The Second Master of the Red Chamber

Chapter 895 Tea Party

"Second Master, what are you whispering about with Second Madam?"

As soon as they reached the outer corridor, Qingwen came to Jia Lian's other side to support him, asking him in a sweet voice.

Jia Lian tapped her on the head and asked with a laugh, "What, trying to blackmail me with my weakness again?"

Qingwen pretended to cover her head with one hand, but her little mouth pouted.

Last night, she and Xiangling took turns serving Jia Lian to bed, and naturally took the opportunity to mention the painting.

After confirming that it was indeed Baochai, she immediately threatened Jia Lian, wanting him to take her to Tianjin.

The result was obvious: not only did they fail, but they also got a spanking.

However, she didn't pay much attention to it; her so-called blackmail was just a way of currying favor.

If it works, great. But Jia Lian won't agree. Does she really dare to spread it around?

What still makes her pout is that Jia Lian abandoned her in the middle of the night to go out and have an affair.

I only found out today, after checking the accounts with Xiangling, that Jia Lian had done the same thing the night before last.

While feeling at peace, Qingwen also mocked Fengjie, saying that by kicking the Second Master out, she had given him the opportunity to cheat on her.

"Second Master, over here."

After descending the west corridor, Qingwen pointed to the road ahead and said.

Jia Lian stopped and then asked, "Is the bathhouse over there on the sloping building ready?"

"Yes, it was just finished today, and Second Madam immediately ordered it to be put into use."

However, Second Madam didn't use it, probably because she was worried that a bath would be bad for the fetus, so this was Second Master's first time using it.

Jia Lian nodded and went to the west sloping building.

This sloping building has four floors and an internal circular structure. You can see the bathing pool below from the inner corridors on the second and third floors.

The bathhouse was specially built by Jia Lian for Yuan Chun.

The small bathhouse behind Sister Feng's flower hall used to be modeled after this place.

Pushing open the side gate on the east side and entering the pavilion, one sees brocade silver screens and beaded curtains and emerald screens, clearly indicating that this is the concubine's grotto.

Jia Lian knew that this was arranged by Sister Feng, but he didn't comment and just silently walked inside.

Beyond the largest screen, one sees a square pool made of white jade in the center.

The pool was full of water, with a few petals floating on it.

The pool is large enough to accommodate dozens of people bathing together.

Even Jia Lian couldn't help but sigh, if it weren't for the readily available water source in the Grand View Garden and the water being drawn by a waterwheel, he didn't know how much manpower and resources would have been wasted just for him to take a bath.

After undressing and getting into the water, Qingwen went out for a while and then brought in two groups of beauties.

There are four people on each side, making a total of eight.

Jia Lian recognized six of them, but two were unfamiliar faces.

They lined up in two rows, carrying various toiletries, and followed behind Qingwen.

Qingwen noticed that Jia Lian was staring at the two unfamiliar maids, and took the initiative to explain, "Second Mistress said that this place is big, and everything must be done according to rules. We can't be as casual as before."

From now on, the eight of them will be solely responsible for serving the Second Master and Second Mistress during their baths; they won't have to worry about anything else.

I thought that Tanyun and Huixiang were my and Xiangling's maids, and it was inconvenient for them to take charge of this matter, so I picked the two of them out.

Just then, the old lady, worried that we wouldn't have enough staff, sent us more than ten maids.

I picked out these two from among them, the missing children of Ding Tanyun and Huixiang.

Second Master, take a look and see what people think of their taste.

Jia Lian nodded and said, "It's indeed very good."

Back when he lived in that small courtyard, the maids who served him during his baths were among the best in the courtyard.

Both her appearance and figure are very good.

Even if Qingwen were to imitate someone exactly, she wouldn't choose the worst one to come in.

Seeing that the maids had put down their things, he left only two to wait on his orders and told the others to leave.

Jia Lian stopped him, saying, "It would be a waste for me to wash in such a large pool of water by myself."

"Take off your clothes and come downstairs. We can wash together, saving you the trouble of going downstairs to boil water for yourselves."

Jia Lian spoke so naturally, as if thrift were a virtue.

The young maids blushed to varying degrees.

Those who had served Jia Lian before were somewhat better off, but the two newcomers secretly thought:
"So there are such benefits to serving my mistress during her bath?"

Qingwen was not surprised at all by Jia Lian's words, but gave him a coquettish glare.

Turning around and seeing the maids still hesitating, he scolded, "Didn't you hear what the Second Master said? What are you standing there for? Get out of bed and serve the Second Master while he takes a bath!"

That's why Second Master is so generous in allowing you to benefit from this. If you have to serve Second Madam later, don't do anything foolish.

No one except Ping'er is allowed to touch the water that Second Mistress uses for bathing.

The two newlyweds knew that Qingwen was speaking to them, and they nodded quickly.

They were initially worried that, although the Second Master was their master, it would still be shameful to take a bath naked in front of him.

But then they saw the other maids quickly take off their thin clothes, revealing their slender arms and fair legs, and line up to go into the water.

She secretly breathed a sigh of relief; so it was acceptable to wear a bellyband and underpants after all. So one of them followed suit, stripped down to just a bellyband, and joined the queue.

Seeing that the last maid was still standing there, her face flushed, Qingwen couldn't help but wonder, "What are you still standing there for?"

The young maid stammered, "Sister Qingwen, can I...can I not go down..."

Qingwen sneered, "Oh, so what makes you special?"

In Qingwen's eyes, being chosen to serve her during her bath meant that she might be favored by the Second Master at any time.

Now that you're just looking at arms and legs, you're making a big deal out of it?
Such a troublemaker definitely can't stay in the bathroom; we should find someone else to replace her as soon as possible.
But then she heard the maid's weak voice say, "I...I'm not wearing anything underneath..."

Qingwen was taken aback: "You're not wearing a bellyband?"

Glancing at the other woman's chest, which was even flatter than her own, Qingwen thought to herself, "With your chest like that, it's not a big deal if you don't wear anything."

The little maid felt utterly humiliated when she saw everyone looking at her.

But since things had come to this, in order not to lose her job, she had no choice but to tell the truth: "It's not a bellyband, it's..."

She glanced at the other maids' underwear and was filled with regret.

I shouldn't have tried to save time by not wearing underwear.

But little did she know that serving her master during his bath was something else entirely.

Her sisters rarely wore that kind of thing growing up, so even though she knew many people wore it after entering the Rongguo Mansion, she didn't really like wearing it.

She was too lazy to even sew for herself.

Qingwen finally understood the maid's predicament, and only then did she realize what was happening.

Yes, they made sure to wear their clothes every time because they knew that the Second Master would ask them to bathe with him at any time.

But she also knew that many maids of her age did not wear that.

However, being her superior and knowing Jia Lian's preferences, she naturally wouldn't act like a caring older sister, but instead said quite naturally:
"She's still a little slut. Since she's not wearing anything, she might as well stay naked."

Seeing that the little maid was about to cry, Jia Lian finally couldn't stand Qingwen's workplace bullying behavior and said, "It's alright, you can wear your pants."

The young maidservant felt as if she had been granted a pardon. After kowtowing to Jia Lian in gratitude, she got up, quickly took off her outer garment, and went to the front of the line to go into the water.

Watching the slender legs and bare, fair feet tentatively entering the water, Jia Lian felt it was magnificent and beautiful.

That's why he made that request—just to feast his eyes.

Otherwise, if you really want to grant him a bath, you might as well wait until he leaves; the maids will definitely be more relaxed then.

When all the maids entered the water, each with only their small heads above the surface, they were all looking at him.

Jia Lian beckoned them closer, then turned and gestured for Qingwen, who had run over and was massaging his shoulders with Xiangling on either side, to whisper in his ear.

Qingwen obediently peeked out, and after hearing Jia Lian's instructions, asked with some surprise, "Second Master is going to hold a tea party, why didn't you choose this place?"

“Your second grandmother needs to rest during her pregnancy and it’s not appropriate for her to make a scene here.”

"Oh. So, when exactly will Second Master do it?"

"That depends on when I return home tomorrow."

Anyway, you prepare it for me; I'll need it when I get back home.

Qingwen nodded, quite happy to help Jia Lian with this task.

The other maids were all very envious of Qingwen's favored manner in front of Jia Lian.

The following afternoon, all the sisters in the Grand View Garden received an invitation from Jia Lian.

"Tea party, what is a tea party?"

In Xiaoxiang Pavilion, Daiyu looked at Qingwen in front of her and asked with some curiosity.

"A tea party is when everyone sits together, drinks tea, chats, exchanges feelings, eliminates barriers, and forms a unified set of ideas and concepts..."

I don't know the specifics either; I only heard it from Second Master.

"If Miss Lin is curious, why don't you go and ask our Second Master yourself?"

Upon hearing this, Daiyu assumed it was another of Jia Lian's tricks to get her to be on good terms with Baochai and the others, and she was reluctant to agree.

"If we're just having tea and chatting, we can go anywhere, why do we have to go over there?"

Go back to him and say that it's hot and you don't want to move around.

When he comes back later, I'll personally serve him tea and apologize.

Firstly, Daiyu didn't particularly like Tianxiang Tower, and secondly, Jia Lian had come to bother her the night before, so she didn't really want to see him.

But then Qingwen laughed and said, "I advise you to go, young lady."

Our Second Master is going back to Tianjin today, and he wanted to see the girls before he left, so he held this tea party.

If Miss Lin doesn't go, not only will Second Master scold us, but Miss Lin will also be letting Second Master down.

"Is he leaving again?" Upon hearing this, Daiyu instinctively frowned.

But then I thought about it, and Jia Lian only stayed in Tianjin for about half a month last time.

The last time, he returned in just ten days, so I figured this time wouldn't be much different, and I didn't pay much attention to it.

Thinking that this was a gathering before Jia Lian's departure, and not wanting to be rude, she replied, "In that case, go and tell him that I will be there in a little while."

Qingwen then smiled and went to inform the next client.

(End of this chapter)