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

Chapter 286 Poetry Contest at Longcui Nunnery (Part 2)
On the 28th, let the dough rise.

Chu Yan didn't need to busy himself with making pastries in the kitchen, nor did he need to worry about court affairs. Everyone in the world, from the emperor himself to the common people, was busy preparing for the New Year.

After a year of hard work, people can finally unload their burdens and enjoy a moment of peace during the Spring Festival.

Inside the dormitory, Chu Yan took a long nap.

"Your Majesty," Qingwen said with a smile as she entered, "Miss Yun has arrived. She said she wanted to speak with Your Majesty, so I made an excuse to have her go to the west room..."

She blushed halfway through her sentence.

Upon seeing the scene on the bed, Qingwen was caught between a rock and a hard place. She stood there for a while, her face flushed, before slowly walking to the bedside.

Recently, she has also served as a bed warmer for the Emperor a few times, working alongside Yuanyang, Hongyu, Sheyue, Chunyan, and others to warm the Emperor's bed.

At first, she was with Xiangling, but His Majesty sent Xiangling away and replaced her with Yuanyang. It was then that Qingwen realized that His Majesty had intentionally divided them into those before and after his favor.

Just like now.

"It's also related to the fact that the Emperor doesn't hold morning court sessions. He doesn't usually argue with them when he gets up in the morning."

half an hour.

Xiangling is finally better.

Chu Yan turned to Qingwen and asked, "What did you just say?"

As soon as she finished speaking, Xiangyun walked in with a smile. When she saw Qingwen, she smiled even more: "I knew it was because the Emperor was sleeping in instead of attending court. Qingwen even tried to lie to me. I've finally caught her!"

As she spoke, she walked over and immediately noticed the unusual appearance of Xiangling on Chu Yan's body. How could Xiangyun, who had experienced such matters, not see it? She immediately covered her mouth and giggled, her face flushed, and said, "Brother Emperor is fooling around with Xiangling so early in the morning... It must be because he has to go to court."

Chu Yan chuckled, took his hand out from under the covers, beckoned her over, and pulled Xiangyun into his arms, showering her with affection.

Xiangling tried to move away, but Chu Yan held her tightly, laughing and saying, "Be careful not to spill any and make it dirty, then you'll have to wash it again."

Xiangling's face flushed red again, and Xiangyun's face also turned red, but Qingwen was the only one who didn't understand why.

Seeing this, Yu Chuan sat up slightly from under the covers, revealing her fair shoulders. She reached for a prepared towel, slipped under the covers, and used it as a cushion.

Chu Yan still didn't let go of Xiang Ling, holding her tenderly, and said to Xiang Yun, "Why did you come so early in the morning?"

Xiangyun leaned against him and laughed, "Brother Emperor, don't you even look out the window? The sun is already high in the sky. The weather is so nice today, it's perfect for a stroll in the garden!"

Chu Yan laughed and said, "So, my Yun'er is inspired to write poetry today and wants to win the championship?"

"Of course! Today I'm determined to outshine Sister Lin and Sister Bao."

Xiangyun said with great confidence.

After chatting for a while, Chu Yan ordered hot water to be prepared. Soon after, he got up, and Xiang Yun did not avoid him, but followed him to help him bathe and change clothes.

Just as she finished dressing, Daiyu, Yingchun, Tanchun, Baochai, and others arrived.

Seeing Xiangyun there, Daiyu smiled and said, "Yun girl is indeed here with the Emperor."

Xiangyun understood immediately and stood up to greet them with a smile, "You went to my place just now? I wanted to come looking for you, but then I remembered that His Majesty didn't hold court this morning, so I came here first. You don't know, my brother the Emperor just got up to bathe and change!"

After everyone laughed for a while, they went back into the warm pavilion to sit.

Yuanyang came in and asked with a smile, "His Majesty hasn't had breakfast yet. Would the ladies like something to eat?"

They all said they had eaten, and Tan Chun smiled and said, "His Majesty did not hold court today and slept in. We don't have to attend court, but we also don't have time to stay in bed. We got up early."

Chu Yanchao said to Yuanyang, "Tell the kitchen to heat up some snacks and send them over. We'll have lunch outside later."

Yuanyang agreed and went out. After a while, she returned with Xiangling, Qingwen, Wu'er and others, carrying seven or eight dishes of snacks and fruits, which they prepared to place on the low table on the kang (heated brick bed).

Chu Yan said, "Take some and let the girls have a taste."

Yuanyang and the others then brought the snacks to Xiangyun and Yingchun. They either tasted one or declined, and finally the snacks were placed on the table.

Chu Yan ate some, and Qin Keqing happened to arrive as well, so he invited her over and gave her some snacks.

"Bixia~~" Qin Keqing mumbled, her eyes sparkling with laughter, and sat down in his lap.

Chu Yan calmly embraced her waist, made her sit on his lap, and continued eating his snacks.

Daiyu glanced at it only once before turning to chat with Baoqin, who had just entered the room.

Then more people arrived, including Empress Zhang, Consort Zhou, Consort Wu, Sister Feng, Ping'er, and others. They lived in the front courtyard. Princess Qinghe also came with several little princesses.

The warm pavilion wasn't small, but it couldn't accommodate many concubines. Chu Yan smiled at Consort Zhou and said, "Why are you all here? You can't compose poetry."

Consort Zhou hurriedly smiled ingratiatingly, "I thought of a few poems last night, which will come in handy later. Since it's a poetry club, the more people there are, the more lively it will be!"

Tan Chun and Bao Chai exchanged a smile.

Chu Yan asked, "The poem you wrote about winter snow scenes?"

Consort Zhou nodded hurriedly.

Chu Yan said, "Today we won't write about winter or snow scenes, but about drinking and making merry. Can you still compose a poem?"

Consort Zhou's charming face froze for a moment, which made Chu Yan and Tan Chun laugh. They guessed that she had asked someone to write some poems last night for today's use.

"Your Majesty~~" Consort Zhou squeezed in with a wronged expression. Fortunately, Qin Keqing was still on Chu Yan's lap, otherwise she would have been hanging on Chu Yan.

"okay."

Chu Yan said, "Those of you who can't compose poetry can join in if you want. But today I'm accompanying the ladies' poetry club to compose poems. You can just listen in and get some of their poetic inspiration so you won't be vulgar and boring."

Wang Xifeng glared at him: "Your Majesty, are you... referring to me?"

She can't write poetry either!
Chu Yan laughed and said, "If I wasn't talking about you, could I be talking about Gong Cai? Fine, you can leave it at that. Hurry up and call your daughter over. Since all the girls are here today and it's a time for them to showcase their talents, let your daughter learn some poetry and prose, so she won't be led astray by you."

Although Wang Xifeng was full of complaints that the dog emperor was using her poetic talent to ridicule her, she also felt that his words made sense, so she hurriedly called Feng'er back and brought Qiaojie back.

Li Wan blushed and quickly said, "I'm not very good at writing poetry either."

Chu Yan laughed and said, "I seem to recall that you have a particularly good poem that goes, 'Slender green vines entwine the emerald tree.'"

Li Wan hurriedly stood up: "Your Majesty has some pastry on your lips, let me wipe it for you!"

Everyone laughed. Chu Yan pulled Li Wan over and wiped her mouth twice with her lips. When Daiyu saw this, she spat and said in a coquettish voice, "Eat your snacks properly. Everyone in the room is watching."

Chu Yan then smiled and released Li Wan, whose face was flushed from being teased.

Qin Keqing looked at Daiyu with a smile. Miss Lin was becoming more and more like an empress. If her sister didn't come to the capital soon, she might lose her position as empress.

Thinking of this, Qin Keqing said softly, "Today, all the concubines of the harem are gathered together again, which reminds me of the hot summer days when we also gathered together to swim in the pond. Back then, one person was missing, and now one person is still missing." Just then, Feng'er led Qiao Jie in, and ten of the twelve beauties were present.

Chu Yan nodded and said, "It is missing Miaoyu."

Everyone looked over, knowing that the Emperor was interested in the nuns practicing Buddhism with their hair still intact at the Longcui Nunnery, but they were not surprised.

Qin Keqing quickly shook his neck and said, "Your Majesty, I wasn't talking about the Twelve Beauties!"

Upon hearing this, Daiyu immediately became suspicious: Why bring up the hairpin for no reason?
Did Consort Li know who the Twelve Beauties were?
She looked at Sister Bao and saw that she also seemed to have doubts.

Chu Yan, who was being shaken by Ke Qing, laughed and said, "If it's not missing Miao Yu, then who is missing? If we add Miao Yu, then the Twelve Beauties will be complete."

Upon hearing this, Xiangyun couldn't help but laugh and said, "What is the Emperor brother keeping secret from Consort Li? I counted, and there are more than twelve concubines from Jinling in the harem."

"The Twelve Beauties of Jinling?"

Empress Zhang looked around thoughtfully.

The Jia, Wang, Shi, and Xue families were all from Jinling, and there were indeed more than twelve of them.

Wang Xifeng sat in a chair, holding Qiaojie in her arms, and said with a smile, "This naming of the Twelve Beauties, which one of those surnamed Leng came from? He's so audacious, I wonder if he included me in it too!"

Qiaojie asked curiously, "If Mother is one of the Twelve Beauties of Jinling, then am I also one of them?"

Sister Feng gently slapped her cheek and scolded her in a low voice, "This is no good thing, we won't fight over it!"

Qiaojie nodded obediently, her bright black eyes gazing at Sister Qin, who was sitting on Uncle Emperor's lap.

"It's Consort Xie!"

Qin Keqing finally revealed her purpose, and everyone looked at her. They had long suspected that Consort Xie was the one in question.

Chu Yan asked, "What happened to Consort Xie?"

"Your Majesty~!" Qin Keqing said coquettishly.

Chu Yan laughed and said, "Very well, I will write a letter to her. Between you and Miss Lin, who will write the letter on my behalf?"

Qin Keqing and Daiyu exchanged a glance; the former smiled, while the latter looked puzzled.

Keqing smiled and said, "Please have Miss Lin do it for me."

Daiyu remained silent. After Yuanyang brought her paper and pen, she picked up the pen and looked over.

Chu Yan thought for a while and said, "Lin Meimei, just write: Sister, I hope you find this letter helpful."

Upon hearing this, Daiyu threw down her pen and refused, saying, "I cannot write such a disjointed article. His Majesty is a man of great wisdom and must have already made his own deductions. Please ask Sister Qin to do it for me!"

Chu Yan smiled and coaxed her, "At least write a few lines for me, and have Ke'er write the rest."

Helpless, Daiyu had no choice but to pick up her pen again and write a few lines as he had instructed:

"Sister, I hope you will remember this letter. Jiangzhu bows deeply."

"Beyond the heavens of sorrow, amidst the sea of ​​grief, since our parting, I know not how many seasons have passed in this mortal realm."

As she was writing, Daiyu threw down her pen again, annoyed, and said, "What kind of place is this? It's either the Heaven of Separation and the Sea, you've really become a god! You're just spouting nonsense about gods and ghosts."

Chu Yan laughed heartily, and Ke Qing also covered her mouth and laughed. She got up and went over to take the letter written by Daiyu and put it on the low table. She then wrote some more words and covered them with her hand so that no one else could see them.

After writing it, she quickly folded the letter and handed it to Yuanyang, saying, "Send the letter after the New Year and give it to Consort Xie of Jinling."

Yuanyang looked at the Emperor, and only after seeing Chu Yan nod did she accept the letter.

Xiangyun laughed and said, "It's getting even stranger!"

Baoqin nodded and said, "So Sister Lin is the Crimson Pearl Fairy!"

Everyone laughed, but seeing that Chu Yan, Daiyu, and Keqing remained silent, they let it go.

Keqing smiled and said, "Let's not talk about these things. Let's go to the garden and have a good stroll!"

As she spoke, she came over and took Daiyu's hand, smiling, "I'm having a good stroll through the garden with Sister Jiangzhu today~"

Daiyu asked, "What did Consort Li call me?"

Ke Qing quickly corrected herself: "It's Lin Daiyu~"

Daiyu turned to Wang Xifeng and smiled, "Sister Feng, come and see her! She looks more and more like Consort Xie, doesn't she?"

Just now, Qin Keqing acted strangely, indeed behaving like Consort Xie.

Sister Feng laughed and said, "She looks like Consort Xie, so wouldn't she be Consort Xie's sister?"

Many people had questions, but dared not ask. Qin Keqing smiled and said, "You will all know next March, or perhaps February. Alright, alright, I've said too much today. I'll punish myself with three cups at the banquet later. Please forgive me, Your Majesty."

Chu Yan said calmly, "When Consort Xie comes next year, I will punish you and her together. Let's not talk about this today. Let's go for a stroll together."

Hearing this, everyone had no choice but to put aside their doubts and go out together.

Chu Yan strolled with them through the Grand View Garden. The sky was clear and cloudless, the sun hung low in the sky, and the weather was much warmer. Baochai took off her cloak, stepped forward, and took Chu Yan's arm.

Many people looked over, their faces filled with surprise and doubt: When did Miss Bao become so bold?

Chu Yan didn't restrain them. After they went out, he told them not to follow him rigidly and to move around freely. When he saw Baochai approaching, he took her soft hand and chatted with her.

Since they wanted to tour the garden and visit the Longcui Nunnery, the group first went to Hengwu Garden, then walked around Xiaocui Hall, Ouxiang Pavilion, and Ziling Island. Passing by Xiaoxiang Pavilion, Chu Yan naturally walked in.

Daiyu returned home and entertained them.

After sitting in Xiaoxiang Pavilion for a while, they walked eastward. When they passed Yihong Courtyard, perhaps worried that Jia Baoyu would be mentioned again, Fengjie, who was leading the group, deliberately pulled her daughter and walked quickly. She then called the group to cross the White Stone Bridge and head towards Longcui Nunnery.

Chu Yan spotted a slender figure standing at the foot of the mountain gate, facing the wind. It was Miaoyu, the other person who was the highlight of the day.

The group went to greet them, and Miaoyu also came over, holding a whisk in her hand. She bowed to Chu Yan and his party, and although she had invited them into the Longcui Nunnery, her aloof and otherworldly face remained indifferent.

Chu Yan laughed and said, "Master Miaoyu, have you prepared your poems? Today we've come to see if those outsiders truly possess talent and learning, or if they're just arrogant and self-important."

Upon hearing this, Miaoyu sneered and said, "Your Majesty, please come inside and sit down. Whether you are truly talented or arrogant, Your Majesty is testing me today. I dare not disobey Your Majesty's decree and can only agree to everything in order to live up to Your Majesty's expectations!"

Chu Yan clapped his hands, praised, "Good!", and strolled into the Longcui Nunnery.

Daiyu, Baochai, Xiangyun, Tanchun, and others followed closely behind.

The concubines also went in to watch the excitement.

(End of this chapter)