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

Chapter 243 Relocation to Daming Palace (Part 1)
Lixiangyuan.

On the throne, Chu Yan smiled and said, "Do you all have anything else to say? I am moving to the Daming Palace today, and starting tomorrow, I will hold court in the front hall of the Daming Palace. Please do not go to the wrong place."

The ministers exchanged knowing smiles.

"I have something to report!" Li Changjin stepped forward.

Chu Yan raised an eyebrow, remaining calm as he said, "It seems this matter is quite significant. Minister Li deliberately waited until the court session was almost over before reporting it. Tell me, what is it?"

Li Changjin said with shame, "The memorial was delivered yesterday afternoon. It is better to report sooner rather than later." He paused and said, "On May 12th, someone saw the Jurchen delegation in Rouran."

A commotion broke out inside the room.

Chu Yan waited a while, and when Li Changjin didn't continue speaking, he finally asked, "What do you think?"

Someone asked, "Who reported this? Is it true or false?"

The speaker was still a former official of the previous dynasty.

Li Changjin said calmly, "The memorial was submitted by the military governor of Guanshan. Even if it is fake, he should come up with a countermeasure."

Chu Mingdao said, "The Northern Chieftain Shurha unified most of the Jurchen tribes fifteen years ago. In recent years, he has repeatedly invaded the borders, and places such as Jishishan and Beining have fallen one after another. He has retreated to Linlu Pass. In my opinion, even if this matter is not 100% true, it is at least 70% or 80% true."

Song Zhen, Vice Minister of War and Academician of the Wuying Hall, said: "Shurha has sent an envoy, intending to take advantage of the newly established dynasty in the Central Plains to join forces with the Rouran to invade our borders. We must be on guard!"

Everyone said yes.

Right Chancellor Xu Zhiyi said, “The Rouran Khan Yujiuna is already sixty years old and has three sons, all of whom are incompetent. Even if our dynasty is newly established and the Jurchens join forces with him to send troops, he may not dare to actually make a move. Moreover, Your Majesty has persuaded the border soldiers to surrender without losing a single soldier, and the military preparations in the northwest are intact. Unless there is an inside accomplice, he will not dare to raise an army to advance eastward.”

Song Zhen said, "That Shurha is a jackal who can't get enough to eat."

During the Shun Dynasty, they were often troubled by military affairs outside the Great Wall. Now that the dynasty has changed, the new generals are brave in battle, which may slow down their aggressive momentum.

Chu Ming nodded and said, "With various places outside the pass falling into enemy hands one after another, it's no wonder that the enemy chieftain is so ambitious."

The former officials of the previous dynasty all remained silent.

Chu Yan smiled and asked, "What are your plans?"

Li Changjin first cupped his hands in greeting: "Your subject requests to lead troops to patrol the border!"

Chu Yan nodded and looked at the two prime ministers. Xu Zhiyi said, "Why don't we send an envoy to Rouran first?"

"Should we renew our old friendship with the Rouran?"

"I think this matter is difficult."

"The Jurchens have already sent envoys. If we send our own, it will only make the Rouran hold out for a higher price and look down on us."

"With floods in the south and the new dynasty just established, it would be best to avoid war."

They discussed it for a while.

Chu Yan, sitting on the throne, suddenly asked, "Do the Rouran and Jurchen people still offer tribute?"

Someone reported: "The Rouran have stopped paying tribute for more than 30 years, and the Jurchen also found an excuse to stop paying tribute ten years ago."

Chu Yan nodded, looked around, and asked them, "I have decreed that the Rouran will come to pay tribute next year. Who is willing to be an envoy to the Rouran?"

Everyone was surprised and wanted to argue, but seeing that neither the prime minister nor the prime minister spoke, they finally understood the meaning.

After a moment of silence, Han Mujie, an official in charge of remonstrance, stepped forward and said, "Your Majesty, I am willing to be sent as an envoy to Rouran!"

Chu Yan approved, "Good, you and the Minister of War will stay behind for a discussion."

He paused for a moment, then said, "The border patrol and the dispatch of envoys to the Rouran have been decided. Is there anything else to report?"

Everyone knew that how to patrol the border, who to send to search, and how the delegation should discuss matters with the Rouran Khan were all to be discussed in the "cabinet," while the court meetings were only to decide what to do.

"If there is nothing else, court is adjourned!"

Chu Yan got up and walked towards the warm pavilion. The officials bowed and withdrew in turn. The left and right prime ministers, the general, the newly appointed envoy, the minister of war, and several others entered the warm pavilion.

"Give me a seat."

Chu Yan gave an order, and after they sat down, he said to Li Changjin, "I intend to send you to inspect the northwest border. What do you think?"

Before Li Changjin could even express his surprise, Chu Ming hurriedly said, "Your Majesty, this is absolutely not right! The Grand General should be sent to the Northeast to guard the pass!"

Chu Yan smiled and said, "The Northwest is far away, while the Northeast is near. If Minister Li has no objections, this matter is settled."

Li Changjin then understood why the Left Chancellor had objected, and couldn't help but smile bitterly before getting up to accept the task.

The two prime ministers could only sigh helplessly, which aroused Han Mujie's suspicion, wondering what they were keeping in suspense.

Chu Yan smiled with satisfaction: "After Li Qing arrives at the border, he will lead more than 10,000 people to find a place outside the Great Wall to conduct a military exercise. He will invite the Rouran Khan and other tribes to attend the ceremony and explain that the exercise is not directed against any tribe."

Li Changjin thought for a while before asking, "What if they want to fight?"

"You should scold them first, then retreat back to the border."

“…Yes, Your Majesty.”

Li Changjin accepted the order and said he would look at the map later to see where the exercise should be held.

Chu Yan then said to Han Mujie, "After you meet the Rouran Khan, convey my decree and say that if he does not send someone to pay homage and offer tribute next year, I will go and collect it myself."

Upon hearing the word "personally," Han Mujie suddenly understood the meaning behind the sighs of the two prime ministers. He stood up, straightened his posture, and said, "Your Majesty's decree will certainly be conveyed to the Rouran Khan!"

Chu Yan nodded, encouraged him, and allowed him to select a few people from the court to accompany him to Rouran.

After Han Mujie left, Chu Yan continued to discuss border patrol and defense matters with them. When they were about to end the discussion, he suddenly remembered something and said to Li Changjin, "When you go to patrol the border, tell the military governor of Guanshan that I know about it and reward him with one hundred bolts of cloth and one hundred taels of gold and silver. After the patrol is over, I will order him to return to the capital with you to report on his duties."

The Jurchen envoys bypassed the Central Plains, so the only way to find them was to be among the Rouran people.

He could be a spy, an informant, or a businessman.

According to the laws of the Shun Dynasty, it is forbidden to trade with foreign countries privately. However, there is a saying that people live off the land and water. It is almost impossible to completely prevent the border troops from making extra money.

The border troops wanted cattle, sheep, and money, while the grassland people wanted iron pots, porcelain, salt, tea, and so on; naturally, there was a demand for trade.

The border troops would not trade with people, but they would turn a blind eye to merchants smuggling.

Trying to delve into where the intelligence came from would only be pointless and pointless.

……

Now let's talk about mandarin ducks.

When I woke up early in the morning, I still felt like I was in a dream. After thinking for a moment, I heard that Amber and the others had also gotten up, so I got out of bed.

They were still talking as usual, unaware of what had happened the night before.

Yuanyang remained silent. After dressing up, she took a lantern and went out with them. She used a key to open the back door of Grandmother Jia's courtyard and then went inside.

Pearl went to light the lamps, while the others either prepared hot water or prepared clothes for the old lady to wear at the club.

By the time Yuanyang and Pearl entered the old lady's room, it was already slightly dawn.

"What time is it?"

Grandmother Jia got up, glanced out the window, and said to Yuanyang, "Today is the day the young ladies will go to the palace with the Emperor. Go to their rooms later and ask them when they are leaving, whether their luggage is packed, and make sure they don't forget anything."

Yuanyang didn't respond. Instead, she took two steps back, knelt down, and said shamefully, "Grandma...!"

Grandmother Jia and the others, including Pearl and Amber, were all surprised and hurriedly asked, "What happened?"

Grandmother Jia also said, "Get up quickly, I will stand up for you, what exactly is the matter?"

Yuanyang lowered her head guiltily and said, "Yesterday, I was ordered to serve His Majesty in his room."

"what!?"

The people inside were even more surprised. Pearl hurriedly asked, "Who came to deliver the decree? We didn't know." After looking at her, Grandmother Jia also asked, "When did it happen?" Yuanyang quickly replied, "It was yesterday at noon."

Upon hearing this, Grandmother Jia laughed and said, "No wonder you went to the Hall of Mental Cultivation tonight; it turns out you went to receive an imperial decree. Get up quickly and tell me in detail, so I can be happy too!"

After Yuanyang got up, she told him about Xiaohong coming to see her yesterday. After looking at Grandmother Jia, she couldn't help but shed tears and said, "Although I am reluctant to part with you, Grandmother, I dare not disobey the imperial decree. In the future... I'm afraid I will no longer be able to serve you."

Pearl and the others looked somewhat strange.

Grandmother Jia nodded and said, "It's enough that you have this intention. Of course, I'm also reluctant to let you go. Among the maids in the house, you are the most reliable. My daughters-in-law and granddaughters are not as good as you. But in the end, it is difficult to go against the Emperor's will. From now on, you will go to the Emperor's room and serve him wholeheartedly."

Yuanyang knelt down and kowtowed again.

Grandmother Jia quickly got up to help her up, and said with a smile, "You are not allowed to kowtow to me anymore! You are a maid in the Emperor's household, and when you go out, you represent the Emperor's face."

Pearl also laughed and said, "Isn't that right? Look at Qingwen and Yuchuan, which of the maids and servants in the mansion would dare to act wildly in front of them? Even the eunuchs who used to be so powerful in our mansion now pay their respects to Qingwen, calling her 'Miss' this and 'Miss' that."

Amber quickly laughed and said, "From now on, we should call her Miss Jin and Miss Yuanyang, and we can't call her Sister Yuanyang anymore!"

The maids inside laughed, their expressions filled with envy as they looked at Yuanyang.

Being able to serve in the emperor's palace was far better than being a concubine, and for them, becoming a concubine was already the best possible outcome.

When Grandmother Jia got down from the ground, Yuanyang rushed forward to help her to sit in front of the dressing table. Grandmother Jia smiled at her and said, "Go and pack your things. You will be going to the palace with the young ladies later. I don't need you to serve me anymore." She then sighed, "It's a pity that there's nothing left in the room. I can't give you anything to send."

Yuanyang said, "I will remember the old lady's kindness for the rest of my life!"

Grandmother Jia nodded, "Come over after you've packed your things. Although this is sudden, it's a wonderful thing. People outside don't know yet. When you arrive, I'll ask them to come and congratulate you!"

The mandarin ducks responded and went out.

I sat in the room for a while before starting to pack my luggage.

After a while, Amber came into the room and said with a smile, "The old lady said that you are now a maid in the Emperor's palace. You can take whatever the old lady originally gave you and use it. Just tell the Third Miss."

Yuanyang agreed, and Amber whispered, "Take some from the old lady's trunk; it's a token of her appreciation."

Yuanyang had no choice but to agree, thinking she would tell the Third Miss later. She didn't want to go against the old lady's wishes, nor did she want to do things like taking things without permission. Everything in the old lady's trunk had been searched and put into storage, but it hadn't been confiscated and was still allowed to be used on a daily basis.

After everything was tidied up, Grandmother Jia's room was bustling with activity. Yuanyang entered through the back door, and as soon as she stepped inside, everyone in the room came to congratulate her. From Fengjie to the head maids, many maids also looked at her with envy.

Yuanyang smiled and responded politely. Seeing that the girls were arriving one after another, she got up to say goodbye and went to Yangxin Hall for a visit.

inside the house.

Baoqin laughed and said, "So that's what you were exchanging glances about last night."

Grandmother Jia, reclining on the couch, also laughed and said, "I was quite surprised when Yuanyang knelt down before me this morning. I never expected the Emperor to actually choose her!"

Everyone said, "Yuanyang is the most capable maid in the old lady's service. She is also beautiful and has a good figure. It is only natural that she was chosen by the emperor. It is because the old lady trained her well."

Xiangyun smiled and said, "Since Sister Yuanyang has left, the old lady's room is short of people. Let's find another maid to serve her."

Daiyu quickly smiled and said, "This is something that Sister Feng and Sanya should be in charge of. Why are you taking over their work?"

Xiangyun blushed, then suddenly realized what she had done and chuckled at Sister Lin.

Daiyu blushed and changed the subject.

After everyone had sat for a while, Grandmother Jia asked, "Have you all packed your luggage?"

"Everything is fine!"

After a while, Grandmother Jia remembered something and took Daiyu's hand again, saying, "Girl, you are most afraid of the cold. Remember to bring your winter clothes to the palace."

Daiyu said, "I know. If the old lady needs anything at home, she can just ask our Minister."

Everyone laughed again. Grandmother Jia asked a few more questions before finally saying, "Go back and prepare. When it's time to leave, send someone to tell me, and I'll see you off."

Daiyu and the others were inevitably saddened, but they could only bid farewell to the old lady.

As she was about to leave, Tan Chun suddenly asked, "Madam, where is Second Brother?"

Madam Wang said, "He is still living outside the second gate. If you want to say goodbye, go to the second gate."

Xiangyun laughed and said, "Why bother? Second Brother isn't a man, he can't just come in through the second gate. We can just say goodbye to Second Brother."

Upon hearing this, everyone's expressions varied, and they all fell silent.

Baoqin suppressed a laugh; Sister Yun was still as blunt as ever.

When Aunt Xue saw her expression, she tugged at her clothes, and Baoqin quickly covered it up.

Grandmother Jia sighed, "If he wants to become a eunuch, we can't stop him. Let Baoyu come in and say a few words to you."

The girls remained silent, implicitly agreeing with what Xiangyun had said.

after a little while.

Jia Baoyu hurriedly walked in and, upon seeing a room full of girls, became excited again, tears welling up in his eyes. He couldn't help but look at Lin Daiyu again.

Daiyu remained silent, holding a round fan in her slender hand, sitting beside Grandmother Jia with her head half-lowered, not looking at him, which broke Jia Baoyu's heart!

Tan Chun hurriedly asked, "Second Brother, what is your status for entering here?"

“That’s right. How did Second Brother get in?” Xiangyun said, adding, “If Second Brother doesn’t follow the rules of the palace, even if we don’t mind because we’ve known each other since we were little, the eunuchs and maids will still criticize us for being unruly.”

Jia Baoyu's lips moved, but he eventually knelt down and kowtowed to them one by one, addressing them as "Your Majesty".

Yingchun avoided accepting the kowtow from Baoyu, while Daiyu accepted it without avoiding it. Yingchun was the first; she only regretted avoiding it after seeing her sisters accept Baoyu's kowtows.

After he finished kowtowing, Daiyu stood up and said, "I should go back and prepare."

He then walked straight out the door.

Before Jia Baoyu could speak, Xichun, Baochai, Baoqin, Yingchun, and others all got up and left one after another.

Lian Xiangyun also stood up and hurriedly said, "I know what Second Brother wants to say, but you shouldn't go to the palace. Wouldn't it be better to stay at home with your mother?"

Having said that, he left.

She left only Tan Chun behind, saying, "Second brother, stay home and don't think about anything else. I've given you this advice several times, and I hope you'll remember it."

He said he was going to leave.

Li Wan smiled and said, "I'll go back with you."

Jia Lan naturally followed his mother, but Madam Wang quickly stopped him and said with a smile, "Your mother is going home to pack her luggage, and it's all messy. Why don't you stay and chat with Grandma for a while? Grandma will see you off when it's time for you to leave."

Jia Lan glanced at his mother and had no choice but to stay.

"Lan-ge'er, come sit here!" Grandmother Jia invited her great-grandson to sit beside her.

With everyone surrounding Jia Lan, Jia Baoyu, who was originally standing in front of Grandmother Jia, seemed to be ignored by everyone.

He walked out dejectedly, only to find everyone discussing the emperor's upcoming relocation. When he went outside the second gate, he saw eunuchs and palace maids busy making preparations.

Another hour passed before a eunuch hurriedly came to the second gate to deliver a message: "His Majesty has returned to the garden and is preparing to move to the Daming Palace!"

Everyone sprang into action, preparing to welcome the emperor.

About half an hour later, the emperor finally arrived. Because the back alley was narrow, he moved in through the main gate this time.

Jia Baoyu anxiously looked into the distance and finally, amidst a group of palace maids and servants, spotted familiar figures:

The beautiful and dignified Baochai, the charming and straightforward Yunmei, the quiet Erjie, the young Xichun, the Qin Keqing who once captivated him, and the one who caused him the most heartache... Lin Daiyu!

Lin Daiyu wore a plum blossom embroidered dress, her figure slender, her movements as graceful as a willow swaying in the breeze, and when she stood waiting, she was like a beautiful flower reflected in water.

The most beautiful and delicate girls all entered the palace to become the emperor's concubines...

(End of this chapter)