Lian Erye in the Red Mansion

Jia Lian looked down at the famous courtesan from Yangzhou before him, recalling her dance performance at the imperial camp. He sighed inwardly; indeed, such a beauty, adored by thousands, was extraordinary. Even he found her beauty pleasing to the eye.

He stood on the stone steps, shook his head, and said, "The flowers are beautiful, but I am not the one who picks them. So, Miss Pan'er, you should go back first. After I finish my official business, I will invite you to my residence to enjoy a wonderful dance and listen to a beautiful melody."

The guards around Jia Lian might find his words strange. Why did the Second Master suddenly become unhappy? Was he afraid that his wife, Second Mistress Lian, would be upset?

However, Shen Pan'er understood from the very first sentence. Jia Lian claimed he wasn't a womanizer, meaning he had no intention of taking her on for life, so he wouldn't let her enter the mansion to avoid tarnishing her reputation and hindering her future?

Shen Pan'er's face flushed instantly, and she felt somewhat dazed. She felt that someone as noble as Jia Lian shouldn't treat them as playthings and defile them at will. Was it really enough to treat them kindly afterward?

Why should we consider the future and feelings of these playthings? It's more like those romantic scholars who pretend to be refined and polite in front of her, but after they've taken advantage of her, they're no different from ordinary people.

However, given Jia Lian's status, he should be able to summon and dismiss women like them at will, and there is no need for him to act this way.

Thinking of this, she was even more unwilling to miss this opportunity, so she smiled and said, "Since it is not that I am not good-looking, nor that I am not talented enough, why is the master so cruel as to let me pass through the door without being allowed to enter?"

If the sisters in the brothel knew about this, not only would they laugh at me, but if word got out, people would point fingers at me and doubt that I was worthy of the title, that I couldn't even step over the threshold of the Imperial Envoy's residence.

If this happens, my social standing will plummet, and I fear I'll become a laughingstock in the pleasure quarters of Jiangnan, subject to ridicule.

Therefore, I humbly beg Your Excellency to have mercy and allow me to enter your residence and play a short tune for you. Afterwards, you may send me away, and I will have no complaints. I hope Your Excellency will grant my request.”

A beautiful woman pleads softly, her pitiful words moving any man.

Jia Lian was surprised that this woman had the courage to beg to stay in front of so many people. He thought that a famous courtesan who was so popular should be proud and arrogant.

Not wanting to linger at the gate any longer, he said, "In that case, please come with me into the mansion."

As Jia Lian spoke, he turned and went into the mansion. Shen Pan'er, after a moment of joy, glanced around and realized how bold she had been. So she took a deep breath, quickly returned to the carriage, picked up her beloved pipa, and then followed Jia Lian with graceful steps.

Although the guards at the gate did not stop her, once she entered, looking at the solemn and imposing government office, she could not find Jia Lian anywhere.

Just as she was feeling a little sad, a slender, tall and straight female guard strode toward her.

"Follow me."

"Yes……"

The coldness emanating from the female guard instilled a natural fear in her, so she hurriedly followed the guard to a spacious courtyard and found a room to stay in.

She didn't know how long she waited before she finally heard that Jia Lian had returned and sent someone to summon her.

She walked along the corridor to the main house. Although the decoration of the main house was far from what she had imagined for the residence of the imperial envoy—it was not spacious enough and the furnishings were not luxurious enough—she put all these thoughts aside after seeing Jia Lian.

"This humble servant greets Your Excellency. May I ask whether Your Excellency wishes to enjoy a dance or listen to a piece of music?"

"Just take one of each, and don't ask me to choose, you can arrange it yourself."

Seeing Jia Lian still so nonchalant, Shen Pan'er felt a pang of loss and quietly glanced up. The room was very quiet at this moment; besides her and Jia Lian, there was only a young, pretty woman.

The pretty woman stood obediently behind Jia Lian, massaging his shoulders. From her coiled hair, it was clear she was a married woman; could she be Jia Lian's concubine?

Shen Pan'er's mind was filled with doubts. Although the pretty woman had a dignified and beautiful appearance and a rather alluring figure, she didn't look young. Could it be that the master prefers mature and charming women?

No wonder he was so cold to her.

Feeling somewhat resentful, I realized that the "Yangzhou Slender Horses," once renowned throughout the world for their slender and graceful figures and admired by the literati and wealthy merchants of Jiangnan, were now being looked down upon.

In addition, Jia Lian left her in the room for a long time without asking about her, and did not have anyone bring her other clothes and props, or provide her with a musician, etc. Compared with her previous performances at other venues, her treatment was much worse! Feeling resentful, she immediately chose a song called "The Lament of Parting" and began to sing and dance lightly on the spot.

The slow dance moves, the mournful melody, coupled with her slender and graceful figure and the slight melancholy on her face, gradually reached their climax. Not only was Jia Lian engrossed in watching, but even Xu Shi, who was massaging Jia Lian's shoulders, was greatly moved.

He thought to himself that he never imagined that a girl's figure and appearance could be displayed in such a way.

No wonder those men always liked to go out and indulge in debauchery. Under the backdrop of such singing and dancing, even those who were less attractive were overshadowed and surpassed. Not to mention, those courtesans, in terms of figure and appearance, were in no way inferior to the ladies of noble families. In fact, most of the famous courtesans were more beautiful than the wives and concubines of ordinary officials.

Homegrown flowers don't smell as good as wildflowers, now I understand.

"My lord, was my dancing alright?" As the dance was about to end, Shen Pan'er stepped forward with a charming smile.

Jia Lian nodded sincerely: "Indeed, compared to her ethereal beauty in the military camp, this dance is less solemn, but it appears more natural, possessing a touch of worldly beauty. It's true what they say, a beauty has a thousand faces."

"Are you saying, sir, that the dance they were performing was vulgar?"

Taking advantage of the conversation, Shen Pan'er deduced that Xu Shi's status by Jia Lian's side was probably not high, so she became even more open and approachable, leaning down and smiling, "However, what you say is right, sir. I do indeed have many other facets. If you are interested, I am willing to reveal them to you one by one~"

Throughout his life, Jia Lian had been surrounded by ladies from prominent families, charming maids, or gentle young women like You Shi and Li Wan. These women were mostly reserved, demure, or graceful.

Therefore, Jia Lian encountered relatively few instances of such blatant flirting and seduction.

For a moment, she couldn't help but think to herself, "As expected of a beauty from a brothel, she's got guts."

"Alright, but for now, Miss Pan'er, please sing a song first. You don't have much time left; I need to take a bath soon."

Upon hearing Jia Lian say this, Shen Pan'er immediately misunderstood.

Bathing... does that mean I have to have her bathe with me...?

Although she had taken the initiative to come in, when it came to actually offering herself, Shen Pan'er immediately became shy and hesitant.

She rolled her eyes at Jia Lian, smiled, took the pipa back from the maid, sat down next to Jia Lian, gazed at him affectionately, and played a tune.

But she was overthinking it. After the performance, Jia Lian rewarded her with silver on the spot and then, as agreed, sent someone to escort her out of the mansion.

Only after getting into her BMW did Shen Pan'er's resentful face and pouting lips slowly relax, and she suddenly burst into laughter.

Lifting the curtain to peek behind the carriage, Shen Pan'er saw Jia Lian's guards following behind. She then instructed her maid, "When you get back, if anyone asks what happened at the Imperial Envoy's residence, just say that I am now his woman, understand?"

Although the maid was puzzled as to why Shen Pan'er would lie, she nodded to indicate that she understood.

Inside the Censorate, where Jia Lian was located.

When Madam Xu saw that Jia Lian had actually driven away such a stunning beauty, whom she herself found breathtaking, she was quite surprised and asked a question.

Jia Lian casually pulled her into his arms and fondled her ample breasts. This pretty young woman, though lacking the delicate beauty and smoothness of a young girl, possessed her own unique charm.

Then he pinched her pretty face and laughed, "There aren't that many whys. They're just pitiful women who want to seek protection."

If I truly intended to protect you, that would be fine. But I have no such intention and will not humiliate you at will. Otherwise, how would I be any different from those vulgar and unrighteous merchants?

"Didn't I tell you? I am an upright and honest official, a good person."

Hearing Jia Lian's obviously teasing words and feeling his indecent advances towards her, Madam Xu blushed with embarrassment.

However, he felt an even greater admiration for Jia Lian.

This is indeed an extraordinary man; it was worth the effort of serving him. It seems that it wasn't that I offered myself to him for his pleasure, but rather that I, a fallen woman, offered myself to him, thus climbing the social ladder.

"I know that you are indeed a good official, a good official who serves the country and the people, and a truly good person..."

Seeing Xu Shi speaking with a shameful expression, Jia Lian felt extremely satisfied. Although he could resist touching Shen Pan'er, she truly lived up to her reputation as a famous courtesan; with her dancing skills and singing voice, her charm was no less than that of Qin Keqing!

Qin Keqing was such a bewitching being that just a few glances at her would make one's eyes harden.

Therefore, Jia Lian couldn't help but have some thoughts. At this moment, with a beauty in his arms, he couldn't help but lift her round face, rub her red lips with his thumb, and laugh: "It doesn't matter if you say I'm a good person, my lady, you should also show it with your actions."

Xu was sitting in Jia Lian's lap, so she could feel his every move.

Having been instructed by him the previous night, she had come to understand many things she had not understood before. Therefore, she blushed, nodded, glanced at the door, and then obediently began to serve Jia Lian.

(End of this chapter)