The Second Master of the Red Chamber

Chapter 718 Princess Zhaoyang's Speculation

Jia Lian went home first and prepared to change his clothes.

But he found Zhen Yuhuan was there too.

"Sworn brother..."

The little girl's eyes were filled with tears and she was reluctant to leave.

Jia Lian nodded to her, sat down, and motioned the maid to prepare robes. Then he said to Zhen Yuhuan, "I heard you are going back?"

"Well, my mother sent someone to pick me up." Zhen Yuhuan walked to Jia Lian and looked at him with a serious look.

In fact, Jia Lian was somewhat reluctant to part with this little girl.

Not to mention that her appearance is exactly the same as Daiyu, even if she calls him "brother" so lovingly as she does now, it is enough to make people feel infinite pity for her.

“Well, your mother hasn’t seen you for a long time, you should go back.

You don't have to be sad. If you miss your sister Lin and the others, just come and find them.

If it is inconvenient for you to come here by yourself, please ask Manxue to pass the message and I will pick you up in person."

Hearing Jia Lian say this, Zhen Yuhuan felt a little moved.

But her expression did not become happier, instead she looked more reluctant to leave.

She walked up to Jia Lian and said, "I'm afraid that after I leave, I won't have the chance to come here again and drink and recite poetry with Sister Lin and the others..."

Jia Lian frowned.

Yes, he almost forgot.

The Zhen family came to the capital this time at the invitation of the Queen in order to select a concubine for the Crown Prince.

It was just because the situation in the court became tense after the retired emperor’s birthday last winter, and the crown prince was deeply implicated.

After finally turning around the next year, Concubine Li committed suicide, which is why the matter has been delayed until now.

Now that these things have gradually disappeared, I think the Zhen family will not be willing to wait indefinitely...

Perhaps there will be results soon.

Now that the results are out, the Zhen family should return south.

Facing Zhen Yuhuan's gaze, Jia Lian didn't know how to comfort her.

  Congratulations on her bright future, and hope she'll become the crown prince's concubine?

No matter how dumb Jia Lian was, he could already see that this little girl must have developed some special feelings for him.

She probably wouldn't want to hear his blessing at this time.

  Jia Lian's expression relaxed, and he tapped Zhen Yuhuan's head gently to break up his pent-up emotions, then he laughed and scolded:

"No matter what happens in the future, I will always be your sworn brother.

What? Are you an ungrateful person? If you become successful in the future, you will not recognize me as your brother, and it will be difficult for me to even see you?"

Zhen Yuhuan pretended to rub her head, and after hearing Jia Lian's words, she really laughed and said flatteringly, "How could that be, I like my sworn brother the most.

Once my sworn brother is Yuhuan's brother, he will be Yuhuan's brother for life.

No matter what the future holds, no matter what Yuhuan is doing, as long as my brother wants to see me, I will come to him as quickly as possible..."

The little girl originally spoke in a brisk pace, but as she faced Jia Lian's smiling face, her voice unconsciously began to become softer, and her little face turned red, until she finally lowered her head.

What should I do? Will my brother misunderstand what others say?

Before Zhen Yuhuan could raise her head to see Jia Lian's expression, the voice of her maid Manxue came from outside the door: "Miss, it's almost time. The mothers outside are here to urge you again, asking when you can finish packing..."

All thoughts disappeared, Zhen Yuhuan raised her head.

Jia Lian, however, still smiled as usual, rubbed her head and said softly, "Go."

"Ah."

Zhen Yuhuan nodded, and the reluctance that had just dissipated appeared on her face again.

She looked back every two steps.

When she found that Jia Lian's maid had not returned from getting clothes, she suddenly turned around and threw herself into Jia Lian's arms, hugged him tightly, then glanced at Jia Lian and ran away quickly.

Only a faint fragrance is left.

……

Jia Lian changed into casual clothes and came to the east courtyard, where he saw the Fourth Prince in the entrance hall.

but……

When he saw a handsome, beardless and heroic "young man" standing up from opposite the Fourth Prince, Jia Lian's pretended humility and courtesy disappeared.

He didn't even hear the Fourth Prince running over and patting his shoulder and talking to him. He just stared at the person who came.

"How did you come."

The "young man" shook his non-existent hair and said with a smile: "Why, does the Marquis not welcome me?"

Jia Lian smiled slightly, ignoring the Fourth Prince whose face had turned very ugly, walked up to the man and took her hand.

"You've lost weight..."

"It's enough!!"

The Fourth Prince finally exploded.

He roared at Jia Lian: "You can't see me, a grown man? Believe it or not, I..."

"Shut up."

With just a few words, the furious Fourth Prince was easily suppressed.

Princess Zhaoyang then raised her head and looked at Jia Lian again, smiling sweetly, "You've become thinner and darker..."

Jia Lian smiled helplessly.

Although he had been training outside the city every day for more than a month, exposed to the wind and sun...

  But it's spring alright!

And he also pays attention to skin care, how could he get darker?

At most, not so white...

After giving Princess Zhaoyang a mischievous look, Jia Lian turned around and apologized to the Fourth Prince.

Princess Zhaoyang could brutally suppress the Fourth Prince, but Jia Lian dared not really ignore him.

After getting Jia Lian's help, the Fourth Prince looked better. He snorted, "A certain person couldn't stay in the capital after returning. She insisted that I bring her to you. She has no woman's modesty at all..."

The Fourth Prince obviously had a lot of resentment that he wanted to vent, but when he noticed that his sister's gaze had left Jia Lian and returned to him...

He couldn't help but shudder, and immediately changed his words: "Anyway, I have brought the person to you, you can decide how to get rid of her.

Um, I didn’t take a good look at your house last time. I’m going to go for a walk first, don’t worry about me.”

After saying this, the Fourth Prince ran away quickly.

The two people in the hallway looked at the Fourth Prince slipping away and smiled at each other.

Jia Lian immediately took Princess Zhaoyang's hand again and said apologetically, "It's been a long time since we last met. I should have gone to find you, but I didn't expect you to come to me first."

Princess Zhaoyang playfully asked back, "Isn't it the same that you come to find me and I come to find you?"

Jia Lian shook his head, "I'm just afraid that I owe you too much affection, and life is too short for me to repay it."

  When Princess Zhaoyang heard Jia Lian's words, she narrowed her eyes, gently fell into Jia Lian's arms, and said softly:

"If Erlang is really worried about not being able to pay it back, then please say more sweet words like this to me in the future. I like to hear them."

Jia Lian and Princess Zhaoyang's personal followers and guards had all consciously disappeared from their sight when the two were alone.

Therefore, at this moment, Jia Lian did not hesitate at all. He held Princess Zhaoyang's face and bent down to kiss her.

Princess Zhaoyang was not as shy as other women and responded immediately and enthusiastically.

After a long time, Princess Zhaoyang pressed down Jia Lian's hand that was doing harm inside her clothes.

Her action also led to their lips parting.

Seeing Jia Lian lower his head with a slightly flushed face, she shook her head and said angrily, "Even if Erlang is not worried about someone breaking in, can't he be considerate of Qingran?

I haven't received Erlang's favor for a long time. If I allow Erlang to touch me again, I'm afraid I won't be able to sleep all night.

Or does Jilang intend to pamper Qingran here?"

Princess Zhaoyang's eyes were as bright as spring, and her words were meaningful.

Jia Lian naturally didn't mind having a passionate lovemaking session with Princess Zhaoyang right now.

  This is his territory. Can't he find a suitable place?

But he could tell that Princess Zhaoyang was not willing to do so.

Yes, she is a princess after all.

It was humble enough to go against the order of the emperor and sneak to see him. If she were here again, she would have made love with him the first time she set foot in Rongguo Mansion.

It would make her, a princess, seem too cheap.

It's amazing that she could express her rejection so humorously and implicitly.

Facing such a smart and intelligent Princess Zhaoyang, Jia Lian really felt like he was blessed by God.

"Your Majesty has ordered me to train the firearms battalion, and I am going to leave the city in the afternoon.

Qingran must have been very tired accompanying the emperor to the mausoleum this time, so why not go to the imperial farm outside the north city to relax in the afternoon?" Jia Lian said.

Princess Zhaoyang covered her mouth and laughed.

How could she not know what Jia Lian meant.

She had an imperial farm outside the north city, which was given to her by the empress dowager when she came of age. It was only twenty or thirty miles away from the horse farm built by Jia Lian in the north of the city.

There is a temporary palace in the imperial manor.

That was the place where she and Jia Lian left the most traces of their love.

Therefore, she understood Jia Lian's meaning as soon as she heard it, but she did not agree immediately. Instead, she smiled and walked to the hall and sat down.

"It's been a long time since Erlang has been to my princess's mansion, right?"

Jia Lian frowned.

After taking the initiative to reveal their relationship to Emperor Ning Kang, Jia Lian occasionally went to Princess Zhaoyang's mansion.

But ever since the retired emperor interfered in their affairs, even if Princess Zhaoyang was released from the palace, Jia Lian would naturally not risk angering the retired emperor by going to the princess's mansion openly.

Now it has been two or three months.

As if she could see Jia Lian's hesitation, Princess Zhaoyang smiled and said:

"I haven't been idle these days since I left the palace. I have trained a new group of sword servants. Erlang, don't you want to go and take a look?

And doesn’t Erlang like watching dance the most? I also let the beautiful maids learn it…” Princess Zhaoyang’s words were obviously suggestive.

Jia Lian smiled, walked to the other side and sat down, then looked at Princess Zhaoyang and said seriously: "It's okay for me to go to the princess's mansion. Even if someone tells the emperor, the worst that can happen is that he will demote me.

I deserve it anyway.

I just don't want Qingran to suffer again because of my negligence.

Qing Ran has the ambition to be as brave as a man. It is not easy for her to have the position she has today. How can I bear to sacrifice Qing Ran's favor again and again? "

Although Jia Lian's words were quite sincere, and were the kind of love words that Princess Zhaoyang liked to hear, Princess Zhaoyang did not show any emotion at this time.

She even pouted, as if she was very bored.

"Really? Ji Lang doesn't know how to follow other people's wishes at all."

Princess Zhaoyang gave Jia Lian a coquettish and angry look, and then she confessed, "Yuan Yao is my closest maid, and we grew up together, so I gave her a token so that she can enter and leave my princess's mansion freely.

If Erlang had been thoughtful, he should have personally arranged for a carriage to escort her back when she missed me, and brought her straight to the Princess's residence to reminisce with me..."

Jia Lian was stunned when he heard this, but Princess Zhaoyang just blinked at him.

Jia Lian laughed, "My Qing Ran is really thoughtful. Okay, I will arrange a carriage to take her to see you this afternoon."

Princess Zhaoyang was very happy to see that Jia Lian not only understood what she meant, but also immediately decided to go down to the princess's mansion to see her.

After all, as a woman, she shouldn't show her modesty too much, so she just replied lightly: "In that case, I will stay in the mansion and wait for Yuan Yao to come back."

Then his eyes turned and his expression suddenly became serious.

"In fact, the reason I asked Ling'er to bring me here this time was not just to meet Erlang..."

"I feel like my father seems to be planning something..."

Jia Lian took great pains to get the words "Ling'er" and "Ling'er" out of his mind, and only then did he carve the words "Wei Ling" deeply into the forehead of the fierce-looking Fourth Prince, and only then did he suppress the strange feeling in his heart.

Then he looked at Princess Zhaoyang, who was frowning and seemed hesitant and anxious. His heart moved, but he remained calm and asked back: "Oh, Qingran, what do you think His Majesty is planning?"

Princess Zhaoyang was still very hesitant at first, she was worried that she was thinking too much.

  But facing Jia Lian's usual calm expression...beneath this handsome and calm face, it seemed that nothing could confuse him!

Suddenly, I came to a conclusion in my mind.

  She took the teacup beside her, dipped her index finger in the tea, then turned sideways and wrote two words at an angle that would be convenient for Jia Lian:

"Forced into the palace."

Jia Lian was shocked, and did not bother to hide it. He asked in a deep voice, "What did you find?"

Princess Zhaoyang paid attention to Jia Lian's expression while writing, and seeing this made her guess more certain.

Princess Zhaoyang wiped out the two words and shook her head:

“I actually didn’t find anything.

I just feel that my father has been very depressed ever since Grandpa Emperor’s birthday.

Although my father didn’t like to laugh and was very majestic, he was still very kind to Ling’er and me.

Especially after my grandmother, the Dowager Concubine, passed away, even if I was just watching from a distance, I seemed to be able to feel the coldness from him.

I also heard that on the day my grandmother, the Concubine Dowager, passed away, my father went to Chonghua Palace to plead for mercy... In the end, my father walked away in anger in front of my grandfather!"

Jia Lian listened quietly.

What Princess Zhaoyang said alone does not seem to be enough to support her horrifying point of view.

Emperor Ningkang was a serious person who could not tolerate any injustice. Many people in the court and the public regarded him as mean.

He was naturally dissatisfied when his carefully prepared "land clearing" plan was rejected and shelved. The emperor was dissatisfied, and under the mighty power of the dragon, ordinary people naturally could not bear it.

As for walking away with the Emperor…

After all, Concubine Li was his biological mother. As a son, it is only natural for Emperor Ning Kang to express dissatisfaction and resentment after his biological mother was sentenced to death, right?

Princess Zhaoyang waited for a moment, and seeing that Jia Lian did not speak, she continued, "This time in Xiaoci County, my father summoned many of the accompanying civil and military officials.

Although my father did the same when he was in the capital, I noticed that the ministers, especially the military officers, summoned by my father this time were almost all promoted after he took power.

Most of these people are relatively young military officers in Beijing.

Although these are all public summons and not conducted in secret, I am always worried. Do you think my father would really want to...?"

Princess Zhaoyang sounded worried.

Not to mention that Emperor Ningkang and the retired emperor were both good to her... except for the incident between her and Jia Lian, she had a lot of resentment towards the retired emperor.

But generally speaking, these two are her closest relatives. If they really turn against each other, no matter who is hurt, she doesn't want to see it.

  Moreover, if the two supreme beings meet in battle, what a terrible scene it will cause and how many innocent people will die tragically!

This was a situation that Princess Zhaoyang did not want to see.

So he looked at Jia Lian hopefully again.

In her opinion, Jia Lian was a military commander promoted by Emperor Ning Kang, and he held considerable military power. If Emperor Ning Kang really had any idea, Jia Lian would most likely know about it!

After listening to Princess Zhaoyang's words, Jia Lian realized that she was just guessing and had no direct evidence.

But the more this happened, the more Jia Lian respected this woman.

  You know, he was able to keenly sense that Emperor Ning Kang might do something big based on the situation, and that was mainly because he had the memories of his previous life!

He knew that Tiewang Mountain was a special place, and that it suddenly appeared at such a time when a storm was about to come. He could sense that something big was going to happen, which was not worthy of praise.

However, Princess Zhaoyang did not have this kind of prophetic ability, but she also boldly guessed that her father was going to do something big based on some clues.

  Although she was just guessing, it was enough to make Jia Lian admire her!

It also proved that his decision to support Princess Zhaoyang to become his right-hand man was wise and far-sighted.

Princess Zhaoyang's understanding of the situation in the court and the country and her grasp of the general trend were absolutely ahead of the times.

At the same time, this also made Jia Lian feel a little worried.

It is said that things are accomplished through secrecy.

Jia Lian didn't know whether Princess Zhaoyang's situation was an accident or not.

If, besides him and Princess Zhaoyang, there were other smart people who also saw this, would it have an impact on Emperor Ning Kang's major events?

Although he knew from the prophet that there was a power struggle between Emperor Ning Kang and the retired emperor, it was most likely that Emperor Ning Kang would win.

As I said, the world is different after all because of his arrival!

Even Princess Zhaoyang could be said to have been influenced by him.

Yes, without him, Princess Zhaoyang might not have established a palace, nor would she have had so much money to build up her power.

Without these, Princess Zhaoyang might not have been able to guess it.

  What Jia Lian is worried about now is that the outcome of such a major event must not be distorted because of him!

Emperor Ning Kang was his greatest political resource and backer. If Emperor Ning Kang was defeated, Jia Lian did not have enough confidence to calmly deal with the bloody storm that would follow.

  Although the emperor was quite good to him, if Erhu was to be injured, Jia Lian would naturally hope that Emperor Ning Kang would win!

As these thoughts flashed through his mind, Jia Lian also saw Princess Zhaoyang's expression and guessed what she was thinking.

He shook his head: "You don't have to look at me, I know even less than you.

Before His Majesty left the capital, he only ordered me to train the soldiers well, and then he gave me no more orders.

Originally I thought that His Majesty might summon me today, but until now, it hasn't happened.

Therefore, I cannot judge whether your guess is correct. I can only tell you that since ancient times, there is no two suns in the sky and no two rulers in a country.

The current conflict between the Emperor and Your Majesty is bound to be irreconcilable, so..."

Princess Zhaoyang was disappointed at first, but then she couldn't help asking, "Erlang can't solve it?"

Jia Lian smiled bitterly: "Qing Ran thinks too highly of me.

Not to mention me, when it comes to the supreme imperial power, no one except Your Majesty and the Emperor himself, not even the Crown Prince, has the right to speak.

Qingran, don't try to get involved. Believe me, it will not do any good to you or us, and it may even harm your father!"

Princess Zhaoyang was silent for a while, then she smiled bitterly.

Yes, how could she not understand this truth? Just like she clearly guessed that Emperor Ning Kang might make a big move, but she dared not tell anyone, so she could only wait until she returned to Beijing and secretly came to see Jia Lian.

"Don't worry, Erlang. I know the seriousness of the matter. I haven't told anyone about this except you, not even the Empress Dowager."

Hearing Princess Zhaoyang say this, Jia Lian felt much more at ease.

She was afraid that Princess Zhaoyang would act on her emotions and tell the Queen Mother about this.

Once the Queen Mother knew about it, there was no way she would hide it from the Emperor, either out of her feelings for him or her position.

If this is the case, it would be good if Emperor Ning Kang retreated when he knew it was difficult. I am afraid that he did not know and started the incident without knowing what was going on, and the outcome would be unpredictable.

The emperor had been in power for decades and was well versed in political tactics. Even though he now lived in Chonghua Palace, he still controlled the military power of the capital, especially the Forbidden Palace.

Emperor Ning Kang must have not spent all these years in vain. But only he himself knows how much he has infiltrated.

Therefore, on the surface, it is difficult for Jia Lian to determine who wins and who loses.

He only knew that if he hadn't been there, Emperor Ning Kang would have won. And he, the biggest variable, also supported Emperor Ning Kang, so there was no reason for Emperor Ning Kang to lose...

Patting Princess Zhaoyang's hand, Jia Lian suddenly whispered, "If Qingran's guess is true, based on my understanding of His Majesty, he will most likely choose to hunt in Tiewang Mountain.

For Qingran's safety, you should not go to the hunting trip in Tiewang Mountain. Qingran is a woman anyway, so she doesn't need to go. There's no need to put herself in danger..."

Princess Zhaoyang loved him so sincerely that Jia Lian naturally cared about her safety.

It involves a coup d'état, which will most likely involve fighting and bloodshed. Jia Lian does not want Princess Zhaoyang to fall into danger.

But before he finished speaking, he knew that his efforts were in vain.

Princess Zhaoyang looked at him and shook her head firmly: "If Erlang's guess is correct, then I will go even more.

On one side is my father, and on the other side is my grandfather and grandmother who loves me the most. I must go.

But rest assured, Erlang, I won't do anything rash. The reason I want to go is because I want to protect the Royal Grandmother and Ling'er, and do my best to reduce the bloodshed.

Moreover, I once said that I would help Erlang achieve his ambitions.

For such a major event, even if Erlang is very capable, I am afraid that once it happens, he will not be able to influence the direction.

If I were involved, even if it was just to pass on information to Erlang, it might play a crucial role.

So whether for Jilang or for everyone I care about, I have to go."

Jia Lian was silent.

"Don't worry, Erlang. Before anything happens, I won't favor my father or grandfather.

I just don't want something to happen and I'm not there, causing me to not be able to do anything and end up with the worst possible outcome.

Moreover, as a princess, I must stay in the safest place. I believe that no matter how my father and grandfather fight, they will not hurt me, so Erlang does not need to worry about me.

It's Erlang himself. Being in the whirlpool, he should be careful and cautious..."

Princess Zhaoyang seemed to have thought of something when she said this. She looked at Jia Lian nervously, but finally she just pulled Jia Lian's hand to her belly and said gently but earnestly: "I have already lost a child. I am still waiting for Erlang to give me another child, so you must ensure your own safety..."