern."

"Get some rest, you'll feel better after a good night's sleep."

The room fell silent.

Moonlight streamed through the window and fell on the floor. Xiaoxiang Pavilion was so quiet that only the chirping of insects could be heard. Daiyu spoke up, "Are you going to wait until I've cried all my tears before you try to save me?"

"Let's take a look first."

She fell silent again. Chu Yan suddenly found it quite amusing. If he hadn't disrupted the fates of the women after his rebellion, Daiyu would probably have cried all night before passing away.

Now, however, they quietly wait for their tears to dry.

Daiyu lay silently on the bed.

She had shared a bed with him the night before last, but now he was staying in his own room, keeping her company until the very end.

Zijuan came in and quietly asked, "Your Majesty, how is the young lady?"

Upon hearing this, Daiyu asked her, "What time is it?"

Zijuan laughed: "The young lady is still awake, so she must be alright. The night watchmen just struck the third watch."

Seeing that nothing was wrong, Zijuan went out again, but Chu Yan stopped her: "Tell Xiangling and the others that you don't need to stay and go to sleep."

Zijuan did not answer, but went out to deliver a message to Xiangling and Qingwen.

Daiyu said, "You should go to sleep too, you have to go to court early tomorrow."

Chu Yan replied to her, "It's alright, you go to sleep. When I was leading troops in battle, I didn't sleep for more than a few hours in seven days and seven nights, so not sleeping for one night is nothing."

Daiyu laughed: "When you were the king of bandits, how did you fight?"

"What other way is there to fight? We'll just besiege the city, and once we break through, we'll take a beauty like Lin Daiyu back to our stronghold and make her our wife!"

"Pah, that lewd thief king has no sense of propriety whatsoever."

Daiyu's voice was delicate and melodious, but unfortunately, due to her illness, her voice was too soft.

The two chatted for a long time, mostly Chu Yan talking, while Daiyu listened from her bed. After some time, Chu Yan suddenly saw a tall, ethereal woman with a body radiating white light walk in. She smiled at him and said, "I'm leaving now. I'll thank you again when we meet in Lihentian." After a pause, the woman added, "I know you are no ordinary person. We will surely meet again in the future."

"Daiyu?"

Chu Yan regained consciousness, suddenly opened his eyes, and stood up from the chair.

After calming down, I immediately went forward to check Daiyu's breathing. She had stopped breathing. When I touched her cheek, the tears had stopped and her face was cold.

"Girl, don't go!!!"

Zijuan next door cried out, as if Daiyu's spirit had gone to say goodbye to her.

The shouts startled Qingwen and the others who were asleep, and they rushed over. Xueyan and Daiyu's wet nurse also arrived quickly. The palace maids and eunuchs outside Xiaoxiang Pavilion also heard the noise and hurriedly sent several people in.

“Girl!! How could you have left us like this…” Zijuan wept, lying on Daiyu’s cold body.

Xiangling couldn't help but wipe away her tears, and the wet nurse also started crying; the sound of weeping continued throughout Xiaoxiang Pavilion.

"Don't cry, Zijuan, move aside."

Chu Yan took out a glazed bottle he had prepared, poured out a white pill, and a strange medicinal fragrance filled the air.

This was the magic pill he obtained from the system, and it was also the source of his confidence in always leading the charge in battle and conquering the world in ten years.

Without saying much to them, Chu Yan stuffed the pill into Daiyu's cold little mouth, closed her mouth, and then patted her cheek, causing the pill to roll down her throat and into her stomach.

The aroma of the medicine grew stronger, and Zijuan and the others were stunned in the small room. They saw a red light emanating from Daiyu's cold body, and the medicinal power of the elixir from earlier was slowly spreading in her stomach.

Before long, her frail body warmed up again, and Zijuan stepped forward to check again, and the girl was breathing again!

Overjoyed, Zijuan's tears rolled down her cheeks again.

After waiting patiently for a while, Daiyu finally opened her eyes, frowned and looked at the people surrounding her bed. Only after seeing Chu Yan did the whole story come to mind.

"I'm all better?"

Daiyu sat up, touched her cheek, and looked at Chu Yan with increasing surprise: "So it really was you who saved me?"

Qingwen laughed and said, "Isn't it His Majesty who saved you? When we came in just now, you were almost dead. His Majesty gave you a pill, and you really recovered!"

Daiyu remained silent for a long time, while her wet nurse repeatedly chanted "Amitabha," filling the room with a joyful atmosphere.

Chu Yan smiled and said, "You all go back to sleep and let Lin Meimei rest for a while."

They all went out.

Chu Yan sat down again and smiled at Daiyu, who was still lost in thought, "Now you know my abilities?"

Daiyu touched her cheek; there were no more tears, her eyes no longer ached, and she felt better than ever before.

She was still incredulous. Her soul had clearly left, wanting to go to the Heaven of Separation, but he had pulled her down again.

Chu Yan said, "This pill will keep you healthy for several days, and it might even cure your congenital deficiency."

For an ordinary person, any illness could be cured, and severed hands and feet could grow back. But Daiyu was no ordinary person, so it's hard to say how effective the elixir would be.

Daiyu let out a long sigh: "I don't know what to say. I owe you the debt of saving my life."

"I don't need you to pay me back," Chu Yan said. "Just live well."

Daiyu lowered her head and thought for a while before saying, "I will not feel at ease if I do not repay such a great kindness."

Chu Yan nodded: "Then come here, let me hug Lin Meimei."

Daiyu blushed and lay down again, annoyed, "Then it's better not to return it. You should go back and rest early. I won't see you off!" She glanced at him again, "I'll rest for a while too. I'll go to Yangxin Hall when you come back."

Chu Yan stood up and looked outside: "So it's dawn."

Daiyu quickly sat up and looked out the window. Sure enough, it was getting light. The two of them had stayed together all night.

Daiyu sighed to him, "I've dragged you into this. You should go back to sleep and see the ministers this afternoon."

Chu Yan shook his head: "Forget it, my biological clock is off. I sleep in the morning and can't sleep at night. I might as well go to bed at night and go to bed an hour earlier, and that will get my biological clock back on track."

Daiyu frowned, looked at him for a while, and then said with concern, "Doesn't that mean you have to stay up all day?"

Chu Yan laughed: "I have the elixir of immortality, why would I be afraid of such a small matter?"

Daiyu sneered, "Even if you were an immortal, you shouldn't abuse your body like this." She lowered her head and thought for a while, but had no other choice. She had to agree and said to him, "If you can't hold on, go to sleep as soon as possible. You must not force yourself to stay awake."

Chu Yan smiled and said, "Thank you for your concern."

Daiyu laughed, "Are you a parrot? Why do you insist on mimicking human speech!" Saying this, she got out of bed, slipped on her shoes from beneath her silk stockings, and came to Chu Yan, carefully examining his complexion and eyes. After a moment, she smiled and said, "You look even more energetic than I usually do. You truly are the king of rebels!"

Chu Yan raised his hand and pinched Lin Meimei's cheek.

Daiyu laughed and dodged him, urging him, "Go take a bath, it will help you clear your head."

Chu Yan said, "I'll wash here with you. Let me talk to you for a bit before I go to court."

Daiyu blushed, glanced inside the room, and quickly said, "Go to the back room to wash."

Chu Yan nodded, called Qingwen over, and ordered the eunuchs to prepare bathwater.

When she heard the sound of his bathing water, Daiyu remained in the room, lost in thought. She sat in front of the mirror and looked at herself. She saw that her face was rosy, which showed that his elixir was indeed miraculous.

After a long while, Daiyu raised her hand to touch her lips, silently thinking: When the time is right, I should let him kiss me, not only to repay his life-saving grace, but also to repay the favor of keeping me company for one night, thus fulfilling his wish.

As this thought arose, Daiyu's cheeks flushed red. She dared not think about what it would feel like to be held and kissed by him. Last night, she had been whispering with him in the room and had been held and caressed by him several times without her realizing it. Now, thinking about it again, she was overcome with shame.

(End of this chapter)