Lian Erye in the Red Mansion

In the beginning, Jia Lian spent his days managing state affairs in the South Study, often sitting there for an entire day.

His diligence and hard work were so great that no one in the palace felt sorry for him.

Later, he gradually began to visit the Empress and occasionally come to Fengzao Palace.

She was very happy, feeling that even after Jia Lian became the crown prince, he had not forgotten her, his older sister.

Until she discovered that when no one was around, Jia Lian would openly scrutinize her with that bold and wild gaze.

That was a chilling gaze she had never seen even in Emperor Ningkang's eyes.

At first I was a little nervous, but also a little excited.

I feel that my appearance has not faded and my charm remains.

After all, Jia Lian was known for his popularity with women, and he was surrounded by many beautiful and talented women.

Being able to attract Jia Lian is a source of pride for a woman.

Then she realized she had misjudged him.

I thought Jia Lian was a person who understood filial piety and brotherly love, and knew proper etiquette.

Little did he expect that Emperor Ningkang would harbor such ambitions towards him while he was still seriously ill.

How is this any different from the actions of Emperor Gaozong of Tang?

But no matter what she thought, Jia Lian seemed to have her cornered.

During those months, he almost never concealed his ambition whenever he saw her.

Given the chance, they either speak frivolously or take direct action, just like they are doing now.

"Let go of me, I'm your older sister!"

Yuan Chun tugged at her hand, giving her a warning.

Jia Lian smiled and said, "They're not related by blood."

Yuan Chun's tone grew increasingly harsh: "I am still the late Emperor's Noble Consort, and your stepmother!"

"No, that doesn't count. I wasn't the late emperor's biological son."

Seeing that Jia Lian was willing to abandon his impeccable image of a filial son in front of others just to flirt with her, what could Yuan Chun do?

So he said helplessly, "What exactly do you want?"

She stopped pulling her hand away and let Jia Lian hold and caress it.

Jia Lian looked at Yuan Chun.

Under the not-so-bright light, one could see that her skin was as smooth as jade, her eyes were bright and her eyebrows were delicate, and her features vaguely resembled those of Tan Chun.

Yet she was even more charming than Tan Chun.

Her cheeks were round and noble, less plump than Baochai's, making her appear more alluring.

Her eyes and brows exuded a spring-like charm, and she also possessed a touch of Daiyu's graceful elegance.

She was truly a stunning beauty.

No wonder there is a saying that "the beauty of early spring surpasses that of the three spring seasons".

In terms of beauty and charm, it is indeed unmatched by the other three springs.

"My sister entered the palace at the age of fourteen and endured nine years of hardship before finally becoming a concubine."

However, the late emperor was diligent in state affairs and did not have a fondness for women.

Since my elder sister was promoted two or three years ago, she has probably not received much favor from the late emperor.

My elder sister possesses unparalleled talent and extraordinary beauty; it would not be an exaggeration to call her the most beautiful woman in the world.

Such a beautiful flower, yet it lives a wasted life, ending up with only the company of a solitary lamp and ancient Buddha. How could you, sister, bear to do this?

Even though she knew Jia Lian was trying to bewitch her, Yuan Chun's heart still trembled upon hearing this.

Have you suffered these years in the palace?

To say it's bitter would seem like taking one's blessings for granted.

After all, she was born into the Duke's family as the legitimate daughter, and even if she entered the palace through the imperial concubine selection, she would start as a female official.

Unlike ordinary women from the common people who started as palace maids, they did not have to work their way up from the lowest rank.

Not to mention that she eventually rose to the top, from a lady-in-waiting to a concubine, and later even won the title of Imperial Noble Consort.

But to say it's not bitter... seems a bit like deceiving yourself.

Looking back on my more than ten years of youth, it seems that apart from caution and waiting, there was indeed something missing called sweetness.

Putting all that aside, how could she not know the meaning behind Jia Lian's mention of being accompanied by a solitary lamp and an ancient Buddha?

When a new emperor ascends the throne, barring any unforeseen circumstances, the former emperor's consorts will most likely be relocated to the Imperial Ganye Temple to become nuns.

Especially for someone like her who has no children, she might end up with no one to visit her, and she'll only be able to spend the rest of her life in a quiet temple with only the flickering lamp.

How sorrowful it is to think of this!

She originally thought that given her relationship with Jia Lian, at the very least Jia Lian would leave her a safe haven in some corner of the harem.

So, this was a threat to her: if she didn't comply, she would end up like the other empresses and concubines of the late emperor, spending her remaining years alone in Ganye Temple.

Seemingly sensing Yuan Chun's thoughts, Jia Lian said, "In my heart, I naturally hope that you will stay in the palace for a long time."

It's just that the name is not legitimate and the words are not in accordance with the truth.

Secondly, my sister should also understand her own talent and beauty. If you stay by my side for even a day, it will be hard for me not to be tempted.

So after much consideration, I think it would be better for you to marry me.

"If you stay in the palace permanently from now on, after Feng'er and the others enter the palace, you sisters will have someone to talk and joke with. Wouldn't that be better?"

Jia Lian held Yuan Chun's delicate hand and spoke sincerely.

In the preceding months, he had openly and secretly tried to seduce Yuan Chun on several occasions.

It is certain that Yuan Chun's opposition was merely due to her status and she did not have a strong sense of opposition.

Now that he has officially ascended to the throne, his ambition and desires have swelled, and he no longer wants to wait any longer.

I thought that adding a little incentive would help Yuan Chun overcome that mental hurdle.

He was very confident, after all, even a woman as arrogant and haughty as the Empress Dowager eventually bowed down at his feet.

Moreover, Yuan Chun, who has always been close to him?

The saying "a rabbit doesn't eat the grass near its burrow" doesn't apply to him.

Faced with Jia Lian's earnest words and burning gaze, Yuan Chun chuckled.

"Is this how you deceive Lin Daiyu and Baochai?"

"Well……"

Seeing Jia Lian speechless, Yuan Chun continued with a smile: "No matter how eloquently you speak, you can't fool me."

I am now a royal concubine. If I were to submit to you, what kind of person would I become?

Even if I disregard my own reputation, what will the Empress Dowager think when she finds out? How could she possibly tolerate me?

Taking advantage of Jia Lian's thoughtful expression, Yuan Chun withdrew her hand and said, "So, your sweet words to coax me now are just for a moment's pleasure."

If you cannot answer my question, I would rather spend my days in the Ganye Temple, surrounded by the ancient Buddha and the flickering lamp, than remain in the palace, enduring the scorn of the world.

After saying this, Yuan Chun gave Jia Lian a meaningful look, then turned and gracefully left.

Jia Lian subconsciously reached out and grabbed a handful, but missed and didn't get up to chase after him.

Unexpectedly, Yuan Chun, who seemed so easy to win over, was actually quite clear-headed.

But it doesn't matter.

She's in the palace, how could she possibly escape his grasp?

It's only a matter of time.

As for the questions she raised, they weren't really any big deal.

Yuan Chun's concerns stemmed from the fact that she had only recently ascended the throne and her power was not yet sufficient.

If one day he becomes so powerful that even the Empress Dowager has to follow his wishes, then Yuan Chun's concerns will naturally become meaningless.

Without much hesitation, Jia Lian immediately opened the book he had brought and began to read it carefully.

Work goes on without you realizing how late it is.

After an unknown amount of time, Cao Zhong's voice was suddenly heard: "Your Majesty, Consort Zhou requests an audience."

Consort Zhou?

Jia Lian was puzzled, thinking to himself, "I just ascended the throne, how come I have a Consort Zhou?"

Then it dawned on me: there was a Noble Lady Zhou in Emperor Ningkang's harem.

Looking up, he caught Cao Zhong winking at him, and he immediately understood what he meant.

"What is she doing here?"

Jia Lian looked toward the palace entrance, where a slender figure shrouded in mourning clothes stood.

"This servant does not know. Your Majesty, why don't you summon her in and ask her?"

Jia Lian hesitated for a moment, but seeing that everyone had come over, he nodded.

Cao Zhong's face lit up with joy, and he quickly turned around to greet the woman behind him who had her head down.

As you brush past him, whisper in his ear, "Perform well, this is your only chance."

"Yes……"

It turned out that Cao Zhong saw that Yuan Chun had only stayed for a short while before leaving in a hurry, and knew that his master had not succeeded.

The saying goes, "To share the burdens of one's master is the duty of a subject."

Although he dared not manipulate Yuan Chun, there were many women in the harem at this time who were anxious and worried about their future.

This Consort Zhou was someone he specially sought out to make Jia Lian happy.

Consort Zhou is the one chosen to keep watch all night tonight.

She had initially thought that Cao Zhong's secret summons was Jia Lian's doing.

Now, after hearing the conversation between Jia Lian and Cao Zhong, I realize that this was Cao Zhong acting on his own initiative.

The shyness in my heart vanished instantly, replaced by a sense of eagerness.

She lowered her head and stepped forward gracefully.

Only when a corner of Jia Lian's desk came into view did she gracefully raise her head and give a demure bow to Jia Lian: "This humble servant greets Your Majesty."

Aside from Yuan Chun, Jia Lian wasn't actually very interested in the other women in Emperor Ningkang's harem.

After all, he wasn't the original owner of this body, and he only had this particular taste.

The reason he allowed her in was because he remembered that this Consort Zhou was the daughter of Zhou Hongchang, the former Vice Minister of the Court of State Ceremonial, and the older sister of the two unfortunate brothers, Zhou Xing and Zhou Sheng.

I heard that when the Zhou brothers suffered at his hands, this Consort Zhou even complained about him to Emperor Ningkang.

Although time has passed, Jia Lian is still interested in seeing how his former enemies would treat him now.

When he looked up, Jia Lian was slightly taken aback.

With her small mouth and face, and her sorrowful gaze, she truly looked quite pitiful.

She was also quite beautiful, no wonder she became one of Emperor Ningkang's favorite concubines.

"Get up. What brings you to me?"

Jia Lian remembers what happened back then, so how could Consort Zhou forget?

I was initially worried about Jia Lian retaliating.

Seeing Jia Lian's calm and composed demeanor, without a trace of anger, the fear in her heart vanished.

Thinking that no man in the world is immune to lust, she tossed her hair aside and casually lifted her mourning cap a little, revealing more of her face.

Then she stepped forward gracefully and said with a charming smile, "I heard that Your Majesty is here worrying about state affairs, and I feel very sorry for you, so I came to serve you."

As she spoke, she decisively picked up the teapot beside her, raised it high with her slender arm, and poured tea into Jia Lian's teacup while gazing at Jia Lian with a seductive look.

To be honest, just this one move had a hint of Qin Keqing's style.

It's a move that Sister Feng could never learn in her entire life.

In order to maintain his imperial dignity, Jia Lian pretended to be unmoved and simply watched her performance silently.

This naturally left Consort Zhou feeling helpless, like she was talking to a brick wall.

After carefully observing Jia Lian's expression, she formulated her next plan.

After pouring most of the tea, she put down the teapot, picked up the teacup, and tentatively sat her pert buttocks on Jia Lian's lap.

Finding that she was not pushed away, she said in a sweet voice, "Your Majesty's lips are a little dry. Let me serve you some tea."

She held the teacup to Jia Lian's lips, her face full of anticipation and allure.

However, Jia Lian simply took the teacup from his hand, took a sip himself, and then said, "As a concubine of the late Emperor, what kind of decorum is it for Consort Zhou to sit on my lap like this?"

Upon hearing this, Consort Zhou instinctively stood up, her face showing embarrassment.

However, he quickly realized from Jia Lian's slightly mocking gaze that Jia Lian was doing it on purpose.

While feeling annoyed, she remembered what Cao Zhong had said.

She is still young and beautiful; how can she waste her life growing old under the ancient Buddha?

"Oh dear, no one paid attention, and the Emperor didn't even bother to remind them."

"Let them see, lest you get the Emperor's robes dirty, or they'll be condemned to death..."

Consort Zhou nimbly squatted down and patted the spot where she had just sat, seemingly genuinely afraid that she might have brought dust onto Jia Lian.

However, in no time, her hand moved higher and higher.

He kept a close eye on Jia Lian as he headed towards the restricted area.

This has presented Jia Lian with a difficult problem.

To be fair, Consort Zhou is indeed a beauty, and she looks to be only in her early twenties.

The key point is that he had ulterior motives in inviting Yuan Chun over.

Therefore, since this Consort Zhou had come to his door, he seemed to have nothing to be pretentious about.

Today is his big day of coronation. It seems that having women who have offended him kneel before him and indulging in his lust at this time is quite a meaningful thing.

However, he found that his hand, which he wanted to raise, could not reach Zhou Guiren's body.

Looking at the obsequious little face in front of him, Jia Lian felt a pang of guilt.

He found it very strange.

Both were women in Emperor Ningkang's harem, so why didn't he feel the slightest unease when he took the initiative to seduce Yuan Chun?

However, when faced with this Consort Zhou, he felt very sorry for Emperor Ningkang.

He wasn't a pedantic person; he always felt that the living were more important than the dead.

Otherwise, he wouldn't have gone after the Empress Dowager.

Although he couldn't understand it, Jia Lian could still follow his instincts.

He then slapped Consort Zhou's face and shoved her aside, saying, "Consort, please have some self-respect."

"ah……"

Caught off guard, Consort Zhou plopped down on the ground, looking at Jia Lian with a mixture of grievance and confusion.

Jia Lian's tone turned cold: "I don't need anyone to serve me here, Consort Zhou, please leave."

Women in the harem like Consort Zhou, who did not hold a formal imperial concubine rank, were generally not entitled to be addressed as Dowager Consort after the death of the late emperor.

Jia Lian addressed her as "Lady Zhou," which was already considered quite polite.

After all, it was just a past grudge, and it ended with the Zhou family suffering a loss. Jia Lian was not a vengeful person, so he wouldn't deliberately do anything to the Zhou family.

After saying that, he pulled his legs back and hid them under the table.

Consort Zhou stood there, stunned, thinking to herself, "They're already wagging their tails, what are they pretending for?"

Feeling slighted and mocked, she almost couldn't help but snap at the person.

In the end, I still didn't dare.

Despite his immense resentment, he could only slowly get up, bow to Jia Lian, and prepare to leave.

Suddenly, Jia Lian said again, "As long as you behave yourself and observe the mourning for the late emperor."

Even if you end up in Ganye Temple, I guarantee you will have no worries about food and clothing, and no one will bully you.

Compared to some dynasties that practiced funerary sacrifice, the Ganye Temple system was quite merciful.

However, Jia Lian still felt that it lacked some humanistic care.

It's also somewhat wasteful.

Those women are resources too, aren't they?

They should be given some hope of living.

For example, opening a textile factory so that they can realize the value of their remaining years through labor.

Consort Zhou had no idea that Jia Lian wouldn't even let them go after they became nuns, and still wanted to exploit their labor.

When she heard Jia Lian's last words, she thought it was a hint from him.

Could it be that this kid is just in a bad mood tonight?

So she turned her worry into joy, bowed again, responded sweetly, and then turned to leave.

Cao Zhong kept listening to what was happening inside the house from outside the door.

Seeing that Consort Zhou had been driven away by Jia Lian, he was in a dilemma.

What to do? Consort Zhou is already the youngest and most beautiful among the late emperor's consorts, besides Consort Jia.

If this isn't satisfactory, who else can I turn to? (End of Chapter)