The Second Master of the Red Chamber

Inside the screen, Jia Lian frowned slightly.

Ignoring Jia Qiang, he instead looked at Lingguan on the ground and asked meaningfully, "What do you mean?"

Lingguan had been distracted ever since Jia Qiang said he didn't know her.

He didn't know if he was male or female. His uncle arranged a marriage for him, and both sides had met. He was quite satisfied with the other person...

Yes, she is the daughter of an official, while I am just a lowly actress. How can I compare to her?

Concubine?

He didn't say that when he used sweet words to deceive me.

In fact, if the other party truly loves her and has unavoidable difficulties, she may not necessarily be unable to accept her fate of becoming a concubine.

After all, this is the destiny of Peking Opera disciples.

But did he have some unavoidable difficulties?

She couldn't tell.

From Jia Qiang's series of answers just now, she couldn't detect even the slightest bit of affection or fondness for her.

The unfamiliarity made her feel like a stranger.

She gave a self-deprecating laugh; she had known all along.

Jia Qiang suddenly stopped visiting her at Pear Fragrance Courtyard and even stopped having anyone contact her.

However, she clearly knew from others that Jia Qiang was not unable to come; he had been active around the two Jia family mansions.

Even the most foolish person should know what this means.

However, she never had the chance to see Jia Qiang again, which left her with a sliver of hope.

Now that I've finally hit a wall, my heart is completely dead.

As for the charming man in front of her, Lingguan stared at him blankly, a hint of resentment flashing through her heart.

Why couldn't he just coax and deceive her like Jia Qiang did?

If that were the case, she would have become his woman long ago, so why would this have happened?

Jia Lian's brilliance was irresistible even to Baochai, and his charm was something even Daiyu found delightful.

Besides, she was just a young girl learning opera.

How could Jia Lian's repeated flirting with her not stir up some ripples in her heart?
Especially since it happened during the time when she was most desperate after being betrayed by Jia Qiang.

She had heard about Jia Lian's care for Daiyu, and she longed to receive that kind of affection.

But this man, while flirting with her, made no attempt to hide his womanizing ways, even openly being affectionate with other women in front of her.

This was unacceptable to her.

She also tested Jia Lian's true feelings for her.

She deliberately left the handkerchief in the Grand View Garden so that she could run into Jia Lian, who had just returned to the mansion, when she went to look for it.

She really did encounter it.

But without saying a word, the other party tried to touch her inappropriately.

She rebuked her sternly, stating clearly that she would rather die than submit without a formal title.

This is what she has always upheld.

She couldn't allow herself to be taken advantage of by him like Fangguan and the others.

The good news is that, as rumored, Jia Lian never forces girls.

The downside is that he doesn't force her.

The other party would rather stop and spare her than give him any promises.

She then realized that while the other person genuinely liked her, they didn't truly value her.

Perhaps it was because he liked her body, her appearance, or even her voice.

Or perhaps, as others have said, it was only because she looked like Daiyu that the other party treated her differently.

His patience seems to be running out.

He wanted to kick him out because he was always so tactless, and was even willing to give himself to someone else as a concubine.

What should she do?
There was no way she would agree; she would rather die than become a concubine to a liar and a heartless man.

And she knew it too.

Before Jia Lian could say anything, Jia Qiang was so frightened that he hurriedly said he didn't know him.

How can she expect him to protect her in front of the daughters of officials in the future?

I'm afraid that by then, even if she, with her poor background, manages to survive, she'll only be fit to be a servant, or even a plaything.

Since they're all just playthings anyway, why doesn't she choose a more powerful man?

At least, Jia Lian wouldn't lie to her.

At least, she received a certain level of special treatment and tolerance from Jia Lian that others didn't.

So many times, she refused to serve him, but he never held it against her.

Thinking about this, Lingguan already felt a bit regretful.

However, she simply couldn't bring herself to bow down and apologize to Jia Lian in front of so many people, begging him to let her stay.

"If you don't speak, I'll take that as tacit consent."

Jia Lian's voice came again, interrupting Lingguan's thoughts.

She looked up at her other girlfriends, whose expressions ranged from worried to indifferent, or even gloating.

She glanced again at her good friend, who was still diligently serving Jia Lian in order to help her quell his anger, and suddenly made a decision.

She got up from the ground, reached her hands to her waist, and loosened her belt.

Then she raised her hand and pulled the skirt to both sides from her shoulders.

Amidst a chorus of astonished gazes, the heavy, beautiful little dress that Jia Lian had uniformly provided for the young actresses fell to the ground with a soft thud.

Her hands didn't stop there; she continued to untie the sash and then pulled off the inner garment.

This was repeated three or four times until her upper body was finally left with only a bright red bodice.

She slowly stepped forward and walked to Fangguan's side.

Fangguan also turned to look at her at this moment.

Seeing that her friends seemed to have finally figured it out, she smiled at them, then moved aside, making room for them.

Her natural gesture, as if she were simply giving her half of the toy, made Lingguan blush.

She dared not look at the expressions of others. She knelt gracefully beside Lingguan, recalling some scenes she had seen before, and began to try for the first time this romantic affair that she felt extremely ashamed of, but Fangguan and the others enjoyed.

The moment she suddenly began to undress, Jia Lian's gaze remained fixed on her.

It must be said that this girl does resemble Daiyu in both appearance and bone structure.

Of course, she was a little plumper than Daiyu.

Daiyu was truly a fairy, her body slender and delicate to the extreme.

This girl, although her curves aren't quite there yet, is still alluring and delicate.

At this moment, he had no dissatisfaction whatsoever, only the exhilaration and smugness of his successful conspiracy.

Or rather, he never had any complaints to begin with.

His dissatisfaction was all an act.

Jia Lian actually quite liked this imitation of Daiyu.

Otherwise, they wouldn't have let her be willful and left her alone for a year.

Now they just feel the time is right and they can take it all at once.

Otherwise, why didn't he get angry earlier or later, but only when Jia Qiang got engaged did his patience run out?

Although Jia Qiang was just an insignificant servant, he was, after all, the great-great-grandson of the Duke of Ningguo and the great-grandson of Jia Daihua.

With Jia Zhen and his son now dead, and only the young Jia Wu remaining as the only male heir of the Ningguo Mansion, Jia Qiang, an adult member of the close branch of the family, naturally becomes a potential threat to Jia Wu.

As Jia Wu's biological father, Jia Lian would naturally keep an eye on these people's movements. So, not long after he returned to the mansion, someone told him about Jia Qiang's engagement to the youngest daughter of the Zhang family.

After some investigation, Jia Lian determined that the Zhang family was merely a minor official in the Ministry of Personnel, without any powerful backing.

Those who were interested in him were mostly close relatives of the Jia family, and might even want to use Jia Qiang to establish a relationship with him, so there was no obstruction.

As for today's event, it was merely a means to quell Lingguan's disloyalty.

He believed that even if Jia Qiang was stupid, he would know that Lingguan was the person he had his eye on, and would not dare to have any thoughts of competing with her.

Although I don't know what got into him at the end, he actually dared to agree to let Lingguan take a concubine.

However, it does not affect the overall situation.

He had been observing Lingguan for a long time and knew that her personality was just as stubborn as Miaoyu's.

She could never agree to become Jia Qiang's concubine.

Of course, if he was wrong, Lingguan really would rather be Jia Qiang's concubine than his woman.

There's nothing to say about that; he's not short of women.

There's no need to forcibly detain a girl whose heart isn't with you.

Suddenly he felt a warmth on his thigh. Looking closely, he realized it was a girl's tears falling on his leg.

I knew this girl was still too proud.

So he reached out and gently patted her head, indicating that he had accepted her concession and overtures.

Then he said to the screen, "I suddenly feel a little reluctant to bestow Lingguan upon you. Let's put this matter aside for now. You may leave."

"..."

Leaving aside Jia Qiang, even the young actors and the two adults watching were stunned by Jia Lian's words.

Is it even possible to do it this way?

Second Master... is really interesting.

Jia Qiang didn't find Jia Lian amusing at all; he was already sweating bullets.

He didn't believe that Jia Lian had specifically called him here today just to make fun of him.

Did you guess wrong?
Was Uncle Lian testing me just now? Was he testing whether I still had improper thoughts about Lingguan?
He was so blinded by greed that he actually wanted to take Lingguan as a concubine.

So that's why Uncle Lian was silent for so long before suddenly turning hostile?

She wanted to explain that she had long since stopped liking Lingguan, but she hesitated to speak because she had previously said that she didn't know anyone named Lingguan.

After hesitating for a moment, he could only respectfully say "yes," then bow and leave the hall.

However, he dared not leave. He bowed and scraped respectfully to Aqi, who was standing on one side of the palace gate, and then obediently stayed on the other side, waiting for Jia Lian to come out.

……

Lingguan felt wronged because it was her first time serving a man, and it was done in such a humiliating and shameful way.

Therefore, tears uncontrollably streamed down my face.

Until she felt the comforting hand on her head, she raised her eyes and saw Jia Lian's gaze, which was many times gentler than before.

The grievances in my heart were unconsciously lessened by more than half.

Thinking that he sang better than everyone else, he couldn't let anyone look down on him.

So she raised her sleeve to wipe away her tears, and surprisingly, based on her own understanding, she began to serve Jia Lian with great care and sincerity.

For a moment, Fangguan was pushed aside.

Seeing Fangguan's frustrated expression, Jia Lian chuckled.

Just as Jia Lian was indulging in pleasure at Tianxiang Tower, Ningrong Street suddenly became lively.

A hundred or so eunuchs, led by a troop of golden-armored imperial guards, slowly made their way from the east end of the street toward the Rongguo Duke's mansion.

Each eunuch carried a large tray covered with bright red silk.

Although we can't see exactly what they are, just from the sheer scale of the event, we can tell that they must all be valuable items.

Most of the people in the capital were well-informed and saw the eunuchs' posture and the fact that they were heading towards the Jia family's residence.

Recalling the previous great victory in Liaodong, which made the name of the Duke of Rongguo known throughout the land, it is speculated that the emperor must have bestowed this reward upon the Duke of Rongguo.

As a result, many ordinary people spread the word and gathered to watch.

The news quickly spread to both Jia family mansions.

Some people sneaked out to watch the excitement, while others immediately went to find Jia Lian, Jia Zheng, and other people in charge.

Because Ningguo Mansion is in the east, Lady You received the news a step ahead of Rongguo Mansion.

Hearing that the imperial court had bestowed honors upon Jia Lian, Lady You was naturally very happy and attentive.

Remembering that Qin Keqing had mentioned to her earlier that Jia Lian was playing with the young actors at Tianxiang Tower, she immediately prepared to send a silver plate to inform Jia Lian.

He hesitated for a moment, then got up and went to Tianxiang Tower himself.

Upon arriving at the foot of the main building, she saw Jia Qiang, frowned, and asked, "What are you doing here?"

Jia Qiang shrank back, not daring to look at her former foster mother and rival, and said with her head down, "It was my second uncle who called me here..."

Madam You glanced at Aqi on the other side, thinking that with Aqi there, Jia Qiang wouldn't dare to lie.

So she ignored him and asked Aqi, "Is Second Uncle inside?"

Aqi nodded silently.

Madam You nodded politely to her, then took the silver plate and went into the house.

This undoubtedly surprised Jia Qiang.

If he wasn't mistaken, Uncle Lian should be having fun inside right now.

Why doesn't your aunt try to avoid it?

If she didn't know, why didn't the female general next to her remind her?
Could it be...

Thinking of a rumor she had once heard, Jia Qiang felt even more upset.

He was naturally familiar with the You family.

Moreover, the surname You held some special significance for him.

When her parents died early and she was taken to Ningguo Mansion by Jia Zhen, You Shi was at the prime of her life.

How could a young man not like such a beautiful woman who exudes maternal charm?

Moreover, at first, Madam You treated him quite well, perhaps because he had no children, and she really treated him like her own son.

He also felt a strong dependence on his newly adopted foster mother.

Until Jia Zhen revealed his sinister fangs to him, shattering all his beautiful illusions.

At first, Madam You certainly didn't know, but he always felt ashamed to face her and often avoided her.

Madam You even asked him with concern if something was on his mind, but of course he dared not say anything.

Later, Lady You stopped paying attention to him. He knew that Lady You must have found out about his affair with Jia Zhen.

From then on, he dared not see Lady You again.

He originally thought Madam You was a perfect woman, but he never expected that she might have had an affair with Uncle Lian.

I can't quite describe how I feel.

But it's definitely not anger.

Because he also knew that Jia Lian was such a capable and outstanding person that he truly deserved so many women's affections.

Moreover, this conjecture shattered the perfect image of Lady You in his mind, causing him to become delirious.

He thought to himself, if only he hadn't been so shy and timid back then, and hadn't actively avoided Madam You.

Is it possible that he might take this foster mother to bed...?

After all, Jia Qiang knew he was very handsome; otherwise, he wouldn't have attracted that beast Jia Zhen to make a move on him at such a young age.

He suddenly realized the crucial point.

He quickly tugged at his pants, glanced guiltily at the woman standing motionless like a statue on the other side, and quietly took a few steps back. (End of Chapter)