Emperor of the Red Chamber

Chapter 158: Granting Yuanchun a Scenic Spot

After Yuan Qingbai walked out of Meilin, he went to the temple called "Ritian Linyu".

When the host Hui Chen learned that Yuan Qingbai was coming, she hurried to greet him. This was the first time she met Yuan Qingbai.

Because Yuan Qingbai accompanied Empress Dowager He to move to Yuanzhao Garden yesterday, Hui Chen has been preparing to welcome the emperor. However, she thought she would meet Empress Dowager He and other female relatives first, but she did not expect to see the emperor first today.

Hui Chen said with great fear and trepidation, "I didn't know that His Majesty would come today, so I didn't have time to prepare. I hope Your Majesty will forgive me for my negligence."

Yuan Qingbai smiled and said, "It's okay. I am tired from the complicated government affairs. Seeing the beautiful spring scenery today, I wanted to go to the garden to relax. I just passed by this 'Ritian Linyu' and remembered that I have something to tell the abbot here, so I came to the temple."

Hui Chen was curious: "What does His Majesty want to tell you?"

Yuan Qingbai said, "The Queen Mother will come here to worship Buddha in the near future. You should make preparations early and don't neglect it."

Hui Chen said respectfully: "Your Majesty, please rest assured. I will do my best to prepare."

Yuan Qingbai said, "Furthermore, I want to write a poem for each of the landscapes in this garden. I have already written poems for several of them, but I have not written a poem for 'Ritian Linyu'. I just happened to be inspired to write a poem today. Please take me on a tour, and I will write a poem for this place today."

Hui Chen had no reason to refuse after hearing this, so she quickly flattered him, "I am honored that Your Majesty has such a refined taste."

Immediately, Hui Chen led Yuan Qingbai to tour the "Ritian Linyu" temple, including the two rows of middle buildings, two rows of west buildings and the hall between the front and back buildings. They also visited the Dragon King Temple "Ruiying Palace" on the east side where the Dragon King was enshrined.

It is worthy of being a royal temple. After touring it, even Yuan Qingbai felt its grandeur.

Yuan Qingbai couldn't help but recall Emperor Chengtai.

The reason why the "Ritian Linyu" was built in Yuanzhao Garden was mainly because Emperor Chengtai worshipped Buddhism.

Unfortunately, Emperor Chengtai passed away before "Ritian Linyu" was put into use. Now, this place has been favored by Empress Dowager He and has become her place for worshiping Buddha.

Almost all the nuns, nuns with untied hair, and maids living in "Ritian Linyu" were alarmed by Yuan Qingbai's arrival.

When Hui Chen led Yuan Qingbai on a tour, nuns, old women and maids followed, including Miaoyu and four other nuns with untied hair.

It was inconvenient for the four nuns with long hair to approach, so they stood at a distance and watched.

After the tour, Yuan Qingbai walked into a quiet room. Under Hui Chen's gaze, he picked up a pen and began to write a poem.

It says: "In the middle of the purple elixir land, there stands a city of transformation. Cutting off from the worldly affairs, one feels the same as the scenery of the mountains and waters, and at the same time, all the perfect sounds are played. The Buddhists who practice meditation live in a distant Zen abode. Stepping through the gate, this is the sea of ​​Samantabhadra's vows."

He also wrote a poem:

There is a city outside the sky, and no mundane worldly things are allowed to mix with it.

In the Yuntai treasure net, there is sometimes a bell fish answering.

The title has profound artistic conception and the calligraphy is timeless and elegant.

Hui Chen read Yuan Qingbai's poem and praised it highly. This was intentional flattery, but he also sincerely felt that Yuan Qingbai was so talented that he could compose such a poem impromptu.

Because Yuan Qingbai's imperial handwriting was to be taken away, Hui Chen asked, "Your Majesty, can I be allowed to copy it? For the nuns in the temple to see and admire?"

Although Hui Chen is a Buddhist, he pays attention to his career and economy, and is not a monk who just practices meditation.

There was no reason for Yuan Qingbai not to agree.

Hui Chen then picked up his pen, dipped it in ink, and quickly copied down Yuan Qingbai's poem.

After the matter was settled, Hui Chen respectfully escorted Yuan Qingbai out of the temple.

As soon as Yuan Qingbai left, the nuns rushed to the quiet room and competed to read the poems copied by Hui Chen. Miaoyu was among them.

Miaoyu read the poem carefully several times, as if thinking about something.

She is extremely talented and is quite proficient in poetry.

In her opinion, Yuan Qingbai's poem was not very good, but considering his status as a young emperor and his expertise in martial arts, she felt that it was truly commendable that Yuan Qingbai had such a quick poetic talent and such an elegant interest.

She once again developed a favorable impression of Yuan Qingbai.

Before this, she had heard that the current emperor was young and heroic, and was proficient in both civil and military affairs, so she couldn't help but look forward to seeing the emperor.

After meeting him today, she couldn't help but feel a liking for Yuan Qingbai. She felt that this emperor exceeded her expectations and even amazed her.

Before this, she met Yuan Qingsang outside the Muni Temple, which made her feel unlucky and ominous.

Today, she met Yuan Qingbai by chance at "Ritian Linyu", which made her feel lucky.

One important reason is that Yuan Qingbai is the emperor. Even though Miaoyu is a nun with untied hair, aloof and arrogant, and calls herself "outsider", in her eyes, the emperor also has a brilliant halo.

That afternoon, Miaoyu was so impatient that she took Nanny Meng and her maid Xuemei, and the three of them, the master and servant, to the plum forest of "Ritian Linyu" to sweep and bury the flowers.

There is such a large plum forest with hundreds of plum trees and numerous withered petals covering the ground. Even with the help of Nanny Meng and Xuemei, Miaoyu still has to spend a lot of time and energy to bury the flowers.

Nanny Meng and Xuemei both groaned inwardly.

Miaoyu, however, enjoyed herself and found herself happy.

……

……

After leaving "Ritian Linyu", Yuan Qingbai came to "Jiuzhou Qingyan".

"Jiuzhou Qingyan" is the sleeping place of Yuan Qingbai and his concubines in Yuanzhao Garden. Among them, "Tian Di Yi Jia Chun" located east of the central axis is composed of several large and small courtyards, where Yuanchun and other concubines slept.

Yuan Qingbai went straight to "Tian Di Yi Jia Chun" and walked towards the courtyard where Yuanchun lived, but found out that Yuanchun was not there and had gone to "Natural Painting".

Natural paintings are one of the scenic spots in Yuanzhao Garden.

This scenic spot is located on the east bank of Houhu Lake, with a pond dug in the south and a courtyard built in the north.

Its main building is a square building, with Langyin Pavilion, Zhuxu Tower, Wufu Hall, Zhushen Hejing, Jingzhi Chunshijia and Sudi Chunxiao built to the north.

Langyin Pavilion and Zhuyu Tower are both built facing the lake. Climbing up the tower, one can overlook the clouds of the Western Hills in the distance, the shadow of the Yuquan Wanshou Pagoda in the middle, and the scenery of the four banks of the Houhu Lake up close. The scenery is so diverse that it looks like a natural painting.

Yesterday, Yuan Qingbai moved to Yuanzhao Garden and gave the "Natural Painting" scenic area to Queen Yuanchun, which was equivalent to giving Yuanchun a "garden in a garden".

The "Natural Picture" scenic area covers a large area and has beautiful scenery. This scenic area alone is estimated to be not much smaller than the Grand View Garden in the original novel.

Previously, Yuan Qingbai had dedicated the "Changchun Xianguan" scenic area to Empress Dowager He.

Now, Empress Dowager He and Yuanchun each have a private area in Yuanzhao Garden.

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There are only these two people.

Yuan Qingbai's concubines, including Youshi, Wang Xifeng, He Zhenmin, Qin Keqing, and Lingxue, have not yet been granted scenic spots.

Granting a scenic spot is a favor, and Yuan Qingbai plans to consider granting a scenic spot to concubines in the future.

Although Yuanchun had obtained the "Natural Picture", she still slept and lived with Yuan Qingbai's concubines in the "Heaven and Earth One Family" of "Jiuzhou Qingyan". She only used the "Natural Picture" for reading, meeting guests, and leisure and entertainment.

At this time, Yuan Qingbai came to "Natural Painting" from "Jiuzhou Qingyan", and the two scenic spots were not far apart.

When Yuan Qingbai arrived at "Natural Painting", Yuanchun was reading in the Langyin Pavilion built by the lake.

Yuanchun has loved reading since she was young. Not only does she have a solid foundation in reading, she is also good at teaching others.

Before Jia Baoyu entered school, when he was three or four years old, he had already been taught several books by Yuanchun orally, and he had memorized several thousand words.

Yuanchun's prince Yuan Yanchen was also taught personally by Yuanchun before he was six years old, so that Yuan Yanchen already knew thousands of words before entering the Shangshufang, no less than Jia Baoyu at the time.

Since Yuanchun married Yuan Qingbai, she did not dare to read much due to the restrictions of royal rules. It was not until Yuan Qingbai ascended the throne that she was encouraged to read more and she began to enjoy the pleasure of reading again.

Yuan Qingbai felt ashamed because he was so busy that his legitimate son Yuan Yanchen had grown up to be seven years old, but he had taught him little personally and Yuanchun had taught him much more.

At this moment, Yuan Qingbai deliberately did not let the palace maids or eunuchs announce his arrival, and quietly walked into the Langyin Pavilion, startling Baoqin and Xiren who were serving in the pavilion. The two hurriedly saluted Yuan Qingbai and said, "Your servant greets His Majesty!"

Yuanchun, who was sitting on the couch by the window and reading seriously, looked up at Yuan Qingbai when she heard the voice. Her bright eyes lit up, and she stood up, saluted, and said with a smile, "Why is Your Majesty here?"

Yuan Qingbai smiled gently and said, "I came to see you. What book are you reading?"

After saying this, he walked to the couch, looked at the book on the table, and found that it was "Romance of the West Chamber".

"Romance of the West Chamber" is a zaju created by Wang Shifu in the Yuan Dynasty. The play is based on "Meeting the True Love" by Yuan Zhen in the Tang Dynasty and "Romance of the West Chamber in Various Tunes" by Dong Jieyuan in the Jin Dynasty.

The play tells the love story between the scholar Zhang Sheng and the daughter of the prime minister Cui Yingying. With the help of the maid Hongniang, the two overcame the numerous obstacles put forward by Sun Feihu, Cui's mother, Zheng Heng and others, and finally became a couple.

The Dream of the Red Chamber tells the story of Jia Baoyu and Lin Daiyu secretly reading The West Chamber.

After Yuan Qingbai ascended the throne, he not only encouraged Yuanchun to read more, but also allowed Yuanchun to read some banned books for women at that time, including "Romance of the West Chamber".

The "Romance of the West Chamber" that Yuanchun holds was given to her by Yuan Qingbai.

This is also the secret of the two.

This matter must not be leaked. If Empress Dowager He knew about it, she might be dissatisfied with Yuanchun. If it were spread to the court, it would be a stain on Empress Yuanchun.

Yuan Qingbai smiled at Yuanchun and said, "Haven't you read this book a long time ago?"

Yuanchun blushed slightly: "Although I have read it, I want to read it again."

Yuan Qingbai nodded and said, "This book is very interesting. It's okay to read it several times."

Yuanchun was not in a position to respond, so she said, "I'm afraid that if this matter gets out, it will affect me, but it will be a big deal if it affects His Majesty."

Yuan Qingbai laughed and said, "You're saying that again. Don't worry. You read this kind of book, and only you, Baoqin, and Xiren know about it. No one else knows. You and I won't tell anyone, and Baoqin and Xiren won't tell anyone either. So how could outsiders know?"

Yuan Qingbai looked at Baoqin and Xiren and said seriously, "You two must keep this matter a secret. If it is leaked, you two will be severely punished."

Baoqin knelt down hurriedly and said, "I have sworn an oath and will never speak again."

Xiren also knelt down and said, "Your Majesty and the Master have been so kind to me that I would rather die than do such an ungrateful thing."

Yuanchun glanced at Yuan Qingbai and said with a smile, "Look at you, you're scaring them again."

Yuan Qingbai always treated the palace maids and eunuchs in the harem with a serious attitude, including Yuanchun's personal maids Baoqin and Xiren, and Wang Xifeng's personal maid Ping'er.

Therefore, almost all the palace maids and eunuchs in the harem were more or less afraid of him.

Yuan Qingbai did this on purpose. As the emperor, he needed to establish his authority among the servants in the harem.

Yuan Qingbai sat on the couch and ordered Yuanchun to sit opposite him. He took the fragrant tea that Baoqin had poured for him, took two sips, and asked Yuanchun with a smile, "What do you think of the scenery of this 'natural painting'?"

(End of this chapter)