Lian Erye in the Red Mansion

At Ningguo Mansion, the third sister of You, dressed in a pretty outfit, arrived outside the door of her mother's room and heard her mother scolding her sister again.

"Your eldest sister has gone to so much trouble for you, you should live up to her expectations. When you see the Marquis, don't be so taciturn, unable to say a single kind word for ages. You should be more charming, that's how you win a man's heart."

"Our You family is now just the two of us, mother and children. I'm getting old, and your sister is such a good-for-nothing, so we'll all be counting on you for the future."

Sister You felt she had heard such words so many times that her ears were calloused. So she quietly stuck out her tongue, went into the house, said a few irrelevant words to Old Lady You, and then tried to pull Sister You Er out.

"What are you doing dragging her along? All you do all day is brandish swords and knives, you have no manners whatsoever as a girl. I wonder who will want you in the future!"

Third Sister You was always bold and reckless, often angering Old Lady You. Now that she was involved with Jia Lian, she had become even less obedient and timid than a young girl, so Old Lady You was always in a bad mood whenever she saw her.

However, not only did Third Sister You completely disregard Old Lady You's scolding, but even Second Sister You exchanged a speechless glance with her younger sister. If she hadn't promised Third Sister You to keep it a secret, she really couldn't help but want to tell her mother the truth and let her younger sister take the brunt of the criticism that should have been hers in front of their mother.

To escape her nagging mother, You Sanjie replied impatiently, "Oh dear, didn't you want to marry my sister off to that family as soon as possible so she could enjoy a life of luxury? I found out that my future brother-in-law didn't go out today; he's in their garden celebrating one of their young ladies' birthdays. I was planning to invite my sister over to join in the fun and let her get to know my future brother-in-law better. If you don't allow it, then we won't go."

Old Lady You's eyes lit up instantly, and she almost jumped off the kang (a heated brick bed). She said repeatedly, "Go, go, why wouldn't you go? Good child, quickly take your sister over there. She's shy, so please help her out and say a few good words of blessing to the young lady in that household. Also, please say a few words of blessing for me. Go quickly."

So the two sisters were able to safely descend from the attic where Old Lady You lived. However, the second sister hesitated, "Are we really going to go find him?"

"What, you don't want to go?"

"No, it's just... wouldn't that be a bit inappropriate... after all, we haven't, we haven't..." Sister You hesitated.

Sister You laughed and said, "What's wrong with that? You're too thin-skinned. Sooner or later you'll become his concubine. If you keep being so shy and hesitant, who knows how lowly you'll be treated and how you'll be bullied in the future?"

I've made up my mind to go. I've always heard them say that a lot of young ladies from their relatives' families have come to their mansion, and they're all being praised to the skies as being exceptionally beautiful, like the best in the world. I'm going to go and see if it's true!

If you don't go, I'll go by myself.

Hearing what Sister You said, Sister You was indeed tempted. Since she had already done those intimate things with Jia Lian, she had no way out and would have to come into contact with those people sooner or later, so she should get used to it as soon as possible.

"Then... wait a moment, I'll go back to my room and change my clothes."

Back in her boudoir, she opened the wardrobe and chests, and looking at the dazzling array of clothes and skirts, Sister You Er found herself having some difficulty making a choice.

For a long time, her mother and eldest sister, You Shi, had provided her with many clothes. You Shi even often rewarded her with fine silk fabrics, allowing her to make her own clothes.

Therefore, she had a great many clothes, all kinds of them, and many of them were brand new.

I wanted to choose a dress, as vibrant and lightly made up as the one worn by Sister You San, which would make her look beautiful. But then I thought that I probably didn't have the courage of my younger sister to wear a dress with a high collar that revealed a hint of her breasts and wide sleeves that showed off half of her arms in public.

So, she finally chose a dress that was the right length and fit well to wear.

The two sisters did not need any guidance. They went directly from Huifang Garden in Ningguo Mansion to Grand View Garden, and then followed the trail to Qinfang Gate.

On the opposite bank of Qinfang Creek, the grassy slopes were covered with clusters of flowers.

Girls, dressed in bright red flowers and green willows, gathered in small groups, while the crimson peach blossoms, bathed in the warm spring sunshine, exuded a subtle fragrance.

A few wisps of smoke rose with the wind, and the sounds of laughter and chatter drifted over through the babbling water.

The two sisters were immediately drawn to the beautiful and vivid painting. They even forgot the thoughts that had been on their minds when they came and unknowingly walked into the painting.

Although Sister You Er and Sister You San had lived in Ningguo Mansion for quite some time, they had little interaction with the young ladies of the Jia family, so their arrival did not cause much of a stir.

Upon seeing them, Li Wan took the initiative to walk over and said with a smile, "What brings you two to the garden today?"

Sister You smiled and said, "I heard it's Miss You's birthday today, so my sister and I came here to see you."

As soon as Li Wan, the eldest sister-in-law, made a move, all the sisters, maids, and wives nearby turned their attention to her.

Those who had met the You sisters before were not surprised, but those who had not met them were also curious when they suddenly saw two fair-skinned and charming girls coming together. They couldn't help but secretly inquire about them from those around them.

Although Li Wan, as the eldest daughter-in-law of the Rongguo Mansion, didn't manage much of the affairs, she was well-informed about many aspects of both mansions.

She had long known from rumors that Lady You probably intended to betroth her sister to Jia Lian as a concubine.

She wasn't quite sure which one it was. Some said it was You Erjie, because You Erjie was well-behaved and quiet, and was the eldest in her family. Others said it was You Sanjie, because someone had personally seen Jia Lian taking You Sanjie out of the city for a stroll, and they had also heard that You Sanjie was training female soldiers for Jia Lian every day in the West Garden of Ningguo Mansion…

Looking at the two You sisters in such an unusual state, Li Wan felt that either of them could be the cause. At the same time, a sense of unease rose in her heart.

Admittedly, she was confident in her own charm, but youth was fading, and she feared she would find it difficult to compare with young and beautiful girls like the You sisters.

If Jia Lian's interest in her was merely temporary, and he forgot about her after his one-time affair, turning his attention back to these young girls, then while she wouldn't have to live in fear anymore, the thought would still inevitably cause her heartache.

Therefore, he gave the You sisters a strange and complicated look, and then led them forward.

Approaching Jia Lian, Li Wan deliberately smiled and said, "They are Sister-in-law You's two younger sisters. I suppose you already know them."

Li Wan's meaningful words immediately led many perceptive people around her to make various connections. Naturally, this made the You sisters, who were already somewhat uneasy and shy standing in the crowd, even more uncomfortable.

Third Sister You was better than her sister. She quickly glanced at Jia Lian and saw that he was just sitting there grilling fish with a smile on his face. He didn't seem to be blaming them for coming without permission. Her mind immediately became active, and her eyes followed the group of beautiful women near Jia Lian.

She had already noticed that most of the people who looked like young ladies were gathered around Jia Lian within a radius of about ten meters. Now, with their arrival, they all crowded around, so that You Sanjie could see at a glance a dozen or so girls, some delicate and lovely, others naturally beautiful.

These girls were not far from their age, but without exception, they were no less beautiful than themselves and their sisters. In fact, two or three of them, at first glance, even made Sister You feel ashamed of herself!

This greatly shocked Sister You.

As for Gu Qingyi, she was, after all, the most beautiful woman in Jiangnan, so it was understandable that she couldn't compare to her. As for the other young ladies of the Jia family, they had seen most of them before. Although they were all indeed exceptionally beautiful and graceful, they were ultimately no less beautiful than them.

Unexpectedly, upon seeing this today, she discovered that there were so many women of unparalleled beauty hidden in this Jia mansion, and there was more than one of them who was so dazzling that she felt ashamed of herself!

It's unclear which of these women are young ladies, which are servants, and which one is Lin Daiyu, the fairy-like beauty who is so important to them.

Suddenly, I felt a little disheartened. Before meeting Daiyu, I had only heard rumors that she still possessed a certain degree of confidence and defiance.

Now she was certain that Lin Daiyu must be one of those two or three people who were stunning at first glance and whose beauty made her feel inferior!

The same applies to Sister You San and Sister You Er.

Sister You was also surprised by the overall appearance of the women here.

Right.

The Xue family's Baochai and Baoqin sisters need no introduction. The three Jia sisters, Zhen Yuhuan and Shi Xiangyun, and the Li sisters, among other young ladies, are all exceptionally beautiful.

Even the maids like Ping'er, Qingwen, Xiangling, Xiren, Zijuan, and Ying'er were all incredibly charming and adorable.

With so many girls gathered together, it's easy to get overwhelmed.

Jia Lian hadn't expected the two You sisters to come looking for him. Hearing Li Wan's laughter, Jia Lian smiled nonchalantly, picked up the two fish that had just been grilled on the wire mesh, and gestured to the second and third sisters of the You family.

Sister You was stunned for a moment, but she reacted faster and took the fish before her sister could, then gave one to her sister.

A sudden surge of joy welled up inside her. Admittedly, Jia Lian had jokingly admitted to treating the sisters like prostitutes for amusement, but he always managed to subtly make them feel respected and valued.

This will undoubtedly make people feel at ease from the bottom of their hearts.

Just like before she came, her elder sister had concerns; she was actually worried that Jia Lian would be displeased. After all, their relationship with Jia Lian was not yet public, and their identities had not yet been recognized by the Jia family.

Although the grilled fish was small, judging from the large number of people present and the way others looked at the sisters when they received their "reward," it was clear that this honor was not something everyone here could enjoy.

"Miss Lin."

"Miss Lin is coming up."

A slender, delicate girl walked by, gently waving a round fan, and everyone unconsciously made way for her.

Jia Baoyu, who had been eager to please the You sisters since their arrival, turned around and saw them. He sighed softly and retreated dejectedly.

This also made it easier for the You sisters to see the visitors.

Daiyu heard that a new sister had arrived, and since she was fishing alone downstairs and was bored, she came up to take a look.

When they saw Jia Lian indeed sitting in charge, frying and killing the fish, and many people around him enjoying the finished product, some even drinking with wine, the air was filled with the aroma of charred fish and the sweetness of fine wine.

Daiyu wrinkled her nose slightly: "What kind of beggars are you! You've ruined this peaceful place."

Xiangyun, who was pouring wine for someone, was displeased upon hearing this.

"We are true gentlemen, naturally elegant, unlike your pretentious airs, which I despise the most. Hmph, we're feasting on savory and unappetizing food now, but behind your back, we'll be all talk and no action!"

Xiangyun usually didn't care about Daiyu's "status" and was used to bickering with her. At this moment, she was quite drunk, and when she spoke, she shook her head and swayed her body, which made her quite adorable.

Daiyu glared at her, about to retort, when she suddenly saw Jia Lian stand up and personally hand her a skewer of fish that she didn't know was grilled.

Normally, Daiyu would probably have accepted Jia Lian's offer, even though she didn't like greasy food. But she had just mocked everyone; how could she be bought off by Jia Lian?

So he sneered, "I don't want it. I'll give it to someone else. If she can't produce anything good later, I'll take her belly out to prove it."

After saying this, Daiyu finally decided to ignore Xiangyun and turn her attention to the You sisters.

Daiyu and Lady You were not even familiar with each other, let alone her two younger sisters.

She only vaguely knew of the existence of these two people. However, she had never heard the rumors that Li Wan knew.

In fact, such rumors were unlikely to reach Daiyu's ears.

But for some reason, when Daiyu glanced at the two grilled fish they were holding that hadn't been eaten yet, her delicate eyebrows involuntarily furrowed.

Seeing this, the two You sisters, who were still wondering about the two Lin girls here and hadn't had time to ask, suddenly became a little uneasy. The second sister, You, even lowered her head unconsciously.

Fortunately, Jia Lian came to their rescue: "They are the two younger sisters of Sister-in-law You from the East Mansion, and they are slightly older than you."

Daiyu glanced at Jia Lian, nodded, and gave a graceful bow, saying, "Greetings to both of you elder sisters."

Sister You Erjie and Sister You Sanjie quickly curtsied in return, but couldn't utter a single word.

You Sanjie cursed herself inwardly for being so spineless; all the lines she had prepared before coming here, she couldn't even remember when she saw Daiyu.

Daiyu, however, had already stopped paying attention to them. After nodding in acknowledgment, she went to talk to Tanchun.

The You sisters, guided by their maid, found a place to sit for a while and then found their own amusement.

Tan Chun, one of the main characters today, was moved by a bowl of longevity noodles made by her cousin Jia Lian, which caused her to disappear for quite some time.

In reality, they just buried themselves in dry noodles.

Despite her best efforts, she was still unable to eat the noodle that was several feet long, and in the end, she could only give it to her personal maids, Shishu and Cuimo.

It can be considered as letting them share in their master's good fortune.

After tidying herself up and fixing her appearance, Tan Chun, radiant with pride, saw that everyone had eaten and drunk their fill and seemed somewhat idle. So, she gathered the members of the Begonia Society together with a wave of her hand.

The talented women, who had been eagerly awaiting this important matter, immediately perked up.

Whispering in the ears of Tan Chun and the others, the club president, Li Wan, pointed out Xiang Ling, who was hiding in the corner.

"Xiangling, come here."

Xiangling approached the crowd shyly.

Li Wan smiled, then said seriously, "With the recommendation of Hengwu-jun and others, and the approval of all members of the Begonia Society, as the president, I formally invite you to join the Begonia Society. Would you be willing?"

"I do!" Xiangling said nervously, but with a solemn expression.

Li Wan was even more satisfied: "Very well, from now on you will be the twelfth member of the Begonia Society. You must abide by the rules of the society and may not be absent from the society's activities without a valid reason."

"Uh-huh"

"By the way, everyone in our club has a nickname. Have you thought of one yet?"

"Hmm, I've decided, I'll name her 'Xiangling'..."

Seemingly afraid of being misunderstood, Xiangling quickly added, "I noticed that the nicknames of the mistress and the young ladies are either related to their residences or to flowers, plants, and trees. I thought that the nickname 'Xiangling' that Second Master gave me is also a kind of flower or plant, so I asked Second Master if I could use it as my club name, and Second Master said yes."

If Grandma and the girls think it's inappropriate, I'll just change it again...

Xiangling's real name was not Xiangling; her real name was Zhen Yinglian. Xiangling was merely a pseudonym she used in the Jia family.

Therefore, when she asked Jia Lian if she could use "Xiangling" as her pen name, Jia Lian naturally said yes.

"No need to change it, from now on you are 'Xiangling'."

Then, Li Wan said with a slightly serious tone, "There's one more thing. Now that you've joined the club, everything should be done according to the club's rules. Don't use titles like 'master,' 'madam,' 'young lady,' or 'miss' within the club anymore."

"Yes, Grandma..."

The sudden silence around her made Xiangling look up. Seeing a large group of young ladies looking at her with teasing smiles, she immediately realized what was happening, her face turning red. She quickly said, "No, yes, President, Xiangling will remember."

Li Wan then smiled.

Seeing this, Jia Lian was puzzled and asked Li Wan, "Xiangling has joined the poetry club, what about the others?"

Jia Lian gestured to the four little girls beside him: Baoqin, the Li sisters, and Xiuyan.

Li Wan smiled and said, "Since we are following the example of the ancients in establishing a poetry society, there should be a reasonable set of rules."

We have many relatives, and quite a few brothers and sisters who can read and write. If other relatives' children come to visit next time, how could we not let them join the club and have some fun?

They don't live in our house often. If they only participate in one or two communities and then go back, won't our community's membership keep increasing and decreasing?

That's too uncertain.

Therefore, Hengwu and I discussed that, apart from the initial eleven people, any new members we recruit should be able to live at our house regularly, or at least not too far away, and be able to come over at any time.

If you happen to be visiting relatives, you can simply use the title of "guest friend," thus benefiting both parties without causing any disruption.

Jia Lian understood immediately; it meant formal and informal members.

Baoqin and Xiuyan might move away any day now, so there's no point in having them join the poetry club to reserve a spot if they never come back. It's better to just have them as "friends," which is both elegant and cheap, and there will be precedents to follow in similar situations in the future.

So he nodded and said no more.