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

Chapter 285 Poetry Contest at Longcui Nunnery (Part 1)
December 27th, three days before Lunar New Year's Eve.

When the army that had led the northern expedition returned to the capital, Chu Yan led a hundred officials to greet them ten miles outside the city gates. The people of the capital flocked to watch, and the city was abuzz with discussion.

In the afternoon, Chu Yan returned to Yangxin Hall.

As soon as Daiyu came out of the warm pavilion, Chu Yan picked her up and carried her straight back into the warm pavilion.

Daiyu blushed and pushed him away a few times in his arms, but after entering the warm room, she half-heartedly let him do as he pleased.

The two played around on the kang for a while, and Daiyu pleaded with a smile, "Good brother, why do you have to tease me as soon as you come back?"

Chu Yan sat cross-legged on the kang (a heated brick bed) and said with a smile, "I'm especially happy today!"

Daiyu smiled and looked at him twice: "Are you happy that you don't have to go to court?"

Chu Yan was greatly surprised, "How did Yu'er guess that?"

Daiyu laughed and said, "What's so difficult about that? You returned a few days ago, and all the officials have already welcomed the Emperor. You also won the battle, so you won't be happy about the army's triumphant return."

As she said this, her dewy eyes were filled with a shy smile, and she held up two fingers and waved them in front of him: "And there was a foolish emperor who said twice: 'I wish it were freezing cold so I could sleep in and not go to court,' isn't that right?"

Chu Yan chuckled, “It’s alright to say this in the summer and autumn, but to say it in the winter would be truly foolish. It’s better to have less heavy snow so that people who have no warm clothes and firewood at home don’t suffer from disaster.”

Daiyu looked at her, chuckled, and sighed, "I'm really talking to an emperor! And a wise and benevolent one at that!"

Chu Yan pulled her into his arms and stroked her. Her slender, perfect back and delicate waist made Daiyu weak and limp in no time. In his arms, she pressed her neck against his and breathed softly.

After a long while, she weakly pushed him away.

It means I can't take it anymore.

Chu Yan withdrew his hand from her back, and couldn't help but sniff it. The fragrance of the young lady was elegant and unique, intoxicating.

Fortunately, Daiyu was panting and didn't see it.

"Qingwen."

Chu Yan called Qingwen to pour tea. Daiyu sat up and slowly drank a cup of hot tea with him. She glanced at him with a smile for a while before asking, "Are you so happy not to go to court?"

She could tell that the tyrannical emperor was in an exceptionally good mood today.

Chu Yan held her hand, leaned back on the pillow, and looked at Daiyu's beautiful face. He smiled happily and said, "There's a good poem that goes, 'At this moment, in this day and night, one is a carefree little immortal.'"

If it were an ordinary person, they would just laugh when they heard this.

Daiyu, however, thought for a while, then took his hand, looked into Chu Yan's eyes, and said softly, "Being an emperor isn't good either. You have to worry about the people of the world, and every day there are government affairs from all over the country that you have to review. Only during the New Year can you put down your worries and be a little immortal."

Chu Yan laughed and asked, "Is Yu'er a little fairy now?"

Just as Daiyu was about to laugh and say that she was not the Crimson Pearl Fairy, she suddenly realized what she meant and said with a smile, "Thank you for raiding my maternal grandmother's house, Yun'er's house, and Sister Bao's house, that's how I became a little fairy!"

As they were talking, Shi Xiangyun, wearing a pink satin cloak with floral patterns, a Zhaojun-style overcoat, and a large sable collar, lifted the curtain and walked in.

Upon seeing Chu Yan, a smile bloomed on her small face, which was wrapped in a mink collar. She walked over happily and said, "Brother Emperor has returned from outside the city? I just happened to come looking for Sister Lin, and it just so happens that Brother Emperor is home too!"

"come over."

Chu Yan waved to her, and Xiangyun, upon hearing this, sat down on the kang (a heated brick bed) and leaned towards him.

Chu Yan reached out and took off her cloak, tossing it aside. He then removed her hat and the collar from her neck, took off her coat, and pulled Xiangyun into his arms.

"It's so warm in my brother's arms!"

Xiangyun spoke with a mixture of joy and shyness, her eyes involuntarily glancing at Sister Lin beside her.

The two were nestled in Chu Yan's arms, one on each side, and the three of them were covered with the same blanket.

Daiyu wanted to leave, but Chu Yan stopped her and coaxed her a few times, so she had no choice but to return to his arms.

Xiangyun giggled and twisted in Chu Yan's arms. Daiyu said, "What are you laughing at, Yun'er? Tell me so I can laugh too."

Xiangyun smiled at her and said, "I'm laughing at Sister Lin~~ When you were held by the Emperor, you cried like a baby, but now you're like this."

Daiyu blushed slightly, but didn't want to get angry with her.

Chu Yan lowered his head and kissed Xiangyun hard on the face, saying, "Times have changed, let's not talk about the past. You used to fall into a puddle when you were little."

Xiangyun was taken aback: "How did my Emperor brother know?"

Daiyu smiled, pursing her lips: "Your emperor brother is a little immortal, he just said it himself. Since he's an immortal, it's not surprising that he knows about your mischievous and naughty childhood. Before, he even wanted to see you dressed as a man. When I saw you come in just now, I thought it was Sun Wukong, so I deliberately acted like a little flirt."

Xiangyun was just smiling, but when she suddenly saw Chu Yan looking at her with those eyes, she felt a strange connection with him and her thoughts wandered elsewhere, but her face turned bright red.

"When I have time, I will also take a look at Yun'er's youthful attire."

Chu Yan smiled.

The three chatted, with Daiyu and Xiangyun laughing and talking in his arms. After about half an hour, the others arrived one after another after hearing the news.

After the others arrived, Daiyu left Chu Yan's embrace and sat down elsewhere on the kang (heated brick bed). When more people arrived, she gave up her seat and sat down on a chair.

Xiangyun also modestly gave up her place, letting Chu Yan hold Baoqin and Tanchun, while Baochai and Xichun sat on the kang.

As everyone chatted, Xiangyun laughed and said, "The Emperor didn't attend court until the fifth day of the month, and he's been back for a while now. He hasn't enjoyed the snow or written any poems. It would be great if it snowed heavily while we have some free time, so we can write poems together in the garden!"

Daiyu looked at Chu Yan and remembered what he had just said about how the heavy snow would make the winter difficult for the people, but seeing that he was just smiling, she didn't bring it up again.

She has gradually come to understand what silver is.

It is the foundation for the people's livelihood, and even the emperor has to worry about it.

Although the girls in the garden have been short of money these days, they have never truly gone hungry or cold. When it snows heavily, the girls only feel happy, as they can appreciate the snow and compose poems.

The emperor did not blame them, nor did he restrict them from mentioning it, probably because he did not want court affairs to spoil the girls' good mood.

Baochai smiled and said, "The weather has been fine these days. I'm afraid we won't be able to wait for a heavy snowfall for the next three to five days. In my opinion, we don't need to wait for a heavy snowfall. It would be too cold if it snowed. Let's set up the poetry club tomorrow, and write one more poem before the New Year, another before the Lantern Festival after the New Year, and a third when the plum blossoms bloom. That way, the poetry club will flourish!"

After a moment of hesitation and thought, Chu Yanxian smiled and said, "What Bao'er said is exactly what I was thinking!"

Baoqin quickly asked with a smile, "Which Bao girl?"

Xiangyun and the others laughed. Li Wan said with a smile, "It's clearly one Bao girl and one Qin girl. We had already decided on them. How could you forget now?"

Daiyu laughed and said, "It's not her fault. It's the first time the Emperor has ever called her Bao-ya!"

Upon hearing this, Xiangyun got up to tease her, laughing and saying, "Lin girl, you're trying to imitate me too!"

Daiyu glared at her and said, "I'm a year older than you, how dare you call me a maid?"

Xiangyun pounced on her and laughed, "Sister Bao calls her Feng'er! Why can't I? If you don't want to, I'll ask Brother Emperor to call you Lin'er!" As she spoke, she laughed heartily, and everyone else laughed too.

In Chu Yan's eyes, the concubines and young ladies in the warm pavilion were all smiling and happy. He was in a good mood today, so he couldn't help but lower his head and kiss Baoqin's face and lips in his arms, indulging in his desire to favor them.

Daiyu smiled and said, "Let's settle this quickly. Are we going to start a poetry club tomorrow? Let's settle it as soon as possible. I need to go back to my room to rest. I can't bear to watch you all making a fuss anymore."

It describes the intimacy between Chu Yan and Bao Qin on the kang (a heated brick bed).

Baochai smiled and said, "If Your Majesty likes it, let's start a poetry club tomorrow, stroll around the garden for a week, and then choose a place to sit down and write poems."

"What is the title of the poem?" Xiangyun asked.

Baochai glanced at Chu Yan and Baoqin, whose face was flushed from being kissed, and said, "His Majesty has never liked rhyming restrictions, so let's continue to compose poems as we please, and whoever composes the best one will be the champion."

After some discussion, Chu Yan did not object, but said, "After visiting the garden tomorrow, we will rest at Longcui Nunnery. We can't do without a poet who can write poems."

"Is the Poet Immortal referring to Miaoyu?" Li Wan frowned. "I had no idea she could write poetry."

Daiyu nodded and said, "Miaoyu can compose poems and write lyrics. What do you all think about inviting her to join the poetry club tomorrow?"

She looked at Li Wan and Tan Chun, because Li Wan was the supervising censor of the poetry club, and it was Tan Chun who had proposed the poetry club.

Tan Chun laughed and said, "His Majesty himself praised the Poet Immortal. Wouldn't it be a pity to leave him in the garden without inviting him to the Poetry Club?"

Li Wan hesitated for a moment, then looked at Chu Yan and said, "I'm worried about Miaoyu's character. Inviting her might make things awkward when we're organizing the poetry club. If she's in a good mood, that's fine, but once she gets angry, she can't easily back down. She always makes people lose face before she'll stop!"

Chu Yan said, "There's no need to invite her to the poetry club. It's perfect, isn't she arrogant? Tomorrow, a group of us will have a poetry contest with her, and we must defeat her."

Hearing this, Li Wan became even more hesitant.

Baoqin looked up at him and asked, "Won't this embarrass Miaoyu?"

Daiyu, Xiangyun, and the others remained silent.

Chu Yan laughed and said, "Don't worry, Miaoyu will accept the challenge. If you don't believe me, call Miss Xing over. She can go to Longcui Nunnery to deliver the challenge."

Daiyu glanced at him; he knew Miaoyu's character quite well.

Xiangyun nodded and said, "If the Emperor has given an order, we should obey. Even if Miaoyu loses to our group, she won't lose face. But if we lose, we won't be able to hold our heads up in front of Miaoyu in the future."

Baochai laughed and said, "People often say that there is no first place in literature and no second place in martial arts, so how can we have a fair poetry contest?"

Inside the room, a group of girls, especially a few who could compose poetry, all looked at Chu Yan.

They were all afraid of losing the poetry contest to Miaoyu!
Chu Yan laughed and said, "Winning and losing are common occurrences. Who cares how the fight goes, as long as it's fun, we'll talk about it tomorrow."

Xiangyun nodded and called Cuilu in, telling her to send someone to the Jade Emperor Temple or to the Longcui Nunnery to fetch Xiuyan—she often went to the Longcui Nunnery to talk to Miaoyu.

After a while, Xiuyan arrived.

Tan Chun also gave up her seat, and Chu Yan didn't say anything. He called Xiu Yan over and hugged her in his arms.

"His Majesty…"

When Chu Yan embraced her in front of many people, Xiu Yan's delicate and beautiful oval face turned bright red. Fortunately, when she entered the room earlier, she saw that Bao Qin and Tan Chun were both in the Emperor's arms, so she was not the only one.

Chu Yan reached out and gently rubbed her cold face, then smiled and said, "We summoned you here because we have something to discuss. Tomorrow we plan to go to Longcui Nunnery to challenge Miaoyu to a poetry contest. What do you think?"

"A poetry contest?"

Xiuyan was somewhat surprised, then smiled and said, "His Majesty is in the mood to compose poems with the young ladies and has even decided to start a poetry club at Longcui Nunnery. I imagine Miaoyu would be happy to participate." After hesitating for a moment, she added, "As for the poetry contest, if we try to intimidate her with our power, Miaoyu won't accept defeat; if our poems are better, she probably still won't be convinced. In my opinion, it would be better to have a contest of poems in our hearts, which would make Miaoyu truly convinced."

Chu Yan clapped his hands in approval, saying, "I was just worrying about how to have a poetry contest, and I kept making excuses, saying I'd have a solution by tomorrow. And here you are, offering your own solution!"

Baochai also laughed and said, "I guess the Emperor wants the game to end in a draw."

Chu Yan looked at her, and Baochai covered her mouth and smiled, which surprised many people: How could she say such a thing?
His Majesty has already said that he hasn't come up with a solution, but Baochai pointed it out. If it were in her usual character, she wouldn't have said that so openly.

Chu Yan laughed and said, "A draw is the only option. Fine, I'll be frank. This poetry contest is to curb Miaoyu's arrogance, so a draw or a defeat for her is the only possible outcome. But since we've adopted Xiuyan's suggestion of competing in our minds, that's fine."

Daiyu and the others then realized that Miaoyu had "offended" him, which was why he had led everyone to his door to bully Miaoyu.

Such a punishment is quite novel and unique... Ah!

Tan Chun suddenly remembered that when she was punished by the Emperor before, he had pulled her onto his lap and spanked her...

Xiuyan looked at Chu Yan, hesitant to speak, and after a long while, she said shyly, "Your Majesty, actually, after Your Majesty returned a few days ago, Miaoyu was also happy for a few days, but she couldn't come over."

"Oh?"

Chu Yan raised his eyebrows and laughed, "I misunderstood her. I thought she hadn't seen me for months and didn't miss me at all." He then said to Xiuyan, "She can't come over, and I can't find the time to go either. But I do remember her. Go to Longcui Nunnery and tell her to wait for the poetry contest with the girls tomorrow. The matter of killing her temper hasn't changed."

Xiuyan nodded in agreement, thinking that it was better to talk things out.

After sitting for a while, unable to bear Chu Yan's kisses and caresses any longer, she hurriedly fled.

Xiuyan's face remained flushed for a long time along the way, and the blush gradually faded after a while in the cold wind.

Upon arriving at Longcui Nunnery, they found Miaoyu curled up in a ball, wrapped in blankets, in the warm pavilion.

Xiuyan laughed and said, "It's not cold inside, and the palace hasn't lacked your charcoal, so why do you look like this?"

Miaoyu shifted slightly and said calmly, "I've had similar experiences in previous years, but this year is a bit better."

Xiuyan sat on the kang (a heated brick bed), and Miaoyu looked her over a few times and said, "Did you receive the emperor's favor in his chambers?"

Xiuyan blushed again, quickly covering her cheeks, and asked her curiously, "How did you know?"

Miaoyu sneered, "It's no news that the emperor favors his concubines in the warm pavilion."

It means that something that has been circulating before is no longer news.

Xiuyan lowered her hand from her cheek, looked at her again, and smiled, "The Emperor will interrogate you tomorrow, so you'd better be prepared."

"What are you talking about, all of a sudden and incoherent?"

Miaoyu didn't take it to heart, as long as she didn't talk back to anyone again.

however.

After hearing Xiuyan's words, Miaoyu suddenly sat up on the kang. Her disheveled hair and her beautiful, ethereal face created a picture of a beautiful woman lying lazily asleep.

After a long while, Miaoyu coldly laughed and said, "Although Lin, Xue, and Qin are talented in poetry, I am not afraid of them. Just bring it on!"

Xiuyan smiled, realizing that the Emperor had indeed guessed correctly; Miaoyu would accept the challenge.

(End of this chapter)