Lian Erye in the Red Mansion

"Brother, are you sure you'll be okay doing this?"

Yingchun and the others were somewhat worried.

Although they admired Jia Lian's actions in protecting Wang Xifeng, they also knew what kind of pressure Jia Lian would face as a result.

Putting everything else aside, getting past the elders like Grandmother Jia alone would be very difficult.

To this, Jia Lian simply smiled and said, "Don't worry, I know what I'm doing."

Instead of worrying about me, you should take the time to visit your sister-in-law, Lian, more often; she needs your care.

"Yes, yes, we will." Yingchun, Tanchun, and Xichun all nodded hurriedly.

Daiyu glanced at Jia Lian, and when Jia Lian looked over, she nodded slowly and almost imperceptibly.

Seeing that everyone was infected by Jia Lian's confidence and composure and was no longer so nervous and worried, Jia Baoyu suddenly clapped his hands and laughed: "It seems that we have misunderstood Brother Lian before. Before, Brother Lian was focused on becoming an official and was busy with those mundane affairs outside every day. I felt sorry for Brother Lian."

Unexpectedly, this time, for the sake of Sister-in-law Lian, Brother Lian finally came to his senses.

What are fame and fortune worth? We don't need them. What's most important is that our family is harmonious and together forever.

Jia Baoyu was speaking from the heart. As he spoke, he nodded at Jia Lian with a satisfied look, as if praising his older brother for finally growing up.

His words made Tan Chun and the others laugh.

Brother Lian and Brother Bao are two extremes. They are brothers from the same family. One of them is always thinking about making a name for himself outside, while the other can only stay at home and hang out with his sisters and maids.

There's nothing usually wrong with it, after all, Brother Bao is a good person, and we usually get along well when we play and talk together.

When it comes to big events, Bao-gege (Brother Bao) is no match for Lian-er-gege (Brother Lian).

Take the incident at Shuiyue Nunnery last time for example. All Brother Bao could do was remain silent and let Brother Lian and his wife help him handle the situation and cover it up.

Look at Brother Lian this time, he even withstood the pressure from the palace for the sake of Sister-in-law Lian! Calling him Brother Bao... let's not change it. Forget about the palace, if Master and Madam glare at him, Brother Bao will definitely wilted.

However, when they talked about what happened today, they couldn't help but feel shocked. Even though Lian Er was already married, he could still bewitch a princess who was like a proud daughter of heaven.

As expected of Lian Er-gege, his charm is too strong...

Thinking of this, even the three sisters blushed, thinking that if they were Jia Lian, they definitely wouldn't be able to do it.

Faced with Jia Baoyu's condescending praise, Jia Lian smiled, turned to look at him, and asked, "Oh? Forever together?"

That's probably going to be very difficult.

"Brother Bao, are you not going to get married in the future? If you do get married, are you going to stay at home every day fooling around with the maids and wives? Aren't you afraid your wife will get angry and won't let you sleep in the bed at night?"

"Hehe~"

"Oh dear, what is Brother Lian saying, in front of us...?"

Before Jia Baoyu could even respond after Jia Lian finished speaking, the three sisters, including the youngest, were the first to complain.

That's true. They're still just kids who "don't understand anything," so how could we talk about going to bed or not in front of them?

Jia Baoyu himself was so embarrassed that his face turned red, and he couldn't help but look up at Lin Daiyu.

Daiyu, having overheard Jia Lian's words, covered her mouth and chuckled. But when she noticed Jia Baoyu's gaze, her mind immediately began to stir.

My second brother Lian had just teased me about getting married when he came to see me. He clearly has bad intentions towards this fairy.

Daiyu was immediately embarrassed. Seeing that Tanchun and the others were also looking at them with teasing eyes, she was so ashamed and angry that she glared at the culprit, Jia Baoyu.

Jia Baoyu quickly turned around, pretending to be casual, and replied to Jia Lian, "Second Brother Lian, you're talking nonsense. Even if we get married, we can still live together in the future."

Jia Lian noticed the thoughtful look in Jia Baoyu's eyes and continued with a smile, "Oh, even if you get married, you can still stay at home, but what about them? Your sisters will eventually get married and go to all over the country. You might only see them once every three to five years. What do you plan to do then?"

"This is getting increasingly outrageous."

"That's right, Brother Lian, if you keep talking nonsense, we'll kick you out."

In this era, even the topic of marriage was something that young ladies from wealthy families felt ashamed to discuss.

However, Jia Baoyu was completely stirred up by Jia Lian's fear that he could not face. His face suddenly turned red, and he looked around at the bright and beautiful sisters, each one more beautiful than the last. The thought that they would one day leave him made his heart feel like it was being cut by a knife!

"No, no, it can't be..."

The self-deceiving words had barely left his lips when he saw everyone looking at him in surprise. These people included the maids and servants nearby, and even Baochai and others.

Jia Baoyu couldn't continue speaking, and suddenly said angrily, "We should all stay together. If that day really comes and they all have to leave me, then let me die first. Let me turn into ashes, into wisps of smoke, in a place I can't see. At that time, no matter where they go, whether they are alive or dead, rich or poor, I won't know or care..."

"Baoyu is talking nonsense again," the old women nearby laughed.

Only Baochai and the others, seeing Jia Baoyu start to cry as he spoke, felt that he was childish and ridiculous, but they couldn't help but be moved.

He's a truly honest child.

Seeing Jia Baoyu crying, Xichun quickly went to him, patted his back, and comforted him, saying, "Brother Bao, don't cry. We will never leave you, really, don't cry..."

Only then did Jia Baoyu raise his teary eyes, take Xi Chun's hand, and look gratefully at this little sister who was only seven or eight years old.

Although Jia Lian had somewhat anticipated Jia Baoyu's eccentric thought process, he still couldn't help but feel surprised at this moment.

This is actually allowed?

After thinking about it carefully, Jia Lian realized that Jia Baoyu was probably similar to him, wanting to have his cake and eat it too.

But he dared not reveal his true intentions, fearing he would be beaten to death. So, out of habit, he began to throw tantrums and act foolishly, trying to use this self-deceptive method to keep the women by his side...

It's so silly yet so adorable.

Therefore, Jia Lian gave Jia Baoyu a thumbs up: "Brother Bao's sincerity and thoughts make me, his foolish brother, feel ashamed of my inferiority."

Even if Jia Lian didn't know the ending of the story, he could already foresee Jia Baoyu's tragic and desolate life.

Jia Lian was not prepared to do anything for him, since he wasn't his son.

As long as he's happy.

Anyway, if he has the chance, he won't hesitate to snatch Lin Daiyu away.

Jia Baoyu finally stopped crying, but Baochai, Daiyu, and others still keenly noticed that beneath Jia Lian's seemingly agreeable words lay a hint of disdain for continuing the conversation.

It seems that Brother Lian looked down on Baoyu.

Indeed, Baoyu might truly be born a man, as others jokingly suggest. If he were a girl, there wouldn't be much of a problem.

Siluke

……

In the evening, after half a day of adjustment, Wang Xifeng's emotions finally stabilized, and she was even in the mood to ask Ping'er about what had happened at the Ningguo Mansion.

While washing Wang Xifeng's feet, Ping'er whispered, "Grandma, I heard it's because Rong-ge'er got involved with a maid in Master Zhen's room, and Master Zhen found out and chased him all over the yard."

I don't know if Grandpa Zhen hit him too hard, or if Rong-ge'er wasn't paying attention, but he pushed Grandpa Zhen. I heard that Grandpa Zhen's forehead was injured.

Rong-ge'er was scared, so he hid away and hasn't returned home yet.

Wang Xifeng snorted coldly and said, "Those father and son are no good either, it's not surprising that they caused such a mess."

Given Wang Xifeng's temperament, she would have given her a severe reprimand, but remembering that she herself had lost face in front of her family while in the palace, she felt too embarrassed to say anything more about others.

Just then, Jia Lian came in after taking a bath, and Wang Xifeng subconsciously smiled and said, "Oh, why so soon today? Aren't you going to play with your two lovely maids a little longer?"

Wang Xifeng was very attentive to Jia Lian's every move, and bathing usually took about an hour. Jia Lian sometimes went over time, which inevitably made Wang Xifeng suspect that they were doing something else in the bath room.

Jia Lian plopped down next to Wang Xifeng, lifted her chin, and laughed, "Oh, it seems you've recovered quite a bit of your energy. You dare to tease your man again."

Wang Xifeng blushed, her imposing manner instantly suppressed. After thinking for a moment, she said, "Since you like them so much, why not keep them in the house properly? What's the point of letting them always be called maids?"

Upon hearing this, Jia Lian glanced at Ping'er, who was quietly washing her feet on the floor, and then said, "That's quite a rare thing. Why is our jealous wife being so magnanimous today?"

Wang Xifeng retorted angrily, "Stop insulting me! When did I ever forbid you from taking them in? It's just that you've been keeping it all to yourself, all that fussing between women, and now you're saying I'm jealous?"

Jia Lian laughed heartily. Although Wang Xifeng didn't seem to have changed much on the surface, she was delightful in the details, which could only be seen in her eyes.

"You've said that before, but I always felt that only this time did you have a little bit of sincerity," Jia Lian said with a smile.

Wang Xifeng, who had been keeping a straight face, suddenly couldn't help but laugh.

Because Jia Lian was right; she had only been testing him before. Even if Jia Lian agreed, she had a backup plan.

Xiangling and Qingwen are both young, so it would be easier to control and manipulate them after they were taken as concubines. Secondly, since they were taken as concubines early, their foundations would be easily corrupted, and they would not pose a threat in the future.

But today, she suddenly realized she wasn't so calculating anymore. Indeed, she used to keep a close eye on Jia Lian, partly out of possessiveness, and partly out of fear that he might change his mind.

Now that she's certain of Jia Lian's feelings for her and that he's shouldered so much for her, even if it's just to reciprocate, she feels she should do something for him.

Two little girls are fine, they're just energetic and heartless anyway.

Sensing her growing vulnerability in front of Jia Lian, Wang Xifeng decided to drop the subject and instead brought up the matter of the Ningguo Mansion.

This afternoon, my nephew's wife came to see her and talked with her for a long time, which comforted her quite a bit.

However, due to an unexpected event at Ningguo Mansion, he was summoned back by someone sent by Madam You.

Jia Lian listened quietly to his wife and concubine's rambling, and only after they had finished expressing their opinions did he interject, "Don't you think that these troubles in the East Mansion are actually a good thing for us right now?"

"Um?"

Wang Xifeng and Ping'er were both somewhat surprised. A scandal had broken out in the East Mansion, damaging the Jia family's reputation; it didn't seem like a good thing at all.

Wang Xifeng dried her feet and was about to retreat back into the bed when she suddenly felt Jia Lian's foot stick out into her lap. She couldn't help but glare at Jia Lian, and then laughed: "I know, the trouble they've caused over there, I dare not say anything else, but it's perfect for covering up the shameful things our Second Master Lian has done."

"I was wondering why that sounded so familiar. Back then, our Second Master Lian was chased all over the yard by the Master with a door bolt for the same reason..."

Ping'er smiled gently when she saw her second mistress teasing the second master again, and was about to get up to pour water.

But she found that her second master had put his other foot into her arms.

Ping'er looked up and saw that the Second Mistress had already started to massage the Second Master's feet. After noticing Jia Lian's actions, she only snorted lightly and did not react too violently.

Ping'er, who was naturally peaceful and devoted to the two people in front of her, didn't think much of it. She hugged Jia Lian's long, beautiful feet, moved forward a little, and knelt on the footstool. After confirming that the position was right, she cooperated with her mistress to massage the young master's feet.

Second Master likes this.

Jia Lian didn't argue with Wang Xifeng, and said with a smile, "Don't you think the Empress Dowager and the princess are both extremely noble people? Shouldn't such people be respectable?"

It's not a respectable thing for them to gang up on you and steal your man.

If the world were to find out that the family they wanted to steal from in marriage was a terrible one, wouldn't they start to wonder if it was all worth it...?

Wang Xifeng, quick-witted, lit up upon hearing this: "You mean, if the Empress Dowager finds out about this mess our family has made, she might get angry and not be so keen on marrying the princess to you?"

Jia Lian smiled. This wasn't enough; he needed to add more fuel to the fire.

Wang Xifeng was unaware that the trouble in the East Mansion was actually caused by her own husband; her mind was now completely racing.

If that works, then let the East Mansion make a scene, let the whole city know about it.

As she was pondering, she noticed Jia Lian's feet getting closer and closer to her chest, and he was starting to cause trouble, trying to win her heart. So Wang Xifeng quickly pulled him away, saying, "Alright, your hands are getting tired. Let Ping'er massage them for you."

Jia Lian didn't make things difficult for Ping'er anymore. When Ping'er got up, he whispered a few words in her ear, which immediately made Ping'er blush and she couldn't help but glance at Wang Xifeng.

Wang Xifeng, who was pulling at the blanket inside, saw this, her face darkened, and she gave a cold laugh without saying a word.

She knew, of course, that Jia Lian was up to no good.

"Go on, wash up and come back."

Ping'er obeyed and went downstairs.

Wang Xifeng finally couldn't help but scold, "Speak! What do you want to do now?"

Jia Lian pressed Wang Xifeng down onto the couch, pinning him beneath him. Looking down at her, he chuckled, "How about replacing me with Ping'er?"

"Pah!" Wang Xifeng's face immediately turned bright red.

As intelligent as she was, she naturally understood Jia Lian's scheme very easily.

After all, this wasn't the first time Jia Lian had tried to humiliate them.

No matter what had happened before, she had never let Jia Lian succeed. "Ping'er has gone too far! That little hussy dares to try and climb on top of her mother!"

However, today, she didn't know how to refuse, so she spat, blushed, and turned her head away tightly, refusing to respond.

Jia Lian chuckled, lowering his head to kiss his beautiful wife's neck, warming up for tonight's new experience. (To be continued)