Lian Erye in the Red Mansion

After taking a bath at home, Jia Lian went to the Xue family's residence.

He knew what the Xue family was concerned about. Now that Xue Pan's matter had been settled before Emperor Ningkang, he naturally let it go. The reason he didn't go straight to the Xue family to report the news after leaving the palace was simply because he didn't want to appear too eager for quick success.

If he truly had no desires, that would be fine, but he doesn't. In this situation, he naturally needs to appear even more indifferent.

Having experienced Daiyu's success, Jia Lian understood even more clearly what kind of mindset and image he should maintain when facing an outstanding woman like Xue Baochai.

Therefore, after meeting Aunt Xue and Xue Baochai, Jia Lian slowly recounted his audience with the emperor that morning to the mother and daughter. He focused on describing the change in Emperor Ningkang's attitude: first, he was intimidated; then, he listened to Jia Lian's explanation; and finally, Emperor Ningkang showed him leniency.

The twists and turns of this situation naturally alarmed the two wealthy women, but in the end, their fear transformed into respect and even awe for Jia Lian.

They were all educated women who knew the unpredictability of the emperor's will. Although they had never met the emperor, they could imagine how difficult it was to remain composed in his presence and even find a way to change his mind.

In other words, without Jia Lian, the son (elder brother) would probably have been doomed this time.

"Thank God, may the Buddha protect us."

Aunt Xue's heart, which had been filled with anxiety for many days, finally settled down. She thanked Jia Lian and the Bodhisattva, and after hesitating for a moment, she said, "Lian'er, you just said that you would donate 50,000 taels of silver and 5,000 shi of grain to the imperial court..."

Five thousand shi of grain is nothing, but fifty thousand taels of silver is not a small sum even for the Xue family.

Although the Xue family's assets exceed one million, that is family assets, not cash.

"The situation was urgent at the time, so I had no choice but to resort to this desperate measure. Please don't blame me for being rash, Aunt."

"I know, but I don't have the time to pay 50,000 taels of silver right now..."

Aunt Xue looked troubled. Seeing this, Jia Lian raised an eyebrow and said, "If Aunt is having any difficulties, I'll cover the fifty thousand taels of silver. It's also my fault for not informing Aunt beforehand and for making decisions on my own."

Although Jia Lian spoke calmly, it made Baochai, who had been sitting quietly beside him, anxious.

Baochai knew her mother's temperament best. When the Xue family was doing well, things were fine, but after her grandfather and father passed away one after another, her mother often sighed that the family spent more than it earned, and then she began to become more and more frugal.

Although I know my mother is being cautious and fears that we'll run out of money, this is not the time to be thinking about gains and losses.

Fifty thousand taels of silver is a lot of money, but how can it be more important than my brother's life and the kindness of my second brother Lian?

Therefore, she kept giving Aunt Xue meaningful glances, and when Jia Lian's expression turned indifferent, she couldn't help but interject, "What are you saying, Second Brother Lian? You have taken on a huge responsibility for my brother's affairs, and we don't know how to express our gratitude. How can we let Second Brother Lian pay for this money?"

My mother meant that although our family doesn't lack 50,000 taels of silver, most of our cash is held in various shops for business development. We don't have much at home, and we don't know if it's enough for 50,000 taels. If it's not enough, we'll have to ask the shop assistants to send some over.”

Aunt Xue was no fool; while she was concerned about the money, she knew what was important.

Hearing her daughter's words, she was startled and cursed herself for being foolish. Then she quickly put on a smiling face and said to Jia Lian, "Bao'er is right. Lian-ge'er, what you said makes your aunt feel ashamed."

What I was trying to say was that I didn't know when the imperial court would need money for disaster relief, so I could arrange for it to be sent over to avoid delaying important matters.

Aunt Xue knew perfectly well that someone like Jia Lian wouldn't care about a mere few tens of thousands of taels of silver. If she really tried to shirk her responsibility and refuse to pay, Jia Lian might actually just pay it out of his own pocket.

But putting aside the issues of face and conscience, realistically speaking, if the Xue family were to encounter any further trouble in the future, Jia Lian would definitely not be able to help them again; they're not stupid.

I was so foolish. I almost ruined the Xue family's most important connections and favors for some money that should have been paid by my own family.

Fortunately, the words were salvaged.

"The court isn't in a rush. Disaster relief is a major undertaking and certainly won't be finished in a short time. However, I've already promised His Majesty on this matter. If Aunt can, it's best to prepare as soon as possible. If you encounter any difficulties, you can also tell me."

Jia Lian didn't pay much attention to this minor misunderstanding. Having been familiar with how Lady Wang and Lady Xing handled things, he knew a thing or two about the nature of these noblewomen. Compared to them, Aunt Xue was quite magnanimous and reasonable.

In other words, if every woman were as well-educated and reasonable as Baochai, then Baochai's worth would not be apparent.

Aunt Xue, ever the belated but determined to mend her ways, readily agreed to Jia Lian's request, saying that she could gather the money within three days at the very least.

After discussing the details, Aunt Xue repeatedly asked Jia Lian about Xue Pan. Aunt Xue laughed and said, "Look at me, I've been so busy asking you questions that I haven't even asked if you've had dinner yet!"

Hearing Jia Lian say that he had already eaten, Aunt Xue stood up with a smile. "I remember you said last time that Bao'er's sweet wine tastes good. She just brewed another jar not long ago. I'll have someone cook a bowl and send it over for you to try."

As they were talking, Aunt Xue, without waiting for Jia Lian to refuse, simply glanced at her daughter with a smile, stopping her from getting up, and then walked out, taking the two maids by the door with her.

In the elegant living room, brightly lit by candlelight, only a handsome young man and a young woman of about sixteen remained.

Looking at the fair-skinned, elegant young woman before him, Jia Lian suddenly felt a little awkward. He knew in his heart that Aunt Xue had probably told her everything she needed to know.

With that, Jia Lian no longer needed to hide anything. He chuckled lightly and asked slowly, "How is Sister Baochai?"

"Thank you for your concern, Second Brother. I am fine. I am grateful to you again for troubling me with my brother's matter."

Baochai didn't know why, but in the past, although she was inevitably shy when facing Jia Lian's gaze, she was still able to bear it.

At this moment, she felt a sense of unease, as if she were sitting on pins and needles, making her restless and uneasy.

Baochai took the opportunity to stand up, bow to Jia Lian, and then stood quietly to the side.

All I wanted was for my mother to come back soon.

"Hehe, I saw Baochai yesterday and she was perfectly fine. How come she seems so afraid of me after just one day?"

Seeing Baochai step back and stand still, Jia Lian shook his head and smiled.

Baochai's demeanor was quite unusual, which stirred a somewhat indescribable sense of amusement in him.

Baochai glanced at Jia Lian. Jia Lian's words immediately reminded her of the day trip he took her to the capital yesterday, and the things that happened when she threw herself into his arms.

I didn't feel too embarrassed yesterday, but after listening to Aunt Xue's "golden words" last night, I feel ashamed no matter how I think about it, especially now that I'm facing Jia Lian.

But she was calm and composed, and quickly gathered her chaotic thoughts, shaking her head slightly without directly responding to Jia Lian's words.

Seeing this, Jia Lian knew it would be difficult to tease her like he would with other girls. Seeing her standing far away, her skin glowing and radiant under the lamplight, Jia Lian couldn't help but stand up and walk towards her with a smile.

Baochai tensed up instantly, looked directly at Jia Lian, and parted her lips slightly: "Second Brother Lian..."

Fortunately, Jia Lian stopped a step away from her, rendering all her planned schemes useless. She could only suppress her urge to escape and stand with her head bowed.

A few breaths passed without either of them speaking. In the not-so-spacious living room, there was only a gentle spring breeze and the candlelight reflected on the screen, swaying back and forth in the breeze.

Baochai was an exceptionally beautiful woman, and her beauty was dignified, elegant, and full of grace, truly deserving the title of a national beauty.

Moreover, Jia Lian noticed that Baochai was wearing a brand new apricot-yellow peony-embroidered round-necked jacket on top and a beige pleated skirt on the bottom. She had a gold hairpin with tassels in her hair and a pair of light green ginkgo earrings on her ears.

Although her outfit wasn't extravagant, it still showcased her stunning beauty, quite different from her usual simple attire, giving Jia Lian a refreshing feeling.

Only the true national color of peony can move the capital when the flowers bloom.

Nothing could be more true.

Faced with Baochai like this, even Jia Lian, who had repeatedly warned himself not to be rash and impetuous, couldn't help but feel a little anxious.

He shifted slightly, forcing himself to stand firm, and said with a smile, "Sister Baochai is a little different than usual. Did your aunt say something to you?"

Baochai, who had been barely able to bear Jia Lian's close and silent scrutiny, felt a sense of relief upon hearing Jia Lian speak.

She looked up at Jia Lian, met his eager gaze, quickly turned her head away, and softly hummed in agreement.

She wasn't someone whose actions would be completely swayed by girlish thoughts. She knew that her mother had left her here to give her and Jia Lian a chance to be alone and talk.

That's exactly what she wanted—an opportunity to make a better decision. So she knew she couldn't remain shyly silent forever.

Sure enough, after hearing her response, Jia Lian picked up the conversation even faster.

"So, what do you mean?"

Baochai lowered her head, remained silent for a moment, and then said without raising her head, "A woman's life is different from a man's; she can ask for very little. Brother Lian has given my Xue family a second life, and even if we give everything we have, we can hardly repay him. Moreover, there is my mother's promise beforehand. So if Brother Lian insists on being with Baochai, Baochai has no choice but to accept."

As she spoke, Baochai boldly glanced at Jia Lian and saw that a hint of joy had indeed appeared on his face. Her heart couldn't help but pound.

Lian Er-gege really likes me...

But she suppressed her inexplicable emotions and continued, "Therefore, Brother Lian really didn't need to ask Baochai's opinion. But Mother said that Brother Lian is a gentleman and doesn't want to force Baochai. Baochai thanks Brother Lian again."

Jia Lian smiled. This girl was flattering him, using a strategic retreat to gain more influence.

In this situation, if I don't go along with her, wouldn't that mean I'm not a gentleman?

Then Jia Lian asked with a smile, "Then I wonder what Baochai sought in her life?"

Baochai frowned. Jia Lian's reaction was not what she expected, but since he was asking her the same question she had asked earlier, she couldn't very well not answer.

After thinking for a moment, she said, "Baochai is just a girl from a poor family. What does she want? She just wants to be like most women in the world, to find a good husband and raise children."

As Baochai spoke, she herself found it strange. If it weren't happening right now, she wouldn't have believed that one day she would be openly discussing her future with someone other than her mother, and a man at that.

Thinking about it, I think it's just because of the special circumstances and the special people I was with.

Jia Lian's smile suddenly brightened, and he said, "Sister Baochai is probably lying. In my opinion, Sister Baochai is not as shallow as those worldly women."

Sister Baochai is not only naturally intelligent and virtuous, but also studious and knowledgeable, and adept at navigating social situations. If she weren't limited by her gender, with no opportunity to fully utilize her talents, given time, not only would the officials of the court be no match for her, but even I, Jia Lian, would likely have to admit defeat.

Jia Lian's words caused Baochai to suddenly open her beautiful eyes wide.

She really hadn't expected Jia Lian to say that. Praising and flattering her was one thing, but to say that even the officials in the imperial court couldn't compare to her was too exaggerated and inappropriate.

Moreover, judging from the tone of Lian Er Gege's words, he had already placed himself above the officials in the imperial court.

If you were to say he was as arrogant and ignorant as his brother, that would be one thing, but he knew for certain that he wasn't. Therefore, he was either joking on purpose, or he was simply extremely confident.

Baochai wasn't sure what Jia Lian was thinking, but she found his way of talking, which detached them from worldly concerns, quite novel and interesting. Who would dare speak like that?

Therefore, she said, "Brother Lian is joking. Baochai is just a young lady who is inexperienced in the ways of the world. How dare I compare myself to the adults in the imperial court, let alone Brother Lian?"

As Baochai spoke, her gaze toward Jia Lian carried a rare hint of a smile, as if mocking Jia Lian's boasting.

"I'm not joking. I see that Sister Baochai has lofty ambitions. If she were to marry an ordinary man, it would be a waste of her talent, and even an ordinary man would find it difficult to bear such a blessing."

Therefore, in my opinion, it would be better for Sister Baochai to come and serve me. When I am in power in the future, I will certainly establish a separate residence and headquarters for Sister Baochai, allowing her to fully display her talents and abilities, so as not to waste her potential.”

One surprise is bad enough, but two or three surprises are much better. Baochai felt that she still didn't understand Jia Lian well enough.

She seemed to understand why even the extraordinary and aloof Lin Daiyu was willing to submit to Jia Lian.

People like Lian Er Gege seem to stand out from the crowd like celebrities, completely different from everyone else.

The thought that she might spend the rest of her life with the man before her suddenly made Baochai feel a little lighter, and she couldn't help but playfully scold, "Second Brother Lian, is your so-called display of your talents just becoming your concubine?!"

It's rare for someone to speak off the cuff, and once it's out, the feeling changes.

She felt both relaxed and a little apprehensive. She was relaxed because the topic of marriage, which the two of them had never discussed before, was finally being brought up, and she might be able to hear Jia Lian's most direct response.

Her anxiety stemmed from the fear that Jia Lian's answer might not be what she wanted.

What should I do then? My mother is right. Under the current circumstances, giving myself to Lian Er Gege is the best choice.

What's even more remarkable is that I, too, like him...

Like Baochai, Jia Lian's smile also crumbled after she brought up the inescapable barrier of "becoming a concubine."

Although Jia Lian was somewhat pleased, because from Baochai's unprecedented coquettish remark alone, he was certain that this girl secretly admired him.

However, Jia Lian was not blinded by joy. He could see that Baochai was different from Daiyu.

For a woman like this, it seems that emotions don't have a decisive influence on her.

He wasn't sure if Baochai was willing to marry him, so he temporarily compromised himself. Yes, in Jia Lian's heart, he would one day be able to give Baochai what she wanted, but he couldn't do it now.

For a fleeting moment, Jia Lian almost gave up pretending to be a gentleman and decided to forcefully take her into the family, just as Baochai had initially suggested.

Anyway, he's already won over Aunt Xue, and Baochai doesn't seem like the type to be unyielding. He can just treat her well in the future.

But in the end, Jia Lian sighed inwardly, stepped forward, and, under Baochai's suddenly tense gaze, embraced her, who was a head shorter than him.

"Second brother, you..."

Baochai subconsciously pushed Jia Lian twice, but found that she couldn't push him away and couldn't escape. Naturally, she was extremely nervous.

Fortunately, she soon realized that Jia Lian was just embracing her, just like he had protected her yesterday, very gently, and without any other indecent behavior, which made her feel a little more at ease.

Jia Lian, disregarding the soft fragrance of the woman in his arms, leaned close to Baochai's ear and whispered, "Although Jia Lian is not a virtuous gentleman, he is a man of his word."

Since I told your mother I wouldn't force you, I absolutely won't do anything to coerce you until you agree.

Embracing Baochai's delicate body for the second time, Jia Lian truly understood what it meant to be as beautiful as a peony, and as noble as a concubine of the Tang Dynasty. At this moment, Jia Lian even thought that even if Yang Yuhuan were reborn, the feeling of holding her in his arms would not surpass this.

But Jia Lian dared not indulge in the warmth and fragrance too much. He didn't even dare to peek too closely at the fair skin and beautiful face so close to his eyes, for fear that he might do something out of line and ruin all the groundwork he had laid.

Baochai suppressed her nervousness, feeling only embarrassment. She glanced at the deserted doorway, knowing that with her mother there, no one would barge in at this hour, and felt somewhat relieved.

But she didn't respond to Jia Lian's words, knowing that he definitely hadn't finished speaking.

Sure enough, Jia Lian continued, "But I want to tell Baochai that my love for you is beyond what you can fathom in your mere sixteen years of life, and even beyond the comprehension of everyone in this world."

If I cannot have you in this life, even if I achieve great fame and power, it will still be a regret for me.

Sincere words and a profound confession reached Baochai's ears and penetrated the young girl's heart, causing her to tremble slightly. Even after the man released her, said something else, and turned to leave, she remained standing there, unable to extricate herself from the moment.

I don't know how much time passed before Aunt Xue came in.

She glanced around and asked with a smile, "He's gone?"

Baochai took a deep breath and nodded.

"Did I bully you??"

Baochai was slightly taken aback, then blushed and protested, "What are you saying, Mother? He...Second Brother Lian is a gentleman, naturally..."

Baochai couldn't continue speaking.

"A gentleman?" Aunt Xue shook her head, said nothing more, and stepped forward to take her daughter's hand.

Judging from the blush on her daughter's face, she knew the truth was probably true. Under these circumstances, she naturally had many important matters to discuss with her daughter.