Lian Erye in the Red Mansion

He bid farewell to the beauty and rode his horse into the capital.

Because the time was auspicious, he practiced martial arts with his guards in the outer courtyard.

"Second Master, this servant has something to report to you."

Zhao Sheng walked steadily to his side and said in a low voice.

Jia Lian stopped his gesture, looked up at him, and nodded, saying, "Go to the study and wait for me."

A quarter of an hour later, Jia Lian emerged from the study, his face somewhat gloomy. He glanced back at the east, a cold glint in his eyes.

Back home, Jia Lian found the courtyard mostly restored to normal, and asked Feng Jie, "Didn't you let Yingchun and the others stay and play a little longer?"

"Come on, why didn't I stay? It's just that they didn't care to associate with a commoner like me, and when they saw you weren't coming back, they all left."

As Wang Xifeng spoke, she took Jia Lian's arms with both hands and pulled him into the house, whispering, "Did you know that something happened at the East Mansion today?"

"What is it?"

"I don't know why, but Sister-in-law You, who's always been honest and law-abiding, somehow offended Brother Zhen. The couple had a fight at home, and I heard that Brother Zhen even hit Sister-in-law You..."

"You know what kind of person Master Zhen is. No matter how carefully you serve him, there will always be times when he is dissatisfied. What's so strange about that?"

Although Jia Lian appeared indifferent, Feng Jie'er, with her hands supporting him and her chest pressed against his strong arms, keenly sensed that his arms moved slightly when he spoke.

She couldn't help but look up at Jia Lian in surprise. Based on her understanding of Jia Lian, she vaguely sensed that he wasn't in a good mood.

She wasn't perceptive enough to conclude from this that Jia Lian and You Shi had any relationship. Although it was rare for a well-mannered family like theirs to beat their wives, it wasn't unheard of, especially for someone like Jia Zhen.

She assumed that Jia Lian had encountered some unpleasantness outside.

He wanted to ask, but when he leaned closer to Jia Lian, he suddenly smelled a very faint fragrance.

This faint fragrance was mixed with the smell of sweat that Jia Lian had developed from practicing martial arts.

Wang Xifeng was familiar with everything about Jia Lian, including the smell of his sweat, which she found to be a faint, pleasant fragrance, not unpleasant. This allowed her to distinguish other scents from his body.

"You seemed a bit down after you went out. What's wrong? Did you try to pick up some innocent girls but failed, and that's why you're angry?"

Jia Lian was about half a head taller than Wang Xifeng, and she had noticed this as soon as Wang Xifeng started making her little moves.

He was quite surprised. Seriously? He rode back to the capital on horseback, the wind blowing all the way, and then practiced his martial arts for half an hour on the way back. How could she still smell it?

You see, Miaoyu wasn't the type of woman who wore heavy makeup. Jia Lian was quite certain that Miaoyu had only applied a little fragrance to her clothes. In any case, even he couldn't really smell it unless he was paying close attention.

Could it be that these women smelled a special scent secreted by other females?

"Stop talking nonsense here, I have something else to tell you."

This is the approximate quantity of various types of timber that my husband and I have discussed. Please deliver it to the Xue family and also thank your aunt while you're at it…”

Seeing Jia Lian pull a slip of paper from his pocket, Wang Xifeng didn't bother to investigate the origin of the fragrance on Jia Lian's body. She hurriedly said, "I have to go to the steward's office to take care of some business later. It's time to distribute the monthly allowances again, and I'm too busy to handle everything."

Besides, I wasn't there when you and the master discussed it, so I don't know exactly what you were thinking. What if you gave the wrong instructions? Wouldn't that cause problems?

In my opinion, you should go there yourself. It's not far, and you can get everything settled in one go, wouldn't that be more appropriate?

Hearing her say this, Jia Lian didn't say much. He put the list back into his pocket and was about to leave before dawn.

"No matter how busy you are, there's no rush. You're sweating, why don't you take a shower before you go? It's a sign of respect."

Seeing Jia Lian nod and sit down, Wang Xifeng was quite pleased.

She gradually found a way to get along with Jia Lian. Although he was heartless and acted with some integrity, even to the point of being autocratic, he would still listen to her as long as what she said made sense.

So they hurriedly arranged for the maids to help them bathe.

……

In the backyard bathhouse, Xiangling and Qingwen each took one side, gently wiping Jia Lian's body.

But they were surprised to see Jia Lian with a furrowed brow, unlike his usual teasing self.

"What is Second Master thinking about?"

Finally, Qingwen couldn't help but tilt her head and ask.

Jia Lian looked at the little head perched on the slender neck that was reaching out, and chuckled as he pinched Qingwen's cheeks, which he never tired of pinching, and said, "I'm thinking about when I'll eat you two little girls."

"Ah~~"

The two women, Qingwen and Jia Lian, were immediately embarrassed. Qingwen even scratched Jia Lian in retaliation.

But after Jia Lian teased them, he did nothing else. He simply turned to the side, indicating that they should wipe the other side. Qingwen and Xiangling exchanged a glance, both feeling somewhat resentful.

Second Master, don't just talk the talk, walk the walk.

They had been on tenterhooks for a long time today because of an ambiguous remark Jia Lian made before leaving.

In their hearts, they thought that today, the Second Master's good day, would also be their big day...

"Second Master always says things like that to tease us. He actually looks down on us completely and only likes Second Mistress and Ping'er!"

Qingwen couldn't help but want to make things clear.

She was a concubine that Grandmother Jia gave to Jia Lian as compensation, but she has been in this courtyard for almost two years and is still a virgin!

If word gets out, she'll lose face.

"Ha ha ha ha……"

Jia Lian laughed. "Little girl, are you lovesick again?"

Jia Lian couldn't help but feel a little smug. Such a beautiful and unique young lady was thinking of offering herself to him every day, which was a wonderful thing.

In fact, Jia Lian often had the urge to take these two pretty maids as soon as possible.

Unfortunately, contraceptive methods were inadequate in this era, often being harmful, and Jia Lian didn't want to damage the foundation of his two precious children.

Anyway, he already had Sister Feng and Ping'er, these two "burnt rolls," to enjoy first, so there was no rush.

Besides, watching them grow up like this, teasing them and having them playfully grow up, is a unique kind of enjoyment.

So he grabbed Qingwen, gave her a little punishment as a warning, and at the same time soothed her restless heart. Then he stood up, told them to clean themselves up, change into ordinary clothes, and head to Pear Fragrance Courtyard.

Pear Fragrance Courtyard is located in the northeast of Rongguo Mansion and was the place where the old Duke spent his retirement in peace.

The houses and courtyards are all built in a small and exquisite style, with a serene and tranquil atmosphere.

This was, in fact, Jia Lian's first visit to Pear Fragrance Courtyard since the Xue family moved in.

Hearing that Jia Lian had come in person, the Xue family attached great importance to it.

Aunt Xue and Baochai came out to greet them.

"Greetings, Aunt and Sister Baochai."

After a simple and practiced exchange of greetings, Aunt Xue welcomed Jia Lian to the main hall. Upon hearing the purpose of Jia Lian's visit, she smiled and said, "It's just a small matter. You could have easily sent a maid or servant over. Why did you have to make the trip yourself?"

Jia Lian naturally wouldn't say he was worried the maids wouldn't be able to explain things clearly, and said with a smile, "It's not that, it's just that I realized it's been a long time since I've visited my aunt, which is really impolite. So I took the opportunity to come and see her, and also to ask if my aunt and Baochai are settling in well here, and if there's anything you need me to tell you."

Gu Ji

"Hehehe, you're too kind, sir. But don't worry, your wife takes great care of us and has thought of everything for us, so it's no trouble for you."

When you ask someone for a favor, you naturally have to show your attitude, even if it's just small talk.

So Jia Lian didn't rush to talk about serious matters, but instead asked Xue Pan a question.

"He's like a horse without a bridle, he never seems to have a home. Look, he's gone out to find someone again."

However, when he heard it was your birthday yesterday, he kept insisting on coming over to celebrate with you. We had to tell him that you're in mourning and it wouldn't be appropriate to have one, and only then did he give up.

"In that case, please convey my gratitude to him when he returns. Thank you for thinking of me."

Jia Lian naturally knew that Aunt Xue intended for Xue Pan to become his friend.

However, he had no choice. Although he did not consider himself a refined person, nor did he call himself a gentleman, he really looked down on Xue Da Shazi's vulgar behavior.

Each time we met, we were merely nodding acquaintances.

However...

Jia Lian looked up and glanced down at Aunt Xue's side, where Hengwu Jun Baochai stood quietly beside her mother.

I heard that she failed in her election.

However, Jia Lian only glanced at her and that was it. He knew what kind of person Xue Baochai was. She was not like Miaoyu or Daiyu, who could be easily coaxed into his arms with just a few words.

At least for now, he doesn't have the power to get involved with this woman.

So thinking too much is pointless.

After leaving the Xue family, Jia Lian did not go home immediately, but went to the study in the east courtyard.

Sun Zai Ren was already waiting there.

"Your humble servant greets Second Master."

Sun Zai Ren was not a member of the Jia family, so he did not refer to himself as a servant.

Jia Lian didn't waste any words with him. After asking a couple of questions about the Juxianlou restaurant, he went straight to the point: "What happened to the matter I asked you about last time?"

Sun Zai Ren is now highly valued by Jia Lian, and it is common for Jia Lian to ask him to do things. To be honest, if he were not quick-witted and able to read between the lines, he might not know which task Jia Lian was referring to.

"Is what Second Master is referring to—becoming close with Young Master Rong of the East Mansion and gaining his trust?"

Jia Lian hummed in agreement.

"Hehe, this matter is not difficult."

That Mr. Rong was originally a womanizer and a drunkard. After drinking, he would talk about being righteous and heroic. Under the deliberate flattery of the villain, he now regarded the villain as a close friend and talked about everything with him.

To be honest, Second Master, this afternoon he and Master Xue went to Juxianlou to have a drink with me, and later they even invited me to Pingkangfang to drink with courtesans...

At this point, Sun Zairen glanced at Jia Lian discreetly.

He was a settled man, worried that Jia Lian wouldn't approve of such things. In his eyes, Jia Lian was an upright man, because he had followed Jia Lian for so long and had never heard of Jia Lian going out to brothels.

Jia Lian understood his thoughts. "Wine and women are common things. If he invites you again next time, you should go. Not only should you go, but you should also offer to pay the bill for him. I think you understand what I mean, so I won't go into details."

By the way, you said he confides in you about everything, but has he ever told you that his own father wanted to have an affair with you?

"this……"

Sun Zai Ren was somewhat stunned. Even though he was over thirty years old and considered himself to have seen the wickedness of the world, he couldn't help but admire Jia Lian.

After all, such a thing as incest is ultimately against reason and morality, and is something that cannot be tolerated by the world. How could Jia Lian say it so openly, especially since it is their own family matter?

"He didn't mention this to me..."

"Since you say so, Second Master, I understand now. No wonder he always looks so bitter after drinking, as if he harbors a boundless hatred in his heart. But whenever we ask him, he changes the subject."

Sun Zai Ren said.

Jia Lian naturally disdained to conceal Jia Zhen's attempt to commit incest in front of his confidants. Because of Jia Zhen's foolishness and incorrigible nature, this matter was no longer something that could be hidden.

At least, quite a few people in both governments already know about it!

Even Sun Zai Ren, who frequently visited the Jia family mansion, might have heard of it.

If this continues, it's only a matter of time before the palace hears about it!

If a former royal noblewoman were to suffer further bullying and humiliation after falling into the Jia family's hands, no one in the royal family who still cared about their reputation would have a good impression of the Jia family.

This is one.

Secondly, although his affair with Madam You was kept secret, it was inevitable that it would be exposed over time.

Today, Lady You was only beaten; who knows what will happen next time.

He quite liked Madam You; she was mature, reserved, knew how to behave, and knew how to serve people…

Therefore, even in order to protect this woman, Jia Lian had to consider taking action against Jia Zhen, this cancerous tumor.

Jia Lian asked Sun Zairen to step forward and gave him a few instructions. Sun Zairen looked slightly surprised, but quickly composed himself, nodded in agreement, and then took his leave when Jia Lian gave no further instructions.

After he left, Jia Lian sat in his study and secretly made plans.

Even the most timid and cowardly man will accumulate energy if he is oppressed and humiliated for a long time!

The same applies to Jia Rong.

The reason he can tolerate it now is twofold: firstly, he has become accustomed to Jia Zhen's oppression and bullying, and secondly, he himself has no way to change this situation.

What Jia Lian wanted to give him was this ability, and to instill in him the idea that "where there is oppression, there is resistance."

Therefore, he let Sun Zairen know about the scandals of the Ningguo Mansion and made him Jia Rong's mentor!

Of course, Jia Lian didn't expect Jia Rong to suddenly act out of anger for the sake of a woman and kill Jia Zhen.

Jia Rong probably doesn't have the guts or the ability.

This is not the result he wanted.

Although Jia Zhen was a debauched man, he was not stupid; at least he was smarter than Jia Rong.

Therefore, this person is probably the only one who can deal with him.

Dealing with Jia Zhen is not difficult; the difficulty lies in how to handle the situation from beginning to end without giving anyone a handle to use against him.

Jia Zhen, after all, held a noble title!

If handled poorly, it could result in heavy losses on both sides, even if the enemy is defeated.

Therefore, what Jia Lian needs is a qualified and reasonable scapegoat...

However, this matter cannot be rushed; we must plan carefully before taking action.

"Zhao Sheng, Feng Fei, you two come in here."

Of the five trusted guards, these two were both skilled in martial arts and relatively calm, so Jia Lian would entrust them with important tasks on his own.