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

Chapter 289 The King of Chu's Foolish Words to Daiyu
On a snowy night, Chu Yan arrived at Xiaoxiang Pavilion.

Upon entering, the old woman guarding the door immediately bowed and exclaimed, "His Majesty has arrived!"

Daiyu immediately came out to greet him. Chu Yan strode along the corridor and saw the graceful Daiyu standing at the door. Upon seeing him, she smiled and said, "It's kind of you to come so late. Come in quickly, it's cold outside."

Chu Yan smiled, walked over and took her hand, noticing it was a little cold. He quickly led her inside and asked, "Why are your hands colder than mine?"

Zijuan smiled and said, "Miss, you waited in the room after you learned that His Majesty was coming. You were doing needlework, so your hands got cold. Come in quickly, I have prepared two hand warmers."

Daiyu smiled with pursed lips as Chu Yan pulled her into the warm pavilion. The two climbed onto the kang (a heated brick bed) together, and he covered her hands with his arms, their bodies pressed tightly together.

Her face quickly turned red, and she felt no more cold.

The two embraced tenderly for a moment, then Chu Yan handed Lin Daiyu a hand warmer, leaned back on the pillow, and asked with a smile, "What kind of needlework are you doing?"

Daiyu blushed slightly and said with a smile, "It's just an ordinary object. You don't usually care about women's affairs, so you wouldn't know even if I told you."

Chu Yan said, "Who spread this rumor? I just had Qingwen make an insole not long ago."

Daiyu smiled and said, "Sister Yun wanted to give you a purse, why didn't you take it?"

Chu Yan chuckled: "She used to work hard doing needlework at home, but I didn't want her to overwork herself, so I didn't ask her to. You shouldn't do it either; it's much better to relax and read books. Needlework is too much of a drain on your mind."

Daiyu gazed at him with her clear eyes for a while before sighing, "What girl doesn't do needlework? My mother started teaching me to use needles when I was three years old. After I came to my maternal grandmother's house, I often made handkerchiefs and purses and gave some to others, but I never gave any to you."

Chu Yan asked, "Did you give Jia Baoyu a purse?"

Daiyu blinked, looked at him for a while, then covered her mouth with her handkerchief and laughed. A moment later, she took the initiative to hug his neck: "Brother, why are you picking on my shortcomings again? How about I give you a purse tomorrow?"

He was jealous.

Chu Yan laughed and said, "Never mind, I was just joking. Having Lin Daiyu is better than having ten thousand purses."

Daiyu smiled and said, "I don't believe His Majesty's words."

Chu Yan changed his tune, saying, "Having Lin Daiyu is better than possessing an empire!"

Daiyu laughed again: "Stop saying such meaningless things. If this gets back to the ears of future historians, they'll write it down: 'In ancient times, King You of Zhou played with the feudal lords by lighting the beacon fires; now, the traitorous King of Chu has abandoned his kingdom with foolish words!'"

"The King of Thieves is bullying Lin Daiyu."

Chu Yan lowered his head and kissed Daiyu's cherry lips.

After a while, Daiyu gently pushed him away and said, "There's something on my mind that I want to tell you."

"what's up?"

Chu Yan held Daiyu's hand as he leaned against the kang (a heated brick bed) with his legs bent. Daiyu was also on the kang, her slender back resting against his legs. She was wearing the mink cloak that Chu Yan had just taken off, and she was holding a hand warmer, which she then handed to him.

Daiyu looked into his eyes and said, "Does His Majesty intend to make me Empress?"

Chu Yan laughed and said, "Why did you suddenly call me 'Thief King' instead of 'Your Majesty'?"

Daiyu said, "I respect you because I am talking about serious state affairs. The establishment of an empress is a matter of great importance to the country and must be handled with utmost care."

Chu Yan gently pinched her cheek, but this time Daiyu did not dodge.

"I've told you several times that I want to make Yu'er empress, why don't you believe me?"

As Chu Yan spoke, he pinched her other cheek. Lin Meimei's smooth and soft cheeks were as delicate as freshly peeled eggs.

Daiyu said, "The first time you told me about the empress, it wasn't decided yet; you were just asking me. The second time, you seemed more sincere. A few days ago, you had already decided most of it and were pushing me towards the empress's position."

Chu Yan looked at her, realizing that his thoughts could not be hidden from the clever Daiyu.

"But I always have some concerns in my heart, fearing that if you make a decision, you will be implicated in the future."

"You said."

Chu Yan said.

Daiyu looked at him and said, "Firstly, I'm not feeling well—"

“Lin Daiyu already said that last time!” Chu Yan interrupted her.

Daiyu quickly grabbed his hand and said, "It is precisely because it is so important that I have mentioned it again and again. The son born to the Empress should be the Crown Prince, but I..."

Two blushes appeared on her face.

Chu Yan laughed and said, "This is nothing. Even if Lin Daiyu has no children, the children born to the concubines in the harem can still be made crown princes. As the legal mother, the crown prince will still call you mother."

Daiyu's delicate face flushed crimson.

After a long pause, he continued, "Secondly, Consort Xie."

Chu Yan smiled and said, "This is still your old concern."

Daiyu said, "Although it's the same thing as before, there are more reasons than before." She looked at Chu Yan and asked, "What did Consort Qin say at Longcui Nunnery today? Who are she and Consort Xie? Tell me, and I will have no worries."

Chu Yan was speechless for a long time before saying, "Don't worry about Consort Xie and Ke Qing. They have nothing to do with me making you empress."

Daiyu took his hand and said, "I know your heart is sincere, and you should know mine. Even without the Empress's position, we are still close friends. Why let this disrupt the affairs of the country?"

Chu Yan laughed and said, "Sister Lin's words don't sound like the words of a poet, but rather like the words of a woman who has stopped weaving."

"What kind of divine or supernatural talk is this?"

When Daiyu asked, Chu Yan smiled but did not answer. Daiyu became annoyed and let go of his hand, but couldn't help but advise, "You are the emperor. If I don't consider your feelings, wouldn't I be betraying your affection for me?"

Chu Yan was deeply moved and embraced her, sighing, "How fortunate I am to have Lin Daiyu!"

Upon hearing this, Daiyu pushed him away with her slender hand and laughed, "You're talking about me again. You only know how to deceive and coax me. I still don't believe you!"

Chu Yan put his arm around her slender waist and lowered his head to touch her forehead.

Daiyu waited shyly, knowing he was about to say something embarrassing.

Chu Yan suddenly said, "I love you!"

Daiyu was taken aback, her delicate eyebrows furrowing. This was the first time she had ever heard such a thing. It was not uncommon for lovers to say embarrassing things to each other.

But this was the first time she had ever heard "I love you." Before, she had only read about it in books, using phrases like "love of mountains and rivers," "love of lotus," and "love to the point of being captivated." It was the first time a man had ever directly said "I love you" to a woman...

After a long while, Daiyu finally asked, "What is the meaning of the word 'love'?"

Chu Yan couldn't help but chuckle, teasingly saying, "With Lin Daiyu's talent, she doesn't even know the meaning of the word 'love'? I've managed to stump Yu'er this time!"

“Answer me!” Daiyu ignored his teasing and pressed on.

Chu Yan looked at her, smiled for a while, and then slowly said seriously, "Sister Lin is indeed sensitive, she knows that my words are different from others." He paused and said, "The word 'love' does not mean affection or pity, but rather extreme love, deep affection, and the desire to marry Sister Lin and spend the rest of one's life together until old age."

Daiyu's face burned with embarrassment. Only then did she truly understand the sincerity he expressed in his ingenious words, "I love you."

His internal organs felt as if they were burning. Daiyu took the initiative to cup his face and said to him, "In your words, as you said, I will return your true feelings: I love you too!"

Chu Yan suddenly felt his bones lighten, his heart surging with uncontrollable excitement, and he couldn't help but kiss Daiyu.

This kiss was exceptionally long.

When Ziju heard the noise, she peeked through the curtain and was immediately embarrassed. The young lady was in such a state...

Zijuan was worried that the girl would catch a cold.

Fortunately, after a short while, His Majesty placed the girl on the kang (a heated brick bed) and covered the two of them with blankets.

Zijuan was relieved. His Majesty now remembered that the young lady was frail and couldn't withstand the cold. After a while, Daiyu gradually came to her senses. Her soft voice stopped, her face still flushed, and she nestled in his arms to rest.

Chu Yan propped his head up with his hand, playing with Lin Daiyu's black hair with his other hand, and said with a smile, "Yu'er is like a delicate flower. I really don't know how I should pamper Yu'er when I marry you!"

This is a genuinely lewd statement.

If it were half a year ago, Daiyu would have blushed with embarrassment and anger upon hearing these words.

But now that the two are in love and are practically engaged, Chu Yan's flirting with her is perfectly legitimate—he is her husband.

Chu Yan had assumed that Lin Daiyu would be too shy to answer, but to his surprise, he suddenly heard her soft voice in his arms, trembling as she asked, "What was your wedding night like?"

Chu Yan's heart skipped a beat.

Lin Daiyu, nestled in his arms, took the initiative to ask about their wedding night. How could anyone not be moved?
He lowered his head and kissed Daiyu's blushing cheek, then chuckled softly, "That's how it is. It's always been this way since ancient times. When a man and woman become husband and wife, they perform a grand ceremony."

Daiyu said shyly and reproachfully, "You slept with several concubines in one night, while I only had one..."

Chu Yan couldn't help but chuckle: "Yu'er, don't worry, I have a plan for that time."

Daiyu stopped talking about it. After a while, she sat up, picked up a small mirror, and tidied her clothes and makeup on the kang (a heated brick bed). She then asked Chu Yan, who was lying down and watching her, with a smile, "It's getting late. Are you going to sleep here with me tonight?"

Chu Yan said, "If Sister Lin doesn't send me away, I'll stay and warm her bed."

"Bah! What nonsense are you spouting? As an emperor, aren't you ashamed?"

Daiyu lightly spat at him, then turned and called out to the outside, "Zijuan, Xueyan."

"Does the young lady have any instructions for us?" The two entered together.

Daiyu smiled and said, "His Majesty is staying overnight tonight. Go and tell the eunuchs to bring hot water and prepare the things His Majesty needs to wash his feet. You should also go and take a good bath."

Zijuan was stunned for a moment.

The first part was fine, but the last part was asking her and Xueyan to wash themselves tonight?
In the freezing winter, they usually only use hot towels to wipe their bodies and soak their feet. They only take a bath and wash their hair in the afternoon when the weather is nice.

But tonight...

Zijuan blushed. She thought of the Second Miss, Miss Yun, and others who were favored by the Emperor. Siqi, Cuilu, and others were also favored by the Emperor and stayed in the Emperor's room the next day, receiving rewards along with the other girls.

Is it the girl's turn to be favored tonight?
……

Since it was just a matter of washing their bodies, Chu Yan and Daiyu finished quickly and then went back to the warm pavilion to soak their feet.

After glancing at him, Daiyu blushed slightly and took off her socks in front of Chu Yan, revealing her delicate, jade-like white feet.

Chu Yan had no particular fondness for women's feet, but at first glance, he was captivated by Daiyu's pair of jade-like feet, and couldn't help but stare at them for a while longer, until Daiyu's feet were soaking in the water. She asked shyly and angrily, "What is Your Majesty looking at?"

Chu Yancai snapped out of his daze.

He nodded as if it were the most natural thing in the world, still gazing at the pair of delicate, jade-like feet that were faintly visible in the hot water, and said with a smile, "I think Lin Daiyu's feet are truly beautiful."

Daiyu blushed instantly, covered the silver basin with a towel, and pulled down her rolled-up trousers to cover her jade-like calves. With a flushed face, she whispered, "What a lustful and foolish emperor... You can't bully me tonight."

Chu Yan laughed and said, "How could I bully Yu'er? I love Yu'er too much to ask. How about I wipe Yu'er's feet later?"

"Thank you for your kindness, but there's no need. You're deliberately trying to bully me."

Daiyu shyly covered half of her face with a handkerchief.

But after some coaxing from Chu Yan, she blushed and agreed.

Daiyu turned her head away, refusing to look at this shameful scene.

After a long pause, Chu Yan sighed, "Even the best tribute in the world is not as good as what I have in my hands right now."

Daiyu said, "Don't speak!"

Chu Yan smiled. Although he was reluctant to leave her feet, he also couldn't bear to see Lin Daiyu cold. Under the watchful eyes of Zijuan and Xueyan, he picked up a dry towel and carefully wiped her feet.

Daiyu was tickled, laughed a few times, and then stopped moving.

Zijuan hurriedly fetched socks for the girl to put on, and when she looked up again, the girl's face was already flushed.

Xueyan, standing to the side, also blushed with embarrassment.

Even the most foolish person could see that His Majesty and the young lady were just flirting, since a girl's feet shouldn't be shown to others easily, only her husband could.

Take a good rest.

Daiyu then called Zijuan and Xueyan in and said to them, "Go and warm the bed. I will go to bed with His Majesty later."

Zijuan laughed. Seeing the girl's shy expression, she quickly pulled Xueyan out to prepare a hot water bottle to warm the bed before the two of them lay down.

Shortly after.

Daiyu and Chu Yan entered the room.

"Miss, the bed is too hot." Zijuan was about to get up, but Daiyu stopped her: "You two sleep over there."

Zijuan and Xueyan were already arranged to accompany her to her husband's home as part of her dowry, so Daiyu did not need to avoid them when she was serving the emperor.

Chu Yan carried Daiyu to bed, and Xueyan got up and whispered, "Miss's bed is too small, it can't fit four people. I'd better go back to sleep."

Chu Yan asked, "Is your bed cold? I'm sorry to have troubled you."

Xueyan hurriedly replied, "The hot water bottle is still warm, it will warm up in a little while. Thank you for your concern, Your Majesty."

Chu Yan nodded and let her leave.

Daiyu lay down and slept inside, wrapped in a red silk quilt, still separate from Chu Yan.

Chu Yan slept in the middle, with Daiyu on his left and Zijuan on his right. The three of them were close together, barely able to sleep.

Chu Yan asked with a smile, "Does Zijuan sleep well at night?"

"Your Majesty, don't worry, I won't fall," Zijuan said shyly.

"That's good."

Chu Yan felt incredibly comfortable at this moment. Although he wasn't sharing a blanket with Daiyu, he could see her with just a turn of his head and clearly hear her soft breathing.

The cold wind howled outside, but he lay down on the bed with Daiyu and Zijuan.

After a long pause, he asked softly, "Is Yu'er asleep?"

"Is there something else you need?" Daiyu asked with a smile, opening her eyes.

Chu Yan chuckled, leaned in and kissed her twice. Daiyu closed her eyes and returned his kisses twice, whispering, "Go to sleep quickly. I'll go to Yangxin Hall with you again tomorrow."

Chu Yan smiled, turned his head and leaned close to Zijuan's face, kissing her a few times and lightly pecking her lips twice.

Zijuan was quite embarrassed. Daiyu also saw this scene and laughed, "It's one thing for you to bully me, but you also come to bully my Zijuan."

Chu Yan reached out and stroked Daiyu's face, "I wish I could continue to bully Yu'er."

Daiyu quickly rolled over to avoid him, and seeing that he didn't continue, she smiled and lay down flat.

She gradually fell asleep.

(End of this chapter)