Lian Erye in the Red Mansion

Inside the ornately decorated carriage, Wang Xifeng let out a soft moan and released Jia Lian's arm.

She never imagined that, under such circumstances, Jia Lian would still have the heart to take liberties with her!

She raised her phoenix eyes and glared at Jia Lian with a mixture of shyness and anger.

Jia Lian was naturally not afraid. Wang Xifeng's mind was unstable and she needed some emotional therapy.

So he put one arm around her waist and continued to comfort her with the other, then asked softly, as if in a normal conversation, "Tell me, what exactly did the Empress Dowager tell you? Tell me, and I'll know what to do next."

Wang Xifeng's face was still wet with tears, but she was extremely embarrassed by Jia Lian's behavior.

Inside the confined eight-bearer sedan chair, within the solemn imperial palace, such a reckless act felt both absurd and thrilling to her.

But didn't this jerk abandon her? Why is he still so attached to her?

Therefore, she feigned grievance and cried, "Didn't you take a fancy to some princess? Why are you treating me like this? Don't worry, I won't hinder your future wealth and status. Let me go, and I'll move back to the royal family right away..."

"She really is a stupid and foolish woman."

Jia Lian lowered his head and kissed Wang Xifeng.

Tears had washed away her light makeup, revealing her already bright and rosy skin.

It was wet and slippery, with a slightly salty taste, tinged with tears.

"Silly woman, there's no time for you to be coquettish and willful right now."

I tell you, the Empress Dowager had already summoned me before she summoned you.

If I hadn't refused the Empress Dowager at the time, do you think she would have been so free as to summon you again?

If I were truly heartless, I would already be all lovey-dovey with that young and beautiful princess, and I wouldn't have time to care about you, this big-breasted, brainless abandoned woman!

If you don't answer me honestly, I'm going to leave.

Jia Lian looked down at Wang Xifeng with an undeniable air of authority.

Normally, even if Jia Lian controlled all her vital parts, Wang Xifeng would probably still be dissatisfied.

How dare you call her stupid and dumb? How dare you say she's all looks and no brains... Although the term sounds strange at first, it's not hard to understand its extremely insulting meaning just from the words themselves.

However, she was still quite clever, and she quickly discerned the different meaning in Jia Lian's words, which was what she most longed for.

The Empress Dowager had already summoned the heartless one, but he did not agree to her request, which is why the Empress Dowager summoned him again.

A glint flashed in Wang Xifeng's eyes; she seemed to have figured out the beginning and end of the matter.

No wonder the Empress Dowager, with her high status and great position, had to go to such lengths to suppress her. It turns out that it wasn't that they had conspired with the heartless one, but that they couldn't subdue the heartless one, so they turned their attention to her instead.

Yes, before she went to see the Empress Dowager, a eunuch secretly passed her a message, but she forgot it all in her excitement.

Thinking about it, it must have been someone heartless who asked someone else to give it to me?

Once Wang Xifeng understood this, it was as if a hole had been torn open in the dark fog in her heart, allowing brilliant light to shine through.

"Are you serious?"

Faced with Wang Xifeng's continued questioning, Jia Lian slightly twisted his index finger and thumb in response.

Wang Xifeng felt a jolt in her heart. She quickly reached out and pressed down Jia Lian's mischievous hand. She glanced at Jia Lian with her watery eyes, and then slowly recounted what the Empress Dowager had told her in Weiyang Palace in a concise manner.

However, as she spoke, the light in her eyes dimmed again.

She thought, what if they were heartless and still refused to abandon her despite the pressure from the Empress Dowager and the princess?

They couldn't fight city hall; judging from the Empress Dowager's attitude, she certainly wouldn't let them off the hook.

Therefore, it was a foregone conclusion that she would step aside to make way for the princess.

However, knowing that this heartless man is so kind and loyal, and that he cares about her, is enough for her.

I only regret the impermanence of life and my own lack of virtue in the past, which is why I couldn't hold onto my own happiness.

For some reason, Wang Xifeng, who was now able to fully understand the ending, found that the grievances and pain in her heart were gradually fading, and she had a sense of profound enlightenment.

She rolled over and climbed out of Jia Lian's arms. Looking at Jia Lian's sharply defined face and handsome features, she suddenly wrapped her arms around Jia Lian's neck and kissed him hard on the lips.

She wanted to cherish this feeling so that she wouldn't forget it when she lived alone in a secluded courtyard in the future.

In matters of love, Wang Xifeng, who had always been conservative and reserved, suddenly became so fierce, which made Jia Lian quite unaccustomed to it.

However, he could see her true feelings from Wang Xifeng's determined eyes.

This woman is indeed quite interesting; her superficial appearance is merely a facade. Only a knight like him could truly uncover her beauty and charm.

Although it was a wonderful thing to be ridden and teased by such a beauty, Jia Lian only indulged her for a short while before mercilessly pulling her off him.

Faced with Wang Xifeng's mixture of embarrassment, boldness, and dissatisfaction, Jia Lian straightened his sleeves, wiped his mouth with his palm, and then said, "That's enough. This general has other matters to attend to. I'll let you take advantage of me when we get back."

Jia Lian's words caused Wang Xifeng to suppress her excess emotions, and her feminine shyness took over, causing her face to flush.

谷矍

However, seeing Jia Lian about to get up and leave, she seemed to realize something and quickly grabbed him: "Where are you going? You... don't be foolish. Didn't you send someone to tell me not to talk back to the Empress Dowager? You...?"

Jia Lian heard that the Empress Dowager had summoned Wang Xifeng when he left the inner palace, because he had no other choice while in the Forbidden City.

Fortunately, he had some connections with several senior eunuchs in the palace, so giving them some benefits and getting them to spread harmless rumors wasn't a problem.

That was the only thing he could do for Wang Xifeng at the time.

Seeing the worry in Wang Xifeng's eyes, Jia Lian patted her delicate hand that was gripping his sleeve and smiled, "Don't worry, I'll take care of everything."

You should go back with the old lady and the others, and wait for my news.

Jia Lian's smile was, in Wang Xifeng's opinion, the most lethal thing in the world to her.

Moreover, how could he, how could he say such things with such a smile...?

I'll take care of everything.

Wang Xifeng's eyes were moist. Based on her understanding of Jia Lian, she had already guessed that Jia Lian probably wanted to do something for her.

"But……"

However, if this is to be done, Jia Lian would need to confront the Empress Dowager directly.

Having just experienced the immense pressure from the Empress Dowager, Wang Xifeng was naturally very worried.

"But what? Don't worry, I'm not as stupid as you. Didn't you cry because of the Empress Dowager at Weiyang Palace?"

"You..." Wang Xifeng was not fully moved before a breath caught in her throat.

However, Jia Lian was clearly not going to talk to her anymore. He put down her hand, lifted the sedan curtain, and went out.

Her expression turned serious, but soon it transformed into a smile.

Regardless of how Jia Lian treated her, she felt it was all worth it.

only……

She suddenly leaned against the sedan window, wanting to pull back the curtains, but after two attempts, she didn't have the real courage.

She was afraid that her vulnerability would be seen by those who were not involved.

In the end, he could only murmur, "Even if we can't be husband and wife, you must be well, you must..."

Outside, Grandmother Jia, who had been watching the commotion, heard that Jia Lian had come out and quickly poked her head out to wave to him.

After Jia Lian walked over, Grandmother Jia asked, "Lian'er, aren't you coming back with me?"

When Grandmother Jia heard that Jia Lian had asked the sedan chair bearers to stop here, she had some bad thoughts.

"Yes, Ancestor, you should go back first. Your grandson still has some things to take care of."

Seeing Jia Lian nod in reply, Grandmother Jia glanced at Jia Lian's face and then said, "Lian'er, although I am also quite reluctant to part with Feng'er, you must not do anything foolish in this matter."

We should take good care of her and make it up to her in the future. Just don't act impulsively and anger the Empress Dowager. That's not just your problem; it concerns the safety and well-being of the entire family.

Grandmother Jia had experienced a lot and knew that young people were hot-blooded and prone to making big mistakes when they acted impulsively.

She knew that Jia Lian and Wang Xifeng's relationship was getting better and better, and that Jia Lian was an arrogant man who wouldn't listen to advice, so she was afraid that Jia Lian would offend the royal family for Wang Xifeng's sake!

In Grandmother Jia's eyes, if it were any other member of the royal family, there would still be room for maneuver, but this was the Empress Dowager!

Who would dare disobey someone who even the emperor has to obey?

Putting everything else aside, wasn't Yuan Chun's promotion to Imperial Concubine solely due to a single word from the Empress Dowager?

Previously, Wang Xifeng had recounted how Jia Lian had saved the Empress Dowager, and Yuan Chun then took the opportunity to explain the reasons behind her promotion to Imperial Concubine.

In Grandmother Jia's eyes, the Empress Dowager was a saint, an inviolable being.

If this is violated, not only will the family's wealth be lost, but unpredictable disasters will also befall them.

Jia Lian also looked at the cautious and timid Grandmother Jia in front of him. Because Grandmother Jia was sitting in the sedan chair, while Jia Lian was standing upright, he even looked down at her.

Grandmother Jia was not used to being viewed this way, so after a while, she began to feel uneasy.

Fortunately, Jia Lian didn't linger for long. He immediately cupped his hands and said, "Grandmother, rest assured, your grandson understands."

After saying this, Jia Lian did not give Grandmother Jia a chance to say more. He looked up at Jia Zhen and the others beside him and asked them to escort Grandmother Jia back to the mansion.

Meanwhile, Jia Zhen, who was scheming about something, naturally wanted to offer some advice. Jia Lian simply gave him a perfunctory reply, just as before, and then watched the five sedan chairs of the Jia family leave the palace.

As an official appointed by the imperial court, Jia Lian was not restricted to most areas of the palace or the outer court, so even though he returned by the same route, he was not expelled or questioned.

Until they arrived at the inner palace gate.

Facing the imperial guards eyeing him menacingly, Jia Lian smiled and said to the eunuch on duty who came to greet him, "Jia Lian, Second-Class General of Zhenyuan, requests an audience with the Empress Dowager. Please convey my request on my behalf, sir."

……