Lian Erye in the Red Mansion

Although everyone knows that removing Jia Baoyu is the best and only option, seeing that Jia Baoyu sold Qin Zhong and the other man to escape punishment still makes people look down on him to some extent.

Those who regularly follow Wang Xifeng are all shrewd and capable. Putting aside the previous scene of catching someone cheating in bed, just looking at the shame and guilt on Bao Er Ye's face at this moment, they all knew that Jia Baoyu was not involved in tonight's events.

Some people even sighed inwardly, and some even said that after Master Lian became rich, he disrespected his wife and husband, and even wanted to oppose them. But seeing the situation tonight, with both Master Lian and his wife defending Master Bao, it's clear that those rumors are untrue.

Even Master Lian and his wife dote on and care for Master Bao so much, how could they possibly disrespect the Master and Madam? "The First Madam has arrived..."

Shuiyue Nunnery was not large to begin with, but the commotion outside made it easy for Li Wan and the others inside to hear about it.

Finally, Li Wan couldn't sit still any longer and brought people over to check on the situation.

Originally, Daiyu and the others had come with her, but Li Wan had already guessed what was going on at the moon gate outside, so she didn't let Daiyu and the others come in.

"What exactly happened?"

When it comes to Jia Baoyu, nothing is trivial, so it was no surprise to Wang Xifeng that Li Wan would come.

To prevent her from making wild guesses, he let her come closer and whispered the story to Li Wan in her ear.

Li Wan grew increasingly shocked as she listened, completely unable to believe that such a thing could happen to Jia Baoyu. After all, in her heart, although Jia Baoyu was somewhat eccentric, he was still a clean and obedient uncle!

Even while the two of them were talking, Jia Lian did not stop interrogating Jia Baoyu and the other two.

He said to Qin Zhong and Zhi Neng'er, "You two, decide what to do now."

As the saying goes, "To punish without teaching is cruelty," so I'm giving you a chance to defend yourselves.

Qin Zhong felt heartbroken when Jia Baoyu abandoned him: "We promised to be brothers for life, how could you leave me now?"

Heartbroken, he gave up on himself.

It was Zhi Neng'er again. Perhaps having already lost all face, she was no longer afraid. She shouted, "We have nothing to defend ourselves with! Qin Zhong and I are truly in love! If Second Master thinks we are so sinful, then let us die together!"

She spoke a few words to Jia Lian without fear, then turned to Qin Zhong with tender affection and said, "Since we cannot be together in life, let us die together, so that in the next life, we can be companions..."

Inspired by this, Qin Zhong also perked up, nodded, and took the hand that Zhi Neng'er offered.

At this moment, it is a touching scene of mutual affection and unwavering devotion until death.

Unfortunately, this scene was shattered with a sorrowful cry from Qin.

"Little Zhong'er, what are you doing? Have you forgotten who you are?"

You are the only bloodline of the Qin family. Your father only had you as his son in his old age. Now he is almost sixty years old. How can you be so heartless as to abandon him?

You're so unfilial...

Upon hearing this, Qin Zhong's expression immediately became strained.

Qin hurriedly added, "You only made a mistake temporarily. As long as you sincerely repent, your second uncle and second aunt will definitely forgive you. You can't let your mistake continue."

Qin's reminder awakened Qin Zhong's fear of death. His expression shifted for a long time before he finally said to Zhi Neng'er with shame, "I'm sorry..."

As she spoke, ignoring Zhi Neng'er's incredulous gaze, she broke free from her hand and stepped forward to beg for mercy from Qin Shi and the others.

Zhi Neng'er was filled with a sense of fearlessness and was utterly surprised that Qin Zhong, who had sworn eternal love to her and vowed to live and die with her, would back down at this crucial moment.

In an instant, sadness, grievance, and hatred welled up in my heart.

Hearing Qin Zhong swear to Jia Lian and the others that he would never see her again in order to escape punishment and beg for forgiveness, she was even more indignant and said:

"You forced me before, and I initially refused, but you promised to take me away from this 'prison,' so I believed you and complied. I never imagined you could be such a heartless and ruthless person. I was truly blind to have given you my innocent body..."

Originally, Zhi Neng'er was a carefree girl. She had been playing at the Jia Mansion with her master Jingxu since she was a child, and she met Xi Chun, Jia Baoyu and others, which broadened her horizons.

Later, Jia Baoyu and Qin Zhong became friends, and Jia Baoyu often took Qin Zhong to the Rongguo Mansion.

Young girls and handsome boys are easily prone to developing budding romantic feelings.

However, she did not let Qin Zhong succeed at the beginning. Instead, she repeatedly warned Qin Zhong that he must take her away from Shuiyue Nunnery and that he would only be able to enjoy her after they became husband and wife.

But Qin Zhong simply couldn't suppress his desires today, and she couldn't very well shout and let others discover their affair, so she could only half-heartedly comply with Qin Zhong's advances. Therefore, tonight was even her first time!

Under such circumstances, with Qin Zhong breaking his oath, how could she, at such a young age, know what to do? So all she could do was hurl a scolding at Qin Zhong in a spoiled tone.

Qin Zhong didn't dare to talk back.

The scene became rather amusing for a moment.

Although no one cared whether a little nun lived or died, it didn't stop them from secretly despising Qin Zhong.

They could all understand that Zhi Neng'er was probably not lying; Qin Zhong must have been deceived by a lie because he thought she was pretty.

Everyone knows that Qin Bangye is a pedantic and impoverished official. How could such a person tolerate his only son having an affair with a nun, thus disgracing the Qin family and making them a laughingstock?

Therefore, it is simply wishful thinking for Zhi Neng'er to want Qin Zhong to take her out of the "prison pit".

That young master of the Qin family is such a scoundrel! He even deceived a little nun with her body!

Jia Lian, however, took a different view of Zhi Neng'er's behavior at this moment and wanted to help her. He looked at Qin Zhong and said, "A real man should do what he says if he has really said such things to someone."

"I'm giving you a chance now. If I help you get Zhineng to return to secular life, are you willing, or rather, dare to take her home and marry her as your wife, or perhaps as a concubine?"

Upon hearing this, Qin Zhong's expression changed drastically.

He was quite handsome and adorable, and he would be more than willing to take her as a concubine. In this way, he could avoid being labeled a heartless man.

But upon closer reflection, he realized it was impossible.

Only family members know their own situation; there is no way his father would allow someone who was born a nun to enter the Qin family!

Fearing that Qin Zhong would make a mistake, Madam Qin hurriedly scolded, "Little Zhong, you still don't know how to repent? Do you want to force your father to his death?"

Qin Zhong immediately lost all his energy and said, "Thank you, Second Uncle, but it's not that I can't, it's that I dare not. My father will absolutely not accept her. If I insist on doing so, I'd rather be beaten to death by my father, I'm afraid he'll be so angry that he'll have a stroke..."

"Hehehe..."

Jia Lian was truly laughing his head off at Jia Baoyu and Qin Zhong.

Knowing your father would be furious, why didn't you do something sooner?

"Are you really afraid your father will be so angry he'll die, or are you worried that you'll ruin your future and be looked down upon and scorned by others when you walk down the street?"

Jia Lian's ruthless revelation left Qin Zhong speechless. He dared not contradict Jia Lian and could only lower his head and remain silent.

So Jia Lian turned to Zhi Neng'er and said, "I want to help you, but the person you've met is not a good one, so I advise you to give up on him as soon as possible."

When everyone in the world looked at her with disdain and even her beloved abandoned her to protect himself, Jia Lian's kind words to her instantly made her feel as if she were under the warm winter sun, and she felt boundless admiration and respect for Jia Lian.

At the same time, my mindset also changed dramatically. I thought to myself, how could I have been so naive and foolish before?

She felt a pang of regret. If only she had realized her mistake sooner, if only she had remained innocent, given how much Master Lian cherished her, perhaps she would have had a chance to become his maid...

Then Jia Lian said, "However, you have broken the rules after all and should receive the punishment you deserve. Do you have any objections?"

At this moment, Zhi Neng'er was not even afraid of death. Upon hearing this, she generously nodded and said, "Please punish me, Second Master. Even if it means death, I will accept it willingly!"

Jia Lian nodded, then ordered, "Men, give Zhi Neng'er and Qin Zhong forty strokes of the cane each."

"Second Uncle~~"

"Brother Lian Er..."

Qin Shi, Jia Baoyu, and others immediately wanted to plead for mercy.

Jia Lian glared at them, and they dared not utter a word. If it were truly Lady Qin, it would be one thing—she was doing it for her brother—but what right did Er Bao have to plead for her?

I didn't hit you because I was being lenient with you.

……

Seeing Jia Lian walk out of the room, Wang Xifeng had no interest in watching Qin Zhong and the other man get beaten.

Anyway, since the Qin family is guarding this place, they're not afraid of anything really going wrong in the fight.

She went to Jia Lian's side and asked, "What should we do next?"

Jia Lian thought for a moment and said, "Qin Zhong can no longer stay here. I will take him back to the Iron Threshold Temple later and send him back to the Qin family first thing tomorrow morning."

As for Zhineng'er, arrange for another nunnery to be built for her. But you don't need to worry about it; I'll have someone handle that."

Wang Xifeng looked up at Jia Lian and said, "Could it be that you think she's pretty enough to keep her as a mistress for your own enjoyment?"

"Hmph, I noticed the way you were looking at her was off. Let me tell you, if you dare touch a little slut like that, I'll never forgive you..."

As was her habit, Sister Feng got jealous, and as was her habit, she received a flick on the forehead.

Jia Lian, too lazy to argue with her, suddenly looked at her with a smile and asked, "So, do you still think Baoyu is a child?"

Wang Xifeng blushed immediately, realizing that Jia Lian was referring to the incident that morning when they left the city, when Jia Lian forbade Jia Baoyu to ride in the same carriage with her.

Thinking about it, I realized I had underestimated Brother Bao...

But seeing Jia Lian persisting like this, she couldn't help but roll her eyes at him and mutter, "Stingy man!"