Lian Erye in the Red Mansion

After accidentally injuring Jia Zhen, Jia Rong was frightened and was taken in by his close friend Sun Zairen, where he hid in Zuixianlou.

They spent a night in fear and trembling. Although they were relieved that the old man didn't seem to want to make a big deal out of it, it wasn't right for him to keep hiding like this, unless he didn't want to inherit the huge Ningguo Mansion business anymore.

So, I definitely have to go home, but going back like this carries a high risk of being beaten to death. The old man isn't one to show mercy.

After enduring half a day like this, he received Jia Zhen's ultimatum through his trusted servant:

If I don't go back this afternoon, I'll never have to go back again.

Jia Rong dared not refuse any longer and could only bid farewell to his friend and prepare to return home.

Seeing his friend's indignant and sympathetic expression, Jia Rong was deeply moved.

Having such an old man to deal with, many times he really wished he could do what his friend said when he was drunk: to be furious and rather die than live under the old man's tyranny for the rest of his life!

In the end, I only dared to think about it.

After leaving Zuixianlou, he immediately made two preparations. On one hand, he sent someone to contact his mother, Madam You, and his daughter-in-law, Madam Qin, asking them to intercede on his behalf and to test the old man's attitude.

On the one hand, she took out all her savings, intending to please Jia Zhen by buying him a rare and interesting item to appease him.

It must be said that Jia Rong, who is used to playing the "submissive" role, is quite experienced in this regard. Following his methods, he might actually have escaped this predicament...

At the Ningguo Mansion, Jia Zhen was still furious. A bandage had been wrapped around his forehead, where wrinkles were beginning to appear. It was from when the little brat pushed him and caused him to bump his head against the door.

However, despite his anger, after a night, he realized that he and his son had been laughed at the previous day, and with the encouragement of Madam You and others, his previous attitude of not giving up until the little beast was killed had dissipated considerably.

He was only thinking that when the little beast came back, he would give him a good beating, make him kneel in the ancestral hall, and thoroughly eradicate his rebellious and unfilial thoughts!

In Jia Rong's courtyard, in the secluded main room.

Qin Shi naturally also received Jia Rong's request to plead with Jia Zhen on her behalf.

She was very sad and desperate.

She knew that Jia Rong couldn't possibly be unaware of Jia Zhen's feelings for her, yet Jia Rong still made this demand of her...

It is clear that Jia Rong never regarded her as his wife, or rather, she had never seen such a cowardly and incompetent person!

She could even understand Jia Rong's thoughts quite well. Her father was very angry and needed to calm down.

Jia Rong is simply playing to their tastes!

As long as she goes to plead for leniency, and pleading for leniency naturally requires her to give something in return.

When the time comes, Jia Zhen will have received the benefits, and his anger will naturally subside...

How tragic. Qin Shi naturally did not want to become a tool for Jia Rong to curry favor with Jia Zhen, but Jia Rong's request was so reasonable.

The family really shouldn't keep making a scene like this.

Conflicted, Qin lingered in her room after preparing her most dignified and proper makeup, unable to make up her mind for a long time. Before she knew it, it was time for another appointment...

That was a promise she made secretly with the man she admired most when she visited her aunt yesterday. It was a promise she had been looking forward to all night without sleeping.

So when the clock struck again, she made her choice wholeheartedly.

Pretending to be strolling around, I arrived at the foot of Tianxiang Tower.

"You don't need to come with me. I'm going upstairs to clear my head and will be back in a bit," Madam Qin said softly to her two maids as she stopped.

"Yes."

The maids Baozhu and Ruizhu knew that their young mistress had been in a bad mood lately, so they didn't ask any questions. They stood quietly in place, watching their young mistress walk slowly towards the stairwell with lotus-like steps.

The Tianxiang Tower was unusually quiet. Qin Shi, who looked slightly weak from climbing the stairs, couldn't help but feel suspicious when she saw that there was no one upstairs or downstairs.

Could it be that my second uncle is lying to me?

That's true. Given his status, how could he possibly risk being gossiped about to come here to see me?

He himself is in trouble.

Compared to him, what are my own troubles?

Thinking about it this way, Qin felt that even if she was teased and stood up, it was no big deal. She could just treat it as a walk.

However, when they arrived at the room where her mother-in-law, Madam You, was changing, they found the door open.

Qin's eyes lit up, and her previously weak body suddenly surged with boundless strength. She pushed open the door and went inside. Her gaze searched around the screen, and she saw a young man sitting on the fragrant couch. When he saw her come in, a smile appeared on his face.

Qin's face lit up with joy, and she couldn't help but take a step forward. But she suddenly stopped and looked suspiciously to the side at a figure she had almost overlooked.

It's a girl.

She recognized the girl; she must be her second uncle's bodyguard. She had secretly seen her riding a horse in the carriage, attending to her second uncle.

She was usually dressed in women's martial arts attire or military uniform, but today she was dressed like an ordinary maid.

Qin didn't dwell on the woman's appearance; she was only thinking: Didn't my second uncle ask me to meet him here? Why did he bring this extra person...?

The initial excitement in her heart subsided, and Qin stamped her foot, saying, "Greetings, Second Uncle. May I ask why you summoned me here?"

When Jia Lian saw Qin Shi, he couldn't help but feel a surge of joy.

This woman certainly has the air of someone who could bring ruin to a country; even just a glance at her is enough to stir one's heart.

"Sit down, I have something to say to you," Jia Lian said, pointing to the stool that had been placed in front of him.

Qin glanced at Jia Lian, then at the maid beside her, and the flutter in her heart that she had just suppressed surged up again.

She silently stepped forward and sat on that lonely bench, where she could hear her own heartbeat.

A quarter of an hour later, Madam Qin leisurely walked out of the room and went downstairs.

Two loyal maids were tending to the flowers and plants under the tree. When they saw her come down, they hurried over to greet her.

Qin quietly straightened the front of her dress and said seriously, "Let's go back."

"Yes……"

……

In Ningxuan Hall, Jia Zhen was inexplicably irritable. According to his prediction, the little beast was about to return to the mansion.

Suddenly, a servant came to report: "Master, Madam Xiao Rong has come to pay her respects."

Ok?

Jia Zhen's spirits lifted, almost thinking he had misheard, and he asked, "That little beast Rong'er is back?"

He thought that Jia Rong was too afraid to come to see him alone, so he brought his wife along.

"I didn't see Uncle Rong, only a few old women and maids around Aunt Rong."

Why are neither Jia Rong nor You Shi mentioned?

Could it be...

Jia Zhen immediately rubbed his hands together excitedly.

This was the first time Qin Shi had come to see him without the accompaniment of You Shi or Jia Rong since he had exempted her from the custom of paying her respects at the beginning of last year.

An excited Jia Zhen suddenly noticed a strange look in the servant's eyes and immediately said coldly, "Hmph, he's probably here to make amends for that good-for-nothing Rong'er!"

He offered a forced explanation, and without caring whether the servant believed him or not, he waved his hand and said, "Alright, you may all leave now. Let her in."

"Yes."

Those who followed Jia Zhen all knew his habits, and though they sneered inwardly, they dared not show it. After leaving, they wisely went about their own business. (To be continued)