Red Mansion: Picking up a Lin Daiyu

Chapter 407: The First Playboy in Beijing
Palace of Heavenly Purity, Imperial Study,
Yue Ling was called here and before he had even finished his cup of tea, he saw Emperor Longyou had changed into casual clothes and walked in.

Seeing Yue Ling, Emperor Longyou couldn't help but shake his head and sneer, tapping his fingers and saying, "You, you really can't change your lustful nature. You already have so many maids in your room, and you even accepted the three young ladies from the Jia family. Be careful of lust, there is a knife hanging over your head."

"You are only twenty-four, and you don't take care of your body and indulge in sensual pleasures. How can you accomplish great things with me?"

Yue Ling was quite helpless and didn't know how to explain, "Your Majesty, everything I said in the palace was true. It was already night when I left the palace, so there was no time to go to Rongguo Mansion."

"I don't know how these rumors were fabricated to accuse me. Someone must have bad intentions."

"He has evil intentions." Emperor Longyou sat upright on the dragon throne, shook his robe, narrowed his eyes slightly, and nodded, saying, "That's right."

Turning to Yue Ling again, Emperor Longyou sighed again and said, "However, after such a scene in the hall, the reputation of the three sisters of the Jia family is no longer clean. It is obviously impossible for them to marry others. Whether you have such thoughts or not, this matter will give you a headache."

"Besides, aren't you already engaged to Lin Ruhai's daughter? When do you plan to get married? My queen has asked me several times. If it weren't for the palace restrictions, I'm afraid she would have wanted to arrange your wedding."

When Yue Ling heard Emperor Longyou mention the three sisters of the Jia family, he had not thought about it carefully before, but now he really felt a headache after hearing it.

He had ruined the innocence of a girl with whom he had no prior contact, and now he had to take responsibility. He really had no place to seek justice.

But later he heard that the Queen wanted to be the witness at his wedding with Sister Lin, which was probably a privilege that only the Crown Prince could have. How could Yue Ling dare to do so? He quickly responded, "Thank you, Queen, for your concern. Yu'er is still young now, and she has to wait until she reaches the age of marriage. Lord Lin has also told me so."

"Tsk." Speaking of Lin Ruhai, Emperor Longyou couldn't help waving his hands, "Don't mention him, his words can't be counted. But since you also have this plan, after the girl of the Lin family reaches the age of 15, I will order the Imperial Astronomical Observatory to choose an auspicious day for you."

"Let's arrange this marriage early to clear your bad reputation and let you settle down to work, so that you don't have to party every night and get sleepy during the morning court."

Emperor Longyou was right about this matter.

Qin Keqing and Xiangling seemed to have been prepared for this, and it was like a long-awaited rain, and they served him in various ways all night long.

It was not until the middle of the night that I was tired, and with Zijuan still pushing from behind, I was afraid that it would continue until dawn.

Yue Ling smiled awkwardly and changed the subject, "Your Majesty, is there anything else you want me to discuss?"

After eating the medicine soup he had taken on time, Emperor Longyou wiped the corners of his mouth and sighed, "I have something important to discuss with you. In addition to the reform strategy we discussed yesterday, one of the important things is what I said in the palace, that I need you to manage the imperial examination this time to select talents."

"I know that you, a military officer, would definitely attract a lot of criticism if you were to manage the imperial examinations. Moreover, you want to modify the content of the imperial examinations, from the eternal Confucian classics of the Four Books and Five Classics to the policy essays and mathematics you mentioned?"

"I can foresee the great difficulty and obstacles even without thinking about it."

Emperor Longyou took a deep breath and nodded seriously, "But in my eyes, you are truly omnipotent. So you have to think carefully about this matter and come up with a solution."

"Don't resort to force. These students would rather fight for a reputation as an honest person than succumb to force. They are different from the wealthy businessmen you dealt with before."

After returning to Beijing, Yue Ling had already made sufficient mental preparations.

I have seen how difficult the world is along the way. As a time traveler, if I cannot change the situation through my own efforts and instead repeat the mistakes of a century of humiliation, it would be a waste of this opportunity given by God.

For his own good and to give Lin Daiyu a better life, Yue Ling needs to do more.

Nodding his head in agreement, Yue Ling pondered and asked, "Your Majesty, the imperial examination will be held next spring. During this time, I will only focus on this one thing?"

Emperor Longyou asked in return: "Do you think the imperial examination is too far away?"

"Forgive me for speaking frankly, but time is of the essence. The more we shirk our responsibilities in the new law, the more power those who oppose it will gain. The plans we have formulated have a long lifespan. We should implement them as soon as possible, verify their effectiveness, and then popularize them in all the nine provinces of China."

Emperor Longyou also thought that what Yue Ling said made sense. After all, during the eight years when Yue Ling was away, even though Emperor Longyou never slacked off, he did not implement the new law too much.

"Okay, I'll figure out a way to deal with this."

"Besides this, I do have something else I want you to decide. I have asked many ministers about this matter, and they all have different opinions. There are all kinds of solutions, but I always think that none of them are the best solutions."

Yue Ling nodded, "Your Majesty, please speak. I will tell you everything I know."

Emperor Longyou spoke slowly, "Since the northern barbarians came south and the capital suffered, although it is not to the point where nine out of ten households are empty, it is no more than 50%."

"You can also see on the way to Beijing that after passing Cangzhou and arriving in Beijing, the population seems less dense than in the old days. Not every household in the outer city of Beijing is occupied, let alone Fengtai, Tongzhou and other more distant places."

"According to the state governance strategy you designed for me before, population is also a big factor. Now that the situation in the capital is stable, the population has not increased after several censuses, which has really troubled me for a long time."

"Perhaps the Jurchens are so powerful that the people are worried about suffering from war again?"

Insufficient population is certainly not a positive sign. As for the fact that people are no longer interested in passing on their family ties and receiving guests, the reasons behind this are certainly complex.

It is no wonder that when Emperor Longyou raised this issue, all officials had different opinions. This kind of problem cannot be solved without getting to the root of the problem.

Yue Ling asked without hesitation: "Your Majesty, I have just returned to the capital and I don't know the situation in the capital. I want to know if the people have enough money to raise their children and grandchildren?"

Emperor Longyou nodded and said, "I have sent people to investigate secretly. In the past two years, every household has stored grain. Moreover, it is not only the ordinary people, but also the wealthy merchants and nobles who have not been busy with incense offerings."

"People say that there are only two prosperous places in the capital nowadays: brothels and wine shops, where men indulge in pleasure; and Buddhist temples, where women pray for children."

"Isn't this strange?"

"Food and sex are human nature, I agree with that statement. But I cannot agree with you going out to have fun and abandoning your wife who has shared your life with you."

Looking at Yue Ling again, Emperor Longyou humbly asked, "Yue Ling, you are the most notorious playboy in the capital. In your opinion, what should I do? Should I close down these brothels and the Music Bureau and ask them to only accompany their wives and concubines every day?"

"This……"

Yue Ling was speechless for a moment.

How could it be that the No. 1 Playboy had never set foot in a brothel?

Putting aside these details, Yue Ling began to think seriously about what Emperor Longyou said.

First of all, the Jiaofangsi and brothels must not be closed. In this era, people have little entertainment, and their original desires are likely to be magnified.

Without these legal institutions, the illegal ones will only become more rampant, and more people will be harmed.

As for how to solve the problem raised by Emperor Longyou, Yue Ling really couldn't think of an answer for the moment.

Many of his previous suggestions were based on his perspective from his previous life, and he really hadn't found any reference solutions in his mind for similar problems.

After a moment of silence, Yue Ling said, "Your Majesty, this matter may seem simple, but it involves a lot of things. I need to go back to the palace and think about it carefully. I will give your Majesty a reply soon."

"However, as for the Jurchens, I have several capable assistants who are quite accomplished in leading troops in battles. They can be used by Your Majesty as military supervisors." Emperor Longyou's eyes lit up, and he was not disappointed that Yue Ling did not give an answer immediately. "Since they are the talents you can recommend, they must have strengths. This way, I can rest assured."

"As for the population question, we will discuss it later. I am making it difficult for you to respond on the spot."

Here, the emperor and his ministers were having a lively conversation when a eunuch came running in hurriedly from outside. He accidentally tripped over the threshold and stumbled into the room.

Seeing such a rude scene, Emperor Longyou couldn't help but raise his brows.

After all, Yue Ling is watching here, which is really a loss of face for the royal family.

He turned his head and gave Xia Shouzhong a cold look. Xia Shouzhong hurriedly stepped down from the stage, came to the eunuch, and slapped him first, "How did you learn the etiquette in your daily life? I think you want to go to the laundry department!"

The eunuch knelt down and begged for mercy, crying, "I deserve to die, I deserve to die. I really have something important to report, and I am worried..."

Emperor Longyou waved his hand and said calmly: "Okay, let's listen to what he has to say first."

Xia Shouzhong slapped him again angrily, "Why don't you speak quickly?"

"Yes, yes, yes." The eunuch didn't have time to rub his slightly red and swollen face, wipe his snot and tears, and said hurriedly: "Your Majesty, the Queen Mother is not feeling well, and the imperial physician from the Imperial Hospital has gone to see her."

Emperor Longyou raised his eyebrows slightly and stood up immediately, "Yue Ling, you go back first. I have to go to the Cining Palace."

Yue Ling also immediately stood up and bowed, "Yes, I will take my leave."

Emperor Longyou did not look relaxed and left in a hurry.

Xia Shouzhong followed behind him and kicked the eunuch before leaving, "You useless thing, why don't you get out of here now?"

"Yes, godfather."

Then Xia Shouzhong and Yue Ling smiled and nodded, "Duke Dingguo, let him take you out first?"

Yue Ling glanced at the eunuch and nodded, "Okay."

The two walked one after the other in the corridor of the palace. Yue Ling had been here many times and had even treated this place as a battlefield, fighting bravely. He was very familiar with the place and didn't need anyone to lead the way. However, he still accepted Xia Shouzhong's favor and brought the eunuch out.

The eunuch behind him kept crying and wiping away tears. Yue Ling smiled and turned around to ask, "How long have you been in the palace?"

Hearing Yue Ling talking to him, the eunuch was a little surprised at first, then he immediately lowered his head and replied, "To reply to Duke Dingguo, it has been one year and seven months."

Yue Ling smiled and said, "In just one year and seven months, you have been serving in the palace. It seems that you are very much liked by General Manager Xia?"

"Yes, Godfather is very good to us. But today... I made Godfather lose face. I am afraid I will die in that mass grave tonight."

Xia Shouzhong had a good relationship with him, and seeing that the younger generation he chose was also loyal, Yue Ling never looked down on any small person, so he wanted to give him more affection and make a good relationship with him. He said: "You don't have to worry about this. If your godfather didn't want to protect you, he wouldn't have beaten you in the palace. That was all for His Majesty to see."

The eunuch seemed to have just woken up from a dream, and his cloudy eyes suddenly brightened.

Seeing that he was quick to understand, Yue Ling continued, "Tonight, you should take the initiative to find Manager Xia to admit your mistake and call him ancestor a few more times, and this little matter will be over. Do you understand?"

The eunuch thanked him repeatedly, "Thank you, Duke Dingguo, for your guidance. Thank you, Duke Dingguo, for your guidance."

Yue Ling waved his hand, "Okay, we are leaving the palace now, no need to see me off."

……

Xicheng, Lancangfang,

The tea guest told the story vividly and drew applause from the whole audience. Amid everyone's compliments, he then made up a few more short stories about Marquis An Jing.

The atmosphere in the room became increasingly tense, and even Zhao Hao and Liu Xianglian were listening with great interest.

They had followed Yue Ling all the way south, and had never heard or heard so many interesting stories, so how could they not find it strange?

The two were sipping tea while telling stories, but when Liu Xianglian picked up the teapot to add more tea, he was pressed down by a broad and strong hand.

Liu Xianglian frowned, looked up, and reached for the scabbard with one hand. When he saw the person who stretched out his hand, he was dumbfounded.

"My Lord? Why are you here?"

Yue Ling was also confused by his question, "Why didn't I come? Didn't I ask you to wait for me here?"

He looked back and forth at Zhao Hao and Liu Xianglian, but saw that their faces were very embarrassed, as if they wanted to say something but hesitated.

Yue Ling looked up at the place where people were gathered and asked in confusion, "I remember that the business here was very quiet. How come so many people gathered here when I came back from the court?"

After hearing a few words, Yue Ling asked, "What kind of dirty joke is this? Why is it so obscene?"

The two men immediately stood up and drove everyone around them away, and then returned to Yue Ling, "Sir, do you have something to tell me?"

Yue Ling nodded, "I have already reported your achievements to His Majesty. Since you two have been engaged in military operations for a long time, Liaodong is the place where you can use your military power now."

"If you are willing to make achievements, I will guarantee that you will become a military supervisor or perhaps a garrison commander. You two can also be companions and take care of each other."

The two were overjoyed and quickly knelt down to express their gratitude, "Thank you very much, Lord Marquis. We will never forget your kindness and will definitely live up to your good intentions!"

Yue Ling raised his hand and helped the two of them up firmly. "Okay, since there are so many people here, this is not the place to talk. You all go back first and report to the Ministry of Personnel tomorrow. Before you leave, come to my house again. I need to tell you something."

"Yes!"

After saying goodbye to the two, Yue Ling got on his horse again and headed straight for the mansion.

The Prince of Qin's Mansion was where he had lived for many years, so he was very familiar with the journey.

But when they arrived at the gate of the mansion, they saw a sedan chair parked on the side of the road. A woman got out of it, and a young man was entangled with her.

"Sister, sister, please forgive me. I really don't want to offend the Marquis!"

"You are a pickled food that only remembers to eat but not to be beaten. When the Marquis comes back, I will definitely teach you a lesson!"

(End of this chapter)