Dream of the Red Chamber

Chapter 399 Pink Wings Paired Up, Gently Supporting Each Other
After Li Wan and Feng Jie arrived and took their seats inside, a maid named Su Yun served them fragrant tea. The two sisters-in-law exchanged a few pleasantries, and then Feng Jie got down to business: "I don't come here without a reason, but I couldn't refuse today, so I've come to act as a matchmaker."

Li Wan was quite surprised. Knowing that it was about arranging marriages for her two cousins, she hurriedly asked, "But I wonder if you have your eye on Li Wen or Li Qi? What kind of family are they from?"

Sister Feng laughed and said, "Speaking of which, we are old relatives. He is Xue Ke, the second son of the Xue family."

"Xue Ke?" Li Wan was somewhat displeased upon hearing this. Firstly, Xue Ke came from a merchant family, and secondly, he was younger than Li Qi, who was even younger.

The two sisters-in-law had seen each other frequently and had known each other for over ten years. Without mincing words, Feng Jie simply explained Xue Ke's intentions clearly.

Although Li Wan was displeased, she couldn't refuse him outright, so she simply said, "In that case, I'll talk to my aunt about it later and give you an answer then."

Sister Feng smiled and agreed. She then chatted about various things, drank a cup of tea, and then bid farewell to Li Wan and returned to her own courtyard.

As soon as the two of them turned past Liaofeng Pavilion, Fengjie slowed her pace slightly and said to Ping'er beside her, "Did you see it clearly just now?"

Ping'er couldn't lie, so she could only nod in agreement.

Sister Feng hurriedly said, "Go back and find my pearl... Could it be that your second master took my things to do me a favor?"

Ping'er said in surprise, "Grandma, Second Master hasn't come back yet, how could he have stolen Grandma's things?"

Sister Feng was slightly surprised, and Ping'er quickly added, "Perhaps it really was given to Brother Lan by Master Yuan?"

Sister Feng spat, "Where would you send pearls to a young master? If you don't even believe it yourself, don't try to excuse others."

Ping'er hesitated and remained silent, but Feng Jie squinted her phoenix eyes and said excitedly, "Good! It's been rumored all along that Chen Siyuan is a womanizer. I thought it was just that he had many maids in his room, but who knew that he didn't only sleep with the maids, he even slept with the masters in the garden!"

The two, mistress and servant, had already crossed the Emerald Smoke Bridge. Seeing that Sister Feng was hurrying towards the thatched cottage, Ping'er hurriedly stopped her, saying, "What are you doing, Madam?"

Sister Feng said, "He did such a despicable thing, I'm going to expose his true colors!"

Ping'er was speechless for a while, thinking to herself that if that Master Yuan was someone who cared about his reputation, how could he not only steal from the eldest mistress, but also rush into the second mistress's trap?
Ping'er could only say, "Has Grandma thought about how to say it?" If she doesn't keep it a secret, it will become a public scandal in no time, and then Feng Jie herself will not get any credit; if she keeps it a secret... it won't get out either way, so what is that Master Yuan afraid of?
After calming down, Sister Feng thought about it and realized it made sense. She muttered curses and grumbled inwardly for a while before passing through Qinfang Pavilion with Ping'er and heading towards her own courtyard.

For some reason, ever since she returned, Ping'er never saw a frown on Feng Jie's face again; instead, a mocking smile would occasionally appear on her face.

After some thought, Ping'er roughly guessed what Feng Jie was thinking. Although she was alluring and fiery, she was extremely proper in matters of love and sex. Suddenly having a younger brother-in-law was a hurdle that Feng Jie couldn't overcome.

Just then, she learned that Li Wan had done it too! Good heavens, even the withered and lifeless Li Wan had a younger brother-in-law. Feng Jie suddenly realized that this was not her fault, but only because Jia Lian was too useless and Yuan's brother was too outstanding.

Relieved, she secretly mocked Li Wan for failing to uphold traditional womanly virtues. She also longed to meet Chen Siyuan in secret soon, so she could expose him to his true colors.

The more anxious she was, the less free time she had. The next day, the young princess of the Prince of Bei Jing sent an invitation to Feng Jie to come to the mansion for a chat. So Feng Jie went to the Prince of Bei Jing's mansion for two consecutive days to settle things with the women of the Zhen family. It wasn't until the third day that she finally had some free time.

To everyone's surprise, when Ping'er was sent to look for him, she returned and said, "Grandma, today Grandpa Yuan went to Faxiangfang to inspect the project. He said he wouldn't be back until nightfall."

"What a coincidence!"

Sister Feng was disappointed, but she didn't say anything and could only wait until the next day. Who knew that she would send Ping'er to look for him again the next day. Ping'er returned with a strange look on her face and said, "Grandma, Master Yuan said that he needs to study hard and he really doesn't have time today."

What Sister Feng didn't know was that Chen Siyuan hadn't gone to Faxiangfang yesterday, but instead went to the new residence. He had a long and drawn-out battle with Madam You and Second Sister You, and was now so exhausted that he had to hang up the white flag.

Sister Feng, however, was like a cat with its fur standing on end, angrily saying, "Is he going to take advantage of me and then ignore me?"

Ping'er remained silent, which only made Feng Jie more and more annoyed.

Sister Feng was such a proud and strong-willed person. She was always pampered and coaxed by Jia Lian. But with Chen Siyuan, the situation reversed. She was offered up only to be taken advantage of and then abandoned, refusing to acknowledge her debts!
Enraged, Sister Feng rose to her feet, intending to confront Chen Siyuan. Just then, Yuanyang rushed in, gave a hasty curtsy, and said, "Second Madam, the Old Madam wants you to go to Rongqing Hall. Something terrible has happened!"

Sister Feng asked in surprise, "What on earth happened?"

Among them were only Feng Jie and her maid Ping'er. Yuanyang didn't try to hide anything, but lowered her voice and said, "The servant boy by the master's side sent a message saying... saying that Aunt Fu had a new baby boy last month. Madam is wiping away tears in front of the old lady right now."

Sister Feng blinked, feeling overjoyed, and said, "Oh, this is no small matter. You go back first, I'll go right away."

Yuanyang agreed, turned around, and walked away quickly.

Before Yuanyang had gone far, Fengjie said bitterly, "Retribution!"

She temporarily left Chen Siyuan aside, her mind set on going to Rongqing Hall to see Madam Wang make a fool of herself. Ping'er helped her change her clothes and watched her walk quickly towards Rongqing Hall. Because she was afraid that Feng Jie and Chen Siyuan would fall out, she hurriedly went to Qingtang Thatched Cottage.

Unexpectedly, when she met Chen Siyuan, she managed to tell him about Feng Jie's situation without anyone noticing. Chen Siyuan didn't seem to care at all and just smiled and said, "I know. You don't need to worry about this. I have my own way of dealing with it. As for you, now that you're pregnant, you need to take good care of yourself and not overwork yourself."

While feeling comforted, Ping'er worriedly said, "Uncle Yuan, you mustn't take this lightly. If our grandmother gets angry, she might just throw a tantrum and not care about anything else. What will we do then?"

Chen Siyuan laughed and said, "Then let's just not let her make a scene."

After much persuasion, Chen Siyuan finally managed to send Ping'er away, then shook his head and continued studying his books.

He secretly thought to himself, if he followed Ping'er's advice and granted Feng Jie's every request, wouldn't he become a second Jia Lian?
Since Sister Feng could treat Jia Lian like a discarded shoe, why would she give herself such a nice look? She might even take advantage of him and become more and more bossy in the future.

Men and women are different in this world, not only in their bodies, but also in their thoughts.

The common saying that men are rational and women are emotional is just a facade. Otherwise, why would women still be devoted to those scumbag men who abuse countless women?
This man had two great hobbies: one was to lure respectable women into prostitution, and the other was to persuade prostitutes to leave the profession. This applies equally well to women.

Women are inherently emotional, and the abundance of honest, law-abiding men doesn't provide them with any sensory stimulation. The moment they encounter a scumbag, the memory is immediately vivid. They even harbor thoughts of reforming him and spending their lives with him.

Secondly, women tend to prioritize emotions over facts. It doesn't matter if a jerk makes a mistake; a little tenderness and appeasement to please the woman can usually make the matter disappear. Furthermore, women crave a sense of indebtedness; if you make a mistake, she feels indebted to you, and she naturally assumes you won't leave her.

Don't believe me? Just look around. Are there any guys who are good-looking, virtuous, and capable? See if a woman would be interested in such a man. I'm afraid most of these guys wouldn't be liked by women. Why? Because women would feel inferior in front of such men, feeling that they couldn't keep such a good man.

Thirdly, women are susceptible to emotional abuse—this refers to the emotional aspect. The more you hurt her, the less she will want to leave you.

Of course, the above three points refer to the vast majority, and there are also women who understand this clearly. For example, Xing Xiuyan and Baochai here. Lin Daiyu composed the "Five Beauties Poem" that day, but she was a very emotional and straightforward person, and it is likely that she will never understand the truth behind it in her lifetime.

Having lived through two lifetimes, Chen Siyuan now indulges in a life of pleasure and has naturally come to understand the things he couldn't comprehend in his previous life.

Therefore, when dealing with a woman of Feng Jie'er's temperament, whether close or distant, one must never let her lead one by the nose.

He composed himself and began to study diligently, and before he knew it, dusk had fallen.

Wu'er went to the small kitchen to get the food box. Just then, Yunxiang sneaked in like a thief and whispered, "Master, it seems something big has happened today!"

Chen Siyuan was tired from reading and was rubbing his temples. Without looking up, he asked, "What happened?"

Yunxiang said, "It is said that the master sent a servant to deliver a message, but when the madam read the message, she immediately went to the old lady's room and cried bitterly. Later, the second madam also went... Later, the first madam seemed to have received the message, but as soon as she arrived at Rongqing Hall, she returned to her own courtyard."

Chen Siyuan pondered for a moment and then understood the reason for the matter. Last year, as soon as Jia Zheng took office, he sent a letter saying that Fu Qiufang was pregnant. Judging by the timeline, the pregnancy should have been completed last month, right?

Chen Siyuan was unaware of what Madam Wang was up to. Logically speaking, Fu Qiufang was just a concubine who couldn't be listed in the family genealogy at this time. Even if she gave birth to a boy, he would have to be raised in Madam Wang's room. Why was Madam Wang crying over this?
He had some doubts, and just then there was a commotion outside, as Qingwen returned from the wedding shop.

Yunxiang received no reward, and with a pout, she dragged herself away.

Chen Siyuan got up and came out, taking Qingwen's hand and saying, "You look so happy, is something good happening?"

Qingwen smiled without saying a word. After Xiangling went outside to busy herself, she quietly said to Chen Siyuan, "Second Aunt brought an official's wife here today. She tried to persuade me several times, and I couldn't refuse, so I had to take on a job making a kang screen. She said it needs to be six panels, and it will probably be finished by the first month of the lunar year. I'll have to ask Master to make a design for it later."

Chen Siyuan, observing the man's expression and noticing his constant smile, knew that the money had been given in full. He then asked, "How much money did you give?"

Qingwen smiled and held up her hand, making a 'six' shape.

Six hundred taels is not a small amount.

Chen Siyuan reached out and ruffled Qingwen's hair, praising, "Your needlework skills are truly outstanding. Who knows, if I ever become poor, I might have to rely on you to support me."

Qingwen tilted her head smugly and said, "I'd love for Master to fall into misfortune so I could take care of him from now on."

That way, the old man would belong to her alone, and she wouldn't have to share the profits with those other women.

Chen Siyuan was utterly captivated by Qingwen's delicate appearance, and immediately embraced her for a few moments of tender intimacy, only releasing the panting, flushed Qingwen when Wu'er returned with the food box. After having his evening snack, Chen Siyuan, fearing for his eyesight, dared not study by lamplight, and instead strolled into the garden. Unexpectedly, upon reaching Qinfang Pavilion, he bumped into Yuanyang, who was carrying a lantern.

As the two drew closer, Yuanyang recognized Chen Siyuan and, overjoyed, quickly curtsied.

Chen Siyuan smiled and asked, "Where did you come from?"

Yuanyang replied with a smile, "Xueyan wanted to tie a string of pearls, but she messed it up twice. She asked me for help the first two days, and today I had some free time so I went to Xiaoxiang Pavilion."

It was windy here, and the place was quite conspicuous. Chen Siyuan gestured and said, "If you have time, shall we take a walk?"

Yuanyang's pretty face flushed red, and she responded in a voice barely audible. Seeing that lanterns had already been put up all around the garden, she thought for a moment, then blew out the lantern in her hand and hurriedly caught up, only slightly behind Chen Siyuan by half a step.

After the two crossed the Qinfang Gate Bridge, they soon reached a sheltered spot in the side hall. Chen Siyuan then said, "I heard that the key to the private treasury is now in Amber's hands?"

Yuanyang said, "Thanks to your guidance, sir. I only thought that I had gained face because the old lady valued me, but I never thought that I would have to bear the responsibility. You know that I am a reasonable person. If someone else comes to me for help, I might take pity on them. If something happens to the private treasury in the future, I will truly be able to atone for my sins even if I die a hundred times."

Chen Siyuan said, "It's rare that you've thought things through. I was just worried that you might get implicated in the future. Oh, right—" He suddenly reached into his sleeve and pulled out three jade pendants connected together. He grabbed Yuanyang's hand and put them in his palm, saying, "Last time I received some good jade material from the Prince. I had someone carve a few pieces and made a protective charm. You can keep it."

Her right hand was enveloped by Chen Siyuan's large hand, and Yuanyang's heart pounded, her face flushing even more. She was a clever and magnanimous woman, and she knew that her future depended on Chen Siyuan, so she did not refuse. She simply agreed in a soft voice, then lowered her head, not knowing what to say.

Chen Siyuan hadn't let go of her hand, and then said, "Did Madam cry in the afternoon?"

Yuanyang barely managed to come to her senses and said, "I was in the garden at the time, and I didn't hear everything when I got back. I only heard that Aunt Fu not only had a boy, but also bought a skinny horse and sent it to the master's side."

Chen Siyuan was stunned, thinking to himself that Fu Qiufang was really going all out to secure her favor.

"What did the old lady say?"

Yuanyang laughed and said, "What can the old lady say? The master already had two concubines, and Concubine Zhou is getting old, so it's only right and proper to add Concubine Fu. Besides, many children bring many blessings, and the old lady is eager for a house full of children and grandchildren. Madam made a scene, but the old lady kept repeating the same few sentences, and with Second Madam watching the show, Madam ended up losing face. When she heard that First Madam had also come to watch the show, she hurriedly went back."

Chen Siyuan chuckled and said, "Madam is really suffering in silence this time."

Chen Siyuan estimated that even if Jia Zheng returned, the matter would not be resolved. Just look at Aunt Zhao before, she only sent Tan Chun to Madam's room, but kept her son Jia Huan by her side, which shows that Jia Zheng must be protecting her behind the scenes.

Now that Jia Zheng's mind is entirely on Fu Qiufang, he will naturally protect Fu Qiufang and her son.

The autumn wind was bleak, yet the palms of Yuanyang's hands were damp with a fine layer of sweat. Her heart pounded, and she was afraid of being seen. After a long while, she finally couldn't help but stammer, "Uncle Yuan... I, I should go back now."

Chen Siyuan responded but didn't let go. He raised his hand again to smooth the strands of hair that clung to his cheek before saying, "Go back early. The weather has changed recently, be careful not to catch a cold."

Yuanyang responded softly, and only after Chen Siyuan let go did she move away with graceful steps, frequently turning back to look at him.

Watching the mandarin ducks disappear into the twilight, Chen Siyuan then began to walk around the Grand View Garden. He went up the main mountain and then down again, pausing briefly on the path behind Hengwu Garden.

He sighed inwardly, lamenting that it was a pity Xiangyun was still alive; otherwise, he could visit Baochai every few nights. Now, however, he could only wait for Baochai to come looking for him.

Sighing, he descended the winding mountain road, passed through the stone cave, and continued on his way. He passed Daoxiang Village and Zhuijin Tower, and after winding his way past Qinfang Pavilion, Chen Siyuan was about to return to Qingtang Thatched Cottage when he suddenly heard someone cough softly from behind a tree.

Chen Siyuan stopped to observe and saw a beautiful figure emerge from the woods west of the Jade Emperor Temple. She wore a moon-white satin cloak with red trim, a vermilion stand-up collar shirt with gold plum blossom patterns underneath, and a moon-white horse-face skirt with scattered flowers. She carried a lantern that was not yet lit.

Fortunately, this place was not far from Qingtang Thatched Cottage. With the help of the lamplight from Qingtang Thatched Cottage, Chen Siyuan was able to see that the person who came was Wang Xifeng.

Chen Siyuan looked around and, seeing that no one was around, leaned closer and asked, "Did you come here by yourself?"

Sister Feng hesitated, her phoenix eyes seeming to speak volumes, conveying a mixture of annoyance, smugness, and a complex mix of emotions. She glanced at Chen Siyuan and whispered, "I have something important to discuss. Please come with me."

After saying that, he turned and rustled into the woods. Chen Siyuan hesitated for a moment, then followed him.

The two walked through the forest, one after the other, until they reached the passageway between the Jade Emperor Temple and the Green Bamboo Nunnery. They then circled around the Green Bamboo Nunnery before finally entering the mountain gate.

Feng Jie was about to stop talking when a wind suddenly picked up, howling like a banshee and rustling the leaves. Feeling it was inappropriate to talk there, Feng Jie found the key, opened the door, and led Chen Siyuan to the east wing of the Longcui Nunnery.

This side room is completely self-contained, with curtains covering the windows so that even with candlelight, very little light can see through.

Sister Feng lit the candles and watched as Chen Siyuan lit the brazier. She then sat crookedly on the edge of the bed, crossed her legs, and sneered, saying, "Now that you've gotten yourself into trouble, if you beg for forgiveness properly, I might let you off this time."

Chen Siyuan said, "It's happened? I've committed many offenses, but I don't know which one you're referring to?"

Sister Feng said sternly, "Don't try to bluff. To tell you the truth, my sister-in-law told me everything a few days ago."

Chen Siyuan breathed a sigh of relief, but a sense of amusement crept in. He leaned closer and asked, "Then how do you expect me to beg for permission?"

Sister Feng lifted her toes, nearly kicking Chen Siyuan in the groin. Seeing Chen Siyuan bend over to dodge, she covered her mouth and giggled, then raised her foot and pressed it against Chen Siyuan's lower abdomen, laughing, "Isn't that simple? You obediently kneel down and kowtow three times, calling me 'Grandma' three times, and I'll spare you."

Chen Siyuan frowned and pretended to think for a while before saying, "No, no, kneeling is fine, but kowtowing is not allowed."

Sister Feng was taken aback for a moment, and couldn't help but look down on him a little. She said, "Fine, then you don't need to kowtow. Just kneel down and call me 'Auntie' three times..."

"Not bad at all. If I called you 'Grandma,' wouldn't that mess up the generations?"

"So you're just going to kneel down?"

Chen Siyuan nodded, then suddenly reached out and grabbed her ankle, pulling her sharply. Feng Jie cried out and fell onto the bed. Chen Siyuan then gave a sinister smile and said, "There's a rule to my kneeling; you have to lie down properly first."

Sister Feng's expression changed drastically. Just as she was about to reprimand him, Chen Siyuan had already moved closer.

After a brief struggle, Chen Siyuan seized Feng Jie'er's hands, allowing him to peck and kiss her lips, while his other hand groped her all over.

After struggling for a while, Sister Feng was aroused. She twisted and turned wildly, and in a short while, Chen Siyuan stripped her naked. In a moment, all that was left for her was to beg for mercy and pant.

Spring nights have passed, lost again and again; truly, it is as follows: the incense burner's fragrance fades, the candlelight flickers low, and gentle waves ripple beside the pillow.

When the clouds cleared and the rain stopped, Sister Feng lay limp on the bed, too weak to even speak.

Chen Siyuan, having just indulged in his passion, always felt the need to be considerate afterwards, so he found a handkerchief and wiped himself clean. Once Feng Jie had regained her senses, he pulled her into his arms and asked gently, "What do you know?"

At this moment, Sister Feng was completely clear-headed. She hummed for a while, unwilling to speak. Seeing that Chen Siyuan was about to cause trouble again, Sister Feng was frightened into speaking in a hoarse voice: "I, I saw my sister-in-law hiding a pearl a few days ago... exactly the same as the one you gave me."

Chen Siyuan's eyes darted around, and he immediately sneered, "When I was short of money to start a business, I borrowed it from my sister-in-law. That pearl was just a thank-you gift. But you have a dirty mind, so you think others are dirty too."

Sister Feng reached out and punched him, frowning as she said, "You still want to fool me? My sister-in-law said it was for Lan-ge, but it's not what you said."

Chen Siyuan lied through his teeth, saying, "You know what kind of person my sister-in-law is. If I said it was a thank-you gift, how could she accept it? I just found an excuse to give it to Lan Ge'er."

Sister Feng blinked, half believing and half doubting, sensing something amiss. But Chen Siyuan's face was full of conviction, revealing no flaws whatsoever.

Sister Feng wondered to herself, "Could it be that Li Wan has long harbored feelings for Chen Siyuan, but has not yet revealed it to his face?"

How could Chen Siyuan allow Feng Jie to overthink things? He quickly changed the subject, saying, "Yes, I heard that Madam went to Rongqing Hall to cry today?"

At the mention of this, Sister Feng perked up, barely managing to sit up as she began to speak. What she said was almost identical to what Yuanyang had said. After explaining the situation, Sister Feng couldn't help but sneer, "This is retribution! Just wait and see. Once Master finishes this term as school inspector, when that Concubine Fu comes to the mansion, there will be plenty of entertainment! If only she could drive Madam to her death!"

Chen Siyuan sneered, "Madam is just in a bad mood for a moment. She'll figure things out eventually. Besides, your second uncle and the empress in the palace are still alive. Who do you think can touch Madam?"

Even if Lady Wang were to commit a serious offense, given that she is still presentable, the Jia family would likely downplay the matter and let it go, considering the influence of Prince Teng and Yuan Chun.

Sister Feng laughed and said, "That's hard to say... If it only concerns Madam, we can probably cover it up. But what if it involves Baoyu?"

Chen Siyuan asked in surprise, "Why are you doing things related to Baoyu?"

Sister Feng whispered, "I heard that when Aunt Fu gave birth to her child at the hour of Chou (1-3 AM), the city was bathed in rosy light as soon as the child was born. The very next day, monks and Taoist priests came to the door, all saying that the child was the reincarnation of the God of Literature."

Is that so? Good heavens, Madam Wang caused a scene of being born with a jade in her mouth, and Fu Qiufang has created a scene of being shrouded in rosy clouds. If that's really the case, there'll be some fun to watch later.

(End of this chapter)