The Second Master of the Red Chamber

Upon hearing that Daiyu had arrived, Zhen Yuhuan jumped up, her little tiger teeth almost causing Jia Lian to get hurt.

Jia Lian endured the pain and, seeing Zhen Yuhuan trying to escape, quickly grabbed her.

Zhen Yuhuan seemed to realize that she had hurt Jia Lian, and gave him an apologetic look. Then she said impatiently, "Brother, please let me go. I have to go. It wouldn't be good if Sister Lin saw this."

Jia Lian laughed and said, "Why are you afraid of her?"

"It's not fear, it's..."

Seeing that she couldn't open Jia Lian's hand, Zhen Yuhuan paced anxiously.

She was now only wearing a bra and panties, with large expanses of her fair skin exposed, making her look both charming and comical.

Jia Lian couldn't bear to see the little one so frightened, so he quickly reassured her, "Alright, it would be more suspicious of her if you ran away now."

Listen to me, you should hide behind the screen first.

Don't worry, I've got everything covered.

Hearing Jia Lian say this, Zhen Yuhuan still had reservations.

However, glancing at the door where Daiyu might appear at any moment, he knew there was no time to waste, so he had no choice but to obey Jia Lian's arrangement and hide behind the screen for the time being.

The thoughtful woman didn't forget to take all her personal belongings, which the maid had brought in, with her before leaving.

Seeing that Zhen Yuhuan had hurriedly hidden herself, Jia Lian smiled, then stood up, straightened his only robe, and headed towards the door.

But before he could go out, he saw Daiyu leading Zijuan, her general, suddenly charging in.

"Sister Lin, what brings you here?"

Daiyu ignored Jia Lian, her gaze first sweeping over Jia Lian's back before settling on him.

Her eyebrows were furrowed.

Jia Lian glanced at his still-damp body and unconsciously explained, "I was just about to go soak in the hot spring in the back when you showed up."

Upon hearing this, Daiyu's suspicious face showed a hint of unease, and she forcibly looked away.

He stepped over Jia Lian and stood in the bedroom, taking a light sniff.

Then he asked, "Is there no one else here?"

Upon hearing Daiyu's delicate and recognizable voice, Zhen Yuhuan, who had just finished dressing behind the screen, felt a tremor in her heart.

I glanced back at the wardrobe behind me and couldn't help but feel the urge to hide inside.

However, before she could make a decision, Jia Lian's voice rang out at the same time: "Sister Yuhuan came by just now."

Upon hearing Jia Lian's words, Zhen Yuhuan immediately became anxious, but quickly recovered.

I had originally agreed with Daiyu that she would take a bath first, and then I would take a bath.

However, I got so caught up in the pleasure here that I forgot the time.

In addition, since he had previously asked Daiyu's confidante Xueyan to lead the way, Daiyu would be able to guess where he had gone with just a few questions.

Given Sister Lin's intelligence, if her sworn brother denies it, it will only increase her suspicions.

Thinking that his sworn brother was always adept at interpersonal relationships and had a plan that never failed him.

So he suppressed his unease, held his breath, and listened intently to how things would unfold.

Inside the room, Daiyu heard Jia Lian frankly admit that Zhen Yuhuan had come, and her tense brows relaxed a little.

She quietly turned around and continued her interrogation: "Oh, if that's the case, then where is she?"

"They just left not long ago."

Daiyu was clearly skeptical: "How come I didn't see her on my way here?"

"Perhaps we took the wrong path."

As Jia Lian spoke, he chuckled and walked up to Daiyu's small figure. He placed his hands on Daiyu's shoulders and looked at her, saying, "You little rascal."

It's not unusual for Yu Huan to come and visit me after not seeing me for so long.

Why are you interrogating me now?

Do you think I've done anything to wrong you?

Faced with Jia Lian's frank attitude, Daiyu felt inexplicably guilty.

She argued, "I was just worried about Sister Yuhuan, so I asked you one more question. How is that an interrogation?"

Besides…

At this point, Daiyu raised her beautiful eyebrows slightly and glared at Jia Lian: "It's all because of you, you love to be lecherous and bully us sisters."

If you don't do this, how can I doubt you?

A classic example of turning the tables and shifting the blame.

Jia Lian thought the taste was authentic and nodded in satisfaction, laughing, "Haha, you're right, it's all my fault, isn't it?"

but……"

Jia Lian paused for a moment, mimicking Daiyu's tone, before smiling and saying, "This matter cannot be entirely blamed on me."

You know I'm the kind of person who likes everything about you, so I have a special fondness for girls who look like you.

Besides, it's exactly like you.

Jia Lian spoke lightly, but when he heard Daiyu's words, they immediately made her eyebrows furrow.

She sneered, "Judging from your words, you really are with her...?"

Jia Lian took two steps toward Daiyu, and Daiyu pouted and took a step back, as if to say, "You're not allowed to touch me until you explain yourself."

Jia Lian had no choice but to temporarily take Daiyu's small hand, stroking it gently and saying softly, "Given the feelings between us, I can't bear to hide it from you."

Actually, Yu Huan's mother had already promised her to me before the last time she returned to Jinling.

Just like you, she's my woman now.

Jia Lian made a small embellishment, saying that Zhen Yuhuan and he had secretly pledged their lives to each other, and that it was Mrs. Zhen who had made the promise.

This is also so that the two of them can get along well in the future.

However, Daiyu was naturally not thinking about that at the moment. She was very angry when she heard Jia Lian admit it so frankly.

"So, I should thank the Crown Prince for speaking frankly about this matter?"

Daiyu had many thoughts on her mind at that moment.

Her first reaction was astonishment. How could these two people, who had been right under her nose the whole time, have secretly connected?

Was it before Zhen Yuhuan's return to the south?

Keep in mind that she hadn't even entered the family yet at that time!

And judging from the tone of my second brother's words, they probably even did that.

I just don't know if this just happened, or if it occurred before Zhen Yuhuan's last trip south.

It's infuriating if it just happened.

That girl acted like she depended on me as soon as she arrived, but then she betrayed me?
But if it were before the return to the south, it would be chilling.

The other party actually entered the family a year ahead of her without any prior notice?
So, does that mean she's the younger sister?
Furthermore, since that girl has such a relationship with my second brother, it's fine that she kept it from me.

Why do they pretend to be so close to me, and even keep bothering me?

What are her intentions?
Jia Lian knew that Daiyu was a sentimental person, and that she would have to find out about this sooner or later.

Rather than waiting until later and making her feel even more deceived, it's better to tell her sooner so we can try to get her lenient treatment.

So he ignored Daiyu's sarcasm and explained in a gentle voice, "That's not what I meant."

You know me; I've always been a greedy person.

"Just because Yu Huan looks exactly like you, I can't let her go." Jia Lian said this in a very low voice, and finally even forced his way to Daiyu's ear and whispered, "Think about it, she looks exactly like you, what if she marries someone else in the future?"

Just thinking about her being affectionate with other men is unacceptable to me.

And you... can you accept someone like you being with another man...?

Daiyu has always been imaginative.

So even though she was angry, she still listened to Jia Lian's words and passively used her imagination based on them.

Then she blushed with embarrassment and forcefully interrupted Jia Lian's ramblings: "Pah, damn it, you're talking nonsense... Don't think like that!"

Daiyu was extremely loyal to love, and even though the topic was brought up by Jia Lian, she still found it hard to accept.

After all, for her, having any other entanglement with any man other than Jia Lian was something she could not tolerate.

It's a choice between rather than die.

Perhaps it was Jia Lian's explanation that had such a remarkable effect.

Perhaps she didn't show it, but she did take Jia Lian's words to heart.

Second Brother is indeed the kind of person who loves everything about his wife. Since Sister Yu Huan looks exactly like her, it's understandable that he wouldn't let her go!
This wasn't because Daiyu was blinded by love, but because Jia Lian's past actions had already clearly demonstrated his character.

Qingwen's eyebrows and eyes were somewhat similar to hers, so Jia Lian treated her exceptionally well, practically spoiling that girl rotten.

Later, when the young actresses came to the capital, Lingguan's features were five or six points similar to hers. So he cornered the young actress at the entrance of the Grand View Garden and harassed her in public!
My second brother rarely does such things, but he did it to Lingguan that one time.

She knew all of these things.

Even a little girl like Liu Wu'er, whose appearance was completely different from hers but whose body was so weak that her figure was similar, was promoted by him and deliberately arranged to work in his Xiaoxiang Pavilion.

Based on these premises, she was willing to believe Jia Lian's explanation.

Those like her, even her second brother, are already like that.

What's more, it's Zhen Yuhuan, who's cut from the same mold as her?

This is actually why she came out specifically to look for Zhen Yuhuan after she finished taking a bath today and didn't see her return home for a long time.

She had a premonition!

Because she was mentally prepared and Jia Lian's attitude was acceptable, Daiyu appeared angry, but in reality, she wasn't that angry.

Jia Lian's understanding of Daiyu was arguably deeper than Daiyu's own.

Hearing Daiyu's tone of shame and indignation, he knew that Zhen Yuhuan had probably gotten past this hurdle; all that was left was to coax her a little.

So he continued in that tone: "See, you can't stand it either."

But as you know, Yu Huan was pushed into the river by a wicked woman in the dead of winter; she was a pitiful person.

Surely we can't force her to never get married in the future?

Rather than let her grow old alone, it's better to let me have her. Don't you think that makes sense?

"Pah, you..."

Daiyu glared at Jia Lian with utter disgust.

Out of the corner of his eye, he saw Yuanyang and Zijuan covering their mouths and laughing at the door, and he couldn't bring himself to say the rest of his curses.

The two maids who had been eavesdropping on their mistress's argument exchanged a smile when they realized they had been discovered by Daiyu, and then walked away a little.

Once everyone else was in the room, Daiyu continued to berate Jia Lian: "You shameless bastard, you can say anything without feeling ashamed."

As Daiyu spoke, she suddenly remembered something, walked over and pinched Jia Lian's arm hard, cursing:

"You insatiable wretch! Tell me, how many of our Begonia Poetry Society sisters haven't been ruined by you? You... I'll strangle you."

Daiyu grew angrier the more she thought about it. This aloof and talented woman suddenly became a fiery little pepper, grabbing Jia Lian's arm and launching a series of attacks.

While pretending to dodge Daiyu's attacks, Jia Lian secretly pondered to himself.

It seems that's true...

The entire Begonia Society, including the guest members, consisted of all the women except for that idiot Jia Baoyu.

Right now, only Sanchun, Xiangyun, Xiuyan, Baoqin, and the Li sisters are not his women.

Tan Chun, Bao Qin, and the Li sisters have already been chosen.

As for Xiuyan and Xiangyun, it shouldn't be a problem to talk to the elders.

Xiao Xichun needs to be nursed back to health for a while longer.

So, in the end, everyone except Yingchun will probably be his people.

Thinking about it this way, Jia Lian almost couldn't help but laugh.

Knowing he couldn't laugh, Jia Lian quickly tried to distract Daiyu: "Okay, stop pinching me, or I'll kiss you."

Daiyu had never taken Jia Lian's threats seriously.

Those who are pampered are always fearless.

And so, she was indeed kissed.

She had just come from a bath, and Jia Lian had just come from a hot spring; both of them still smelled of her perfume, and they were deeply attracted to each other.

As a result, Daiyu, who was already weak in combat, was easily lured into bed by Jia Lian.

Daiyu was already Jia Lian's concubine, and her relationship with Jia Lian was perfectly legitimate, so she did not resist.

They had all made preparations, but Jia Lian suddenly relented.

She opened her eyes and saw Jia Lian lying on her side, looking down at her.

Seeing that she had opened her eyes, she asked with a smile, "Sister Lin, have you forgiven me? You're not angry with me and Sister Yuhuan anymore?"

Upon hearing this, Daiyu's previously dazed gaze gradually hardened with displeasure.

She wondered when her second brother had become so silly.

After what she just did, if he just treats her well, why would she hold onto that little thing?

But he insisted on bringing it up, ruining the atmosphere.

So she stretched out a pair of soft, boneless arms to push Jia Lian away: "You're pressing down on me, move aside..."

Jia Lian naturally refused.

Not only did he not let her go, but he also grabbed Daiyu's hands, leaned down, and laughed in a closer and more ambiguous posture: "No, I won't let you go until you answer me."

"Good sister, please answer me."

Daiyu was naturally weak and couldn't push Jia Lian away.

What's more, Jia Lian deliberately pressed his mouth and nose against her face, sniffing around her ears and neck, leaving her completely helpless.

Left with no other choice, he hurriedly agreed: "Okay, okay, I'm not angry anymore. Are you satisfied now? Now move aside..."

Daiyu thought that if she complied, Jia Lian would either really let her go.

Either continue with what happened before.

The latter is clearly more likely.

But to her utter surprise, no sooner had she finished speaking than Jia Lian turned around and shouted behind the screen, "Did you hear that? Your sister Lin has forgiven you. Why aren't you coming out?"

Daiyu's previously weak body regained its strength.

She pushed Jia Lian away and turned over to sit on the edge of the bed.

Under her gaze, a nimble and slender figure slowly emerged from behind the screen.

If it's not Zhen Yuhuan, then who is it?

...(End of this chapter)