Dream of the Red Chamber

Chapter 293 A Few Words from the Heart: Sister Feng is Annoyed

Chen Siyuan glanced over and saw Daiyu wearing a white silk cross-collar jacket with peach-red trim, a beige floral shawl underneath, and an oil-green pleated skirt. She had a white jade hairpin in her hair, small palace flowers in her temples, and her eyebrows were slightly furrowed, her eyes full of reproach.

Chen Siyuan was taken aback, then smiled and took the handkerchief out again, saying, "I almost mistook it for my own..."

Daiyu glanced at the damp handkerchief and couldn't help but say, "What nice thing is worth all this trouble? If you like it, just keep it for yourself. Do you think I'd take it back?"

"Sister, you should have said so earlier." Chen Siyuan seized the opportunity and indeed put the handkerchief away.

That lazy air immediately made Daiyu both amused and exasperated. She had originally intended to ask about Baoyu's earlier words, but for the moment, Daiyu didn't bring it up again, only saying, "Didn't you receive two pieces when you gave birth to your son?"

Chen Siyuan laughed and said, "How can they be the same? Those two pieces were gifts from my sister, while this one was earned through my own hard work."

Daiyu rolled her eyes and said, "I never thought that shamelessness would become a skill."

Chen Siyuan disagreed, saying, "Isn't being shameless and ruthless a skill in itself?"

Daiyu tilted her head and glanced at him, then laughed and said, "Strange. Since you admit to being shameless and ruthless, why don't you ever come to my Xiaoxiang Pavilion? Sister Bao has tried to explain to me several times, but she always says that I threw a tantrum at you... Could it be that my Xiaoxiang Pavilion is a dragon's den or a tiger's lair?"

She meant it as a joke, but Chen Siyuan frowned and became serious. After a moment's thought, he leaned against the carriage and said, "Though not quite right, not far either... My sister has long been wary of me, convinced that I'm the kind of person who talks nonsense. Every time I see her, I have to think carefully before I speak. I'm afraid of telling the truth and upsetting her; I'm also afraid of lying and being exposed. In this dilemma, shouldn't I avoid her?"

Daiyu said, "I didn't know I had such an ability."

Chen Siyuan said meaningfully, "My sister is smart and can distinguish between truth and falsehood... Only those who lie without realizing it can fool her."

Just as Daiyu was about to refute, saying, "Where in the world is there such a person?", she suddenly thought of Baoyu... Yes, lying without realizing it, every word coming from the bottom of his heart, and then turning around and doing whatever he wants, isn't that exactly the kind of person Baoyu is?
She frowned slightly. Although she had no romantic feelings for Baoyu, she had spent several years with him and now regarded him as an older brother. Naturally, she was unhappy that Baoyu had received such a reputation.

However, he couldn't refute it for the moment... After thinking for a while, he couldn't help but feel a little annoyed. So he said, "Tell me the truth, what is it that I don't understand?"

Chen Siyuan laughed and said, "Lies don't hurt people, but the truth is the sharpest knife. I'm afraid that if my sister really figures it out, she'll be heartbroken."

Daiyu retorted, "Now that I've figured it out, I'm determined not to let it bother me."

"Sure enough?"

"It must be so."

Seeing the certainty on Daiyu's face, Chen Siyuan smiled and sat up straight, saying, "Alright, then I'll tell you the truth today... Well, there are some things that are hard to answer, so I won't answer them."

“Okay,” Daiyu readily agreed. Since they had just talked about Baoyu, she asked, “What did you mean by what you said when you left the manor?”

“Literally,” Chen Siyuan said, “when you recall the Qixianzhai, is it too much to say it’s a young lady’s boudoir?”

After a moment's thought, Daiyu realized that Chen Siyuan was right. The Qixianzhai was draped in brocade and gauze, adorned with gold and pearls, and even the bricks and stones on the ground were carved with emerald green patterns. How could it be compared to the boudoir of an ordinary young lady? Not to mention others, even Daiyu's own Xiaoxiang Pavilion, which was quite elegant, paled in comparison to the exquisite Qixianzhai.

"Isn't that it?" Chen Siyuan laughed. "Grandma has seen the old Duke fight on the battlefield, how could she not know that raising boys like this will turn a fine young man into a delicate woman? Sister, think about the maids around Brother Bao, there are fifteen or sixteen of them, inside and out, which one of them wasn't arranged by Grandma?"

That's true, Daiyu nodded, and asked with some confusion, "So what?"

Chen Siyuan said, "Even if the old lady dotes on her grandson, there are no shortage of daughters in the family. There's no reason to raise a perfectly healthy boy as a daughter." He paused, and seeing that the old lady still didn't understand, he said in a low voice, "If a boy grows up with girls, he'll not only pick up the scent of cosmetics, but he'll also lack manners when interacting with other women in the future... You might think that every gesture and movement he makes will be flirtatious."

Daiyu felt a chill run down her spine. Recalling the past few years, wasn't Baoyu just like that? Not to mention Xiangyun, Baochai, and herself, even towards the maids, Baoyu had no sense of propriety. At least he wouldn't dare to be flirtatious with the young ladies, but with the maids, flirtatious talk was one thing, and eating rouge was even more commonplace.

Then there's Caixia and Jinchuan, who were by the side of the madam. If it weren't for Baoyu's reckless flirting, would they have both left the mansion?
Daiyu frowned in thought. She had already agreed with some of what Chen Siyuan said, but she couldn't understand why the old lady was deliberately keeping her.
Chen Siyuan observed Daiyu's expression and then offered some advice: "Sister, don't forget Baoyu's status."

Rank? Daiyu pondered for a moment, then suddenly realized. Yes, Baoyu was the second son of the second wife, so inheriting the title wasn't his turn. Even the second wife's family fortune was to be inherited by their eldest grandson, Jia Lan. Logically, Baoyu should have been unloved by his maternal grandmother and uncles, yet the old lady cherished him dearly…

Then she remembered Xiangyun first, then herself, and then Baochai. Daiyu immediately figured out seven or eight parts of the old lady's thoughts!

The old lady deliberately raised Baoyu to be like this so that she could use him for a marriage alliance to make up for the Jia family's deficit!
Upon understanding this, Daiyu was initially annoyed, then disgusted, and only after a long while did she begin to feel sorry for Baoyu.

Unexpectedly, Chen Siyuan seemed to know everything about him, and said quietly, "To be honest, the old lady is quite discerning... Sister, why do you think the old lady only raises Baoyu this way, while Jia Cong and Jia Huan are raised in the usual way?"

Daiyu couldn't help but ask, "Teaching according to aptitude?"

"Absolutely!" Chen Siyuan exclaimed, clasping his hands in praise. "That's exactly what it means to teach according to aptitude."

Yes, if Baoyu weren't so cold-hearted and sentimental, I'm afraid no matter how much effort the old lady put into raising him, he wouldn't have developed into this.

Suddenly recalling the last time she strolled with Baochai, Baochai looked at Baoyu with a hint of pity and disdain, so Daiyu asked, "You must have said something like that to Baochai as well?"

Chen Siyuan honestly replied, "I did mention it briefly."

That's right.

Daiyu pondered the matter repeatedly, intending to point out any errors in Chen Siyuan's words, but the more she thought about it, the more she realized the logic was sound. Remembering that she too was a fish caught in the Jia family's trap, she suddenly felt uneasy.

Seeing Daiyu become sentimental, Chen Siyuan said, "Why should you pity yourself, sister? Money lost can be regained... Consider the family fortune as money for your upbringing, it's better to have none of it."

Daiyu sneered, "I had no idea that such expensive education fees existed in the world." She paused, then looked up at Chen Siyuan and said, "And I wonder if we've just escaped one danger only to fall into another."

"Look at you, I'm trying to explain things to you properly, but you're trying to drag me into this," Chen Siyuan complained. "I offered my heart to the bright moon, but the bright moon shines on the gutter."

Daiyu remembered that Chen Siyuan sent someone to deliver cordyceps every month and took his medical records to consult patients outside. This time, he had even more clumsily brought over this business. She immediately covered her mouth and laughed, saying, "Never mind, I guess I misspoke."

Chen Siyuan snorted and turned his head away, feigning annoyance.

Daiyu pursed her lips, about to speak, when she suddenly noticed a withered leaf stuck to Chen Siyuan's temple. She leaned forward, saying, "Don't move, there's one in your hair—"

Chen Siyuan tilted his head and didn't move. Out of the corner of his eye, he saw Daiyu lean forward and extend her slender fingers. Just as he was about to touch her, Daiyu suddenly cried out "Oh!" and quickly dodged to the side.

Chen Siyuan felt a slight touch on his head and looked up to see a grayish-yellow moth fluttering around. Chen Siyuan quickly lifted the curtain, and the moth bumped around a few times before finally darting out. Turning back, he saw Daiyu clutching her heart and frowning in fear, and immediately laughed, "I wonder where that moth came from."

Daiyu also said, "Well, I thought it was a withered leaf, but it turned out to be a moth... I don't know what's wrong with me today, but it seems like I've met this moth by chance."

As soon as she finished speaking, Daiyu regretted it. Sure enough, Chen Siyuan pressed her for an answer: "Why did you say that, sister?"

Daiyu mumbled, "When I was airing the books this morning, a moth fell out of one of them."

That's not all! The moth's wings even left a pair of ducks imprinted on the book.

Chen Siyuan was puzzled, but when he saw that Daiyu was looking at him with a slightly strange expression, and he was not the kind of person who was oblivious to romance, he suddenly had a thought... It turned out that Lin Daiyu was not detached from worldly affairs after all. She had put in a lot of hard work and now she had finally seen the light at the end of the tunnel.

Just as he was about to say something else to Daiyu, Ping'er suddenly came from outside and said, "Master Yuan, the rain has stopped. Shouldn't we set off now?"

Chen Siyuan was taken aback and quickly lifted the bamboo curtain. He saw that the rain had indeed stopped and the sky had cleared outside, and there was a rainbow bridge that ran straight through the north and south of the capital.

Feeling a pang of regret, Chen Siyuan turned to Daiyu and said, "I'll come find you when I have time. It's getting late, let's head back to the manor first."

"Mmm," Daiyu replied softly.

Chen Siyuan did not linger. He lifted the curtain and got out of the carriage. Daiyu slightly lifted the bamboo curtain and watched him say a few words to Ping'er. Then she went to Feng Jie'er's carriage and said a few more words before calling the servant to mount his horse.

After the bamboo curtain was lowered, Zijuan and Xueyan entered together. The two girls glanced at their young mistress, noticing her pretty face filled with affection and her eyes sparkling with longing. They exchanged a look and were both secretly delighted.

Knowing that Daiyu was delicate-looking, he didn't mention Chen Siyuan at the moment, but instead talked about the scenery along the way. Daiyu gave him a vague reply, but she was obviously thinking something else.

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

Fortunately, the sun shone brightly after the rain, and Chen Siyuan returned straight to the Rongguo Mansion, where his clothes had already dried.

Xiangling, Hongyu, and the others dared not neglect their duties. While chatting away, they helped Chen Siyuan change his clothes. It was dinnertime, and Wu'er even specially ordered a pot of hot soup from the small kitchen.

On his journey to and from the capital that day, Chen Siyuan had only eaten some snacks at noon, and was now extremely hungry. He devoured all the food in the food box with the hibiscus soup.

After finishing his meal, he sat idly in his study, pondering how to find an excuse to go to Xiaoxiang Pavilion the next day, when Yunxiang reluctantly led Zhuan'er inside.

"Uncle Yuan!"

Seeing Zhuan'er's aggrieved expression, Chen Siyuan smiled and beckoned her over, asking, "Where did you suffer some grievance?"

Zhuan'er said, "In this garden, even if you don't care about the monk, you should care about the Buddha. So naturally, no one would dare to wrong the young lady or me... Who else could it be but the master and the madam?"

With Sister Feng now in charge of the household and having recently appointed two accountants, the atmosphere in the Rongguo Mansion had become tense. Xing Zhong, fearing his embezzlement would be exposed, again sought to confront Xing Xiuyan. However, Xing Xiuyan's monthly allowance was already limited, and she used almost all of it to supplement the household income. She herself was living off the money given to her by Chen Siyuan, so where would she find any extra money?

Unexpectedly, Xing Zhong and his wife set their sights on Zhuan'er! Xing Zhenshi recounted Zhuan'er's past food, clothing, and daily necessities, and managed to extort two taels of silver from him.

How many months' salary does a third-class maid like Zhuan'er receive? This two taels of silver is what she saved up by being frugal and by Chen Siyuan's casual rewards.

Seeing that her two taels of silver were about to be lost, Zhuan'er felt as if the sky had fallen. Frustrated and angry, she knew it was not good to bother Xing Xiuyan, so she went to Chen Siyuan to demand an explanation.

Chen Siyuan was stunned for a while, then couldn't help but burst into laughter, shaking his head as he laughed.

Na Zhuan'er cried, "I'm already so heartbroken, and the old man from the remote area still wants to laugh at me."

Chen Siyuan didn't explain, but gave Hongyu a look. Hongyu then came over and pulled Zhuan'er, saying, "It's just a little money, why are you so upset? Hurry up and wipe it off, I'll give you two taels of silver later."

"Really?" Zhuan'er was initially delighted, but then frowned and said, "What if Master and Madam come back and ask me for money again?"

Hongyu said speechlessly, "Why don't you just hide it in secret?"

Zhuan'er thought about it and realized it made sense, and then she became happy again. A short while later, Zhuan'er received the money and left happily.

Yunxiang watched from the side, gritting her teeth, convinced that Zhuan'er was indeed bewitched by those vixens. She herself had gone to great lengths to inquire around, never missing a single task assigned by the master, yet she only earned about one tael of silver a month; while Zhuan'er got two taels just by howling and squeezing out a tear, why?
Not to mention Yunxiang's gnashing of teeth in hatred, nothing else happened that day. Chen Siyuan went to Hengwu Garden again that night, but just as he met with Sister Bao, autumn rain began to fall, and the two had to part ways after getting a little close.

The next day, Yunxiang came in early and said, "Master, Master, Lan-ge was frightened again in Madam's room yesterday. I heard from Sister Yuchuan that he was frightened three or five times."

Chen Siyuan smiled and agreed, secretly thinking that Jia Lan was indeed clever; knowing it wasn't good to confront Madam Wang directly, she simply started causing trouble. He thought to himself that it wouldn't take long; after a couple more times, Madam Wang would get annoyed on her own.

Having nothing else to do that day, Chen Siyuan, after getting used to the stance training, stayed in his study reading.

In the afternoon, Chen Siyuan became bored and went for a stroll in the garden.

The sky was overcast that day, and it seemed that autumn rain was about to fall. Chen Siyuan wandered around for a while and only caught a few maids hurrying by and a few old women gossiping together. He didn't see Baochai or Lin Daiyu, let alone the three sisters of spring.

He was puzzled, so he headed towards Xiaoxiang Pavilion. But as he approached Cuiyan Bridge, he heard the incessant chirping and whispering from Xiaocui Hall.

Chen Siyuan strolled over and arrived at Xiaocui Hall. He saw that Sanchun and Xing Xiuyan were both there. However, when they saw Chen Siyuan, they immediately stopped talking.

Chen Siyuan entered with his hands behind his back, greeted everyone, and then asked, "What were you talking about just now?" Xichun hesitated, glanced at Tanchun, and then Tanchun said, "We were still talking about the chaos in Daming Prefecture. The official gazette said that the Emperor was furious and ordered the Shandong governor to suppress the bandits. I wonder when Uncle will be able to reply."

Second sister Yingchun said with a smile, "It's just that the chaos has cut off news, so I think Father is fine. It's just that it has hindered Third Sister's start of the society."

"Oh?" Chen Siyuan looked at Tan Chun.

Tan Chun quickly replied, "I have been thinking about this for the past two days, but this matter has come up. I think we should wait a while before discussing it."

At this moment, Shishu said, "Miss, it's almost Shenshi (3-5 PM), you should be heading to Rongqing Hall."

When Tan Chun saw that it was indeed time, she said goodbye to Chen Siyuan and then went ahead with her second sister and fourth sister.

Only Xing Xiuyan remained inside. Her cousin gave her a reproachful look and said, "If you keep doing this, you'll spoil Zhuan'er!"

Chen Siyuan smiled and came over to take her hand, but Xing Xiuyan quickly stepped back, frowning and saying, "There are people coming and going, be careful."

Chen Siyuan sighed, knowing that he couldn't force it, and then asked Xing Zhong and his wife about it.

Xing Xiuyan sighed and said, "Do you know why I haven't been looking for you lately? It's because I'm afraid they'll try to take advantage of you. A small favor is appreciated, but a large one breeds resentment. If they get used to taking advantage of you, and you refuse to give them any more in the future, they might talk badly about you behind your back."

Chen Siyuan thought about it and agreed, then asked, "And what about you? Your monthly allowance has all been taken by your family. Do you have any money left?"

Xing Xiuyan smiled lightly and said, "I still have more than half of what you gave me. I'm not some high-ranking official's daughter, why would I need so many expenses?"

Chen Siyuan smiled and nodded, then said thoughtfully, "Autumn is coming, I'll send some fine cloth and brocade later... Hmm, something simple and clean."

Xing Xiuyan blinked, and this time she didn't refuse, but just smiled and nodded in agreement. The two looked at each other, and Xing Xiuyan's starry eyes immediately softened. She looked around and, seeing that no one was watching, she leaned over and tugged at Chen Siyuan's hand, saying, "Focus on your studies and don't meddle in the household affairs."

Chen Siyuan sensed the hidden meaning in the words and asked, "Is there something else going on at the manor?"

"So you didn't know?" Xing Xiuyan lowered her voice and said, "The news that just came in said that the second master's student has been transferred from the Shuntian Prefecture Magistrate to the Patrol and Police Department as an Assistant Director."

"Fu Shi?"

Chen Siyuan was astonished and secretly sighed that this master Jia Zheng was quite capable, having quietly granted Fu Shisheng an official position.

Besides the seventeen offices of the Ministry of Justice, there were also offices such as the Autumn Trial Office, the Prison Administration Office, the Patrol and Arrest Office, and the Treasury for Stolen Goods and Punishments. The Patrol and Arrest Office was established by Emperor Taizong Li Guo, specifically for the arrest of important criminals and major thieves. It was headed by a senior official, assisted by three junior officials, and had countless other clerks and secretaries.

This place is neither good nor bad, but it's unclear whose connections Jia Zheng used this time. After all, Vice Minister Zhao was dismissed and investigated the previous time. The Jia family really is... even a starved camel is bigger than a horse.

Upon further reflection, she immediately understood why the three sisters had been whispering amongst themselves but dared not speak. After such an incident, not only would Madam Wang be uneasy, but even Aunt Zhao would likely feel uneasy!
Lady Wang's anger only made her more estranged from Jia Zheng, while Aunt Zhao might start making trouble again.

Just as he was about to say something to Xing Xiuyan, Miao'er called out, "Young master? So you were hiding here! I've been looking for you everywhere. Hurry up, young master, Madam is looking for you anxiously."

Chen Siyuan thought to himself that Madam Xing might be losing her temper again. Helplessly, he glanced at Xing Xiuyan, then bid farewell to his cousin and followed Miao'er to the east courtyard.

No sooner had the two turned past Madam Wang's courtyard than they heard a commotion coming from Mengpo Studio.

“…Incomprehensible!” Master Jia Zheng roared.

Immediately, Aunt Zhao burst into tears, saying, "That vixen has only been with the master for two months, and her brother has already been promoted. Poor me, I've given birth to the master's children, while my brother is still struggling to make ends meet as Huan'er's servant... What's wrong with me asking my brother for a managerial job?"

"Nonsense! When have I ever handled any of the household affairs?"

"Master, master, don't go..."

Chen Siyuan and Miao'er exchanged a glance, knowing that such a commotion was not to be trifled with. So they grabbed Miao'er and headed straight for the side gate next to the small courtyard in the northeast.

The two hurried through the side gate, and as they walked out of the alley, they could hear Aunt Zhao sobbing and cursing from the other side of the wall.

Miao'er couldn't help but gloat, "She's finally got what she deserves? She always acts like she's the mistress, ordering us around like we're nothing. Ha, we're all just servants, who's more noble than whom?"

Chen Siyuan smiled without saying a word, thinking to himself that Jia Zheng was being unfair in this matter. After all, Aunt Zhao had borne him children; surely he couldn't let Zhao Guoji be left without a proper job?

Emerging from the alley, they saw a group of weary travelers approaching on the street. Upon closer inspection, they recognized Jia Lian as returning from the conquest of Ping'an Prefecture.

The two passed each other, greeted each other, and said they would drink together another day before parting ways.

Leaving aside Chen Siyuan's old advice on how to appease Madam Xing, Jia Lian returned to the Rongguo Mansion in high spirits. Just as he returned the horses, his trusted servant Xing'er approached and said, "Second Master, I heard that the First Master has had an accident!"

Jia Lian was taken aback and quickly asked for the reason. Xing'er then told him about the news he had just overheard.

Upon hearing this, Jia Lian stood frozen in place, his expression shifting for a long time. He felt worried, but mostly relieved!

The Jia family's way of educating their children was always like Jia Zhen's, believing that "spare the rod and spoil the child." Before his marriage, Jia Lian was sometimes beaten by the master for no reason, so he was afraid and naturally wished that the master would leave quickly to stop his haphazard control.

Jia Lian was secretly relieved. Firstly, the fate of his master was uncertain, and he might inherit the title in the future. Secondly, it was fortunate that he returned a day or two late, otherwise the arduous task of sweeping and gathering news in the south would have fallen on him again.

After a short while, Jia Lian came to his senses, forced a frown and sighed, "What should we do? When did Chang'er leave? Has anyone been sent back?"

Xing'er said, "They've only been gone for two days, how could we possibly get any news now?"

Jia Lian said no more, and after some thought, he went to Jia Zheng's study, only to learn that his master, Jia Zheng, had just left the mansion. So he went to Rongqing Hall instead. After seeing Grandmother Jia, he returned to Feng Jie's courtyard.

The maid Feng'er hurriedly went inside to deliver a message, and Ping'er came to greet him by lifting the curtain. When Jia Lian entered, he saw Feng Jie sitting cross-legged on the kang (a heated brick bed), working on an abacus.

Sister Feng also smiled and said, "This time I've returned two days earlier than before."

Jia Lian lay down on the kang and complained, "If it weren't for my job, I would have had enough of that godforsaken place, Ping'an Prefecture."

He rested his head on his arms, languidly for a moment, then turned his head and whispered, "How come I heard... the master is trapped in Daming Prefecture?"

Feng Jie glanced at her, smiled but said nothing. Ping'er, sensing the situation, quickly led Feng'er out. With only the two of them left, Feng Jie stopped her abacus and said, "What if one of them is not good..."

Jia Lian quickly shook his head: "It's too early to talk about these things now. Let's wait for Brother Chang's reply."

The two exchanged a glance; Jia Lian's eyes were full of anticipation, while Feng Jie'er was preoccupied with worries. This was because if the title fell to Jia Lian after the eldest master's passing, Feng Jie'er would not only receive an imperial decree, but would also have to truly confront Lady Wang. From then on, it would no longer be a matter of a junior challenging an elder's authority to manage the household, but rather a struggle between the eldest and second branches of the family for control.

Feng Jie was ambitious and power-hungry, and she had been suffering a lot of humiliation these days, so she was determined to have a good fight with Madam Wang.
Jia Lian returned home weary from his journey, feeling stifled for many days. Seeing Feng Jie, he was tempted and couldn't resist reaching out to take her hand. But Feng Jie slapped his hand with her brush and said, "Don't be silly. I'm dealing with a lot of trouble right now. If you can't resist, just go find that little hussy Ping'er."

Hearing the commotion, Ping'er outside said shyly, "Madam, don't use me as a pawn. I have plenty of work to do and no time to serve Second Master!" With that, she lifted the curtain and left.

Jia Lian couldn't help but say awkwardly, "I'm just in charge of the household. You're used to managing the household, why do you have to be so busy?"

"What do you know?" Sister Feng said, "I've taken charge of the household, but I've offended many people, and they've tried to trip me up both openly and secretly. Besides, I also have to worry about the workshop that I'm partnering with Brother Yuan."

Jia Lian said quietly, "It's just a few coins, what's the big deal?"

"Oh, your second master only asks for money when he's short, but he doesn't know the cost of living if he's not in charge of the household." After saying that, he pushed the accounts aside and said, "Why don't you take a look at the accounts for me, second master?"

Jia Lian had no patience for such things. His mood had soured, but he dared not provoke Feng Jie, so he simply got up and said, "Never mind, I'll go take a bath in the front first."

Feng Jie sensed something was wrong and quickly said to his back, "I'll have Ping'er prepare a feast tonight to welcome the Imperial Uncle back."

Jia Lian laughed heartily, then strode away.

Just as Sister Feng was about to start calculating the accounts, Ping'er returned and went inside to report, "Grandma, it's time to go to Rongqing Hall."

With a sigh, Sister Feng had no choice but to finish tidying up the accounts and hurriedly head to Rongqing Hall.

Upon arriving at Rongqing Hall, Sister Feng entertained the old lady with a series of jokes and banter. However, the steward from the front came looking for them, saying that Jia Lian and his party had changed two horses, and they didn't know how to account for it at the front stables.

Having just dealt with the stables, the steward from the back garden came looking for them, saying that the storerooms were short of brocade and cloth, and with the seasons changing, they needed to buy some new clothes for the people in the mansion.

There were all sorts of things to do, and Sister Feng was so busy that she didn't have a moment to rest until it got dark.

Only then did Sister Feng remember to host a welcome dinner for Jia Lian. Coincidentally, she passed by the kitchen, so she instructed them to prepare, then took Ping'er back with her and sent Ping'er to find Jia Lian.

Ping'er smiled and said, "Grandma, Second Master just came back, and you didn't give him a good look. You're probably feeling sad right now."

"Him? He's just doing a errand, not for the government, yet he acts like he's done something incredibly important." With a smile, Sister Feng finally said, "Alright, let's go ahead and invite him then."

Jia Lian's outer study was located in the outer courtyard of the west wing, not far from Jia Zheng's outer study, and behind it were the homes of four wet nurses. Feng Jie passed through the hanging flower gate behind Rongqing Hall, went past Bao Yu's Qixianzhai, and turned at the side gate to arrive at Jia Lian's outer study.

Unexpectedly, Xing'er, who was guarding the door, caught sight of Feng Jie'er and her party, and his expression changed drastically. Feng Jie'er, who had come with a smile, turned ashen-faced upon seeing Xing'er's sudden change in expression and faintly hearing the sounds of panting and eroticism coming from inside!
Ping'er was afraid that Feng Jie'er would lose her temper, so she quickly pulled Feng Jie'er away and said, "Madam... perhaps Second Master has found Long'er or something... it's not good to cause a scene."

"Long'er?" Sister Feng sneered. The woman inside was making incessant moans. How could she be Long'er?

Ping'er cursed Jia Lian inwardly for causing trouble as soon as he returned, but she comforted him aloud, saying, "There's a saying that you can't be a good head of the household if you're not deaf and dumb. Second Master is just like that, and Madam is very strict... Even if he doesn't cause trouble in the mansion, he'll probably still go out and seek out women. Madam has just taken charge of the household, and if this causes a scene... people will laugh at us!"

Feng Jie secretly rummaged through her brains, knowing that ever since Jia Lian escorted Daiyu south, her thoughts had become increasingly restless. Although Ping'er was there to cover for her, how could Feng Jie not be aware of the rumors circulating in the mansion?

Just as Ping'er said, although Feng Jie was dissatisfied, she usually only gave him verbal warnings and never really had a falling out with Jia Lian. She also thought to herself, what good is it if my aunt, Lady Wang, is so strong-willed? Doesn't Master Jia Zheng still have Concubine Zhao and Concubine Zhou? And now he even has a mistress outside.

So he glared at Xing'er, who bowed repeatedly but kept a straight face and didn't say a word.

Sister Feng took a deep breath, glanced coldly at the outer study, then turned and led Ping'er back.

"Go throw that meal out and feed it to the dogs!"

After the master and servant left, Xing'er hurriedly knocked on the window and said, "Second Master! Stop making a fuss, Second Mistress just came!"

A moment of silence fell over the room, followed by a rustling sound before the study door opened. Xing'er went inside, but several young women immediately turned and slipped out, disappearing in a flash. Jia Lian, his clothes half-undone, said awkwardly, "So, she really came?"

Xing'er nodded solemnly. Jia Lian knew something was wrong and quickly dressed himself before heading to the back to look for her. When he entered Feng Jie's courtyard, no matter how much he tried to appease her, Feng Jie only gave him cold, sarcastic looks. Just then, the kitchen delivered a meal, and in her anger, Feng Jie smashed the food box, choking Jia Lian. Dejected, Jia Lian could only dejectedly head back to the study.

As luck would have it, Jia Lian had just rounded the large, painted screen wall when he bumped into Chen Siyuan, who was turning back from the east courtyard.

Chen Siyuan immediately laughed and asked, "Second Brother Lian, where are you going?"

Jia Lian chuckled and said, "That task still has some loose ends, and I need to go to the outer study to take care of it. Well then, let's take our leave now and drink together another day."

Chen Siyuan watched Jia Lian leave, noticing his hurried figure and hearing the sudden silence in Feng Jie's courtyard, and scratched his head in bewilderment. He wondered to himself, "Why are these two arguing?"

(End of this chapter)