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

Chapter 219 The Emperor of Chu Forces Himself to Listen to Poetry, the Young Ladies of the Grand View Garden Keep Him Company

After taking a bath, Chu Yan put on a robe and returned to Daiyu's study to sit down, asking her, "Are you feeling better?"

Daiyu smiled and said, "I'm all better now. I didn't shed a single tear, and I wasn't tired even though I didn't sleep all night. Thank you for your magic pill."

Chu Yan said smugly, "Restoring one's spirit is only the least of my needs." He then looked at her and smiled, "Sister Lin, you're only thanking me verbally?"

Daiyu was extremely intelligent and quick-witted. She saw through his thoughts at a glance, and her face flushed slightly. She said angrily, "I just said that there's no need to repay a life-saving grace. Why are you still chasing after me?"

Chu Yan waved to her: "At least let me hug Lin Daiyu for a moment."

Daiyu added, "I was covered in sweat last night and haven't bathed or changed yet."

Chu Yan laughed and said, "I hugged you several times last night?"

After hesitating for a moment, Daiyu finally walked up to him and was once again embraced by him.

Chu Yan buried his face in her neck and inhaled her fragrance, a scent as delicate as an orchid in a secluded valley, which invigorated him.

Daiyu pushed him away in embarrassment and anger: "What are you doing? I've never seen anyone treat someone like this!"

"Even Lin Daiyu's sweat smells sweet."

Chu Yan smiled and asked her before she could get angry, "Last night you came to say goodbye to me and Zijuan? After your soul left your body, did you see anything?"

Daiyu was silent for a while, then said with some worry, "I died once last night, which allowed me to see what the heavens are like. A fairy invited me to a banquet, but you called me back. I'm afraid she will be angry with you."

Chu Yan asked, "What kind of person is the fairy maiden?"

Upon hearing this, Daiyu sneered: "Of course, she has the appearance of a celestial being from the heavens!"

Chu Yan chuckled and was about to chat with her about something else when he heard the voices of Xiangyun, Yuanchun, and others outside. Daiyu heard them too and quickly left his embrace.

Concerned about Daiyu's illness, everyone got up early.

A moment later, the room was crowded with people. Everyone was very happy to see that Daiyu was able to get out of bed and had a rosy complexion. They took her hand and asked her questions. After hearing that Chu Yan had not slept all night, they rushed to greet him.

"It doesn't matter."

Chu Yan stood up and said, "I will change my clothes and go to the morning court. Zijuan and Qingwen, you two go back and rest. Send someone to continue to look after Miss Lin for the next few days."

Qingwen smiled and said, "I'm not sleepy yet. I slept for two hours last night. I'll just take a nap later."

Chu Yan nodded and went to Daiyu's room to change into his morning court clothes. Zijuan and Xiangling followed to help him change.

As he was about to leave, he remembered something else and said to Qingwen, "You are permitted to let Jia Baoyu become a monk. After you have rested, you can ask Miss Lin for details. If they agree, then send the decree to Xia Shouzhong and have him carry it out."

Qingwen and Zijuan were both surprised. What did His Majesty talk about with Miss Lin last night? Why did he suddenly want to let Bao Er Ye become a monk?
After Chu Yan left, Qingwen asked Daiyu, "Miss Lin, His Majesty told me that Master Bao has become a monk. What's the story behind that?"

Xiangyun, Tanchun, Yingchun and the others were all surprised and hurriedly asked what was going on.

Daiyu frowned and pondered for a moment, then said to them, "Let's go talk to the old lady and the madam about this again."

So they went to Grandmother Jia's room together. Grandmother Jia was naturally happy to see Daiyu after she recovered from her illness. She quickly called her to sit beside her, carefully stroked her face, cried again, and then smiled and said, "Your mother sent you to me. I've been worried about you all these years because you've been sick. Fortunately, you've survived this ordeal safely. You'll definitely be free from disasters and illnesses in the future!"

Everyone laughed and said yes. Tan Chun smiled and said, "It's all thanks to His Majesty's care last night, and the miraculous medicine he gave to Sister Lin that she recovered."

Grandmother Jia nodded, took Daiyu's hand, looked at her again, and said with a smile, "His Majesty dotes on you, so you must not misbehave anymore in the future."

Daiyu said, "The old lady is trying to frame me and kill me."

Everyone, including Grandmother Jia, laughed, showing that they had all seen it and knew that Daiyu was not very willing to become a concubine.

Xiangyun laughed and said, "Grandma, aren't you implying that you're going to..."

Daiyu glared at her, and Xiangyun could only mutter and shut up, quickly changing the subject: "I was just about to tell Grandmother that Brother Bao is going to become a monk!"

Everyone in the room, including Grandmother Jia and Lady Wang, was shocked. Grandmother Jia hurriedly asked, "Yun'er, tell me quickly, what's going on? Why does Baoyu want to become a monk? Who gave him permission to become a monk? His father and mother are still alive, who would want to ordain him as a monk?"

Xiangyun gestured to Lin Daiyu, who dared not take out the letter, but only uttered some of the words from it.

Upon hearing this, Madam Wang covered her face and wept, saying, "My poor child, you must have suffered some injustice at the imperial estate, which is why you thought of becoming a monk to escape this misery. My poor child, I cannot save you!"

Baochai didn't want to say anything, but after hearing her words, she quickly advised, "Madam, please don't cry. The Emperor's grace is boundless. It is thanks to this that the men of our two families are able to perform corvée labor on the imperial estate. My uncles, my brother, and Huan-ge'er are all here, but we haven't received any news from them. It's just that Baoyu is a bit naughty and can't stand the hardship. Now that His Majesty has once again bestowed grace, allowing Baoyu to become a monk and sever ties with the Jia family, you should be grateful to the Emperor."

Yuan Chun was also grieving for her younger brother Bao Yu, but after hearing Bao Chai's words, she realized that if her mother's words were spread and exaggerated, and people said that she secretly resented the emperor, wouldn't that be a great crime?
“Miss Bao is right.”

Yuan Chun hurriedly advised, "His Majesty has shown you great favor; Madam should go and express her gratitude... As for Bao Yu..."

She was in a dilemma. She didn't want her brother to become a monk, but it was his own idea.

Lady Wang was grieving when she heard these words, and she couldn't help but shed tears again. She could only nod and say that she would go to Yangxin Hall to express her gratitude later.

Regardless of whether Jia Baoyu ultimately became a monk, they still had to kneel before the emperor to show their gratitude, because it was a blessing bestowed by the emperor.

Tan Chun looked at Dai Yu and asked, "Second Brother, are you really going to become a monk?"

Daiyu said, "What do you think, Grandmother and Madam? His Majesty told me last night that he should handle it as he sees fit."

Xiangyun sighed, "If Second Brother really shaves his head, I'm afraid I won't recognize him when we meet again. But if we don't shave his head..."

Madam Wang frowned and sighed, "If only we could meet again."

No one responded to that.

Seeing that they couldn't come up with a solution, Wang Xifeng said, "The old lady and the madam don't know how Baoyu is doing at the imperial estate, but the master is also there. Why don't we write a letter to ask him? If the master refuses, we can teach Baoyu a lesson and make him give up his idea of ​​becoming a monk and living away from the world."

Upon hearing this, Lady Wang hurriedly asked Daiyu, "What Feng'er said is quite right. If Baoyu wants to become a monk, then his father should be in charge of that; we won't make the decision. Could we send another letter out?"

Daiyu was still hesitating when Xiangyun chuckled and said, "Last night, His Majesty the Emperor gave the elixir to Sister Lin. This is an immense favor. What is this trivial matter?"

Daiyu did not answer.

Baochai smiled and said, "Other matters are fine, but this one is particularly difficult for Daiyu to handle. We need to find someone else to do it."

Everyone looked at Yuan Chun and Tan Chun, who were Bao Yu's siblings. Dai Yu quickly said, "No, no, I'll write the letter myself." She turned to Qing Wen and smiled, "Miss Qing Wen, I'm here to ask you for help again."

Qingwen smiled and said, "Miss Lin, don't say that. Just write the letter and have someone send it to me."

After saying that, he took his leave and went back.

These tasks were all entrusted to Qingwen, Xiangling, and Yuchuan. The longer they spent together, the clearer it became to see just how powerful and influential the maids in the emperor's quarters truly were.

After everyone dispersed, Aunt Xue took Baochai's hand and said, "Lin Daiyu has pleaded for Baoyu several times, and your brother is also suffering outside. Shouldn't you also plead with His Majesty?"

Baochai was speechless for a moment, and could only persuade her mother to go back first.

On the way back to Hengwu Garden, Ying'er whispered, "Miss may not be inferior to Miss Lin."

Baochai said, “What you’re saying doesn’t make sense. Among the girls in the garden, who can’t compare to whom? Third Sister is a Minister, Fourth Sister is commissioned to paint, and Sister Yun is playful, innocent, and straightforward, never afraid of angering His Majesty. Even Second Sister, who is quiet and reserved, has received His Majesty’s favor several times.”

Ying'er felt embarrassed and didn't dare to say anything more.

Baochai went straight back to Hengwu Garden, having nothing more to say.

After discussing it with Grandmother Jia and Lady Wang, Daiyu wrote a letter in front of them. Grandmother Jia then sent Yuanyang to deliver the letter to Qingwen.

Yuanyang quickly returned and reported: "Miss Qingwen has given the letter to that eunuch Xia."

Grandmother Jia nodded and said, "It will probably take several days to get a reply." Daiyu thought so too; it would take at least a day to send the letter out and find the person.

But to everyone's surprise, just after noon, Jia Lian personally delivered the reply to the second gate and handed it to the old woman guarding the gate. He had originally intended to request an audience with Madam Feng, but the old woman hesitated and said:
“It’s not that I don’t want to inform you, but Second Master, you need to know that things are different in the manor now than before. I have to deliver this letter to Third Miss. If Second Madam wants to see Second Master, she also has to tell Third Miss. It’s not as casual as it used to be.”

Jia Lian was taken aback, and after a long while he sighed, "If that's the case, then I won't see you. When you see Second Mistress another day, please give her my regards."

After saying that, he left in a hurry.

The letter was quickly delivered to Tan Chun, but she didn't open it. She ordered someone to pass it on to Yangxin Hall. Qingwen and Xiangling were both asleep, so Yuchuan stepped forward and delivered the letter to Xiaoxiang Pavilion.

Daiyu then took the unopened letter and went to her maternal grandmother's room.

Madam Xing, Madam Wang, Wang Xifeng, and others arrived, as did Yuan Chun, Tan Chun, and Ying Chun.

Everyone opened the letter together and read it. After only a short while, Lady Wang burst into tears, and Grandmother Jia also shed tears.

In his letter, Jia Zheng harshly criticized Jia Baoyu, using terms like "wicked child," "beast," and "scourge," and concluded by saying, "Just let him become a monk; it would be better if we never saw each other again."

After everyone tried to persuade him for a while, Grandmother Jia sighed and said, "Forget it, let Baoyu go. He can't bear the hardship of corvée labor. It would be easier for him to be a monk."

Lady Wang cried, "I only have one son, Baoyu."

Grandmother Jia looked at Yuan Chun and, seeing that they were all helpless, could only say, "You still have a grandson, and Huan'er calls you Mother. Since Bao Yu wants to become a monk, and your husband has agreed, how can you stop him? You should try to think more positively."

Madam Wang had no choice but to get up and agree.

Daiyu didn't say anything more. After returning home, she went to find Qingwen and told her about it.

Not long after, the imperial decree allowing Jia Baoyu to become a novice monk at Huang'en Temple was sent from Daguan Palace to the imperial estate outside the city.

……

When Chu Yan returned in the afternoon and heard about the matter, he simply nodded without saying anything.

Daiyu didn't leave. When he returned, she asked, "Your Majesty didn't sleep all night and dealt with a lot of government affairs. Are you tired now?"

Xiangling and the others also seemed concerned.

Chu Yan leaned back on the pillow and shook his head, saying, "I'll sleep after nightfall." He then smiled at Daiyu and said, "Sister Lin, sit with me for a while and talk to me."

Daiyu blushed and laughed, "I'm not going to sit at your place. You'll start touching me again, and Ziyun and the others will definitely come over later."

No sooner had the words left her mouth than a palace maid announced, "Miss Bao and Miss Qin have arrived!"

The two walked in together; one was plump and rounded, the other delicate and lovely, making them a striking sight. Chu Yanyin asked with a smile, "What brings you two sisters here?"

Baoqin smiled and said, "His Majesty said this morning he would stay up until tonight, so my sister and I came to keep him company."

Chu Yan laughed loudly: "Accompany me through thick and thin? That's a good idea. Qin'er, come here. How long has it been since I've been intimate with Qin'er?"

Baoqin blushed instantly, hesitating to go over, knowing that His Majesty was truly capable of kissing her in front of others.

Daiyu sat down in a chair and glanced at him sideways: "Sister Qin, don't listen to these coaxing words. When the Emperor refers to himself as '朕' (zhen, meaning 'I' or 'the Emperor'), he's just teasing us. If you don't believe him, come and sit with me!"

Baochai was immediately surprised and quickly said with a smile, "Pin'er is very perceptive. We didn't even notice the difference in His Majesty's words. When Ziyun arrives later, we'll ask her and see if she noticed it."

"What do you want to ask me?"

Xiangyun and Qinghe happened to arrive, and she asked with a smile.

Baochai asked them to sit down and then repeated what she had just said. Xiangyun smiled at Chu Yan and said, "When my brother the emperor refers to himself as '朕' (zhen), he is particularly imposing and can intimidate people. There is only one brother the emperor in the world who can refer to himself as '朕'!"

Chu Yan laughed and said, "Yun'er was frightened?"

Xiangyun nodded and chuckled, "I was scared at first, but I got over it later. My Emperor brother really cares about us."

After they finished talking about this, Xiangyun came over to look at him: "Brother Emperor, you haven't slept all night, and your eyes look tired. I've never seen you like this before. Can you stay up?"

“Your sister Qin just said she wanted to keep Ao company, and now sister Yun is coming too.”

As Chu Yan spoke, he casually pulled her into his arms. Xiangyun blushed, but did not flinch or resist, letting him hold her.

Daiyu said, "Sister Bao, do you think what I said is right?"

These words, seemingly spoken to Baochai, were actually addressed to Chu Yan!

As they were talking, Yingchun, Tanchun, and Xichun came in. What was rare was that Yuanchun was also with them, making it a scene where all four of the Spring sisters were together.

Chu Yan forced himself to stay awake and listened to their conversation, but he didn't say much himself, as he was really sleepy.

Seeing that he was sleepy, Xiangyun and the others tried all sorts of ways to cheer him up, and the room became lively for a while.

Chu Yan had a young lady on each side. Xiangyun was next to him on the left, and Xichun was next to him on the right. Daiyu was eating melon seeds. Although he was surrounded by two young ladies, he no longer ran away as he used to.

After a while, Yu Chuan came in and said, "Your Majesty, Old Madam Shi and Lady Wang have come to kneel in gratitude."

Seeing his confusion, Daiyu quickly reminded him, "It's about His Majesty's gracious permission this morning for Baoyu to become a monk."

Chu Yan then nodded: "Let them in."

Grandmother Jia, Lady Wang, and others then entered. Yuan Chun and Tan Chun also rose and kowtowed in thanks, but Xi Chun and Ying Chun did not. There were no fixed rules for these matters, and Chu Yan let them do as they pleased.

After Grandmother Jia and the others left, Xiangyun knelt down on the couch, kowtowed to Chu Yan, and said with a smile, "I also thank Your Majesty on behalf of Brother Bao!"

Chu Yan laughed and pinched her cheeks repeatedly. Xiang Yun gradually got used to playing around with him in front of others, laughing as she threw herself into his arms. After a while, she left with a blush on her face.

After dinner, I felt increasingly sleepy, but since it gets dark late in summer, I still had to stay awake for an hour.

Baochai smiled and said, "His Majesty likes poetry, so let's compose a poem together to make him happy. What do you say?"

The girls all tried their best to cheer Chu Yan up, and upon hearing this, they all readily agreed.

Yingchun and Xichun were in a dilemma, as neither of them was good at writing poetry.

Chu Yan leaned back on the pillow and laughed, "It's good that you're willing to put your heart into it for me. I don't care how well it turns out. Whoever writes the best poem later, I'll reward her. Come over here and massage my legs."

Perhaps seeing that he was truly exhausted, even Daiyu refrained from sneering or mocking his words.

Chu Yan yawned and put his arm around Baochai, who had sat down there at some point. The soft, fragrant, and fair-skinned Baochai was a completely different experience from Xiangyun and Baoqin. As soon as Chu Yan hugged her, he immediately perked up.

Rise up with high spirits.

Because of the precedents set by the previous people, Baochai did not struggle. She gently leaned into his arms and asked softly, "Can Your Majesty still hold on?"

Chu Yan looked down and saw Baochai speaking softly. He was stunned for a moment. After a while, he put his arm around Baochai's soft waist and lifted her plump body up, letting most of her voluptuous, snow-white body lean against him.

Baochai was blushing when she suddenly heard him say, "I saw my own imperial concubine!"

Imperial Concubine? Are you referring to Imperial Concubine Xie? Was she also a plump, fair-skinned beauty?

Baochai was stunned. She wanted to ask more questions, but the poetry recitation competition had already begun. To avoid making a fool of herself, she could only lean against the emperor's chest, strain to listen to the poem topics, and prepare her verses.

She was unaware of this, and thus missed the opportunity to become a favored concubine sooner...

(End of this chapter)