The Second Master of the Red Chamber

Chapter 937 The Beauty Under the Plum Blossom Tree

When Jia Lian arrived at Longcui Nunnery, he was told that Miaoyu was admiring the plum blossoms in the back.

Upon hearing this, Jia Lian was slightly dazed, feeling that time had passed so quickly, and it was already the season for appreciating plum blossoms again.

Refusing the maid's offer to lead the way, Jia Lian followed the newly repaired path to the plum blossom grove behind the Longcui Nunnery.

Sure enough, a strange fragrance filled the air, and red plum blossoms formed a grove.

A graceful figure stood quietly under a tree in the woods.

She tilted her head slightly, looking at the plum blossoms blooming on the branches.

From Jia Lian's perspective, he could only see her snow-white profile.

Suddenly, she seemed to sense something, turned around, and her gaze fell on Jia Lian.

The two faced each other, as if they had known each other for yesterday, yet also as if they hadn't seen each other for years.

Jia Lian lifted his leg and walked over, glanced at the zither laid out on the ground, and asked, "What are you doing here all alone on such a cold day?"

Miaoyu didn't answer, but just kept staring at Jia Lian. Suddenly she said, "I remember the first time I saw you, it was also under the plum blossom tree."

However, the plum blossoms had not yet bloomed at that time, and you were not yet famous throughout the world.

Do you remember when that was?

Looking at the girl who seemed to be suffering from lovesickness, Jia Lian smiled and said, "Of course I remember, it was four years ago."

You were just an innocent and naive young girl back then, and I easily won you over.

"Pooh."

Miaoyu, who had originally intended to create a melancholic atmosphere, had her mood ruined by Jia Lian's words.

She glared at Jia Lian, then turned her back to him: "You have the nerve to say that? The first time you met him, you...you..."

She still harbors resentment when she recalls the first time she met Jia Lian, when he forcibly kissed her.

That guy is so mean. How can he kiss a girl the first time he sees her?

Moreover, they knew perfectly well that she was a Buddhist disciple.

I don't know what came over me at the time, but I became obsessed with him and even traveled thousands of miles north to find him.

Suddenly, she felt herself being hugged from behind. She instinctively flinched, then realized it was Jia Lian and relaxed.

"Are you overthinking again?"

"No..."

The hesitant answer made Jia Lian smile, but also feel a pang of pity.

Although he knew Miaoyu's character inside and out, he had tried every means to dispel her concerns.

But it's just my personality.

Just like Daiyu, being sentimental is her nature.

Moreover, her situation was much more awkward than Daiyu's.

After not seeing yourself for half a year, it's inevitable to have wild thoughts.

Jia Lian didn't want to repeat himself, as he had already said what he needed to say.

He simply turned the beautiful woman, whose body was half a head shorter than his, around, lifted one of her fair, white hands, and took out another box from his bosom.

It can be opened with one hand, revealing the gold bracelet inside.

To be honest, giving gold bracelets to Buddhist monks is quite unromantic.

However, Jia Lian knew that Miaoyu did not reject this, and that all the gifts were made in the same style.

Under his management, the Tianjin Wei Shipyard had grown to a considerable size.

There are naturally smelting and forging workshops inside.

Therefore, on the day the fleet returned to the naval port and was waiting to unload the ships, he took out a batch of goldware and had Ah Qin make it into hundreds of small gifts.

Gold is certainly a very valuable thing, but it was nothing to him at the time.

They swept across the entire Jianzhou, plundered the strongholds of the four major leaders of the Jiannu, and looted a considerable amount of gold artifacts.

These one hundred small gifts, even if each cost ten taels of gold, would only amount to one thousand taels, which is nothing compared to the spoils worth ten million taels of silver.

Moreover, apart from the four golden knives, the rest of these one hundred small gifts didn't even require ten taels of gold.

As expected, when Miaoyu saw Jia Lian's actions, although she didn't show the same great joy as Tan Chun, she remained quiet and waited for Jia Lian to put the bracelet on her wrist.

Then she raised her hand, examined it briefly, and asked, "Is this for me?"

Jia Lian said, "No, I'm giving it to someone else. I'm just borrowing your hand to try on the size."

Miaoyu was taken aback, then her eyes flashed with murderous intent, and she made a move to take it off.

"Haha, just kidding. It's a stupid question. If they're all in your hands, who else would they give them to if not you?"

Jia Lian stopped Miaoyu's movements and took the opportunity to touch and rub her delicate hand.

Miaoyu thought about it and realized that made sense. Of course, she didn't think there was anything wrong with her question; it was just that Jia Lian was too despicable.

Therefore, it must be taken down so that Jia Lian will know the consequences of teasing her.

However, her hands were being held by Jia Lian, so her insistence was naturally in vain.

Jia Lian laughed and said, "Alright, stop fooling around. Look closely, your name is still on this bracelet. Who else could I give it to but you?"

Upon hearing this, Miaoyu indeed stopped.

Following Jia Lian's instructions, she looked down and, sure enough, saw a small "妙" (miao, meaning wonderful/exquisite) character on the inside of the bracelet.

The resentment in my heart dissipated considerably in an instant.

Upon seeing this, Jia Lian thought to himself that, indeed, regardless of time or place, girls always like something unique.

Take him for example, he's unique, that's why girls all like him...

He pulled Miaoyu to sit down in front of her zither, let her beautiful body sit in his lap, and held her as he spoke.

Miaoyu, however, was still examining her bracelet when she asked, her words not reflecting her true feelings, "Isn't it inappropriate to have my name engraved on it? What if someone sees it and makes connections?"

"What association?" "It's...it's..."

Miaoyu couldn't bring herself to say it.

And how could Jia Lian not know what she meant?

Miaoyu was merely worried, but Jia Lian knew that if others saw it, especially the sisters in the garden, it wouldn't be just a coincidence, but a certainty.

After all, he had shown the golden knife to everyone present when he gave it to Baochai and Daiyu last night.

Although these bracelets are different in form, they are clearly made in the same style.

But Jia Lian wasn't afraid at all.

He even dared to give gifts to Tan Chun, let alone Miao Yu.

Since he has already sent it out, it means he is prepared for his misdeeds to be exposed.

"Fool, do you really think outsiders know nothing about our relationship?"
We're a talented young man and a beautiful young woman, and we often get together to drink tea, chat, and discuss Buddhist doctrines. Do you really think everyone else is so naive as to believe we're just master and disciple?

"Pah! What master-disciple relationship? I don't have a disciple like you..."

Miaoyu blushed.

There was both the master-disciple relationship Jia Lian mentioned, and the uncertainty surrounding her relationship with Jia Lian, perhaps something that had already been guessed by others.

Thinking about how she used to act all sage in front of others, and how people must have talked about her behind her back, she felt utterly ashamed.

So, sitting in Jia Lian's lap, she punched Jia Lian's chest a few times fiercely: "It's all your fault."

"Yes, yes, it's my fault, it's my fault."

"But you can't entirely blame me..."

Originally, Miaoyu had already decided to let Jia Lian off the hook because he admitted his mistake so quickly.

Upon hearing what was said next, his eyes immediately turned hostile.

But who is Jia Lian?

He lowered his head, gazing tenderly at the stunning beauty in his arms, and said very seriously, "You have to blame yourself."

"Who gave you such a beautiful face, so pure and ethereal, that the moment I saw you four years ago, I couldn't help but want to get close to you and possess you..."

"you……"

Miaoyu's eyes were wide open, her beautiful face revealing a hint of innocence.

She was clearly taken aback by his sudden sweet talk.

Jia Lian chuckled, and seeing the stunned expression on the beauty's face in his arms, he lowered his head, captured her two red lips, and kissed her.

Beneath the plum blossom tree, before the guqin (a traditional Chinese stringed instrument), a young, handsome man and a beautiful woman shared a passionate kiss.

If the weather turns bad and it snows a little, it will be even more picturesque.

……

"When you're bored, you can go play with Lin Daiyu more often."

"Didn't you two meet four years ago? I remember you hit it off immediately and really appreciated each other."

"Um……"

After being kissed for half an hour, leaving her disoriented, Miaoyu became more obedient after being released.

She didn't refute Jia Lian's words, which were clearly for her own good.

However, only she knew the truth in her heart.

Although her relationship with Daiyu was better than others, it wasn't by much.

The two were old acquaintances, but the reason she approached Daiyu in the first place was for Jia Lian's sake.

Now, the two of them are clearly rivals in love, so how can they be sincere with each other when they meet?
More importantly, both of them have reclusive personalities.

Even if they admire each other's talents, their relationship will remain that of gentlemen, and they will not be able to talk about anything with each other.

On the contrary, Xiangyun, who is naturally optimistic and has a carefree personality, often bickers with Daiyu, but in the end, their relationship becomes closer than that of the others.

Seeing Miaoyu's calm reaction, Jia Lian could roughly guess some of the reasons.

After thinking for a moment, he added, "And Gu Qingyi, you two are very similar in appearance and temperament."

She was all alone in the mansion.

Didn't you two get along quite well when I saw you last time?
So when you have free time, you can go visit her more often.

If you don't like the noise at Tianxiang Tower, you can ask her to come and keep you company; I doubt she'd object.

From Jia Lian's two suggestions, Miaoyu could tell that Jia Lian genuinely cared about her.

Clearly, Jia Lian had noticed her usual boredom, so he was trying to find ways to keep her company.

But why specifically mention Gu Qingyi?
She recalled the last time the two of them had a nice get-together, drinking tea and discussing musical skills, when Jia Lian barged into their sisterly gathering.

Not only did they barge in, but they also dragged them into the meditation room and caused them trouble.

What's most infuriating is that in the end, one of them was made to play the zither outside the translucent silk screen, while the other played the flute for him in front of the inner couch.

It is euphemistically called: elegant charm.

Bah... You lecherous scoundrel, you pervert, all you do is bully girls!
So Miaoyu didn't answer, but secretly used her dirty trick and pinched Jia Lian hard on the waist.

Jia Lian gasped, looking down at the beauty in his arms with displeasure, wondering what he had done to offend her again.

But it doesn't matter.

If someone can laugh and pinch others, it means their mood has improved and they won't be depressed again for at least half a month.

It must have been tough for him, to say the least.

With so many women, he not only had to ensure their basic needs were met, but also pay close attention to their mental state and correct any problems promptly.

Otherwise, it's a minor matter if the beauty becomes depressed, but it would affect the atmosphere of his harem, which would be disastrous.

(End of this chapter)