Lian Erye in the Red Mansion

With the departure of the elders, the sisters in the garden were no longer as reserved as before.

They were still too embarrassed to speak, especially those who were suddenly appointed without any preparation.

Feng Jie watched as the group of young ladies below, who were usually lively and would always want to surround Jia Lian whenever he came back, became as quiet as wooden stakes tonight.

Suddenly I found it a little funny.

Thinking that the number of women in the harem would only increase in the future, the women in front of him all came from the same place.

She's a sister I know well, so I trust her more.

So, without waiting for Jia Lian to speak, she took the initiative to stand up and arrange accommodations for everyone after they entered the palace the next day.

Perhaps after this incident, everyone became more aware of their own identities and gradually opened up.

Because after receiving the imperial edict, no one had had time to examine it carefully.

So I took this opportunity to study it.

She mainly wanted to see what kind of woman she was in Jia Lian's eyes...

"Third sister, what did you write on this?"

Xi Chun wasn't satisfied with just looking at her own work, so she sneaked a peek at Tan Chun when she wasn't looking.

"Wow, 'beautiful inside and out, radiant with charm...' Second brother's evaluation of third sister is so wonderful..."

Tan Chun put down the imperial edict and said with a smile, "Let me see yours too."

Xi Chun quickly hid her hands behind her back and shook her head, saying, "Mine isn't anything special."

Tan Chun remained silent, tapped her forehead, and chuckled, scolding, "What's there to hide? Everyone heard it just now..."

He said you are a daughter of a wealthy family, and should live a joyful life, and not take worries to heart. This shows how much he loves you.

Xi Chun blushed immediately and secretly glanced at Jia Lian, who was drinking tea above.

Seeing this, Tan Chun noticed that Xiang Yun was standing next to her in a daze.

Thinking of how embarrassing he had been in front of her before, he immediately decided to take the initiative.

She reached out and pushed the other person, saying, "What are you thinking about? Just now you said it was boring and you wanted to go back to your aunt's house."

Now things are better, we'll all be together again from now on.

"Now you can pester Sister Bao every day again..."

Xiangyun blushed slightly and said indignantly, "How dare you say that? When did you all... Humph, you all kept it from me, except for me... and Sister Xiuyan was kept in the dark too."

You are all bad people.

Xichun quickly replied, "Sister Yun, I don't know either. I'm the same as you!"

"Okay, okay, we're the bad guys."

Haha, you're not happy about being made an imperial concubine?

If you're not happy about it, I can talk to Sister Feng and the others and see if you can go back to your aunt's house.

"go……"

Xiangyun spat out a mouthful in a coquettish manner.

Facing Tan Chun's teasing expression, she finally said weakly, "Who said I didn't want to..."

The days spent with my second brother Lian were so happy and carefree.

Besides, with so many sisters around, how could she possibly be absent?

Looking down at the group of girls chattering away, Daiyu felt a little uncomfortable sitting there.

The main thing is that Jia Lian was slowly sipping his tea while looking around with a big smile. Even a fool could see how happy he was.

Yingying then withdrew, saying, "It's getting late, and I still need to tidy up the house, so please excuse me."

Jia Lian turned around but didn't try to stop him. He simply said, "If you're tired, get some rest. Don't rush to tidy up the house. I'll send a carriage back tomorrow to help you move your things. Just have Zijuan make the trip."

Daiyu didn't say anything, but bowed to Jia Lian, then gave a slight bow to Feng Jie and Baochai who stood up to see her off, before turning and leaving.

Sister Feng said, "Since Sister Lin has left, let's all go our separate ways."

It would be good for the younger sisters to go back and pack up.

"Perfect timing, I'm tired too."

Jia Lian stood up, gestured to his concubines that they didn't need to be so polite, and then took Feng Jie'er's hand and walked into the inner hall.

Baochai stayed behind to handle the aftermath and answer questions from Xiangyun and others.

……

Hanfang Pavilion is shrouded in mist.

Qingwen wore a floral dress and a light, close-fitting silk top.

The neckline is wide open, generously revealing the bright red mandarin duck-patterned bodice underneath.

She walked to the edge of the bath with her smooth little feet, gestured for the two maids kneeling by the pool to leave, and then went forward to massage Jia Lian's shoulders.

After pinching for a while, not knowing whether Jia Lian didn't know he had been replaced or was too lazy to turn around, she lowered her head and whispered in Jia Lian's ear, her breath sweet as orchids:

"Thank you for today, sir."

"What are you thanking me for?"

Jia Lian sat leaning against the pond, closing his eyes to rest.

"It's all thanks to Master Xie; he's made me look good today."

You didn't see it, but tonight so many maids and servants came to fawn over me, and they all knelt down and kowtowed to me.

"It cost me a lot of money to reward them."

Hearing the satisfaction in Qingwen's tone—a satisfaction born from years of forbearance finally being avenged—Jia Lian couldn't help but smile.

He thought to himself that if he hadn't been so generous in bestowing titles upon concubines, the prestige of these new concubines would have been diminished.

If we consider Emperor Ningkang's harem, all the concubines and consorts combined wouldn't even fill the six palaces in the east and west.

It would be truly impressive if each concubine could hold a position in a palace.

"Really? So how do you plan to thank me? It can't just be a verbal thank you, can it?"

Upon hearing Jia Lian's words, Qingwen knew what her master was thinking.

She gave Jia Lian a disdainful look that Jia Lian couldn't even see, then glanced back at the maids scattered around the bath.

Over the years, due to Sister Feng's suppression, the only thing she was able to control was serving Jia Lian during his bath.

In other words, the maids who served her in the bathhouse were one of her few sources of support.

As the first concubine in the emperor's harem, how could she not have her own faction after entering the palace? It would be a laughing stock if word got out.

So she didn't express her opinion for the time being, but instead continued to fawn over Jia Lian, saying, "Master, you should know that I am now one of the concubines, and I only have Tan Yun by my side. It would be too embarrassing for you if word got out."

Anyway, all the young girls serving in the bathhouse were quite good-looking.

"Or perhaps Your Highness could have some mercy and bring them all into the palace, wouldn't that be alright?"

Upon hearing this, Jia Lian finally couldn't help but turn around and glance at her.

Seeing Qingwen's generous manner in advocating for her former colleagues, he couldn't help but laugh and say, "Ideally, after bringing them into the palace, you'd put them all under your name and have them serve you as palace maids, right?"

Qingwen felt a little embarrassed that her little scheme had been seen through.

However, considering that Jia Lian wasn't angry, she immediately pressed her advantage: "Anyway, Second Madam has so many people around her, she wouldn't look down on these little girls."

Why don't you do me a favor and give them all to me?

Although they didn't serve the master for a very long time, they still put in a lot of effort, even if they didn't achieve anything significant.

"Sir, are you really going to just leave them here and ignore them?"

Seeing that Qingwen was really speaking up for them, the maids on the side looked at them nervously and gratefully.

Jia Lian hadn't been back to his residence for a long time, but he suddenly returned tonight and immediately wanted to take the ladies back to the palace.

They didn't know if they were qualified to be included in the list of those to enter the palace.

Therefore, they could only turn to the only person they could contact, Consort Qing, who was at the height of her power tonight.

Seeing that Qingwen was intentionally building a foundation for him, Jia Lian was very pleased.

But he shook his head and laughed, "That won't do."

"They are all my bath maids. If I give them all to you, who will serve me during my baths in the future?"

Qingwen was taken aback, then said, "Does Master mean that they will serve you when you bathe in the future?"

"nature.

They've all been taught to be so well-behaved by you and Xiangling, I've gotten used to it, and naturally I can't live without them."

Just kidding, all the maids in Hanfang Pavilion were carefully selected by him and Sister Feng from the Rongguo Mansion.

It can be said that she absorbed the essence of the next generation of maids in the Rongguo Mansion.

While I wouldn't say they're all incredibly beautiful, they're at least a 7 or 8 out of 10.

With just a little care, they can become another batch of eye-catching beauties.

Such resources should not be discarded so easily.

Jia Lian had originally planned to take him away.

"It's not just them; you've served me so well all these years, I can't live without you either."

From now on, you'll live in the Daming Palace and continue doing your old job.

Qingwen was taken aback again: "Second Master wants me to continue being your maid?"

"What, you don't want to?"

"Of course not..."

Qingwen's peach blossom eyes darted around.

"People are naturally very happy to be able to serve you, sir."

But didn't Your Highness already make her a concubine? Aren't concubines supposed to live in the inner palace and then come to... favor you when Your Highness has time...?

Jia Lian chuckled, picked up one of Qingwen's small hands and rubbed it, saying, "You're different."

You are my precious darling, so naturally I will always keep you by my side and favor you, hahaha…”

"Second Master is talking nonsense again~"

Qingwen blushed, but she quickly understood.

Although the rank of concubine is already very high in the harem, there are still many newly appointed imperial consorts ahead of her.

If one were to stay in the harem, life would be leisurely, but one would likely have to "wait" for the emperor's favor...

Therefore, if Jia Lian were willing to keep her in the Daming Palace, even if she continued to do some servant work.

She couldn't ask for more than the chance to be by Jia Lian's side every day.

She has long since experienced the immense benefits of being close to Tianyan.

So she smiled and said, "Since you are so reluctant to part with me, I will reluctantly serve as your maid from now on."

However, Second Master can't be like before, withholding the proper status from someone just to make them a maid...

"Don't worry. I just didn't want you to worry, so I gave you a title in advance."

I haven't even bestowed titles on Lianping'er and Xiangling yet, you're the first one.

If you still can't understand my feelings, then you should be hit.

"They know already~~"

Qingwen replied softly, and withdrew her hand, preparing to get down to business.

Then Jia Lian turned around, gesturing for her to come closer.

"After you enter the palace tomorrow, I will ask your second mistress to give Ping'er to me."

She has served your second grandmother for so many years, and has suffered so much. It's time for her to enjoy a good life.

Okay, can you do me another favor?

"Take over Xiren, who serves Consort Lan, and say that the Daming Palace is short-handed..."

When Qingwen heard that Ping'er was coming, she didn't react much.

Anyway, we've worked together for so many years and gotten along quite well with Ping'er.

However, she became somewhat displeased when she heard Jia Lian specifically mention Xiren.

"I knew the master had something going on with that little hussy; he still can't forget her..."

Jia Lian ignored Qingwen's complaints. Knowing that Qingwen was very efficient, he simply turned around and lay back down.

Although there were many palace maids in the palace, there were quite a few who were beautiful.

But each of those people has a different background, so it's not a big deal to just admire them or even favor them occasionally.

The people who truly serve you closely are the older folks like Qingwen.

Sunny, fragrant, peaceful, mandarin duck, attack.

These five were the five beautiful maids he had prepared for himself.

She's good-looking, skilled in her work, and trustworthy.

perfect.

Seeing that Jia Lian didn't respond, Qingwen knew perfectly well that this was something Jia Lian had already decided.

So there was no more nonsense.

Anyway, tonight, besides the girls in the house, she is the only "maid" who gets a title.

It's still so tall.

This is enough to demonstrate his status.

At least among those born into servile families, he was undoubtedly number one.

Therefore, no matter how much the other slaves struggled, they could only submit to him.

Therefore, she skipped the matter, stood up, and slowly took off her spring shirt and floral skirt, leaving only a bright red bodice and yellowish-white underpants.

She walked along the edge of the pool to the stone steps beside it, then lifted her smooth, delicate feet and stepped into the water.

Only after her entire shoulder was submerged in the warm pool water did she smile at Jia Lian.

Then he plunged into the water and swam towards Jia Lian, sincerely expressing his gratitude to him.

……

"How many?"

The Empress Dowager knew that Jia Lian had returned to the Jia family mansion.

Because Jia Lian had told him beforehand that he had some private matters to attend to.

Therefore, she was not surprised that Jia Lian returned to the palace with a group of Jia family women the next day.

However, she was still taken aback when she heard that Jia Lian had lavishly bestowed titles of imperial concubines upon her in the Grand View Garden the previous night.

The old nanny replied with a smile: "Your Majesty, the Emperor last night bestowed the title of concubine upon all the daughters of the Jia family."

Even women who were related to the Jia family received imperial favors.

According to what this old servant has learned, the Emperor bestowed titles upon more than ten concubines last night.

"More than ten, and they're all imperial concubines?"

"It seems there's also one who holds the rank of concubine."

The Empress Dowager was utterly speechless.

Emperor Ningkang reigned for nine years, and only had a few concubines in total?

That kid's something else.

He had only been on the throne for a few months, yet he had already taken in more than a dozen concubines.

Aren't you afraid people will say you're a lecher?

However, the Empress Dowager soon realized an even more serious problem.

"You mean, the Emperor bestowed titles and honors upon more than ten concubines in one go... and all of these women are connected to the Jia family?"

"Uh, that's how it is."

The Empress fell silent.

During the reign of Emperor Ningkang, although she was not involved in any disputes, she was universally praised for her virtue and kindness.

But that doesn't mean she didn't know how to survive in the harem.

So many high-ranking concubines came from the Jia family...

It's unbelievable.

I should say something.

If it were Sister Feng, that is, the Empress, who had won over these women.

In the future, won't the entire harem be hers?

Even she, the Empress Dowager, probably doesn't carry as much weight in the palace as she does.

She was, after all, not the biological mother of the current emperor.

This is based on selfish motives.

From a public-spirited perspective, the situation is even more serious.

So many "Jia family girls" entered the palace, and they were so favored.

Even if they don't join forces to rebel, wouldn't most of the princes and grandsons they give birth to bear the mark of the Jia family?

When the time comes, will the world belong to the Wei family or the Jia family?

"Go to the Ministry of Rites and convey my imperial decree."

It is said that when the new emperor ascended the throne, the harem was empty.

To ensure the continuation and prosperity of the royal lineage, the Ministry of Rites is hereby ordered to organize a selection process as soon as possible to choose a group of virtuous, talented, and beautiful women to enrich the imperial harem for His Majesty.

It should be enough to have both virtue and talent.

However, considering Jia Lian's habits, and in order to enhance his competitiveness, the Empress Dowager wisely added another condition. (End of Chapter)