The Second Master of the Red Chamber

Chapter 838 Secrets of the Princess's Residence (Part Two)
After leaving Xiaoyuxuan, two other maids who had been waiting there led the way.

"General Jia, this way please."

Instead of following the original route, they went directly into the sleeping quarters, passing through several corridors and screens before finally arriving at a large hall.

The palace was of medium size, and the sound of zither music filled the air as musicians played their instruments in secluded spots.

The main hall's central gate was wide open, allowing Jia Lian to see directly into the spacious plaza in front of the hall, and even the front gate of the sleeping quarters where he had disembarked from his carriage.

Inside the hall, a dozen or so palace maids, carrying fruit platters or wine, moved between the tables on both sides.

What is most striking is that behind those desks, seven or eight female generals, clad in armor and carrying swords, are sitting upright, exuding a heroic and valiant air.

At this moment, they were all looking at him, but when Jia Lian looked over, they all pretended not to care and turned their heads away.

They were all either drinking with their heads down or carrying knives in their hands, giving off an unapproachable vibe.

Even worse, he went so far as to grope the palace maids around him...

"General Jia, this way please."

The maid led Jia Lian to the first table on the left and gestured for him to sit down.

Jia Lian glanced again at the "generals" who dared not look him in the eye, but whose eyes were clearly focused on him, and slowly sat down.

He wanted to see what tricks Zhaoyang was up to this time.

After waiting for about fifteen minutes, a voice suddenly announced, "His Highness has arrived!"

Instantly, all the generals in the hall stood up and stood facing the head of the hall with their hands at their sides.

Jia Lian was a little slow, but he still stood up cooperatively.

Sure enough, Princess Zhaoyang, dressed in the same general's armor and looking exceptionally valiant, walked out from the back hall and strode to the table at the front.

"Your humble servants pay their respects to the Princess, may Your Highness live a thousand years!"

Jia Lian couldn't keep up with the synchronized rhythm, so he could only silently move his lips and hastily add a cupped-hand salute.

Princess Zhaoyang beamed with delight. Facing the main hall, she held her sword hilt in one hand, her gaze sweeping over the people in the hall, exuding an air of dominance over the world.

"Generals, you have worked hard on this campaign. I have prepared a small feast to reward you. Please do not be shy and have a seat."

"Thank you, Your Highness~"

Jia Lian followed everyone else's lead and sat down leisurely.

This time it's not just role-playing, it's also incorporating scenario-based representation?

Perhaps sensing Jia Lian's gaze, Princess Zhaoyang, sitting at the head of the table, turned her head and gave him a smiling look that Jia Lian had no idea what it meant.

Then Princess Zhaoyang picked up her wine cup and laughed heartily, saying, "Our triumphant return this time is entirely due to General Jia's strategy. I propose that we first toast General Jia."

Upon hearing this, all the generals immediately raised their cups towards Jia Lian and said in unison, "We toast General Jia!"

Seeing this, Jia Lian slowly poured himself a cup of wine, then stood up, looked around at everyone, and said very humbly, "Generals, you are too kind."

"This achievement is entirely due to Your Highness and the generals' concerted efforts and valiant fighting; it has little to do with me..."

As Jia Lian spoke, he tilted his head back and drank it all in one gulp.

Seeing this, the others also drank their wine in accordance with the custom.

Then Jia Lian said, "However, I must still respectfully inform all the generals here."

Your Highness's wine is good, but it can easily make one drunk.

"I urge all generals to lock up their tents after returning, lest villains take advantage of them..."

In one sentence, the generals in the hall blushed, completely losing their previous composure as generals and revealing their girlish side.

Princess Zhaoyang rolled her eyes at Jia Lian, then quickly tried to salvage the situation: "Alright, everyone deserves credit for this victory. I will definitely petition the Emperor to reward everyone."

"Thank you, Your Highness..."

The responses were no longer as uniform as before, but rather sparse and scattered.

The atmosphere of the generals' triumphant banquet has vanished.

Princess Zhaoyang glared at Jia Lian again, then simply moved on to the next segment: "Perform a dance!"

As Princess Zhaoyang gave the order, the music inside the palace changed from gentle and melodious to lively and cheerful. To the rhythm of the music, a group of graceful dancers, with flowing robes and trailing skirts, walked slowly into the palace from outside.

These dancers were all quite beautiful, and most of them wore yellow dance dresses. Jia Lian recognized them at a glance as the same group from the bathhouse earlier.

Therefore, Jia Lian's gaze naturally fell on the lead dancer, a red-skirted dancer he had never seen before.

Even among a group of beautiful women, this dancer in the red dress stood out like a crane among chickens.

Jia Lian glanced at her and was astonished to find that even in the Tianxiang Pavilion, apart from Gu Qingyi, no one else could surpass her beauty.

She gracefully arrived at the center of the hall, and without pausing, led the beauties in a thunderous dance to the rhythm of the music.

Her dance moves were so graceful and her movements so rhythmic that they rivaled those of Shen Pan'er.

Jia Lian unconsciously looked into the dance. Above, Princess Zhaoyang was also watching the dance, but her gaze was mostly fixed on Jia Lian.

Seeing that Jia Lian was indeed attracted to the beauty, she smiled smugly, but a hint of disappointment flashed in her eyes.

After thinking for a moment, he gave an instruction to the maid beside him and then turned and went to the back hall.

Jia Lian glanced back as Princess Zhaoyang left, but he did not immediately follow her.

After the dance ended, the dancer in the red dress bowed and withdrew.

The rest of the dancers mostly stayed behind, kneeling beside the generals and helping to pour wine.

A girl named Yuanxi also came to Jia Lian's side.

Seemingly seeing that he did not resist, the beauty poured him wine and then nestled into his chest, looking like a little bird seeking shelter.

Before long, the red-skirted dancer who had previously left reappeared in the hall.

This time she was alone, and she had changed out of her red dress and into a lighter, more flowing red and yellow dance costume.

As the dance costumes fluttered, one could clearly see the beauty's slender legs and arms, and even her smooth, delicate waist.

A solo dance by a beautiful woman is more spontaneous and natural, and also more expansive and grand.

Not to mention Jia Lian, even the other generals in the hall were all captivated, their eyes fixed on the center of the hall, having long forgotten the beauties beside them.

After the dance, the beauty gave a graceful bow, looked around at the crowd, and said, "In that case, I have made a fool of myself."

Her voice was melodious and pleasant, drawing continuous applause.

This must be a fake banquet hall for the general; otherwise, the hall would have been filled with wailing and howling just now, based on that dance alone.

The beautiful woman gracefully responded to the generals' praises, offering toasts to each of them from the right, and soon came to Jia Lian.

"This humble servant offers a toast to General Jia."

Looking at the stunning beauty in front of him, whose face was flushed but who was still trying her best to lower herself and not dare to look down at him, Jia Lian naturally gave her face.

After finishing his drink, he asked, "Your name is Rushi? What is your surname?"

"My surname is Liu," the beauty said, and knelt down beside Jia Lian.

"Liu Rushi?"

Seeing the strange expression on Jia Lian's face, the beauty felt puzzled: "Could it be that my humble name has offended the general's ears?"

Jia Lian shook his head and murmured, "I find the green hills charming, and I suppose the green hills find me just as charming. Indeed, I am worthy of this name."

Liu Rushi smiled gently, "I have long heard that Lord Rong is a man of both literary and military talents, and seeing him today, I can confirm it is true."

Flattery from a beautiful woman can be pleasing.

But Jia Lian, still oblivious to romance, asked, "Tell me, what benefits has the princess promised you to seduce me?"

Jia Lian had already realized that this beauty did not seem to belong to the princess's household.

Now that I see she has such a nickname, I am even more certain.

Perhaps not expecting Jia Lian to ask such a direct question, Liu Rushi paused, her delicate hand holding the wine pot still.

She glanced at Jia Lian discreetly, her gaze turning desolate. After setting down the silver wine pot, she slowly said, "I dare not deceive Lord Rong. The princess promised that if I am fortunate enough to gain Lord Rong's favor, she will arrange for my redemption..."

Jia Lian remained noncommittal, then asked, "So how did you meet the princess?"

"I was invited by the princess to come to her residence to teach singing and dancing..."

When replying, Liu Rushi looked at Jia Lian's expression and, seeing that he did not seem angry, she added, "The princess said that the maids in the mansion are idle anyway, so they should learn more skills to help themselves."

I happened to have a slight reputation in the capital, so they summoned me here.

I have observed that Her Highness the Princess possesses first-rate talent and character, and thus I wish to serve her. I had no intention of deceiving Lord Rong, and I hope Lord Rong will forgive me.”

Sensing the beauty's apparent worry about the mission's failure, Jia Lian nodded, lifted her delicate chin, and while admiring her beauty more closely, smiled and said:
"Alright, go back and tell the princess that I have received her sentiments, and that she doesn't need to go to such lengths. If there is such a good thing next time, she can just tell me directly."

When Jia Lian teased her, the beauty instinctively turned her head away, though she was inwardly very curious.

There was nothing she could do; even though she was in the thick of it, she couldn't understand the relationship between Jia Lian and Princess Zhaoyang at this moment.

They don't look like lovers, nor do they look like siblings!
Although she didn't quite understand, she knew that neither Princess Zhaoyang's nor Jia Lian's orders were ones she could disobey.

Therefore, he nodded, stood up, bowed slightly, and left.

Upon seeing this, the others in the hall also hurriedly averted their attention.

Yuanxi tried to shrink back into Jia Lian's arms, but Jia Lian forcefully pulled her back.

She looked up and saw Jia Lian smiling at her, saying, "What are you standing there for? Go pour me some wine."

"Yes~"

……

(End of this chapter)