The Second Master of the Red Chamber

Ningrong Street is always brightly lit.

The carriages and sedan chairs for Grandmother Jia and Lady You were already prepared.

Seeing the sleepy look on Daiyu, Yingchun, and the others' faces, Jia Lian smiled and said to them, "It's just that you've had a hard day's trip. You don't need to come to the palace with me tomorrow."

Upon hearing this, the group immediately perked up.

What an honor it was to be able to kowtow before the spirit tablet of the retired emperor.

For both Yingchun and Jia Cong, they secretly longed to be like Jia Lian and transform into princes and grandsons of the emperor.

However, knowing their lowly status, they dared not hope for more.

Before Jia Lian returned, they dared not pay their respects to the spirit tablet of the retired emperor as imperial grandsons.

Grandmother Jia and the others dared not invite trouble by taking them along, because they might not be able to get in at all.

Now that Jia Lian is leading them to kowtow, it can be considered a significant step in vindicating them.

"Your Highness, gentlemen, the carriages and horses are ready, we may depart."

The butler trotted over to report.

When Jia Lian looked back, he saw a large number of carriages and sedan chairs belonging to Grandmother Jia, Jia Zheng, and others on the long street.

There were three luxurious carriages in front of him, as well as a fine horse-drawn carriage for Yingchun and her maids.

Needless to say, the three luxurious carriages were the exclusive vehicles for Fengchai, Daiyu, and the other two.

All three princesses are going out today, and without any special instructions, the servants have naturally harnessed all the horses.

Jia Lian said, "Why make such a big show of it? It will be inconvenient to park the carriage after we enter the palace."

The princesses only need one carriage.

After saying that, Jia Lian said to Baochai and Daiyu, "Let's ride in the same carriage, so we can chat on the way."

Meanwhile, the steward had already ordered the carriages of Baochai and Daiyu to be returned to the mansion, leaving only Fengjie's carriage.

So, when Jia Lian saw the three women off to their carriage, he waited to board and lift the curtain. Once inside the carriage, he saw his three beautiful wives sitting on opposite sides, arranged in a triangular formation.

Among them, Sister Feng had a half-smile, while Baochai and Daiyu sat upright with no expression.

The three women were all of exceptional beauty, some were stunningly beautiful and slender, others were quiet and composed, and still others were graceful and agile.

Even with only three people, the scene still managed to depict a vibrant and diverse landscape!
Jia Lian smiled slightly, walked over to Feng Jie'er, and sat down next to Daiyu.

Then he looked left and right, his face revealing no trace of smugness.

Over time, the wives naturally find it difficult to maintain their original demeanor.

When he looked over again, Daiyu frowned and glared at him.

Sister Feng laughed and said, "It's not like we haven't seen each other before. We just saw each other last night. Why are you looking at us like that? Are you trying to make us sisters shy?"

Jia Lian sighed, "Who told you all to be so beautiful? I can't get enough of looking at you."

"Besides, there were too many people last night, so I didn't have time to look at it carefully, let alone say a few words to you."

Now we really need to make up for lost time.

As Jia Lian spoke, he took Daiyu's small hand and made her sit closer to him.

Then, taking advantage of their being moved by his sweet words, he subtly pulled them both into his arms, one on each side, thus achieving the feat of having them on both sides.

Sister Feng saw through Jia Lian's trick at a glance.

She lifted her head from Jia Lian's embrace and looked at Daiyu shyly punching Jia Lian with her delicate fist. She couldn't help but ask with a smile, "Since my husband says so, then I would like to ask."

In your heart, who is the most beautiful among me, my two sisters, and myself?

Upon hearing these words, Daiyu subconsciously stopped her violent outburst.

Even Baochai, who was standing nearby, turned her gaze over.

Jia Lian's heart skipped a beat, and for a moment he couldn't even care less about the two women's soft, fragrant bodies against his skin.

He pretended to scrutinize the three women carefully, and then, amidst their expectant and scrutinizing gazes, he sighed dejectedly.
"Please spare my husband."

You are all born with stunningly beautiful appearances, each with your own unique charm.

As a mortal with mortal eyes, how could I possibly discern the face of a celestial being?
Please forgive me, but I truly cannot answer this question.

As Jia Lian spoke, he hugged the two women in his arms tighter, preventing them from scrutinizing him any further.

Daiyu and Fengjie both pursed their lips.

Daiyu even secretly pinched Jia Lian's waist, whether out of dissatisfaction with his reply or his behavior, it's unclear.

However, both women breathed a sigh of relief.

The relationship between the three of them is quite delicate now, and each of them can feel Jia Lian's respect and affection for them.

If Jia Lian were to be truly honest and give a clear answer to this question, then things would be difficult.

The winner is naturally happy, but the remaining two will likely find it difficult to cope in the future.

Seeing that they didn't continue to ask questions or pester him, Jia Lian was very satisfied with his performance, even somewhat smug.

After confirming that the two babies in her arms were well-behaved and wouldn't run away, she gestured to Baochai, who was watching from the side, indicating that there was still enough room on her thighs in front of her.

His movements were unclear, but luckily, Baochai understood them.

Her fair skin and delicate features flushed with shyness.

She shook her head, indicating her refusal.

Judging from his expression, Jia Lian's refusal was not firm.

So he boldly spoke up: "Come here."

Sitting there alone like that not only makes you look lonely, but it also makes it seem like we're ostracizing you.

"Come sit here quickly, sweetie."

Jia Lian lifted his leg, as if to express how strong his thigh was, fully capable of supporting the function of a stool.

Feng Jie and Daiyu, who were already nestled together in Jia Lian's arms and so close they could almost feel each other's breath, looked up at the sound.

She glanced at Jia Lian, then at Baochai who looked troubled beside her, and both of them turned back to Jia Lian with annoyance.

Just want to get up.

Jia Lian, of course, refused. While holding the two women tightly, he coaxed Baochai gently, "Hurry up."

Your special treatment makes even your beloved Sister Feng and Sister Lin feel embarrassed to stay in my arms.

"Come here quickly, let's have a private chat."

Upon hearing this, Baochai still harbored doubts about Jia Lian's intentions.

But as the saying goes, absence makes the heart grow fonder.

Jia Lian returned from a six-month expedition yesterday and stayed in Feng Jie's room again.

With the Emperor Emeritus now in mourning, as the eldest grandson of the Emperor, he will likely have to shoulder heavy responsibilities and will not be able to easily extricate himself from his duties.

Therefore, his desire to seize the opportunity to get close to them is both understandable and an expression of his affection for them.

After some thought, and realizing that if they lingered any longer, both Feng Jie and Daiyu would feel embarrassed and want to slip away, they decided to leave.

If someone's lack of cooperation causes the originally warm and intimate atmosphere in the train carriage to return to its previous quiet or even awkward state, it will inevitably spoil the mood for everyone.

So, meeting Jia Lian's expectant and encouraging gaze, she finally lifted her hips slightly and got off the soft seat.

Then, with a slight bow, she gracefully and elegantly sat sideways on Jia Lian's already spread legs.

Seeing Baochai's actions, Fengjie and Daiyu naturally refrained from making any further moves.

After Baochai sat down, they felt a sense of intimacy and embarrassment at their closeness.

I could only shrink myself down, too embarrassed to speak.

"Hahaha……"

Jia Lian let out a smug chuckle.

Looking at the three stunningly beautiful women so close at hand.

Feeling the light touch on his thighs and the fragrant bodies on both sides, Jia Lian felt extremely refreshed and could not control himself.

He first kissed both Sister Feng and Daiyu on the cheek.

Then he looked at Baochai and gestured for her to lean closer.

This time, Baochai didn't hesitate much. She just glanced at Fengjie and Daiyu, who were both blushing, and then blushed and moved closer.

Sure enough, Jia Lian, who was overjoyed, kissed her, and then said smugly, "Feng, Lin, and Chai, do you know what? Right now, I am the happiest man in the world."

Even if you gave me a god, I wouldn't trade it.

As he spoke, his arms, which were caressing the waists and hips of the two beauties on either side, unconsciously exerted some force, gripping the two women so tightly that they could not break free even an inch.

They showed no intention of escaping.

Just from Jia Lian's tone, they could tell how smug he was.

They glanced at each other, then quietly lowered their heads, tacitly remaining silent, simply listening to Jia Lian's self-talk while savoring the enchanting atmosphere.

……

During the grand funeral of the retired emperor, countless people entered the palace to kowtow.

As the procession of carriages and horses drew ever closer to the imperial city, the more likely they were to encounter each other.

However, this did not affect the speed of the Jia family's journey.

Almost every caravan that encountered the Jia family's convoy either deliberately avoided them or had their leaders approach them individually for a chat, demonstrating considerable respect for the Jia family. There was no way around it; the relationship between the Prince of Pingliao and the Jia family was so deep.

Even today, he still lives in the Jia family's territory and lives with the Jia family members.

And Jia Lian's prowess needs no further explanation.

News kept pouring in from Tianjin, and many people learned of the glorious victory of the Pingliao King's army in this expedition.

That's not the most important thing.

For King Pingliao, defeating the Japanese invaders and rescuing Korea was merely icing on the cake.

Aside from solidifying his unshakeable position in the military and adding another merit to his historical record, it had little impact on others.

What is truly awe-inspiring is the rumor that he returned to the capital on horseback yesterday and cut off the Third Prince's arm that same day.

No matter how down on his luck the Third Prince may be, he is still the son of the current Emperor.

His Majesty did not even harm his body, yet Jia Lian dared to cut off his arm directly.

The key point is that the palace has not reacted at all to this day, seemingly tacitly approving Jia Lian's audacity.

This has inevitably led to much speculation and discussion.

It is fair to say that if someone were to say that Jia Lian is the current emperor's biological son, many people would believe it without a doubt.

If that's really the case, combined with the fourth prince's frivolousness...

As for who will ultimately hold the throne, it remains to be seen, just as those conspiracy theories suggest.

Feng Jie and Daiyu were unaware of, and did not care about, these people's speculations.

After entering the imperial city by carriage, they inevitably felt nervous and uncomfortable.

Needless to say, Sister Feng still harbors a deep-seated fear of the palace and its inhabitants.

Daiyu, on the other hand, simply disliked such tedious and boring scenes.

Previously, in the Rongguo Mansion and Grand View Garden, she was pampered by Grandmother Jia and Jia Lian, and she didn't have to follow many rules, which inevitably led to some laziness in her personality.

But even with her laziness, she knew that in a situation like today, she couldn't afford to make a single mistake.

Otherwise, not only would it endanger himself, but it would also make Jia Lian a laughing stock.

Fortunately, Jia Lian repeatedly told her not to be nervous and to just think of herself as a granddaughter-in-law who had come to pay respects to her deceased elders.

If you don't understand something, just follow Grandmother Jia and the others.

Jia Lian had the privilege of having his carriage enter the palace, so his entourage drove directly to a specially designated area within the inner court before stopping.

Just as he was tidying himself up, another luxurious carriage slowly drove up.

Although they had never seen him before, just by looking at the group of sword servants surrounding him, Sister Feng and the others could guess who the newcomer was.

I couldn't help but feel a little surprised.

Wasn't it said that she was attacked and was recuperating at home?
They specifically expressed their concern about this matter last night.

Jia Lian nodded to Feng Jie and the others, then walked over.

When Princess Zhaoyang came out, he personally helped her out of the carriage and asked, "Why are you in the palace today?"

Princess Zhaoyang replied with a smile, "Now that my injuries have healed, I should naturally go to the palace as soon as possible to fulfill my filial duty to my grandfather."

Princess Zhaoyang originally planned to join the funeral procession later.

However, she heard that Jia Lian, on the Empress's orders, had taken over the power of funeral rites from the Fourth Prince.

Knowing that these past few days have been the busiest, she wanted to help Jia Lian share his burdens and also spend more time with him.

After all, she pretended to be injured not only to deceive the Fourth Prince, but also to mislead Wei Yan.

Now that Jia Lian has returned to the capital, these purposes are no longer needed, so there is naturally no need to pretend anymore.

As she spoke, Princess Zhaoyang's gaze swept over Feng Jie and the others behind her.

Her eyes lit up, and she ignored Jia Lian, walking straight towards them.

She politely responded to the greetings from Grandmother Jia and the others, and soon came to stand before Feng Jie and the other two.

When Sister Feng and the others bowed again, Princess Zhaoyang reached out to help them up, and then smiled and said, "No need for such formalities, ladies."

As she spoke, she looked the women over in the same way Jia Lian had, and then continued, "It's been a long time since I've seen you all. You've all become even more beautiful and charming. I'm truly ashamed of myself for not being as good as you."

Sister Feng and the others repeatedly said they dared not.

However, he also gained a more direct understanding of Princess Zhaoyang's character.

Given her status and position, it was astonishing that she could so naturally address them as "sister-in-law."

Although it was meant as a joke, it also shows that her personality is indeed as free and easy as rumored, unlike the coyness of ordinary women.

After a few lighthearted chats, seeing that Sister Feng and the others were reserved, Princess Zhaoyang didn't press them further.

Her gaze shifted and she spotted Qiao'er, who was being held in Ping'er's arms and peering at her. Her eyes immediately lit up.

"This must be Qiao'er. So cute, no wonder she's the king's daughter."

He was about to step forward and hug the person when he said that.

Qiao'er was a little shy, but when her mother and Aunt Ping told her to greet them, she reluctantly opened her arms and threw herself into the arms of this extraordinary "aunt".

Seeing that more and more imperial family members' carriages were coming from behind, Jia Lian said to Princess Zhaoyang, who was holding Qiao'er and coaxing her, "It's getting late, let's talk as we walk."

"it is good."

So Princess Zhaoyang, carrying Qiao'er, walked ahead with Jia Lian, leading everyone towards Chonghua Palace.

On the way, Princess Zhaoyang suddenly turned to Jia Lian and smiled, "Brother, you are truly blessed to have three beauties as beautiful as celestial beings by your side."

Jia Lian smiled and was about to reply when Princess Zhaoyang continued, "But doesn't Your Highness feel you've been taken advantage of by bringing them into the palace today?"

Jia Lian was taken aback and looked at her with confusion.

"Brother Wang, can't you see how many people have been secretly watching your three sisters-in-law along the way?"

Even the eunuchs were captivated by the sisters-in-law's beauty.

So many people have come from the palace to pay their respects. Doesn't Your Highness fear that your sisters-in-law's beautiful faces might be seen by unrelated people?

Upon hearing this, Jia Lian subconsciously turned around and glanced back.

As expected, the three of them together—Feng, Chai, and Dai—were already breathtakingly beautiful.

What's more, they were accompanied by several top-notch and beautiful maids, such as Ping'er and Qingwen!
When they gather together, it's like a moving garden of a hundred flowers; no one can ignore it.

Then Jia Lian looked at Princess Zhaoyang and said with a smile, "They are indeed beautiful, but in ordinary times, they are not as eye-catching as they are today."

Seeing that Princess Zhaoyang also looked puzzled, Jia Lian continued, "The three of them used to get together often when they were at home."

I liked it when I saw it, but I always felt that something was missing.

It wasn't until just now, when you stood with them, that I realized what was missing.

Princess Zhaoyang's expression immediately became somewhat unnatural: "What's missing?"

"I'm missing another person I love most."

"You're so... cheeky..."

Even though Princess Zhaoyang was used to Jia Lian's sweet words, she still felt very embarrassed in front of so many people, and her voice became much lower.

Jia Lian chuckled, even glancing back at the reactions of Feng Jie and the others, before finishing his sentence.

"As the saying goes, the finishing touch is the most important part."

It is because of your presence today that our trip, featuring a handsome man and a beautiful woman, has reached its most perfect conclusion.

How could such a situation not attract attention?

"Giggle..."

Princess Zhaoyang laughed sweetly.

Although she knew Jia Lian was just trying to coax her, she still admired and was pleased that he could come up with such a logically consistent argument in such a short time.

Just as I was about to tease Jia Lian a bit more, the little one in my arms suddenly asked:
"Princess Aunt, why does my father suffer when my mother and the others are seen by others?"
When I was at home, many people saw my mother and the others.

A small head, big eyes, full of questions.

It seemed she had been thinking about this question for quite some time, and finally couldn't help but ask for confirmation.

Her adorable appearance made Princess Zhaoyang unable to resist giving her a kiss, and then coaxing her, "That's because your mothers are so beautiful, every glance is precious."

"If too many people see them, your father won't be able to see such beautiful mothers anymore. Wouldn't that be a loss?"

Qiao'er thought to herself, "So being pretty is like having delicious candy; once you eat one, there's one less."

Then, with a furrowed brow, he said, "Then I won't let anyone see me anymore..."

"Haha, that's right, that's right. Why should our little beauty be shown to others? From now on, we'll just admire our own beauty ourselves, okay?"

"it is good."

Seeing Princess Zhaoyang deceiving his innocent and naive daughter, Jia Lian glared at her with great annoyance.

Those who were closer and could hear their conversation couldn't help but exchange glances.

They finally understood why a princess, born into nobility and seemingly favored by heaven, would be so devoted to her husband.

It turns out that even a princess like them can be easily fooled by the heartless (second brother) with his words!

...(End of chapter)