Lian Erye in the Red Mansion

"Why did it take you so long to get here? You've already brought everything."

On the west side of Jiaying Hall, in front of an ordinary bathhouse, Qingwen greeted the slow-moving Yuanyang.

Yuanyang hurriedly presented the things in her hands to Qingwen. Qingwen looked them over and thought to herself that they were indeed people from Jia Mu's side, and that they were indeed efficient.

"Alright, the water's all filled. Come in, I'll give you a few instructions on how to serve the Second Master during his bath."

Qingwen handed the things in Yuanyang's hands to the maid, then led Yuanyang into the bathing room and explained the precautions to her.

Yuanyang, who was always the head of the Rongguo Mansion's maids and usually directed the other maids, was now like a greenhorn.

She kept her head down the whole time, and her cheeks flushed especially when she saw the huge bathtub still steaming in the middle of the bath room surrounded by colorful curtains.

Qingwen happened to turn around and saw this, and asked in surprise, "Why are you blushing? Don't you usually help the old lady bathe?"

Feeling embarrassed by the stares, Yuanyang replied softly, "Of course I do..."

"Then why are you making such a fuss?"

Faced with Qingwen's questioning, Yuanyang thought to herself, "How can these be the same thing?"

Moreover, Grandmother Jia had maids and servants specifically responsible for attending to her bathing and washing needs; she usually only arranged things.

Unlike now, where you have to serve your master closely while he takes a bath, and he's a male master at that.

But she also knew that this male master was not one to follow the rules.

What if he tries to touch her inappropriately in the middle of it...?

Of course, she couldn't ask about these concerns, otherwise she would feel that she was being too dramatic.

So he quickly changed the subject: "Um, I heard that serving the Second Master during his bath is your and Xiangling's job, so why isn't she here?"

"You don't need to worry about her today. She's off enjoying herself. You'll find out later."

Qingwen gave a perfunctory reply. She wasn't entirely unable to understand Yuanyang's awkwardness, but she didn't care.

After giving a brief explanation, she left Yuanyang to watch over things while she went to invite Jia Lian.

After Qingwen left, Yuanyang felt much more at ease.

Based on years of accumulated experience, I inspected the entire bathroom and found nothing wrong before I began to examine it closely.

According to Qingwen, this is where Jia Lian and Feng Jie usually bathe.

Although the bathhouse in the Fangge Pavilion in the sloping building in front is grand and luxurious, it is quite troublesome to use each time. It requires the master to give instructions in advance and make preparations beforehand.

But in her opinion, this bathroom was already quite stylish, even more exquisitely decorated than Grandmother Jia's bathhouse.

It must have been Sister Feng's doing.

Looking at the maids serving inside and outside the house, they were all beautiful, only a little younger.

She knew some of the maids and some she didn't, but she knew their backgrounds in most of them.

As Jia Mu's most trusted confidante, there were few inside stories in the entire Rongguo Mansion that she was unaware of.

Not to mention what happened in Jia Lian's room.

Therefore, she knew very well that most of these maids were selected by Feng Jie from the reserve maids she had trained in the mansion after Jia Lian was ennobled.

Or rather, it was Grandmother Jia and Lady Wang who urged Sister Feng to choose it.

That's why she was able to express such deep emotion.

If she, Xiren, Jinchuan, and Yuchuan are considered the best among the maids of this generation in the Rongguo Mansion, then the young maids in front of them, who are generally five or six years younger than them, are the best among the next generation of maids in the Rongguo Mansion.

Most of them had just learned the rules when they were sent here.

Looking at the people in front of her, Yuanyang was quite willing to believe that Jia Lian and his wife had managed to secure all the leading maids for the next generation of the Rongguo Mansion.

Thinking about her own whereabouts and those of Qingwen, Jinchuan, and Yuchuan, Yuanyang had to admit that the man she had chosen was indeed a philanderer.

But so what?

Have you ever seen how such a formidable woman as Lian Lian's second wife, known as a heroine among women and famous for her jealousy, is completely subdued by him, willingly bringing these beautiful maids to serve him?

A man who has achieved this level is truly unparalleled in the world.

In comparison, she was just a lowly maid. Upon reflection, what difference was there between her and these naive young girls in front of her?

She simply met him years earlier and fell for him.

But is that really enough to support those unrealistic fantasies in my heart?

Looking back over the years, she realized that she had been capricious and jealous in front of him several times, and Yuanyang felt a slight sense of fear.

If I misjudge my position in his heart, or exhaust his patience and make him disgusted with me, what should I do?

Before Yuanyang could even begin to worry and figure out her future, Qingwen's joyful voice came from outside the bathroom.

Seeing the several originally lazy and pretty maids walking towards the door, Yuanyang quickly perked up and went to greet them.

"Second Master, let me tell you, Sister Yuanyang is indeed someone who was personally trained by the Old Madam; she learns things very quickly."

I only need to say something once, and she can remember it all.

"How about we just let her serve you today?"

Qingwen wasn't entirely devoid of emotional intelligence.

The moment they saw the mandarin ducks, they began to speak well of them.

Clearly, this girl wanted to bribe Yuanyang just like she had bribed Xiangling, in order to secure her position as Jia Lian's most trusted maid.

"You're trying to slack off again, aren't you?"

Jia Lian smiled and patted Qingwen's head, then couldn't help but look at the mandarin ducks in front of him.

Since it's for serving in the bath room, one should naturally dress in a close-fitting and capable manner.

Yuanyang was taller than both Qingwen and Xiangling, and her slender figure was certainly a sight to behold in this familiar bathhouse.

"No, they just thought that since Yuanyang is a newcomer, they wanted to give her more opportunities to perform by the master's side."

Qingwen gave a simple coquettish gesture, then took Jia Lian's arm and helped him to the bathtub.

Without her permission, four maids came forward and, with eight small hands working together, removed all of Jia Lian's clothes.

Qingwen also went over and got a handkerchief. Seeing Yuanyang standing there dumbfounded, not even helping Jia Lian into the bathtub, she laughed and said, "Now that you're by my side, what are you still shy about?"

You don't know, our boss is the worst.

The more shy you are, the more he likes to tease and bully you.

"You wait, if you don't take the initiative, he'll drag you inside and soak your clothes."

Yuanyang was already ashamed to face Jia Lian's gradually revealing body, and upon hearing this, her face turned even redder.

The maids probably knew that today was Yuanyang's chance to shine, so they didn't rush to do so. Some took the clothes she had changed out of and left, while others bowed and stepped back a few paces, waiting to watch the show.

However, Jia Lian was not a wooden man who could not move. Knowing that Yuanyang was shy, he did not intend to tease her. He simply lifted his leg and entered the bathtub, then lay down against the side.

Seeing this, Qingwen smiled but didn't say anything. She stepped forward, grabbed Jia Lian's arm, and started to help him scrub his back.

"No need, I just wiped it yesterday, it's not dirty there. Just give me a shoulder massage."

Qingwen raised an eyebrow, not disobeying, and casually draped a handkerchief over the edge of the bathtub before beginning to massage Jia Lian's shoulders.

He was about to speak instinctively when he suddenly remembered something and looked back.

Yuanyang wasn't stupid after all; seeing this, she quickly came over and stood on the other side.

After hesitating for a few seconds, she finally picked up her hand and, following Qingwen's technique, began massaging Jia Lian's other shoulder and arm.

Qingwen smiled knowingly and continued to ask Jia Lian about the arrangements for tomorrow's trip.

Although Jia Lian didn't respond to every single question, he would occasionally mention some of the arrangements for the trip.

Whenever Qingwen heard something that interested her, she would start imagining how she would play with it, and she would even help Jia Lian come up with ideas. The whole bathroom was filled with her clear and cheerful voice.

Yuanyang, who was standing next to her, had been watching silently, and suddenly she understood why Jia Lian doted on Qingwen so much.

She was made to live like a young lady from a wealthy family, even though she was just a lowly maid.

Perhaps because it was Yuanyang's first time serving him personally, Jia Lian, mindful of her feelings, unusually took a very proper bath.

When he lay refreshed on his large, soft bed, the ones massaging his shoulders and arms had changed from Yuanyang and Qingwen to Fengjie and Qin Keqing.

These two stunningly beautiful women, with vastly different personalities and even a generational difference, each took one side of Jia Lian and diligently provided him with a massage.

Among them, Sister Feng, who was sitting on the edge of the bed outside, was dressed more formally, and the massage was rather perfunctory.

She had finished arranging things outside and came in midway. Seeing that Jia Lian was enjoying himself, she decided to lend a hand.

But like Qingwen, her mind was focused on tomorrow's trip, and she kept asking Jia Lian if her arrangements needed to be corrected.

"You've done a great job. Actually, you don't need to worry too much. I've already had Cao Zhong go over and arrange the specifics."

That villa is a famous royal garden, and it is maintained and guarded year-round.

We're traveling alone, just the family, so there's no need to worry about making a fool of ourselves.

So just relax and think about how you're going to have fun.

"Of course you're not afraid of making a fool of yourself, since you don't care about these things anyway."

Sister Feng pouted, clearly not believing Jia Lian's words.

However, she didn't argue with Jia Lian. Instead, she looked inside and saw Qin Keqing kneeling on Jia Lian's back, bending over and earnestly massaging his back with her arms. Suddenly, she said, "What do you think about letting her come with us tomorrow?"

Jia Lian tilted his head, confirming that the person Feng Jie was referring to was Qin Keqing. He hesitated for a moment, then nodded and said, "Okay."

Sister Feng laughed.

She knew this trip would last quite a while.

Although all my sisters are going to come along, to be honest...

Whether it was Baochai and Daiyu, or those younger sisters-in-law, none of them were people she could speak freely with.

She didn't think that Jia Lian would stay with her every day after they arrived at the villa.

Therefore, if Qin Keqing were to go along, not only would she have another playmate, but it might also make Jia Lian pay more attention to them.

However, she also knew Jia Lian's concerns, so she smiled and said, "You don't need to worry about Xiangling either."

Now that Xiangling has grown up, she's becoming more and more like her.

This isn't the first time she's dressed up as this girl, so even if it takes a little longer, there shouldn't be any mistakes.

When Sister Feng said this, she certainly wasn't expecting Xiangling to have particularly good acting skills.

Instead, she was certain that even if someone saw through her, they wouldn't, or rather, wouldn't dare to, expose her.

However, Jia Lian said, "She can go, and Xiangling can go too."

Upon hearing Jia Lian's words, not only Feng Jie, but even Qin Keqing, who was focused on serving, couldn't help but stop what she was doing.

Sister Feng regretted it somewhat: "I'm afraid it's not appropriate. After all, she is... your niece-in-law. If word gets out, it might have a bad impact on you."

Jia Lian, his head resting on the pillow, hummed in response:

"What does this have to do with me? Isn't she your nephew's wife and your close friend?"

"Our whole family is going on a trip, and you invited her along. Is there anything wrong with that?"

Sister Feng was taken aback for a moment, then laughed.

This could be considered a different kind of guilty conscience; she was only concerned about whether people would speculate about the relationship between Qin Keqing and Jia Lian.

But they forgot that the women accompanying them on this trip were not all Jia Lian's women.

There are also Yingchun and others.

Therefore, it's not really strange that she brought Qin Keqing along.

"That's true. But in that case, the Crown Prince will have to be careful about his behavior and stay away from our nephew's wife, hehehehe..."

Faced with Sister Feng's mockery, Jia Lian opened his eyes, glanced at her, and said nothing.

Sister Feng smiled and began to focus more intently on cooperating with Qin Keqing.

Just as Qin Keqing finished her back procedure, Jia Lian was able to turn over.

Feng Jie glanced at Jia Lian's plain-looking trousers and robes, pursed her lips, and said to Qin Keqing, "I think you shouldn't waste your time."

If you were serving him like this normally, he probably wouldn't have been able to resist and would have pounced on you long ago.

Judging from the situation today, he must have just eaten out and come back, which is why he didn't have time to deal with you.

I'm also sorry. You've come all this way, and I haven't even chosen a good time for you yet.

Even Qin Keqing blushed a little upon hearing Sister Feng's barbed words.

However, after confirming that what Sister Feng said might be true, she couldn't help but look at Jia Lian's face with some resentment.

Jia Lian lay back on the pillow, his hands supporting his head, looking quite relaxed.

He was neither bothered nor angered by Sister Feng's teasing.

To be fair, he is indeed eating too well right now, so even a top-tier succubus like Qin Keqing cannot easily stir his heart.

However, since this woman dared to mock him like that, he really had to teach her a lesson.

So, just as Qin Keqing was trying to verify the truth of Feng Jie's words with her hands, Jia Lian suddenly sat up straight.

Looking at the two slightly startled women.

Needless to say, Qin Keqing was dressed in a red mandarin duck bib and a light green trousers, with nothing else in her way.

So he turned to Sister Feng, who was already standing on the footstool, and instructed her, "Do you want to take it off yourself, or should I help you?"

Upon hearing this, Sister Feng assumed that her words had offended Jia Lian, and that he was trying to put on a brave face.

So he quickly shook his head: "No, the maids outside haven't left yet..."

"Enough with the nonsense, it seems you need my help."

"Wait a moment."

Seeing that Jia Lian was about to come down and grab her, Feng Jie quickly stopped him.

Of course, she wasn't truly refusing. After all, she hadn't been intimate with Jia Lian for a while, otherwise she wouldn't have so easily resorted to using Qin Keqing as a tactic.

She rolled her eyes at Jia Lian, turned around and closed the door. After making sure all the windows were closed, she walked back.

"I'll help Auntie..."

"No need."

Jia Lian grabbed Qin Keqing, who was trying to get out of bed, put his arm around her, and looked at Feng Jie with a smile.

Upon seeing this, Sister Feng blushed even more.

However, since it wasn't a young woman getting married, she was somewhat embarrassed and shyly began to slowly remove her clothes until she was just like Qin Keqing.

"Is this okay?"

"Hahaha……"

Jia Lian reached out and pulled Feng Jie up.

He grabbed one of them and kissed her, then, facing their shy and beautiful faces, he shamelessly said, "It's been a long time since I've seen my two ladies being affectionate. How about I broaden my horizons again today?"

The two women were both taken aback, then exchanged a glance. Qin Keqing lowered her head, while Feng Jie spat out, "Pah! If you're out of energy, let us go. Don't make me spit on you."

Sister Feng was truly annoyed.

Although, she and Qin Keqing did have a somewhat intimate relationship.

But that was in private, when the two of them were together, at most when Jia Lian was with him, they would inevitably engage in some intimate behavior.

Now, if she were to ask them to perform specifically for others, even if that person were her own man, she wouldn't be able to accept it.

Jia Lian knew Feng Jie very well, and seeing this, he simply smiled and said, "Oh, then it seems that I, your husband, will have to serve you two ladies."

As Jia Lian spoke, he threw the two of them onto the pillow, their shoulders touching.

Then, under their gazes, he raised both hands and deliberately flexed his long, strong fingers in front of them.

The two women understood Jia Lian's actions and turned their heads away, too embarrassed to look him in the eye.

Unexpectedly, they found themselves face to face with each other's beautiful and familiar faces.

In the end, both of them chose to close their eyes, choosing to ignore it rather than risk being ashamed. (End of Chapter)