The Second Master of the Red Chamber

The long street was brightly lit, yet somewhat quiet.

Only faint sounds of laughter occasionally drifted from within the deep courtyard.

The sound of horses' hooves immediately startled the group of people waiting at the gatehouse, who hurriedly ran down the steps to stand and greet them.

"Your son welcomes Father back to the mansion. Father, you have had a long day."

Jia Lian stopped his horse at the corner gate, looked at the dozen or so servants in front of him, and Jia Yun, who was in charge, and asked, "Today is New Year's Eve. Why aren't you going home to be with your mother? What are you doing here so late?"

Jia Yun stepped forward, took the horse's reins, and said with a smile, "I heard that Father is accompanying the Emperor to the Ancestral Temple to offer sacrifices today. I know that Father must be tired today, so I waited here to pay my respects to you."

As for the son and mother, Father, you don't need to worry.

Since my father helped me out, I've really prospered. Not only does my mother no longer have to do laundry for others, but I've also hired two servants to take care of her.

Since the son need not worry about his mother, he should naturally serve his father diligently.

Hearing Jia Yun repeatedly address Jia Yun as "father" and "mother," Jia Lian still felt somewhat awkward.

He knew Jia Yun's mother, mainly because although she was not yet forty years old, she looked old due to years of hard work and illness.

"Alright, I understand your intentions."

"But I don't need your service here. Go back and spend New Year's Eve with your mother."

"Yes."

Although Jia Yun nodded in agreement, he continued walking, leading Jia Lian's horse into the mansion, clearly intending to personally complete the task of leading the horse and putting it in the stirrups before stopping.

Jia Lian didn't press the matter, and casually asked, "How is the situation at the manor today?"

"Father, please rest assured, everything is fine in the manor today."

The second master presided over the ancestral worship ceremony in the afternoon, which proceeded very well.

Later, the old lady hosted a family banquet in the large flower hall behind Rongqing Hall, and it's still going on now.

Jia Lian nodded, and after dismounting in front of the stable, he led Aqi and Aqin toward Rongqing Hall.

As expected, the place where Grandmother Jia lived was much more lively than other places. Even before we had actually stepped inside, we could already hear the laughter coming from there.

Upon reaching the flower hall, they saw Jia Zheng, Jia Cong, Jia Huan, and Jia Lan sitting listlessly on the outer corridor, listening intently to the sounds coming from inside the hall.

Upon reflection, banquets in ancient times were actually quite uninteresting.

Aside from drinking, all he did was watch plays.

Now that the country is in mourning, families like the Jia family, who are of noble birth, naturally cannot watch plays.

In fact, on such a joyous occasion, it's not a big deal to hold a banquet or watch a play.

After all, the emperor held a grand banquet for officials and foreign guests today, and no one has come forward to say that Emperor Ningkang is unfilial.

However, given Jia Zheng and his mother's cautious nature, they were unwilling to give others any leverage over such a trivial matter.

So, the only sounds now are the melodious storytelling voices of the two female teachers coming from inside the hall, and the occasional chatter of the women.

"Second Master Lian is back."

As the maids announced the news in a low, but not too loud, voice, the atmosphere in the hall quieted down.

Immediately, the maids filed out and waited in two rows at the hall entrance.

Seeing this, Jia Zheng, who had just gotten up and exchanged a few words with Jia Lian, smiled and said, "Go in quickly, the old lady has been waiting for you for a long time."

Jia Zheng's words are quite interesting upon closer examination.

In the past, he would probably have said, "Go in and pay your respects to the old lady."

But now, he can no longer say those words.

After all, if we look closely, it's not certain who is paying respects to whom.

Jia Lian nodded and then walked into the hall.

The hall was much more lively than the outside.

The group was led by Grandmother Jia, Aunt Xue, and the two ladies, Xing and Wang.

There are also young ladies such as Baochai and Daiyu, the three sisters of the Spring Festival, Xiuyan, Xiangyun, and Baoqin.

The three young women: Li Wan, You Shi, and Qin Keqing.

There were also twenty or thirty maids, more than ten young wives, more than ten female servants, and two female storytellers.

Of course, there was also Jia Baoyu sitting next to Grandmother Jia.

Sure enough, when Jia Lian was away, this guy resumed his role as the only green leaf among a sea of ​​red flowers.

"Grandson greets the old lady."

As usual, Jia Lian stepped forward and bowed to Grandmother Jia.

Grandmother Jia immediately beamed with joy and asked, "Why are you back so late? Everyone has been waiting for you for a long time."

Jia Lian said apologetically, "I should have returned much earlier, but after returning to the palace from the Imperial Ancestral Temple, His Majesty bestowed upon me a family banquet."

The grandson dared not refuse, and that's why he's endured it until now.

Grandmother Jia's expression froze, while the onlookers exchanged glances, their eyes filled with undisguised admiration and envy.

In feudal times, being able to dine with the emperor was an incredibly prestigious thing.

Besides, it was a family dinner.

It's time for those who gossip behind people's backs, saying that Master Lian's situation is precarious because of his background, to see this.

His Majesty the Emperor clearly treats Second Master Lian as a close nephew.

Grandmother Jia quickly realized what was happening, and smiled with satisfaction, "Good, good..."

If it were a long time ago, Jia Lian would naturally have enjoyed this kind of subtle showing off, which attracted the admiring gazes of his entire family, young and old.

But nowadays, there are so many similar pretentious displays that it feels like this one no longer matches his level of sophistication.

So he changed the subject and asked, "Why haven't I seen Feng'er?"

“She has twins, so I sent her back to rest.”

With a smile, Grandmother Jia looked at Jia Lian's black and red duke's robe and immediately instructed him, "You've had a long day, go back and change your clothes."

"Yes." Jia Lian nodded.

There was no place for him to change clothes in the palace, so he was still wearing the same clothes he had worn when he entered the palace that morning.

Although the robes and crowns exude luxury and nobility, they are not as comfortable as everyday clothes.

It was a bit tiring at the end of the day.

After glancing at the group of young women who had stood up to greet him when he entered the hall, Jia Lian bid farewell to Grandmother Jia and returned to the garden.

Compared to Grandmother Jia's residence, the garden was naturally much quieter. However, the entire garden, from the corners of the buildings to the trees along the roads, was covered with lanterns, which made the roads bright.

Just as they crossed Qinfang Bridge, Jia Lian was about to head east back to the main hall.

From afar, Jia Lian spotted a tall, slender figure approaching. Upon closer inspection, he recognized her as Yuanyang.

Yuanyang had naturally spotted Jia Lian and the other two long ago, and she couldn't help but slow her pace.

When she arrived in front of Jia Lian, she bowed and said, "Greetings, Second Master."

Jia Lian nodded. "What are you here for?"

“The kitchen has just steamed some grass jelly and deer antler paste. The old lady ordered me to take a bowl to Second Grandmother.”

Jia Lian laughed and said, "Such a small matter as delivering food could be easily handled by any head maid. Why bother you to make the trip yourself?"

Upon hearing this, Yuanyang pouted and said, "Second Master, I don't understand what you mean. We are all servants, so why can't I deliver it?"

Jia Lian sensed the resentment in her voice and laughed, "How come you seem so distant from me after only half a year?"

Yuanyang was naturally somewhat resentful, after all, as the chief maidservant by Grandmother Jia's side, she rarely had the opportunity to get close to Jia Lian.

Moreover, I recently heard that Jia Lian is busy arranging to marry Baochai and Daiyu. As a woman, I am naturally not happy about it.

Now that she has finally managed to meet Jia Lian, she can't help but reveal her true feelings.

Perhaps subconsciously she wanted Jia Lian to pay more attention to her or to coax her.

But when she suddenly heard Jia Lian ask this question, she was startled.

Remembering the last time he was jealous of Qingwen, Jia Lian said that the outside world was dangerous and he was also struggling. He didn't want to go home and have the woman he liked quarrel with him.

She regretted it at the time, feeling that she had been too tactless and didn't deserve Jia Lian's favor.

How come I made the same mistake again so soon?

It seems that Jia Lian's campaign against Liaodong this time will be no less dangerous than the last time he accompanied the emperor on a hunting trip. And I...

Thinking about it, I couldn't help but feel ashamed and shed tears.

Jia Lian was just joking casually and didn't mean to blame Yuanyang.

To be fair, Yuanyang was indeed a girl he had flirted with very early on, but she was also one of the girls he cared about the least.

The main reason was that he had been staying by Grandmother Jia's side all along, making it difficult for him to make a move.

So it's normal for a seventeen or eighteen-year-old girl to have some minor grievances.

I never expected that after only a couple of words, I would make her cry.

Jia Lian was also puzzled for a moment, so he could only step forward, hold her shoulders, wipe away her tears, and ask with a smile, "Why are you crying all of a sudden? Did something happen to you?"

Jia Lian's gentle actions and voice made Yuanyang feel utterly ashamed.

Fortunately, she was educated and reasonable, and quickly composed herself, looking up and smiling, "Second Master, please go home quickly, Second Madam misses you very much."

When I delivered the things just now, Second Madam asked me if Second Master had returned home yet.

As Yuanyang spoke, she gave a playful smile.

Her sudden change of expression stunned Jia Lian.

It is late at night now, and although there is light in the garden, it is naturally not as bright as during the day.

As the saying goes, a beautiful woman looks better under the lamplight.

As one of the three most outstanding maids in the Jia family, Yuanyang was naturally exceptionally beautiful.

She is tall, slender, with fair and firm skin, and clear and bright features.

Her only flaw is the slight freckles she was born with, which affect her appearance.

Even so, she can be compared to Ping'er and Xiren.

Now, late at night, under the dim light, no matter how closely Jia Lian looked, he couldn't see a trace of freckles.

Then I felt that the mandarin ducks looked ten times more beautiful than usual.

Moreover, the other woman had just shed tears, making her even more pitiful and charming, which made Jia Lian's wicked thoughts surge uncontrollably.

Although Grandmother Jia intended to leave Yuanyang to her, given her longevity, who knows when she would truly be willing to let go?

Yuanyang is now seventeen or eighteen, in the prime of her youth. Jia Lian certainly doesn't want to wait until he's over twenty to pluck this flower.

He had already made up his mind, but he didn't show it on his face. He just lowered his head and admired the beauty of the mandarin ducks without any attempt to hide it.

Yuanyang couldn't stand Jia Lian's scrutiny, and quickly lowered her head, saying, "I should go back now..."

After saying that, she shyly tried to run away.

The little lamb could never escape the big bad wolf's clutches. If she hadn't moved, all would have been fine, but as soon as she moved, Jia Lian would have made his move.

He pulled her hand back, then bent down, picked her up, and carried her down the path into the shadows.

As Yuanyang fell into Jia Lian's arms, she instinctively clung tightly to his neck. Before she could recover from the intense sensations of the warm embrace and strong arms, she realized that she was getting further and further away from the main road, and the surroundings were becoming increasingly dark.

The girl, slow to realize what was happening, hurriedly pushed Jia Lian, "Second Master, no, put me down..."

Jia Lian initially ignored him, his gaze fixed on finding a suitable place.

Annoyed by the girl's pushing and shoving, he lowered his head and smiled, "Are you really unwilling?"

The mandarin ducks suddenly fell silent.

I began to question myself.

She had been in love with Jia Lian for a very long time—so long that it could be traced back to before Jia Lian's marriage and before Feng Jie entered the family.

Of course, this infatuation might not be anything special. After all, it's normal for a young maidservant of ten or so to develop feelings for a handsome young master.

However, by now, Grandmother Jia has already spoken out on the matter of her status, and Jia Lian has even hugged and kissed her in private.

She was such a strong-willed woman; if she didn't want to, she would never allow Jia Lian to treat her so lightly.

However, even though she was willing, she didn't want to give herself to Jia Lian so easily and confusedly.

Especially in such an inappropriate environment.

Thinking that Jia Lian wasn't the kind of person who would act recklessly when overcome by lust, she lay in Jia Lian's arms and gently advised, "Since I've followed you, Second Master, I've never been unwilling."

However, although I am of low rank, I am still an innocent and upright girl.

She would naturally be unwilling to give herself to the Second Master so hastily.

If you, Second Master, take pity on them, please release Yuanyang.

In the future, Yuanyang doesn't ask for a grand wedding with eight sedan chairs or a proper marriage, but at least she should be allowed to enter the house with dignity and respect, so that her wish can be fulfilled.

Of course, these were all Yuanyang's own thoughts.

If the Second Master insists on taking Yuanyang here, Yuanyang naturally wouldn't dare to resist..."

Upon hearing this, Jia Lian felt somewhat helpless.

As expected, those who have studied are not easy to deal with.

If she had been beaten and kicked like Qingwen did, she would have been easy to deal with.

Who cares about the consequences? Let's just take it and see what happens.

Therefore, even if she feels somewhat resentful, she should be able to be appeased quickly.

But he had a calm mind and clearly explained the facts and reasoning.

If I were to take action at this point, it would clearly leave an irreparable rift between the two of us.

So Jia Lian said, "I understand your thoughts, but since the old lady values ​​you so much, she certainly won't let you leave easily."

If I were to forcibly demand it, putting aside whether it would be proper or not, I'm afraid it would damage your relationship with the old lady..."

Upon hearing this, Yuanyang quickly advised, "Second Master, you must not ask the Old Madam for me. Otherwise, where will I have a place in this house..."

Mandarin ducks are very clever.

If Jia Lian really took the initiative to ask Grandmother Jia for it in advance...

Whether Grandmother Jia was willing or not, she would definitely agree.

But deep down, she probably also felt that she couldn't bear the loneliness and instigated Jia Lian to do it.

If that's the case, how will she face Grandmother Jia and the rest of the family in the future?
Jia Lian laughed and said, "So you're willing to keep waiting like this?"

If the old lady lives another ten or twenty years, you'll be in your thirties or forties by then.

By then…

Jia Lian, for some unknown reason, wore a wicked smile.

The mandarin duck shivered genuinely.

Even if she were naive, she wouldn't have imagined that she would still be so attractive to Jia Lian a decade or two later.

Suddenly, I felt conflicted.

Grandmother Jia was nearly eighty years old, and by all accounts, she only had a few years left to live.

But it's better to be safe than sorry; there have been cases of elderly women living to be ninety or even a hundred years old.

If that were to happen, what hope would she have left in this life?
So he hesitated and said, "Maybe in a few years, the old lady will get tired of me and let me go..."

She herself lacked confidence in saying this.

Unless she deliberately acts slacking off and deliberately makes Grandmother Jia dislike her.

But it's clear she can't do that.

Grandmother Jia truly showed her kindness and recognition, a kindness as heavy as a mountain.

Without Grandmother Jia, where would Jin Yuanyang be today, or even the Jin family be today?

She would never dare to do anything ungrateful.

Jia Lian could tell from Yuanyang's expression that the time was ripe, so he lowered his head and whispered in her ear, "So silly girl, there's no point in just waiting."

Why don't you give it to me first, and we can officially become husband and wife?

In this way, one can avoid wasting one's youth and avoid doing something heartless like cursing an old lady.

"No matter when the old lady passes away peacefully, it won't matter if I bring you back to my room then, will it?"

Upon hearing this, Yuanyang suddenly realized that Jia Lian's words made a lot of sense.

I almost nodded.

But the thought of doing such a thing with Jia Lian in this desolate wilderness on a freezing day suddenly brought him to his senses.

She immediately started hitting Jia Lian, forcibly jumped off his arms, turned her back, and remained silent.

Jia Lian hugged her from behind and asked with a smile, "What, you really would rather keep waiting than be with me?"

Yuanyang did not stop Jia Lian from embracing her this time. After a long silence, she said, "I understand everything you're thinking, Second Master."

But not here…

After much deliberation, Yuanyang finally agreed with Jia Lian's statement.

She had been waiting for two years and knew all too well the pain of waiting.

However, as Jia Lian said, she would never dare to do something so immoral as to curse Grandmother Jia to die early.

So, according to Jia Lian, it doesn't seem like there's anything wrong with it.

Even if Grandmother Jia found out, she probably wouldn't really blame her.

When Jia Lian saw that Yuanyang had agreed, he felt both happy and regretful.

Ultimately, he wasn't the type to control everyone else. A girl like Yuanyang, with her good personality, strong will, and fiery temperament, held some weight in his heart.

If possible, he still looks forward to achieving both physical and mental well-being.

So he smiled and said, "Okay, whatever you say."

Upon hearing this, Yuanyang was finally completely relieved. She had been genuinely afraid that Jia Lian would disregard everything and force himself on her right there.

But she soon realized something was wrong; Jia Lian was still holding her from behind, showing no intention of letting go.

"Second Master, I should go back now, or the Old Madam will become suspicious..."

"What are you doubting? You're not the only one serving the old lady. It's the New Year, don't you deserve a little personal time?"

"no……"

Their faces were flushed.

She wanted to go somewhere only because she was worried that Grandmother Jia would become suspicious.

It was clear that Jia Lian was becoming increasingly unruly, not only making her feel itchy inside, but also making her feel that there was something terrifying lurking behind her.

Feeling she couldn't let Jia Lian carry her any longer, she tried to forcefully push him away and escape.

Jia Lian spoke first: "I need to relieve myself."

Yuanyang was taken aback, then her heart raced, and after a long while she finally said, "Second Master, you can relieve yourself whenever you want..."

Jia Lian had already carried her down the path. It was dark, with mountains, trees, water and grass, which was safe even for girls. What could a grown man like Jia Lian possibly have to worry about?

I'm afraid that the scoundrel Second Master's real intention isn't to relieve himself, but to humiliate her.

Sure enough, Jia Lian laughed and said, "But I usually have Qingwen and the others to help me relieve myself. I can't do it all by myself."

"Pah, what a lie! Does the Second Master expect to bring Qingwen and the others with him when he leads troops into battle?"

Jia Lian was taken aback, but he still shamelessly said, "It's fine when we're out, but I can't make do at home."

Jia Lian's self-righteousness almost made Yuanyang laugh in anger.

Having fully grasped Jia Lian's intentions, she knew that if she didn't satisfy him, he certainly wouldn't let her off easily.

So he whispered, "Then how about I serve Second Master?"

As expected, Jia Lian was immediately satisfied: "That's excellent."

Yuanyang turned around and glared at Jia Lian, "Then why don't you let go, Second Master?"

Jia Lian immediately let go.

Yuanyang straightened her clothes and headdress on the spot, and after a long period of mental preparation, she turned around, squatted down next to Jia Lian, and helped him take off his pants.

Although she had always served by Grandmother Jia's side, she possessed all the knowledge and skills required to be a maid.

Of course, I know how to serve a man when he needs to relieve himself.

I originally thought that the shame would only last for a short time, and that I could just close my eyes and not look at it.

But after waiting for a long time without any movement, she opened her eyes and glared reproachfully at Jia Lian, who had been looking down at her.

Jia Lian smiled and said, "Qingwen and the others were all being helped."

"If you continue to be so rude, Second Master, I will no longer speak to you."

"Really, I'm not lying to you."

Yuanyang blushed, realizing that continuing the stalemate would do her no good, so after much hesitation, she finally had no choice but to comply. (End of Chapter)