The Red Mansion Big Liar

Lu Bing received the order and came to the palace gate, where he saw Zhang Yunyi helping Jia Yuanchun get into the carriage, and then he got inside without any hesitation.

He nodded hurriedly to the two groups of Jinyiwei who were pretending to be civilians and accompanying him outside the palace, then jumped on his horse and fell far behind the carriage.

Although Zhang Yun逸 came by carriage, since the emperor had Zhou Xiangui give the hint, he had no choice but to follow Yuanchun into the carriage.

Instead, he drove the maid Baoqin who followed Yuanchun into the palace, as well as several accompanying musicians, onto his carriage.

Seeing Yuanchun sitting by the window, he did not sit in the vacant seat, but sat face to face with Yuanchun in the window seat opposite.

Although the carriage was quite spacious, the two of them sitting face to face and close to each other inevitably felt a little ambiguous.

When Yuanchun saw him sitting down opposite her, she quickly put her legs together, slightly turned her body, and quietly moved her legs to the side.

Her figure was already well-proportioned, and this sideways movement gave Zhang Yunyi a perfect observation angle.

She stood tall and straight, sitting upright, showing off her exquisite figure to the fullest.

The carriage started moving, and Yuanchun swayed her body involuntarily, as if a fruit tree with fruits hanging on it was dancing in the wind.

Zhang Yun逸 couldn't help but tremble with fear, worrying that the ripe fruits would not be able to bear the weight.

……

(End of this chapter)

Chapter 347 Bait

"Whose frame is this? Why is it so grand?"

"You don't know yet, do you? This is Master Zhang from Tiangongyuan, coming to take the eldest daughter of Rongguo Mansion home!"

"Ah? The eldest daughter of Rongguo Mansion? Isn't that..."

"Hush! How can you believe all the rumors? Don't you think about it? The emperor's words are golden. If it is true, why would he let the Duke take her out of the palace..."

"Yes, yes, yes! I heard that the villa built by Rongguo Mansion also occupied the land of Ningguo Mansion. I'm afraid that it was just a rumor before. Now it seems more like the truth!"

I have to say that the emperor is quite good at creating momentum.

Zhang Yun逸, who knew the inside story, was not surprised, but it did make life difficult for Jia Yuanchun, who was traveling with him.

They were already riding in the same car, and in front of Zhang Yunyi, he heard so much gossip about the matchmaking. He felt uneasy and couldn't help but secretly raise his eyes to look at Zhang Yunyi who was sitting opposite him.

I saw him in a well-tailored dragon robe with arrow sleeves, and a handsome and upright face. He looked radiant and awe-inspiring, with a sense of majesty without even being angry. I couldn't help but feel my heart beating fast.

Originally, she was already an older single woman, and faced with the royal family's breaking off of her engagement. She was already disheartened and no longer dared to have any hope for the rest of her life.

The original plan was to leave the palace and go home to worship the Buddha, eat vegetarian food and chant Buddhist scriptures.

Unexpectedly, there was a sudden turn of events.

Although she was not clear about the emperor's intentions and arrangements, the fact that Zhou Xiangui, as the emperor's personal eunuch, dared to let Zhang Yunyi take her back to the mansion and insisted on riding in the same car with her, had already explained a lot of problems.

However, while igniting hope, it is inevitable to have some concerns about gains and losses.

The palace and the outside world are completely different. Outside the palace, people pay attention to family background and official position, while in the palace, people only care about the emperor's favor.

Yuanchun had been in the palace for a long time, so naturally she had a lot of feelings about this.

Although she had never seen the emperor's attitude towards Zhang Yun逸, she could see it from Zhou Xiangui's attitude.

Although the family once had two dukes in two countries, they were ultimately just enjoying the benefits left by their ancestors. Otherwise, they would not be at a loss when it comes to marriage.

Zhang Yun逸 was granted a title at a young age and was extremely favored by the emperor.

If it weren't for his ambiguous attitude in the palace, and if Zhang Yunyi hadn't stopped the gossip now, she wouldn't have felt any ripples in her heart.

Just as he was daydreaming, Zhang Yunyi suddenly broke the silence: "Although there is still more than half a year before the Wanshou Festival, this play has been created from scratch. I am not good at it, and I can't spare the time. Since Sister Yuanchun is the music director in the palace, she must be well versed in opera. You can help review it later."

"Yes!" Yuanchun bowed quickly and said, "I haven't thanked Brother Yi for pleading with the Emperor to let me go home as soon as possible. As long as Brother Yi doesn't think I'm causing trouble, that's all!"

Zhang Yunyi entrusted her with such an important matter as celebrating the emperor's birthday, and Yuanchun couldn't help but feel ripples in her heart.

Although it was just a few words, she seemed to have used up all her strength.

"Sister Yuanchun is smart and kind, I couldn't ask for more. How could I dislike her?"

Hearing Zhang Yunyi's pun, Yuanchun couldn't help but feel uneasy. There were still discussions floating in from time to time outside the window. She twisted her waist uncomfortably and quickly changed the subject: "I have heard of this play before. Could it be a new piece of music?"

Although he was acting on orders, it was a secret order after all. In addition, he was also aiming to take all the blame. Some things could only be done behind the scenes and could not be put on the table.

So, after teasing Yuanchun a little, he stopped and said with a smile: "This play was originally a story I told to my sisters to entertain them. I plan to adapt it a little and put it on the stage to show the emperor something new."

Yuanchun looked a little sad when she heard this, and murmured, "Is everything okay at home?"

It was not convenient for her to ask in the palace, and she was distracted after getting in the car. Only when she heard him mention his sisters did she remember to ask.

"Everything is fine! My sister will know when she gets home."

Whether it is good or not depends on the angle from which you look at it. With his occasional watering, the Rong Mansion is indeed full of vitality.

"I haven't been home for so many years. I'm so shy. I'm sorry to have embarrassed you, Brother Yi!"

Yuanchun felt embarrassed for only now remembering to ask about her family, so she said, "I didn't expect Brother Yi to be able to write a storybook."

"That's not the case! Although I wrote the story, the adaptation was done by all of you sisters. My sisters and I even opened a bookstore..."

Zhang Yunyi told the story of opening Zhiyanzhai and publishing the book White Snake in general, and Fang laughed and said, "It's just a pastime for my own amusement!"

Although he spoke calmly, Yuanchun felt mixed emotions.

Once you enter the palace, it is like entering a deep sea. Although the palace has no shortage of fine clothes and delicious food, it is a mental torture.

Not only do I have no relatives or friends to turn to, I don't even have anyone to talk to. I have to be careful in everything I do to avoid making a mistake that will cause me no recovery.

Now, hearing that my sisters are in the mansion, not only are they accompanied by their relatives, but they also have such entertainment, I can't help but feel a little sentimental.

Although she had been away from home for seven or eight years, she knew that her younger sisters, although freer than herself at home, still had to abide by the rules.

I never expected that I could actually set up a bookstore and turn the adapted story into a book.

His family would definitely not condone this, considering that he was the one who made up the story to entertain his sisters and he also contributed to the finances, so it was clear to them that it was all his fault.

Before, when she heard Zhang Yunyi telling stories to her sisters, she felt a little lost, and now, this feeling has become even more severe.

She was just complaining to herself when she heard Zhang Yunyi say, "It's just right that my sister is back. Zhiyanzhai will have another capable general."

"Me?" Yuanchun raised her head and said bewilderedly.

"Why? Could it be that Sister Yuanchun doesn't want to participate?"

"No, no, no!" Yuanchun explained hastily, "I didn't contribute anything, I'm just afraid..."

"It's okay! This was originally meant for the sisters to entertain themselves. When I founded Zhiyanzhai, I also agreed with everyone that I would pay and the sisters would do the work. Although Sister Yuanchun was unable to participate in the adaptation of the Legend of the White Snake, the subsequent stories will not be left behind."

At this point, he paused and continued, "However, right now, my main focus is to put the play of Tang Bohu and Qiuxiang on stage, and I'm afraid I don't have the time to adapt other stories for the time being."

Although he didn't know what Yuanchun had been like in the palace over the years, he had watched a lot of palace dramas like this in his previous life.

Although the palace maids and concubines in the play are scheming against each other, they always have hope.

But ever since Yuanchun entered the palace, Emperor Zhengqing devoted himself to practicing Taoism and had no chance to engage in intrigue.

The more you lack something, the more you desire it. She is just a girl in her teens or twenties, so why wouldn't she like to have fun?

This may not be very attractive to Baochai and Tanchun, but for Yuanchun, who has wasted many years in the deep palace and missed so many years of her youth, this temptation is irresistible.

However, there were not as many entertainment options in ancient times as there are today, and the girls from these wealthy families all had some elegant hobbies.

So, he deliberately brought up the matter of Zhi Yanzhai.

……

(End of this chapter)

Chapter 348 Returning Home

As they were talking, the carriage had already entered the Rongguo Mansion.

Zhang Yunyi was the first to lift the curtain and step out of the car.

Seeing the courtyard filled with people, with Lady Jia in tears standing in front of everyone, he couldn't help but pause.

He did not send anyone to Rong Mansion to report, which was obviously another arrangement by the emperor.

He had no choice but to bite the bullet and continue to lift the curtain in front of everyone, watching Yuanchun step out.

"Baoqin! Go and help the young lady get off the car!"

Mrs. Wang, who was standing behind Lady Jia, wiped away her tears and quickly spoke first.

Grandmother Jia also wiped away her tears, turned around and glared at her, then turned to look at the carriage with burning eyes.

The carriage bench had already been moved. Yuanchun stepped out of the carriage and, with the help of Baoqin, got off the carriage. She quickly came to Jia's mother, knelt on the ground, and said sadly, "Grandma! Your granddaughter is unfilial!"

This call of unfilial piety was so sincere that Jia's mother's tears seemed to break off, and she choked with sobs, "Quick! Get up quickly!"

Speaking of which, although Yuanchun is Lady Wang's biological daughter, in terms of affection, she is not as good as Lady Jia who has always raised her by her side.

Thinking of Yuanchun's rough experience, Jia's mother burst into tears: "It's all my fault. I made you suffer!"

"This is fate! My granddaughter will be satisfied as long as she can leave that place where people cannot see her."

"Yes! Yes!" Grandmother Jia wiped her tears and nodded repeatedly.

Seeing that Grandmother Jia was crying, Yuanchun hurried to comfort her: "My granddaughter has finally waited for her to go home. Why are you crying instead of talking and laughing?"

She then greeted Lady Wang, Jia She, Lady Xing, Aunt Xue and others, and then hesitated and said, "Father, why..."

Although she was in the deep palace and was involved in the matter, Yuanchun knew very little about her own marriage.

She even suspected that she had done something wrong, which led to the unexpected situation.

Since he didn't see Jia Zheng at this moment, he mistakenly thought that he didn't want to see him.

"Don't worry about him! Last month, the emperor transferred him out of the capital to take up the post of academic affairs. He couldn't wait for years, so he hurried to take up the post."

Grandmother Jia pulled Yuanchun up, held her hand, and said to Zhang Yunyi who had just got off the carriage: "Go and thank Brother Yi! Someone from the palace just said that it was thanks to him that the emperor let you come back early!"

"You are too kind, old lady!" Zhang Yunyi waved his hand and said, "I happened to be in the palace selecting musicians, and I heard that the eldest girl was working as a musician in the Shangyi Bureau, so I mentioned it."

In the palace and in the carriage, he didn't mind letting Yuanchun accept this affection, but in front of Yingchun and Tanchun, he needed to try his best to avoid arousing their suspicion.

As for Yuanchun, he had said these words in the palace before, and now reiterating them in front of Lady Jia gave people the impression that he was not taking credit for it.

Sure enough, after hearing these words, the doubt in Tanchun's eyes when she looked at him disappeared, and instead became even more passionate.

It was originally thought that Zhang Yun逸 would at least wait until the Wanshou Festival to explain to the emperor, but unexpectedly, before the play even started, he had already taken credit for Yuanchun's performance.

Li Wan, on the other hand, was no different. She thought that Zhang Yunyi had heard that Lady Wang and Yuanchun had arranged for her to live in the garden after returning home, so she couldn't wait to get her back.

But Jia's mother obviously didn't think so. She wiped her tears and smiled, "That's because you kept it in mind. It's worth it that her father entrusted the family to you before he left!"

Although Grandmother Jia did not know the emperor's intention, she heard the messages in the palace clearly.

Since Zhang Yunyi was willing to take the initiative to plead for Yuanchun and rode in the same car with her to send her back, she felt more confident.

Although Jia Zheng's words about asking his family for help were true, there was a lot of ambiguity in his words.

It is entirely possible to change the approach, even if her father was replaced by the second master, unnecessary misunderstandings could be avoided.

Yuanchun had followed Lady Jia since she was young, so she naturally knew that she would not say such ambiguous words for no reason.

Thinking of Zhang Yun逸's ambiguous attitude towards the rumors along the way, and his entrusting her with the program for the Wanshou Festival, she couldn't help but realize something.

She was already shy and timid, and was suddenly pushed from behind by Lady Jia, causing her to stagger.

After she steadied herself, she realized that he was very close to her. She bowed deeply in a panic and said in a trembling voice, "Thank you, Brother Yi!"

Zhang Yunyi could only pretend to be polite and said, "We are all family, Sister Yuanchun, please stop being polite!"

Lady Jia's words were already too obvious, and Yuanchun looked shy at this moment.

Even Yingchun, who was usually dull, noticed that something was wrong.

She looked at the two people surrounded in the middle and lowered her head in shame.

Even Yingchun could see the clues, so how could others not see it?

Aunt Xue and Baochai looked at each other, then turned to look at Mrs. Wang at the same time.

The last time Zhang Yunyi defended Aunt Zhao in public, they were a little worried, but now they suddenly realized the truth.

However, they were behind Mrs. Wang and did not see that her face looked as pale as death.