Red Mansion and Crimson Pearl

Chapter 131: 1 Spring Meal, 6 Scrolls

On the Buddha's birthday, at the Da Ci'en Temple, for the first time, the Supreme Lord and the Empress Dowager both offered sutras. The two sutras were naturally placed in the most prominent position on the altar, and were guarded by a special person. After the ceremony, they were sent to the Sutra Library.

Su Hong, the head nanny of Kunning Palace, naturally went there as well. Not only did she offer the scriptures written by the Empress herself, she also announced that she would donate 100 sets of Buddhist seven-treasure bracelets to the monks of Da Ci'en Temple.

When Emperor Zhaoming heard about it, he immediately sent Tao Xingjian to intercept all the bracelets, dismantle them, and notify the inner treasury to exchange them for copper coins, which were then distributed to the poor people who went to the Da Ci'en Temple to attend the Dharma Assembly in the name of the Empress Dowager and the Empress.

The Queen cried when she heard this. She calmed down only after she found out that the sutras offered by the Grand Historian and the Queen Mother were copied by Lin Daiyu, and that Prince Beijing's request for marriage was unsuccessful.

However, then she heard that Concubine Jia had gone to Taiji Palace several times. She sneered and immediately ordered Su Hong to admonish her, "Chastity is the most important thing for a woman. Don't walk around all the time."

As luck would have it, Emperor Zhaoming had finally had some free time and was strolling around the palace. He happened to see her, and thinking of the Queen's "generous move" on Buddha's birthday, he immediately turned hostile and ordered his accompanying guards to slap Su Hong hard on the face.

Although he only slapped her twice, he knocked out four of Su Ma's teeth.

Empress Wan thought that Emperor Zhaoming was protecting Concubine Jia, and was so angry that she "fell ill" that night, saying that she had a headache, heart pain, and pain in her limbs.

The Crown Princess secretly groaned and had to rush over to express her willingness to attend to the patient.

Unexpectedly, just as she entered Kunning Palace, Emperor Zhaoming arrived with a large group of concubines in the palace.

First, he drove the Crown Princess back to the East Palace. Then he ordered all the concubines to stay behind: "As long as the Queen doesn't recover, you will stay in Kunning Palace and serve me closely!"

It was not Empress Wan's original intention to writhe and cry in front of all the ladies in the inner court and pretend to be sick. She took the medicine prescribed by the imperial physician that night and recovered the next morning, and all the concubines were dismissed.

As the news spread quietly, Concubine Xian De's Fengzao Palace welcomed a second wave of enthusiastic people.

Empress Wan and Jia Yuanchun each had their own troubles, and they were once again annoyed with each other.

As for Emperor Zhaoming himself, he took advantage of the fact that their attention was focused on each other and quietly left the palace and wandered around for several days.

Finally, Tao Xingjian was not willing to accompany him any longer, so he asked for leave: "You can just take the guards with you incognito. I want to go see Sister Lin."

It’s April, and the beauty of the world is about to fade.

Emperor Zhaoming thought about it and said that he would go to eat together: "Ask Xiao Luzi to bring those scrolls."

Tao Xingjian had no choice but to agree.

That evening, Emperor Zhaoming took Tao Xingjian, Lu Changqing and his personal guard Zang Ao and quietly went to the Lin Mansion.

He didn't feel anything when he entered the house. But after he passed the second door, Emperor Zhaoming couldn't help but be surprised: "Is this, renovated?"

Qingwen, who was leading the way, smiled and replied, "Yes. Miss, you went to Bodhi Temple to copy scriptures because you had already discussed with the third lady about renovating the garden."

Emperor Zhaoming sighed with emotion as he watched, and said in amazement: "The stone pattern has been restored to its original appearance, but the flowers and trees are even better. You girls have good taste."

"The person who helped is the one who looks after the flowers and trees in the Grand View Garden from the Rong Mansion. He is a man from the Jia family and he works very hard.

"The girl liked it when she came back and asked him to plant some good ones in the front yard. She also promised to give it to him. If he really has good character, she will also give him the flowers and trees in the Tao Mansion in the future!"

Qingwen told the whole story to Emperor Zhaoming and Tao Xingjian.

Emperor Zhaoming laughed: "Your daughter is also a business person!"

Tao Xingjian was very proud, smiled and nodded repeatedly: "If it is all like this, then it would be great!

"Don't worry about it. Tell your daughter to replace those broken trees in our house!"

Qingwen smiled and knelt down: "Okay!"

Or go to the original courtyard. Emperor Zhaoming stopped when he entered the door, looked around, and looked at Qingwen with a frown: "Did your lady move?"

"Yes. The third lady said, how can the master not live in the main courtyard? So she let the girl live in the main courtyard. This place is used as the inner study."

Qingwen smiled naturally and calmly, "Miss, you still like it here. Usually you come here after breakfast and stay here for the whole day, and go back before dinner."

Emperor Zhaoming raised his eyebrows: "She is eating now?"

"Am I so unruly?" Before she finished speaking, Lin Daiyu stepped in, followed by Aunt Meng and a group of maids.

Emperor Zhaoming turned around to take a closer look and smiled: "It seems so. Has he grown a little taller?"

Lin Daiyu bowed with a smile: "The daughter of the Lin family greets you, may your Majesty live forever and be blessed with good health!"

Emperor Zhaoming smiled and nodded: "Get up. I brought Lao Tao and the other two here to have a meal. Come, serve the food first!"

Lin Daiyu pursed her lips and smiled: "I guessed it." She turned around and ordered, "Serve the food. Set up a table in the side room, invite Tao Jian and the others to come over, and let Aunt Meng and Zijuan and Xiaohong accompany them."

Emperor Zhaoming immediately looked at Daiyu with caution: "You are not allowed to stand by and watch me eat! I'm tired of eating alone in the palace!"

Daiyu blinked.

She actually had been planning to stand by and serve the food.

However, since the emperor said so, Daiyu shook her head frankly and unceremoniously:

"Of course not. When Aunt Meng and I eat, we always eat a full bowl, but when I eat alone, I can only eat half a bowl. It's more delicious to rush to eat."

Emperor Zhaoming smiled with satisfaction and sat down at the round table. He watched as the Liu family brought up six dishes and a soup, filling the table.

"This is Jiangnan cuisine, isn't it? Each portion is not much, but the presentation is so exquisite. It looks delicious!" Emperor Zhaoming asked Daiyu to sit down, and after wiping her hands with Qingwen's help, she carefully studied the dish.

The Liu family member smiled and announced the names of the dishes: "Rouge goose breast, steamed duck with rice wine, chicken with spring bamboo shoots, stir-fried broad beans, spinach and nuts, shepherd's purse spring rolls, ham and loofah soup."

Emperor Zhaoming was pleasantly surprised, and pointed at the spring bamboo shoots and said, "This dish is a Jinling dish. I remember eating the authentic one once when I accompanied the Emperor on his southern tour. Later, I don't know what happened, but the imperial chef could never make it taste right. I almost forgot about it!"

Because Emperor Zhaoming started eating, Daiyu just lowered her head to eat and did not answer.

Qingwen smiled and said, "Our sister Liu is the best at cooking spring bamboo shoots. She also cooked spring bamboo shoots with southern pork and braised shad with fresh bamboo shoots the other day. They were both delicious. Your Majesty, please try them!"

Without any palace rules to follow, Emperor Zhaoming ate with relish and quickly finished all six dishes.

Daiyu followed his pace and finished the whole bowl of rice without realizing it. She even felt more than 80% full.

The two people rinsed their mouths and hands, drank tea and talked.

Emperor Zhaoming waited for Tao Xingjian and his companions to return with a satisfied look on their faces before he said with a smile, "Come, unfold those scrolls and show them to the young lady."

Lu Changqing quickly distributed the six scrolls in his hand. He and Zang Ao each held one, and the four girls each held one. They unfolded them with a smile:

"Miss Lin, please take a look!"