The Second Master of the Red Chamber

Chapter 861 Mutual Affection
The last rays of the setting sun shone on the parasol, but were blocked from view.

On the recliner under the umbrella, Jia Lian held the beauty who was almost melting into a ball of cotton in his arms.

Seeing the beautiful woman covered in sweat, just like him, her fair skin glowing with a rosy hue, filled him with boundless satisfaction.

No wonder, no wonder, that old geezer Li Longji, even at his advanced age, still wanted to possess Yang Yuhuan.

Such beauty is indeed innate and captivating.

The two, who were in love and affectionately engaged, were still savoring the afterglow of their romance when Ying'er suddenly came out carrying a copper basin.

Her face was flushed as she approached the two men and whispered, "I've come to serve the young master and the young lady..."

As soon as Baochai saw Ying'er, she gently pulled her robe tighter to conceal her delicate body.

Jia Lian generously spread his legs and gestured to Ying'er.

Ying'er's face turned even redder.

She originally intended to come out to wipe the sweat off her two masters and take the opportunity to sneak a peek at Jia Lian's good looks.

Unexpectedly, Jia Lian was so generous, directly showing her the part she most wanted to see.

She quickly stole a glance at her young lady and, finding that she didn't seem displeased, placed the copper basin on the coffee table and wrung out a handkerchief from it.

She had just knelt down when she suddenly stood up again, and said in a sweet voice, "Let me wipe our young lady's face first."

Ying'er wasn't suddenly shy.

After all, on the night Jia Lian took Baochai's body, she saw Jia Lian off from the garden, and even taught him how to play the flute.

Although it was pitch black and she couldn't see anything, she could only follow Jia Lian's guidance.

But from that moment on, she was convinced that she was Jia Lian's woman.

She suddenly realized that both masters were covered in sweat, and if she wiped Jia Lian's area first, she would have to go back in and change the water.

She was the only maidservant serving her, and she didn't want to exhaust herself.

Jia Lian had no objection. But Baochai, seeing Ying'er jump to her side to wipe her sweat, said, "Give me the handkerchief, you can go back now."

"Ah... oh."

Ying'er reluctantly handed the handkerchief to Baochai, glanced at Jia Lian again as she turned back, and then went into the house.

Baochai took the handkerchief but did not wipe herself first. Instead, she leaned over and gently wiped away the sweat from Jia Lian's face and neck, while also cooling him down.

Being away from home is different from being at home, and there's no ice on this ship.

On such a hot day, doing that kind of thing under the sun, the outcome is predictable.

Baochai felt relatively well, since she didn't have to exert any effort; she just felt sorry for Jia Lian.

Gently push aside the robe covering Jia Lian's chest, and continue to gently wipe his chest, waist, and abdomen.

Then he bent down to put the cloth into the basin, washed and wrung it clean, and then turned to the side to clean himself.

Throughout this process, Jia Lian quietly watched Baochai's actions without disturbing her.

Seeing that Baochai wasn't as gentle with him as she was with him, and quickly wiping her face and neck, he admired her again.

Naturally beautiful women are just that confident.

She didn't seem worried at all about her makeup being wiped off.

Of course, after all his fuss, Baochai's light makeup, which she had applied early in the morning, was practically ruined.

Sure enough, when Baochai turned around after washing her face, Jia Lian saw a clean and naturally beautiful face!
Seeing that Baochai had only wiped her neck and then put the handkerchief back into the water without moving, Jia Lian sat up abruptly and said with a smile, "Now it's my turn to wipe you."

Baochai was initially puzzled, but then, as if remembering something, she immediately shook her head: "No need..."

Sure enough, Jia Lian was already wringing out his handkerchief, about to imitate her and come over to unbutton her bodice.

Baochai quickly declined, saying, "No need to go through the trouble now, I can just take a bath when I get back."

"Why not use it? Putting aside the fact that it will take a while to get back, it's not pleasant to have this sweat plastered on your body."

Jia Lian gave Baochai no room to refuse, and insisted on wiping her body.

Left with no other choice, Baochai could only close her eyes.

But she quickly opened her eyes again. She didn't want to miss this tender moment; she wanted to take in Jia Lian's gentleness and etch it into her heart.

Seeing Jia Lian wiping her body clean as if it were a precious treasure, and then about to pull down her pants, she hurriedly said:

"No, no need, it's fine..."

She then went to snatch Jia Lian's handkerchief.

How could Jia Lian let her succeed? He restrained Baochai with one hand and said with a smile, "Sweetie, aren't you most afraid of the heat? Wiping it all off will make you cooler."

Baochai couldn't resist Jia Lian's insistence, so she could only watch helplessly as he peeled off the clothes she had just put on and wiped her entire body, including her hands and feet, clean inch by inch.

After these actions were completed, the large ship had already entered the naval port.

Back at the camp, Aqin immediately greeted him: "Master, the bathwater is ready. You and the young lady can go and bathe now."

Jia Lian nodded and took Baochai's hand, heading directly into the bathhouse.

Baochai understood Jia Lian's temperament better and better. Seeing this, she seemed to understand something and quickly broke free from Jia Lian's hand, saying, "You go wash first, I'll wash later."

Jia Lian said, "Why go through all that trouble? Why don't we just wash together?"

Baochai dared not look at Ying'er and Aqin beside her, and shook her head firmly, saying, "I'll wash later."

Seeing that Jia Lian was still trying to force her, she immediately said, "Second Brother, have you forgotten that you have to listen to Chai'er all day? It's not even midnight yet."

She spoke quite seriously, and deliberately didn't call him "brother-in-law," which was a reminder to Jia Lian not to forget the agreement.

Jia Lian pursed his lips but didn't say anything more. He just patted Baochai's head and said affectionately, "Alright, you really are a very proper girl."

After saying that, he followed Ah Qin.

Baochai finally breathed a sigh of relief.

Today, she has done far too many outrageous things that violate her own code of conduct.

Now that she's off the ship and back in the house, she has finally regained all her senses.

She knew she couldn't always follow Jia Lian's wishes, otherwise she would one day become a completely different person she wouldn't recognize.

So he gave Ying'er a look and beckoned her to go back inside.

She needed to verify some things with Ying'er.

……

In the evening, Jia Lian read documents in the front study.

Suddenly, they heard someone speaking outside the door, and then they saw Baochai carrying a food tray in.

Jia Lian noticed that there was an earthenware pot and a bowl and spoon on it, and he knew that the beauty had made soup to comfort him because she saw that he had worked hard.

So he smiled and waved to her.

"It's so late, why aren't you asleep yet?"

"I was about to go to sleep. But when I heard that you were still working in your study, I asked the kitchen to make some chicken soup."

"Would my cousin-in-law like to try some?"

Baochai, carrying the tray, came to Jia Lian's side.

Although, according to the agreement, she was not required to call Jia Lian "brother-in-law" today.

But she wasn't really someone who was completely oblivious to romance or rigidly conventional.

For her, Jia Lian's preferences were one of the biggest principles guiding her actions.

Besides, we'll be calling it that way from today onwards. So what difference does it make if we call it that one more day or one less?

It's better to get used to it as soon as possible, so that once you can say it naturally, it won't be so embarrassing.

Jia Lian was naturally pleased with Baochai's tact, so he smiled and said, "I'm a little hungry too, could you serve me a bowl to try?"

Baochai nodded and placed the food table aside. Jia Lian peeked inside and saw that besides chicken pieces, the jar also contained ginseng, goji berries, angelica, astragalus, and other such ingredients. He immediately gasped in astonishment:

"You made this soup, didn't you?"

Baochai smiled but didn't reply. She just ladled soup from the earthenware pot.

In fact, Baochai had never seriously studied cooking skills; she was just a person who learned a wide range of things from a young age and had a good memory.

By applying this knowledge to other situations, one can also do things like cooking with simple hands.

But she did all of this with a specific purpose in mind.

From childhood to adulthood, apart from her parents, she had only ever done this for Jia Lian, an outsider.

Jia Lian knew that Baochai was proficient in many miscellaneous things, including pharmacology.

Therefore, upon seeing these aphrodisiac and qi-boosting tonics, one knows they were made by Baochai.

Seeing that Baochai tacitly agreed, he teased, "It seems I still didn't tidy up my hairpin properly today, and she looked down on me. Is that why she deliberately made this soup, intending to make me try harder next time?"

Although Baochai wasn't very knowledgeable about men's sensitivities in this area, she was extremely perceptive. Therefore, upon hearing Jia Lian's words, her cheeks flushed slightly, and she quickly explained:
"No, that's not it. I just thought my brother-in-law was a bit overworked today, so I put these in the soup."

If my cousin-in-law doesn't like it, I won't put it in next time.

Well, explaining is worse than not explaining.

Jia Lian snatched the soup bowl away and said fiercely, "Put it down! Why won't you put it down?"

It would be better to put in more.

After saying that, Jia Lian didn't use a porcelain spoon and started drinking the chicken soup from the bowl in big gulps.

Seeing this, Baochai knew that Jia Lian had misunderstood deeply, but at this moment she didn't know how to explain.

So he skipped that part and looked at the booklet in front of Jia Lian, asking:

"What's troubling you so late, cousin-in-law?"

Jia Lian said, "What else could it be? It's naturally to raise funds for shipbuilding."

Baochai asked in surprise, "Since my brother-in-law is working for the imperial court, why doesn't the court provide funding?"

Jia Lian smiled, put down the soup bowl, took Baochai's hand, and said, "The imperial court also has its difficulties."

Baochai found this statement to be quite reasonable.

Even a single family has its own difficulties, let alone a vast imperial court.

Thinking that Jia Lian was working for the court and that the court still needed him to raise funds, Jia Lian showed no resentment and only did his best to do his job.

No wonder everyone says the emperor likes to order him around. How could the emperor not like such a capable minister?

Seeing Baochai's expression as if she were pondering for him, Jia Lian couldn't help but smile to himself: "She really is the Hengwu-jun who is well-versed in worldly economics."

“I was just about to write a press release, Chai’er, grind the ink for me.”

Upon hearing this, Baochai immediately glanced at the table.

After answering with an "okay," she first removed the food tray that was in the way.

Then he returned, arranged the necessary items for grinding ink in order, calmly poured three drops of water from the water bowl, and then stood by the table to help Jia Lian grind ink.

Just as men enjoy the company of beautiful women who add fragrance to their sleeves and grind ink for them.

The beautiful woman also longed to add incense and grind ink for the man she loved, especially a man like Jia Lian who did serious work.

They might even have a stronger desire for it.

After all, women don't have many ways to pass the time, and they are more enthusiastic than men about this kind of thing called "romance" that they get from books, and regard it as the ultimate ideal.

Seeing Baochai's elegance and poise even in grinding ink, Jia Lian smiled and took out a sheet of Xuan paper, placing it in front of him.

He may not be going to the local areas to inspect frequently in the next few days, so some things and rules need to be thoroughly and clearly conveyed to his subordinates.

The necessary arrangements should be made in advance so that he can have more time to spend with Baochai enjoying romantic moments.

After a while, Baochai finished grinding the ink, laid the ink block aside, and then took a brush from the brush holder. After moistening the brush, she handed it to Jia Lian.

The professional and serene beauty of the scribe pleased Jia Lian, who was even more glad that he had brought her here.

After Jia Lian buried himself in his documents, Baochai did not rest either.

She glanced at his fingertips and saw that they were not stained with ink before standing behind Jia Lian and gently massaging his shoulders with both hands.

This also made it easier for her to see what Jia Lian was writing.

Jia Lian's writing was not very standardized; sometimes, after meditating for a while, he would even cross out the preface and rewrite it.

Nevertheless, Baochai still found herself engrossed in the story.

She seems to have a natural interest in these things.

Before long, she had a pretty good idea of ​​what Jia Lian was doing.

Even when Jia Lian paused to ponder deeply, she would tentatively offer her own ideas.

Jia Lian did not take offense.

If he accepts her suggestion, he will happily praise her.

Even if I feel something is wrong, I will explain the reasons to her.

The two gradually found themselves getting along better, and their words and actions became more intimate and natural.

Finally, after Jia Lian had used up seven or eight sheets of paper, it seemed that he had finished writing what he wanted to write.

Baochai was about to step forward to help him organize the documents when Jia Lian suddenly put his arm around her waist. Before she could react, she was already sitting comfortably in Jia Lian's lap.

Jia Lian laughed and said, "My hand is sore from writing all day."

Fearing that Jia Lian would indulge in excessive desires, Baochai quickly said, "Then let me massage you."

As he spoke, he began to get up.

Jia Lian lowered his head and took a deep breath of the lotus fragrance emanating from Baochai's chest, then smiled and said, "No need. You can just copy the manuscript for me."

Baochai was very pleased to hear this.

But considering that this was Jia Lian's official business, was it really appropriate for a young lady like her to get involved?
"Don't worry, just think of yourself as the secretary I hired."

Anyway, your handwriting is so good, everyone who sees it will only praise you.

A well-founded compliment from your lover is always so delightful.

Baochai hadn't forgotten that Jia Lian had used the same excuse to lure her and her mother here that day.

With that thought, he had no more worries and said to Jia Lian, "Then let me get up."

"It's alright. Let me hold you like this as I write."

Seeing Baochai's reproachful expression, Jia Lian explained, "I have to have something in my hands too, otherwise it would be so boring for me to watch you copy."

Or do you want me to stand up and massage your shoulders?

Baochai was quite helpless, having finally realized that Jia Lian was indeed this shameless in private, so she could only let it go.

"Then... don't move it. Otherwise, if you smudge the manuscript, it will take a lot more time."

Jia Lian smiled and agreed, "Okay."

To show his sincerity, Jia Lian even made a special effort to withdraw An Lushan's hand, which had become a habit.

Baochai felt a little more at ease, sat up straighter in Jia Lian's arms, took out some new paper, and was about to dip her brush in ink.

Noticing that the ink in the inkstone had dried out, she looked up to speak.

Jia Lian anticipated this and reached for the ink, saying with a smile, "Don't move! I'll grind the ink for you."

His expression, as if he was afraid she would make an excuse to run away, made her both amused and touched.

So he didn't refuse, but just nodded silently.

(End of this chapter)