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

Chapter 268 Lin Xiaoxiang Reigns Behind the Curtain

Chu Yan held Daiyu in his arms, but he couldn't feel her soft and delicate touch, nor could he smell her faint fragrance. Only then did he realize that they were dreaming.

"Yu'er, am I dreaming?" Chu Yan stroked her face and asked excitedly.

Daiyu laughed and said, "What else could it be but a dream? I can't possibly fly all the way to Liaodong to meet you. Only if you use that dream reunion spell can we meet..."

Chu Yan sighed, "It really wasn't a dream; it was meeting Yu'er in a dream."

Daiyu was stunned.

I initially thought he couldn't tell if he was dreaming, but it turns out he couldn't tell if it was a normal dream or if he really met her in his dream.

Doesn't that mean he's dreamed of her several times these past few days?

"Brother Chu Yan... it's Yu'er who has met you!"

Daiyu hugged him tightly once again, and tears fell from her eyes again.

Chu Yan hugged her for a while, looked around, and asked with a smile, "Are you cold here?"

Daiyu smiled and said, "Since we met in a dream, how could you feel cold? Thank you for your concern. Are you cold in Liaodong?" As she spoke, she stroked and checked his body with her two small hands, worried that Chu Yan had frostbite or some other illness.

Chu Yan cupped her exquisite face in his hands, smiling as he stopped her from touching it indiscriminately. He said, "Don't worry, Yu'er, I'm fine. I haven't been able to go anywhere these past few days because of the snow. I've just been resting in the camp. I was just thinking of sending you a message when you arrived."

Daiyu looked around and asked, "With such heavy snow, how can we fight a war?"

Chu Yan held her as they sat in front of the tent and said with a smile, "On the contrary, winter is the best time to fight the barbarians. First, livestock have difficulty moving around in winter, which restricts their ability to travel thousands of miles. Second, in summer, they raise horses and sheep in various places, and only in winter will they gather together to keep warm."

He paused for a moment, then continued, “After I led my troops out, the left wing fought a battle with Shurha’s forces and recaptured several castles from the previous dynasty. Unfortunately, we failed to wipe them out in one battle, and they retreated back into the mountains. For the past month, we have sent out scouts to search everywhere, but we have missed them several times.”

Daiyu smiled at him and said, "Isn't this a great victory?"

Chu Yan shook his head: "It's not enough. We need to wipe out at least 30,000 of his men or capture Shurha to be considered a great victory."

Daiyu thought for a moment, then looked at the snowy landscape around her and sighed, "I don't know anything about military strategy or warfare, so I can't offer you any advice. It's just that I'm thinking of you, which is why I unconsciously come to see you in my dreams."

She vaguely guessed that her meeting with Chu Yan in her dream was not because he knew magic, but because of the supernatural powers he possessed as the Crimson Pearl Fairy in her previous life.

When Jiangzhu first met Chu Yan in a dream, she begged him to forgive her for a few days.

This meeting was also caused by her longing for him.

Chu Yan embraced her, lowered his head to kiss Daiyu's face and lips, and said with a smile, "After I came out, I was focused on fighting the bandit chief and did not miss you. It was only recently that I had some free time and began to think of the gentle land of the past and my Yu'er."

Daiyu blushed a little after he kissed her a few times, and said with a smile, "Tomorrow I'll tell Sister Yun and the others that I'll see you tonight. Is there anything you'd like me to pass on?"

Chu Yan smiled and said, "Alright, tell Yun'er to sleep more peacefully. It's getting cold now, and she'll catch a cold if she moves around too much in her sleep. Also, tell Qin to smile more."

They then talked about many other things, which Daiyu wrote down one by one.

Chu Yan stroked her face and said, "Sister Lin has the qualities of an empress."

Daiyu said, "I dare not compare myself to the Empress."

Chu Yan laughed heartily: "I wasn't talking about Empress Zhang, I was talking about making Sister Lin Empress!"

Daiyu chuckled and snuggled into his arms again, saying, "Being an empress involves managing many things. I am weak and cannot be the empress who embodies the virtues of the nation. Your sincerity is enough to comfort me."

Chu Yan lowered his head and kissed her. Daiyu responded passionately a few times, her lips touching his, but she quickly said in a flustered voice, "Perhaps someone will see..."

Whether it was a dream or her soul leaving her body, Daiyu wasn't entirely sure; she simply wasn't used to kissing him in front of others.

"Is Yu'er still shy?"

Chu Yan smiled and turned to look at the military camp. It was a vast expanse of white snow. No one would come out, not even in reality, let alone in a dream. Only outside the camp were there sentries.

Seeing that his Yu'er was shy, he picked up Daiyu and flew into the air, drifting with her to a secluded place outside the camp, where Daiyu leaned against a tree.

Before Chu Yan could kiss her, Daiyu stretched out her arms, wrapped them around his neck, and kissed him with a blush on her face.

Chu Yan chuckled softly and kissed Daiyu slowly and passionately.

The nights in Liaodong are bitterly cold in winter, but in their dreams, the two are unafraid of the wind and snow, entwined in tender affection, oblivious to the world around them.

The next day, at Xiaoxiang Pavilion.

Daiyu slowly opened her eyes and woke up. Zijuan came over to help her, but saw that the young lady's forehead and back were covered in sweat. She was so frightened that she hurriedly asked, "What's wrong, young lady? You're sweating all over in the middle of winter. I'll go and call the imperial physician!"

Daiyu touched her forehead, sat up, and smiled, "I'm fine, don't call me. Last night I dreamt of meeting Chu... and the Emperor, and that's why I feel better."

When she woke up, she felt refreshed and no longer tired. Last night, she and Chu Yan had shared their feelings in their dreams and kissed passionately for a long time. Her lovesickness, which had been afflicting her for days, had been greatly relieved. She only hoped to see Chu Yan again next time.

"Did you meet the Emperor in your dream last night, young lady?"

Zijuan looked closely and indeed saw that the girl was in good spirits, but she had sweated last night.

Zijuan quickly washed her, changed her clothes, and then ordered a palace maid to fetch hot water so she could wash her again later.

Half an hour later, Daiyu finished dressing, and Cuilu ran in with a smile and asked, "My lady sent me to ask if Miss Lin met the Emperor in her dream last night?"

Daiyu smiled and said, "Please go and tell her that Yun'er is going to Zichen Hall later; her brother the Emperor has something to say to her."

Cuilu was even more astonished: "Miss Lin was able to meet the Emperor in her dream? That's truly amazing!"

After saying that, he ran off again, hurrying back to report to Xiangyun.

After a while, Baochai came in smiling and said, "I've come to see which goddess of the Xiaoxiang River met His Majesty in a dream!"

Baoqin, Tanchun, Yuanchun, Empress Zhang, and others entered the room. Upon seeing Daiyu, they all smiled and called her "Goddess of Wushan" and "Goddess of the Luo River".

After a while of laughter and joking, everyone went to Zichen Hall together, and they arrived in no time.

Xiangyun, Xichun, Xiuyan, Li Wan, and others came out to greet her, pulling Daiyu into the room and asking her with smiles, "What did the Emperor say to you in his dream?"

A room full of young women and concubines were all looking at her.

Daiyu smiled and said, "Last night I met His Majesty in my dream in Liaodong."

She recounted the story, and Tan Chun laughed after listening, "It's not that we don't believe Sister Lin, it's just that this is too bizarre. We don't know if she really saw His Majesty, or if it was just a dream?"

Yingchun smiled and said, "It must be true. His Majesty once gave Lin Daiyu an elixir."

Xichun looked her over carefully and smiled, "Although I don't know if it's true or not, Sister Lin seems to have recovered after one night."

Baochai chuckled: "It seems that Daiyu is lovesick. Once her heart is healed, she will be healed as a person."

Everyone laughed. Daiyu blushed slightly and didn't respond. Instead, she turned to Xiangyun and said, "Do you remember when we stayed in the side room of Yangxin Hall? That night, His Majesty suddenly knocked on the door because I met him in my dream, and he came to ask me for confirmation."

Xiangyun suddenly realized: "No wonder you wouldn't tell me the truth back then!"

Daiyu smiled, covering her mouth.

Empress Zhang smiled and said, "In that case, it must be true. Lin sister, you saw the Emperor last night. I wonder what you said? Did His Majesty give you any instructions?" Daiyu nodded and said, "Yes, the Emperor said a lot of things. You all came and listened."

Everyone hurriedly stood up, and Daiyu also stood up to relay Chu Yan's words to them. She first spoke of Xiangyun and Baoqin, and then continued, "His Majesty also asked my elder sister and me to tell the Empress that we don't need to be too frugal with food, clothing and daily necessities in the palace, and to be careful not to let anyone get cold."

Yuan Chun and Empress Zhang both replied, "Yes, we remember."

Daiyu then recounted everyone's story. After she finished, Xiangyun smiled and said, "Just as the Emperor Brother's tone suggested, it's perfect!"

Everyone laughed and believed it.

In less than a day, the news of Miss Lin's dream meeting with the Emperor spread throughout the palace, astonishing everyone, and even reaching the imperial court.

The next day, the Left Chancellor Chu Ming summoned a eunuch to Xiaoxiang Pavilion to inquire about the Emperor's recent condition.

Daiyu told him, and that very night, she met Chu Yan again in a dream.

After hearing her words, Chu Yan said, "It's fine to tell him, but there's no need for you to relay some political matters. It's troublesome and unnecessary."

Daiyu agreed.

Upon hearing that she was still in the palace, Chu Yan smiled and said, "You should go back to the Grand View Garden tomorrow. It's windy and snowing heavily here, and the cold wave will probably reach the capital in a day. Go back early."

Daiyu also agreed.

The next day, she went to discuss with Yuan Chun and Empress Zhang, and also with Xiang Yun and Bao Chai, and they decided to pack their things in the morning and leave the palace to return to the Grand View Garden after noon.

Empress Zhang, Yuan Chun, Princess Qinghe, and others also left Daming Palace and returned to live in the Imperial Palace.

In the afternoon, Daiyu returned to the Grand View Palace. She entered through the East Corner Gate and stopped in front of the Second Gate. Wang Xifeng was already waiting for her and greeted her with a smile, saying, "You're finally back! The old lady has been looking forward to it for a long time. She's been waiting all day. Now that you're back, the house will finally be lively again!"

Baoqin laughed and said, "I'm probably going to stay until next summer this time. I wonder if my Tubi Villa is finished yet?"

Sister Feng hurriedly said, "It was completed last month when winter came. I just had someone clean it again yesterday, and I'll have some more people clean it later."

Baoqin said, "Thank you, Sister Feng. Since we swept it yesterday, there's no need to sweep it again. We can just lay out the mattresses and cushions and it will be ready for people to live in."

Baochai smiled and pinched her, "I was thinking of living with you after I came back, but you moved out in a hurry. Oh well, we sisters have been living apart for a few months, and I'm not used to living together again."

Baoqin smiled, and Qingwen looked at Yuanyang and the others and said, "Yangxin Hall is too small to accommodate many people. Where will you stay tonight?"

Yuanyang laughed and said, "At least we have a place to stay. Let's go inside and talk. It's windy outside."

Everyone got out of the sedan chair and entered through the second gate. Xiangyun seemed to sense something and turned to look at the back room, where she saw a person wearing an old cotton coat standing there, staring blankly at them.

Xiangyun stopped and called out to him, "Second brother, what are you doing standing there? We're back, and you don't even say a word to us."

Her girlish voice was sweet and melodious, as if it were just yesterday, but she was no longer the Yun sister of the past, but the Emperor's Consort Jing.

Sure enough, when Jia Baoyu excitedly called her "Sister Yun," a eunuch immediately reprimanded him in a low voice: "You are going to be a eunuch, how can you call the Empress brother and sister?"

Tan Chun hurriedly beckoned her brother over so that they could go inside together to pay their respects to the old lady.

As they were talking, Grandmother Jia, Old Lady Shi, Lady Wang Ziteng, and others came out of the house to greet them. They all forgot about Jia Baoyu and went inside to sit down in Grandmother Jia's courtyard.

After the meeting, Daiyu and the others returned to the Grand View Garden to settle down and rest in their rooms. They would then come to Grandmother Jia's courtyard for dinner to have with the old lady and her mistress.

Xiangyun went back to the East Mansion with her aunt and stayed at home that night.

Inside the palace, Qinghe returned to the familiar Yuxiu Palace, where she continued to live even after being made a concubine.

After nightfall.

When Daiyu returned to Xiaoxiang Pavilion, perhaps because she had met with her maternal grandmother during the day and learned that her father lived on the back street not far away, she could not suppress her longing. When she went to bed that night, she dreamed of Chu Yan again.

The two chatted in their dream. Daiyu told him that she had returned to the Grand View Garden, and Chu Yan also told her about his recent situation.

December arrived in the blink of an eye.

On the first day of the month, Daiyu suddenly became anxious and went to discuss matters with Xiangyun and Baochai.

She said, "These days, I have been able to meet the Emperor in my dreams once every day or two or three days, but this time, even after five or six days, I still haven't dreamed of him."

The girls were all surprised, but they were at a loss and could only send someone to discuss the matter with the Left Chancellor, Chu Ming.

Shortly after, a eunuch came in and reported: "The Left Prime Minister invites Miss Lin to the Pear Fragrance Courtyard."

Daiyu looked at them, and they all said, "In this urgent situation, we must act quickly. You should go and see the Prime Minister and ask if there is any news from the court."

Daiyu had already decided to see the Prime Minister. After hearing their agreement, she hurriedly went back to her room to change her clothes. Led by Xia Shouzhong, she took Zijuan and Xueyan and went out through the back door into the Pear Fragrance Courtyard.

With Chu Yan absent, there were far fewer guards around Pear Fragrance Courtyard, and the ministers did not come here to conduct their business.

Daiyu entered Chu Yan's study. The palace maids brought chairs and lowered the curtain. Then, the eunuch led Prime Minister Chu Ming in, and the two discussed matters through the curtain.

"Your subject, Chu Ming, greets Consort Lin!"

Chu Ming stood and bowed with his hands clasped, but did not kowtow.

Firstly, Daiyu had not yet been made a concubine, and secondly, when discussing matters, the officials did not need to kowtow or pay their respects.

Daiyu nodded and said, "Please sit down, Prime Minister."

The eunuch brought over a chair, and after Chu Ming sat down, he asked, "May I ask, Your Majesty, how many days has it been since His Majesty last met you in your dreams?"

Daiyu said, "It has been five days."

"Did His Majesty say anything during our last meeting?"

He didn’t say much, only that he couldn’t find the bandits and sent people to look for the two places mentioned by Consort Xie.

"Consort Xie?"

Thinking of the extraordinary abilities of the Xie family's daughter, Chu Ming hurriedly asked, "When did Consort Xie begin corresponding with His Majesty?"

"On the night of the Mid-Autumn Festival."

Daiyu revealed the letter from Consort Xie that Chu Yan had opened on August 16th, before he set off for the expedition.

Chu Ming's expression was strange. After thinking for a while, he said, "His Majesty may have found the location of the bandit leader and is marching there urgently. I have ordered someone to write a letter to Consort Xie and also asked Consort Lin to pay close attention. If you dream of His Majesty at night, please send someone to tell me."

Daiyu asked, "Can't we communicate with the Emperor by letter?"

Chu Ming sighed, "Military campaigns require traveling hundreds of miles, and there are scouts wandering in the wilderness. Even if contact is made, it is only through correspondence with the logistics troops. His Majesty must be at the forefront of battles, and may even act as a scout to personally gather information."

Daiyu exclaimed in surprise, "He has never told me any of this before..."

My heart clenched even tighter.

(End of this chapter)