The Second Master of the Red Chamber

Chapter 849 Kidnapping
In the time it takes to exchange just a few words, they have already arrived at the Xue family's residence.

Aunt Xue knew that Jia Lian was coming in person, so she came out to greet him.

"Oh my, my buddy, why did you have to come all this way?"

When Aunt Xue saw Jia Lian, she rushed forward to help him up, her tone extremely exaggerated, showing no sign of acting like a future mother-in-law.

Jia Lian laughed and said, "My aunt refused to come over, so I thought it was because the maids and servants were being disrespectful. I had no choice but to come and invite her myself."

"What are you saying? I was just thinking that I often eat at your banquets, so it wouldn't matter if I skipped one. That's why I was too lazy to move. It's not the maids' fault."

Aunt Xue greeted Jia Lian with a beaming smile as she led him into the main room. Her eyes were full of smiles as she looked at Jia Lian, seemingly forgetting her bright-eyed daughter standing beside her.

Upon arriving at the outer hall of Aunt Xue's main room, after the maid served tea, Jia Lian didn't stand on ceremony and directly told her about his plan to abduct Baochai to Tianjin.

"This……"

Aunt Xue was also completely taken aback and couldn't help but look at Baochai.

Baochai remained silent, head bowed, looking every bit the mother in charge.

Aunt Xue understood a bit, and said, "Although I know you want to take her away because you like her, have you thought about it? Although she is engaged to you, she is not yet married into the family. If she goes to Tianjin with you, how will your family treat her in the future?"

Jia Lian smiled and said, "I have an idea to discuss with my aunt."

I heard that my aunt's family also has a lot of business in the north, not just in the capital.

I thought it would be better if my aunt made up a lie, saying that there had been a big problem with one or more businesses, that her older brother was not at home, and that since Xue Ke was too old to live in the small town, someone of importance needed to go and check on the situation.

As the head of the household, Auntie couldn't go out and do chores, so she had to take Xue Ke out on an errand...

Is this feasible?

Upon hearing this, Aunt Xue and Baochai both understood Jia Lian's meaning.

Unexpectedly, Jia Lian took it so seriously that he even came up with such a deceptive scheme.

This further demonstrates his determination to take Baochai away.

Therefore, Aunt Xue found it somewhat difficult to refuse.

"And then, what happened after she went out?"

"That's easy then. All I need to do is ask Baochai to dress up as a man, and I'll send someone to bring her to my side."

Once I get there, everyone there is one of my people, so I don't think they'll come back and spread rumors.

Even if they aren't my people, the people over there wouldn't recognize Sister Baochai, so wouldn't I be free of worry?

"This, this..."

Aunt Xue hesitated for a moment: "Let me think about it."

As Aunt Xue spoke, she suddenly stood up, gave Baochai a rather serious look, and then went into the back hall.

Baochai bowed slightly to Jia Lian, who was sitting upright, and hurriedly followed.

Passing through the gate and alley, we arrived at Aunt Xue's bedroom.

Aunt Xue sat on the bed, her face sullen and silent.

Baochai, not knowing why she was angry, simply stood there.

After a while, Aunt Xue said, "Sit down."

Baochai was about to find a stool to sit down when she heard Aunt Xue say, "Sit next to me."

Baochai complied, sat down on the edge of the bed, and said softly, "If Mother disagrees, I will refuse him..."

Baochai thought that Aunt Xue was angry because she had agreed to go to another place with Jia Lian without her consent.

But she never agreed to that.
I felt a little wronged, but I wasn't in a hurry to explain.

Aunt Xue took her daughter's hand, held it in her palm, and shook her head, saying, "When did I ever say I disagreed?"

"Then what about Mother?" Baochai looked at Aunt Xue.

Aunt Xue looked at her intently, scrutinizing her face and eyes.

"Tell me, how long is it?"

Baochai frowned slightly and lowered her head, saying, "What did Mother ask about..."

"You brat, still pretending to be naive with me?"

Aunt Xue tapped Baochai's forehead with her finger and said with a smile, "When you came back last time, I noticed something was off about you, but I didn't think much of it at the time."

"You still want to hide it from me?"

Baochai became even more silent, but her cheeks began to burn uncontrollably.

"Tell me, when is it going to happen?"

Aunt Xue pressed her for answers, then scolded her impatiently, "You silly girl, how could you keep such a big thing from me? Did you really think I would harm you?"

Baochai was speechless. After a long while, she finally whispered, "It was the afternoon after the funeral of their East Mansion Master..."

Aunt Xue raised her eyebrows upon hearing this: "You guys are too bold. There are so many people in their family, and countless eyes are watching him all day long. Aren't you afraid of being discovered?"

Upon hearing Aunt Xue's question, Baochai couldn't help but recall what had happened that afternoon.

Fearing that Aunt Xue might misunderstand, he quickly explained, "No, he... he lured me to a secluded place where no one will find out."

Aunt Xue was stunned.

A place where no one is?

Could it be in the wild?
Aunt Xue twitched her lips, wondering if she had underestimated her daughter.

But it doesn’t matter.

Thinking that her daughter had even kept it from her, she realized that it was even less likely that anyone else would know. She held her daughter's hand, looking at her with affection, her expression somewhat dazed.

Unexpectedly, the daughter who had been raised by me since she was a tiny baby has suddenly grown into a real woman.

A feeling of being in another world arose spontaneously.

Suddenly, Baochai asked in a low voice, "How did Mother figure that out...?"

Hearing her daughter's anxious question, Aunt Xue snorted, "What, now you're worried?"

Seeing Baochai lower her head in shame, Aunt Xue said again, "Don't worry, I didn't actually see it."

But you are my daughter, don't I know what kind of person you are?
If you... if you didn't give it to him, would you agree to go to Tianjin with him?

Baochai was stunned, never expecting the flaw to be there.

Indeed, she had already given her heart and soul to Jia Lian, so she naturally forgot to think about the problem from the original perspective.

However, I also felt a sense of relief.

Since Aunt Xue deduced it rather than observing her behavior and demeanor, it doesn't matter.

Anyway, no one else knew that she was going to Tianjin with Jia Lian.

Judging from her mother's attitude, she thought she would agree to Jia Lian's request.

She had considered Jia Lian's statement and felt there wasn't much of a problem with it.

She also wanted to go to Tianjin to see what Jia Lian's workplace was like, and what important things he was busy with.

However, Baochai was unaware that Aunt Xue's thoughts were on a completely different level from hers.

"How many times have you and he been intimate?"

Upon hearing this, Xue Baochai's face turned bright red.

If the person opposite her wasn't her own mother, she definitely wouldn't have been able to answer.

"Once...once..."

Aunt Xue frowned, then relaxed her gaze: "Did he make you take your medicine afterwards?"

Baochai paused slightly, then shook her head.

Aunt Xue continued, "Yes, he didn't... um..."

Even though Aunt Xue was a mother, she didn't know how to describe her problem for a moment.

However, she underestimated her own daughter.

Baochai had completely understood what she meant.

Baochai felt as if the cool mat beneath her had splintered, making her feel like she was sitting on pins and needles.

However, believing that her mother would never harm or laugh at her again, she hesitated for a moment before whispering, "Yes, there is..."

Aunt Xue was overjoyed upon hearing this and almost stood up.

"So, it's possible you're pregnant?"

Even without looking at her mother's expression, Baochai knew what she was thinking.

Her embarrassment had lessened considerably, and she shook her head, saying, "Mother must be overthinking it. No, it's not that easy, besides..."

Aunt Xue was completely deaf to Baochai's words at that moment.

She laughed and said, "These things are hard to explain. Some people can't get pregnant no matter how hard they try, while others can get pregnant even on their first try."

"Wait a few days, and I'll secretly find a reliable doctor to take your pulse in private..."

After saying this, Aunt Xue realized that Baochai's words had not been fully explained, so she stopped and asked, "Besides what, why are you being so hesitant with me?"

Baochai said very seriously, "Mother, don't think too much about it."

Even now, Sister Feng still doesn't have a son, let alone anyone else.

Aunt Xue laughed and said, "Silly girl, it's just that your Sister Feng doesn't have it, that's perfect!"

Baochai didn't know what to say.

She was still in the early stages of her relationship, and Jia Lian treated her with utmost care and tenderness. She was unwilling to think about matters of interest, lest she appear to have low moral character.

But she also knew that her mother thought this way because she wanted what was best for her, and she couldn't possibly blame her.

This is also why she didn't plan to tell Aunt Xue about this at first, for fear that Aunt Xue would have such thoughts.

Without discussing it further with Aunt Xue, she changed the subject: "Mother hasn't said yet, what about your suggestion for Brother Lian Er? Do you agree or not?"

Aunt Xue noticed her daughter's shyness but wasn't in a hurry to press her for details: Jia Lian was still being left outside by them!

"Of course I'd agree! I think what he said makes a lot of sense."

Besides, he's already made it so clear he's determined to take you away. How could I genuinely object?

To be honest, Aunt Xue had some hesitation before.

Now that she knows Jia Lian and her daughter have achieved a happy ending, and that she has no intention of letting her daughter take the medicine, she is eager to send her daughter to Jia Lian's side so that she can serve him every day.

As she said, Sister Feng has not been able to give Jia Lian another child after so many years, probably because she has some health problems.

Under such circumstances, whoever gives birth to a child for Jia Lian first is likely to secure the position of the eldest son.

If Sister Feng really can't have a son in her lifetime, then this eldest son will be the true heir.

Even if Sister Feng is lucky enough to give birth to a legitimate son in the future, the eldest son's status will give him a greater chance of being favored and a much better advantage than other sons...

The benefits are so numerous that they need no further explanation.

(End of this chapter)