Lian Erye in the Red Mansion

The stars twinkled, and the night was deep and quiet.

Zijuan walked up to the pavilion and draped the spring dress she was holding over Daiyu's shoulders.

Seeing that Daiyu didn't react at all, and didn't even turn around to look at her, but was just leaning against the cool chair gazing at the night sky, Zijuan went around to sit down in front of Daiyu and said softly, "It's not late yet. If you want to see the Second Master, I'll accompany you to the manor. Why sit here and worry?"

Daiyu didn't speak, but her slightly furrowed brows showed that she was listening to Zijuan's words.

With a soft sigh, Zijuan pulled Daiyu's clothes closer together to protect the frail girl from the night wind, then got up and left.

Once all was quiet again, Daiyu slowly turned around and glanced in the direction where Zijuan had left.

Although Zijuan is intelligent, how could she possibly understand her thoughts?

Brother Lian is about to return, and he and Sister Feng must be enjoying a harmonious relationship. If she goes over there at this time, wouldn't she incur Sister Feng's wrath?

She certainly wouldn't go.

Just thinking about how I am so close to the person I miss, yet unable to go and see them, inevitably makes me feel a little depressed, so I gaze at the moon and think about them.

Brother Lian is indeed very good, but if there are many such moments in the rest of her life, I wonder if Lin Daiyu will be able to resist feeling sorry for herself.

If I become melancholy, will it annoy my second brother Lian?

These jumbled thoughts lingered in her mind, and just as she was feeling annoyed, she suddenly heard a maid's voice greeting her from the main room. Just as she was wondering what was going on, the maid Xiao Yan came running over.

"Miss, Second Master Lian has come to see you. You should go back now..."

"understood."

Seeing that Daiyu was not particularly moved, Xiaoyan's joy faded a bit. She glanced at Daiyu suspiciously before bowing and leaving.

Little did she know that as soon as she left, Daiyu stood up from the reclining chair.

After quickly glancing at her clothes and accessories, Daiyu hurried forward.

The breeze stirred up by the beauty's running caused Zijuan's unfastened spring dress to fall off, fluttering in the air. By the time it slowly landed, the beauty had completely disappeared at the end of the corridor.

Upon reaching her room, Daiyu slowed her pace considerably, calmed her mind, and then lifted the curtain to enter.

Sure enough, as soon as she entered, she saw the handsome figure she had been longing for sitting on her fragrant couch, asking Zijuan, who was serving tea beside her, something.

"The young lady has arrived. Second Master, please ask her directly if you have any questions."

Zijuan put down the tea and then took the tea tray and left. As she passed by Daiyu, she winked at her.

Daiyu didn't understand what Zijuan meant at first, and she was too lazy to understand. After frowning, she looked at Jia Lian, who was smiling at her, and said with a hint of reproach, "Didn't you send the maid to say that you weren't coming tomorrow... tonight? Why are you here again?"

"What's wrong? Is Lin Daiyu unhappy that I'm here?"

Jia Lian looked the increasingly beautiful and graceful maid up and down, and slowly nodded.

He hadn't originally planned to visit Daiyu tonight; he only intended to stay home and have a good chat with his wives and concubines whom he hadn't seen for a while. So he sent a maid to inform Daiyu that he would come to see her again tomorrow morning.

Who knew that Jin Wenxiang's matter would interrupt his plans, and coupled with the fact that he hadn't seen the girl for half a month, he really missed her. So after leaving the study, he decided to go to the garden to see Daiyu.

Upon hearing Jia Lian's words, Daiyu instinctively wanted to retort, but then she remembered her recent worries about him and swallowed her words, instead observing Jia Lian's expression and demeanor.

Although Jia Lian knew why Daiyu was looking at him, he couldn't help but feel secretly pleased to be stared at by such a beautiful young woman.

His smile widened, even taking on a more meaningful tone, as he beckoned to Daiyu.

Daiyu felt a little embarrassed, but after confirming that Jia Lian was alright, she obediently stepped forward, hesitated for a moment, and asked, "Are you... alright...?"

Daiyu actually wanted to ask Jia Lian how he had been doing outside all this time, whether he had encountered any danger, but then she thought that Wang Xifeng must have already asked those questions.

It doesn't necessarily have to be Wang Xifeng; it could be someone like the old lady, or even Jia Lian himself, who might be tired of being asked these questions...

Therefore, after hesitating for a long time, I only asked this one question.

But Jia Lian found it quite agreeable. This was Daiyu; she was neither hypocritical nor insincere, which made her seem rather uncaring.

Taking Daiyu's small hand in his, Jia Lian smiled indulgently and said, "Don't worry, I know that Lin Daiyu is worried about me at home, so of course she will take good care of herself. Nothing will happen."

While Daiyu was still reeling from his mushy words, Jia Lian naturally pulled Daiyu's slender body into his arms.

Once she was firmly seated on Jia Lian's lap, Daiyu belatedly realized her embarrassment and said, "Why did you start touching me like that right away..."

"It's been so long since I've held my Lin Daiyu. Be good, don't move, let me inhale your fragrance."

Jia Lian's explicit words made Daiyu very embarrassed, but because Jia Lian was holding her so tightly, Daiyu could only half-heartedly lie on Jia Lian's chest.

After a long while, realizing that Jia Lian was truly only inhaling her fragrance on her face and neck without making any excessive moves, Daiyu felt a little relieved and shyly asked, "They say that my eldest uncle is not the old lady's son, but rather the Emperor Emeritus and... Is that true?"

Daiyu didn't really care about the Emperor Emeritus or the status of a grandson of the Emperor.

In contrast, she was more concerned that if Jia Lian's identity changed, wouldn't her relationship with Jia Lian also change?

Even now, she still can't quite tell whether her feelings for Jia Lian are more like a woman's love for her lover or a cousin's affection for her cousin.

After all, her cousin Jia Lian had shown her such deep care over the years.

She knew Jia Lian from the age of nine when she first became aware of the world, and at the age of twelve, her father arranged her engagement to Jia Lian. During these most innocent years of her life, she had neither parents to rely on nor siblings to support her.

Aside from her aloof but kind maternal grandmother, only her cousin Jia Lian was someone she could rely on, trust, and confide in.

Jia Lian also played the role of her cousin very well, leading her to believe that he would be a cousin she could rely on for the rest of her life, like a father or elder brother.

It wasn't until after their engagement that she realized she had already developed an inseparable affection for her brother who had cared for her so deeply.

This affection became even stronger and sweeter after Jia Lian took the initiative to change his status from brother to "fiancé".

Although Lian Ergege has changed quite a bit after his identity was changed, and even made her feel a little lost at first, overall it's good.

She had fully accepted Jia Lian as both her cousin and her future husband. Now, someone suddenly told her that Jia Lian might not actually be her cousin, which made her feel incredulous and uncertain.

Jia Lian knew Daiyu too well and could guess some of her thoughts, so he hugged her small body tightly and said softly, "Does Sister Lin also care about this?"

Daiyu gently shook her head, but the way she looked up at Jia Lian still conveyed her desire to know the truth from him.

"I can only tell Lin Daiyu that even I haven't figured this out yet."

But no matter what, whether I am a member of the Jia family or the royal family, it will not affect the position of Lin Daiyu in my heart.

So now it's my turn to ask Lin Daiyu. If I weren't your cousin, would you still like me so much?

Daiyu never expected Jia Lian to ask her such a question, and to ask it so bluntly.

However, people place great importance on bloodlines, and even Daiyu couldn't help but take it more seriously.

After thinking for a moment, she leaned against Jia Lian's chest and said softly, "Yu'er's feelings for Second Brother stem from the meticulous care Second Brother has given Yu'er over the years, and from Father's promise of me to Second Brother."

Therefore, no matter what status her second brother has, Yu'er will always love him as a person, and nothing else...

How rare it is to hear the word "like" from Daiyu's mouth.

Jia Lian knew that this was just a matter of the atmosphere and the topic being set; otherwise, getting this girl to admit that she liked him would be harder than climbing to heaven.

Therefore, Jia Lian, who originally only planned to come and sit for a while, changed his mind.

Such a golden opportunity should not be wasted if we do not seize it and capture more cities.

The naive Daiyu was completely unaware of the impending danger; she was still ashamed of her bold confession.

Noticing that Jia Lian showed no unusual reaction, and finding his embrace indeed very comfortable, she decided to play the ostrich and secretly enjoy the warm and cozy feeling.

But she soon noticed that Jia Lian's hands were starting to get restless. At first, she could tolerate it, but as her delicate buttocks were attacked, she could no longer pretend.

If it had been a few months ago, she would have run away in shame long ago.

However, because Jia Lian had coaxed her into serving him with his small hands in her boudoir last time, and because her wet nurse, Granny Wang, had taught her some common sense about "being a wife" in various ways, she had become somewhat enlightened.

So she lightly pinched Jia Lian's waist, and he sat up, glaring at her playfully: "What's wrong with you? Thinking about those naughty things again!"

Jia Lian, who already harbored wicked intentions, could hardly resist Daiyu's seductive glance.

Without much hesitation, Jia Lian grabbed Daiyu's head with one hand and lowered his head to accurately capture her soft, fragrant lips.

This wasn't the first time Daiyu had been kissed by Jia Lian. Although last year on the ship returning from Yangzhou, she had made a pact with Jia Lian, saying that he absolutely could not kiss her again before their marriage, nor could he do anything bad to her...

Jia Lian readily agreed at the time, but soon broke his promise.

Even now, she herself has long forgotten the promise she made with Jia Lian that she was determined to keep.

Jia Lian had said he wouldn't come to see her tonight, but he did anyway, which undoubtedly surprised and delighted her.

Furthermore, having already expressed their feelings for each other, even Daiyu didn't find anything wrong with Jia Lian kissing her at that moment...

She quickly fell into a sweet, passionate kiss with her beloved, gradually losing all sense of direction.

When she finally managed to open her eyes, she realized that Jia Lian had laid her flat on his own fragrant, soft couch. Her already meager clothes seemed to be in disarray.

"Second brother, you..."

Daiyu's heart raced; Jia Lian's expression and actions left her somewhat bewildered.

Jia Lian naturally knew that he needed to be gentle with a young girl like Daiyu, so when he sensed her nervousness, he lightly kissed her earlobe and then whispered in her ear to comfort her, "My Lin sister is so beautiful, let your second brother take a good look at you. Don't worry, your second brother won't hurt you..."

As they spoke, the hand that had reached under Daiyu's waist found the well-hidden clasp and quietly pulled it.

Daiyu was unaware of Jia Lian's subtle actions, and naturally had no idea that the buttons on her bodice around her neck and waist had been broken by Jia Lian.

She was so dizzy at the moment that she didn't even understand what Jia Lian meant by "take a good look".

Her only worry now is whether she should, and is able to, agree if Jia Lian wants her body...

Conventional etiquette and her inner pride both led her to insist that she could only do intimate things with Jia Lian after she had truly married him.

But the reality is that, under Jia Lian's deception, she has unknowingly done countless shameful things with him in secret.

The only thing that reassured her was that, although Jia Lian had done many outrageous things to her, he had never actually laid a hand on her; otherwise, she would have lost her virginity long ago.

She could tell that Jia Lian really wanted her.

But since Brother Lian has endured it for so long, it's likely that this time will be no exception.

Therefore, even though she was very nervous and worried, Daiyu still did not have the courage to run away.

Once Jia Lian had stabilized Daiyu, he slowly got off her and sat astride her waist and hips.

However, he tried his best to support his body with his thighs to avoid any possibility of crushing Daiyu.

Daiyu was the reincarnation of the Crimson Pearl Flower, possessing unparalleled beauty that no true fairy could match.

She lay flat on the hibiscus couch, her eyes glazed, her pretty face flushed. Beneath her beautiful face, her snow-white dress and swan-like neck, her ethereal grace was concealed beneath her thin brocade robes and hidden within her bright red bodice.

This elusive, half-hidden beauty alone was enough to keep Jia Lian gazing at it for a long time!

Fortunately, Jia Lian knew that Daiyu would become alert if too much time passed, so when he keenly noticed a change in Daiyu's expression, Jia Lian raised his slightly excited hand, grabbed the corner of the hibiscus-patterned bodice that was only covering Daiyu's body, and pulled it off forcefully...

At this moment, time seemed to stand still.

Jia Lian didn't know how to describe his feelings, let alone the scene before him.

Although he couldn't know everything about Daiyu's body, he was involved in almost every aspect of her life.

But never before have I been able to glimpse, so directly and clearly, another unparalleled beauty beneath Daiyu's ethereal countenance.

Jia Lian originally didn't have high expectations for Daiyu's figure. After all, Daiyu's physique was what it was, and he had measured her with his hands several times, believing that she was no different from Qingwen.

He secretly believed that the reason he was so excited and so eager to see her was simply because she was Daiyu.

She possesses a unique and unparalleled beauty, like Lin Daiyu.

Only at this moment did he realize he was wrong; the so-called flawless white jade and the wonderful scenery of Jade Mountain were no exception.

Just as Jia Lian had imagined, every stunning beauty in the world is a unique treasure, each with her own merits.

Daiyu's physical beauty, like her appearance, exudes exquisite refinement and elegance, so delicate that it seems only to be admired from afar and not to be touched.

Jia Lian wanted to fully appreciate the magnificent, world-shaking scenery, but he made a grave mistake at this crucial moment.

He was so focused that he had forgotten to observe Daiyu's expression.

Accompanied by a startled cry that seemed to shatter gold and split rocks, the loyal maid Zijuan rushed in immediately.

"Girl, what's wrong?"

How could Zijuan, a young woman in her prime, have imagined that she would witness such a scene?

The girl, delicate as a flower bud, a "beauty lantern" that seemed like she might be blown away by the wind, was now being ridden by the tall and strong Second Master Lian.

Despite being barely clothed and with her private parts exposed, the poor girl still struggled to get up and beat the villain who had wronged her to death.

Ultimately, the difference in strength was too great, and her hands were quickly grabbed, making her so anxious that she almost cried.

"Sister Lin, listen to me..."

Zijuan naturally couldn't listen to what Jia Lian was saying; her mind was filled with the idea that Jia Lian would unleash his beastly nature and take advantage of her when she wasn't paying attention.

She didn't know where the courage came from, but she suddenly took three steps in two and rushed to the bedside. She pushed forward with both arms and managed to knock Jia Lian, this villain, off his feet.

She spread her arms to shield Daiyu behind her, glaring angrily at Jia Lian: "What are you doing, Second Master! She is your cousin. Even if... even if you are engaged, you can't do this before you get married."

"How can you do this to betray the trust our master placed in you, and the sincerity our young lady had for you?"

To be honest, Zijuan's protective mother-hen-like demeanor was truly impressive, leaving even Daiyu, who was wrapped in her clothes and arms behind her, stunned.

Especially when she saw Jia Lian awkwardly sit up, his face filled with astonishment and disbelief, she almost laughed.

Finally realizing that laughing out loud at this moment would be unfair to Zijuan, who had shown her such deep affection, she turned her head away and pretended to be angry, saying, "Let him go, I don't want to see him right now..."

Upon hearing this, Zijuan's eyes widened even more, becoming as round as copper bells.

"Lin Daiyu..."

"Get out!"

Seeing that Daiyu's cheeks and neck were flushed, but she simply turned her head away from him, Jia Lian knew that she was alright.

After all, given Daiyu's personality, if she truly felt bullied or wronged by him, she would have cried long ago. Especially when the person being bullied was him.

Not crying means it's just because you're shy.

Yes, I was careless and forgot that this was the shy Daiyu.

So Jia Lian sat down on the couch, silently put on his boots, stood up and said to Daiyu behind Zijuan, "Then I'll be going now. Don't forget that your Sister Feng is hosting a banquet in the courtyard tomorrow at noon, remember to come on time."

Seeing that Daiyu did not answer, Jia Lian did not care. He just glared at Zijuan and then turned and left.

"girl……?"

Zijuan turned to look at Daiyu, who was only covered by a thin spring dress and whose hair was disheveled, and asked with concern.

"I'm fine..."

How could Daiyu bear to look at Zijuan? She turned her back and silently buttoned up her clothes, completely forgetting that Jia Lian had already torn her bodice away somewhere.

Zijuan was silent for a moment, then said, "I'll go get you some clean clothes, Miss."

She stood up.

If she still couldn't see that her girl was perfectly fine at this moment, she would be a fool.

Well, all that rushing earlier turned out to be her own doing, interrupting the couple's flirting.

At the same time, I didn't know what I was feeling.

She knew, of course, that Jia Lian was no "good man," after all, this fellow had already bullied her and Xueyan countless times behind their young lady's back.

But with her and Xueyan, it was nothing more than a few kisses and holding hands, and at most, a pat on the bottom when they weren't looking.

I originally thought he would treat those girls much the same way.

It wasn't until last time that she vaguely felt that the relationship between Jia Lian and the girls wasn't as simple as it was with them!

That's true. Once you've stripped the girl naked, what wouldn't you do?

This time, it's confirmed.

……

As Jia Lian walked out of Xiaoxiang Pavilion, the image of that delicate, snow-white skin still lingered in his mind, and he was in a great mood.

The only pity is that Daiyu is still a bit too naive, which makes him reluctant to take things too seriously, resulting in him feeling infinitely satisfied psychologically but somewhat uneasy physically.

He was about to hurry back to find Qingwen and the other women to relieve his lust when he suddenly slowed down when he reached Qinfang Bridge.

Qingwen's eyebrows and eyes resembled Daiyu's, so much so that Jia Lian would often use Qingwen to relieve his frustrations when he was unsatisfied with Daiyu.

However, after doing it many times, it inevitably loses some of its originality.

He hadn't forgotten that on Longcui Mountain to the east, there was another beautiful fairy, equally stunning, whom he had lured there.

Looking up at the clear night sky, I figured it wasn't yet past midnight, so it wouldn't hurt to stay a little longer before heading back.

Having tasted the benefits of this night raid on Xiaoxiang Pavilion, Jia Lian naturally understood that visiting Miaoyu tonight would be far more advantageous than going tomorrow!

So he turned around and followed the moonlight directly to Longcui Nunnery.

……