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

Chapter 233 Daiyu: Whose rouge is Your Majesty talking about?

It was past midnight when Chu Yan returned to the garden.

Upon entering the garden, the first thing one sees is Xue Baochai sitting in front of the gatehouse. Several palace lanterns hang under the eaves, and palace maids and eunuchs stand around her. Everyone who sees this scene is involuntarily drawn to her.

Her voluptuous young body leaned back in the chair, her hand gently supporting her round, full cheeks, her eyes closed in rest, a picture of serene beauty.

Her pink silk cross-collar dress added to her gentle and approachable demeanor.

However, Baochai had a fuller figure than the other girls, and Chu Yan's gaze couldn't help but fall on her chest. The full and beautiful shape, and the way her clothes were stretched out, were particularly eye-catching.

"My lady, His Majesty has returned!"

Ying'er quickly and gently pushed her own daughter away.

Baochai slowly woke up, her almond-shaped eyes showing a languid and dreamy look, quite different from her usual Baochai. She only woke up suddenly when she saw Chu Yan.

Chu Yan stepped forward, smiling as he stroked Baochai's smooth, jade-like cheek as she sat in the chair, and said, "I suddenly see Consort Xue in my mind!"

"His Majesty……"

Baochai blushed, her rosy cheeks turning red, and she quickly stood up.

Chu Yan laughed again, "Now Consort Xue is gone again."

"?"

Ying'er was completely confused. She was happy for her mistress when she heard about Consort Xue, but how come the consort was gone when her mistress stood up?
Baochai chuckled shyly and said softly, "I don't like that languid sleeping beauty posture; it would spoil Your Majesty's mood."

She guessed right away, knowing that the emperor had been admiring her demeanor after waking from a light sleep. Unfortunately, she couldn't learn those seductive tricks to win the emperor's favor.

Chu Yan nodded and said, "Even a fleeting glimpse is enough to make one an unparalleled beauty."

These words made Baochai blush and lower her head, her eyes showing a hint of shyness.

Chu Yan took her hand and asked with a smile, "Why are you waiting for me here?"

Baochai looked up at him and smiled, "His Majesty is discussing state affairs with his ministers in Pear Fragrance Courtyard. We girls can't help much in the inner quarters. Since we have nothing to do tomorrow, we might as well wait here for His Majesty to return."

Chu Yan nodded, pulled her forward, and said, "I'll take you back to Hengwu Garden."

"How can this be? I should be the one to present it to His Majesty..."

Baochai stopped talking, seeing that he was unquestionable, and had no choice but to let him lead her by the hand.

On the way, Baochai gently comforted him, saying, "His Majesty discussed the flood with his ministers until late at night, which is a blessing for the people. However, as the ancients said, 'The course of Heaven is constant; it does not exist for Yao, nor does it perish for Jie.' It is inevitable that the torrential rain will break the dikes."

Chu Yan smiled and said, "To me, the flood is just a minor matter. There is no need to worry too much. I am just doing my best with my ministers. But for the people affected by the disaster, it is a matter of life and death."

After thinking for a moment, Baochai sighed and said, "Your Majesty handles heavy matters with ease, which is beyond my reach."

"What effortless mastery!"

Chu Yan laughed and said, "People say that governing a large country is like cooking a small fish; it can't be rushed at all. Tomorrow, we'll try to get some money from wealthy families in Jiangnan to help with disaster relief. The imperial court is out of money."

Baochai asked curiously, "What method does Your Majesty have?"

"It's nothing more than selling some places for admission to the Imperial Academy and giving them to a few minor officials."

“That’s a common method throughout history,” Baochai said with a smile.

Chu Yan said, "The new dynasty has just been established, so this is all we can do. We'll find ways to make money later, and focus on collecting customs duties. I know that about a dozen merchant houses that have overseas trade are all incredibly wealthy."

"customs?"

Baochai savored the new poem and unknowingly walked back to Hengwu Garden.

"Go back to sleep," Chu Yan said to her.

Baochai was still quite engrossed in the conversation, and tonight was a rare occasion, but it was already late, so she had to stop.

"Your Majesty should also go to bed early." Baochai gave a curtsy.

Chu Yan glanced at her, then suddenly pulled her hand and walked into Hengwu Garden. Behind the door, he embraced her waist and lowered his head to kiss her rosy, full lips.

Baochai trembled, tilting her head back to meet his kiss, but quickly realized that this kiss was different from the previous ones:

Very engaged.

Before long, she responded awkwardly, her hands unconsciously wrapping around the emperor's waist, and the two embraced and kissed intimately.

Ying'er stood at the doorway, lost in thought.

For a while.

Chu Yan released her, gently stroking Baochai's burning face with his palm, and couldn't help but chuckle, "It's a pity that Miss Bao is not yet Consort Xue, but there's no rush. I will see Miss Bao become a Consort one day."

Baochai couldn't help but laugh and said, "Your Majesty always talks about the Imperial Concubine and the Favored Concubine. I'm not well-educated, so how can I possibly become one of Your Majesty's favorite concubines? Do you really expect me to chase butterflies in front of Your Majesty?"

Chu Yan laughed and pinched her cheek, which made Baochai look at him reproachfully again.

Chu Yan laughed and said, "Sister Bao already resembled Yang Guifei quite a bit! But that's not enough. In my eyes, Sister Bao has the beauty of Yang Guifei, and also the elegance and nobility that are no less than Yang Guifei's. When Sister Bao outshines all the beauties, I will then favor you!"

After saying that, he lowered his head and kissed her on the lips, then turned and left.

Baochai saw him off again, watching the emperor's tall and strong back as he was surrounded by eunuchs and palace maids. She couldn't help but put her hand on her chest, feeling her heart pounding for a long time.

After a deep kiss with him, Baochai's cheeks were flushed, her lips were slightly parted, and the tip of her tongue still seemed to retain the tingling and shy feeling.

"The so-called passionate love stories I read in my childhood books are actually so intoxicating."

Baochai thought to herself, and couldn't help but recall that intoxicating kiss from just now.

The emperor wanted her to become Yang Guifei, but not just to imitate Yang Guifei; she wanted to become "Xue Guifei" in order to gain his favor!

Ying'er stepped forward and asked in confusion, "Why does Your Majesty call the young lady 'sister'?"

Baochai then came to her senses and vaguely remembered that the emperor had indeed called her Sister Bao. Could it be that Yun'er and Lin Daiyu were used to calling her that?

……

Chu Yan returned to Yangxin Hall through the back door. At the entrance, Yu Chuan and Xiang Ling were dozing off. They only got up when they saw him return.

"Go back to sleep, everyone."

Chu Yan instructed, and Yu Chuan hurriedly reported, "Your Majesty, Miss Lin and Miss Yun are still in the room, in the west side room."

"They're not asleep either?"

Chu Yan was somewhat surprised. He slowly walked in and lifted the curtain of the west side room, where he indeed saw Daiyu and Xiangyun inside.

Daiyu sat upright at her desk, concentrating intently on writing with a brush. Xiangyun sat slumped on the soft couch, holding a book and talking to her. Qingwen and Hongyu were doing needlework, and Zijuan was also there, looking a little sleepy.

Daiyu, with her slender figure, picks up her brush to write; Xiangyun, graceful and charming, reclines on the couch in a beautiful pose, her long, jade-like legs crossed, further revealing her straightforward nature.

Seeing this scene, Chu Yan couldn't help but feel relieved, and the worries brought by the flood immediately eased.

"My brother the Emperor is back!"

Xiangyun saw him return at a glance. Because she was sitting crookedly facing the door, as soon as Chu Yan lifted the curtain, she happily got off the soft couch and ran to him.

Why isn't Yun'er asleep?

Chu Yan put his arm around her slender waist and led her to Lin Daiyu's side with a smile.

Daiyu had also stood up, her dewy eyes fixed on him for a while before she asked, "I heard it's about the Yellow River breaching its banks?"

Chu Yan nodded, took her hand, and then carried Yun'er back to sit down on the soft couch. Xiangyun was in his arms, and Daiyu sat beside him.

After chatting for a while, Xiangyun sighed, "Even His Majesty the Emperor is short of money and has to sell ice to make up for it. Shouldn't we also cut back on our expenses?"

Chu Yan has decided to sell half of the 90,000 blocks of ice, following the custom of the previous dynasty, and make ice tickets to be given to merchants to sell. Ice tickets will be collected daily when the ice cellar is opened.

Although it was only a little over 200,000 taels of silver, he set an example for the world as the emperor.

Chu Yan laughed and said, "There is an old saying that goes, 'The world is bustling, and everyone is chasing after profit.' Who can escape this worldly desire? As for you, your expenses are already low, so there is no need to cut back."

After chatting for a while, Xiangyun finally couldn't stay awake any longer. She leaned against him, yawning repeatedly, looking sleepy.

Chu Yan smiled and called Cui Lu over: "Take your young lady back to bed."

Daiyu glanced at him, stood up and bowed, saying, "I should go back to sleep now, I'll come again tomorrow. Your Majesty, you should also go to sleep."

Chu Yan laughed and took her small hand: "Sister Lin is really a smart person. I didn't even say anything, how did you guess?"

Daiyu sneered: "Zijuan is right inside the room. You only sent Cuilu to escort Xiangyun home, clearly because you wanted to... keep me here."

Hearing this, Xiangyun laughed and said, "Brother Emperor wants Sister Lin to stay in the room to sleep? But Sister Lin and I agreed to sleep together tonight."

Chu Yan smiled and said, "I want to talk to your sister Lin for a bit. Why don't you go back to sleep by yourself?"

Xiangyun glanced at Daiyu, and seeing that she didn't say anything more, she tacitly agreed to sleep with her brother the emperor tonight. Only then did she nod, smile and say a few words to Sister Lin, before taking Cuilu back to the right-side hall to sleep.

The door to Yangxin Hall was closed, leaving only Chu Yan, Daiyu, and Qingwen and others in his room.

Zijuan also stayed. Daiyu lowered her head for a while before raising her eyes to look at him and asking, "What do you want to say to me? You can't say it tomorrow, so why do you insist on keeping me here?"

"There is something I need to say tonight, as it will be too late by tomorrow morning."

Chu Yan took her hand and pulled her into his arms.

Daiyu did not refuse, and seemed to be used to being intimate with him. She leaned her slender body against his chest, and Chu Yan took off his shoes and got onto the bed, leading Daiyu onto the bed.

"Miss, take off your shoes too." Zijuan hurried over and squatted down to take off her shoes.

Beneath her silk stockings, delicate jade feet appeared before Chu Yan. Daiyu blushed, pushed him away with her slender hand, and said angrily, "You're trying to coax me again. What can't be said in the underworld?"

Chu Yan smiled and said, "It's your father's business."

Daiyu looked on with a puzzled expression.

Chu Yan then asked Qingwen to help him take off his clothes. He removed the inner armor he had been wearing, as well as his trousers, leaving him only in a middle garment and underpants.

Zijuan understood and also took off the girl's orchid-embroidered jacket and skirt, leaving her only in a white cross-collar jacket and trousers.

The thin garment accentuated Daiyu's slender figure, making her appear soft and boneless when held in his arms. Chu Yan looked down at her and indeed, Daiyu possessed unparalleled beauty and rare charm.

Daiyu blushed and lowered her head, saying, "You really are going to make up lies to humiliate me again."

Zijuan, Qingwen, and the others all left.

Chu Yan embraced Daiyu's delicate body and laughed, "When have I ever lied to you? It really is related to your father."

Daiyu said, "My father only sent word today. Could it be that he has submitted another memorial to you?"

"No, it's about the flood." Chu Yan explained, "Although your Lin family has restored its ancestral home, it has ultimately declined. Your father was a top scholar in the previous dynasty, and he doesn't get along well with the military and bureaucratic officials I've trained. If he wants to be a good official in the new dynasty, he needs to make meritorious contributions."

Daiyu hurriedly asked, "Are you sending my father to provide disaster relief?"

Chu Yan said, “Don’t worry, there’s something else: We don’t know if this flood was a natural disaster or a man-made one. We don’t know if the officials who built the dikes in the previous dynasty were responsible, and many of the officials in the affected prefectures and counties were also from the previous dynasty. Therefore, I plan to have your father serve as the river patrol censor to cooperate with the imperial envoy to find out the truth about this matter.”

He looked at her and smiled, "So I wanted to ask you if you're in a hurry to see your father. If you are, then let's forget about it."

Daiyu sat in his lap, looking at him, and after a long while she smiled and said, "I dare not make a decision for my father. Since my father has agreed to serve as an official in the new dynasty, and you are the emperor, it should be your decision." She then smiled and said, "I received news from my father today and am somewhat anxious to see him again, but it would be fine to wait two or three months. Knowing that my father is still alive makes me feel much more at ease."

Chu Yan nodded, "Then it's settled. Tomorrow I will issue an imperial decree ordering your father to serve as the River Patrol Inspector. I hope he can receive the decree on his way, so he won't have to make multiple trips."

Daiyu gazed at him and said softly, "Thank you for everything you've done for me, for the Lin family, and for my father. I remember it all and appreciate your kindness."

The words she spoke from the heart pleased Chu Yan greatly. He couldn't help but stroke her beautiful face and tease her, "Lin Meimei, are you just saying thank you? What about the words?"

How could Daiyu not understand what he meant?

A blush rose on her cheeks, and after gazing at him for a moment, she slowly closed her eyes, looking as if to say, "It's up to you."

Chu Yan was completely captivated. He lowered his head and kissed Daiyu's cheek a few times before slowly leaning in to touch her nose, their breaths mingling.

Just as things were getting into the swing of things, Daiyu suddenly pushed him away, her eyes flashing with anger, and said irritably, "I wonder whose rouge Your Majesty is talking about?!"

Chu Yan was taken aback. He was deeply engrossed in the kiss when he was suddenly pushed away.

Seeing his reaction, Daiyu sneered, "His Majesty has many concubines in his harem and numerous beautiful maids in his room. There's no need for him to come and play with me! I'm going to go and sleep with Yun'er!"

He was about to get off the soft couch in a huff when he said that.

How could Chu Yan let her go? He quickly pulled her into his arms and said with a smile, "Sister Lin, don't go. Tonight, I only want to sleep with you. I promise I won't touch you!"

Daiyu struggled, still saying, "You are the emperor, with three palaces, six courtyards, and seventy-two concubines. There is the beautiful Qin sister, the beautiful Bao sister, the honest and lovely Yun girl, and the charming and graceful Qin concubine. You are going to favor your sister-in-law and Feng sister-in-law. Why are you forcing me to stay?"

Chu Yan couldn't help but laugh!

Lin Daiyu knew all the women in her harem like the back of her hand. It's clear that although she seemed indifferent, she actually saw everything. She observed with a cold eye who was favored and where, and who had the beauty to win his favor.

"Yu'er!"

Chu Yan quickly hugged her and said softly, "There is no one else tonight, no emperor or concubines, only you and me."

Perhaps it was because she was called "Yu'er" that Daiyu finally softened and lowered her head to say, "You... want tonight?"

Chu Yan lowered his head and kissed her cheeks a few times. "We have to discuss things tomorrow. I don't have the time or the inclination. I wish I could hold Yu'er in my hands. How could I easily take your body?"

Daiyu blushed and scolded him, "You are indeed very patient with the girls usually."

As she spoke, she raised her slender hand to stroke his face.

This was the first time Chu Yan had ever been treated like this by Daiyu, and he found it very novel and wanted to see what she was going to do.

Unexpectedly, Daiyu touched his lips with her slender finger, tasted it, and then looked at him sideways: "Is it Sister Bao's rouge? No wonder, it has a cool fragrance!"

She tasted it when we were kissing just now.

Chu Yan was instantly captivated.

Daiyu was not only delicate; she possessed a graceful and charming allure that others lacked. The mere glimpse of it now was enough to captivate the world.

How can mortals compare to the allure of the Crimson Pearl Fairy?
He lowered his head and kissed her cherry lips again, then released her mouth. Chu Yan said breathlessly, "Yu'er also has rouge. Cover up your sister Bao's rouge with it!"

Daiyu blushed deeply, pursed her lips, and looked up at him. When Chu Yan lowered his head, she couldn't help but raise her head slightly to meet his, and their cherry lips met.

Perhaps it was Chu Yan's words that made her secretly delighted.

Soon the two of them were completely captivated.

Daiyu no longer cared whose rouge it was, and unconsciously imitated Xiangyun's actions that she had seen during the day, stretching out her two slender, jade-like arms to hug Chu Yan's neck, and becoming infatuated with him.

After a long while, Daiyu said breathlessly, "My mouth is dry."

Chu let out a long breath, the sweet taste filling his mouth bringing immense satisfaction. He called out, "Qingwen, bring the tea."

Daiyu quickly hid in his arms and urged him, "Let's go back to our room!"

Chu Yan smiled, picked up the delicate and frail Daiyu, and carried her back to her bedroom.

Zijuan, who had just entered the room, happened to witness this scene. She saw the girl burying her head in Chu Yan's arms, submitting to his affections like a wife.

Chu Yan placed Daiyu on his bed, and she immediately rolled over and hid behind the wall, smiling shyly, "I want to drink some water."

Her voice is delicate and soft.

"Yes! You can have anything Yu'er wants!"

Chu Yan took the tea that Qingwen brought, took a sip from the teapot, put the teapot on the bed, then got on the bed and hugged Daiyu from behind, then lowered his head and kissed her again.

Daiyu turned around and kissed him, and also drank the tea he brought. The novel and delightful experience of their intimate moments made her feel weak in the knees and mind. She no longer thought about anything else, and just embraced and kissed him on the bed, whispering sweet nothings in his ear.

Chu Yan first kissed her from behind, then face to face, then pressed her down on the bed, and then made Daiyu lie on top of him.

Gradually, Daiyu's undergarment fell off, and he kissed her fair and rounded shoulders all over. Her socks disappeared, and her delicate feet fell into his hands.

"what are you up to?"

Daiyu asked weakly.

Chu Yan slowly came to his senses, embraced Lin Meimei, and said with a smile, "That's enough for tonight, let's sleep."

Daiyu said, "My forehead is sweating a lot, and my body is sweating too. Where is my handkerchief? I need to dry myself before I can sleep, so I don't catch a cold tomorrow."

The only sounds in the quiet room were the voices of the two people.

Chu Yan couldn't find her handkerchief, so he wrapped her in a thin blanket, wiped her down, and then fanned her with a fan, saying with a smile, "Tonight, Yu'er and I will share the same bed, and from now on we will be husband and wife."

A cool breeze was blowing, and Daiyu's mind had cleared somewhat. She smiled and asked, "How many wives do you have?"

Chu Yan laughed and said, "In my heart, Lin Daiyu is my wife!"

Daiyu said, "Today I am just returning a favor to you. Thank you for finding news of my father for me. You are so fond of beauty, I will never come to your bed again. No matter how you try to deceive or coax me, I will not fall for it."

Chu Yan rolled over and pinned her down, "Then tonight we'll have our fill!"

Daiyu smiled and pushed him away, saying, "I've just cooled off, and you're bothering me again. Go downstairs quickly, I'm going to sleep. You should go to sleep early too, we need to discuss the flood situation tomorrow."

Chu Yan lay down next to her and sighed, "If only it were winter, with a heavy snowfall, I wouldn't have to attend court, and I could kiss Yu'er to my heart's content."

"Who wants to have fun with you? Go find Sister Bao. She has rouge with a cool fragrance and is a beauty of unparalleled grace. I have none of that."

"Lin Daiyu also has a fragrance. If you don't believe me, taste my mouth. It tastes just like Lin Daiyu."

"Pah, what shameless words."

The two talked and gradually fell asleep. Daiyu had a thin blanket covering her waist and abdomen. She was still weak and wanted to avoid catching a cold even though it was summer.

Chu Yan simply held her hand and lay down with her.

Perhaps because it was the first time they had shared a bed, the two met again in their dreams after falling asleep.

(End of this chapter)