Lian Erye in the Red Mansion

Drinking and composing poetry with a group of beautiful and talented women was not only something Jia Baoyu enjoyed, but also something Jia Lian found endlessly fascinating.

Whether it was the wine itself that made him drunk or not, in any case, Jia Lian had already passed out before the poetry club had even completely ended.

When he woke up again, the sun was no longer shining brightly outside; instead, dusk had fallen.

Sitting up and shaking his neck, Jia Lian felt incredibly clear-headed before patting the little head lying on the side of the bed.

With a soft moan, Xiangling slowly raised her head, rubbed her eyes, and said, "Second Master, you're awake..."

"How did I get here? Where is everyone else?"

"Oh, Second Master, have you forgotten? You got drunk and fell asleep right on Miss Lin's lap. It was me and Sister Ping'er who helped you back."

Seeing that you were drunk, the others lost interest in continuing the fun and soon dispersed.

Jia Lian smiled and then remembered.

Actually, he wasn't completely drunk at the time, only about 70-80% drunk. It seemed that he was deliberately teasing Daiyu by pretending to be drunk and lying on her body.

Perhaps it was because lying on Daiyu's lap in public felt so good that he soon fell asleep.

"Is Second Master getting up? Let me help you change your clothes."

Xiangling got up to get her clothes, but Jia Lian grabbed her and dragged her onto the bed.

Xiangling, who was already used to it, didn't panic. She just blushed and said, "Master, it's getting late. You promised Miss Bao that you would go to the Xue family for a banquet, have you forgotten?"

Upon hearing this, Jia Lian glanced at the sky, then lifted Xiangling's little face and pecked her with a kiss, laughing, "Then I'll let you off the hook for now. I'll pamper you again when I get back. Mmm... my Xiangling is so fragrant and adorable..."

Although Xiangling felt embarrassed as Jia Lian pressed his face against hers, fortunately there was no one else in the room, so she could only patiently endure Jia Lian's doting affection.

She was about to get up when Jia Lian finally stood up, but he picked her up again and laid her flat on the bed. Then she saw Jia Lian standing on the ground, bending down to take off her shoes and clothes.

"Second Master...?"

"Don't move! You're too honest, girl. I told you to guard the bed and you just lie here obediently. What if you catch a cold?"

Since you're so obedient, now listen to me and lie here for a good sleep. Hehe, this is a blessing from heaven, to be sleeping in the warm bed I prepared for you...

Xiangling really wanted to say, "It's the middle of summer, who needs someone to warm their bed?"

However, being obedient by nature, she didn't know how to refuse Jia Lian, so she could only lie there obediently and let Jia Lian remove all her shoes, socks, and outer garments before putting her in bed.

To be honest, the bed that Second Master slept in was definitely more comfortable than my own...

Seeing that Xiangling was like a puppet under his control, with only her beautiful, gentle eyes fixed on him, Jia Lian couldn't do anything malicious. After instructing her not to move, he went to the south window and called in two maids to help him change.

The two maids on duty at the door came in and saw Xiangling lying perfectly fine on her master's bed. The neatly arranged bedding and Xiangling's innocent eyes proved that she had not crawled in on her own, but had been stuffed in by Jia Lian.

The two little girls were incredibly envious.

After changing into casual clothes, Jia Lian went straight out. When Feng Jie returned, she saw Xiang Ling making the bed.

"Where is your second master?"

"Second Master has gone out."

Xiangling secretly rejoiced that she hadn't indulged in pleasure and stayed in bed all the time; otherwise, if Second Madam had come in and seen her like that, she would definitely have been unhappy.

……

Jia Lian, accompanied by his two maids, Aqi and Aqin, rode in a carriage directly to the Xue family.

He had only planned to take Aqin with him. Since she was already quite resentful for not taking her with him when they left the capital, Jia Lian thought he would make it up to her after they returned.

When he went to call her, both sisters happened to be there, so Jia Lian took them with him.

Xue family.

Even before the poetry club started, Baochai had sent Ying'er back to inform Aunt Xue so that she could prepare dinner.

After the poetry club ended, Baochai rushed back immediately and personally prepared several dishes that Jia Lian liked in the kitchen.

Aunt Xue visited twice during this time. Seeing her daughter willingly cooking for her lover, she tried to speak several times but didn't say anything.

It wasn't until dusk that she had someone call Baochai into the room, and said earnestly, "Baochai..."

Seeing that she was slightly sweaty after a busy afternoon, Baochai asked in surprise, "Mother, just say what you want to say. Why are you hiding anything from your daughter?"

Aunt Xue glanced at Ying'er, who was standing next to Baochai, and Ying'er tactfully left the room.

Then Aunt Xue sat down next to Baochai and looked her up and down, making Baochai feel a little embarrassed.

"Mom just wanted to talk to you about you and Lian'er."

Upon hearing this, Baochai immediately quieted down. "Mother, please speak."

Aunt Xue didn't know how to bring it up for a moment, so she went around in circles: "Girl, you really like your Second Brother Lian?"

"Why do you say that, Mother? Wasn't it you who arranged for your daughter to be betrothed to Brother Lian?"

"That's how things are, but you and your brother are both my precious children. If you don't want to, can I force you?"

Baochai was unsure of Aunt Xue's meaning, hesitated for a moment, and replied, "Mother, you are overthinking it. Second Brother Lian is a very good person, and he is very good to me. I... have no reason to object..."

Aunt Xue knew her daughter well enough to know that her daughter still had feelings for Jia Lian.

She sighed inwardly, then suddenly asked, "How far have things progressed between you and Lian'er? Has he ever bullied you?"

Aunt Xue thought that Baochai stayed in the Grand View Garden every day. Although Xiangyun and Baoqin were there, since her daughter and Jia Lian were interested in each other, it would be easy for them to do something out of line.

Baochai was so intelligent that she understood what Aunt Xue wanted to ask as soon as she spoke.

She immediately retorted, embarrassed and angry, "What are you saying, Mother...?"

Baochai initially wanted to refute, but after all, he was her mother. She held back for a while and then explained, "Second Brother Lian is a gentleman. He would never bully anyone, let alone bully his daughter."

Hearing her daughter's righteous and stern statement that Jia Lian was a virtuous gentleman, Aunt Xue was momentarily dazed.

"That's good..."

Aunt Xue took her daughter's hand, patted it, and said earnestly, "You must have heard about Lian'er's dismissal from his official post today in their residence..."

Before Aunt Xue could finish speaking, Baochai immediately looked up, somewhat surprised and shocked, but she ultimately only said quietly, "What does Mother mean by that?"

"Sigh, you are my only daughter. When I do anything, you are naturally the first person I think of."

Although your second brother Lian is an outstanding person, ambitious and capable, and a good person, I was completely at ease giving you to him in marriage.

But then again, he already had Feng and Lin...

For your future, I want to have a heart-to-heart talk with you. Are you truly willing to follow him, even if it means always being subordinate to Feng and Lin?

Baochai didn't speak, but just stared blankly at her mother.

Aunt Xue felt a little intimidated by her daughter's gaze and quickly said, "Don't be ashamed. Since things between you and Lian'er are still uncertain, you might as well think it over carefully."

With your looks and character, you are worthy of any outstanding young man in the world; there's no need for you to compromise yourself.

Baochai understood Aunt Xue's thoughts at this moment. She slowly said, "Back then, it was Mother who wanted to save my brother and took the initiative to betroth me to Brother Lian."

Read the error-free version at 69shuba! 6=9+shuba is the first site to publish this novel.

Thanks to my second brother Lian for not abandoning me and for never using this as leverage, I was allowed to make my own life's most important decision.

After much persuasion from her mother, the daughter finally made up her mind to spend the rest of her life by his side.

Now, Mother is going back on her word because Lian Er Gege is temporarily out of favor. Isn't this ungrateful and treacherous?

Aunt Xue blushed at Baochai's words and immediately retorted, "How can you speak of your mother like that? I'm doing this for your sake!"

If you're really determined to be with him and willing to compromise yourself for him, do you think I'd force you?

However, there's still room for maneuver. I wanted you to seriously reconsider, so you wouldn't regret it later. This is all out of love and care from your mother. It's one thing if you don't appreciate it, but instead you accuse me of being ungrateful and betraying you.

"I won't hide it from you. After returning from their residence, I sent someone to inquire about it."

It is true that your second brother Lian was dismissed from his post. Not only was he removed from his position as the commander of the Western City Military Command, but the commander of the Imperial Guard Firearms Battalion, which he had personally built, was also dismissed by the court.

The new appointments have now been issued by the imperial court, and the new officials have taken office!

It's not that I'm so short-sighted as to value these two official positions. With your second brother Lian's abilities, as long as he's willing, what kind of official position can't he get?

I'm worried about something else...

Baochai frowned and asked tentatively, "Mother, are you referring to Second Brother Lian's background?"

"Isn't that right?"

"You are a smart child. Several days have passed since the upheaval in the capital, and countless rumors have been circulating outside."

Everyone says the crown prince is plotting a rebellion, but who can really say for sure what the real reason is?

You don't know yet, do you? Your uncle went back to Beijing this morning.

"Uncle?" Baochai was startled. The Xue family had little left to rely on.

Aside from the family friends and relatives they've built up over the centuries, the Xue family's biggest support right now is her maternal uncle, Wang Ziteng.

Wang Ziteng is someone anyone would have to think twice before trying to harm the Xue family.

Aunt Xue nodded and said, "Your uncle is a veteran official of two dynasties and holds the position of governor of nine provinces. How come he came back all of a sudden?"

This morning I sent someone to your uncle's house to deliver a visiting card, but your uncle said he had just returned and his house was too busy to receive us. He said he would come to visit us in a couple of days when he had some free time.

Taking this opportunity, I had someone inquire about a lot of information from your uncle's attendants.

Actually, your uncle wasn't summoned back to the capital by the emperor; he led troops back from beyond the Great Wall...

Aunt Xue told Baochai everything she had learned, along with her own speculations.

"In conclusion, judging from all aspects, this is definitely not as simple as the Crown Prince's rebellion. Considering the Emperor's return to the capital yesterday and the killing of so many former officials, I'm afraid it really is as those people say: the current Emperor and the Emperor Emeritus are now at war."

In fact, Emperor Ningkang's attempt to force the emperor to abdicate and the failure of the retired emperor were not secrets among the powerful figures in the empire. After all, the retired emperor had angrily denounced Emperor Ningkang as treasonous in front of so many officials, soldiers, and ministers.

Therefore, many people know the truth, but they are too afraid to spread it, so the truth can only be spread as rumors.

However, Aunt Xue was only a woman confined to her home, and the events had only occurred recently, making it difficult for her to obtain accurate and useful information.

However, the fact that she was able to pinpoint the truth based solely on the rumors circulating outside and her own speculations shows that she was quite shrewd and calculating.

If she was like this, then Baochai, who surpassed her, was naturally even more remarkable.

Baochai instantly recalled the conversation between Jia Lian and Aqin at noon, which contained a lot of crucial information.

"I wasn't entirely sure at first, but after I learned that Lian'er had been dismissed from all her official posts, I finally understood all the key points."

Think about it, if the current emperor really forced the emperor to abdicate and seize power, wouldn't he be wary of your brother Lian Er?

No matter how much the emperor valued your second brother Lian, under this premise, even if your second brother Lian doesn't lose his life in the future, he will probably never be able to make a comeback.

Don't blame me for being heartless; it's just that our Xue family really can't withstand many more failures.

Whether for the Xue family's sake or for your own, if your second brother Lian's career is destined to be hopeless, what are you gaining by following him in such a submissive manner?

Baochai couldn't describe her feelings, but looking at Aunt Xue's open and honest gaze, she believed that her mother was indeed thinking of her, perhaps not entirely, but certainly to some extent.

"I understand what you said, Mother. I will seriously consider it."

Aunt Xue was delighted to hear this: "Don't feel pressured. Your second brother Lian is not a heartless person. Even if he is unhappy, he will not do anything to you or me because of our kinship."

Upon hearing this, Baochai suddenly felt a pang of sorrow: "Even if Second Brother Lian is magnanimous and won't hold a grudge, how will we face him in the future?"

Aunt Xue was speechless for a moment, but then became resolute again.

What's so hard to face? She's already paid the price to save her son, and he specifically asked for it himself.

He himself said he wouldn't force his daughter and that everything would be up to her. Now I'm not forcing her to go back on her word; I'm just asking her to think it over. What's wrong with that?

……