Lian Erye in the Red Mansion

Early the next morning, people gathered at the gate of the headquarters.

Aunt Xue, supported by Tongxi, came out and saw Jia Lian, who was already riding a horse, looking imposing and majestic. A slightly unnatural expression appeared on her face. She nodded slightly and then silently got into the carriage.

Jia Lian rode forward and leaned against the carriage, saying, "I will take my personal guards and ride at full speed. We will arrive in the capital in less than half a day. Due to the urgency of the situation, I will go ahead first, but I will leave a group of men behind to escort my aunt back to the capital."

The carriage fell silent for a moment, the person inside seemed to be considering, and then Aunt Xue's soft voice came through: "I feel really bad for troubling you to travel all this way back for your brother Pan's life... So let's do as you say, be careful on the road, there's no rush."

Looking at the tightly closed carriage curtain, Jia Lian smiled, instructed Zhao Sheng to lead a group of people to stay behind, and then led the rest of his men away on horseback.

Inside the carriage, the two maids, Tongxi and Tonggui, sat with Aunt Xue. As delicate and frail maids from a wealthy family, they didn't have the strength to run alongside the carriage unless they weren't in a hurry.

Facing Aunt Xue, who sat opposite them, both women were very curious, wondering what method Aunt Xue had used last night to persuade Jia Lian to return to the capital. After all, they had both been present at the banquet last night and clearly saw that Jia Lian did not want to go back.

The two exchanged glances, and Tong Xi felt closer to Aunt Xue. After all, when Aunt Xue learned that she had "seduced" Jia Lian, she only questioned her about the details and did not punish her at all, which showed her leniency.

"Madam, how did you manage to convince the Marquis to return to the capital to rescue Master?"

Aunt Xue turned her head at the sound, looking much more relaxed than when she arrived. Facing the two personal maids who clearly had doubts in their eyes, Aunt Xue looked at them with a calm and unwavering gaze.

Just when the two young girls thought Aunt Xue wouldn't explain, Aunt Xue sighed, turned her head away, and said sadly, "If I could save your master's life this time, it would be a great fortune, but I'm sorry to your young ladies..."

After saying this, before the two maids could ask further questions, she turned to them and said seriously, "You two have served me for many years. Tell me, was it fortunate or unfortunate that Miss Lin in their household was entrusted to the Marquis by her father before his death?"

Tongxi and the other woman exchanged glances. Normally, given their lowly status, they wouldn't dare comment on such matters. But now, it was clear that Aunt Xue was opening up to them, which was the perfect opportunity to get closer to their mistress and strengthen the bond between them.

So the two of them argued:

"Miss Lin is certainly lucky. She was originally very pitiful. She lost her mother at such a young age, and Lord Lin also passed away early. If it weren't for her old lady and the Marquis taking care of her, who knows what would have happened to her."

I've heard that Miss Lin is now the most favored girl in their household, completely overshadowing even the original three girls.

"That's right. I heard that the Marquis dotes on Miss Lin the most. In their mansion, no one dares to mistreat Miss Lin, not even Master Bao! With the Marquis protecting her like this, once the Marquis's mourning period is over and he marries Miss Lin, she will definitely be very, very happy."

Hearing the two maids' words, Aunt Xue said softly, "I hope your young lady will also be so lucky to receive such love and care..."

Upon hearing this, Tong happy and Tong Gui quietly widened their eyes, their pupils dilating slightly, as if they had discovered some earth-shattering secret.

Although Aunt Xue didn't say everything, anyone who wasn't stupid could understand the meaning behind her words by connecting the dots!

"Madam, do you mean you want to marry our girl to the Marquis...?"

Aunt Xue glanced at them but didn't say anything. But that silence spoke volumes.

Tong Xi and Tong Gui exchanged a glance, both seeing the surprise in each other's eyes. But they quickly realized why the Marquis had changed his attitude and agreed to return to the capital to rescue their master. After all, given their young ladies' character and appearance, it was probably difficult for the Marquis to refuse.

I just don't know, if the young lady really marries the Marquis, will she be a respectable concubine, or a noble concubine like Miss Lin...

No wonder Madam came home so late last night; it turns out she was discussing such an important matter with the Marquis.

Seeing the understanding looks on the two maids' faces, Aunt Xue breathed a sigh of relief. Actually, she didn't need to tell them such an important matter, but she knew that people were very curious. If she didn't give them a convincing reason, who knew how many things these two naughty girls would imagine behind her back.

"Don't spread this around yet."

After giving a brief instruction, Aunt Xue turned her head away, not intending to speak to the maid any further. Her mind was still a little unsettled.

……

The fact that Aunt Xue left the capital overnight could not be kept from the Rongguo Mansion.

Early that morning, the Rongguo Mansion sent someone to the Xue family to inquire. After thinking it over, Baochai felt that this matter could not be kept secret and there was no need to hide it, so she told Aunt Xue frankly that she had gone to Tianjin.

Upon receiving this news, the Jia family was naturally somewhat displeased. Wasn't this taking advantage of their kinship to push things further? However, considering Aunt Xue's eagerness to save her son, they didn't say much.

Wang Xifeng was naturally somewhat unhappy at first. Ever since Xue Pan got into trouble, she had been doing her best to help, not only gathering information from all sides, but also passing on the information to Jia Lian in detail, all in order to see if Jia Lian could find a way to rescue Xue Pan.

After all, Xue Pan was her cousin. Although she didn't particularly like him, she thought about how heartbroken Aunt Xue and Baochai would be if Xue Pan lost his life. It would be like the despair she felt when the Empress Dowager and the princess tried to take her man and threatened to punish her for lending money and harming people.

Therefore, she was very willing to help the Xue family with this favor.

But now that the Xue family has gone to Tianjin without warning and is clearly trying to coerce Jia Lian into returning to the capital to help, she naturally has reason to be angry.

After all, she was her dear aunt, and she felt sorry for her situation. She was only upset for a short while before letting it go. In retrospect, she thought that if Aunt Xue could really invite Jia Lian back to the capital, it wouldn't necessarily be a bad thing.

Sometimes, even Wang Xifeng herself felt conflicted. Back then, when Jia Lian was just wasting his time, she disliked him for his lack of ambition, seeing him as a good-for-nothing. Now that Jia Lian was wholeheartedly focused on his career, she wished he could spend more time at home with her…

After lunch, Wang Xifeng lay lazily on the soft couch, holding the tabby cat. While stroking its clearly defined, very soft and beautiful fur, she asked Ping'er, who was doing needlework next to her, "Ping'er, do you think Auntie will be able to invite your second master back? Judging by the time, she should be in Tianjin by now."

"Hmm. If we had traveled faster, we should have arrived last night."

"You still haven't said whether your second master will come back!"

"It's hard to say."

"Hmm?" Sister Feng sat up. "What do you mean by 'not being able to explain it'?"

Seeing Wang Xifeng press her for answers, Ping'er knew she was just thinking about Jia Lian out of boredom. After a moment's thought, Ping'er countered, "Did Aunt Xue go to Tianjin alone, or did she take Miss Xue with her?"

"Of course he went alone. Bao'er is still at home! Her aunt was probably worried and told her to wait for news at home."

Ping'er nodded: "Then I guess Second Master won't come back."

Why?

Feng Jie didn't quite grasp Ping'er's logic at first. After subconsciously asking a question, she looked at Ping'er's calm and composed demeanor and slowly began to understand the connection between Ping'er's words.

"hehe."

Sister Feng chuckled and beckoned to Ping'er. Ping'er hesitated for a moment, but dared not disobey, and put down her work to go over.

"You little hussy, you think you're so smart?" Sister Feng pinched Ping'er's arm and pretended to kick her, as a form of punishment for Ping'er's disrespectful remarks.

Ping'er turned and smiled, not afraid of what Feng Jie might do to her at all. The two of them had grown up together since childhood, and although they were mistress and servant in name, their relationship was like that of sisters.

Especially after Jia Lian brought them together, and the two served him intimately, their relationship reached an indescribable level. Now they both understood that they probably couldn't live without each other; separation would be harmful to both, while staying together would be beneficial to both.

Ping'er was cautious and self-disciplined, and Feng Jie sincerely accepted her, so their relationship was unbreakable.

After scolding Ping'er, Wang Xifeng laughed again: "But what you said is right. With your Second Master's womanizing ways, plus Bao'er's looks, all she has to do is lower her face and wipe away her tears in front of him, what can't he agree to?"

He can only be so ruthless towards me, forbidding this and that...

Seeing that Sister Feng was again criticizing Jia Lian, Ping'er shook her head and smiled, then turned back to continue her work. Just as she sat down, she heard Xiao Hong announce loudly from outside, "Second Mistress, people outside say Second Master has returned!"

Before she could finish speaking, Ping'er saw Feng Jie suddenly stand up. The cat that had been in Feng Jie'er's arms was mercilessly thrown to the ground, meowing, and then quickly darted to a corner.

"Looks like you guessed wrong, you little rascal."

Sister Feng stood still for a moment, then gave Ping'er a mocking wink, and finally went out happily to greet her husband.