The Second Master of the Red Chamber

"Let us go."

On the platform in front of Jiaying Hall, Daiyu shook off Jia Lian's hand.

Jia Lian turned around and asked with a smile, "What's wrong?"
Daiyu frowned and asked, "Where are you taking us?"

"Didn't I tell you, go to my study?"

"I dont go."

Daiyu refused.

"why?"

"No reason, I just don't want to go."

Daiyu glared at Jia Lian, looking somewhat shy.

In recent days, besides taking turns staying overnight in her and Baochai's rooms, Jia Lian has always tried to find ways to bring the two of them together.

Every time, he has to do something bad.

She thought that Jia Lian was trying to bully her and Baochai again, so she refused.

Jia Lian noticed her concerns and smiled, "Alright, don't worry, I really do have something important to discuss with you. Come with me."

As Jia Lian was speaking, he happened to see Qingwen sneaking over, so he called out to her, "Come here too."

Seeing that Jia Lian had already started walking forward, Baochai came over, took Daiyu's hand, gestured to her, and then followed Jia Lian.

"I heard that my husband has been promoted again, and is now the military governor of the capital garrison. Is that true?"

Baochai, holding Daiyu's hand, walked beside Jia Lian and asked him questions.

Jia Lian glanced back at her, which wasn't surprising.

Since Jia Zheng said he would hold a promotion banquet for him, it was natural to spread the word, so it was normal for Baochai to find out.

"That's what happened."

Upon receiving Jia Lian's affirmative reply, Baochai's face revealed respect and undisguised joy.

Even Daiyu's expression shifted, and she looked at Jia Lian with some surprise.

Even she, who didn't care about official careers or court politics, knew the great name of the Military Governor of the Capital Garrison.

Well, perhaps it's because her maternal uncle, Prince Teng, had served in that position, and people in the Jia family had mentioned it a lot, so she naturally found out.

Although most of the maids didn't know what kind of official the Commander-in-Chief of the Capital Garrison was, they knew that any promotion was a good thing, so they all smiled and congratulated Jia Lian.

It wasn't until Baochai spoke again: "This morning you rushed out with people, and the old lady and the others were very worried. Did something happen?"

Jia Lian knew that someone would keep asking him this question today.

If it were anyone else, Jia Lian would have been too lazy to explain.

But since it was Baochai who asked the question, and Daiyu was also watching her curiously from the side.

So Jia Lian smiled and said, "This matter cannot be explained to you in a few words. I will explain it to you in detail when we get to the study."

Upon hearing this, Baochai and Daiyu, though even more curious, no longer pressed for further questions.

The two walked hand in hand, one on each side, following behind Jia Lian, along the east road of the Grand View Garden toward the study.

Occasionally, bursts of laughter and chatter could be heard.

……

As March approaches, the weather is gradually warming up.

Jia Baoyu also tidied himself up, preparing to go out for a stroll.

But shortly after they saw him off, the maids of Yihong Courtyard saw Jia Baoyu return dejectedly.

Musk Moon, who was playing with the birds, saw this and quickly came over to ask, "What's wrong? Didn't you say you were going to talk to Third Miss and the others? Why are you back already?"

"It's nothing, I just don't want to go."

Jia Baoyu pushed aside Musk Moon and the others, and walked into the house dejectedly.

Musk Moon and the others looked at each other in bewilderment.

A clever little maid came over and whispered, "Sister Musk Moon, I just saw Second Master Lian leading Second Madam Lin and Second Madam Xue, chatting and laughing as they went to the outer courtyard."

Just as Master Bao went out, he saw it.

He was hiding under the banana leaves, secretly wiping away his tears.

"Okay, stop talking."

Musk Moon understood immediately, and couldn't help but feel sorry for her second master.

But what can be done?
Logically speaking, Bao Er Ye was a person of great importance. He was not only the apple of the eye of the old lady and the madam, but also the younger brother of the Imperial Concubine.

If it were an ordinary person, who would dare to offend him?

But the woman he liked was Master Lian's woman. Who can he blame for that?

In this world, there are probably very few who can compete with Master Lian for a woman.

But this definitely does not include Master Bao.

Alas, poor Second Master, you still have your eyes on Miss Lin.

In the current situation, you're lucky if you can even protect the people around you.

Xiren has been with the Third Miss for half a year now, and there's no sign that she wants to come back. She probably doesn't want to.

Although this was a good thing for her. With Xiren gone, she was now the top woman in the Yihong Courtyard.

However, whenever she thought of the night Xiren was kicked, and how she knelt on the Qinfang Bridge and drank Jia Lian's dew, she felt extremely guilty towards Jia Baoyu.

This is probably Lian Er Ye's revenge on Bao Er Ye for coveting Miss Lin.

Thinking about this, Musk Moon even felt a little fortunate.

Fortunately, there were no more outstanding maids in the Grand View Garden, otherwise they might not have escaped the clutches of Master Lian.

That would be too much of a rip-off on Master Bao.

Musk Moon felt that she should avoid Jia Lian and treat Jia Baoyu better in the future.

Although Master Bao is not as dazzling as Master Lian, he is still a good person.

……

Jia Lian led Daiyu and Baochai on a tour of the study, then turned and asked, "What do you think of my study?"

Baochai nodded: "Solemn yet elegant, spacious yet not empty."

The house was well-built, and the interior was well-furnished.

Only my husband could have created such a place, like a fairyland.

Jia Lian was speechless: "You are my wife, not my subordinate. You don't need to flatter me like this!"

With one sentence, Baochai was rendered speechless, and her face flushed red.

"Giggle..."

Without a doubt, this was Daiyu's voice as she couldn't help but laugh.

The maids laughed, but dared not laugh out loud.

Daiyu was still not satisfied and added insult to injury to Baochai: "I knew I was right, only he can handle you."

"Yun girl praised you so much, she should really see you in this embarrassing state, hahaha..."

Daiyu's smile was far from ladylike.

Baochai, annoyed, lightly tapped his forehead with her finger, then couldn't help but laugh herself.

"Don't say I'm not worthy of praise. Just look at him, he's our husband, it's only right that he can govern us."

As Baochai spoke, she glanced at Jia Lian.

His tone was slightly defiant.

It seems to be saying that Jia Lian can only bully her at will because of his status as her husband.

Otherwise, in an equal contest, the outcome is still uncertain.

Upon hearing this, Daiyu knew that Baochai rarely argued with Jia Lian.

Otherwise, she should have known that Jia Lian's thinking was truly unpredictable and whimsical.

She had engaged in witty banter with Jia Lianping and others, but she lost more often than she won.

Many times, it was Jia Lian who deliberately gave in to her when he saw she was about to cry, so that she wouldn't be scolded to tears.

Without going into too much detail, Daiyu quite enjoyed watching the serious Baochai being teased by Jia Lian; it was very amusing.

Jia Lian wasn't as cunning as Daiyu, and he wasn't deliberately trying to antagonize Baochai.

However, Baochai and Daiyu are completely different.

In ordinary conversations, even if she disagreed with Jia Lian, she would never say it directly.

She certainly wouldn't resort to veiled insults or innuendo like Sister Feng.

At most, she would just keep quiet and remain silent.

To put it simply, it means never talking back.

Although such a personality might seem a bit dull, on the other hand, what man wouldn't like a girl who always saves face for men and is also beautiful and generous? Therefore, Jia Lian believed that Baochai sometimes had something to say in a sarcastic way, but she swallowed it back.

A moment later, Qingwen returned to report: "Second Master, all the people you asked me to summon have been summoned."

Jia Lian nodded and said to Daiyu and Baochai, "Let's go, come with me to take a look."

Baochai, Daiyu, and their servants followed Jia Lian back to his study—the Green Pine Study.

Two groups of people were standing on and off the steps outside the study.

There were three women on the steps. They knew Aqi and Aqin, but they didn't know who the third one was. She just vaguely recognized her.

Below the steps were four men.

Some were people they knew and had met before, while others were complete strangers.

Upon seeing a man from outside the palace, whether it was Daiyu or Ying'er and Zijuan, they all involuntarily suppressed their playful expressions and became meticulous.

Jia Lian said to the seven people who had been summoned, "Come in, all of you."

"Yes……"

Although all seven responded in unison, none of them followed suit immediately.

Instead, they waited until all the maids and servants, including Daiyu and Baochai, entered the study before entering the room one by one and standing on either side of the door.

Men are arranged on the left and women on the right.

At this moment, Jia Lian was already sitting behind his desk, with Baochai and Daiyu standing on either side of him.

Qingwen, Ying'er, and Zijuan stood in a corner.

Baochai and Daiyu were somewhat puzzled, wondering why Jia Lian had called them here and why he had summoned these people.

It seems like I should introduce them to each other.

As expected, Jia Lian turned around and glanced at the two of them, then pointed at Aqi and Aqin and said, "You probably know both of them."

This is Aqi, and this is Aqin.

They were sisters, and also nominal third-class guards in the Princess's residence.

Of course, he's also my personal bodyguard.

After Jia Lian finished his introduction, the sisters, Aqi and Aqin, clasped their hands in a fist and bowed to Daiyu and Baochai, saying, "Aqi (Aqin) greets the two ladies."

Although they were women, since Jia Lian introduced them as guards, they bowed in accordance with their status as guards.

Upon seeing this, Baochai and Daiyu also quickly bowed in return.

Baochai, in particular, was familiar with the official rank system and knew that the third-class royal guard was a fifth-rank official.

From this perspective, these two women were no less powerful than her, so she naturally dared not act arrogantly.

Jia Lian didn't give Daiyu much time to think, and pointed to Hu Yuanyao and introduced her: "This is Hu Yuanyao, who was also a confidante of the Princess."

Now they're with me, helping me with some trivial matters.

By the way, her father was the captain of the Imperial Guard, so she was also the daughter of an official.

Hu Yuanyao, however, did not act like a daughter of an official at all. She knelt down and kowtowed very readily, saying, "This servant, Yuanyao, greets the two ladies."

"Please get up quickly."

Baochai glanced at Jia Lian, walked around the desk, and personally helped Hu Yuanyao, who was kneeling in the middle, to her feet.

After introducing the three women, Jia Lian turned to the other side, where Jia Yun and the others were looking down, seemingly lost in thought.

"I won't introduce Yun'er and Zhao'er."

This tall man is named Zhao Sheng. He is the second oldest in his family, so you can call him Zhao Er.

He is the captain of my personal guard; you should all have seen him when I travel in the past.”

Zhao Sheng, equally straightforward, walked to the center and kowtowed heavily: "This servant Zhao Sheng greets the two ladies."

"Captain Zhao, please rise."

"Over the years, you have followed our husband in battles across the land, protecting his safety. Your service has been invaluable; it is we who should be bowing down to you."

Baochai vaguely understood Jia Lian's intention in introducing these people to them, and thus gradually became more open and less hesitant.

"Madam, you flatter me. This is what we servants should do..."

"Get up quickly."

After Zhao Sheng got up, Jia Lian looked one last time at the thin, somewhat shifty-eyed middle-aged man in the corner.

"His name is Sun Zairen. He was originally a monk. He and Lin Daiyu were from the same hometown, Suzhou."

Over the years, he continued his studies and, after returning to secular life, helped me with my work.

Now, in the family business, he serves as the head manager of the restaurant, making him Yun'er's right-hand man.

As soon as Jia Lian finished speaking, Sun Zairen immediately slid down to his knees and prostrated himself on the ground, thumping his head three times: "This servant greets Second Master and pays respects to the two ladies. May the two ladies be blessed with good fortune and peace."

Seeing how adept Sun Zairen was at handling things, Jia Yun and Zhao'er were not to be outdone and immediately knelt down and kowtowed as well.

They kowtowed as if it were free, showering him with compliments.

Baochai is alright, I can barely accept it.

Daiyu couldn't help but frown, clearly feeling very uncomfortable.

"Alright, everyone go back to your positions."

"Uh... yes."

After Jia Yun and the others had all taken their places, Jia Lian spoke up: "Now I have been entrusted by His Majesty to serve as the military governor of the capital garrison, and I will certainly have heavy military duties from now on."

In addition, I have matters to attend to related to Tianjin, so I no longer have the energy to concern myself with the affairs of the family business.

Therefore, thereafter all matters concerning the business, regardless of size, were left to be decided by the two mistresses.

I will set up a separate office for you, the mistress, next to my study, on the west side.

In the future, if you have any business-related matters, you can consult the two mistresses.

Before either of the two mistresses has expressed their opinion, you are not to come to me to report. Do you understand?

When Jia Lian said this, not only did Jia Yun and the others look at each other in bewilderment, but even the parties involved, Baochai and Daiyu, were stunned.

Baochai instinctively objected: "Husband, you mustn't."

The affairs of the business are of utmost importance; how could they be entrusted to me and Lin Daiyu?

Neither Lin Daiyu nor I have ever handled external affairs before, and we fear we might delay our husband's important business.

Jia Lian waved his hand, ignoring Baochai, and said to Jia Yun and the others, "I called you in today just so you could be mentally prepared."

The formal ceremony will be announced after your matriarch officially assumes office.

If you have any major problems in the next few days, you can still come to me, understand?

Jia Lian's words were mainly directed at Jia Yun and Sun Zairen, since the two of them were primarily in charge of the business.

The others were there simply because one tree cannot make a forest.

If he wanted Xue Lin and the other woman to manage the business affairs for him, he naturally couldn't let them only contact the person in charge of the business.

If one cannot establish one's own authority and command all relevant personnel, it will be difficult to achieve any success.

Seeing that Jia Yun and the others had doubts but nodded to indicate that they understood, Jia Lian then told them to disperse.

Once Jia Yun and the others left, Baochai could no longer contain herself. She walked to Jia Lian's side and said hesitantly, "I hope my husband will reconsider..."

Jia Lian chuckled and, taking advantage of Baochai's inattention, pulled her to sit in his lap, saying with a smile, "Still thinking about it? I don't even know how long I've been thinking about it."

You've forgotten, but I made a promise to you in order to win you over.

If I were to hold power over the world, I would certainly establish a government and a stronghold for you, allowing you to display your talents. Have you forgotten that?
"Right now, I'm just having you manage a small trading company. In the future, there are much more important things waiting for you to do for me."

Baochai's thoughts were suddenly pulled back to the beginning by Jia Lian's words, and she forgot her shyness for a moment.

Fortunately, a cold snort interrupted her.

Daiyu said coldly, "Since there's nothing for me to do here, I'll be leaving now."

As Baochai broke free of her embrace, Jia Lian turned around and grabbed Daiyu, laughing, "What's wrong with you now?"

"I'm fine, I just didn't want to keep you and Sister Bao from discussing important matters here!"

Daiyu was already unhappy that Jia Lian had made Baochai sit on his lap in public, and from his words, she could tell that he regarded Baochai as a talented person.

They even claimed that when they were deceiving Baochai, they had promised to give her a mansion and a yamen (a traditional Chinese house)...

This really made the little jealous person jealous.

Jia Lian never made such a promise to her.

If it were just a matter of treating people differently, that would be fine; she didn't care much about managing any business.

However, Jia Lian had just referred to the two mistresses in front of the servants, putting her and Baochai together.

In retrospect, it wasn't genuine at all.

He only valued Baochai's talent.

If that's the case, why keep her here? She doesn't care about benefiting from that. (End of Chapter)