The Second Master of the Red Chamber

Chapter 897: Eat the marrow and know the taste
Inside the main hall, Baochai and Daiyu sat on either side of Jia Lian, below him.

Because they were close, Jia Lian would naturally bend down to talk to the two of them from time to time.

Although Baochai always answers questions, she rarely initiates conversations herself.

Suddenly, Ying'er came over and said, "Miss, Madam just sent someone to tell you to go to your house."

Baochai asked in surprise, "Now?"

"Hmm, that sounds pretty urgent."

Although Baochai had doubts, she dared not neglect her mother's summons.

Seeing that everyone must have heard, she didn't try to hide it, but stood up and said apologetically, "My mother has summoned me, so please excuse me."

There was no reason for anyone to stop her, and they all told her to go back as she pleased.

Baochai then turned and bowed to Jia Lian, saying, "Farewell."

Jia Lian stood up with a smile: "It's just the right time for me to go too. You don't need to go back to the garden, I'll take you back on the way."

"This……"

Seeing this, the others hurriedly asked, "Is Brother Lian leaving so early?"

Looking at the reluctant faces of the women, Jia Lian smiled and said, "It's still early, so we can hurry on our way."

However, you don't need to rush to leave; you can stay here and have some fun.

If you need anything, just ask Qingwen or Jiang Yun.

As Jia Lian spoke, he stepped down and instructed Daiyu, "Take good care of yourself, listen to Zijuan, and remember to take your medicine on time if you get sick."

If I find you've lost weight when I get back, I'll definitely punish Zijuan and the others severely.

With parting imminent, Daiyu could no longer care about her pride.

Her eyes were filled with tears, and her lips moved slightly, as if she had a thousand words to say.

In the end, she simply nodded and said, "Okay. Take care of yourself too, and come back soon."

"it is good."

After saying goodbye to Daiyu, Jia Lian glanced around at the crowd of women who had gathered around him, and finally said to Baochai, "Let's go."

After saying that, he turned and walked out of the hall without looking back.

Seeing that Jia Lian did not give her a chance to refuse, Baochai could only nod apologetically to the other sisters, and then call Ying'er to follow.

……

When Baochai got into the carriage and saw Ying'er kneeling on the ground with a guilty look on her face, she realized that she had been deceived.

So, it wasn't my mother who contacted me?

"Yes, yes. It was Second Master who instructed Qingwen, and then Qingwen told me to say it like this..."

Baochai looked thoughtful.

Why did Jia Lian trick her into coming out before he was about to leave for Tianjin?
Do you perhaps intend to take her to Tianjin?

Baochai secretly shook her head, feeling it didn't seem likely.

Firstly, Jia Lian had not revealed any information beforehand, and secondly, he believed that Jia Lian would not do something like forcibly abducting her.

"What else did Qingwen say?"

"It's nothing, she just said it was Second Master's order."

Baochai thought about Jia Lian's previous actions, which clearly showed that he was waiting for Ying'er to act before cooperating with her, so it was probably true.

So, with a blank expression, he gestured for Ying'er to get up, then slightly lifted a corner of the carriage curtain and looked in Jia Lian's direction.

Jia Lian seemed to be giving his final instructions to his guards and attendants.

She glanced again at the warhorses led by dozens of guards behind Jia Lian.

Each horse was carrying many packages...

It seems that what Brother Lian said about not being able to return for a long time is true.

Without much speculation, it will soon become clear what Jia Lian's intentions were.

After waiting for a while, Jia Lian seemed to have finally finished giving his instructions and ordered them to set off.

Baochai originally thought that Jia Lian would come in her carriage.

Baochai believed that Jia Lian was capable of teasing her in the carriage before they set off.

To her surprise, Jia Lian actually sent her directly to the Xue family.

When the carriage stopped, she stepped down and looked at the plaque above her front gate. Finally, she couldn't help but speak, "Second Brother Lian, you..."

Jia Lian jumped off his horse and laughed, "Alright. Now that we're here, let's go and say goodbye to Aunt."

After saying that, he took her hand and stepped into the Xue family's gate.

During this time, Baochai still asked, "Why did Second Brother Lian let Ying'er trick me into coming out? My mother didn't even look for me, did she?"

Jia Lian casually replied, "Don't you want to come back and see your mother?"

Baochai thought to herself that she had been interrogated countless times by Aunt Xue when she returned home a few days ago.

It was only because I had to attend Sister Feng's housewarming party that I was able to escape Aunt Xue's nagging.

She doesn't want to see her mother right now.

In the main room of the Xue family, Aunt Xue had just woken up from her afternoon nap and was having tea.

Suddenly, a servant announced that Jia Lian had returned to his wife's home with Baochai, and he was overjoyed.

As usual, they went out to greet him.

Just as they reached the doorway, they saw Jia Lian leading a reluctant Baochai towards them.

"What brings you two here to see me today?"

Although Sister Feng'er was pregnant, Aunt Xue was somewhat disappointed.

But she thought that Sister Feng's pregnancy might not necessarily be a boy.

Baochai still possesses advantages that others lack. Therefore, she is delighted to see Jia Lian and Baochai so intimate.

Jia Lian released Baochai and said with a smile, "I'm setting off for Tianjin today, and I thought I should say goodbye to my aunt before I leave, so I came over."

Although Aunt Xue was secretly surprised that Jia Lian was leaving again after only a few days' return, she was overjoyed when he said he wanted to bid her farewell.

This shows that Jia Lian genuinely regarded her as his mother-in-law and as an elder.

Otherwise, why would I say goodbye to someone I have absolutely no connection with before leaving home?

So he asked Jia Lian why he was in such a hurry to go to Tianjin, and then led the two of them into the house.

They sat down in Aunt Xue's room and drank half a cup of tea.

Since Aunt Xue had already agreed to let him bring Baochai to Tianjin, Jia Lian didn't bother with any more formalities with her.

After a few words, he said directly, "Please forgive me, Aunt, but I have a few private words I'd like to say to Bao'er before I leave..."

Aunt Xue, who had been watching the two of them with a smile, said, "Alright, alright, you two tell me, do you want me to make room for you?"

"No need, we can talk in Bao's room."

As he spoke, Jia Lian walked up to Baochai and, seeing her slightly reluctant expression, took her hand and led her from the back corridor to her courtyard.

On the way, Baochai complained, "Why can't you say these things anywhere? It's so rude of you to be pulling and tugging at each other in front of Mother like this..."

Seeing that Baochai was about to leave for her boudoir, Jia Lian turned around and laughed, "What, I'm leaving the capital soon, aren't you even a little bit reluctant to part with me?"

One sentence completely dispelled Baochai's resentment.

She hesitated and said, "Last time we used the excuse of going down to check the accounts. I'm afraid we can't use a similar excuse this time, otherwise Sister Feng and Sister Lin will definitely become suspicious."

Jia Lian was taken aback, realizing that Baochai had misunderstood.

However, looking back on the past two weeks, having Baochai by my side was truly like living in paradise.

If he is like this, then Baochai is probably not much different.

No wonder she thought that way.

Judging from her words, she was willing to go out with him, but she just didn't have a good excuse.

Jia Lian was secretly pleased, as everything proved that he had finally won the heart of this cold beauty.

So he lightly tapped her forehead and teased, "What a clever girl! Who said I was going to take you to Tianjin?"
"Last time I took you, you were so fussy and uncooperative. Do you want me to take you again?"

Baochai was slightly taken aback, realizing that she had misunderstood.

Although she understood that Jia Lian was joking on purpose, his words were still so excessive that they left her feeling dissatisfied and resentful.

So he turned his head away and stopped talking.

Baochai was angry, but Jia Lian didn't care.

Time was of the essence, and he had no time to flirt with Baochai.

"However, although I can no longer take you with me."

But my hairpin is so beautiful, I must enjoy it properly before I leave.”

After saying this, Jia Lian bent down and picked Baochai up in his arms.

Baochai exclaimed in alarm, "Put me down, or someone will see us!"

"Why are you panicking? Ying'er is the only one here."

Jia Lian casually reassured Baochai, then turned to Ying'er and said, "Keep a close watch; there will be a reward later."

Ying'er was enjoying her melon when she heard this and knew that Jia Lian was about to get down to business. Of course, she was being considerate.

"Please go ahead, Second Master. I promise I won't let anyone disturb you."

Jia Lian nodded, and immediately embraced Baochai's plump yet soft body, quickly entering the room.

Ying'er chuckled to herself, glanced back at the empty courtyard, and then dutifully stood on the outer porch.

She deliberately moved closer to the location of the beds in the girls' boudoir, hoping to hear some unusual sounds.

However, before she could understand what was happening, the guard suddenly caught sight of Aunt Xue's figure at the other end of the corridor.

She hesitated for a moment, then jogged over.

"Madam~"

Aunt Xue stood outside the moon gate, refusing to take a single step forward.

"Your daughter and son-in-law?"

Ying'er glanced back at the main room, her face flushed, unsure of how to respond.

She wasn't worried. She knew that Aunt Xue definitely knew that Baochai and Jia Lian had already gotten together.

But knowing about this is one thing, saying it out loud seems a bit...

Fortunately, Aunt Xue didn't make things difficult for her. Knowing what was going on, she immediately said, "You stay here and keep watch, don't let anyone else in."

"Yes, madam, don't worry."

Aunt Xue nodded and immediately turned to leave.

As soon as she turned her back, the serious look on her face vanished, replaced by a smile.

You little rascal, now you know how good my daughter is, right?

At first, you weren't too happy about it, and...

It turned out that Aunt Xue didn't realize it at first, but after Jia Lian and Baochai left, she calmed down and immediately realized it.

What do you mean by talking in private? It's obvious that this brat has learned his lesson after taking his daughter to Tianjin.

So before I left this time, I was thinking of trying it again!

What a cunning fellow.

……

(End of this chapter)