The Second Master of the Red Chamber

Li Wan gazed at Jia Lian with deep affection, her expression remaining unchanged even as she noticed his hand slipping inside her clothes.

He simply held Jia Lian's hand and suddenly suggested, "Does Your Highness still remember my two younger sisters?"

Jia Lian was taken aback, then looked at Li Wan with feigned incomprehension.

How could I not remember?

The four girls, Coco Lee, Coco Lee, Baoqin, and Xiuyan, were all praised as "four tender green onions" by the arrogant Qingwen.

They were all stunningly beautiful young women; once you saw them, it was hard to forget them.

Li Wan knew that Jia Lian would definitely remember, so she continued:

"Actually, my aunt took them to Beijing last year to find them good families to marry into."

However, the final result was not ideal.

At the time, I thought to myself, my two younger sisters, putting aside everything else, are at least very good-looking.

It would be a waste for them to marry into ordinary families; it would be better to let them serve the prince.

I mentioned this to my aunt at the time, and although she didn't agree directly, I could tell from her expression that she was interested.

Now that a year has passed, I'm worried that my aunt will try to find them other families.

If the Prince also takes a liking to them, I will write to my aunt and ask her to send my two younger sisters to the capital.

Upon hearing this, Jia Lian chuckled awkwardly and said, "Of course I do like her, but this makes me feel quite embarrassed. I don't know how to repay your kindness, sister-in-law."

Li Wan rolled her eyes at Jia Lian and tried to get up from his embrace.

Jia Lian wouldn't allow it, so she could only shift her hips to avoid crushing him, and then gaze at him tenderly.

"I don't need Your Highness to repay me. Your Highness's kindness to me and to Lan'er is enough for me to do anything for you."

Besides, I'm doing this for the good of my two younger sisters.

Being able to serve the prince is a blessing they've accumulated over many lifetimes.

Even though Jia Lian was used to having a big appetite, he couldn't help but blush a little at this moment.

I thought to myself, no wonder there were so many incompetent rulers in ancient times.

He's just a prince, yet so many people are eager to send him beauties and sisters.

So, sometimes we really can't blame those incompetent rulers.

Feeling embarrassed to accept Li Wan's compliment, Jia Lian put Li Wan down and looked down at her with a smile, saying, "Let's not talk about your sister for now."

Do you know that you just ruined my good time?

Now I'm going to punish you.

Although she was extremely willing, she still had concerns: "I am very sorry to have disturbed Your Highness."

"I am willing to accept Your Highness's punishment, but could it be postponed until next time..."

"No."

Li Wan said helplessly, "At most half a quarter of an hour... If it takes too long, the old lady and the others will get suspicious if they don't see anyone."

A short while later, a soft cough came from the doorway as a reminder.

Seeing that Li Wan was startled, Jia Lian quickly pressed her head down and shook it at her, saying, "Don't worry, it's Ping'er's voice."

Perhaps it was Ping'er's good reputation that had an effect, or perhaps she sensed Jia Lian's urgency at that moment.

Unable to speak, Li Wan blinked her innocent eyes and nodded subconsciously.

"What's the matter?"

Sure enough, Ping'er's calm voice came from the doorway: "Your Highness, Concubine Xue requests an audience."

Jia Lian's expression faltered slightly.

He thought to himself, "This is really strange. I just came out to relieve myself, but it's like everyone made a pact to come find me."

In retaliation, Jia Lian pressed down on Li Wan's head and continued to ask, "Oh, what does Aunt want with me?"

"This servant does not know, but the concubine is currently in the back corridor."

Jia Lian was speechless, thinking that perhaps this was the downside of having such a high status—wherever he went, countless eyes were on him.

It's not as easy as it used to be to steal someone's affections.

They intended to punish Aunt Xue in the same way they punished Li Wan, and even let Aunt Xue in as well.

I felt there was something wrong with it.

Before Jia Lian could figure out how to deal with Aunt Xue, Li Wan had already made the decision for him.

She gently stroked him a few times, then looked up and said, "I'll go through the front door."

After saying that, without waiting for Jia Lian's agreement, he fled from the front like a thief.

Jia Lian hesitated, so he did not stop him.

Suddenly, anger welled up within him.

Without tidying his clothes or getting up, he simply said to the door, "Let her in."

Ping'er remained silent at the door to the inner room.

She didn't understand why, as soon as Jia Lian left his seat, the eldest mistress and Aunt Xue followed him like bees and butterflies.

Although she didn't see what Jia Lian and Li Wan were doing in the room, her intuition told her that they couldn't be innocent.

It was a bit unexpected, but not that unexpected.

She knew very well what kind of person her husband was, having been with him for so many years.

A pretty young woman like Grandma would definitely be someone her husband wouldn't mind trying if given the chance.

She didn't care much about it and didn't plan to tell Sister Feng.

She was indeed loyal to Wang Xifeng, but she wouldn't tell her everything.

On the contrary, what good would it do to tell Wang Xifeng these things, except that it might cause discord between the grandparents?

She wouldn't do something like sowing discord.

However, what does it mean that the Second Master let his concubine go in as well?
She was wrong. The Second Master and the First Madam were simply talking inside the room, so they weren't afraid of being seen by the concubine.

Or……

Ping'er didn't dare to think too much about it. After replying "yes," she turned around and went around the two doors to the back corridor. She said to Aunt Xue, who was waiting there, "The prince is inside. Please come in and talk, Aunt."

Aunt Xue didn't notice Ping'er's deep gaze; she was indeed eager to see Jia Lian.

Therefore, following Ping'er's instructions, they entered the room through the back door.

The room was large and deep, so even with candles lit, many places inside were still dark.

If an unfamiliar person walks in, they will feel a sense of tension, as if they are entering a den of thieves.

Fortunately, they hadn't gone far. Just as they turned the corner past the wooden screen, they saw Jia Lian sitting in a chair in the corner by the flickering candlelight.

Upon seeing Jia Lian's appearance, Aunt Xue's usually dignified and elegant face immediately turned red.

The words he was about to say were immediately swallowed back down.

Seeing Jia Lian beckoning to her with a blank expression, Aunt Xue hesitated for a moment and asked doubtfully, "Where is Zhu'er's wife...?"

It turns out that Aunt Xue, like Li Wan, slipped out to find Jia Lian after he left his seat.

However, she was not as quick as Li Wan.

They had thought that Li Wan might just want to say a few words to Jia Lian and would come out in a little while.

Unexpectedly, there was no movement for quite some time. Since time was limited, she took the initiative to step forward and request an audience.

But there doesn't seem to be anyone else in this room right now.

Moreover, given Jia Lian's tense demeanor, it's easy to guess what happened inside the room just now.

Aunt Xue showed no surprise or dissatisfaction, thinking it was perfectly normal.

Knowing Jia Lian's style, it would be strange if he didn't want to eat such a beautiful woman in his own garden. Sure enough, Jia Lian sneered, "You still have the nerve to ask? Of course you scared her away. Come here."

Hearing that Li Wan had run away in fright, Aunt Xue smiled and was about to walk over.

Seeing Jia Lian's expression darken again, Aunt Xue immediately stopped in her tracks, looking slightly conflicted.

However, she soon followed her heart, gave Jia Lian a fawning smile, and then slowly knelt down, crawling on all fours toward Jia Lian.

……

When Jia Lian returned to the banquet, an incense stick had already burned.

Daiyu had also returned and was watching intently with Baochai as Shen Pan'er and the other dancers gracefully danced in the main hall.

Jia Lian was not surprised by the appearance of Shen Pan'er and the others.

He must have rushed back from the music hall after hearing the news of his investiture as a king.

Sitting back down, Jia Lian noticed Daiyu turning her head to look at him and said, "Um, my stomach's a little upset..."

Daiyu frowned slightly and gave a disgusted look.

In fact, Jia Lian's explanation was purely out of a guilty conscience; there was no need for further explanation.

Since Daiyu didn't know when he left, she naturally wouldn't suspect his whereabouts.

Baochai and the others in the palace simply didn't care.

So Jia Lian sat comfortably between the two women, watching the dance in the center of the hall.

Compared to what Jia Lian saw at Tianxiang Tower, Shen Pan'er and the others at this time were more graceful and conservative in both their clothing and dance style.

To be honest, having gotten used to seeing them wearing sheer fabrics or even nothing at all, seeing them dressed so neatly and dancing with such graceful postures now feels strangely refreshing.

However, Jia Lian was used to seeing it, so he didn't pay as much attention as others.

So attention turned to the people in attendance.

He just glances at whichever color looks better and whichever figure is more graceful and eye-catching.

He soon discovered that even Sister You Er and Sister You San had arrived at some point.

The three sisters each possess their own unique charm; sitting together, it's hard not to attract attention.

Jia Lian thought for a moment, then beckoned Ping'er over and whispered a few instructions in her ear.

Ping'er obeyed and went to do as she was told.

Jia Lian's every move attracted attention.

Those close to them, like Baochai and Daiyu, would naturally find it easier to spot.

After Ping'er left, Daiyu asked curiously, "Why did you ask Sister-in-law You to stay later?"

"Uh... I have something to discuss with her."

Jia Lian's words were clearly perfunctory, which made Daiyu somewhat unhappy.

Baochai, standing nearby, laughed and said, "Sister Lin, you don't know, our husband is going to be a groom again..."

Baochai's words clearly indicated that she already knew something.

Noticing a change in Daiyu's expression, Jia Lian quickly coaxed her, "Well, two years ago, my sister-in-law said she would marry her two younger sisters to me."

I agreed at the time.

Now that my mourning period is over and you two have entered the family, I should naturally keep my promise.

Lin Daiyu wouldn't want her second brother to be a man of his word, would she?

As Jia Lian spoke, he gave Baochai a look, signaling her not to undermine him any further.

"Pooh……"

Daiyu gave Jia Lian a look that seemed to say, "Do you think I'm a fool?"

He's clearly a lecher; he wants to take any pretty girl home, yet he has the nerve to say that.

However, Daiyu had actually heard of the You sisters.

After all, they were both young women, and instead of getting married, they stayed at the older sister's house all day.

Occasionally, Jia Lian would visit them, and everyone in both households knew what that meant.

So although Daiyu was somewhat unhappy, she did not intend to stop it.

If Daiyu was like this, then Baochai was even more so.

She turned her head and said with a smile, "My husband is right. Now that you are a prince, you should naturally keep your word even more."

I think both of those younger sisters are excellent people, worthy of their husbands.

I just wonder where your husband plans to settle them after he marries them?

Although I know that Baochai sometimes says things she doesn't mean, I have to admit that what she says just sounds pleasant.

So he turned around and asked with a smile, "What do you think of the Aojing Creek Pavilion?"

"Does my husband intend for them to stay at the Aojing Creek Inn together?"

"Yes, the two sisters have a good relationship and can't bear to be apart."

Baochai smiled, not bothering to determine whether Jia Lian's words were true or false, and nodded in comment: "The Aojingxi Pavilion is quite nice."

Although the terrain is low, it has the advantage of being open and spacious, and it is built next to the water.

Summer is not only cool, but also, on the fifteenth of the month, one can enjoy the moon reflected in the water, which is much more pleasant than my mountain home.

Baochai also learned bad habits from Jia Lian.

Daiyu said she lived in the mountains, which was originally a joke.

Now she even identifies herself as a mountain dweller.

Although Daiyu and Baochai have a good relationship now, she still dislikes that Baochai always agrees with Jia Lian.

At this point, he deliberately picked a fight: "Yes, the Aojingxi Pavilion is very good. Not only is it convenient for people to enjoy the moon, but it's also convenient for mosquitoes to enjoy the moon."

"Wait until summer, when people and mosquitoes can enjoy the moon together—that'll be truly interesting!"

Baochai was taken aback, then smiled and remained silent.

Jia Lian reached out and pinched her cheek, scolding, "You little mouth of yours, you're not comfortable unless you choke someone, are you?"

Daiyu pushed Jia Lian's hand away, and realizing that many people were looking over, she felt embarrassed to do anything further.

The dinner ended in a joyful and harmonious atmosphere.

Although many people regretted not having a good opportunity to get close to Jia Lian, the overall atmosphere was festive.

After chatting and laughing with her sisters for a while, Baochai, Daiyu, and the others also went their separate ways.

Suddenly, Qingwen came up from behind and said to them, "His Highness has ordered that Princess Lin and Princess Xue be granted permission to bathe in Hanfang Pavilion."

Upon hearing this, the sisters all looked at Baochai and Daiyu with envy in their eyes.

Hanfang Pavilion was a luxurious bathing place built by Jia Lian specifically for the imperial concubine.

They also went inside for a visit.

Later, Yuan Chun bestowed the entire palace upon Jia Lian, which became the bathing place for Jia Lian and his wife. Naturally, their younger sisters and sisters-in-law could no longer enter there.

Hearing the commotion and discussion behind them, Grandmother Jia and the others who were walking in front also turned around.

After understanding the situation, and seeing her two obviously shy granddaughters, Grandmother Jia smiled and said, "Since it is the Prince who bestows this bath upon you, you should not disappoint his kindness. Go on."

After saying that, he instructed Qingwen, Zijuan and the others to take good care of him.

They didn't give Baochai and Daiyu any chance to refuse.

Grandmother Jia had no idea of ​​Daiyu and Chaiyu's worries.

Forget about granting them a bath; knowing Jia Lian as they did, that guy would most likely come over and join them in the bath halfway through.

Of course, even if Grandmother Jia and the others knew, they wouldn't care; they would only envy how wonderful youth is. (End of Chapter)