Dream of the Red Chamber

Chapter 185 Delivered to the Door
In the side room next to the main house in front, there were four dishes on the kang table, including two seasonal stir-fries, a plate of Dongpo pork and a plate of lion's head.

The chopsticks cut the lion's head into small pieces, but they stopped in mid-air. Behind the kang table was Qingwen, who was frowning and thinking.

"It's better to stay in Big Grid Lane."

Qingwen muttered to herself, complaining internally. This was because, since moving into the new house, Chen Siyuan had only visited once every two or three days, and even then, he mostly hung out with the Second and Third Concubines, only occasionally finding time to talk to her.

How could it compare to that day in Da Gezi Lane? Nine out of ten, the old man would come to see her at noon, talk, eat together, and then hug each other for a nap.

Now Qingwen knew that Chen Siyuan had graduated from the Imperial College and would no longer come to see her every noon, but she couldn't help but reminisce about the past.

Looking at the sky, it was probably past midnight. I was afraid that Master Zi would have to go back to Rongguo Mansion soon.

Qingwen put a piece of lion's head into her mouth and chewed it with her cheeks puffed up, but her eyes were fixed on the window. Suddenly, there was a creaking sound, and it was Nanny Qu who pushed the door open and entered.

Seeing that Qingwen had only used half of it, he frowned and said, "My dear, why haven't you finished it yet?"

Qingwen pouted and said, "I'll eat slowly by myself, what's the rush?"

Madam Qu slapped her thigh, sighed, and leaned over to whisper, "The wine and food have been cleared out of the back building. The master has ordered us to close the doors and windows and not come back tonight."

"Really?" Qingwen asked happily, then snorted softly, "What does it have to do with me whether the master comes back or not?"

Madam Qu chuckled teasingly, making Qingwen blush. Then she said, "The only thing the young lady has is a tough mouth... Use it quickly, or the master might come looking for her soon."

Qingwen hummed twice as a sign of agreement. Although she didn't say anything else, she ate like a whirlwind, picking up her chopsticks and finishing her meal in the blink of an eye. She stood up and called the nanny to clean up. She hurriedly found a handkerchief to wipe the corners of her mouth, walked a few steps hurriedly, then returned with a frown and looked at herself in the dressing mirror.

Seeing that the rouge on her lips had been wiped clean, she quickly took the rouge and applied it on her lips with her fingertips.

After a moment's pause, she pursed her lips and surveyed the scene, then headed for the main room. She lit the lamp, then thoughtfully instructed Madam Qu to prepare hot water, then had someone set up the incense burner, then placed a lotus incense stick on top of it from the spice box.

Just as he was about to breathe a sigh of relief, he heard footsteps approaching from the corridor, and the voice of an old woman calling "Master".

Qingwen was startled and turned to greet him, but for some unknown reason she bit her lower lip, sat sideways on the chair, and found the round fan on the table that she had not finished during the day and began to embroider it.

Unexpectedly, in her panic, the embroidery thread had become tangled, and she accidentally dropped the canvas. In her panic, she knocked over the sewing box, and the thimble in her palm rolled to the edge of the door.

Just at this moment the door opened, and Chen Siyuan glanced at the thimble that had rolled to his feet, and then saw Qingwen in a pomegranate-red dress, with a kingfisher butterfly hairpin trembling on her temples, her face full of panic and embarrassment.

Chen Siyuan leaned over to pick up the thimble, frowned, and said to Qingwen, "I've told you several times not to do needlework at night. You might hurt your eyes."

The thimble was placed on the table. Qingwen was secretly annoyed at her sudden clumsiness, but she couldn't help feeling a little relieved.

While she was still pondering how to respond, Chen Siyuan took a deep breath, looked at the incense burner, and said, "Lotus incense? It smells very sweet. Did you just buy some?"

Qingwen couldn't help but say with a touch of pride, "A few days ago, Third Aunt asked the front-line servant to come home and deliver some spices. I smelled the fragrance of lotus roots and it was very pleasant, so I bought some myself."

Qingwen had already come to her senses while they were talking. She quickly stood up and let Chen Siyuan sit down. She still said with a stern face, "How soon will you be back, Master?"

Chen Siyuan only took a glance and knew that Qingwen was in a bad mood... Maybe it was because they had not been together recently?

"I won't be back today."

Chen Siyuan retorted, and Qingwen said, "I'll go get you a cup of tea."

She turned to leave, but Chen Siyuan pulled her hand. "No hurry." Chen Siyuan took Roudi's hand and asked her to sit down beside him. "Let's talk for a while."

Qingwen agreed with a stern face, and after sitting down, she lowered her head.

Chen Siyuan then asked about her food, clothing, and other expenses, and how she was getting along with You Erjie and You Sanjie.

Qingwen replied one by one, "All is well. Third Aunt has a fiery temper, but she treats me very well. With Third Aunt looking after me, Second Aunt hasn't treated me badly. The food and clothing are also very good."

Chen Siyuan reached out and tapped her lips, jokingly saying, "Why does it look like there's a greasy stick hanging from your lips? Who made you unhappy?"

Qingwen cried out in surprise, leaning back slightly, and then she said angrily, "Master, you are teasing me again... I am still tired of being two concubines, so Master wants to go back to Rongguo Mansion."

Chen Siyuan didn't try to explain, but instead said, "I'm going to go south in a while, and I'm afraid it will take half a year before I return."

"It takes so long?" Qingwen couldn't help but raise her eyebrows.

Chen Siyuan counted on his fingers and said, "First, to offer sacrifices to my parents, and second, my marriage to Sister Lin must be decided by Magistrate Jia."

"Oh." Qingwen responded in a muffled voice, feeling increasingly unhappy.

Chen Siyuan took a look and said with a smile, "Unhappy?"

Qingwen just pouted and shook her head.

But then Chen Siyuan continued, "Yes, I haven't seen you for half a year, and I'm really sad to see you go back and forth... How about you come south with me? It's a good opportunity to go to Suzhou, so you and your daughter can be reunited."

Qingwen raised her head and blinked, then stood up in surprise and said, "Really? Master, don't you dare lie to me!"

Chen Siyuan smiled and said, "When have I ever deceived you?"

Qingwen was overwhelmed with joy and delight, her earlier temper vanishing without a trace. She thought to herself, "So, Master has remembered what he said all along. She's just a maid, and for Master to care about her like this, what more could I ask for?"
Thinking that she would be able to see her mother soon, Qingwen was moved and her eyes turned red for a moment.

Seeing this, Chen Siyuan reached out and held him in his arms, stroking his back to comfort him.

After a while, when Qingwen had calmed down, Chen Siyuan teased her again, "Are you feeling uncomfortable now?"

Qingwen nodded shyly. Just as she was about to say something, Madam Qu came from outside and said, "Master, Miss, the water is ready."

Qingwen quickly turned around and said, "Master, can I help you bathe?"

Not only had he drunk a lot at the Luming Feast that afternoon, but he was also exposed to the sun and the wind, leaving him covered in mud. Chen Siyuan, who always liked cleanliness, nodded and said, "Alright."

Qingwen quickly withdrew and beckoned the maid to bring in the tub. Bucket after bucket of hot water poured in. Qingwen rolled up her sleeves and dipped her fair, delicate hands into the water. Frowning, she said to the maid, "It's a little hot. Add half a bucket of cold water."

The maid agreed and soon added half a bucket of cold water. Qingwen finally relaxed her brows. She raised her head and said, "Master, the water is ready."

"Yeah." Chen Siyuan responded, his eyes always on Qingwen.

Then one could see mist escaping from the bathtub. In the hazy air, Qingwen, dressed in a pomegranate-red dress, had her cheeks flushed red. When she raised her head, her every frown and smile was like the peach blossoms blooming in spring, with a touch of shyness and an unconcealable liveliness.

Qingwen came over and helped Chen Siyuan undress. Since it was her first time helping Chen Siyuan take a bath, she couldn't help blushing when she saw his slender arms and waist.

She suppressed her shyness and turned her head to pick up her clothes. Turning back, she saw Chen Siyuan already sitting in the bathtub. Qingwen bit her lip and moved her lotus steps. Her scallion-like jade fingers picked up the cloth and walked behind Chen Siyuan. She stirred some hot water and began to scrub him.

Perhaps because they were too close, the unique masculine scent hit her face, and Qingwen couldn't help but lower her eyes. Her long eyelashes trembled slightly, and the blush on her pretty face became more intense.

So she made small talk, "When we get back to Suzhou, let's go eat sock bottom pastry, flathead lung soup, and the sauce recipe! Especially the sauce recipe, simmer it over low heat for three hours, and it's so delicious that it leaves a lingering fragrance on your lips and teeth."

"What is sock bottom pastry?"

Qingwen said, "Kunshan dim sum is bright and fragrant, thin and translucent, and crispy and refreshing." After a pause, she continued, "Your Excellency doesn't know, but my family is originally from Kunshan. We couldn't make ends meet, so my parents came to Suzhou to make a living."

Chen Siyuan had lived in Yangzhou for a long time and was familiar with the name "Beggar Kunshan." This was because whenever Taihu Lake overflowed, Kunshan was submerged. Nine out of ten years, the entire county was underwater. Local residents struggled to make ends meet, often moving their families to Suzhou and Hangzhou for a living or resorting to begging.

Kunqu opera was originally a southern opera, but it was developed because the people of Kunshan could not make a living and were forced to do so.

Chen Siyuan smiled and asked, "Then you must have listened to Kunqu Opera when you were a child."

Qingwen reflected, "Indeed, the troupe owner came to our house and said he wanted to take me to learn music. My mother couldn't bear to let me go, and even risked a beating from my father, she refused. That's why she kept me for two more years."

After saying this, Qingwen couldn't help but feel sad and murmured, "I don't know what my mother will do when I'm gone."

What could be done? The separation of mother and daughter was heartbreaking. Chen Siyuan knew Qingwen was deeply troubled, so he said, "When you see your mother someday, I'm sure she'll be very happy."

"Yeah." Qingwen nodded in response, then put her worries aside and began to scrub Chen Siyuan carefully.

After a while, after scrubbing her back, Qingwen came to the front. Chen Siyuan saw that her hair was plastered to her cheeks, and her pretty face was moist and rosy, looking very lovely.

He couldn't help but feel playful, and while Qingwen was busy scrubbing, he raised his hand and flicked some water droplets over. The water droplets wet the front of her clothes, and Qingwen couldn't help but cry out in surprise, then angrily threw water at Chen Siyuan as well.

For a moment, water splashed everywhere, accompanied by laughter and coquettish grumbling. Qingwen dodged while laughing, her laughter clear and melodious, like a silver bell. A few strands of hair, soaked by sweat, clung to her flushed cheeks, adding a touch of cuteness. The front of her dress had been opened at some point, revealing the moon-white silk apron underneath, which was mostly wet, revealing the delicate and delicate firefly inside.

Chen Siyuan couldn't help swallowing secretly. On a whim, he took advantage of Qingwen's unpreparedness and grabbed her wrist, pulling her into his arms. Qingwen screamed and threw herself into Chen Siyuan's arms.

"Master, you..." Qingwen supported herself on the edge of the bathtub with one hand, and when she looked up, she saw Chen Siyuan's fiery gaze. She couldn't finish the words that were on the tip of her tongue, so she just pursed her lips and looked at Chen Siyuan.

Chen Siyuan reached out and pinched Qingwen's chin, then raised his head and looked into hers in confusion.

With just a slight touch, Qingwen's body softened, and her delicate hands, which were supporting the bathtub, could no longer hold on, and she fell over in a moment.

Chen Siyuan was caught off guard at the moment and was hit on the lips by the pearly teeth. When he came to his senses, Qingwen had already fallen into the bathtub.

Qingwen fluttered, grasping Chen Siyuan's shoulders to prop herself up. Water droplets dripped from her body, and she couldn't help but scold, "Look at what you have done!"

Chen Siyuan laughed and said, "Everyone's wet, why don't you come in too?"

Qingwen pursed her lips and said nothing. She was not a vixen like Bihen who was always thinking about climbing into her master's bed. Even though she agreed in her heart, she didn't want to say it out loud.

Chen Siyuan had lived two lives, so how could he not see what Qingwen was thinking? Without allowing her to reply, he stood up, pulled Qingwen up, and carried her into the bathtub.

Qingwen said angrily, "At least let me change my clothes. How could you be so... so... reckless, Master?"

Chen Siyuan joked, "I finally passed the imperial examination, and now I can't be reckless for once?" After saying that, he moved Qingwen's body again, and when her back was facing him, he put his arms around her and held her in his arms.

He whispered in Qingwen's ear, "You're still young, and you have a fiery temper. If you keep staying outside, I'm afraid you'll get into trouble. But it's not easy to take you back to Rongguo Mansion, so I can only keep you here."

Qingwen responded with a whimper, her voice soft as a mosquito's, growing ever lower as she spoke, "Master, you look down on me like that. I'm not stupid. I don't have anyone to protect me, so I won't hold it against you." She paused, noticing Chen Siyuan's breath against her cheek, and continued, "I know Master is always thinking about me. I'm not some naive child. I have my own ideas."

"Well, it's good that you have an idea. I'm just afraid that you'll get angry and just ignore it."

Qingwen knew what Chen Siyuan was talking about, and she said, "As for Second Aunt, I'll just stay away from her from now on."

The master and servant huddled together until the water in the tub cooled, then they both emerged and found clothes to change. Qingwen blushed as she stared into the tub, stammering, bewildered.

The water was all over the floor, soaking even the legs of the table. If we called the maid, we'd probably be laughed at.

Chen Siyuan said, "We'll clean it up tomorrow morning." He yawned and said, "It's late, let's go to bed."

"Yeah." Qingwen responded in a muffled voice, her heart pounding.

Unlike usual, this time they slept together at night... Qingwen then remembered the embarrassing parts in the booklet that Lai had given her.

Chen Siyuan lifted the brocade quilt and got into the bed. Qingwen hesitated for a long time before kicking off her shoes and getting on the bed. She lay down gently and was immediately embraced by Chen Siyuan.

Qingwen then moved her little head and rested it on the crook of Chen Siyuan's arm, feeling very relieved, as if all the resentment she had just felt had disappeared.

After a while, Qingwen felt something strange under her body. She was wondering what the master had hidden against her. Suddenly, she realized something and her face turned red.

It was also at this time that the hands that were wrapped around her reached into her bellyband and gradually became unruly.

After another long pause, Qingwen could no longer bear it. She turned over with heavy breathing, her eyes full of confusion. She kept calling out "Master" in a low voice and raised her little face to seek. The two of them clung to each other for a while, Qingwen's passion clearly stirring, but Chen Siyuan suddenly stopped. Qingwen looked at him with confusion, her eyes blurred. Chen Siyuan said worriedly, "You are still young. Don't hurt yourself."

Qingwen blinked and clung to Chen Siyuan's chest, feeling that the master truly cherished her. Another master wouldn't have cared about a maid. He'd just indulge himself, perhaps getting tired of her after two years and kicking her out.

In comparison, my uncle is a bit stronger than that second master Bao.

Qingwen's heart was moved, and she thought that since her master was so kind to her, she must repay him in kind. Recalling the scene in the book, she boldly reached down.

"Hmm?" Chen Siyuan asked in surprise.

Qingwen said shyly, "Master... well, it's not good to be depressed. No, how about I serve you in a different way?"

"Um……"

The night was cool and quiet except for the blazing charcoal fire in the incense burner, which dyed the bedroom red.

............................................................

The next morning, Qingwen opened her eyes and saw Chen Siyuan open his eyes and look at her. She greeted him, then remembered what happened last night and couldn't help but feel embarrassed again.

She was a novice after all, and only served halfway when Chen Siyuan grinned and said she was just pulling radishes. After that, she was served by her own master again...

At that moment, Qingwen seemed to have fainted. It took her a long time to come back to her senses. She felt as if her heart was about to jump out.

After receiving the master's instruction, she finally served him. After this encounter, the master and servant naturally became closer. After a moment of shyness, Qingwen threw off the quilt and sat up, saying, "There's a banquet tonight, so I have to get up early, otherwise the Second Aunt will definitely send Xia Zhu to question me."

As soon as he finished speaking, he heard a knock on the door. Xia Zhu said, "Is the master awake yet? Second Auntie asked where he would like to have breakfast later."

Qingwen pursed her lips and looked at Chen Siyuan, meaning: You’re right.

Chen Siyuan coughed lightly and said, "Breakfast will be in the main room. Go and tell them to call my second and third sisters to come over later."

Xia Zhu agreed and turned away.

Qingwen stretched her waist a little and urged, "Master, please get up quickly. We've prepared your inner clothes here, but most of your outer clothes are at Rongguo Mansion. You might want to go back and change later."

When Chen Siyuan lazily stood up, Qingwen knelt over and carefully dressed him, saying to herself, "Master is not short of money now. If it were up to me, I'd make a few more clothes and keep them here as a backup. This way, you don't have to run back to the Rongguo Mansion when you need to change."

"Well, I'll send someone to buy some cloth and brocade later."

Qingwen smiled and said, "Master, you seem to have grown a bit taller. I'll take your measurement when I have time."

"Ah."

When Qingwen moved her arms, her beauty was revealed, which made Chen Siyuan jealous again.

When Qingwen saw that his eyes were not right, although she looked angry on the surface, she was extremely proud in her heart.

After a long while of getting dressed and washing up, Qingwen called for the maid to set the table. A little later, Chunxi and Xiazhu helped You Erjie and You Sanjie over, and another maid quickly served breakfast.

Everyone sat down together. You Erjie caught a glimpse of Qingwen sitting next to Chen Siyuan. She had a smile on her face and kept serving food to Chen Siyuan. How could she hide the fact that Qingwen was a young girl who had just received the emperor's favor from You Erjie?

She couldn't help but feel a little apprehensive, but because Chen Siyuan was there, she was able to suppress her fear for the time being. You Erjie was clear in her mind: in terms of friendship, she couldn't compare to Third Sister and Xiangling, and in terms of ability, she couldn't compare to Hongyu.

All she could rely on was her looks, her usual flattery, and her willingness to be bold in bed. Qingwen and Liu Wu'er both came later, especially Qingwen, with her seductive charm. I heard she was doted on by the Yuan brothers. If Qingwen became a concubine someday, I'm afraid I wouldn't be able to match her.

It would be fine if it was just Third Sister and Xiangling who were suppressing her, but how could You Erjie allow a little maid to suppress her?
At this moment Third Sister You heard, "Yes, Qingwen's family is in Suzhou. Brother Yuan, are you taking her there this time?"

Chen Siyuan nodded, and Qingwen couldn't help laughing and said, "Master said he would take me to find my mother."

Third Sister You immediately laughed and said, "That would be great." Then she started to listen to the scenery of the south of the Yangtze River, and Qingwen began to talk about it casually.

You Erjie forced a forced smile, but inwardly she couldn't help but feel regret. If she had known this vixen was heading south, she wouldn't have coveted the Baicaotang business. She should have accompanied her brother Yuan on a round trip to the south.

But we had already made the decision yesterday, and if I go back on my word now, it would probably arouse Brother Yuan's suspicion.

After breakfast, Chen Siyuan returned to Rongguo Mansion to change his clothes.

Third Sister You prepared a feast at noon and sent Qingwen with some men to invite the opera troupe. Suddenly the new house was bustling with activity and excitement.

At the end of the noon hour, Chen Siyuan came back after changing his clothes. The maid also booked a table from the restaurant and said that it would be delivered before noon.

Everything was ready, waiting only for Qingwen to invite the troupe. But just after 9:00 PM, Qingwen's pretty face turned pale, and she returned in a rage.

Seeing this, You Erjie laughed and said, "Oh, who provoked you?"

Chen Siyuan also said: "But have you been wronged?"

Qingwen walked in, her teeth gnashing. Without even a word of greeting, she frowned coldly and said, "I never thought even among scholars there were those who gossip about their wives! I was so mad I started a quarrel with a few of the ladies."

"what?"

Chen Siyuan was puzzled and was about to ask more when Madam Qu, who had come with Qingwen, said, "Master, you don't know. The young lady has just invited a troupe of actors. Who knew that when we came downstairs, we heard someone in the private room slandering the master, saying that he must have bribed the examiner to get the questions in advance. The foul language was so rampant that it was unbearable to listen to."

The girl was so angry that she started arguing with him through the screen."

Chen Siyuan narrowed his eyes and wondered, was it that Prince Ping of Yan had leaked the news? Or was it that someone was using this to stir up a civil war, and he was just in the crosshairs?

He mumbled, "It's just a few complaints from the losers. Don't worry about it."

"Master!" Qingwen cried, "If it were just someone else slandering us, it would be fine, but among those scholars there is Lai Shangrong!"

Qingwen was from the Lai family. She was originally kept by Nanny Lai as a concubine for Lai Shangrong. Later, in order to curry favor with Lady Jia, she was sent to live with Lady Jia. She certainly knew Lai Shangrong.

Chen Siyuan couldn't help but breathe a sigh of relief when he heard this, and thought to himself, since these words came from Lai Shangrong, they must be just random guesses and there is no real evidence.

Then he thought for a moment and asked, "Did you see it clearly?"

Qingwen gritted her teeth and said, "Even if he turned into ashes, I would recognize him!"

Lai Shangrong was no pushover. He was able to get the red-crowned crane pregnant without telling anyone in the Lai family. It's easy to imagine that Qingwen must have been harassed by him a lot that day.

Chen Siyuan felt relieved, thinking that Lai Shangrong was probably not even as good as Baoyu. He really didn't learn his lesson even after being wronged a hundred times. As luck would have it, he had fallen into his own hands again.

He thought to himself that even if he took Qingwen to court for just a few complaints, she would only receive a few dozen lashes. Maybe she could claim she spoke out of turn while drunk, and even avoid the lashing. Besides, the Lai family had already rushed Qingwen out of the Rongguo Mansion in an effort to seek his forgiveness, and he didn't want to deal with them now... Thinking of this, it seemed like this was the only way.

Chen Siyuan thought about it, then comforted Qingwen with a few words, then called a maid and asked her to call his servant Qingyu.

It was almost noon and the banquet was about to start when Qing Yu limped over.

Seeing this, Chen Siyuan was at a loss for words and said, "Yes, I forgot you sprained your ankle."

Qing Yu looked eagerly at the table, not for a bite, but for the chance to earn another reward. He sneered, "Since the master has given the order, I will come to obey even if I sprain my ankle or even limp."

Chen Siyuan said, "It's not in vain that I'm using you. You can collect your reward later." He then reached out and called him closer, giving him some detailed instructions.

Third Sister You called Chunxi over and gave him a reward of ten hundred coins. Qingyu was immediately overjoyed and ran away dragging one leg.

............................................................

But it was noon that day, when the eldest master Jia She had just visited Lady Xing and the fourth brother, and was flirting with Qiu Tong, a maid suddenly came to report that Qing Yu, the servant of Yuan brother, wanted to see him.

The eldest master was impatient. Qiu Tong observed his expression and said, "He came to see me at this very moment. Master, why don't you send him away first?"

Jia She nodded, then suddenly remembered that Chen Siyuan was very good at making money, and was afraid of missing the opportunity, so he changed his mind and said, "Who knows, Brother Yuan may have something to do. Well, ask him to come to the outer study and I will go and see him."

"Master~" Qiu Tong said coquettishly.

Jia She pinched his buttocks and said calmly, "Don't worry, I'll definitely give you a good lesson later!"

After saying this, Jia She stood up and left. Qiu Tong sent him away, then returned and saw the pills on the table. She immediately spat, "Old man, you're as soft as noodles without the pills. How dare you boast like that!"

Without mentioning Qiu Tong, let’s talk about Jia She walking around and entering the outer study in a moment.

The servant, Qingyu, had been waiting inside and immediately bowed. The master took his seat leisurely and said with a stern face, "Brother Yuan, is there something I want to ask you?"

Qing Yu bowed and said, "Master, I was planning to celebrate at my new house today, but I suddenly heard someone outside making false accusations, saying that I passed the exam because I bribed the examiner. Upon closer investigation, I found that the person who spread this rumor was actually Lai Shangrong!"

"Ok?"

After a pause, Qing Yu continued, "Master is in a dilemma. He doesn't know whether to report to the authorities, so he sent me to ask for your advice."

Jia She twirled his beard in thought, his heart filled with ecstasy. He thought to himself how foolish and unlucky Lai Shangrong must be, but he had only muttered a few words behind his back, and Yuan Ge'er had overheard them.

The villa for visiting relatives had already been completed, and the rest was just some additions and improvements. The eldest master had lost a lot of filial gifts, so the expenses were naturally insufficient. I had been thinking about encouraging Chen Siyuan to find another profitable business recently, but who knew that such a great opportunity would come to my door!
Haha, it’s really true that after searching for a needle in a haystack, it finally comes to you without any effort!
Jia She's face changed several times in his joy. He didn't even feel the pain when he accidentally pulled out two hairs from his beard. After a moment, the eldest master said solemnly, "How can this be! Everyone knows that Brother Yuan has achieved what he has today because of his diligent study. A scholar values ​​his reputation the most. How can he allow others to slander him so casually?"
Go and tell Brother Yuan, there's no need to report this to the authorities. I will take care of this matter for Brother Yuan!"

Qingyu just thought that the job was done, and he didn't even bother to bow or kowtow. After the master waved his hand, he backed away.

As soon as Qingyu left, the master stood up and paced back and forth, his heart full of confidence. After gathering his energy for a while, he felt that his momentum would be overwhelming, so he shouted, "Come on!"

The servant pushed the door open and the master was furious, "Go and get that bastard Lai Da over here!"

The servant trembled as he left and hurried to Rongguo Mansion to look for Lai Da. Lai Da was puzzled and asked questions repeatedly. However, the servant, frightened by Jia She, refused to speak and only urged Lai Da to go to the east wing.

Lai Da was completely baffled and could only come in with surprise. As soon as he entered the outer study, he saw the eldest master Jia She standing with his hands behind his back, his head held high and his chest puffed out, looking quite imposing and majestic.

Lai Da did not dare to be negligent and quickly bowed to greet him.

Then the eldest master Jia She slowly turned around, with a stern look on his face. Suddenly he picked up a teacup... then slowly put it down, and then picked up an inkstone and started hitting him.

"You little dog slave, do you know your crime?"

Lai Da cried out "Ouch" as he was hit on the shoulder. He was furious, but he didn't dare to refute. He just bowed and said, "This...what crime have I committed? Please tell me clearly, Master!"

"Oh, you're still playing dumb with me now? Well, I might as well come straight to the point. Your wicked son is spreading rumors outside, saying that Brother Yuan'er's scholar was bought, and Brother Yuan just happened to catch him red-handed. Let me ask you, what do you have to say?"

"Ah? This...this...this...did Master Yuan hear it wrong?"

"Bah!" The eldest master, Jia She, spat, and with the gait of a dragon and a tiger, he came up to Lai Da in a few steps, pointed at his nose and cursed, "How many times has this happened? My nephew never causes trouble, but your son is jealous of his reputation! Although Yuan'er's parents are gone, I, your uncle, am still here! Do you really think there is no one in the Chen family?"

Lai Da was so upset he wanted to choke Lai Shangrong to death. Why didn't his unfortunate son learn his lesson? He knew Chen was not someone to be trifled with, so why did he go after him? Wasn't he just waiting to be slapped?

Lai Dabian said with a bitter face, "Master, I know nothing about this. If that evil creature really did spread rumors and cause trouble, I will definitely take him away and apologize to Master Yuan."

"Oh, that rumor might have spread all over the city. What's the point of just getting angry?"

Lai Da already had a bad feeling in his heart.

As expected, the eldest master Jia She sighed and said earnestly, "Lai Da, Lai Da, tell me, when have I ever extorted money from your family? When was it not you who came forward to offer me gifts?
"Huh? Teach that bastard a lesson, and live a peaceful life. How wonderful it would be? But you don't want to, tsk tsk, you've run into me again this time, haven't you?"

Lai Dadu was on the verge of tears, thinking that without a thousand or two thousand silver coins, he would have no chance of covering up his mistake. He had finally managed to save a small fortune, but the master had exploited him time and again. If he did it again, the Lai family would have to go into debt to pay the tribute.

(End of this chapter)