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

Chapter 230 Baoqin: The Historian Will Record Your Entirety

After walking about a hundred steps along the mountain path, Chu Yan arrived at the ridge. In front of him was the Tu Bi Villa, an open-hall house with a wide platform in front and balustrades around the hall.

Standing in the open hall and looking down, you can see the rooftops of the two flying pavilions in front of the main hall of the Grand View Garden, and enjoy a panoramic view of most of the garden.

When Chu Yan arrived at the villa, he saw Bao Qin, who was graceful and still somewhat childish, standing behind the villa's curtains, arguing with the people inside.

Baoqin was unaware of his arrival, but Xiaoluo beside her and the eunuchs guarding the construction site had already noticed.

Baochai was startled, realizing that she was talking to a man behind the curtain. She quickly glanced at Chu Yan and then hurriedly called out to her with a smile, "Sister Qin, the Emperor is here! Why don't you come and greet him?"

Baoqin turned her head and saw Chu Yan. Her delicate face immediately lit up with a smile, so that even from three zhang away, Chu Yan could see her beautiful and lovely crescent-shaped eyes and the dimples on her cheeks. She was truly a smile that could make anyone love her.

"Why has Your Majesty come?" Baoqin left the people behind the curtain and came over happily.

Chu Yan smiled and said, "I've come to see how Qin's new house is going." As he spoke, he reached out and pulled Baoqin into his arms, only letting go after a moment.

Baoqin blushed, but still smiled and said, "They said it would take two months to build, and I'm currently..."

Baoqin pointed to the spot where she had just been standing. Then, realizing what she had just said, she suddenly realized her mistake, her face flushing red. She lowered her head and hurriedly explained, "Your Majesty, I was just talking to Mr. Zhao, the one who drew the plans, about the house layout. I was planning to tell Your Majesty later..."

Baochai was also a little worried.

Although it was in public, with eunuchs and maids watching, and behind a curtain, it was still considered improper to talk to a man.

Baochai quickly scolded her, saying, "You've traveled all over the country with your parents since you were little, and you've seen a lot of people and things. You've also taken the separation of men and women for granted. If you have anything you want to change, just tell the eunuchs to tell them. Why do you have to talk to outsiders in person?"

Baoqin lowered her head and said obediently in a low voice, "Your Majesty, sister, I know I was wrong. I hope Your Majesty will forgive me."

Chu Yan laughed: "I've heard that a few times recently. Just now, Madam Xue barged into the room wearing a strapless top and begged me for forgiveness."

Upon hearing this, Baochai blushed instantly, remaining silent in embarrassment. She thought to herself, "So it turns out that my mother accidentally bumped into His Majesty, which led to all that trouble."

Baoqin looked up in surprise, her eyes filled with confusion as she looked at the Emperor, wondering why he had deliberately brought up her aunt's shameful affair, especially in front of her and her sister Baochai.

Your Majesty must have a plan!

Chu Yan took her small hand again: "It's okay to talk to men through the screen. Come on, I'll go with you to continue talking to them. What kind of house do you want to build?"

He had just mentioned Xiangyun when he suddenly started to dote on her again. Baoqin looked resentful and had no choice but to follow him to the curtain, where she continued to tell the painter inside about her ingenious ideas.

Chu Yan and Baochai, listening from the side, couldn't help but exchange a smile. No wonder she wanted to argue with someone; it turned out that Baoqin had seen many foreign houses and wanted to build a courtyard that was different from the Han style.

Seeing that the argument could not be resolved, Chu Yan asked the people inside the enclosure to leave and then took Baochai and Baoqin into the construction site to inspect the site. After some further discussion, the final blueprints were finally finalized.

Baoqin smiled and said, "When we go back to live in the garden, we can move into the villa."

Seeing her happy expression, Baochai smiled and said, "Now that you've moved here from home, my sister is married and has her own house. You don't need to live with me anymore."

Baoqin blushed and subconsciously looked at Chu Yan.

Her sister and the Emperor must have seen through her intentions:

At first, she didn't care much about this Tubi Mountain Villa, but after Chu Yan allowed her to build and repair houses as she pleased, she came to visit it in person and fell in love with it.

When she was a child, she and her parents wandered around for many years, without a fixed place to live, and she didn't miss her hometown much.

When she was a little older, her father passed away, and her mother stayed in their hometown. She came to the capital to get married, intending to settle down and become a wife and mother.

Now, she is fortunate enough to be favored by the Emperor, taken into the harem, and made a concubine. She is also granted a house in the Grand View Garden and a house in the Daming Palace. Naturally, she settled down there with peace of mind.

"Sister Qin".

Chu Yan took her hand and said with a smile, "It's been quite a while since I've had a meal with you and your sister. Let's go to your house tonight and have a proper meal."

Baoqin agreed, then asked curiously, "If we're going home, why are we heading east?"

Baochai said, "It's not Hengwu Garden, it's where my mother lives."

Baoqin asked in surprise, "Dinner with Auntie tonight?" As she spoke, she looked at Chu Yan, guessing some of His Majesty's thoughts, and her eyes showed a hint of resentment.

Chu Yan just smiled.

They walked in silence, and soon the three of them left the Grand View Garden. After turning a corner, they arrived at the place where Aunt Xue now lived.

This place is located in a private alley between the two mansions, with a small gate for entry and exit, and it is separated from the Grand View Garden by only a wall.

"Your Majesty, I, Wang, respectfully welcome you!"

Upon hearing the news, Aunt Xue came out to greet the emperor, and together with many of the Xue family's maids and servants, she knelt down, bent over, and bowed low to welcome him.

From his vantage point, Chu Yan once again saw Aunt Xue's plump and rounded figure kneeling on the ground. Despite wearing loose-fitting clothes, the graceful shape of her round buttocks could still be seen within the skirt.

Like a ripe peach.

The plump, mature figure of a woman is quite different from that of a young girl. The size, beauty, roundness, and fullness of her buttocks, with their undulating flesh, are something that a young girl can hardly match.

Chu Yan was lost in thought for a moment before nodding and smiling, "Get up. Today is my first time visiting your home, so there's no need for such formalities next time."

After Aunt Xue and the maids and servants kowtowed to express their gratitude, they finally got up.

Baochai smiled and said, "His Majesty is kind and has exempted us from many of the usual formalities. My sister Qin also often tells me that there are no rules when going to Yangxin Hall."

Chu Yan smiled, took Baoqin's hand, and then took Baochai's hand as well, leading the two sisters into the house.

Baochai followed him inside. Along the way, the emperor only held Qin Meimei's hand. When they arrived at the door, he took her hand to save face for her.

After entering the house, they sat down according to their status as hosts and guests. Chu Yan chatted with Baochai and Baoqin, while Aunt Xue prepared the food and drinks for the evening.

"Madam, please have someone move the tables and chairs inside."

Chu Yan said to Aunt Xue, "I have ordered someone to bring ice. We'll drink in the house tonight."

Aunt Xue looked surprised again, her plump, fair face flushed slightly, and she didn't dare to say anything. She hurriedly instructed the servants to move the tables and chairs inside.

Chu Yan then said, "Move the table closer to the soft couch, so it will be easier for Miss Bao to pour me wine later."

Although the soft couch in the Xue family's house was not as spacious as that in the Yangxin Hall, it could still accommodate three people sitting side by side. However, Baochai, Baoqin, Aunt Xue, and others had already guessed something from the various signs mentioned earlier. Now that Chu Yan mentioned sitting on the soft couch, it only confirmed what they were thinking.

A quarter of an hour later, the food was served. A round table made of nanmu wood was placed in front of the soft couch, with three chairs. Two wooden boxes filled with ice were placed in the corner of the room. After Chu Yan, Madam Xue, Baochai, and Baoqin entered the room, the maids withdrew outside and closed the door to make the room cooler.

only……

As soon as the door closed, Madam Xue's heart skipped a beat, and her cheeks flushed even more under the lamplight.

"Sit down."

Chu Yan sat on the soft couch and laughed, "Who among you will pour me some wine?"

There were two seats beside him. Whether one or two people came, it was up to them. Whether Baochai, Baoqin, or the Madam poured the wine was also up to them.

But Sima Zhao's intentions are obvious to everyone.

"His Majesty!"

Baoqin called his name once, but didn't say anything more. She just looked at him with her crescent-shaped eyes, with a look of resentment, helplessness, and coquettishness.

Baochai had intended to remain silent, but seeing her like this, she tugged at her sleeve and said, "Sister, please sit down."

Baoqin glanced at her sister, then at the lady who had bowed her head and dared not answer, then at the smiling emperor, and could only mutter a couple of things before reluctantly sitting down.

"I'll pour wine for His Majesty." Baochai obediently sat down to Chu Yan's left, looked at the lady, and saw that the emperor was not angry after she sat down next to Baoqin, which calmed her down a little.

The emperor may have just been toying with them.

After Baochai poured the wine, Chu Yan raised his cup and drank it all in one gulp. After chatting with them for a few words, he said, "Today's small banquet doesn't have the drinking games of passing the flower while beating the drum. And since Madam isn't good at poetry, why don't we take turns telling a hellish joke? That way, drinking will be more fun."

"A hellish joke?" Baoqin asked curiously, and hurriedly asked what it was.

Baochai was also puzzled. How could hell be associated with jokes?

Chu Yan smiled and said, "I'll tell you one first, and you'll understand when you hear it."

He glanced at Madam Xue, whose face still held a blush and whose hair was as white as a cloud, before saying, "A coffin shop owner was shouting on the street, 'Half a coffin, half a coffin, buy one get one free!' A passerby scolded him, 'Who buys two half coffins for their deceased?' The shopkeeper replied, 'The other day, the Li family's house caught fire, and the old man was burned in two. He ordered two from me, one half for his head and the other half for his buttocks.'"

"Pfft!"

Baoqin covered her mouth, turned her head, and smiled. Her crescent-shaped eyes were incredibly sweet and endearing.

Baochai couldn't help but laugh and said, "So this is the hellish joke His Majesty was talking about. Although it inevitably has a bit of a nitpicking and gloating tone, it's quite amusing. Let me tell you one too."

Chu Yan and the other two looked at her.

Baochai smiled and said, "There was a man whose soul drifted to the Bridge of Helplessness after he died. He met Meng Po, tasted a mouthful of soup, and immediately spat it out, cursing that the soup was poorly made and too bland. Meng Po argued with him, but the man said, 'I just drank a pot of soup from you. How could I not tell the difference between strong and weak soup?'" Baoqin covered her mouth and laughed again, and Chu Yan also laughed and said, "It really is hell."

Madam Xue asked, "What's so ridiculous about it? How did that person know the concentration?"

Baoqin quickly explained with a smile, "Auntie, think about it, that person just drank it, and now he's drinking it again, which means he died right after being reincarnated."

Madam Xue sighed and laughed at the same time, saying, "This hellish joke... is truly mischievous. It diminishes one's merit by making people laugh."

Chu Yan clapped his hands in admiration: "Madam's words are exactly the meaning of a hellish joke."

Baoqin didn't take it to heart and laughed, "If Sister Yun and Sister Lin were here, they would surely come up with some really funny jokes, but I can't think of any for the moment."

"What are you thinking about?" Chu Yan asked her with a smile.

Baoqin said shyly, "My joke is not as good as yours, Your Majesty. Please listen to it."

Chu Yan chatted and laughed with them for a while, then glanced at Madam Xue, who was flushed and charming after drinking, and said, "You're getting hotter after drinking, why don't you take off a couple of clothes to cool off?"

As he spoke, he took off two pieces of his clothes, leaving only a yellow undergarment and trousers. He sat cross-legged on the couch, reached out and touched Baochai's forehead, and said with a smile, "Miss Bao is sweating."

The three blushed, realizing what he meant.

Baochai said softly, "I feel hot too, Your Majesty. Please allow me to go back to my room and change my clothes."

Chu Yan nodded, then turned to them and asked, "Are you going to change?"

Baoqin whispered, "It's so embarrassing."

Lady Xue hesitated for a long time. When she saw His Majesty staring at her with a straight gaze, she couldn't help but feel embarrassed, and her heart was pounding.

After hesitating for a moment, seeing Baochai glance back at her before entering the room, and noticing that Baoqin didn't say anything, she could only slowly rise: "Your Majesty, this humble concubine..."

Chu Yan smiled and said to her, "I remember that you wore that dress during the day, and it looked exceptionally beautiful. Would you do me the honor of seeing it again?"

How could one refuse the emperor's request?

At the doorway, Baochai waited for Madam Xue to follow her inside. Madam Xue's eyes were filled with shyness and reproach. She stood up, covered her face with her sleeve, bowed to Chu Yan, and then quickly followed Baochai.

The two went inside together to change their clothes.

Baoqin's eyes were even more resentful: "Your Majesty is not looking at the clothes, but clearly wants to see your aunt."

Chu Yan smiled and coaxed her, "Tonight I am only admiring the beauty and figure of you, Qin Sister, and I will not do anything else."

Baoqin remained silent.

A moment later, Baochai and Madam Xue came out of the bedroom. Chu Yan turned his head and instantly saw a plump beauty with fair and smooth skin like the moon.

Still two people.

Baochai wore a light blue mandarin duck-patterned bodice with a light veil, while Madam Xue wore a pinkish-white bodice with a playful spring theme, but without a light veil to cover her, revealing her two fair and delicate arms. Her shoulders were hunched over, as if she were somewhat shy—perhaps because it was not her own room, hence the lack of a light veil.

Both beauties had fair and voluptuous figures and round, noble faces; one was mature and plump, while the other was fair and voluptuous.

Chu Yan's throat was dry. He beckoned to them, "Come sit here with me and have a drink with me! I love you all."

It just came out unconsciously.

"Your Majesty!" Baoqin called out.

Chu Yan then came to his senses and laughed, "Just come and drink with me."

The two beauties, looking shy, sat on the soft couch, one on each side, beside him.

In reality, Baochai and her wife were dressed like wealthy women in the summer in their private quarters. The weather was so hot that they wished they didn't wear anything at all; they were simply wearing their usual home clothes.

This is also why men from outside the household are not allowed to enter the inner quarters.

Only tonight, when Chu Yan is at the Xue family's house, can he see their summer clothes.

"My lady, pour me some wine."

Chu Yan reached out and put his arms around their waists, one in each hand. After the lady poured the wine, he asked her to bring it to his lips.

As he drank the wine from his wife's hand, he admired her shy expression as she wore a playful spring-themed bodice. Then he turned to Baochai and asked her to pour him a cup of wine as well.

Baoqin lowered her head and ate her food and drink, refusing to look at him!
Chu Yan saw her and smiled, "Sister Qin, would you like to pour me a cup as well?"

"I won't go, it would be too embarrassing." Baoqin blushed.

Chu Yan didn't make things difficult for her. He continued to hold the two women around the waist, chatting, laughing, drinking, and having fun with them. After a while, he kissed Baochai on the lips.

He then turned and kissed another beauty.

Baoqin remained silent, glanced back at the door, and only felt relieved to see it was tightly closed. When she turned back, she saw His Majesty embracing the two of them, wanting them to sit on his lap close to him.

Baoqin couldn't stand it any longer, so she quickly got up and pushed past the lady, scolding, "His Majesty asked me to come and keep you company, which shows that he doesn't want to bully anyone. How come you're going back on your word?" She added, "Your Majesty, please think it over: there are eunuchs and palace maids outside, and our maids are all here too. What will happen if they find out?"

"That's fine."

Chu Yan nodded; Baoqin was absolutely right.

So he told her to go back to sit down, released Baochai's hand, and simply held the lady in his arms.

A chubby beauty who doesn't look fat at all—the allure of that is indescribable.

If it were when Chu Yan had just transmigrated, the lady would have killed him with just one sit.

Now I just hold her.

Seeing that the emperor was reluctant to let go, Baochai couldn't help but look down at her own figure. She was not bad-looking, but His Majesty let go of her to hug someone else.

After playing with it for a while, Chu Yan lowered his head and said to her, "From now on, Miss Bao and I will live in the Daming Palace. Madam, you can come and visit Miss Bao often. What do you think?"

She sighed, "Your Majesty's great kindness has granted me permission to enter the palace to visit Bao'er and Qin'er. I will certainly... obey."

Baochai glanced at Baoqin and said softly, "Now all of us women are palace maids in the inner palace. We only wish to serve His Majesty well and have no other thoughts."

Chu Yan nodded and smiled, "Alright, we'll return to Daming Palace in three days. Madam, you can visit the palace whenever you have time."

After hearing his words and seeing the tacit understanding on Baochai and Baoqin's faces, Madam Xue's heart gradually calmed down.

Although Baochai possesses unparalleled beauty, she cannot win the emperor's favor and will likely need some guidance from him.

Madam Xue said in a low voice, "His Majesty has already gotten what he wanted. Please let go and let me go back to dress up. It's not appropriate to do this tonight."

Chu Yan smiled and said, "No rush."

He didn't tease them anymore, only letting them drink with him. After a quarter of an hour, he let go of them, and the two hurriedly ran into the house to change back into their previous clothes.

……

After the banquet, only half of the ice had melted. Chu Yan pointed to the wooden box and smiled at Aunt Xue, "Take the rest to your room; it'll be cooler at night."

"Thank you for the ice, Your Majesty."

Aunt Xue bowed again to express her gratitude, thinking to herself that he was not a heartless and ungrateful person. Perhaps in the future, there would be no need to wait for a general amnesty; His Majesty would grant Xue Pan a pardon.

Chu Yan went out, and since Baochai would be sleeping at home that night, he only took Baoqin with him and returned to the Grand View Garden.

On the way, Baoqin said softly, "Does His Majesty love me?"

Upon hearing this, Chu Yan took her hand and led her to the riverbank. Baoqin quickly laughed and said, "Where are you going? I'm not going there. There are so many mosquitoes at night." Then she said softly and shyly, "His Majesty cares about us. Bao-jie and I are both happy, even though His Majesty was being a bit silly..."

Chu Yan laughed and said, "What nonsense are you talking about?"

Baoqin retorted angrily, "The historian will record this for you, let's see if you're scared!"

Chu Yan said, "There have been many rumors about palace intrigues throughout history. As an emperor, one must ensure that the people of the world are well-fed and clothed, that all directions submit to the emperor, and that no barbarian tribe dares to invade the border. Everything else is secondary."

Baoqin chuckled and said sweetly, "These are all excuses. I think His Majesty is just attracted to good looks!"

Chu Yan smiled, embraced her, and kissed her: "I love Qin more."

The two kissed passionately on the main road for a long time, while the eunuchs and palace maids around them all turned their backs.

That evening, Baoqin was practically carried back to Daohengwu Garden by Chu Yan.

(End of this chapter)