Lian Erye in the Red Mansion

As soon as Jia Lian arrived at the study, Zhao Sheng came up to him and said, "Second Master instructed us to keep a close eye on Jin Wenxiang, and this servant immediately made the arrangements, and sure enough, we discovered something unusual."

After leaving the mansion, this fellow immediately went to Wang Wu's house in the back corridor and did not return until much later.

However, he only stayed home for a short while before going to Wang Wu's house again, and then the two of them went out together.

Seeing that they seemed to be trying to leave the city under cover of night, this servant dared not wait any longer and immediately brought them back to await the Second Master's judgment.

Upon hearing this, Jia Lian asked, "Where is he?"

"It's in the study."

As Jia Lian entered the study, Zhao Sheng and the others immediately dragged two people out of the side room and removed their blindfolds.

When they saw their surroundings clearly, especially when they saw Jia Lian, one looked bewildered, while the other was somewhat apprehensive.

Neither of them spoke; they simply knelt properly.

Jia Lian silently observed them for a moment, then slowly spoke: "Jin Wenxiang, Wang Wu?"

"This servant greets Second Master..."

"So, where are you going so late at night?"

Jin Wenxiang's expression shifted, then suddenly turned obsequious: "Second Master, we are here on the orders of the Old Madam to handle a matter. But we don't understand why you have brought us here?"

Jia Lian gave him a cold glance, then looked at Wang Wu: "You speak."

Wang Wu looked somewhat innocent and was just about to look at Jin Wenxiang's expression.

"Look at me and say it!"

"Yes, yes, yes...Reporting to Second Master, this servant knows nothing. It was Jin Wenxiang who suddenly came to me tonight, saying that the old lady wanted to see Granny Lai and ordered him to go to the northern estate to bring Granny Lai back."

He said the journey was long and he wanted me to go with him. I originally didn't want to go, but he said he would give me fifty taels of silver as a reward if the matter was accomplished...

As soon as Wang Wu finished speaking, Jin Wenxiang quickly laughed and said, "Yes, it's a thousand miles from the capital to the north. I was afraid something might happen on the way, so I thought of taking Wang Wu with me."

"Really? Why does the old lady suddenly want to see Granny Lai and ask you to pick her up?"

If I remember correctly, you were only in charge of purchasing at the old lady's house, right? How come you were given the job of picking people up?

Not only did they hand it over to you, but they also didn't provide you with any accompanying staff. You have to pay for your own hires?

"This...this servant doesn't know why the old lady ordered us to do this, but since the old lady gave the order, we servants just need to do as she says, we can't control what she says..."

"You bastard!"

Jia Lian suddenly shouted, startling Jin Wenxiang so much that he trembled all over.

"Since I have captured you two and brought you here, I naturally have sufficient reason. Do you really think I wouldn't dare to speak so eloquently before me again?"

Hearing Jia Lian's words, Jin Wenxiang was alright, but Wang Wu was so scared he wet himself.

"Second Master, please spare me! This servant really doesn't know anything. I only agreed to go with Jin Wenxiang because of the fifty taels of silver."

"This servant doesn't want the fifty taels of silver, nor will I go north with him. Your Highness is wise. If Jin Wenxiang has committed any heinous crime, Your Highness should punish him alone. This servant is truly innocent! Your Highness, please investigate thoroughly..."

Wang Wu was crying his eyes out.

Jia Lian was not strict with his servants, and was even quite lenient. However, once they were angered, none of them would have a good outcome. This was a consensus among all the servants in the two mansions.

He's filled with regret now. He knew all along that there's no such thing as a free lunch, but that damned Jin Wenxiang was actually willing to take out fifty taels of silver just to get him to go on a trip to the north with him.

Although the north is far, a round trip would only take a few months at most. But fifty taels of silver—he couldn't earn that much even if he worked himself to death for a whole year!

Greed really does lead to disaster. Could this son of a bitch Jin Wenxiang have stolen his master's property and is trying to run away?

Seeing Jia Lian frown, Zhao Sheng kicked Wang Wu, who was banging his head against the ground.

Jin Wenxiang was also somewhat frightened. He said to Jia Lian in a flattering manner, "Second Master, please understand. This servant was really acting on the orders of the Old Madam. If you don't believe me, you can ask the Old Madam or my sister."

Second Master probably doesn't know this, but my sister is the old lady's lover. She admires Second Master the most and often tells me about his heroic deeds..."

As he spoke, he winked at Jia Lian.

Although not many people knew that Grandmother Jia intended to leave Yuanyang to Jia Lian, Jin Wenxiang was a person in Grandmother Jia's courtyard, so he naturally heard some rumors over time.

He was afraid that Jia Lian wouldn't know his identity, like a flood washing away the Dragon King Temple, where family members wouldn't recognize each other.

Jia Lian glared at him irritably. "Looks like you won't learn your lesson until you're faced with the truth. Guards, bring on the torture."

Seeing Jia Lian's guards produce some strange and bizarre torture instruments from somewhere, instruments that were enough to make one's scalp crawl, Jin Wenxiang felt his soul leave his body.

As Jin Yuanyang's older brother, although he could not be considered a stunningly handsome man, he was still seven feet tall with handsome features. In addition, the Jin family was highly regarded by Grandmother Jia, so he had never suffered any hardship since childhood and had fair and delicate skin.

If he were subjected to these instruments of torture, let alone crippling him, even if it only left some scars on his body, his life would be over.

After thinking it over, he quickly said, "No, Second Master, please forgive me, I'll tell you..."

With a wave of his hand, Jia Lian removed the instruments of torture.

Jin Wenxiang glanced at Zhao Sheng and the others again, then said, "This matter is of great importance. Second Master, could you please have them leave so I can speak with you privately..."

"You may all leave. Take him with you."

Zhao Sheng and the others then dragged Wang Wu away as well.

"Alright, you can tell me now."

Jia Lian's tone was cold, clearly indicating that his patience was running out.

Jin Wenxiang, however, was uncharacteristically fearless and hesitant.

He actually got up from the ground, looked shifty-eyed, and walked up to Jia Lian, whispering, "Second Master, please forgive me. This matter is of great importance and cannot be known by others. Please forgive my offense."

Seeing that Jia Lian remained noncommittal, he continued, "I dare not conceal the truth from you, Second Master. This servant was indeed ordered by the Old Madam to go to the northern estate, and I was indeed going to fetch Granny Lai, but..."

"However, the old lady probably means that you should kill her, right?" Jia Lian suddenly interrupted Jin Wenxiang.

Jin Wenxiang immediately looked at Jia Lian as if he had seen a ghost.

Jia Lian pursed his lips. "Go on, tell me everything you know."

Jin Wenxiang was utterly shocked. No wonder everyone said that Second Master Lian was a star descended to earth, and that nothing could be hidden from him. Now it seemed that this was indeed true.

"Second Master is wise, that is indeed the case. Tonight, the old lady had my sister call me to Rongqing Hall and instructed me to go to the Lai family in the north and say that she was seriously ill and wanted to see Granny Lai one last time, so that I could take Granny Lai away."

There's no need to actually bring her back to the capital; all that's needed is to use some magic along the way to send Granny Lai to her death.

For this, the old lady gave me five hundred taels of silver.

"I was initially very afraid, but firstly, it was the old lady's order, and I dared not refuse; secondly, I thought that Granny Lai was an old woman in her seventies or eighties, and this task wouldn't be too difficult, so I agreed."

Jin Wenxiang was quite naive at this point. In his view, he was merely following orders and hadn't actually killed anyone.

The key point is that it's strange that the old lady suddenly wanted to kill Granny Lai, and it's even stranger that Second Master Lian was concerned about this matter and even arrested them for it.

There must be some extraordinary reason behind this.

He dared not and did not want to get involved in too much trouble. He even thought of taking the opportunity to curry favor with Jia Lian. Therefore, since he had already betrayed Grandmother Jia, he might as well betray her completely.

Did the old lady say why she did that?

"I asked about that too, but the old lady scolded me and told me not to meddle."

Jia Lian took a deep breath; he already had a guess.

Granny Lai had served Grandmother Jia for most of her life, and the two had always had a good relationship. But now Grandmother Jia suddenly wanted to get rid of her...

There is only one possibility.

That is, Granny Lai knew some important secrets, and these secrets suddenly had the possibility of being leaked, so out of concern, Grandmother Jia wanted to completely silence her.

Since Grandmother Jia made this decision suddenly after meeting him and telling him about his background, it is very clear that this secret is very likely related to his background.

This is actually why he ordered people to monitor Grandmother Jia when he learned from Yuanyang that she wanted to see Jin Wenxiang.

Grandmother Jia was clearly holding back from him tonight, but since the old lady didn't say anything, he couldn't press her, so he could only put his doubts aside for the time being.

Unexpectedly, Grandmother Jia revealed her weakness so quickly.

"Second Master?"

Seeing that Jia Lian remained silent, Jin Wenxiang tentatively broke the silence.

"Um, Second Master, what should I do next? Do I still need to go to the estate in the north?"

"go."

Jia Lian said, "Since it's the old lady's order, how can I not complete it? However..."

Jin Wenxiang tentatively asked, "However, does Second Master wish to see Granny Lai?"

Jia Lian finally smiled: "Not bad, you're quite clever."

"Hehe, it's all thanks to Second Master's excellent teaching..."

"Alright, you and Wang Wu continue on your way and bring Granny Lai back. Remember, if anything happens to Granny Lai before I see her, you two will pay with your lives."

Jin Wenxiang's relaxed heart immediately tightened again, and he realized more and more that this matter was indeed of great importance.

……