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

Chapter 57: Twenty Years of Distinguishing Right from Wrong: The Blooming Pomegranate Flowers Illuminate the Palace
Jia Yuanchun stood in front of the gate of Linjing Palace, watching her brother Lian walk down the stairs and out of the palace step by step until he disappeared through the door on the west side of Taihe Palace, and her figure completely disappeared.

"I don't know when we'll meet again after this departure."

"I can still see my brother Lian today, but Baoyu will never see him again..."

Jia Yuanchun reluctantly withdrew her gaze and ordered the palace maid to bring a mirror. She adjusted her appearance in front of the mirror before entering the Linjing Hall again.

Inside the palace, the tall and muscular Prince Qian, a stark contrast to the former Shun Dynasty emperor, summoned yet another person. Jia Yuanchun had no choice but to wait in the west room of the palace. After about half an hour, Xia Shouzhong finally arrived to announce, "Your Majesty, the King has summoned you."

Jia Yuanchun left the room and entered the main hall. Just as she was about to bow down to express her gratitude and take her leave, Prince Qian said, "No thanks."

Jia Yuanchun lowered her eyebrows and said respectfully in a clear voice:

"I have finished my conversation with Jia Lian and would like to thank the king for his grace."

After a pause, seeing that Prince Qian did not speak, she continued, "I bid you farewell, Your Majesty, and wish to return to the palace."

Prince Qian, who was sitting on a rosewood throne with dragon carvings, seemed to look up at her a few times. Yuanchun did not dare to look him in the eye. Before this, she seldom looked directly at her husband, the emperor. She always kept her brows lowered and only raised her head slightly when answering the emperor. However, she did not dare to look her husband in the eye.

Now she has a new...husband, and the same thing happens.

Prince Qian smiled and said, "You seem very reserved?"

Yuanchun was flustered and quickly replied, "I am intimidated by Your Majesty's majesty...that's why I'm frightened." After thinking carefully, she realized that this statement was not quite right. She continued, "Your Majesty has inherited the Mandate of Heaven, soaring high above the Haoliang River. From a commoner, you have achieved imperial success. I have lived in the deep palace for a long time and have never met a great master. Therefore, I have both respect and fear for Your Majesty. I hope Your Majesty will forgive me."

King Qian laughed, "That's true. I've been on the battlefield for many years, and there's too much evil energy in me... Well, you can go back."

Yuanchun breathed a sigh of relief, bowed, and retreated gracefully.

After leaving Linjing Hall, a passing minister glanced at her from afar. Yuanchun covered her face with her sleeves and walked away quickly. The palace maids and eunuchs who came with her came to greet her, and they returned to the harem together from Qianqing Gate.

As soon as I returned to Changchun Palace, a eunuch came to report on the affairs of the palace.

The relocation of concubines to the Eastern Palace has been basically completed, but there are still many miscellaneous matters in the palace, and Prince Qian has not designated anyone to manage the harem, so everyone in the palace pushed her and Queen Zhang out. Some people took her as the leader, and some people still respected Queen Zhang.

"Going out of the palace to buy things?"

Jia Yuanchun frowned slightly and asked the eunuch in charge, "Have you asked the Empress?"

The eunuch hurriedly replied, "I haven't asked yet. I thought the king wanted you, the queen, to take charge of the harem!"

Jia Yuanchun was well aware of the stakes involved and did not dare to make her own decision. She stood up and said, "Come with me to see the Empress."

The eunuchs and palace maids around, such as Baoqin, Zhaorong and Caipin in the palace, all looked a little disappointed. It was a pity that Concubine Yuan did not take advantage of the time when Empress Zhang was not serving Prince Qian to compete for his favor in front of him.

Otherwise, with the Empress's beauty, how could it be the turn of Concubine Wu and Noble Lady Zhou?

Everyone followed Jia Yuanchun to Kunning Palace. Now that she had a high status, she had more people following her than when she was the virtuous concubine. All the palace maids and eunuchs they met along the way kept silent and retreated.

Moreover, when Concubine Yuan entered Kunning Palace, the eunuchs sang loudly: "The Virtuous Concubine has arrived!!"

Her status was almost the same as that of Empress Zhang.

When Jia Yuanchun entered Kunning Palace, Empress Zhang and Princess Qinghe, who were sitting there, stood up to show their respect for her. However, Concubine Zhou, who was a guest for unknown reasons, remained sitting there.

"Please take a seat, Your Majesty. How dare I ask Your Majesty to greet me?" Jia Yuanchun said hurriedly.

Empress Zhang still looked dignified and bright, with a calm expression, as if she had emerged from the changes of dynasties. She smiled and said, "Before Prince Qian spoke, you, Concubine Jia, were the 'empress' who ruled over the six palaces. Qinghe and I were just remnants of the previous dynasty."

"Tsk." Concubine Zhou laughed and said to Jia Yuanchun, "Don't worry about her, Concubine Yuan. I've seen through her for a long time. She seems to be sitting in Kunning Palace as stable as a rock, but in fact she is worried that you will really take her position as Queen!"

Empress Zhang glanced at her coldly.

Princess Qinghe remained silent. In the past, when the emperor's sister-in-law was the legitimate queen, how could Concubine Zhou have the right to provoke her? Concubine Zhou was arrogant because of her favor, but she didn't dare to say such words in front of the queen!

Now that the harem is without a master, it's like a riot of demons!

If it weren't for Prince Qian's personal guards guarding the imperial palace, the six palaces would be in chaos.

"Noble Lady Zhou is worrying too much." Empress Zhang sat down again, still indifferent.

Concubine Zhou smiled and said, "Don't misunderstand my good intentions, Empress. You all know the current situation. If you serve the king as soon as possible, you will be able to rest assured and the king will be happy." Then she smiled charmingly and said, "I came here this time to ask the Empress, and by the way, Concubine Yuan, to serve the king on behalf of Concubine Wu and me tonight!"

"what?"

Empress Zhang was surprised, and Jia Yuanchun blushed as well, drinking tea in silence.

Although Qinghe was not very knowledgeable about human affairs, he knew that all the concubines in the palace were proud to sleep with the emperor. The more they slept with the emperor, the more favor they would receive.

Why did Concubine Zhou come all the way here today to give up the chance to sleep with me?
Concubine Zhou blushed as well. She glanced at Qinghe, knowing that she would also sleep with Prince Qian in the future, so she whispered, "The earlier rumors are true. Prince Qian possesses immense powers. Not only is he incredibly brave on the battlefield, but even in sex, he's… overwhelmed by us."

After talking about it, she felt embarrassed.

Four of them couldn't beat one, and they couldn't last more than three nights.

After hearing this, Jia Yuanchun felt both ashamed and afraid, and felt quite uneasy.

In the future...she will also sleep with Prince Qian.

Now, after hearing Concubine Zhou's vicious words, she found it hard to accept.

"Hehehe."

Empress Zhang let out a laugh that sounded like mockery and shame, and turned around to ask Qinghe to go back, but then she remembered that Qinghe would also marry Prince Qian in the future.

Prince Qian was tall and strong, and had so much energy. How could the gentle and beautiful princess who grew up in the deep palace afford it?

Even, she...

"absurd."

Empress Zhang sat upright on her chair, expressionless as she spoke, "I am the Empress of Shun Dynasty. Although I am now a captive of Prince Qian, I am forced into this position by him. You want me to serve you voluntarily? Are you trying to humiliate me?"

Several palace maids and eunuchs once again felt the queen's power, but there was nothing they could do because she was no longer the queen.

Concubine Zhou laughed and said, "Why are you so angry for no reason? You're the Empress of the Shun Dynasty, and you won't be the Empress of the Xin Dynasty in the future. And you value your life... I advise you to think about it more. You still want Prince Qian to come to your Kunning Palace on his own initiative? You might move out at any time and let the Empress of the Xin Dynasty live there. What will you do then?"

After saying that, she left on her own. She didn't ask Jia Yuanchun. This virtuous concubine was too boring. Even if she was beautiful, it would be difficult for her to serve the emperor well.

Qinghe hurriedly said: "There are still young concubines in the palace..."

When she said this, her pretty face was filled with shame.

Those concubines were originally her royal brother's concubines.

Concubine Zhou turned around, glanced at Qinghe, and said with a helpless smile, "Princess, you are still unmarried and don't know anything. While you are still young and innocent, you should learn some tricks to win the king's favor, so that you won't be alone in the cold palace complaining with no one to care for you in the future."

She said that and left.

Jia Yuanchun suddenly realized that Concubine Zhou was not a bad person...

"What is the purpose of the Princess coming to see me?"

After the obstructing person left, Empress Zhang asked her about the real matter. After she learned the truth, she smiled and said, "That's easy. You can ask people to go out of the palace to make purchases according to the old rules. When you need to open the inner treasury to withdraw silver, calculate the required amount and report it to Prince Qian."

Jia Yuanchun understood immediately. There was no need to bother Prince Qian with such trivial matters. She could just gather all the matters together and report them to him.

After thanking her, Yuanchun followed the order and left.

She sat here for a while, chatting with her aunt and sister-in-law, before saying goodbye and leaving.

After returning to Changchun Palace and having some free time, he couldn't help but think about things at home. Baoyu, his father, and his uncle were about to be expelled from the Jia family and serve labor service in the capital.

Baoyu has been spoiled since he was young. Can he wait until King Qian shows mercy and lets him return to being a commoner?
She was filled with worry and before she knew it, it was evening. Just as Yuanchun was about to have dinner, she heard a eunuch outside shout, "Prince Qian has arrived!"

"Ah, Your Majesty..."

Yuanchun hurriedly ordered people to go out to welcome him, but before she, Baoqin, and the eunuchs and maids in the palace could form a welcoming team, the tall figure of Prince Qian appeared in front of her.

(End of this chapter)