Lian Erye in the Red Mansion

Qingwen's biological clock was incredibly accurate; she would wake up immediately when the clock in the night watch room struck.

Lying on the night watch bed that she and Xiangling shared, she stretched slightly, then suddenly remembered something, glanced at the other night watch bed in the corner, and found it empty.

They didn't come back!

He nimbly got out of bed, put on his clothes, and quietly made his way to the westernmost point.

Inside the gauze curtain, one could vaguely see her second master sleeping shirtless in the center, while Ping'er, who was supposed to sleep with her in the night watch room, was wearing only a light dark green bodice, nestled in the second master's arms.

She looked so obedient and pretty.

The most eye-catching part was the inner side, where Granny Lian turned to the side. Her almost flawless white back was only connected to a red bellyband tied in a slipknot at her side, which was not fully visible in front.

The spring light, in an arc shape, quietly seeped out.

Qingwen glanced down subconsciously, but only saw her toes.

She glanced at Ping'er and her own second mistress, and couldn't help but wonder if it was because of this that the second master looked down on her.

Qingwen was an optimist, and she never held onto any thoughts for long. She quickly banished her distracting thoughts, hung up the gauze curtains, and grabbed Ping'er's warm arm, pulling and shaking it.

Hearing Ping'er groan and wake up, she said, "Get up quickly, it's already dawn. Second Master said we have to get up early today."

Upon hearing Qingwen's voice, Ping'er, having served her mistress in bed for many years, easily switched into maid mode and immediately threw off the covers to get up.

Suddenly seeing Qingwen's wide eyes, she was stunned for a moment before realizing what was happening. She immediately crossed her arms over her chest, her face flushed crimson with embarrassment.

Although Ping'er concealed it quickly, the sharp-eyed Qingwen noticed it immediately.

Of all things to do, the Second Master's large hands were actually hidden inside Ping'er's bodice for warmth.

Judging from Ping'er's belated realization, it had probably been sitting there all night!

Seeing Ping'er pull Jia Lian's hand away and look so ashamed, Qingwen pouted, thinking to herself, "Could it be that the Second Master will also hold me like this when we sleep in the future..."

Feeling a slight blush, she quickly hummed, "It's getting late. Hurry up and help Second Master get up. I'll go arrange for him to wash up."

"Hmm~"

Ping'er saw Qingwen swaying her still somewhat immature yet alluring waist as she went out, and her shyness slowly dissipated.

Sitting on the couch, she was wondering whether to let the Second Master take a nap or wake him up immediately, when she noticed a familiar smile on her master's face, which was still closed. She knew that Jia Lian had already woken up.

So he pushed Jia Lian's chest and shook him. "Second Master, now that you're awake, get up. Didn't you say you were going to the East Mansion?"

Jia Lian's smile widened, but he ignored her and turned over to disturb the Second Mistress who was sleeping peacefully inside.

Soon, the Second Grandmother's dissatisfied grumbling and scolding voice rang out.

Ping'er, who had already settled in and dressed, looked at the scene and found it to be warm and full of happiness.

If only there were no princess, no empress dowager, and the second master and second mistress could continue like this forever...

"Hey~, I'll scratch you to death!"

In the end, the second mistress was no match for the second master. She was completely subdued and repeatedly bullied while pinned to the bed, which made her struggle in a fit of anger and shame.

Ping'er wasn't in a hurry. She stood by and waited until her master and mistress had finished arguing before picking up his clothes and helping Jia Lian change.

Wang Xifeng then got up.

She grew angrier the more she thought about it, so when she sat up, while Jia Lian was helping Ping'er get dressed and his hands were restrained, she punched Jia Lian hard on the shoulder and arm twice in a fit of anger.

"Hahaha……"

Jia Lian laughed smugly, looking at Wang Xifeng's resentful expression, and said, "Why are you glaring at me? I was just worried that if my sister woke up, she wouldn't be able to get up, so I was doing something to keep her awake."

Indeed, I was up most of the night last night, and it was almost dawn when I finally fell asleep.

All told, I only slept for an hour.

Upon hearing this, Wang Xifeng glared even more fiercely at Jia Lian, and suddenly spat out, "Pah, how dare you say that? It was so late, yet you insisted on making a scene with us... Now you know you weren't fully awake, serves you right."

Anyway, I don't need a housekeeper anymore. After you leave, Ping'er and I can sleep in as much as we want. You'll have to suffer the consequences.

Since that day, the affairs of the household have been mainly handled by Li Wan.

Moreover, at this point, even if Wang Xifeng didn't go to pay her respects to Grandmother Jia and the others, they would completely understand.

Jia Lian did feel he hadn't slept enough, and bothering Feng Jie early in the morning was indeed a way for him to wake himself up.

There's no way around it, I have a lot to do today, so I can't sleep in.

At this moment, he began to understand Jia Erbao somewhat. It was much happier to be a good-for-nothing, sleeping as long as he wanted whenever he wanted.

However, although one may occasionally suffer from not getting enough sleep, how else can one experience the feeling of having a beautiful wife and concubines in one's arms at the same time?

As Jia Lian looked at the beautiful concubine who was helping his wife get dressed, he nodded, and his Daoist mind suddenly became steady again.

In this way, such an hour is much happier and more enjoyable than ten hours of sleeping alone.

That's how things are in this world: you have to give up something to gain something.

It's worth it.

……

Jia Jingtian rushed home to Ningguo Mansion before dawn.

Although he has been focused on cultivating immortality and attaining enlightenment for many years, he has not concerned himself with family affairs.

But to have one's own son killed by one's own grandson—such a horrifying event—even a true deity would likely find it impossible to peacefully meditate and seek enlightenment.

Moreover, it was him.

Therefore, upon receiving the news, Jia Jing immediately rushed home.

Upon receiving the news, the old Taoist priest, whose temples were already gray and who was thin as a bone, almost fainted.

Yu and the others cooked calming soup and reported on the situation, without getting a moment's rest.

As dawn broke, the entire clan gathered, and You Shi and others had to brace themselves once again to make thorough and meticulous arrangements.

Last night, under Madam You's arrangement, Madam Qin took a short nap. Seeing that Madam You was not in good condition, she comforted her, "Mother-in-law, the gentlemen of each household are discussing matters in the main hall. The house is not so busy now. Why don't you go and rest for a while?"

"I'll keep an eye on things outside for you; nothing serious will go wrong."

Madam You shook her head, not accepting the suggestion, and then summoned the housekeeper's wife, asking, "Second Master Lian said that there are still more than a hundred soldiers rotating between our two residences. Have you prepared and sent the breakfast I asked you to prepare last night?"

Only when she heard that the housekeepers and their wives had not slacked off did Madam You feel relieved.

After thinking it over and over and finding nothing I had overlooked, I breathed a sigh of relief, pulled Qin Shi down to sit, and prepared to chat with her to relieve my fatigue.

Suddenly, her trusted maidservant came to report: "Madam, the doctor has arrived."

Madam You felt a tightness in her chest, but remained silent. She said to Madam Qin, "I have something to attend to. You stay here and keep an eye on things outside. Be careful that the gentlemen outside don't need anything. Don't neglect them."

Yes~

Qin had actually overheard the old woman's words and wanted to ask You Shi where she felt unwell. However, seeing that You Shi had no intention of talking to her, she could only watch You Shi leave with some concern, secretly wondering what was going on in her mind.

……