Dream of the Red Chamber: Madam, please have some self-respect!

That figure and those words were so resolute that there was no room for negotiation.

Jia Yun stood in the shop, feeling icy cold all over.

He knew that Bu Shiren was acerbic in the original work, but he didn't know that he himself would be just as mean.

Just as he was about to turn and leave, he heard his aunt mutter behind him again: "What a poor, scrawny girl, trying to do business? Doesn't she know her own limitations? I told you long ago to stay away from your useless sister. Look at the kind of people she's attracted..."

"Oh, my wife. I cut ties with my sister long ago, but they came anyway, what does it have to do with me?"

Each curse was clear and distinct, piercing my heart like a needle.

If Jia Yun hadn't lived two lives, his heart would probably have been pierced long ago.

Humiliated, Jia Yun could no longer bear it. He gritted his teeth and rushed out of the spice shop without looking back.

Shortly after Jia Yun left, Feng Ziying was seen standing with his hands behind his back on the street corner, observing everything.

He gazed in the direction Jia Yun had disappeared, and casually instructed a servant who had quietly appeared beside him, "Go and find out which branch of the Jia family that he is. He certainly has some guts."

The attendant responded in a low voice.

A playful smile played on Feng Ziying's lips as he murmured to himself, "This Jia family, living a life of luxury and extravagance for so long, I never expected they could produce such a worthy person... Interesting."

As Jia Yun walked through the bustling streets, he felt a deep sense of sorrow, wondering if he was truly facing certain death.

The coldness of human relationships and the fragility of family ties made him even more aware of the ways of the world.

The bustling streets, filled with laughter and chatter, only served to highlight his solitary and desolate state.

Just as Jia Yun was walking home dejectedly, he bumped into someone. Looking up, he saw it was Ni Er, the rascal from the next street.

Although Ni Er was a street rogue, he had thick eyebrows and big eyes, and his appearance had a rather bold and forthright air.

"What's wrong with Second Master Yun? Why does he look so pale?" Although Ni Er was a notorious rogue on the street, he always respected scholars, especially a prodigal son like Jia Yun who had turned over a new leaf and was willing to study hard.

Jia Yun didn't want to say much, but seeing Ni Er's sincere attitude, and remembering that this was the same person who lent him money in the original story, and feeling frustrated, he briefly recounted the humiliation he had suffered at his uncle's place.

Upon hearing this, Ni Er flew into a rage: "That Bu Shiren! He puts on such a respectable act all the time, yet he treats his own nephew so cruelly!"

He patted Jia Yun on the shoulder: "Second Master Yun, don't worry. How much capital do you need? I, Ni Er, will lend it to you!"

Jia Yun was stunned: "This...how can this be? We're just neighbors..."

Ni Er laughed heartily: "Although I, Ni Er, am a rough man, I have the utmost respect for those who are learned and sensible. Master Yun is willing to study diligently and understands the ways of business; he will surely have a bright future. I feel at ease lending him this money!"

As he spoke, Ni Er took out a money pouch from his pocket, counted out twenty taels of silver, and stuffed it into Jia Yun's hand: "Is this enough? If not, I'll go get more!"

Holding the heavy silver coins, Jia Yun's eyes welled up with tears: "Second Brother Ni, how...how can I ever repay you..."

Ni Er waved his hand and said, "Why say such things! When Master Yun succeeds in the imperial examination, don't forget to invite me to a celebratory drink!"

As he was about to leave, he turned back and said, "I know you must be in a hurry to need it, so you don't need to rush to pay it back. You can pay it back whenever you have the means."

Jia Yun bowed deeply: "Brother Ni, I will never forget your kindness today!"

After bidding farewell to Ni Er, Jia Yun clutched the silver in his hand, his heart filled with mixed emotions. "A neighbor is worse than a maternal uncle," he thought, "what an irony of the world."

He dared not delay any longer and immediately went to the market to purchase the finest borneol and musk.

After receiving the item, Jia Yun hurried to Wang Xifeng's courtyard. He straightened his worn-out blue cloth robe and then realized that his palms were covered in cold sweat.

He composed himself and said to the maid at the door, "Please ask the maid to announce that Yun'er from the west corridor is here to see the Second Mistress. She has obtained some rare spices and has come to offer them as a gift."

Ping'er was instructing the maids to tidy up the tea set when she heard the noise. She lifted the curtain and came out to see Jia Yun. She smiled and said, "Brother Yun, you've come at the right time. Second Mistress just finished her nap and is waking up now."

Ping'er had always had a good impression of Jia Yun. She thought that although the young man came from a poor family, he was sensible and polite, and now he was also eager to learn. So she naturally thought highly of him.

Although surprised to see him arrive at this time, I still went in to report.

Wang Xifeng was lying on the kang (a heated brick bed) by the window, pretending to be asleep. She was wearing a simple red satin shirt embroidered with gold butterflies and flowers, and her dark black hair was loosely tied up.

Hearing Ping'er's reply, she was fiddling with the shrimp-whisker bracelet on her wrist when she pondered, "This child is thoughtful. Let him in."

Jia Yun entered the room and bowed respectfully. He felt a warm fragrance waft towards him, like orchids and musk mixed with a sweet and warm scent, which made his ears feel slightly hot.

He dared not raise his head, but presented the camphor and musk packaged in a brocade box: "Greetings, Second Madam. I happened to acquire some camphor and musk of excellent quality today, and thinking that your household might need it, I brought it here for you to take a look."

Wang Xifeng glanced at it casually; the object was indeed a fine item.

She glanced at Jia Yun and saw that although he stood with his head bowed, his forehead was covered in fine sweat and his hand holding the brocade box was trembling slightly. She knew that there was more to the story.

She didn't accept the gift, but gestured for Ping'er to take it, and said lightly, "It's kind of you to think of me. But you look like a frightened little sparrow. Did you run into someone outside?"

Jia Yun had been waiting for these words, and suddenly he knelt down with a "thud," the sound echoing on the ground: "Your nephew has committed a terrible disaster, please, Second Mistress, save my life!"

This kneeling startled Wang Xifeng so much that the jade pendants at her waist jingled. She shifted slightly as she sat, her plump waist pressing against the scarlet floral cushion, like a ripe peach falling from a branch.

Upon hearing this, Wang Xifeng sat up straight, her crimson lips pressed into a thin line: "The Jia family is a family that values ​​poetry and propriety; how can we allow our sons to misbehave outside? Could it be that they've been learning from those scoundrels, gambling and drinking outside?"

"It wasn't about money," Jia Yun said, his eyes red as he looked up. "I...I hit someone!"

"You hit someone?" Wang Xifeng's voice suddenly rose. "How dare you! You..."

"Second Madam, please allow me to report!" Jia Yun hurriedly interrupted, knowing he had to get it all out in one breath, "My nephew beat Yang Shen, the son of Yang Huan, the Eastern Judicial Officer!"

Wang Xifeng gasped.

Yang Huan? Although he was only a seventh-rank judicial officer, he was still a favorite of the current Emperor Wei Zhongxian! And his only son, Yang Shen, was a notorious tyrant in the capital!

Her face instantly darkened: "You...you actually dared to provoke that devil? Jia Yun, do you know this is a catastrophe!"

Wang Xifeng was so angry that her face was contorted with rage, her bulging chest heaving violently, her pomegranate-red silk vest taut to reveal her stunningly voluptuous figure.

Jia Yun hurriedly recounted the events at the restaurant in detail. When he got to the part about the woman being driven to such a state, her hair disheveled and her hairpins askew, his voice choked with emotion: "I simply couldn't bear to see such humiliation of a respectable woman in broad daylight, so I rushed in masked..."

He omitted the part about Feng Ziying saving people, only saying that a hero intervened to help those in need.

As Wang Xifeng listened, the anger on her face gradually gave way to astonishment.

She took a closer look at the young man before her. He was still rather thin, but there was an undeniable air of righteousness between his brows.

For the sake of a complete stranger, how dare he venture into the lion's den alone and confront a tyrant like Yang Shen? Such courage and chivalry are unparalleled among the pampered sons of the Jia family.

She hesitated for a moment, her tone softening slightly, but still remaining cautious.

"Even so, you've still caused a huge disaster. Yang Huan is extremely protective of his own. If this matter blows up, not only will your life be in danger, but our entire Jia family will be implicated! How can you expect me to help you? Do you expect our Rongguo Mansion to stand up to the Ninth Prince for your sake?"

Upon hearing this, Jia Yun immediately kowtowed: "Your nephew would not dare to implicate the family! Your nephew only needs one word from Second Madam, to prove that I returned to the manor to meet you shortly after lunch today. Then just say that your nephew specifically went to buy these camphor and musk at your instruction. Your nephew was masked at the time, so they did not see my true face. As long as Madam is willing to be my witness in this matter, they will have no evidence and will not suspect me, let alone implicate the manor."

When he looked up again, he saw Wang Xifeng leaning over, her warm fragrance of a mature woman growing stronger, mixed with the sweet scent of candied fruit on the kang table, making him blush.

The enormous thing on her chest was almost bursting out, making the young man blush.

She had the figure to bear a son, but unfortunately, she gave birth to a girl named Qiaojie.