Dream of the Red Chamber

Chapter 195 Sisters Against Each Other
The charcoal fire was bright red, dyeing the ear room red.

Qingwen groaned and suddenly woke up. She looked around and saw that it was pitch black outside, but there was still a lantern. She couldn't help but wonder how she had fallen asleep.
After thinking for a while, he remembered that he dozed off after the banquet, so his master sent him back to his room to rest. He wanted to take a nap, but he fell asleep!

Feeling annoyed, Qingwen threw off the quilt, lit a lamp, and put on her shoes, still yawning. According to the rules of this house, the outer lanterns were usually not extinguished until after the hour of Xu, but it seemed that the hour of Xu had not yet passed.

Qingwen found a large coat, wrapped herself tightly in it, and hurried back to the main room. As she left the side room, a cold wind blew in her face, making her shiver. She tightened her clothes before returning to the main room.

After only a few steps, Qingwen glanced over and noticed something was amiss. The main room was brightly lit, suggesting the master hadn't even gone to bed yet. According to protocol, there should be maids and servants waiting in the side hall, yet there was no one there at this moment... Why was this happening?

After walking a few steps, she suddenly saw the rise and fall of figures inside, and heard faint charming sounds. Qingwen immediately blushed and spat!
I knew without asking that the master must have found two new concubines to be affectionate with. No wonder no one was waiting in the porch. I guess Madam You from the East Palace went back early this morning, right?
Qingwen pursed her lips, turned around, and went back to the side room. She felt a little annoyed, thinking that her master was good in every way, except... a little too presumptuous. How could a man and a woman act so freely?
The Second Concubine was full of ulterior motives. She appeared gentle and pleasant, but secretly, whenever the Master asked for something, the Second Concubine would do her best to please him. The Third Concubine, with her carefree and carefree nature, was even more relaxed than the Second Concubine in such matters. After just two days, without the Master telling her, she would beg to roll onto the bed.

After muttering a few words inwardly, Qingwen returned to her room. She thought the master wouldn't call her today, and she couldn't help feeling a little disappointed. She immediately took off her shoes and leaned on the kang, daydreaming.

Although she is still a girl, she knows a lot about human life because of the booklet given by Aunt Lai and the many times she spent the night with Chen Siyuan.

As she was lost in thought, she suddenly recalled the times she had been teased by the master, feeling as if she were ascending to heaven in broad daylight. Thinking of this, Qingwen bit her lower lip, quickly undressed, and slipped into bed, blowing out the candle. The charcoal fire in the brazier illuminated her complexion, making it look as if it were bleeding.

Only a wall separated them, and although there was the sound of the wind, how could the voice of debauchery be blocked out? After a while, Qingwen closed her eyes, and a rustling sound came from the ear room.

I don't know how much time passed, but Qingwen suddenly groaned and called "Master" repeatedly. After a moment, she sighed with loss.

She opened her eyes and frowned slightly. As she heard the sound getting louder and louder, she thought to herself that she would be leaving soon and she could only stay with the old man for a few more months.

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

In the main room.

A cool breeze blew in her face, and Youshi let out a soft moan as she suddenly woke up. When she opened her eyes, she saw Chen Siyuan staring at her with a strange and meaningful look on his face.

Yu Shi was suddenly startled! She was shocked to find that she was only wearing a small dress. She cried out in surprise and hurriedly picked up the clothes scattered on the couch. Her figure was half-covered, which added a bit of charm compared to before.

Chen Siyuan covered her mouth and nose with his hand, raised his index finger to his lips with his other hand, and pointed around. Yu Shi looked around and saw her third sister right behind her, her second sister slumped in a chair, and several maids lying scattered around.

A blush suddenly rose on Youshi's face. She frowned and nodded slightly to Chen Siyuan, indicating that she would not make anything known. Then she landed on the ground with a rustle and was led by Chen Siyuan into the west room.

The smoke from the incense burners in the hall had long since dissipated, and a cold breeze was now filtering in through the window slits. The three maids were still unaware, but You Erjie, reclining in her chair, suddenly opened her eyes, glanced sideways toward the western corner, then closed them again, pretending to sleep. A strange smile played at the corners of her mouth, and then she fell back into a deep sleep, her expression completely blank.

In the western wing, Youshi wrapped herself in her clothes, lowered her head, and said nothing. In her moment of ecstasy, she had swallowed the antidote she had been holding under her tongue in one gulp! When the spring breeze blew twice, she was so exhausted that she fell asleep on the side.
Perhaps Chen Siyuan had long been resistant to the smoke, so he was the first to wake up. When he opened his eyes and took in the situation, Chen Siyuan was stunned.

It's easy to deal with You Erjie. This woman will keep her mouth shut once she has the money. But the rest of them... It's a good thing they haven't woken up yet, otherwise Chen Siyuan really doesn't know how this will end.

A few days ago, the Lai family had a quarrel between brothers, and it is possible that the sisters will turn against each other now.

That would have been fine, but he himself was feeling extremely strange. In his two lives, this was the first time he had been toyed with by a woman... How could he say that?

After some thought, Chen Siyuan wet his handkerchief to wake up Youshi and asked her to go to the west room to talk.

Glancing at Youshi, Chen Siyuan sighed and asked, "Where did you get the smoke?"

This smoke only belonged to him and the dead Liu Yan'er, and he was afraid that something else might happen.

Seeing You Shi biting her lower lip and remaining silent, Chen Siyuan frowned and said, "Think carefully, if I can wake up, who knows, they might wake up the next moment too. What are you going to say then?"

Yu Shi sighed and said, "No matter how wrong it is, it's all my fault. Brother Yuan, just pretend that nothing happened... That, that item was given to me by the eldest aunt from the West Mansion."

Was it given by Madam Xing? Yes, on that snowy night last year, Chen Siyuan was afraid that the drug given by Ma Dao Po wouldn't work, so he simply gave Madam Xing some more drugs. After several spring breezes, she finally had her fourth brother... Tsk, why did this silly woman give this thing to Youshi?

Seeing his strange expression, Youshi hurriedly pleaded, "Aunt heard that he hadn't come to my room for several years, so she gave me these."

Leaving Madam Xing aside for now, Chen Siyuan asked again, "Then why did you use it on me?"

Yu Shi was silent for a long time this time before she said, "A few days ago, my stepmother and he and Rong'er were hanging out in the middle courtyard."

Chen Siyuan was immediately horrified. Old Lady You had been hanging out with Jia Zhen and Jia Rong for days? This, this, this... Jia Zhen had a good appetite, but how had Jia Rong gotten involved? Bringing his own son along with his mother-in-law for days—not only would Youshi be unbearable, but if word got out, Jia Zhen's title would be over!
Chen Siyuan gasped, his understanding growing clearer as he saw Yushi, once again aggrieved and speechless, unable to speak. He suspected that Yushi, utterly enraged and vindictive, was using the same tactics she'd used on Jia Zhen on him.

Thinking about this, Chen Siyuan was at a loss whether to laugh or cry. He really wanted to say: Who did he offend again?
There was a rustling sound outside, and Chen Siyuan looked out to see the maid Chunxi turn over, smacking her lips, and fall asleep again. Knowing that this was not the time to talk, he told Youshi, "We can talk about this later. For now, we must keep it secret."

Youshi nodded repeatedly.

Chen Siyuan said, "Stay here for a while. I'll bring my second and third sisters over."

After saying this, he ignored Youshi and quickly went to the main room. He first carried You Sanjie to the bed in the small room, then turned around and carried You Erjie.

Who would have thought that when he picked up You Erjie horizontally just now, Chen Siyuan saw that although You Erjie's eyes were closed, her eyeballs were rolling around under her eyelids. How could he not know in his heart that You Erjie was pretending to sleep?

However, since You Erjie was pretending to be asleep, she would not spread the matter. As for what happened afterwards... it would be better to talk about it later. It is better to cover up this matter first.

So Chen Siyuan placed You Erjie on the bed as well, and then took a deep look at Youshi who was lying on the bed. Then he turned around and placed the three maids on the soft couch one by one.

Chen Siyuan called Youshi over again and handed her a wet handkerchief, whispering, "Apply it to your face and you'll wake up in no time. I'll go to the side room first. Quickly wake up Yindie and return to Ningguo Mansion."

"it is good."

Hearing Youshi's agreement, Chen Siyuan turned around the screen and pushed the door open. In a moment, he arrived in front of the ear room. He reached out and pushed it, but the door was locked.

Chen Siyuan reached out and knocked lightly. A moment later, Qingwen appeared inside and asked, "Who is it?"

"it's me."

"Master?" Qingwen exclaimed in surprise, and soon put on her clothes and came over to open the door.

Chen Siyuan slipped inside. Qingwen bolted the door and asked curiously, "Why is the master here?"

Chen Siyuan was clear-headed, assuming Qingwen had returned to the side room first, so the smoke had worn off. Yu-shi was leaving soon, and Qingwen wouldn't be able to hide it from her... And it wasn't just Qingwen; the maids were probably well aware of it, too.

Chen Siyuan said with a bitter face, "Don't mention it... I'm still confused and don't know how to start."

He immediately pulled Qingwen over to the head of the kang. Qingwen was filled with worry and couldn't help but frowning, "Master, have you run into any difficulties? Is there anything I can do to help?"

Chen Siyuan sighed and was about to speak when a noise came from the main room. Qingwen glanced casually and saw through the glass window that Youshi was urging Yindie to go forward.

Qingwen was horrified. She turned her head and glared at Chen Siyuan, "Grandma You? She...she didn't leave?"

Chen Siyuan smiled bitterly and then briefly explained the reason for his speculation, which left Qingwen dumbfounded.

This, this father and son spent several days with his mother-in-law, was not what Chen Siyuan said, and Qingwen would definitely not believe it. That would have been fine, but then, Lady You, seeking revenge, simply set off a smoke screen and bullied the master...

Qingwen was annoyed. "How can this be justified? It was Master Zhen and Master Xiaorong who provoked Madam You. What has it to do with you? She's out for revenge. She could just go and have some fun with some other man. Why bother dragging you down?"

"Stop arguing!" Chen Siyuan frowned and said, "I'm busy with the lawsuit right now. The people in the main house are fine, they haven't woken up yet. But the maids in the courtyard, if they let the cat out of the bag——"

Such illicit secrets are easy to spread, and there's no telling when they might reach the academician. If the academician determines that Chen Siyuan is immoral, I'm afraid his hard-earned reputation will be ruined!
Although Qingwen was furious, she still kept her eyes on Chen Siyuan. After a moment's reflection, she said, "Madame Qu and the others are all resting in the back building. They can hear the noise, but they don't know what's going on inside. The Second and Third Concubines are usually quite unrestrained. Why not say that Madam You was resting in my room just now?"

After saying this, Qingwen herself didn't believe it.

Then he frowned and said, "Madame Qu is the most tight-lipped, so it won't be a problem if Master gives her some money privately. As for the other two——"

Chen Siyuan said: "Give him the silver and keep him quiet. I will take him to Jiangnan on the sixth day of the lunar year."

This rumor is also time-limited. As long as it does not spread out in the past few days, Chen Siyuan took the two maids to travel to the south of the Yangtze River, and the round trip took several months, even if there were rumors again after the new year, it would be nothing but nonsense to outsiders.

Qingwen nodded, hurriedly searched for the silver box, counted the silver, and took out some small change. She said to Chen Siyuan, "There's no time to lose. I'll go to the back right away."

Chen Siyuan nodded, and Qingwen put on her coat and went to the back building while biting her lower lip.

After a long while, Qingwen returned to the side room. Before Chen Siyuan could ask any more questions, she breathed a sigh of relief and said, "Master, don't worry. The maids are all sensible people. It was Nanny Qu who first noticed something was wrong and found an excuse to take the two maids to the back for a drink. I don't think the two maids knew anything."

Chen Siyuan nodded and said, "Don't be careless. It's better to take him to Jiangnan."

Qingwen folded her coat neatly and turned to sit next to Chen Siyuan. Suddenly, a strange look appeared on her face, and she couldn't help but stammer, "Master... aren't you going back to the main room?"

Chen Siyuan said, "I'll rest here."

"Oh." Qingwen responded and then there was no movement.

Chen Siyuan was puzzled, thinking that the little girl was angry. He leaned back and supported himself with both hands. Unexpectedly, his right hand happened to be on the mattress, and it felt warm, cool and smooth when he touched it.

Chen Siyuan stood up and put his right hand in front of his eyes. Qingwen's face turned pale and she called out "Master" in a voice as soft as a mosquito.

Chen Siyuan didn't know what was going on. He immediately hugged Qingwen in his arms and whispered to her, "It's a normal thing. I don't blame you."

Qingwen's eyes turned red as she said, "I, I feel like I've become bad."

Chen Siyuan whispered in her ear: "I just like bad ones."

The gentle whispers tickled Qingwen's ears, and she felt a little relieved, though still embarrassment persisted. She nestled in Chen Siyuan's arms, refusing to rise, her mind torn between two extremes: on the one hand, she felt a certain disgust at the unruly behavior of You Erjie and You Sanjie; but then, thinking of herself and the master, her fantasies began to run rampant...

Meanwhile, Youshi led the drowsy Yindie out of the Chen residence. The old man hurriedly woke up the dozing coachman and servant in the gatehouse. As they got into the carriage, Yindie was slightly sobered by the cold wind. She frowned and said, "I don't know why, but I'm so sleepy today that I fell asleep without realizing it!"

Yu Shi was apprehensive. It was already past midnight, and she didn't know how to explain herself when she returned to Ningguo Mansion. She casually said, "Perhaps it's the charcoal poison again."

Yindie suddenly realized and said in fear, "Yes, that must be the case. I'm still feeling dizzy right now. Grandma, Second Aunt and Third Aunt are still in the room. Do you need to remind them?"

Yu Shi continued perfunctorily, "I just opened the window to let in some fresh air. My second and third sisters woke up once. I think they'll be fine after a night's sleep."

Yin Die finally breathed a sigh of relief, then frowned and said, "It's already this late..." The implication was self-evident.

Yushi frowned in anxiety, and for a moment she had no other choice but to deal with the enemy with soldiers and the water with earth.

A moment later, the carriage arrived at Ningguo Mansion. Yu Shi got out and approached the steward, asking, "Second sister was so happy that she talked to me about some intimate matters for a while. Did Master ask about it?"

The manager bowed and replied, "The master and Master Xiaorong went out together in the afternoon and haven't come back yet." Yu Shi immediately breathed a sigh of relief.

Then he casually asked, "Did you tell me where you went?"

"This... I don't know either."

Seeing the steward hesitate to speak, You Shi's heart ached. If he had slept with prostitutes, the steward would have explained it, but he pleaded ignorance... Where else could he have gone except to the You family?
Yushi had originally felt somewhat guilty, but after thinking about this, not only was her guilt gone, but she became even more angry.

He ordered the doors to be locked and led Yindie back to the main house in the east courtyard. On the way, he thought about the crazy situation just now and couldn't help blushing.

Having been married for over ten years, I'd long known about sex, but who could have imagined the sheer ecstasy it offered? It turns out that each person is different, and so are the handles of their shackles, and the way they are used is vastly different. Having reached the climax twice, Youshi was now merely holding on, feeling as if her body were about to fall apart, yet at the same time, she felt a sense of clarity from head to toe.

After entering the main room, Youshi hurriedly washed herself and got into bed. She rolled up the quilt and thought for a while before sighing again. What a pity... This kind of thing will rarely happen again. Borrowing it once is fine, but you can't borrow it forever, right?
Silent all night.

The next morning, Youshi was eating her breakfast with chopsticks half-heartedly when her maid, Jin'e, suddenly came in with a message: "Madam, Third Aunt has come here in a rage, saying she wants to talk to you!"

Yu Shi was startled, but forced herself to remain calm and said, "Perhaps she and her second sister had another quarrel. Go and invite her over."

Jin'e agreed and hurried forward to greet them. Yu Shi, feeling anxious, suddenly felt a surge of confidence as she recalled what Old Lady Yu had done. She then ordered Yin Die and the other maids to leave, then sat down behind the table and waited.

After half a cup of tea, the door slammed open with a loud bang, and then Third Sister You came in with a face full of anger. You forced a smile and said, "Third sister is here? Yindie, please step aside. I want to talk to Third Sister for a while!"

Seeing that things were not going well, Yindie quickly bowed and took her leave. Before the door could close, she saw Third Sister You take two steps forward through the screen and with a single stroke of her hand, she swept all the dishes to the ground.

There was a sudden crackling sound and it shattered crisply!

Third Sister You woke before dawn and immediately sensed something was wrong. The albizzia wine wasn't very strong; in the past, she wouldn't have gotten drunk even if she'd drunk a whole bottle. But how could she have passed out after only half a bottle yesterday?
That would have been fine, but after talking to the maids Chunxi and Xiazhu, I found out that they had also fallen asleep yesterday due to being too sleepy!

Third Sister You became suspicious and saw that there was still some cassia wine left on the table, so she sent Chunxi to bring the yellow dog from the front yard.

Third Sister You watched as the yellow dog licked up only half a cup of remaining wine and then fell asleep on the ground in a moment, and she felt something was wrong.

When she turned around to look for You Erjie, You Erjie deliberately used this to threaten Youshi, hoping to get some benefits, so she spoke hesitantly and evasively.

Third Sister You was a rough and straightforward person, but she was not stupid. How could she not know that she had been tricked? She immediately went to the back to find the maid and interrogated her, saying that she had been a little carried away by the hustle and bustle yesterday and was afraid that the neighbors would hear about it.

Then a confused woman said casually: "We all came here when we were young, what is there to be ashamed of, Third Aunt? Although there was a lot of noise yesterday, it happened that the north wind blew at that time, so I don't think it would get out."

Third Sister You could no longer hold it in. She didn't care about Chen Siyuan who was sleeping soundly with Qingwen in the ear room. She tidied up her things in a hurry and went to Ningguo Mansion by herself without even taking the maid with her.

She felt extremely aggrieved. Brother Yuan was the first one she fell in love with, and they were in love with each other. If it weren't for Old Lady You's obstruction, she might have become his wife long ago.

That would have been fine, but when Old Lady You saw Chen Siyuan's success, she thought about pushing her second sister over. After several rounds of deliberation, her second sister finally came to the room.

And now? Even the eldest sister who was a grandmother in Ningguo Mansion was thinking about Brother Yuan... Why?
It happened once, twice, but how could it happen three or four times? She, You Sanjie, was not a delicate person, so why did she allow herself to be manipulated for no reason?

Seeing Third Sister You's eyebrows raised, her eyes wide open, her feet twitching, her hands on her hips, as if she was about to hit her if she said anything, You frowned and whispered, "We're sisters, let's talk it out nicely. Why are you overturning the dishes?"

Third Sister You sneered, "Oh, you're blaming me wrongly. I was thinking you'd done something evil, and I couldn't help but feel uneasy. How could I possibly eat now? Oh—besides, who's your sister? Who's your sister? Is there a sister like you?"

"Third sister..."

Third Sister You said nonchalantly, "Is that cassia wine good? I'm surprised you've been drinking it quite a bit, so how come you're fine? Mother Yuandao keeps asking for money, and I feel a little sorry for you... If I had known you were such a scumbag, I wouldn't have gotten involved in these awful things!"

"Third sister!"

"Don't call me!" Third Sister You was so angry that she was shaking all over. She pointed at Youshi's nose and said, "I don't understand. You married a good family, and your own husband doesn't care about you, but why are you thinking about someone else?"

Yu Shi felt bitter and remorseful, and couldn't understand why Third Sister You had discovered it when Chen Siyuan had clearly covered it up. Now that things had come to this, it was no use denying it. It was only going to irritate Third Sister You even more, and a scene was bound to end badly.

Thinking that Jia Zhen and Jia Rong were still at You's house, You said, "Mrs. An was hanging out with them for a few days at the mansion, but only half a day later, they went to An's house again in the afternoon!"

As the saying goes, if you don't say something shocking, you won't stop. As soon as these words came out, the curse words that were about to come out of Sister You's mouth were choked back.

Third Sister You blinked, still refusing to believe it, and said, "You, what are you talking about? Me, my mother and, and that father and son?"

Yu Shi nodded, frowning and saying, "No matter how wrong it is, it's all my fault. Third sister, please listen to me and then you can kill me or chop me up as you please... Okay?"

Third Sister You was so frightened that her heart was in a mess, and she was immediately pulled into the side room by Youshi.

As the two sisters sat down, Youshi said, "Last time I came back, Anren advised me to think about it for myself, saying that it would be better for me to go to the temple to pray for a child."

After Old Lady You did something so frivolous, You Shi would never call her mother again. Seeing the bewildered look on Third Sister You's face, she bit her lower lip and explained, "That temple isn't a respectable place. An Renyi is borrowing... borrowing..."

Third Sister You understood, and a chill ran down her spine. She had been whispering to Chen Siyuan, and she had heard him talk about the outside world quite a bit.

Of course, the third sister had heard about the activities of the Buddhist temple and the nunnery.

Seeing that she understood, Youshi continued, "It was that day. The master held a banquet, and Anren entered the ceremonial gate and didn't come out for several days in a row..." After briefly explaining Old Lady You's situation, Youshi's eyes reddened and she said, "Third sister, you know how hard it has been for me these past few years. The monthly allowance is only a small amount, and most of it goes to Anren. And the master is a man of his word. Who in this family, if anyone he likes, would escape?"

"It would be fine if Master just acted up at home, but this time... this time he brought Rong'er and Anren with him—wuwuwu..."

Yu Shi could not continue speaking and sobbed inconsolably.

It's easy to imagine that if Old Lady You stayed in the Central Courtyard for several days without leaving, the news would have spread throughout the Ningguo Mansion. If it were Second Sister You and Third Sister You, they would at least make fun of Ehuang and Nvying, but what about now? Old Lady You is legally You's mother!

If the mother and daughter share the same husband, how will outsiders view Youshi if this gets out?

Third Sister You was so shocked she was speechless. If it were her, she would have been so resentful that she would have slit her own throat before she could even speak.

After a long while, You Shi finally sobbed and said, "I, I was also bewitched for a moment... I didn't think much of it, but who knew that after lighting that incense and drinking that wine, although I wasn't bewitched myself, I was also led astray and lost control. I regretted it afterwards.

Woo woo... Thinking about it, it was Anren's fault, and no matter what, it could not be blamed on the two younger sisters.

"Third sister, you know my situation. I'm afraid the maids and servants below me are all making fun of me. If I don't have a child by my side, I don't know how Rong'er will treat me when the master passes away!"

Third Sister You was even more shocked! Jia Rong was a worthless person to begin with, and he could go along with Jia Zhen and his own mother...who knows, he might become even bolder in the future, and he wouldn't even let Youshi go!

After all, Third Sister You was not very experienced in dealing with things, and she was completely confused by Youshi's trick of transplanting flowers and trees, and for a moment she even forgot to blame.

Yu-shi cried for a long while, then said, "Don't worry, Third Sister. This is just the first time, there won't be a next time."

Hearing this, Third Sister You felt a little angry and pouted, "You acted recklessly and didn't know how to hide it. If this gets out, not only will you be in trouble, but what if it gets in the way of Brother Yuan? He's going to be an official someday!"

Yu Shi didn't know the details of the situation, she just sobbed and nodded continuously.

Third Sister You sighed, looking at the tearful Youshi. For a moment, instead of feeling any resentment, she felt a surge of guilt. Old Lady You was her and Second Sister's biological mother!

This matter made Youshi lose face, so how could Third Sister feel proud too?
After exchanging a few words with Youshi, You Sanjie said that she had important matters to attend to, stood up and fled from Ningguo Mansion.

Just as he turned around to the back street of Ningrong, he ran into Chen Siyuan who was rushing towards him.

He lifted the curtain, greeted her, and hurriedly got out of the carriage, pulling and dragging the third sister into the carriage.

Chen Siyuan couldn't help but ask with a headache, "Did Third Sister have a fight with...her?"

Third Sister You nodded silently, her delicate head lowered. Then, sensing something was wrong, she quickly made amends, "We drove them out, and when the commotion started, it was just the two of us."

Chen Siyuan breathed a sigh of relief. Yu Shi's life in Ningguo Mansion was tough, but at least she was in charge of her own courtyard. He figured the matter wouldn't get out.

He immediately said: "Don't blame me for what happened yesterday——"

Third Sister You had been arguing for a while, and now she felt aggrieved again. She threw herself into Chen Siyuan's arms and sobbed, "I know, she said it herself... If anyone is to blame, it's because my brother is too outstanding, which makes people put down their dignity and stick to him."

Chen Siyuan thought to himself, "Well, now that Third Sister You knows about this, it's easy to deal with." So he said, "Whether for the sake of reputation or career, this matter must be covered up. Madam Qu is a responsible person and would never gossip about anything. The other two maids are a bit harder to talk about, so I intend to take them south with me this time. If you feel you need more help, you can hire a few more maids to serve you."

"Yeah." Sister You San responded.

Chen Siyuan felt pity for You Sanjie, and hugged her shoulders, patting them gently. He thought to himself that it was true that misfortune can come from the sky while one is at home. How could he seek justice for this matter?
Worried that his third sister might be upset, he tentatively asked, "How about, sister, come with me to travel around Jiangnan? Just to relax and unwind."

Third Sister You was yearning for it, but thinking of the business at Baicaotang, she shook her head and said, "No, Second Sister hasn't even figured out the abacus yet. If I go now, the accounts might get messed up."

Seeing that she really didn't want to go, Chen Siyuan didn't insist. The two of them exchanged a few words, and Chen Siyuan asked in confusion: "What do you think your eldest sister wants?"

"Her?" Although Third Sister You couldn't bear to tell anyone about Old Lady You's misdeeds, she despised her to the core and wouldn't cover up any other dirty deeds. So, she raised her eyebrows and gritted her teeth, "My mother bewitched her several times. After seeing that she hadn't made any progress in her marriage for over ten years, she decided to borrow...borrow someone else."

She really couldn't say the word, so she tried to find a way to say it.

Chen Siyuan was stunned when he heard this, but then he breathed a sigh of relief. He had initially thought that Mrs. Xing, that foolish woman, had revealed the truth, or perhaps encouraged Mrs. You to find a new lover, but he had no idea that the cause lay with Mrs. You.

He didn't know the specific reason, but he was just wondering what Mrs. You was thinking. Why did she believe everything Mrs. You said?
Well, it’s not a good time to explore this now, I’ll just have to leave it for later.

Chen Siyuan was kind and gentle that day, but Third Sister You was in a bad mood.

For the remaining few days, apart from a sneak meeting with Aunt Xue, Chen Siyuan mostly spent his time wandering around the new house. Third Sister You, after all, was a reserved person, but within two days she seemed to have recovered. She busied herself with hiring carriages and horses, hiring escorts, appointing two maids to accompany her, and preparing various local rituals, taking care of every detail.

In the blink of an eye, it was the sixth day.

Last night, Chen Siyuan finally stayed at the Rongguo Mansion. He got up early and said goodbye to everyone. Except for a few pretentious words from Lady Jia, everyone else, whether it was Lady Xing, Aunt Xue or Lady Wang, looked very sincere.

Sister Bao was reluctant to say much, so she found an excuse to go to the ceremonial gate with Sanchun, Xiangyun, and the others to see them off. Daiyu also came, but her eyes, which seemed to be weeping but not crying, were filled with complex meanings, and it was hard to tell what she was feeling.

Jia Lian came out to see him off for a while, and only after Chen Siyuan took a carriage to the new house to pick up Qingwen and two maids did he urge him to return.

After noon, four escorts came out of the capital with three carriages, heading southeast towards Tianjin.

(End of this chapter)