Dream of the Red Chamber: Starting with a Chronicle of Tragic Love

Jia Zhen was both angry and amused by You Shi's feigned innocent and bewildered appearance.

His eyes were sharp, fixed on Madam You, as if trying to see right through her.

"Don't you understand?"

Jia Zhen sneered.

"Then let me explain it more clearly."

He took two steps forward, his imposing aura pressing directly against You Shi's face.

"That girl Lian'er just caused a scene in front of the Qin residence today and has returned home."

"Her face was bruised and her clothes were disheveled; it was obvious she had just been beaten."

"But she neither went back to her own residence nor went to her master Jia Rong to complain."

Instead, they went straight to your yard.

"The moment you saw her, you sent all the servants away from the courtyard."

"You two closed the door and talked for quite a while."

He paused, his voice as cold as if it had been chilled to the bone.

After saying that, Lian'er slipped out the back door.

They were in a hurry, as if they were hiding from something.

"She had just left when I arrived."

"Tell me, why did Lian'er come to see you first thing after returning to the manor?"

"What did she say to you? And what did you tell her?"

Madam You felt a pang of anxiety, but her face remained expressionless with helplessness.

"My lord, you are really wronging me."

"Lian'er is now Rong-ge'er's maid, so she's practically his mistress."

"It is the custom in this household for her to come and pay her respects to me."

"As for what was said..."

She sighed softly, her tone carrying just the right amount of helplessness.

"They're just some intimate words between girls."

She said she was wronged in front of the Qin residence today, and was beaten by Rong-ge'er, so she felt bad.

"I comforted her and told her to go back to her hometown to rest for a few days and come back when things have calmed down."

"Is there... something wrong with this?"

Jia Zhen stared at her, his scrutinizing gaze unwavering.

"And what about last time?"

"The time Rong'er caught someone cheating in front of the Moon Gazing Pavilion."

"That absurd incident that caused a huge uproar in the city and almost ruined the marriage between the two families."

"How come you're in there too?"

Yu's mind was on high alert.

Fortunately, she was prepared.

She looked up at Jia Zhen, her eyes instantly reddening and tears welling up.

Her voice was choked with sobs and filled with grievance.

"My lord, you...you suspect me?"

"Regarding the incident at the Moon Gazing Pavilion, it was clearly Miss Qin who invited me first, which is why I went."

"Miss Qin is Rong-ge'er's future wife, and she wants to get to know me, her future mother-in-law, beforehand."

"This is only human nature."

"As an elder, how could I refuse?"

"Who would have thought that Rong-ge would be so foolish as to cause such a misunderstanding..."

As she spoke, tears rolled down her cheeks.

"I am a victim too."

"I was dragged into this for no reason, and it almost ruined my reputation..."

Looking at her tearful appearance, Jia Zhen's doubts wavered slightly.

But he didn't immediately give in.

"What about Lian'er?"

"Did you instigate her to cause trouble at the Qin residence today?"

Madam You was startled, but her expression showed even more grievance.

"Sir! What makes you say that?!"

"Lian'er is Rong-ge'er's person. How could I possibly order her around?"

"Besides, she's just a maid, yet she went to the Qin mansion to cry and make a scene, calling Rong-ge'er a heartless man."

"What good will this do for the reputation of our Ningguo Mansion if word gets out?"

"As the mistress of the house, how could I do something so self-destructive?"

She spoke with such sincerity, as if she had truly suffered a great injustice.

"Lian'er came today only to ask for leave from me."

She said that although she was nominally Rong-ge'er's concubine, Rong-ge'er had not yet married a wife, so her status as a concubine could not be confirmed.

"Right now, she's still just a maid."

"She wants to take this time to go home and see her parents, to show her filial piety."

"I thought she was a pitiful person, so I gave my permission."

"Letting her leave through the back door was also to prevent her from being seen by the people in the mansion, which would cause gossip."

"Is... this wrong too?"

Jia Zhen frowned slightly upon hearing this explanation.

That does sound reasonable.

It's normal for Lian'er to want to go home and avoid trouble, given her awkward situation.

It's understandable to leave through the back door to avoid being noticed.

But he always felt that something was wrong.

Seeing that his expression relaxed, Madam You was secretly pleased.

She immediately resorted to her best tactic—feigning pitifulness and innocence.

She knelt down with a thud.

Tears streamed down her face like beads from a broken string.

"master......"

Her voice choked with sobs, filled with grievance and despair.

"Since I married into the Ningguo Mansion, I have always upheld the virtues of a wife and devoted myself to managing the affairs of the mansion."

"Although Rong-ge'er is not my biological son, I have never mistreated him in the slightest. I only hope that he will be well."

"But now..."

"Rong-ge'er has caused such absurd trouble, coveting me, his stepmother, and ruining my reputation."

"My lord, not only do you not stand up for me, but you also doubt me..."

"How can I possibly have the face to live in this world?"

"It would be better to...it would be better to die!"

The more she talked, the more heartbroken she became, and the more she cried, the more miserable she became.

In the end, he burst into tears, crying his heart out.

His heartbroken appearance stunned Jia Zhen.

The sound of crying largely dispelled any doubts he might have had.

Could it be that I'm just overthinking things?

Even if Lady You was shrewd, she was ultimately a woman confined to the inner quarters.

She must have felt both ashamed and afraid after her stepson caused such a scene.

Instead of being understanding, he suspected her, which was far too cold-hearted.

A pang of guilt welled up in Jia Zhen's heart.

He quickly stepped forward and helped Madam You up.

"Okay, okay, stop crying."

"I was overthinking it; I shouldn't have doubted you."

"Stop crying."

He awkwardly patted Ms. You's back, gently comforting her.

Yu leaned against him and cried even louder.

It was as if she wanted to cry out all her grievances and fears.

Only she knew that she had already secretly breathed a sigh of relief.

This hurdle is temporarily over.

In the shadows outside the courtyard wall, a anxious figure flashed by silently.

He saw with his own eyes that Lian'er returned to the mansion injured and hurriedly entered Madam You's courtyard.

I also saw Lian'er come out of the room, looking flustered, and hurriedly slipped out through the back door.

With his exceptional hearing, he clearly heard most of the conversation inside the room, as well as Madam You's mournful cries.

Jiao Si frowned deeply.

Lian'er went to find Madam You when she returned to the mansion, and then slipped away through the back door.

When Jia Zhen came to question her, You Shi feigned pitifulness and evaded the question.

Something about all of this is wrong.

He quickly made a mental calculation.

Lian'er's disturbance at the Qin residence today must have been instigated by Madam You.

The purpose was to sabotage the marriage between Jia Rong and Qin Keqing.

Now that things have blown up, Jia Zhen has become suspicious.

In order to protect herself, Lady You might very well target Lian'er.

Either silence her, or make her disappear completely.

Lian'er may have been returning to her hometown, but in reality, she may have embarked on a path of no return.

Jiao Si's eyes turned cold.

Although Lian'er was greedy, she was ultimately a pitiful person who was used as a pawn.

It would be such a pity if she really lost her life because of this.

Without further hesitation, he turned and quietly slipped out of Ningguo Mansion.

He walked very fast, chasing after the direction Lian'er had left in.

It was evening.

Lady You cried for a long time, and finally managed to stop crying after being comforted by Jia Zhen.

She leaned against Jia Zhen's chest, her eyes red and swollen, her voice hoarse.

"My lord... I am tired."

I want to rest for a while.

Jia Zhen nodded.

"Okay, you get some rest."

Don't overthink it.

He helped Madam You lie down, tucked her in, and then turned and left the room.

The moment Jia Zhen stepped out of the room, the gentle expression on his face vanished.

His brow furrowed, and the uneasy feeling in his heart grew stronger and stronger.

Yu's explanation sounds flawless.

But everything is just too coincidental.

Why did Lian'er have to come home so soon after causing such a big incident?

Why insist on going through the back door and avoiding everyone else?

Jia Zhen found it increasingly suspicious.

He summoned a trusted guard.

"go."

"Find Lian'er and bring her back."

"I have something to ask her."

The guard bowed and replied, "Yes."

He then quickly turned and left.

Jia Zhen stood under the eaves, watching the sky gradually darken, his mind filled with countless thoughts.

I hope... I'm just overthinking it.