Lian Erye in the Red Mansion

A beautiful woman's smile can captivate the soul.

Jia Lian had long harbored fantasies about Shen Pan'er's slender legs while she danced, and now that she was standing beside him, her words and actions were quite seductive, Jia Lian could no longer restrain himself. He naturally reached his arm behind her and began to caress her taut, jade-like legs from behind.

Noticing that her body trembled slightly, but without any extreme reaction, Jia Lian raised his hand, wrapped it around the beauty's slender waist, and pulled her into his lap.

"Sir~~"

The beauty let out a soft cry, her cheeks flushed, as if she were very embarrassed.

With the beauty in his arms, Jia Lian felt a shiver run through his body and soul. The feeling of this young dancer from Yangzhou sitting on him was completely different from that of Qin Keqing, Miaoyu, and others he had held before.

Light, charming, and beautiful enough to be a feast for the eyes. Perhaps the most important difference is between a respectable woman and a prostitute.

He lifted the delicate chin of the beautiful woman, looked into her watery, expressive eyes, and asked with a smile, "Who do you think you are? Last time at the government office, I kindly let you go. Today, you dare to provoke me like this? Do you really think I wouldn't dare to eat you?"

Seeing Jia Lian suddenly embrace Shen Pan'er, a famous courtesan in Yangzhou, Shen Pan'er not only did not resist, but instead took the opportunity to sit sideways in Jia Lian's lap, letting Jia Lian take liberties with her. The courtesans couldn't help but open their beautiful eyes slightly, their faces full of shyness, not knowing what to do.

Although they had guessed before coming here that this performance would be different from the past, witnessing their fellow women abandoning their status and serving men with their bodies still made them blush and their hearts race. They wondered what they would do if Jia Lian treated them the same way later.

To resist or to comply? That is a big question.

Shen Pan'er, one of the main characters in everyone's eyes, felt somewhat ashamed to be held in Jia Lian's arms and teased in front of a group of sisters she wasn't very familiar with. But after trying for so long, she was secretly delighted that Jia Lian had finally made a move on her, so she didn't care about anything else.

They're all women in the world of pleasure, they know their own affairs, so who's really more noble than whom?

Besides, she already has her marriage certificate on her own. As long as she can get close to Jia Lian this time and tear up the marriage certificate, she will no longer need to roam the pleasure quarters of Jiangnan, and naturally she won't need to care about them too much.

Ignoring everything else, she met Jia Lian's scrutinizing gaze with a charming smile and said, "My lord, you hold a high position and wield great power. I am but a weak woman. If you were to truly take advantage of me, how could I possibly resist? I'm afraid you are merely speaking in jest."

No man could tolerate a provocation from a beautiful woman.

Jia Lian was no exception. However, Jia Lian didn't want to be led by the nose by a woman, which made the other beauties look down on him.

So he pinched her cheek, and with his left hand around her waist, he also rubbed her pert buttocks. When she lowered her head in embarrassment, he said to the remaining beauties, "Tonight is a rare and auspicious night, and with so many stunning beauties by my side, I am in high spirits."

"You may all go ahead and prepare some music for yourselves. I will watch them all. Those who perform well will be generously rewarded."

"Yes."

Except for Shen Pan'er, all the beauties stood up, bowed to Jia Lian, and then withdrew, each carrying their own musical instruments.

Before leaving, many people couldn't help but turn back for one last look at Shen Pan'er, who was hiding in Jia Lian's arms, blushing with embarrassment.

This includes the famous young woman in green dress from Jiangnan.

At this moment, Jia Lian dismissed them, leaving Shen Pan'er alone. What might happen was self-evident. Her usually calm eyes showed a rare hint of surprise, and she frowned.

As the reigning queen who has won the top spot in the courtesan competition for two consecutive years, she has absolute confidence.

She knew Shen Pan'er; they had competed against each other before, but she had been defeated. Therefore, she didn't think Shen Pan'er was more beautiful than her, and the fact that Jia Lian still chose Shen Pan'er over her was simply because Shen Pan'er was willing to lower herself and seduce Jia Lian.

The key point is that Jia Lian actually took the bait.

To be honest, this was the first time she felt somewhat disappointed in Jia Lian.

She believed that with her beauty, musical talent, and learning, she would instantly captivate Jia Lian, and from then on, they would both be in love. Jia Lian would reap all the benefits from her, and she would have someone to rely on for life.

Even if Jia Lian took her first, or flattered and pleased her before making a move against Shen Pan'er, she would be able to remain calm.

Perhaps, being in this world means accepting one's fate. Thinking about it this way, it doesn't seem so bad.

After the other beauties retreated to the inner cabin, several maids proactively returned the tables, chairs, and screens to their original positions, lowered the bamboo curtains in front and on both sides, and burned new incense in the censer. In this way, the previously warm and elegant ship hall, filled with beauties, immediately became filled with a subtle fragrance, adding a touch of warmth and romance.

Seeing Jia Lian dismiss the maids, Shen Pan'er finally dared to raise her head, her watery eyes fixed on Jia Lian, her voice trembling as she said, "My lord~"

Clearly, like the others, she felt that Jia Lian had left her behind alone because he intended to assault her.

She smiled shyly, wrapped her arms around Jia Lian's neck, tilted her head up, and whispered softly in his ear, "If you want Pan'er, sir, you can take her to the inner cabin. There are beds made up there. Why did you send the sisters in instead..."

"What are you thinking about?"

Jia Lian yanked the beauty's jade-like arm off, teasingly saying, "What a shameless woman! When did I ever say I wanted you?"

"what……"

Shen Pan'er was initially startled. In this scene, who would believe it if it didn't involve romance? Then, as if realizing something, she subtly shifted her hips and smiled knowingly, "So, what's this, sir? Hehehe, sir just loves to deceive people..."

Jia Lian then casually slapped her shapely bottom, saying, "Miss Pan'er is so beautiful, and she's already in my arms. If I don't reciprocate in any way, wouldn't I be disrespecting you?"

Shen Pan'er chuckled at the praise. Although she still felt Jia Lian was being stubborn, she didn't intend to expose him. Instead, she pouted and asked, "Then why did you keep Pan'er here, sir?"

"I was quite pleased with the poem that Miss Pan'er just recited, and I was just about to ask her to teach me the 'ultimate skill of playing the flute'."

"My lord, you...!"

Shen Pan'er blushed and didn't know what to say for a moment.

Jia Lian didn't say much, but ordered Aqin to take a jade flute from among the many musical instruments left behind by the beauties.

"This, is this what you're talking about, sir?"

Shen Pan'er found it unbelievable, and for a moment thought that Jia Lian was deliberately teasing her. Did he really need to put on such a show to get her to play the flute?

Fortunately, Jia Lian immediately showed her a reassuring smile. He took the jade flute, turned it around a few times in his hand, and then used the flute to lift her chin, saying with a smile, "I don't know much about this, but from what Miss Pan'er said earlier, she seems to know quite a lot."

I took this flute because I wanted to give Miss Pan'er another option.

If Miss Pan'er considers herself a courtesan who has come to perform, then she may choose this xiao (vertical bamboo flute) and play a tune for me.

"If Miss Pan'er has other plans, then don't hide them. Show me your true abilities and broaden my horizons."

Shen Pan'er was also intelligent, and she immediately understood Jia Lian's implied meaning.

This wasn't just letting her choose a musical instrument; it was letting her choose her life's purpose. Whether she would continue as a geisha in Jiangnan, or choose to follow him, the master.

For a moment, she felt both happy and embarrassed.

To her delight, Jia Lian had indeed seen through her thoughts long ago and finally agreed to give her a chance.

What was embarrassing was that Jia Lian's first request to her was so awkward.

However, deep down, she also felt a certain interest in him, thinking that Jia Lian was a refined man. After all, this kind of tasteful and somewhat humorous way of speaking and acting was much better than those crude and foolish men who, upon meeting a woman, couldn't wait to strip her naked and force her onto the bed for pleasure.

Looking up at Jia Lian's expression, she realized he had no intention of changing his mind; after all, he was someone who had already made up his mind. Therefore, she quickly put aside her embarrassment and asked with a smile, "If I satisfy you, will you truly grant me what I desire?"

Jia Lian smiled slightly, his expression noncommittal, "Before making demands, shouldn't we get things done first?"

Shen Pan'er rolled her eyes at Jia Lian, feeling slightly speechless, and slowly stood up, supporting herself on Jia Lian's chest.

She was pondering how to begin, since she had never done this before, and Jia Lian didn't seem inclined to guide her. Indeed, she, the beautiful young woman, was teaching herself to play the flute, not someone else, so she had to figure it out herself!

Suddenly, there was a "thud" sound. Turning around, she saw that it was Jia Lian's slightly frail maidservant who had taken a cushion from the side and thrown it in front of her and Jia Lian.

Shen Pan'er was stunned for a moment, staring blankly at the other person.

The other person simply gave her a look that said, "This is all I can do for you. Don't pretend you don't understand," before turning away as if to admire the night view of the Little Qinhuai River through the sparse bamboo curtain.

Looking at the other person's back, Shen Pan'er understood perfectly well that this person must often serve Jia Lian like this, otherwise, how could he react so quickly and naturally?

She awkwardly moved the straw mat in front of Jia Lian, and just as she was about to kneel down, she suddenly remembered something, looked at Jia Lian, and called out shyly, "My lord..."

"What is it?" Jia Lian's patience was exceptionally good at this moment.

"May I...may I kiss...my lord just once..."

Shen Pan'er had never felt so embarrassed in her life. She guessed that her neck must be red and swollen right now.

Fearing Jia Lian might misunderstand, she tried to explain, "I...I'm still a virgin, and I want to give my first time to you, sir, not..."

Her voice trailed off, and she even began to regret it. She should have just focused on rehearsing the romantic scene instead of getting involved!

Fortunately, Jia Lian understood what she meant. Jia Lian was a little surprised, not expecting that people at that time would have the concept of a first kiss, so he nodded and agreed.

Shen Pan'er was overjoyed. Meeting Jia Lian's encouraging gaze, she threw herself into Jia Lian's arms like a swallow returning to its nest and kissed his well-defined lips.

Not content with a deep kiss, she greedily coveted Jia Lian's chin and neck, lingering like this for quite a while before finally being satisfied, giggling as she yielded to fulfill her promise.