The Second Master of the Red Chamber

Compared to Weiyang Palace, Fengzao Palace treated Jia Lian much more warmly.

After exchanging greetings, Yuan Chun gave Bao Qin a look.

Baoqin knew that her mistress and the second master had something to say that they didn't want others to hear, so she told the maid to leave and personally stood guard at the door.

"I heard that my second brother has been promoted to the position of Military Governor of the Capital Garrison. Congratulations!"

"This is all thanks to my sister."

"Hehe, what does that have to do with me?"

"How could it be unrelated? If my sister hadn't sent me a message that day, how could I have led the troops to the palace in time and achieved this great feat of saving the emperor?"

Yuan Chun smiled, and with her long, beautiful hands, presented the tea she had just brewed to Jia Lian, saying:
"Don't think I don't know about your relationship with that girl Zhaoyang."

I heard that she arrived at Xihua Gate with her troops a step ahead of you that day.

I refuse to believe she didn't send you a message before she took action.

"Although she also sent me a message, it wasn't as fast as my sister's."

Jia Lian took the tea that Yuan Chun had brewed and casually offered an explanation.

Yuan Chun was very happy to hear that.

It was Jia Lian who had been helping and comforting her all along.

Now that she was able to help Jia Lian, she felt that her value had been realized.

"Speaking of which, you were the one who had the foresight to give me that strange 'parrot'."

You don't know, but when I received the message that day, I originally arranged for two eunuchs to deliver the message to you.

I just felt a little uneasy, so I switched to using bird messengers.

It turned out I was right.

"Oh, what do you mean?"

Yuan Chun explained somewhat solemnly, "I only found out later."

The person I sent to deliver your message was actually captured by the people of Zhongcui Palace not far from Fengzao Palace.

It turns out that Consort Wu had already sent people to keep an eye on my Fengzao Palace.

Perhaps it's not just Phoenix Palace.

In short, Consort Wu must have known about Prince Yun's plot to rebel.

But it didn't matter anyway, because we later learned that Prince Yun had closed all the palace gates when he took action.

Even without Consort Wu, those two eunuchs wouldn't have been able to get the news out of the palace.

Upon hearing this, Jia Lian asked, "How is Consort Wu?"

"The Empress has banished her to the Cold Palace. As for the others in Zhongcui Palace, some were beaten to death and others were dismissed, leaving it an empty palace."

He nodded, having no time to sympathize with his opponent.

After all, if the other side had succeeded, their fate would definitely have been worse than this.

Yuan Chun clearly didn't care about Consort Wu's life or death. She turned and asked, "Do you still have any of those birds, little brother? If so, send another one in for your sister."

Yuan Chun thought the black pigeon was very useful.

They don't look like pigeons, so keeping them as pets won't arouse suspicion.

It's quick and convenient to send messages, truly a magical tool for communication both inside and outside the home.

As for why we shouldn't send back the previous one, one reason is that if it were discovered to be the original one from Fengzao Palace when it was sent to the palace, it would be inconvenient to explain.

Secondly, these birds used for communication can only be replaced periodically.

Otherwise, if it's raised in the palace and becomes accustomed to it, it will treat the palace as its home. Without a clear sense of homing, it will naturally be prone to making mistakes.

"There are two more kittens that haven't been properly raised yet."

"Once they're well-bred, we'll bring them in for my older sister."

"Uh-huh."

Yuan Chun nodded, and her eyes met Jia Lian's unintentionally before she quickly looked away.

For a moment, unable to think of anything else to say, he poured Jia Lian another cup of tea.

Jia Lian smiled and drank the tea.

He seemed to be able to drink as much as Yuan Chun brewed.

Anyway, the teacup that Yuan Chun used to brew tea was very small, so it wouldn't matter if she drank more than a dozen cups in one go.

But he drank tea, and Yuan Chun was happy to brew it for her good younger brother.

But what did he mean by sizing up people while drinking tea?
Finally, Yuan Chun couldn't hold back any longer. She raised her hand and touched her slightly flushed face, asking shyly, "Is there something on my face that you're looking at like that?"

Jia Lian shook his head and replied naturally, "It's nothing, I just think you're very beautiful, so I couldn't help but take a few more glances."

After all, if I go home, I won't be able to see it anymore.

Upon hearing this, Yuan Chun felt both ashamed and delighted. She hurriedly glanced around and, finding that there were no palace maids in the room, she smiled.
"loquacious."

Jia Lian chuckled, finished another cup of tea, then stood up and walked towards Yuan Chun.

"what are you up to?"

"It's nothing, I just felt sorry for my sister, who has been living alone in the palace for so many years."

I've recently learned a little technique, and both Feng and Lin tried it and said it was delicious.

"Sister, you should try it too."

"No, no need..."

Yuan Chun had also heard of Jia Lian's reputation for being a womanizer.

Fearing he might do something to her, she quickly refused. But Jia Lian had already walked to her side, and seeing that she was about to get up, he placed his hands on her shoulders and made her sit down.

Then, with both hands forming pincers, he forcefully and rhythmically massaged Yuan Chun's shoulders.

Yuan Chun was originally afraid that Jia Lian would act impulsively and take liberties with her.

After all, this guy has a criminal record. He dared to hug her on the night of her family visit years ago.

She breathed a sigh of relief when she realized that Jia Lian was only massaging her shoulders. But she still said, "No, no need. You're making me ticklish, it's really uncomfortable."

"It's okay, you'll get used to it."

Jia Lian stood behind Yuan Chun, looking the beautiful woman in palace attire up and down.

Unfortunately, the palace attire of this dynasty was too conservative, covering the chest area completely.

Even from this most advantageous vantage point, he couldn't see any scenery.

However, just looking at the beauty's slender neck and the awkward demeanor she displayed when her body was touched by a man was enough to evoke all sorts of fantasies.

Jia Lian was initially captivated by Yuan Chun's noble and beautiful appearance, and thus wanted to get closer to her.

I have no intention of doing anything to her, nor do I dare to do anything to her.

However, he overestimated Yuan Chun's tolerance for contact with the opposite sex.

He simply used a normal shoulder massage technique to relax Yuan Chun's shoulders and neck, but after only a moment, he heard Yuan Chun's soft groan.

Jia Lian then remembered.

His older sister, although she's in her mid-twenties, has probably never experienced a man's tenderness since she was old enough to understand things.

Emperor Ningkang?
forget it.

With his naturally grumpy face, it's hard to imagine him being gentle.

With this in mind, Jia Lian became even more attentive in his service.

Firstly, he genuinely wanted to give Yuan Chun a good time, and secondly, he also wanted to vent the grievances she had suffered in Weiyang Palace.

What's so great about the women in the palace? You may not care about me, but someone else will.

Baoqin, who had been nonchalantly standing outside the door, was startled when she heard faint groans coming from inside.

After hesitating for a moment, she peeked her head in and glanced into the hall, then immediately patted her chest and looked away.

Thank goodness, it's not like I was doing *that* kind of thing.

But it's just a shoulder massage, is it really that comfortable?

I've massaged the Empress quite often myself, and I've never heard her make that kind of sound before.

From Baoqin's perspective, he could have seen Yuanchun's facial expressions clearly.

Even though she was an older maid who was inexperienced in such matters, she could tell that Her Highness was very comfortable, even if she didn't quite understand the meaning of that expression.

It made her even want the Second Master to give her a massage.

Perhaps her thoughts came true. Before she could suppress the romantic feelings in her heart, a flash of light appeared before her eyes, and when she looked up, she was surprised to see her own empress standing in front of her.

"My lady..."

Yuan Chun's face was still flushed. She looked at the maid in front of her, hesitated for a moment, and then instructed, "I need to go back and change my clothes. You go in and take good care of the Second Master."

After you have served him, let him go back; there's no need for him to say goodbye.

"Yes……"

Baoqin glanced at Yuanchun with a puzzled look.

Serving her meant she would make tea or cut fruit, and so on.

But what does it mean to serve well? Does it mean to make sure the second master eats and drinks well?

He had doubts but couldn't ask, because Yuan Chun gave him a brief instruction and then left.

Inside the hall, Jia Lian sat silently on the stool that Yuan Chun had just sat on.

He knew perfectly well why Yuan Chun had run away.

He was distracted just now and unintentionally got too close to Yuan Chun.

In the warm spring of March, people wear relatively thin clothes.

It must have been something that poked Yuan Chun's back, which scared her away.

Jia Lian overheard her conversation with the maid at the door.

He knew that Baoqin was there to calm him down.

Although stealing from palace maids in the harem is a heinous crime, it's not as serious if you get caught.

Given his status, no one dared to say anything.

He watched as the maid carrying the zither slowly walked in, glancing up at him every few steps.

Jia Lian smiled, drank the half-cup of tea that Yuan Chun hadn't finished, then stood up and said to Bao Qin, "Since Your Highness has something to attend to, I won't disturb you any longer."

Tell her I'll come see her another day.

It wasn't that the girl holding the zither wasn't attractive to him, but rather that there was no need for her.

If it were Yuan Chun, he might dare to take the risk.

But as soon as Yuan Chun ran away, his rationality returned completely.

Emperor Ningkang was merely ill, not dead.

At this time, trying to steal his harem would be tantamount to suicide.

So, under Baoqin's questioning gaze, he pinched her cheek and strode out of the palace. (End of Chapter)