The Second Master of the Red Chamber

Chapter 830 Promise
Even though he couldn't see Tan Chun's face clearly in the darkness, Jia Lian knew that she must be smiling sweetly at that moment.

So Jia Lian cupped her fragrant shoulders with both hands, pulled the little maid closer to him, and, amidst her noticeably more uneasy breathing, whispered:
"Good girl, since you treat me so sincerely, why don't you let me taste the rouge on your lips too?"

Don't worry, I'll only try one bite.

I imagine you won't tell anyone, so there's no need to worry about your older sister being angry.

Jia Lian's voice seemed to have a magical power over Tan Chun in the darkness.

Although Tan Chun didn't understand the connection between letting Jia Lian taste the rouge and not making Bao Chai angry, at that moment, Jia Lian's words seemed logical to her.

She hesitated, unsure whether she should grant Jia Lian's small request.

She was in a dilemma.

On the one hand, she knew that eating rouge represented a very intimate act, which was something she shouldn't do with Jia Lian.

On the other hand, he felt that Jia Lian was right.

It was dark and no one would see her, and she certainly wouldn't report Jia Lian for bullying her, so she wasn't worried about affecting Jia Lian's reputation.

By the way, even if others find out, it doesn't really matter, right?

I feel like I'm no longer his sister; he's a member of the royal family...

Thinking of this, Tan Chun could no longer suppress her impulse. After nodding with difficulty, she looked nervously at Jia Lian.

Jia Lian was deeply moved when he saw that Tan Chun agreed without saying a word.

He found himself unusually nervous at that moment!

Clearly, he has secretly tasted countless beauties' rouge.

He was clearly more excited than nervous when he was taking Baochai's virginity today.

For some reason, the thought of kissing the lips on that small face so close to his own stirred up a strange, stimulating emotion in Jia Lian that he couldn't suppress.

He couldn't figure it out, and he was too lazy to think about it. He simply opened his mouth wide and lowered his head fiercely.

His ferocity "frightened" the nervous and bewildered Tan Chun. As Jia Lian's face got closer and clearer, she could no longer think independently. She closed her eyes and her mind wandered.

Thus, Tan Chun, the younger sister of the imperial concubine, the third young lady of the Jia family, and one of the Twelve Beauties of Jinling, lost her first kiss in the dark of night, on a deserted stone arch bridge.

Before she could even savor her first kiss, she noticed Jia Lian's hands on her body moving toward a place she absolutely couldn't show to anyone.

She immediately started moaning and tried to get rid of Jia Lian's attempt to kiss her.

"Second brother, no..."

Tan Chun was shy, but she was even more afraid.

Although she longed to be close to Jia Lian, she hadn't decided whether she wanted to give herself to him.

She learned from books and plays that once a man is aroused by lust, he is no different from a wild beast.

She feared that if she didn't stop him, Jia Lian would completely transform into a ferocious beast and devour her whole.

Jia Lian also realized that his actions had frightened Tan Chun.

Of course, he had no intention of doing anything to Tan Chun right now.

Putting aside the fact that he had just accepted Baochai as his concubine today, he had absolutely no intention of having another big meal.

Take Tan Chun for example. Although she looks much taller than Daiyu, she is actually several months younger than Daiyu!
He couldn't bear to eat it now.

So he lifted Tan Chun's shoulders again and said with a smile, "It was Second Brother's fault. He shouldn't have touched you... he shouldn't have treated you like that."

Alright, since you've already agreed to give your second brother the rouge, how about I carry you back as a reward?"

"Oh? That won't do. It's so dark on the road. How can I ask you to carry me? Why don't you sit here for a bit, and I'll go to Daoxiang Village to get a lantern?"

"No need. Don't worry, silly girl. What haven't I seen and done? What's a little nighttime walk?"

Tan Chun thought about the embarrassment she had endured on her journey, and also thought that this might be her second brother's way of expressing his affection for her. So she hesitated for a moment, but still nodded.

So Jia Lian got up and squatted down, letting Tan Chun walk behind him. He then rolled his arms around her back and easily carried her heavy body, which weighed about seventy pounds.

Jia Lian knew the route from Daoxiang Village to the garden exit like the back of his hand; he could practically walk it blindfolded without getting lost.

Even so, after carrying Tan Chun on his back, Jia Lian changed his brisk pace from when he came, and instead took one step at a time, as if he was afraid of making a mistake and hurting the person he was carrying.

Tan Chun curled up on Jia Lian's back, feeling the ups and downs with his steps, and her heart was filled with warmth.

This was the first time since she could remember that a man had carried her on his back, and the first time she had been so close to a man!

Seeing that Jia Lian remained silent, she leaned close to his ear to break the chilling silence, her voice burning as she asked, "Second Brother, you...you ate my rouge, so...so in the future, will I...will I be..."

Tan Chun secretly regretted that she couldn't bring herself to ask those few words.

Fortunately, Jia Lian understood what she meant and turned around to smile, "Don't worry, silly girl, you're going to be my woman from now on. You can't run away even if you want to."

Tan Chun hurriedly reached out and covered her chest tightly, but tears still flowed uncontrollably and fell onto Jia Lian's back.

Summer clothes are thin, and Jia Lian soon felt the hot tears welling up in his eyes.

She glanced back, stopped, and asked in surprise, "Why are you crying? Is it because you don't want to be Second Brother's person?"

"No, no, I'm willing, I'm willing to be my second brother's person..."

Tan Chun hurriedly wiped away her tears, saying, "I'm just so happy. Finally, finally I got my second brother's promise. From now on, I have someone to rely on."

Tan Chun spoke very quickly, as if afraid that if she explained too slowly, Jia Lian would misunderstand.

Upon hearing this, Jia Lian's expression turned somewhat solemn. However, unsure of what to say, he patted the little girl's bottom after a long pause and comforted her:
"Alright, if anything happens in the future, or if you suffer any grievances, just tell your second brother. Don't be distant, understand?"

Jia Lian knew a little about the inner turmoil of Tan Chun's heart. If Daiyu's melancholy was due to the helplessness of living under someone else's roof, then Tan Chun's suffering was the helplessness of being born into a large family, having lofty ambitions, yet being unable to extend them even a little.

Now, under his care, Daiyu has almost completely distanced herself from the sources of her sorrow.

Of course, he also suffered some pressure from his womanizing ways, but he was convinced that things were generally for the better.

As for Tan Chun, it seems quite simple for him to relieve her pain.

He used to worry that, given his current physical condition, he was still the other party's cousin and therefore couldn't act in a way that suited him.

From now on, there will be no more worries.

Of course, it's the same old strategy.

He hasn't even fully sorted out Baochai's matter yet, so it would be best to keep this Tan girl out of the loop for now.

Tan Chun was unaware that Jia Lian was preparing to temporarily sideline her. She was still happily thinking that in the future she could, like Daiyu and Baochai, rightfully rely on Jia Lian's broad chest.

Yes, she was more resilient than the average woman, and possessed both self-respect and lofty ambitions.

But most of these characteristics were forced out of necessity.

Many years ago, she was just a pampered and carefree young lady from a wealthy family.

It wasn't until they grew up and experienced the ways of the world that they became more mature.

At first, she longed to be loved by many elders like Jia Baoyu.

When feeling wronged, they have a father, mother, or siblings to confide in.

But the fact is.

Jia Zheng was a man devoted to Confucianism and, apart from intimidating Jia Baoyu, he cared nothing about the affairs of the inner quarters.

Needless to say, her mother, Aunt Zhao, was a patriarchal woman who believed that everything she had should be given unconditionally to her younger brother, Jia Huan.

As for Jia Huan, well, he's just a pathetic scoundrel who's been instigated by his mother to be wicked and corrupt.

Jia Baoyu treated her well, but unfortunately he was someone who only cared about the present and didn't consider the future at all.

Given these premises, it's understandable why she was so close to Jia Lian when he rose to prominence and took good care of his younger sisters.

Unfortunately, Jia Lian was not his biological brother, so even if they wanted to get closer, there was still a barrier between them.

Later, she came to a realization.

It is better to rely on oneself than to rely on others.

She thought that if she could be like Yuan Chun, leaving the Duke's mansion and standing on her own, that would be wonderful.

The idea is beautiful, but the reality is cruel.

How many women in the world are as fortunate as Yuan Chun?
As a young lady born out of wedlock in a Duke's mansion who was not well-regarded, the stage available for her to showcase her talents was far too small.

She could only try her best to appear sensible in front of her elders, daring not to be willful in the slightest, in order to gain their approval.

It has some effect, but not much.

In her quiet distress, she suddenly realized that she had seriously underestimated her cousin.

It shot straight into the sky at great speed, towering above the clouds.

She discovered that she didn't seem to need to put in much effort anymore.

This elder brother can shine a ray of light on anyone around him, making them feel as radiant as sunshine.

So she felt that as a girl, it was better to have someone trustworthy to rely on.

This is why she was secretly delighted when she learned that Jia Lian was not a member of the Jia family, but of royal blood.

Tan Chun was secretly reflecting on the present and the past, and when she came to her senses, she found that Jia Lian had been silent for a long time.

After pondering for a moment, she couldn't help but ask, "Is Second Brother worried about how to explain... explain my situation to Sister Feng and the others?"

"How could that be, you silly boy?"

Jia Lian's relaxed and carefree attitude was misunderstood by Tan Chun as feigned ease.

She thought for a moment and whispered in Jia Lian's ear, "Don't worry, Second Brother. I know how you feel about Sister Feng and Sister Lin. I won't make things difficult for you."

Hehehe, Second Brother probably doesn't know, but I've liked you in my heart for a long time.

As long as I can stay by my second brother's side, I'm willing to be a maid even if it means being a servant.

So, Second Brother, you don't need to worry about this. I definitely won't compete with Sister Lin and the others for any title in the future.

Although Tan Chun's words were unfounded, they sounded so heavy to Jia Lian.

He never imagined that the girl he had been struggling with whether or not to pursue had secretly fallen so deeply in love with him.
Isn't she the intelligent, shrewd, and ambitious Jia Tanchun? How could she say something like she's willing to be a lowly maid?

Originally, Jia Lian was feeling relaxed and happy after taking Baochai's body today, but now he suddenly felt a bit of pressure.

"Good girl, since you don't want to make things difficult for your second brother, how could your second brother bear to wrong you?"
Don't worry, your second brother will definitely not let you down in the future, and will even give you an honor that no one can match..."

Well, Duke Jia has drawn up another similar pie in the sky.

Tan Chun was unaware of Jia Lian's thoughts, but that didn't stop her from enjoying listening to him.

She had long been completely won over by Jia Lian, so she had no doubt that he would deceive her, and she believed every promise he made.

This is the reputation that Jia Lian has built up over the years.

(End of this chapter)