Lian Erye in the Red Mansion

During the Lantern Festival, not only is there no curfew in the capital, but there are also many activities organized by the government and wealthy families and merchants.

So all the people in the city took advantage of the festival to come out and enjoy themselves.

However, wealthy families like the Jia family had no interest in participating in the grand event, because their own family members were already large enough to make the event lively enough.

After enjoying a day of opera and wine at Ningguo Mansion, in the evening, Grandmother Jia hosted a banquet for all the men, women, and children of her clan in her newly built Grand Flower Hall, behind Rongqing Hall, to watch the opera and drink wine together.

Jia Baoyu, however, had no interest in the grand gathering. Upon returning from the Ningguo Mansion, he hurriedly went to his room and had Xiren help him change his trousers.

Seeing that Xiren was not in good health, he asked with concern, "What's wrong? You didn't look well earlier, are you sick?"

Xi Ren shook her head, just as she had told Mushe and the others, saying that she had simply tripped and fallen by accident.

To avoid giving herself away, she deliberately tripped and fell, leaving a muddy stain on her clean dress. That way, even if others noticed her unusual gait, they wouldn't suspect anything.

"How did you fall? Where did you hurt yourself? Let me see if you're alright..." Jia Baoyu panicked and was about to check on you.

Xi Ren was unwilling to let him see, so in order to dispel his unnecessary concern, she had no choice but to change the subject and ask, "What exactly did you dream about in Madam Xiao Rong's room that caused all that filth?"

As expected, Jia Baoyu stopped pestering her and became embarrassed. He took Xiren's arm like a tug-of-war and whispered the scene from his dream to her.

Although Xiren had experienced many things, she still only had a vague understanding of this matter. So, she endured her shame and listened to Jia Baoyu's explanation before she understood a little more, and her feelings were even more indescribable.

Thinking about it, no matter how unwilling I am, I've truly become Master Lian's woman...

"Dear sister, please don't tell anyone."

Jia Baoyu also noticed Xiren's expression and assumed she was shy because he had heard about his dream. Seeing how touching Xiren's shy yet joyful appearance was, he wanted to take her along to experience the love affairs taught by the Fairy Disenchantment in the Land of Illusion.

Unexpectedly, Xiren reacted as if facing a formidable enemy, immediately letting go of her and scolding her, "You're becoming more and more unreasonable. You dreamt of those filthy things in your nephew's wife's room, and now you're trying to bother me. I'm ignoring you."

Seeing that Xiren was angry, Jia Baoyu immediately begged for forgiveness: "Good sister, I was wrong. I was confused for a moment. Please don't tell anyone, and please don't ignore me..."

Ultimately, Xiren felt guilty and dared not linger with Jia Baoyu. She pretended to take the dirty clothes and left.

However, as soon as she stepped out, Xiren thought it was inappropriate to treat Jia Baoyu so coldly.

Although I have escaped with my life today, I have lost my innocence, and my future is still uncertain.

Although Second Master Lian already showed signs of being an outstanding person, firstly, Second Madam Lian was high and mighty and would not allow others to touch her. Secondly, Ping'er, Qingwen, and Xiangling were still in Second Master Lian's house.

These three maids, judging solely by their appearance, each surpasses her in beauty. It seems that since Master Lian has them, he may not care much about her.

If at this point one were to consider changing course, it would be utterly impossible.

Although Master Bao usually treated me with peace, he was still a domineering figure. If he knew that he had lost his virginity to another man earlier, he would not be at peace with himself.

If he were to tell the old lady and his wife, he would be doomed.

Fortunately, Master Bao is of good character and there is no need to worry about him forcing his way into trouble and exposing his innocence.

Therefore, the best course of action now is to win over Baoyu and maintain her position in this room. This way, she can better protect herself and prevent Master Lian and Madam You from easily changing their minds and plotting to silence her.

Secondly, if Master Lian sees that I am a useful person, he might value me somewhat, and I might be able to find a way to work for him in the future. That would be better than just waiting for fate to decide my fate!

Having made up her mind on this, Xiren thought again, Jia Baoyu is now sensual, if she doesn't let him touch her for a long time, he will inevitably become involved with other pretty maids, which will threaten her position in the future...

Just as she was wondering what to do, Mushe came over and asked about her health. Xiren quickly gave her a perfunctory answer, but then said to her, "Second Master sweated today. These are the clothes he just changed out of. I'll take them out first, as I still need to report back to the Old Madam later. Go and fetch a basin of hot water to wipe Second Master's body, and then change him into clean clothes... Remember to wipe him thoroughly."

Musk Moon had no doubts and went to carry out the order upon hearing it.

Inside the bedroom, Jia Baoyu saw that Xiren had left in a huff and hadn't returned for a long time. He felt extremely ashamed and regretful, deeply feeling that he had been disrespectful to the beautiful woman.

Suddenly, Musk Moon came in carrying water, and he asked, "Where did she go?"

"Who is it, Sister Xiren? The old lady is hosting a banquet in the flower hall. If she didn't see you, she would definitely ask. She went to report back and told me to come in and serve the master before she left."

Upon hearing this, Jia Baoyu became happy, realizing that Xiren wasn't really angry. He then cooperated by having Mushe wipe his body clean.

Musk Moon was also someone who often served him. Although she was less beautiful than Xi Ren, she was still a pretty woman. Moreover, her behavior and actions were exactly like Xi Ren's. In addition, perhaps because she was of lower status than Xi Ren, she was more obedient to him than Xi Ren was, and she would not often use grand principles to pressure him, her master.

Young noblemen, once they have wicked thoughts in their hearts, find it very difficult to suppress them.

Since Xiren wouldn't allow it, I thought I might as well try this...

……

Now, Jia Baoyu, Daiyu, and others live in the backyard of Grandmother Jia's main house. The main service is handled by the people in Grandmother Jia's room. Therefore, there are only a few people serving Daiyu and Jia Baoyu closely in their rooms.

In order to create an opportunity for Musk Moon, Xi Ren dismissed all the idlers and went to the flower hall to give a briefing before quickly sneaking back.

Arriving at the bedroom, I gently touched the door, and sure enough, it was already locked from the inside.

Listening more closely behind the lattice screen, I could indeed hear some strange sounds, just like the ones I had made in the rock cave in the afternoon.

Having guarded the fruits of her labor for years, she now had to hand them over to someone else to reap. It was inevitable that Xi Ren would feel a sense of loss and defeat.

However, she had no choice but to do it.

She was a rational woman and wouldn't think that Jia Baoyu was so naive as to not even be able to tell whether she was chaste or not.

Moreover, she dared not offend Jia Lian, so she had no other choice.

Musk Moon was someone she personally trained. She was inferior to Musk Moon in terms of experience and appearance, and her personality was not flamboyant, so she was the best substitute.

Moreover, since Musk Moon has committed an illicit act with Bao Yu today, I now have leverage over her, so I won't have to worry about controlling her in the future.

Thinking of all this, Xiren couldn't help but sigh. In just one day, she seemed to have grown up a lot. This kind of complicated scheming made her feel somewhat unfamiliar with herself.

But it was a last resort.

After listening for only a short while, Xiren took some food for the birds and went to the corridor to feed them, while also keeping watch for the two people inside.

"Why are you standing in the wind, just spacing out?"

Xi Ren was somewhat distracted when she suddenly heard a clear and gentle voice.

Looking up, I saw Baochai walking towards me from the end of the corridor with her maid Ying'er.

Xiren was secretly startled, and quickly greeted her with a smile, "Miss Bao, what brings you here?"

"I heard you say that Brother Bao wasn't feeling well, so I came to check on him. Why, isn't he inside?"

As Baochai spoke, she made a move to walk into the house.

Xiren hurriedly said, "Second Master, are you all done? Miss Bao has come to see you."

Xiren deliberately reminded Jia Baoyu, and then explained to Baochai, "He's been running around outside all day, and he's all sweaty. He's changing his clothes inside."

Baochai didn't take it seriously. She had just stepped inside and saw that the door to the inner room was closed, so she stepped back. When she heard Xiren's explanation, she just nodded.

When siblings visit each other, they should be mindful of these things, and she naturally wouldn't wander around like Xiangyun.

Originally, Xiren managed to appease Baochai with her strong composure, but the wild mandarin ducks inside had long been frightened out of their wits.

"Um, Sister Bao, wait a moment, I'll be right out..."

Hearing Jia Baoyu's muffled, guilty voice coming from inside, Baochai suddenly became suspicious.

She was no naive little girl. Having grown up with her mother and been carefully taught, she was almost knowledgeable about the world, except for having less experience.

Although he realized something was wrong, he didn't show it on his face and pretended to chat with Xiren.

When Xiren heard Jia Baoyu's exposed voice, she couldn't keep a straight face. However, judging from Baochai's expression, she couldn't tell whether Baochai had noticed anything.

A moment later, Jia Baoyu hurriedly and tiptoed out of the room. "Sister Bao, what brings you here..."

Baochai glanced at him and said, "It's nothing. My mother heard you weren't feeling well and asked me to come and check on you..."

The old lady has set up a drinking party in the back, and quite a few of the men in your family have come. If you're free, you should go and keep them company.

"Sister Bao is right, I'll be right there..."

Baochai said little, curtsied lightly, and then returned the way she came with Ying'er.

Jia Baoyu, being rather foolish, wanted to follow, but Xiren stopped him.

Jia Baoyu hurriedly put on his clothes and came out. There were too many flaws in them. If he went out like this and Grandmother Jia and Lady Wang saw him, they would definitely scold all of them, these maids who couldn't even dress their masters properly.

So he pulled Jia Baoyu into the house.

Beside the inner room door, Musk Moon, her shoulders hunched and her face flushed like Jia Baoyu's, saw Xi Ren and felt extremely ashamed, calling out softly, "Sister Xi Ren..."

Musk Moon wasn't stupid. She had been so blinded by pleasure that she forgot that Xi Ren could come back at any moment! Now she realized that Xi Ren had probably already returned and must have discovered her affair with Jia Baoyu.

Otherwise, when Miss Bao came earlier, she wouldn't have deliberately reminded them and made up a story about them changing clothes.

Musk Moon felt a surge of fear. If Xi Ren told Madam Wang about this, she would probably only have one way out: death...

Xiren gave her a deep look and said, "Come quickly and help the Second Master put his clothes back on. If we are too late, the Old Madam may become suspicious."

"Yes……"

Musk Moon unconsciously became even more respectful to Xi Ren, and upon hearing this, she hurried over to help.

Jia Baoyu just stood there, looking at this and that, feeling both ashamed and embarrassed.