Lian Erye in the Red Mansion

The problem with the Xue family is that the main branch is weak while the branches are strong. In addition, Aunt Xue and Xue Pan are both in the capital, and there is no one in the south who can nominally keep the others in check.

So the subordinates became increasingly bold and greedy, which was inevitable.

If Aunt Xue were to send someone down to investigate, and that failed to subdue the person, the only way to resolve the issue would be to ask the government to handle it according to the law. However, for a wealthy and prominent family like the Xue family, it would be very disgraceful to go to court over a matter involving embezzlement by servants or employees.

Generally, such measures are not taken unless the situation reaches that point. It is common knowledge among people at that time that clan affairs should be handled by the clan itself.

This is also why Aunt Xue wanted to ask Jia Lian for help, because with Jia Lian's status, he could easily suppress the people under him, whether they were servants of the Xue family or just employees of the manager.

Since Jia Lian has decided to help, he won't just go through the motions.

Those who deserve punishment should be punished, and those who should be dismissed should be dismissed. After making an example of them, then use high-pressure rhetoric, and that will be the end of it.

This is the best that an outsider like him can do.

It's likely that once the most rampant individuals are taken down, the others will become more cautious and restrained.

Inside the main hall, the second madam walked in with a smile. "Sister has already arranged for people to ransack the homes of those two servants. The remaining managers have all expressed their willingness to repent and reform, accept the master's punishment, and beg for forgiveness."

As expected, the Marquis's reputation was effective; not one of them dared to cause trouble.

The second wife poured tea for Jia Lian while smiling and saying this.

Jia Lian shook his head. He actually hoped that someone would dare to cause trouble, so that he could deal with them properly and make sure they wished they were dead. That way, the deterrent effect would be much better.

Unfortunately, under his pressure, the managers of the Xue family all behaved very well.

After the second madam poured tea, she did not leave but stood beside him. Jia Lian keenly smelled the fragrance emanating from this beautiful woman from the Western Regions.

While the fragrance may not be as pure and sweet as jade dew or nectar, it is still as delicate as orchids and musk, refreshing and soothing, subtly arousing a man's interest.

Jia Lian casually pulled her onto his lap, letting her use her hands and body to experience the wonderful sensation instead of her nose.

The second wife actually seemed a little shy. "My lord, please don't do this. Be careful someone doesn't see us."

"Are you afraid of being seen?"

Seeing the surprise in Jia Lian's eyes, the Second Madam naturally understood that Jia Lian was referring to the incident last night when she deliberately acted provocatively in front of Zhuang Shi, tempting Zhuang Shi into depravity.

She didn't feel too ashamed, since Zhuang had instigated her to seduce Jia Lian, wanting to hide behind and reap the benefits without lifting a finger.

It's fine for the sisters to get along now, but what if they have a conflict in the future? Wouldn't that be her biggest weakness?

Therefore, it's only natural to drag her into this mess. This way, they can share the risks and also have another secret between them that they can't tell anyone else, which will help solidify their long-term close relationship.

She felt she hadn't done anything wrong. Perhaps the only person she felt sorry for was the second master of the Xue family who brought her back to the Central Plains, but who told him to be so heartless and die so young, leaving her and her child as orphans? If no one took care of them, they would inevitably be bullied in the future.

At least with Jia Lian's talent, character, and appearance, he could not be considered a disgrace to the Xue family.

Just then, Lady Zhuang entered and saw the Second Madam sitting in Jia Lian's lap, her clothes half-undone. A blush crept onto her cheeks. She could only pretend not to see it and stood there saying, "Everything outside has been arranged as the Marquis instructed. I think after this experience, the people below will be much more restrained. Thank you very much, Marquis."

Now that it was no longer last night, Jia Lian didn't want to embarrass Zhuang Shi too much, so he patted the second madam's shapely buttocks to help her up before replying, "No need for thanks, it was just a small favor."

I will probably stay in Nanjing for another day, then go back to Yangzhou to take care of some business, and then set off back to Beijing in about four or five days.

"If anything happens during this time, you can send someone to the Rongguo Mansion on Gonghou Street to find me."

"Are you leaving so soon?"

Zhuang's words suddenly became urgent, and when she saw Jia Lian looking at her with a smile, she immediately lowered her head in shame.

She was not the second wife after all, and had been deeply educated in the Three Obediences and Four Virtues since childhood. Naturally, she could not take the matter of her half-hearted resistance last night lightly.

Fortunately, the second wife knew that she was shy, so she straightened her clothes and left after she came in.

Therefore, Lady Zhuang managed to calm herself down and finally said, "Then I wonder what the Marquis's plans are next? If you are not busy with other matters, why not stay here tonight..."

Jia Lian stood up, walked to Zhuang Shi, and looked down at the young woman in front of him.

Having just arrived yesterday, I felt embarrassed to be presumptuous and therefore didn't have time to look closely. Even though I had a brief encounter with her last night, the lighting was too dim, so it was just a quick glimpse.

At this moment, although Zhuang Shi was not as beautiful as the second wife, she still had bright eyes, a round face, fair skin, and was very well-maintained.

Judging from Xue Ke's age, she should be at least approaching thirty, yet she still looks very young and radiant, unlike most women who begin to show signs of fatigue before they are thirty.

Especially at this moment, her head was bowed and she looked shy, just like a young girl, which made Jia Lian smile.

He put his arm around the young woman's soft waist and then gently patted her buttocks. "I won't be staying tonight. Firstly, I have some things to take care of back home, and secondly, if I stay at the Xue family's house again, it won't be good for the reputation of the two ladies."

Upon hearing this, Zhuang Shi finally regained some composure, stepped aside, and looked at Jia Lian with admiration.

She herself was one thing, but she was well aware of the Second Madam's beauty, and she never expected Jia Lian to be able to resist refusing. After what happened last night, she didn't believe Jia Lian was unaware that if he stayed, the Second Madam would definitely have to spend the night with him.

"Since that's the case, and it's already so late, why don't you and Miss Lin have dinner at our house before you leave?"

"Rest assured, Your Excellency, I have already arranged for a banquet to be prepared. We can have dinner earlier tonight, so it won't interfere with your business."

As she spoke, Zhuang looked at Jia Lian with a pleading expression, and Jia Lian, unable to refuse, could only nod in agreement.

So, under Zhuang's busy preparations, a more sumptuous meal than the night before was laid out in the Xue family's dining room.

At this banquet, apart from Baoqin showing extreme reluctance to see Jia Lian and Daiyu leave, the only other person worth mentioning was the Second Madam.

This woman always seems to like to move her feet while eating.

If it were just a couple of kicks in the dark like last night, that wouldn't be a big deal. But who knows, this woman, perhaps because Jia Lian is leaving tonight, has become increasingly bold.

She took her delicate feet out of her embroidered shoes and began to tease Jia Lian by lifting them up his trouser leg, a move so provocative that Jia Lian almost lost control and decided to stay the night.

Finally, in front of Daiyu, he felt embarrassed to go back on his word, so he hastily ended the banquet and left the Xue family with Daiyu, Zijuan, and others who had already made preparations.

Back at the Rongguo Mansion, after arranging the important visit for the next day, Jia Lian walked back to the inner courtyard of the main hall. The maids reported that the bath water was ready, so Jia Lian followed them into the bathhouse to bathe.

He didn't bring any maids with him on his trip south. The two maids in the room were arranged by Jin Cai after he arrived. Presumably, they were the daughters of the housekeepers who had vied to be brought in.

Just as he was enjoying a massage from his two maids, he suddenly saw Xiangling walk in with a change of clothes, and Jia Lian's expression lit up.

Waving for the two maids to leave, Jia Lian beckoned Xiangling over. Sitting in the tub, he looked at the two buns on Xiangling's head and couldn't help but laugh, asking, "Who did your hair?"

"My mom did this for me, doesn't it look good?"

Xiangling raised her hands, touching the two fluffy buns on her head, one on each side, and asked somewhat shyly.

When she saw her mother yesterday morning, Jia Lian was out partying with Daiyu again and hadn't come home. For two days and one night, she was inseparable from Madam Feng, and they practically said everything they hadn't said in the past ten years.

The sense of estrangement between mother and daughter naturally dissipated quickly.

The hairstyle on her head was also done by Feng Shi herself. She looked at herself in the mirror and thought it looked very nice and cute. Why is Second Master laughing?

"Haha, no, it's fine."

As soon as Jia Lian reached out, Xiang Ling obediently bent down, allowing Jia Lian to pat her head.

He pinched a handful of meatballs and examined them closely; Jia Lian's expression gradually became uneasy.

Xiangling was naturally graceful and slender with a small face. Coupled with her quiet and even somewhat dull personality, she was more charming and cute than others.

Now, with her mother's carefully styled hair into two buns, made up of all her hair, compared to her fully exposed face, she looked like a big white rabbit with two large, short ears on its head.

She was incredibly well-behaved and adorable.

Jia Lian felt that the ultimate cute girls in the anime world of later generations were probably no more than this.

Most importantly, almost as soon as he saw Xiangling's hairstyle, he started thinking about some romantic things.

In his private room, and in front of his closest and most beloved maid, Jia Lian didn't need to hide his feelings. After pinching and kneading Xiangling's cheeks for a while, making the little girl blush and her eyes glisten with tears, he stood up, leaning on the bath tub, and looked down at Xiangling with a smile.

Xiangling had served Jia Lian bathing countless times, so how could she not understand Jia Lian's meaning?

Normally, she would have immediately and obediently begun to serve Jia Lian.

But for some reason today, she blushed and glanced at Jia Lian a few times, her eyes darting up and down, her gaze wandering.

Jia Lian looked at her for a while, his gaze filled with surprise.

It wasn't that he was inconsiderate of his subordinates; Qingwen had always tried to find ways to decline, and Jia Lian hadn't pressed her too hard. It was just that he knew Xiangling well; he knew that girl wouldn't refuse him.

Moreover, his hesitant and taciturn manner clearly indicated that he had something on his mind.

"What's wrong? Is there anything you can't say in front of me, silly girl? It's rare for you to ask me for a favor. As long as it's not the stars in the sky, I'll agree to it."

As he spoke, Jia Lian unconsciously raised his hands and began to play with Xiangling's two buns, one in each hand.

At the same time, I couldn't help but feel a sense of emotion.

He still remembered the first time Xiangling served him a bath, he could easily touch her little head. Now, however, he had to raise his hand completely to touch the top of her head.

Another point is that I feel this innocent and pure little girl has really grown up and has learned Qingwen's tricks, knowing how to make requests and plead for favors at crucial moments.

Xiangling hesitated for a long time, clutching the hem of her clothes, then suddenly lunged forward, embracing Jia Lian's wet body, burying her face in his chest, and whispered, "Second Master, why don't you take Xiangling today..."

Jia Lian was taken aback. He looked down at Xiangling, who was clinging tightly to him as if afraid he would run away. Suddenly, he smiled, affectionately ruffled her hair, and asked, "Why are you suddenly bringing this up again? Didn't I tell you and Qingwen before that being a maid is better than being a concubine...?"

"I know, what I mean is, the Second Master takes Xiangling's body, and then Xiangling continues to be the Second Master's maid..."

As Xiangling spoke, she looked up at Jia Lian and began to explain herself.

"Last night my mother asked me if the Second Master had taken my body. I said no, and my mother found it very strange. She said that unless the Second Master didn't like me, how could he have not taken Xiangling's body for so many years..."

As Xiangling spoke, her two big, bright eyes were filled with tears as she looked at Jia Lian.

Jia Lian was at a loss for words. Not to mention Madam Feng, even Xiangling herself, and everyone who knew that Xiangling and Qingwen were still virgins, would probably find him very strange.

Everyone has their own preferences. He likes raising his two little girls this way, regardless of what others think.

Knowing it was inappropriate to play along, Jia Lian instinctively tried to brush it off, saying, "Silly boy, you're still too young..."

"Xiangling is already quite old. My mother has already told me that I'm several months older than the birthday the Second Master set for me, and I'm already over fifteen, which means I've reached the age of marriage and am old enough to get married!"

Xiangling explained almost urgently.

What she didn't tell Jia Lian was that she hadn't cared much about this before, but now that her mother had been found and was going to live with her at the Jia family mansion.

At this point, if she were still just a young maid, she would feel that her position was not legitimate. Moreover, she would not be able to openly express to her mother her determination to follow Jia Lian for life.

"Hehehe."

Jia Lian couldn't help but laugh. He patted Xiangling's back and said with a smile, "Silly girl, you're making your master feel very embarrassed. It's like he's suffered a huge loss by taking you as his little maid."

Xiangling then shyly released Jia Lian.

"I've really made up my mind. It will hurt a lot."

Jia Lian tried to scare the young girl.

Xiangling's face paled slightly, and she couldn't help but recall the words she had asked Ping'er for advice.

Sister Ping'er never lies. If she says it hurts, it must hurt.

However, thinking about the determination she had made after repeated reflection over the past two days, she felt fearless.

"Yes, Master, just enjoy yourself. Xiangling is not afraid."

Xiangling nodded vigorously, as if afraid that Jia Lian would change his mind.

"Hahaha, you little brat, what's the rush? Do you think you can just give yourself away here? Let me wash up first, then we'll talk about it back in the room."

Xiangling's blush never faded as she imagined what would happen tonight, feeling both excited and nervous.

Suddenly noticing Jia Lian's lingering anger, her cheeks flushed. She felt a little embarrassed, remembering what Jia Lian had initially wanted her to do.

So he hurriedly knelt down, wanting to make amends to Jia Lian.

But Jia Lian was in no mood to waste time in the cold bathhouse. With his mindset completely changed, he was now focused on how to carry out the great feat he had fantasized about countless times that night!

So he quickly rinsed himself off, jumped out of the bathtub, put on two thin clothes, picked up the still-unresponsive Xiangling, and carried her directly from the bathhouse through the corridor to the bedroom.

Honestly, I've been using this app to follow my favorite books lately. It lets me switch between different sources, has a variety of reading voice options, and works on both Android and Apple devices.

Without any attempt to hide it, he wasn't afraid of being seen by others, and he believed Xiangling wouldn't be afraid either.

This is a matter of course and aboveboard; there's no need to be secretive or cover-up.