Lian Erye in the Red Mansion

Chapter 713 Aunt and Nephew's Night Talk

Li Wan was just slow to react; she wasn't stupid.

When Jia Lian asked Aunt Li to help him undress, she already guessed what Jia Lian meant.

Her feelings were extremely complicated.

As a woman, she naturally wouldn't want her man to be involved with other women.

However, realistically speaking, she knew clearly that Jia Lian was not her man.

No matter how many sweet words Jia Lian said to her, and no matter how much she liked Jia Lian, she understood that their relationship was nothing more than a illicit affair.

She seemed to have neither the right nor the means to stop Jia Lian from doing what he wanted.

Furthermore, even if Jia Lian really did win over her aunt, it would indeed put her at ease. At least, she wouldn't have to worry about being blamed or looked down upon by her aunt anymore.

So she decided not to interfere. Let Jia Lian do whatever he wants. It's his skill to win over his aunt.

Her aunt was not a womanizer either, so even if Jia Lian had any ideas, they wouldn't be easy to implement.

But she clearly underestimated Jia Lian's charm. Or rather, she overestimated her own patience.

At first, she was shy and hesitant, always trying to hide under the covers.

However, as time went on, she lost control of herself and could only let Jia Lian do as he pleased.

After a while, they were completely exposed to the public.

So when she collapsed to the side to rest, she helplessly saw that Jia Lian simply beckoned, and her aunt, who was always very thin-skinned and had remained chaste at home for many years, seemed to be under a spell, obediently walked over and climbed into bed.

And then, I became just like her.

The room became quiet again.

The man had left, leaving only a heavy smell in the air.

Li Wan turned her head to look at the fair and rosy face so close to her.

She was familiar with the owner of the face, but its current appearance made it seem somewhat unfamiliar to her.

Her originally pretty face, glistening with fragrant sweat and radiant with vitality, appeared even more radiant than usual.

Li Wan seemed to be deep in thought.

Seemingly sensing her gaze, the owner of the face turned to the side and buried her face in the other.

"Auntie?"

"Um……"

Li Wan was not good with words, but in this situation, she felt she should say something. Otherwise, things would just get too awkward...

Then she reached out a hand and placed it on Aunt Li's voluptuous body, which was not as fair as her own, and said softly, "It's all my fault. I was unchaste and shameless... Now I've implicated you, Aunt. I'm so sorry..."

Li Wan's self-reproachful words carried a hint of inexplicable grievance and a sob in her voice.

Aunt Li shuddered when Li Wan's hand touched her.

At this moment, she slowly turned around and looked at Li Wan, whose pretty face was flushed, whose eyebrows and eyes were full of spring, and whose charm made even a woman like her unable to resist having romantic thoughts. She immediately understood why Li Wan had done such a thing with Jia Lian.

Such a stunning beauty, no man would want to let her go.

So she raised her hand and touched Li Wan's face, sighing, "Silly child, we're both women, how could I not understand your difficulties? You don't need to be so hard on yourself. Besides, what happened just now... was my own choice, so how can I blame you..."

Aunt Li's voice trembled.

A look of surprise flashed across Li Wan's eyes. "Auntie, you really don't blame me?"

Aunt Li shook her head. The two women were speechless for a moment, and when they looked at each other, they both blushed.

Ultimately, Aunt Li, considering herself an elder and having more experience, continued to comfort her, saying, "He is a powerful and imposing marquis. What kind of woman wouldn't he dare to provoke? You are a young widow in their mansion, and with your looks, it's only natural that he would have his eye on you."

Although I don't know him very well, I can tell he's a very cunning person. If he's determined to scheme against you, how could you possibly escape his grasp?

So, this isn't your fault, so please don't do anything rash. Fortunately, he seems to be a loyal and compassionate person. As long as you both are more careful in the future and avoid causing major trouble, I believe he'll be able to protect you with his abilities.

Since her inappropriate relationship with Jia Lian, Li Wan has been suffering greatly.

Aside from Jia Lian, no one else could truly understand her feelings. Even her trusted maid, Su Yun, only knew about the matter; she naturally wouldn't share her innermost thoughts with such a naive and ignorant maid.

Hearing such words from an outsider was a rare treat, which undoubtedly brought her some comfort.

Li Wan looked at her aunt with gratitude, then suddenly asked, "Since you say so, Aunt, are you truly able to accept this?"

Aunt Li felt ashamed and said weakly, "What is there to be upset about? I am an old and faded woman. It is only because the Marquis thinks highly of me and asks me to serve him that I have the right to think about these things..."

Li Wan quickly replied, "Auntie, what are you saying? You are still very young and beautiful. How can you be considered old and faded?"

"But I'm already in my early thirties. As the saying goes, a woman in her thirties is already past her prime." Aunt Li touched her face.

Upon hearing this, Li Wan couldn't help but sigh at how quickly time flies. In two more years, she would be thirty!

Shaking her head, Li Wan silently leaned closer to her aunt, resting her head on her smooth shoulder, and said, "Aunt, don't belittle yourself. Although Second Uncle... although the Marquis is a womanizer, I know that he doesn't just look at any woman."

Take our many beautiful maids and young wives in the manor, for example; countless women try every means to get close to him.

But apart from the very top two or three, he showed no respect to the rest.

Li Wan hesitated at this point. When she married into the Jia family, Jia Lian was still a young boy, and at that time, there were many rumors in the household that he was playful and lecherous.

Later, however, some people spread rumors that those were just malicious rumors spread by people to smear him.

She couldn't tell the truth from the falsehood, but she had personally witnessed Jia Lian teasing and rejecting the "Duo Guniang" who had come to him.

Although that girl was promiscuous, it must be admitted that she was indeed quite beautiful; otherwise, she wouldn't have been able to seduce so many men in the mansion.

Considering the overwhelming praise Jia Lian had received over the years, Li Wan immediately solidified her decision.

"Therefore, since the Marquis can take a liking to your aunt, it naturally proves that your aunt is still young and beautiful!"

Li Wan's words pleased Aunt Li greatly.

In reality, she wasn't as carefree as she claimed. Having lost her innocence for so many years in one fell swoop, her fear and anxiety were no less than Li Wan's had been back then.

However, unlike Li Wan, she had Li Wan as an example who was superior to her in age, appearance, and status, which made her embarrassed to be pretentious and could only pretend to be generous.

Moreover, she knew that she would be able to return to the south in a few days, at which point Jia Lian would naturally not be able to affect her, so she didn't have so much to worry about.

Now that the two had spoken their minds, they no longer found it difficult to face each other. Aunt Li also took the opportunity to hug Li Wan and sighed, "Before I came to the capital, your mother told me that you were all alone in this noble mansion, with no one to rely on. Your family is far away, and she was worried that if you were bullied, no one would stand up for you."

Now that things are like this, I feel a little more at ease. At least, there's someone to protect you; you have someone to rely on in this family.

Upon hearing this, Li Wan's tears fell involuntarily.

After all these years, she quickly wiped away her tears and said hesitantly, "Didn't Auntie want to find good marriages for Wen'er and Qi'er?"

As the head of the Jia family, the Marquis held several positions in the court and was deeply trusted by the emperor.

He must know many sons of good families. If my aunt were to ask him for help, the marriages of my two younger sisters would naturally no longer be a problem.

"this……"

Aunt Li was immediately intrigued.

Both of her daughters were exceptionally beautiful, and the Li family was a true scholarly family. Although the Li family had declined somewhat in recent years, her two daughters had still received an excellent upbringing.

She was unwilling to settle for less in her two daughters' marriages and was determined to find two suitable matches.

Otherwise, she wouldn't have gone through all that trouble, traveling thousands of miles alone with her daughter to Beijing for a blind date.

She agreed with Li Wan's words. If Jia Lian was willing to help, it would be infinitely easier than if she did it herself.

Previously, I was unaware of this relationship between Li Wan and Jia Lian. Such a private matter involving my daughter's marriage was naturally not something I should rashly bother outsiders with.

At this point...

Aunt Li looked at Li Wan, somewhat embarrassed, and said, "In that case, I'll leave this matter to you to talk to him. If you can help your two younger sisters find suitable families, fulfilling my greatest wish, I will be grateful to you for the rest of my life."

amount……

Li Wan originally intended for Aunt Li to ask for help herself, but unexpectedly, Aunt Li came to ask her for help instead.

However, considering the situation of Aunt Li and Jia Lian, it seemed inappropriate to speak up first, so he nodded and agreed to the matter.

……

Jia Lian was naturally unaware that the two pretty young women had a private conversation that lasted until midnight after she left.

He was in a good mood after finding Daoxiangcun.

Speaking of which, quite some time has passed since I conceived Li Wan's child last month.

Although he had asked Suyun to leave the window open for him at night, he hadn't been able to find the time due to the sudden death of Jia Jing and other events.

It wasn't until tonight that I suddenly had the idea to go and see Li Wan.

Who would have thought that by sheer coincidence, they would run into the two of them, an aunt and niece, having a late-night conversation by candlelight.

Jia Lian didn't have any particular feelings towards Aunt Li.

She was neither too old nor too young. What was rare was that this young widow, born into the prestigious Li family of Jiangnan, did not possess much of a dazzling beauty, but rather had a rather delicate and refined air about her.

In this respect, she is just like her two daughters.

Overall, Aunt Li was the kind of charming woman Jia Lian wouldn't be obsessed with, but if the time was right, he wouldn't mind having a fling with her.

Bathed in the brighter moonlight than when he arrived, Jia Lian strode to the entrance of the Grand View Garden.

The garden gates are already locked.

Given Jia Lian's status, he could naturally go to the night watch room and wake up the old woman guarding the door to open it for him.

But Jia Lian clearly did not want that.

He walked west for a while, came to the wall, and climbed over it to enter his own courtyard.

The courtyard was quiet; most people were obviously asleep, except for the main room where the light was still on.

It's obvious without even guessing that one of his precious children is still waiting for him inside.

Jia Lian was even more pleased and slowly walked into the house along the back corridor.

……