Lian Erye in the Red Mansion

Tonight, Xue Baochai wore a light yellow long dress that accentuated her tall figure, making her appear both voluptuous and graceful.

She didn't wear any hairpins or ornaments in her hair; instead, she simply tied her long black hair back, braided it into a few simple braids, gathered them at the back of her neck, and then let the braids hang down behind her back.

Fine, light-colored bangs, fluffy and loose, fall across her forehead.

Coupled with her simple and elegant makeup, as well as her fair and radiant skin and perfect appearance, she looked elegant and refined, as if she embodied the beauty of a noble lady from all over the world.

When Jia Lian took his seat earlier, he didn't see Baochai and assumed she was avoiding him tonight. But now that he found her not only out, but also appearing before him in such a beautiful and refined manner, he felt a slight sense of surprise and delight.

Without taking a second look, he rose from his seat and gave Baochai a slight bow in acknowledgment.

Baochai seemed surprised, not expecting Jia Lian to get up specifically for her. She noticed her own brother was still sitting calmly at his seat, not moving an inch.

He didn't say anything, but then bowed respectfully to Jia Lian before walking around to Jia Lian's side.

Aunt Xue sat at the head of the table, with Jia Lian and Xue Pan on either side, so she naturally had to sit at the very end.

At this moment, Aunt Xue had already invited Jia Lian to sit down, telling him not to be so polite, and explaining that Baochai had gone to prepare fine wine for him, which was why she was a little late.

Jia Lian naturally didn't care about this. Ever since Baochai sat down beside him, he had keenly smelled a faint, spring-like fragrance, carrying a hint of floral scent.

This was the first time he had sat at the same table with Baochai at such close proximity.

Previously, even in the Rongguo Mansion, the only time I had met Baochai was face to face. Yet, I never imagined that Baochai would actually possess such a fragrance, like orchids and musk. It was faint, unlike the scent of perfumed powder or sachets, yet it was unusually captivating.

"Come, Brother Lian, let me toast you first, to thank you for saving me today!"

Xue Pan stood up abruptly, raised his wine cup, and offered a toast. After finishing his drink, he sighed, "If it weren't for you today, I'm afraid I would have truly been defeated! Without a doubt, I owe you my life. From now on, Brother Lian, if you tell me to go east, I will never go west. I will definitely repay your kindness. A man of my word is a man of his word. If I fail to do so, you may drown me in your spittle!"

Xue Pan's spittle-flecked words caused Aunt Xue and Baochai to frown repeatedly.

Jia Lian glanced at him, then sat down and laughed, "Brother Pan, you flatter me. I just happened to run into you by chance. Even if my men hadn't gone today, Liu Xianglian wouldn't have dared to do anything to you. You're exaggerating."

Jia Lian knew, of course, that people like Xue Pan would say anything after drinking, and anyone who took his words to heart would be a fool.

Xue Pan chuckled. Of course, he didn't really consider Jia Lian his savior; he wasn't drunk yet.

That kind of talk is just a way of trying to get close to someone.

But after a simple, honest laugh, he cursed, "That damned Liu Xianglian! Second Brother Lian absolutely cannot let him get away with this! He's utterly despicable!"

After all, he had been beaten today, and even if Xue Pan was careless, he wouldn't calm down so quickly.

Upon hearing this, Aunt Xue and her daughter also looked at Jia Lian.

The main purpose of inviting Jia Lian here today is to ask him for instructions on how to handle this matter.

Jia Lian put down his chopsticks, took in the gazes of the three men, and slowly said, "I have fully understood what happened today."

To be honest, Liu Xianglian's audacity in luring the Pan brothers outside the city to beat them up is so great that even if he were handed over to the authorities and the prefect were to punish him severely, it wouldn't be an injustice at all.

"Exactly! That's too easy on him. I have to beat him up first!"

Xue Pan shouted, but Aunt Xue and her daughter sensed the underlying meaning in Jia Lian's words and remained silent.

"However, after much thought, I believe that if this matter really escalates to court, it wouldn't be a good thing. In fact, it might even have a very negative impact on Brother Pan's reputation... Brother Pan, what do you think?"

"Uh, well, this..." Xue Pan's face immediately turned red with embarrassment.

He certainly understood Jia Lian's meaning. Once they were to send Liu Xianglian to the authorities, in court, Liu Xianglian would naturally say whatever came to mind in order to lessen his punishment.

Once Liu Xianglian truthfully tells the prefect that he was the one who made disrespectful remarks and used inappropriate methods, which angered the prefect and caused him to hit him.

If this situation were to spread, even if Liu Xianglian were not completely exonerated, Xue Pan's reputation as a complete fool would be firmly established, becoming the laughing stock of the entire capital.

Liu Xianglian was a playboy, but he also held a position in the Ministry of Revenue, so he still had to care about his reputation!

Jia Lian hadn't originally intended for Xue Pan to give a proper explanation; he simply wanted Xue's mother and daughter to be certain that Xue Pan was at fault first, and that the details were best left undisclosed.

"Therefore, I thought that the Xue family is also a famous family with a century-old reputation, so naturally their reputation is of utmost importance."

Although Brother Pan suffered a great loss today, if we are willing to discuss it openly, it was really just a quarrel caused by the young men getting drunk. It's not worth taking it to the authorities.

Therefore, I have already intimidated Liu Xianglian. Liu Xianglian also admitted that he had acted improperly while drunk, which led to his beating of others, and he was willing to apologize to Brother Pan and admit his guilt.

Liu Xianglian is also a member of the Liu family of the Duke of Liguo's mansion. In that sense, he and my family are old friends. I was thinking that after Brother Pan's injuries have healed in a couple of days, I would host a dinner for the two of you and have him apologize to you.

He also said that if you're still angry with Brother Pan, you can punch him a few times if you want.

"If Brother Pan finds this acceptable, I will act as a peacemaker. Of course, if Brother Pan finds it unacceptable, I will not force him. Tomorrow, I will send him to the Xue family and let Aunt and you handle him as you see fit."

Upon hearing this, Xue Pan's expression immediately became conflicted.

In retrospect, after being beaten, he realized that it was his own recklessness that led him to mistake Liu Xianglian for a courtesan, which resulted in a severe beating.

He's actually a pretty magnanimous person, at least that's what he thinks. He genuinely admires Liu Xianglian's character and romantic nature; even if they can't be lovers, being brothers would be great!

If Liu Xianglian had only given him a beating today, he would have known he was in the wrong, and knowing that Liu Xianglian was willing to apologize to him, he would have naturally calmed down.

However, Liu Xianglian even forced him to drink dirty water...

He can still remember how fishy and smelly the water in that stream was; just thinking about it makes him nauseous.

There's nothing we can do; we've already drunk it! Even if we beat Liu Xianglian up and locked him up in jail, it won't help.

Most importantly, Jia Lian has already said so. We must give him face no matter what.

Therefore, in a moment of change of expression, he suddenly pounded his chest and said, "Since Brother Lian said so, I dare not disrespect Brother Lian."

To be honest, I, Xue Pan, am not a petty person. As long as Liu Xianglian is willing to apologize to me in person, I won't have to punch him a few more times. As long as he toasts me three cups of wine separately, this matter will be over!

Upon hearing this, Jia Lian's face showed approval, and he raised his cup in invitation: "Brother Pan, you are a straightforward man, always speaking your mind. I'll toast you!"

Xue Pan immediately accepted Jia Lian's toast with a smile.

Seeing that Xue Pan had already forgiven them, Aunt Xue and her daughter naturally didn't say anything more.

Aunt Xue glanced at her daughter Baochai discreetly, secretly praising her daughter for being more insightful than herself.

What Jia Lian just said, both openly and subtly, matched exactly what his daughter had said that afternoon.

If she hadn't known that her daughter couldn't possibly have secretly communicated with Jia Lian, she probably would have suspected that this was a pre-arranged explanation between her daughter and Jia Lian.