The Second Master of the Red Chamber

Chapter 933 Hidden Affairs Within the Inner Chambers (Part 1)

The sisters were all very sensible; after receiving the gifts, they all said goodbye and left after a short while.

When Jia Lian returned to his bedchamber, Feng Jie complained to him, "Really, who gives a girl a knife as a gift?"

You gave it to me, fine, but why did you give it to Lin Daiyu and Baochai as well?

"Aren't you afraid of hurting them with such a sharp knife?"

Jia Lian sat down without a care, beckoned Feng Jie over, and said with a smile, "Why worry so much? You're all grown up now, not children anymore."

Sister Feng raised her eyebrows, revealing an expression that said, "I've already reminded you, and there's nothing I can do if you don't listen."

Then she sat down next to Jia Lian and gently hugged his arm.

Previously, Jia Lian wore armor, which looked good, but it made it inconvenient to get close to him.

At this moment, she was like a loving wife who had been waiting for her husband for a long time, intimately continuing the words she hadn't had time to say before the banquet.

Then, she tilted her head and said with a smile, "Are you getting promoted again?"

Jia Lian's promotions over the years have been meteoric.

In just three or four years, he was promoted in a position that others had held for decades.

She's almost used to it.

She thought that Jia Lian's great victory in Liaodong had created such a stir in the capital that the emperor would surely bestow upon him a high-ranking official position.

However, Jia Lian remained silent in the face of Sister Feng's cheerful question.

Sister Feng asked in confusion, "What?"

Jia Lian stroked his wife's hair and sighed, "Silly girl, promotion isn't guaranteed just because you have great merit."

In terms of merit, his contribution to Tiewangshan was not significant.

As the saying goes, there is no greater merit than saving the emperor.

Tie Wangshan led his troops to relieve Emperor Ningkang's siege, and Emperor Ningkang tacitly acknowledged that he was the one who made the greatest contribution in that battle.

But did he get promoted?

No.

Not only was he not promoted, but he lost two of the three major official positions, and those two positions held actual military power.

Fortunately, Emperor Ningkang did not go too far and appeased him by offering him the title of Duke.

This can be considered as giving outsiders an explanation.

The victory over the Jurchens in Liaodong was undoubtedly a great achievement.

But it's not that big.

After all, the Jurchens were not Tatars.

This can be seen from the fact that when the Jurchens launched a large-scale invasion of the south, the court did not pay much attention to it and only sent Huo Zhao with 20,000 troops to suppress them.

The Jurchens and Jianzhou were not that important to the imperial court.

The reason he was able to generate such momentum this time was twofold: firstly, the victory was indeed too impressive, and secondly, Emperor Ningkang needed such a great victory to build momentum for himself.

Therefore, they deliberately elevated him to a divine status.

In fact, the reason why he has made such a great name for himself over the years and become a well-known new nobleman is more than half due to the deliberate support of Emperor Ningkang.

Therefore, Jia Lian himself did not know how Emperor Ningkang would reward him for his merits this time.

Judging from Emperor Ningkang's attitude towards him after the Iron Net Mountain incident, and the fact that he had "shamelessly" begged for this opportunity to go on the expedition.

It's highly likely that Emperor Ningkang will not give him an important position.

Perhaps his rank as a duke will be raised from third class to second or first class.

Jia Lian had no complaints about this.

Although he also liked power, he also knew that without a corresponding foundation, power was a double-edged sword.

Especially now, he and Emperor Ningkang still have the awkward relationship of being "uncle and nephew".

If things are not handled carefully, it could arouse the suspicion of Emperor Ningkang and bring disaster upon us.

On the contrary, it is safer to grant authority only when necessary and to relinquish it obediently afterward, as is the case now.

Isn't it fair?

In a feudal imperial society, how can you expect fairness?
In other words, sacrificing an official position in exchange for a promotion in nobility is not necessarily a bad thing.

At least, he's one step closer to his goal of becoming a king.

Although Sister Feng didn't quite understand the meaning of Jia Lian's words, she did realize one thing:
Even a man isn't omnipotent; he has his own difficulties.

Thinking of this, she couldn't help but touch Jia Lian's well-defined face with heartache, wanting to say something to comfort him, but she didn't know where to begin.

However, Jia Lian seemed to have misunderstood her actions.

He grabbed Sister Feng's hand and pressed it down, then gently hooked her head with his other hand.

He had wanted to taste it ever since he saw that little mouth making all that noise.

"No, you..."

Feng Jie instinctively tried to push him away, but how could she resist Jia Lian, who had already made up his mind?

Thinking that it was just a little kissing and shouldn't be a problem, she put aside her worries, closed her eyes, tilted her head back, and enjoyed the affection from her husband.

After a long while, their lips parted leisurely.

Jia Lian looked at those once bright and alluring red lips, now a mess from his kisses, so that her once majestic and beautiful face had lost all its dignity.

Finally, unable to contain his laughter, he said, "Hmm, why does it smell like milk?"

"What milky smell..."

Sister Feng was still savoring the afterglow and was somewhat distracted.

Suddenly remembering that she was pregnant, she immediately blushed and protested, "The baby hasn't been born yet, how could there be any milk smell? You're talking nonsense!"

However, Jia Lian was simply stating the truth; he did indeed smell a faint milky fragrance.

He initially thought it was his wife's fragrance, but after she reminded him, he realized the connection.

Then, with ill intent, he said with a smile, "I say yes, you say no, I don't believe you."

"Perhaps I should give it a thorough examination."

"Pah, you're never serious."

Seeing Jia Lian about to unbutton her blouse, Feng Jie refused and immediately called out, "Isn't the bathroom ready yet?" "Yes, Second Mistress, it's ready..."

Upon hearing the maid's weak reply, Feng Jie realized that the maid had witnessed her intimate moment with Jia Lian.

So he hurriedly urged Jia Lian, "Go take a bath. Whatever you're thinking, go and torment your two precious maids later, don't come and cause me any trouble."

Jia Lian, however, was in no hurry and even pretended to kiss her.

"No maid can compare to my Feng'er..."

"No way! You're sleeping in the study tonight!"

Jia Lian was taken aback: "So heartless? You're kicking me out to sleep as soon as I get back?"

Feng Jie felt a little embarrassed upon hearing this, and could only coax her, "It's all for the sake of the child... Who told you to be so dishonest? I don't trust you."

Having not seen each other for half a year, Sister Feng was actually quite eager to be intimate with Jia Lian.

However, compared to a little physical desire, the child held a much higher place in her heart.

She was extremely worried because the imperial physician initially said that the child in her womb was born with congenital deficiencies.

For the past six months, she has been extremely careful and cautious.

She had finally managed to get through this difficult pregnancy, and she couldn't let Jia Lian ruin things for her.

Jia Lian found the cautious Sister Feng quite endearing.

So he deliberately leaned close to her ear and said with a smile, "Actually, I asked some gynecological experts, and they say you're ready for intercourse now..."

"Really?"

Sister Feng's subconscious question revealed her true feelings.

Then, seeing Jia Lian's ambiguous smile, she immediately blushed.

"Don't try to fool me, I don't believe your nonsense."

Feeling mocked, Sister Feng didn't want to talk to Jia Lian anymore and pushed him up.

Seeing that Jia Lian was still trying to get away with it, she kindly advised, "Alright, alright, stop fooling around."

If you think Qingwen and the other two aren't enough, I can always have Ping'er come and keep you company tonight too.

Sister Feng felt that Jia Lian had always been reasonable, so the reason he was acting so shamelessly now was because of this.

Or maybe he's just really lusting after her body.

Either they need to go to the battlefield, or they've been holding back for too long.

Whatever the reason, it made her happy.

Jia Lian was deliberately teasing Feng Jie.

Now that he had discovered an unexpected surprise, he lingered and refused to leave, even looking at Sister Feng with an expression that was a mixture of reluctance and resentment.

It's as if Sister Feng is a woman who doesn't care about her husband and is heartless and ungrateful.

Believe it or not, Sister Feng really fell for that.

She pushed Jia Lian twice but couldn't move him. After glaring at him, she added:

"Okay, I'm really impressed by you."

"How about this, you'll have to sleep in the study tonight, but as compensation, I'll coax my nephew's wife over to keep you company tomorrow, okay?"

As she spoke, Sister Feng looked at Jia Lian with a half-smile.

She wasn't stupid; of course, she could see that Jia Lian was trying to raise the price on the spot.

Therefore, she didn't even call her Xiao Qinshi, but directly used the shameful term "nephew's wife," wanting to see just how thick-skinned Jia Lian was.

As for having Qin Keqing accompany Jia Lian, will she be jealous?

I used to.

However, after such a long period of observation, Qin Keqing had long since gained her trust.

Anyway, she's pregnant now, so who doesn't benefit?

At least Qin Keqing had a good relationship with her, and she spoke sweetly, which Jia Lian also liked.

This is essentially internal processing and will not cause uncontrollable problems.

why not?

When he heard Sister Feng trying to coax him with Qin Keqing again, Jia Lian was naturally tempted.

But looking at Sister Feng's expression, he didn't want to be outdone.

So he lifted her chin, dispelling the expression he disliked, and said, "A nephew's wife is no match for my Feng'er."

If you truly want to make it up to me, I have a suggestion.

"what……"

Although she knew that Jia Lian's suggestion would be detrimental to her, she was secretly delighted that he was willing to give up Qin Keqing for her sake, and at the same time, she was also curious about what strange request he would make.

Sure enough, Jia Lian leaned close and whispered in her ear.

She only heard half of it before her face turned bright red. She pushed Jia Lian away, glared at him, and said, "Pah, don't even think about it."

Jia Lian himself felt that his request was not excessive, but seeing this, he couldn't help but feel somewhat dissatisfied.

"Tch, I already promised not to touch you, and you won't even agree to this small request, let alone offer any compensation."

Ah, women.

As he spoke, Jia Lian seemed very disappointed and turned to leave.

"wait wait wait……"

Jia Lian turned around.

Sister Feng's pretty face flushed crimson, and she finally glanced at him before stammering:
"Well, you can come in in a bit. But you have to remember what you said... otherwise, I'll kick you out again!"

"Okay." Jia Lian replied calmly, then left without lingering.

Feng Jie sat down angrily, and after a while, she touched her burning face and uttered softly:

"Pah, you scoundrel."

……

(End of this chapter)