Lian Erye in the Red Mansion

After settling Daiyu in and instructing Baoqin to take good care of her, Lady Zhuang left Baoqin's courtyard.

She detoured to Jia Lian's side to take a look, but did not go in. She only instructed the maids on duty in the main courtyard to pay close attention to Jia Lian's needs tonight. Then she went back to her room to tidy up before heading to the Second Madam's room.

"elder sister."

At this time, the second madam had also finished bathing, her hair half-disheveled, looking languid and elegant.

Seeing this, Lady Zhuang secretly admired him. She sat down with him, held his hand, and chatted for a few words. Then she dismissed the maid and asked in a low voice if anything had happened when the Second Madam had settled Jia Lian.

The second wife pretended not to understand and only said that everything was as usual.

"I'm asking, did the Marquis do anything to you?"

"What are you saying, sister? How could someone as noble as the Marquis do anything to his younger sister? You're overthinking it."

Zhuang sighed upon hearing this, but said nothing more.

This kind of thing is supposed to be consensual. The opportunity has already been created for them, but since they didn't like each other, she naturally can't force it.

After sitting for a while, Zhuang was about to leave.

The second wife, however, took her hand and stared at Zhuang Shi with eyes so different from those of people from the Central Plains. She said softly, "Sister, why don't you stay in my room tonight? It's been a long time since we've had a long talk all night."

Upon hearing this, Zhuang's expression softened slightly. She rolled her eyes at her, but seeing the pleading look in her eyes, she couldn't bring herself to refuse.

He nodded, beckoned the maids in, and told them that he would be staying there tonight and that they could leave.

The maids had no objections. The First Madam and the Second Madam had always had a good relationship, and it was common for them to stay overnight in each other's rooms. Therefore, they all withdrew and closed the doors.

"How do you feel about your sister?"

"After you massaged me with that flower oil this afternoon, I feel much better."

"Hehehe, that's peach blossom oil. We still have plenty of time tonight, how about I give you a good massage to loosen up your body?"

Zhuang did not refuse; given their relationship, there was no need for formalities. Moreover, having been served by the Second Madam for so long, she had become somewhat proficient, and occasionally, when she had the energy, she would turn around and give the Second Madam a massage.

Seeing that the Second Madam had already begun to fiddle with her carefully prepared auxiliary tools, Zhuang knew that these were all things that the Second Madam had adapted and modified from some customs of her hometown after coming to the Central Plains. She knew all kinds of massage, acupressure, and even acupuncture and scraping, which she had learned from the Central Plains—a series of methods that could relax the body and make people feel comfortable.

Zhuang knew that the Second Madam's dedication to studying these things was mostly for her sake. Because she was frail and not in good health, the Second Madam's massages would make her feel relaxed for several days.

After removing the extra clothes, she gracefully lay down on the embroidered couch outside her bedroom.

"Close the door first."

"Alright." Upon hearing this, the second madam moved and bolted both the front and back doors.

However, Zhuang Shi was oblivious to the fact that when the Second Madam bolted the back door, she deliberately pulled the bolt back a little, ensuring the door could be easily opened from the outside. She had already relaxed and was awaiting the Second Madam's attentive service.

……

Jia Lian hadn't gone to bed this early in a long time.

Although Baoqin and Daiyu came to talk to him for a while after dinner, Jia Lian still couldn't get used to going to sleep as soon as the watch started.

At home, he would most likely still be practicing martial arts in the outer courtyard at this time. Even when he was in Yangzhou or Suzhou and it was inconvenient to practice martial arts at night, he had many things to do and could spend a long time in his study or office.

However, during his stay at the Xue family's residence, he did not want to make any special arrangements or disrupt the Xue family's lifestyle. Therefore, after Daiyu and the others left, he only did a few push-ups and sit-ups on the couch. When it was late at night and everyone was quiet, he went to bed.

He did not forget the promise made by the second wife to leave the door open for him after midnight.

As the saying goes, when love is at its peak, one cannot control oneself, but after it's over, the urge...

The movement wasn't as intense.

In particular, after seeing Baoqin, who was like a sister to Daiyu, she felt a sense of guilt when she recalled that she had held and kissed Baoqin's mother.

So, after expressing his regret at having to break his promise, Jia Lian went to sleep without any pressure.

He had already prepared himself to take a good look at the resentful look on the Second Madam's face when he met her the next day; that would certainly be very interesting.

Unfortunately, things didn't go as planned; after a long sleep, he woke up midway through the night.

Even more unfortunately, by the faint moonlight coming through the window, he took out his pocket watch and saw that it was the third watch of the night!

In a daze, Jia Lian casually tossed his watch aside, changed his position, and prepared to continue his dream and fall asleep.

but!

The tighter you close your eyes, the clearer your mind becomes.

After tossing and turning for a long time, Jia Lian suddenly sat up and got out of bed in anger.

Pushing open the door, all was quiet outside, except for a clear moon in the sky and a lantern emitting a faint light on the eaves in the distance, which was particularly eye-catching.

Although it was early spring, the cool night breeze felt slightly chilly on Jia Lian, who was only wearing a close-fitting undergarment.

Jia Lian didn't care. He walked to the side room, put his hand on the door and gently pushed it. Judging from the resistance in his hand, the door was indeed bolted from the inside.

But how could he stop Jia Lian? After moving a few more steps, he found a window that wasn't closed properly. He quietly opened it and, with his agile skills, easily slipped into the room.

This was his personal maid's room, so Jia Lian sneaked in to steal her affections without any pressure.

Following the faint moonlight, Jia Lian walked to the bedside and stopped.

I thought this was just Aqin's room, but I didn't expect her older sister Aqi to be here too. The two sisters were lying side by side, covered only by a blanket of moderate thickness. Judging from the fact that their upper bodies were fully clothed, the two sisters were almost sleeping in their clothes.

Jia Lian knew that this was their habit.

As his closest protectors, the two of them would not easily undress and sleep together when they were out together.

Thinking of this, how could Jia Lian bear to wake the two of them from their sleep? So he stepped forward, bent down, and kissed each of them on the forehead before returning the way he came and closing the window for them.

"It seems this is the will of Heaven."

With his plan to steal a kiss thwarted and in exceptionally good spirits, Jia Lian was naturally unwilling to return to his room and lie alone in his cold quilt.

So, with a try-it-out attitude, he strolled slowly around the back corridor and headed north.

He thought that if the Xue family also had a night watchwoman, he could just say he got up to admire the moon if he bumped into her, and that wouldn't be a problem.

But he clearly overestimated the Xue family's internal security. If he lived in the outer courtyard, it might have been a bit difficult for him to sneak in, but he was already in the main courtyard, and it was the middle of the night. Until he found the colorful flower basket that the second wife had mentioned, he didn't encounter a single person.

Looking at the back door, whose material and style even the curtain exuded a seductive and luxurious feel, Jia Lian hesitated for only a second before lifting the curtain and touching the door behind him.

With a slight creak, the door opened.

"The will of Heaven is as the will of the people as the will of Heaven, let alone the will of a beautiful woman? And she is a foreign beauty, I cannot let her down, I cannot let her down."

Jia Lian glanced back at the quiet backyard, then bent down and plunged into the house.

The beauty's room even had a different atmosphere—warm, fragrant, and with a hint of medicinal scent.

Because of the unburnt candlelight in the room, it was very easy for Jia Lian to avoid obstacles. Therefore, he did not make the slightest noise when he arrived at the inner bed.

However, when his gaze pierced through the thin gauze and fell upon the beautiful woman's bed, even though Jia Lian was somewhat prepared, he still couldn't help but feel a jolt in his heart.

By the light of the candle, Jia Lian could clearly see that inside the fragrant bed, under the luxurious quilt, two women with smooth, jade-like skin and beautiful faces, lying with their necks intertwined.

From their bare shoulders and jade arms

It's not hard to guess that the body inside the quilt is probably also delicate and beautiful!

Jia Lian took a deep breath. He had originally thought that the Second Madam's promise of a surprise before leaving was just a casual remark to lure him into the appointment. He thought that at worst, it was just that the Second Madam was clever; if he came, she could easily use some exotic tricks, which would be a surprise for any man.

Who knew that the surprise she spoke of would be like this!

Who else could it be but Zhuang, the eldest wife of the second branch of the Xue family, embracing the second wife under the thin veil?

Jia Lian didn't know why Zhuang Shi was there, but judging from the intimate and tender way she and the Second Madam were embracing, it was hard not to have all sorts of wild speculations.

He seemed to understand somewhat why the first and second wives were able to live in such harmony.

Looking at the dazzling yet somewhat absurd scene before him, Jia Lian felt, unusually, that he didn't know what to do.

This "surprise" was still a bit too big for him, even.

It would be fine if there was only one second wife, since she looked the same type as Qin Keqing, or to put it bluntly, she didn't seem like a respectable woman.

But if another first wife were added, Jia Lian felt he might not be able to handle it.

In his mind, the First Madam was a typical virtuous woman, dignified and composed, not someone who could be easily seduced.

Moreover, she was different from the second wife; she was the mistress of the second branch of the Xue family and was related to Aunt Xue by marriage...

Most importantly, he wasn't even sure if Madam Zhuang was as willing to serve him as the Second Madam. If he rashly stripped naked and jumped in to do his bidding, he feared it would lead to endless trouble.

"Fine, just pretend I was never here."

Jia Lian glanced at the two of them one last time, then turned around abruptly, intending to make a quick getaway.

However, he didn't notice that a stool next to his feet was pulled away as he turned around, its wooden legs dragging on the floor with a "clattering" sound.

"My lord?"

Just as Jia Lian had feared, the Second Madam's voice rang out as expected.

Jia Lian turned around and saw that the Second Madam inside the gauze curtain had already half-sat up, staring at him with a puzzled and hazy look in her eyes.

Just as he had guessed, she was completely naked.

The stunning scenery was dazzling even in the dim candlelight.

However, the second wife seemed completely unaware.

She stared at Jia Lian for a few moments, seemingly finally confirming his identity. The doubt in her eyes vanished, replaced by seven parts joy.

Seeing that Jia Lian was heading towards the back door, she couldn't help but ask, "Since you've come, why are you leaving?"

"Well, since the Second Madam has the First Madam for company, she probably doesn't need anyone else to comfort her during the long nights, so..."

The second wife seemed to only then remember Zhuang Shi, and glanced down at her. Because of her getting up, the first wife, whose elegance was also greatly diminished by her presence, was also affected.

She was initially a little shy, but when she realized that Jia Lian really wanted to run away because of this, her shyness turned into anger.

She smiled sweetly, and without any hesitation, she rolled off the bed and walked barefoot toward Jia Lian, saying with a smile, "Does the Marquis still feel jealous of his sister? Has the Marquis forgotten that I said before that as long as the Marquis is willing to come, I will have a surprise prepared for him?"

"Does Your Excellency consider this a pleasant surprise?"

Her voice was soft, as if she didn't want to wake Zhuang Shi, whom she had brought to a deep sleep.

As she spoke, she nestled into Jia Lian's arms, gently stroking his chest with her warm, jade-like hands, and began to undress him.

Jia Lian was wearing only two thin undergarments, which were easily untied and then carefully removed by her, before being tossed aside.

This silent action seemed like an enticement, yet also the greatest provocation to a man. If Jia Lian could still turn and leave under such circumstances, then he felt that he had completely mastered the skill.

However, even if one could achieve the Vajra Indestructible Divine Skill, it would probably not be worth it at this point.

Since the second wife isn't afraid of anything, if he were to cower and shrink back, wouldn't people look down on him?

Therefore, he picked up the second wife who was squatting down and placed her on the tea table in front of him...

……

After an unknown amount of time, Jia Lian finally emerged from the back door of the Second Madam.

As he straightened his clothes and roused himself, preparing to return from his long journey, his gaze involuntarily fell upon a pear tree in the corner of the wall and the swing trellis beneath it.

Suddenly he stopped, a chill rising directly from the soles of his feet to the top of his head, sweeping away all his emotions.

He looked closely and saw that, in the faint moonlight, the swing frame under the old pear tree was swaying slowly.

The night was cold and there was little wind; there was no one on the shelf.

Such a bizarre scene would likely send a chill down the spine of anyone who witnessed it alone.

Having finally faced death, Jia Lian was not frightened into running away. Instead, he frowned and walked towards the pear tree.

"come out."

"Hehehe, how did you know I was here, sir?"

As Jia Lian spoke, the beautiful Aqin emerged from behind the pear tree, smiling at Jia Lian.

Jia Lian glared at her, then glanced around and sure enough, he spotted her sister's delicate figure standing quietly behind a pillar on the other side of the corridor.

"What are you doing here?"

Jia Lian blushed slightly as he thought about how his whereabouts had been exposed. Fortunately, it was late at night and no one could see him.

"Of course we followed Grandpa here. Otherwise, who would want to come here to get some fresh air so late at night?"

"Cough cough..."

Seeing Jia Lian's slight embarrassment, Aqin smiled and stepped forward, sniffing him with her head, then deliberately fanning herself in disgust before laughing, "Master, you're really something! We've been waiting for you outside for over an hour!"

Upon discovering that the little maid's eyes were full of mockery and not resentment, Jia Lian couldn't help but pat her head and smile.

"Were you actually awake the moment I entered your room? You deserve a beating! Knowing that I was coming in to steal your kisses, you still dared to pretend to be asleep and deceive me, making me leave empty-handed."

"Hehehe, I know how alert my sister is. She woke up as soon as I opened the window and even woke me up."

However, once we saw who the thief was, we naturally dared not make a sound.

Who knew that after standing blankly by our bedside for a while, Grandpa slipped away again, leaving us completely baffled. And Second Grandpa even had the nerve to blame us.

Jia Lian saw Aqi walking over and beckoned her over. He took one of their hands in each hand and sat with them on the swing. He put his arms around their waists, kissed one of their cheeks, and said gently, "Thank you for your hard work."

He naturally understood that the two pretty girls were following him late at night for his safety.

Aqi lowered her head shyly, while Aqin tilted her face up to receive Jia Lian's kiss. She leaned against Jia Lian's chest and gave a coquettish twist before laughing, "Master is blaming us for pretending to be asleep. If we hadn't pretended to be asleep, how would Master have had the energy to come here for pleasure tonight?"

"That second wife is alright, but I didn't expect the first wife, who seems so dignified, to be so... humph, anyway, they all have clever methods. They've only known the master for less than a day!"

Hearing Aqin's complaints, Jia Lian knew perfectly well that he had been overheard.

He moved his hand down and slapped Aqin's bottom to stop her from gossiping about others.

Although Aqin understood Jia Lian's meaning, this blow stirred up her tender feelings.

She looked up at Jia Lian longingly and took the initiative to ask for a kiss.

She regretted it now; she shouldn't have tricked Jia Lian by pretending to be asleep with her sister. They knew, of course, that Jia Lian had climbed in through the window late at night to find her, undoubtedly intending to sleep with her.

Who knew that, without careful observation, someone else would take advantage of the situation.

Although Jia Lian felt he had already enjoyed himself enough, he still had to respond to the loyal maid's request.

This naturally delighted Aqin. She flipped over and straddled Jia Lian's lap, facing the already embarrassed...

Aqi, who had stepped aside, called out, "Sister, could you help us carry the swing? I'll help you later too..."

Aqi really couldn't stand her younger sister's unrestrained behavior.

She looked up at the sky. Although the old pear tree's branches were thick enough, the combined weight of her second uncle and sister was still considerable.

If they break a branch, it's one thing if someone gets hurt, but what if the Xue family becomes suspicious tomorrow?

This swing seems to have been a plaything in the boudoir of the Xue family's young lady.

Despite her thoughts, Aqi, who always doted on her younger sister, couldn't refuse her request. In the end, blushing slightly, she helped deliver the package.

Peach and plum trees are unaware of the spring breeze

wap.