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

As Jia Zhen's thoughts churned under the eaves, Lian'er was on her way back to her hometown in the countryside.

The evening breeze, carrying the twilight air, brushed against my face, with a touch of chilly coolness.

The wind brushed against my swollen cheek, making the wound ache slightly.

Lian'er raised her hand and touched the burning wound, a complex mix of emotions churning within her.

She now both respects and fears You Shi, and harbors a deep-seated resentment that she can't suppress.

What I admire is Madam You's shrewdness; she managed to ruin Jia Rong's marriage with a single move, giving her a glimmer of hope of becoming the legal wife.

What's frightening is that this mistress of the house is too cunning and ruthless. She even dares to scheme against Jia Zhen and publicly humiliate an official like Qin Ye.

Can a helpless maidservant like her really have a peaceful ending in the hands of such a person?

Today's commotion in front of the Qin residence resulted in her being beaten and losing all face.

Mrs. You was at the Qin residence at the time. Did she know or not?

If she knew, why didn't she come out to save herself?

She had clearly stated before that she would keep herself safe...

Lian'er bit her lower lip, forcibly suppressing the unease surging in her heart.

Perhaps Mrs. You has her own difficulties.

After all, Jia Zhen and Qin Ye were both present. As the mistress of the house, she couldn't very well rush out in public to speak up for a maid.

Moreover, Jia Zhen later stopped Jia Rong and said a few words of "comfort" to her, which should have been arranged by Madam You in advance, right?

Thinking of Jia Zhen, Lian'er's heart stirred again.

Grandpa Zhen's attitude today is really strange.

He seemed to speak in a gentle tone, even saying something like, "I, as your father-in-law, will take care of everything for you," but his eyes were unfathomable, making it impossible for anyone to guess what he was thinking.

He kept asking himself who was behind it all, whether he was genuinely concerned or subtly testing the waters.

Lian'er dared not think any further.

As for Jia Rong, a hint of disdain flashed in Lian'er's eyes, mixed with a touch of vengeful pleasure.

What else can that good-for-nothing do besides beating women and showing off?

Just thinking about his furious, stupid, and vicious appearance in front of the Qin residence today is disgusting.

Qin Ye witnessed his behavior firsthand, and the marriage was definitely off. From now on, which family in Jinling City would dare to marry a respectable girl to him?

If he can't marry a legal wife, then I'll have a chance.

The idea of ​​a wife who started as a maidservant sounds rather shabby.

But she was the principal wife of the eldest grandson of the Ningguo Mansion, and the future matriarch of the family.

As long as she secures her position and gives birth to the eldest son and grandson, the inner court of the Ningguo Mansion will be entirely under her control.

At that time, everyone, including Mrs. You and Jia Rong, will have to live at her mercy.

Lian'er became more and more excited as she thought about it, and her steps became lighter. The injury on her face didn't seem to hurt as much anymore.

She could almost see herself in the glamorous days of wearing fine silks and satins, adorned with pearls and jade, surrounded by maids and servants.

Just then, everything went dark.

Several dark figures suddenly darted out from the alleyway beside the road, blocking her way.

Lian'er froze in fright, taking several steps back, her voice trembling uncontrollably: "Who...who are you? What do you want?"

The masked man at the head of the group took a step forward, his voice hoarse as if it had been grinding against gravel: "What are you doing? Sending you on your way."

Lian'er's legs went weak, and she almost collapsed to the ground.

She forced herself to calm down and forced a fawning smile: "Please... good sir, spare my life! I have some silver on me, I'll give it all to you! Please, spare my life!"

As she spoke, she frantically reached into the purse in her bosom. It was her savings, accumulated over several years through frugality, which she had originally intended to take home to her parents. But now, saving her life was the most important thing.

The masked man didn't even glance at the purse, only letting out a cold laugh: "Money? We don't want money."

Lian'er's heart sank to the bottom in an instant.

Not wanting money, but wanting lives.

She gritted her teeth, her voice extremely low, pleading with humiliation: "Then... then I'll rape you! Just spare my life, I promise I won't scream..."

As soon as the words left my mouth, tears welled up in my eyes.

The masked man shook his head again, his voice as cold as ice: "We don't want sex. We just want you... dead."

Lian'er was struck dumb, her whole body stiffening.

Death? They came specifically to kill her?

How could a powerless maidservant have such a deep grudge against someone?

Jia Rong's face flashed through her mind instantly. It must be him! He hated her for ruining his marriage. Given his vengeful nature, it was perfectly normal for him to send someone to kill her.

As if grasping at a last straw, she cried out hoarsely, "You were sent by Grandpa Rong, weren't you? How much did he pay you? I'll double it! No, I'll triple it! Please let me go!"

The masked man stopped talking and simply waved his hand coldly.

Two masked men immediately stepped forward, raising their steel knives high, their cold gleam dazzling in the twilight.

Lian'er was so frightened that she turned and ran away.

But how could a weak woman outrun these skilled fighters?

She hadn't run more than a few steps when she was caught up by someone who whistled through the air and slashed straight at her back.

Lian'er screamed and fell to the ground, narrowly avoiding the knife, and scrambled backward.

She had only one thought in her mind: Mrs. You! Mrs. You said she would protect me! She said that as long as I did what she said, nothing would happen to me! She would definitely send someone to rescue me!

As she hid, she looked around frantically, hoping that someone arranged by Madam You would suddenly appear.

But there was nothing there.

There were only three masked men closing in, and a blade getting closer and closer.

Despair, like an icy tide, instantly overwhelmed her.

Mrs. You, is she really just using me? Using me and then throwing me away, even trying to eliminate me completely?

As the steel blade was about to fall, Lian'er closed her eyes in despair.

That's it, I'm doomed.

Just then, the masked man with the knife suddenly sneered, his voice full of undisguised mockery: "You still expect Mrs. You to save you? Fool! We are Mrs. You's people!"

These words struck Lian'er's heart like a red-hot hammer.

She suddenly opened her eyes and stared in disbelief at the person in front of her.

Mrs. You's people? Was it Mrs. You who wanted to kill her?

Why?

She had clearly promised to keep her safe, to help her become her legal wife, and even praised her for doing a good job, telling her to go back to her hometown and wait for news.

Why?

Lian'er opened her mouth, but couldn't utter a single word; only tears streamed down her face.

The last glimmer of hope and illusion in my heart was utterly shattered into dust.

It turns out that from beginning to end, she was just a chess piece, a chess piece that could be discarded or even crushed after it was used up.

Mrs. You's gentle smiles, sweet promises, and heartfelt "intimate words" were all fake; they were all just to take advantage of her.

Now that she has achieved her goal, it's time for her to disappear.

Lian'er closed her eyes, stopped struggling, and quietly awaited death.

The expected pain did not come; instead, several muffled thuds and piercing screams were heard.

She opened her eyes in surprise and saw a tall, masked man in black who had appeared in the room at some point.

His movements were as fast as lightning. He wielded a short stick with incredible speed and precision. With three muffled thuds, the three masked bandits were struck in vital areas before they could even react. They screamed and flew backward.

The man in black didn't even glance at the person on the ground. He turned and walked up to Lian'er, his voice deliberately hoarse and low: "Can you still walk?"

Lian'er stared at him blankly, unable to come to her senses for a long time: "You...who are you?"

The man in black didn't answer, but quickly said, "This is no place to stay. Someone will be here soon. If you want to live, come with me."

After he finished speaking, he turned and left without waiting for Lian'er's response.

Lian'er glanced at the wailing bandits on the ground, then at the departing figure of the man in black, gritted her teeth, struggled to her feet, and staggered after him.

The two figures quickly disappeared at the end of the dimly lit street, leaving behind only the immobilized bandits on the ground, a pool of fresh blood, and fragments of Lian'er's coat that had been dropped and trampled in her panic.

About fifteen minutes later, a figure rushed over; it was Jia Zhen's trusted guard.

He tracked Lian'er's trail all the way here, only to find signs of a struggle on the ground, fresh bloodstains, fragments of a woman's clothing, and three masked men bound like dumplings and unconscious.

Lian'er has disappeared without a trace.

The guard's expression changed drastically. Without daring to delay, he immediately turned around and ran back to Ningguo Mansion.

In the study, Jia Zhen paced back and forth restlessly, his unease growing stronger.

Seeing the guard rush in, he turned around abruptly: "How is it? Where's Lian'er?"

The guard knelt on one knee, his face grave. "Reporting to my lord, I chased them all the way to a secluded alley in the west of the city, only to find signs of a struggle, fresh blood, and fragments of Miss Lian'er's clothing. There were three masked bandits tied up nearby, already unconscious. Miss Lian'er... her whereabouts are unknown."

Jia Zhen's face instantly darkened: "Where are you? What do you mean?"

The guard lowered his head: "Judging from the situation, Miss Lian'er has probably met with misfortune. Even if she's not dead, her chances of survival are slim."

Jia Zhen fell silent.