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

Chapter 279 Lin Xiaoxiang Judges the False Phoenix and the Impersonator

"Come here, I have something to tell you."

Xiangling called the people outside in. Musk Moon, Spring Swallow, and Five Hours were all there, but Tan Yun and Hui Xiang were nowhere to be seen.

Xiangling didn't mind and smiled at them, saying, "His Majesty asked us to go to Xiaoxiang Pavilion when we have time. I'm serving His Majesty at home and can't find the time. Does anyone have time?"

Musk Moon smiled and said, "What are you going to do? Is there anything to say or deliver? Even just saying hello would be fine."

Xiangling said, "His Majesty has not given any instructions, so just go and take a look and ask Miss Lin."

Musk Moon nodded and said, "I'll go."

"There's no rush, Miss Lin can rest before you go."

Just then, Di Guan rushed over and said with a smile, "I happen to have some free time. I'll go now. Musk Moon, you stay here and rest!"

Musk Moon laughed and said, "You went to play with Lotus Root again?"

Di Guan blushed, stammered to cover it up, and hurriedly ran out the door.

He was filled with unease the whole way, wondering if Musk Moon had noticed something.
Most of the actresses know about her affair with Ouguan. I wonder if Fangguan and Lingguan have leaked it out. If His Majesty finds out, what should he do?
The unease in my heart vanished the moment I saw Ou Guan.

"Why are you here?" Ou Guan stood up in surprise from inside the house, looking at his "virtuous wife" who appeared at the door.

Di Guan entered the room, blushing as she closed it. She then threw herself into Ou Guan's arms, and the two beautiful young women embraced each other tightly.

Ou Guan has a delicate appearance and a slender figure, making her perfect for playing a young male role.

Di Guan was plump and beautiful, with charming eyes and eyebrows. She was slightly shy and bashful, and when she played a young female role, she seemed like a well-bred lady who never left her home.

But at this moment, the two girls embraced like husband and wife, their love as deep and passionate as a pair of phoenixes singing to each other, their eyes filled with tender affection.

Di Guan said affectionately, "I didn't come to see you yesterday, and I really missed you."

Ou Guan cupped her beautiful face and sighed, "You have me in your heart, and how could I not have you in mine? We have received His Majesty's permission that we don't need to practice opera during the New Year, and we don't have time to get together during the day either. Since you have time to come today, stay a little longer before you leave."

Although they were both young girls, they were inexplicably inseparable. The two snuggled and embraced in the room, whispering sweet nothings to each other for quite a while, until Xueyan came to call Ouguan, and the two finally separated.

After going outside, Di Guan went back inside. She first asked Zi Juan, and then went into the study with her, where she met Dai Yu.

Di Guan said, "Miss Lin, His Majesty summoned me here."

Daiyu quickly got up to listen.

Di Guan smiled and said, "His Majesty has nothing else to say, but simply asks how Miss Lin is?"

Daiyu smiled and said, "Go and tell the Emperor: Thank you for your concern. I will visit the Hall of Mental Cultivation again tomorrow when I have time."

Di Guan nodded in agreement, took her leave, and was about to go out when Daiyu quickly stopped her and asked, "Just that one sentence?"

Di Guan asked in confusion, "There was only one sentence... His Majesty didn't say a word!"

Daiyu laughed: "What's so special about this? Tell me in detail."

Di Guan said, "Sister Xiangling said that His Majesty didn't say anything, but just told us to come and take a look when we had time and ask the young lady, so I came over."

Daiyu understood the meaning behind the words.

After Di Guan left, she slowly sat back down in her chair, picked up a book, and began to read. Her heart was churning with intense emotions, causing her to smile involuntarily. She thought to herself, "Since you miss me, why don't you come and see me? Sending a maid here for nothing, without saying a word, has made me miss you so much..."

Her cheeks flushed red, and after a long while, once her thoughts had calmed down, Daiyu picked up her brush and wrote a poem:

Its solitary and proud spirit hides in the autumn, its quiet heart entrusted to the long-lasting leaves.

The cold moon easily chills the soul and chills dreams; the west wind makes it difficult to see one's shadow in pairs.

The heavy dew may freeze the tears of the Green Maiden; the deep clouds should not inquire about the land of the Archer Queen.

If you understand my intention to protect the flowers, then carefully measure the area by the fence.

After finishing writing, Daiyu folded the poem and called Zijuan in, saying, "Send it to the Emperor."

Zijuan went out and first called for Ouguan, but she didn't see her. She had no choice but to instruct Xueyan to go there and told her, "This thing on the paper was written by the young lady. You must deliver it to the Emperor in person."

Xueyan took the folded paper and went out. She bumped into an old woman who was walking in in a panic. Xueyan asked curiously, "Auntie, is something the matter?"

The old woman lowered her voice: "Perfect timing, I have something to tell Miss Zijuan!"

Xueyan said, "Sister Zijuan is inside. Go in, but keep your voice down. The young lady is reading in her room."

The old woman nodded and went inside.

Not long after, Zijuan entered the study and reported to Daiyu what the old woman had reported.

Daiyu frowned and asked, "Has Ouguan returned yet?"

"Not yet, they're still outside... perhaps they're still with Di Guan." Zijuan blushed, hesitated, and felt a pang of regret, realizing she shouldn't have let them get away with it!

Now the commotion is getting bigger and bigger, and even the old woman saw it. Luckily, the girl wasn't staying at the Jia family's place, otherwise who knows how much more embarrassing things would have happened.

But then I thought, the young lady is currently favored, and the rules in the palace are even stricter than those in the Jia family. What is His Majesty really like...?

Daiyu said, "I'll go talk to him about this. After Ouguan comes back, don't mention it to her. Before His Majesty issues an edict, order Aunt Zhou not to reveal anything to anyone, so as not to make everyone lose face. We must be careful."

Zijuan nodded and said, "I've already told her not to talk about it and to keep it to herself."

Daiyu went back to her room to change, putting on a white fox fur cloak, a snow hat, and a pair of moon-white orchid silk shoes. She then went out with Zijuan and several old women.

Before long, she arrived at Yangxin Hall.

"Miss Lin, what brings you here?" Qingwen greeted her from inside the room, smiling, "His Majesty is in the warm pavilion. Please go inside first, and then come in later."

Daiyu immediately guessed what had happened inside, and asked, "Who is the favored one inside?"

Qingwen said, "There's no one else. It's Fangguan and Lingguan from inside the house. Xiangling and Yuchuan are also inside, all on the kang (heated brick bed)."

Daiyu said, "Truly...a tyrant." With that, she didn't wait for Qingwen to go in and report, but instead opened the door to the warm pavilion and went inside.

Inside the room, Chu Yan was reading a book, with Fang Guan and Ling Guan nestled in his arms, sharing a single quilt, while Xiang Ling and Yu Chuan massaged his back.

"Why did Yu'er suddenly come?!"

Chu Yan was pleasantly surprised. He put down his book, lifted the covers, got out of bed, and walked up to her to see her outfit.

Daiyu's face flushed red.

In that fleeting glimpse, she saw two snow-white young girls' bodies under the covers. They must have been close to Chu Yan, playing with him on the kang (heated brick bed).

A pang of sadness welled up in her heart, but seeing him brave the cold, wearing only a single garment to come and see her, Daiyu was deeply moved. She quickly pulled him back inside, making Chu Yan crawl back into bed, and said with a smile, "You foolish emperor, aren't you afraid of the cold? Hurry back and hug your warm bed maids~"

Fangguan and Lingguan both blushed, but Fangguan giggled happily while Lingguan was extremely embarrassed.

Seeing this, Yu Chuan also smiled and said, "Although I am a bed warmer, this is the first time I have warmed His Majesty's bed tonight."

Lingguan remained silent, feeling somewhat unhappy, but she felt better when she thought of what the Emperor had said earlier, that he would let her go to the back garden.

After the Emperor returned to his bed, Lingguan quietly embraced one of his hands, using her chest as a hand warmer to warm his hand.

Seeing that Miss Lin was not angry, Fangguan snuggled into His Majesty's broad embrace again, comfortably nestled against him.

Daiyu gradually calmed down and sat on the edge of the kang (a heated brick bed), saying, "I came here because I have something to report to you."

She looked at Chu Yan and the two bed warmers, knowing full well that the two girls were completely naked, pressed close to him under the covers.

Chu Yan asked, "What could be so important that Lin Daiyu would make the trip herself?"

Without hesitation, Daiyu said, "The Ou Guan in my room and the Di Guan in His Majesty's room."

"what!"

Fangguan suddenly sat up, the blankets slipped down, revealing her slender white shoulders. She exclaimed in surprise, "Miss Lin knows too?!" "What is it?" Chu Yan asked with a smile.

Daiyu looked at Fangguan and let her speak first.

Fangguan said embarrassedly, "The two of them are husband and wife. If Miss Lin mentioned them, it must be because something between them was discovered."

Daiyu blushed and asked in confusion, "How did they become husband and wife? Ouguan is a woman, and Diguan... must also be a woman."

Ouguan was her maid; if she weren't a woman, she would have been discovered long ago.

As for Di Guan, she didn't know much about her.

Lingguan said, "Diguan is also a woman, a young female singer."

Chu Yan smiled but didn't speak. He watched Daiyu frown and ponder for a long time before sighing, "I didn't expect it to be a fake phoenix and a fake dragon. It's hard to believe they have feelings for each other. But this matter concerns His Majesty and me. If it gets out, it will easily attract criticism and damage the reputation of the concubines in the harem. Therefore, I have come to ask His Majesty how to deal with them?"

Daiyu rarely addressed him formally as "Your Majesty."

Chu Yan asked, "What do you think?"

This is another test for her.

Lingguan, who was clinging to Chu Yan's arm from under the covers, whispered, "Your Majesty and Miss Lin, please show leniency and spare them."

Chu Yan said, "You're pleading for leniency before the punishment is even handed down; that will only cause displeasure. Let's wait until Miss Lin has made her decision before we talk about it."

Lingguan lowered her head, and Yuchuan smiled and said, "His Majesty is teaching you how to conduct yourself in society."

Lingguan blushed, hugged Chu Yan's arm tightly, and nestled in his arms just like Fangguan.

She felt secretly fortunate and deeply moved. She had gained more insights that night than she had on the night the emperor first visited her.

Daiyu thought for a moment and said, "Let them come over."

"I'll go get someone."

Xiangling responded and went out to instruct someone to search for her.

Soon after, Ou Guan and Di Guan were carried into the house. This fake couple was already so frightened that their legs went weak.

Yuanyang, Qingwen, Sheyue, Wu'er, Huixiang, Wenguan, and others all came into the room. Zijuan also came in and stood with Yuanyang.

Daiyu comforted them, saying, "Don't panic, let me ask you some questions."

"girl!"

Ou Guan knelt down crying, and then pulled Di Guan down to kneel as well.

Daiyu asked, "Why did you become husband and wife? Was it because of a wicked woman or a thief, or because you truly loved each other?"

The words of the female thief and cunning woman made Xiangling chuckle, but Qingwen looked surprised and said, "You're all girls, how can you be husband and wife? Have you been blinded by greed, or are you so blind that you can't tell the difference between men and women?"

Yuanyang blushed and said, "For men, this is called 'longyang' or 'cut sleeve,' but for women, I don't know what they're called, though it does exist."

Daiyu said, "You must not hide anything from me."

Ouguan kowtowed and then cried, “Reporting to you, Miss, we were performing on the stage. I played the young male lead and Diguan played the young female lead. On stage, we were husband and wife. Off stage… Diguan and I gradually fell in love and developed feelings for each other. It was not adultery. Just now, someone said they saw Diguan and me kissing. It was Diguan who came to tell me that she happened to see a married couple like that, and that's why she wanted to try kissing me.”

Daiyu blushed and glanced at him.

Chu Yan smiled knowingly, guessing that Di Guan had learned to kiss him and the concubines after seeing him kiss them, or perhaps she had been tempted and went to try it out with Ou Guan.

"Is this true?" Daiyu asked again, glancing around the room.

Fangguan nodded hurriedly: "It's true, we can all testify. They acted on the stage and off the stage. At first we laughed at them, but later we found out that they were actually going to be husband and wife, and they agreed to never marry. They were tender and considerate to each other every day, just like me and His Majesty."

Everyone turned to look at her. Fangguan shyly buried her head in the Emperor's arms. In an instant, countless maids glared at her.

Daiyu then asked Wen Guan and Ling Guan, and they both said the same thing.

She gradually came up with an idea and said, "In that case, I will not punish you. However, you shall never see each other again. Ouguan, you will go to work in the palace, and Diguan, you will go to the imperial estate. We will wait until the day when you are released to marry. Then this matter will be over."

"girl!"

Ou Guan and Di Guan kowtowed and begged for mercy, neither willing to separate. Ou Guan said, "Even the Cowherd and the Weaver Girl on the Milky Way can only meet once a year. Please, young lady, have mercy."

Daiyu looked at Chu Yan.

"It's understandable, but unforgivable."

Chu Yan said calmly, "Whether your feelings are sincere or not is none of anyone else's business. However, since Miss Lin appreciates your sincerity, I have no intention of pursuing the matter further. But from now on, you must either sever your ties or leave the harem."

Ou Guan looked troubled and lowered her head, saying, "Your Majesty, we have no relatives outside. How can two girls live? Please, Your Majesty, have mercy and allow us to stay in the garden."

Chu Yan said, "There's no such thing as a free lunch."

The maidservant cried and said, "Your Majesty, I beg you, may I leave the garden and leave the maidservant to continue serving Your Majesty?"

They all started crying. Chu Yan watched for a while, then suddenly asked, "Those who stay in my room are all meant to serve me in bed, do you know that?"

Most of the people inside blushed with embarrassment.

Ouguan blushed and nodded, saying softly, "It is only right for Diguan to serve His Majesty, but hearing that His Majesty has not yet favored her, I wonder if Diguan is not pleasing to His Majesty? If His Majesty prefers those with supple bodies, I will also..."

The two "husband and wife" who were pretending to be emperor actually thought about serving the emperor, which was both out of necessity and their duty.

Chu Yan glanced at the two of them, but they didn't seem to care and remained close.

It is evident that although they are supposed to be husband and wife, they are not. Ouguan is still a woman and is prepared to serve a man.

Daiyu sneered, "Perfect! Ouguan can stay too. She can be a loving couple in His Majesty's room and serve him. Wouldn't that be the best of both worlds?"

Chu Yan could tell she was jealous, and he was both amused and exasperated. "Fine, all of you, get out. I can't be bothered with you."

Upon hearing this, Daiyu quickly added, "You're only harming them by doing this. If you want to keep them, then keep them all. You don't have many maids in your room, so just add another one, Ouguan."

Chu Yan looked at them and asked, "What do you think?"

The two exchanged a glance, kowtowed in gratitude, and agreed.

Chu Yan nodded and said, "Ou Guan, you will continue to serve Miss Lin in her room. Be diligent in your duties." He paused for a moment and then said, "You will stay here tonight."

Ou Guan's face flushed red. Amid her embarrassment, her earlier nervousness gradually subsided. She knew that she no longer needed to fear that her relationship with Di Guan would be known by others. As long as she served the Emperor well in the future, they could still laugh and talk together.

Daiyu also breathed a sigh of relief and said with a smile, "Don't tell anyone about what happened tonight. As for this matter..."

She stopped talking in time.

Chu Yan raised his hand and ordered, "You all go out... Never mind, Lin Meimei, you come with me!"

With two naked children in his arms, Chu Yan simply pulled Daiyu into the next room and asked her about them in detail.

Daiyu wrapped her arms around his neck, unusually taking the initiative to act coquettishly, and said, "Good brother, I knew about this before, but at that time I didn't want to get involved in these matters, and I felt sorry for everyone in the garden who were trapped by the bandit king, so I didn't say anything~"

Chu Yan gently pinched her cheek: "Who is the King of Thieves?"

Daiyu smiled and tiptoed to kiss him, pressing her lips to his. She said in a soft voice, "You are the king of thieves. You captured me, Yun'er, Tan'er, and Qin'er and locked us up in your house. You have bullied all my sisters."

Chu Yan couldn't help but chuckle. The "bullying" Daiyu mentioned was definitely not vulgar.

The two lingered tenderly, and after Daiyu tidied her clothes, she took her leave.

Chu Yan saw her off and wanted to walk with her for a while, but Daiyu wouldn't allow it, saying that he wasn't dressed properly and it was cold, so she told him to go back.

After watching Daiyu leave, Chu Yan returned to the warm pavilion, took a sip of tea, and looked at the uneasy Ouguan and Diguan, instructing them: "Take off your clothes, let me see you."

The two young girls, who were "husband and wife," blushed simultaneously.

(End of this chapter)