Dream of the Red Chamber: I can see the hidden labels of the beauties.

night.

Ningguo Prefecture.

The lanterns on both sides of the passageway were sparse, and the candlelight flickered slightly in the night wind, casting a dim and pale light that made the shadows of the trees sway all around, like ghosts.

The entire mansion was quite quiet, with only the occasional sound of drums coming from afar, making it seem even more eerie and cold.

Deep within the garden stands a pavilion called Tianxiang Tower, with several old trees in front of it lush and verdant, blocking out most of the moonlight.

There wasn't a single maid or servant woman to be seen around; those who were usually on duty had all vanished without a trace.

At the corner downstairs, in the shadows, a person stood quietly.

Jia Can hid behind a pillar, staring up at the building without moving. His eyes shone slightly in the darkness, like a spy keeping watch in the night. Even his breathing was extremely light and slow.

The dim light from the lanterns under the eaves occasionally flickered, casting alternating shadows on his face, revealing a young and handsome face in those fleeting moments.

His eyebrows were slanted upwards, his nose was straight, and his posture was as upright as a pine tree. However, there was a deepness in his eyes that was not commensurate with his age.

A moment later, footsteps echoed down the stairs, and a middle-aged man emerged from Tianxiang Tower with a gloomy face, furrowed brows, and muttering something under his breath. He then flicked his sleeve and strode away angrily.

This man was none other than Jia Zhen, the master of Ningguo Mansion. He inherited the title of Third-Class General of Martial Valor and was also the patriarch of the Jia clan. He held absolute power and influence in Ningguo Mansion.

He was tall and imposing, with an air of arrogance and domineering presence. Even in the darkness of night, he exuded an aura of menace that commanded respect.

Hidden in the shadows, Jia Can watched Jia Zhen's figure recede into the distance, his bright, deep eyes flickering slightly, a cold glint flashing in their depths.

Within the light lay resentment and a chilling killing intent, fleeting yet remaining calm on his face.

Jia Zhen strode out more than ten steps, then suddenly stopped, as if sensing something. He abruptly turned his head, his gaze like lightning, shooting straight towards the direction where Jia Can was.

Jia Can remained motionless, his entire being blending into the shadows, even holding his breath.

Jia Zhen stared for a moment, only to find the corner completely empty, without a single person in sight. He then withdrew his gaze, snorted, straightened his clothes, and swaggered away, his footsteps gradually fading into the depths of the night.

Only when the footsteps had completely faded into the distance and all was quiet did Jia Can slowly emerge from the shadows.

Looking up at Tianxiang Tower, I saw a slender figure reflected in the carved window, motionless, her graceful silhouette revealing a hint of loneliness and melancholy.

Upon seeing this, a complex expression flashed across Jia Can's eyes, a mixture of sympathy and sighs, and his lips tightened slightly.

Looking around, it was quiet and deserted; the maids that Jia Zhen had sent away had indeed not returned.

Without further hesitation, he took a step upstairs. Although his steps were quick, they were very steady. His footsteps on the wooden stairs made only a very slight sound, revealing a composure and caution that was completely out of character for his age.

Inside the attic, Qin Keqing sat alone by the window.

She wore a white nightgown with a red gauze jacket over it. Her black hair was loosely tied up, with only a jade hairpin inserted at an angle. A few strands of hair fell to her temples, making her beautiful face appear even whiter and more like jade.

Her eyebrows were like distant mountains shrouded in mist, her eyes like autumn waters rippling across the surface, her nose smooth as goose fat, and her lips a touch of cherry red—she possessed an absolutely stunning beauty that could topple kingdoms.

At this moment, her eyes were vacant as she gazed at the night outside the window, her slender hands folded on her knees, and an unyielding sorrow etched between her brows.

It is beautiful, but it has an inescapable sense of desolation.

Tap tap tap…

Footsteps came from the stairwell, unhurried, approaching from afar.

Qin Keqing snapped back to her senses, her delicate brows furrowing, her eyes suddenly filled with vigilance, a hint of tension and unease rising on her beautiful face, her eyes deep with worry.

Her heart tightened, and she wondered to herself, "Could it be that that old beast is about to force himself on me tonight?"

Thinking this, she slowly turned her head to look at the door, her fingers unconsciously gripping her sleeve.

At the same time, a thought inexplicably popped into my mind:

If only... Ah-Can had come, but... he seems to still be recovering in bed, and he usually avoids me. Why would he come to me in the middle of the night?

The footsteps stopped at the door, and there was no movement for a long time.

Qin Keqing held her breath, her heart pounding like a drum.

A moment later, the door was gently pushed open, and a figure slowly walked in.

Upon seeing the person's face clearly, the tension in her heart eased slightly, and she even felt a surge of joy.

It wasn't the figure she loathed and feared, but rather the person she cared about and missed, that made her momentarily stunned.

Jia Can stepped over the threshold, turned around and closed the door, his movements calm and unhurried, showing no sign of urgency.

Then, he turned around and walked step by step toward Qin Keqing, his expression calm, his eyes pure and clear, with a gentle look, as if it were just a routine visit.

Qin Keqing was stunned for a moment, then quickly came to her senses, stood up and took two steps forward, gave a slight curtsy, and spoke softly:

"My niece-in-law greets Second Uncle and offers her respects. May I ask what brings you here so late at night?"

As she spoke, she slightly narrowed her eyes, scrutinizing Jia Can's face.

In the candlelight, Jia Can's handsome face was clearly defined, slightly pale, as if he had not fully recovered from his illness, and a gloomy look hung between his brows.

Qin Keqing saw this and her heart skipped a beat. She wondered what troubles he had encountered, otherwise he would not even dare to look her in the eye on ordinary days, but would barge into her boudoir tonight.

What is he here for?

Jia Can looked directly at Qin Keqing, his gaze calm, and went straight to the point:

"I just witnessed Jia Zhen come out of your room, and he stayed there for about 15 minutes."

Qin Keqing was startled again upon hearing this, and her face immediately became somewhat uneasy. A thin blush spread across her cheeks, which quickly faded, turning her face pale.

She lowered her eyes, remained silent for a moment, then looked up at Jia Can, asking with a hint of melancholy:

"What does Second Uncle want to say?"

Jia Can stared at her for a moment, his gaze seemingly scrutinizing yet also filled with pity, before finally letting out a soft sigh:

"I must say, you are truly beautiful, breathtakingly so. No wonder that beast Jia Zhen wanted to harm you."

She secretly admired her, thinking that she was indeed a woman who possessed the beauty of both Daiyu and Baochai, a truly stunning beauty. It was just a pity that she was ruined by that old beast Jia Zhen.

Upon hearing his words, Qin Keqing's beautiful eyes widened slightly, her expression complex and difficult to discern. There was shame and indignation, as well as a hint of unspeakable bitterness, yet there also seemed to be a trace of joy.

She stared blankly at Jia Can, her cherry lips slightly parted as if she wanted to argue something, but she didn't know where to start. She opened her mouth, but in the end, she stopped and lowered her head slightly.

It was no secret in the Ningguo Mansion that Jia Zhen harbored designs on her; most people could see through it. She wasn't surprised that Jia Can could see it either.

But as these words came out of his mouth, Qin Keqing couldn't help but feel an unbearable sense of shame and indignation.

She was extremely unwilling and reluctant, yet Jia Can happened to witness it in this situation, leaving her utterly humiliated.

She absolutely refused to reveal to Jia Can that she had been defiled by that old beast in the slightest.

Seeing that she didn't speak, Jia Can took a deep breath, suppressing the pent-up emotions in his chest, and continued:

"I know you are in pain and wish you could kill Jia Zhen, but you are ultimately just a weak woman. Jia Zhen is the head of the Ningguo Mansion and the head of the Jia family. If you want to rebel against him, it is tantamount to courting death."

He paused slightly, gazed at Qin Keqing, and said sincerely:

"However, I can help you!"

Upon hearing this, Qin Keqing's beautiful eyes widened suddenly, filled with astonishment as she stared intently at her young second uncle, as if she were seeing him for the first time.

The flickering candlelight in the building cast shadows on her exquisite face, making the astonished expression on her face particularly clear in the interplay of light and shadow.

Since she married into the Ningguo Mansion, she has only met this Second Uncle Can a handful of times.

As an illegitimate son of the Ningguo Mansion, and with his birth mother having died early, Jia Can's situation in the mansion was worse than that of some of the more respectable servants. He was almost never mentioned, as if he didn't exist in the mansion at all.

He himself lived like a rat in a ditch, always timid and hesitant, walking with his head down, never even making eye contact with anyone.

But at this moment, this second uncle, who usually seemed superfluous even in his presence, actually broke into her boudoir in the middle of the night and even said that he could help her.

Qin Keqing almost thought she had misheard. Her ears were ringing, and she even felt that everything in front of her was just a dream she had fallen into because of her anxiety and sorrow.

Staring at Jia Can in astonishment, her gaze lingered on his face, trying to find a trace of familiar timidity and cowardice in his eyes, but she only saw calmness and composure, completely different from the person in her memory.

Jia Can was not surprised by Qin Keqing's reaction. His expression remained unchanged. After glancing at her indifferently, he sat down on a chair to the side.

He sat upright, his back straight, without the slightest hint of awkwardness, and looked calmly at Qin Keqing before continuing:

"Wanting Jia Zhen to die is actually quite simple for you; it just depends on whether you're willing to do it."

Qin Keqing snapped out of her daze, her pretty face still filled with disbelief. Her beautiful eyes widened as she stared at Jia Can, her brows furrowing slightly. She hesitated before asking in return:

"Does my second uncle mean... that I should pretend to comply, and then strike when they're off guard?"

As soon as she said it, she was slightly taken aback. Unconsciously, her thoughts were already following Jia Can's words, as if Jia Can's words had naturally led her to think in this direction.

Jia Can shook his head:

"No, that's certainly feasible, but the problem is that it can't be kept secret afterward."

"Jia Zhen did have a noble title, and the court would definitely send someone to examine his body after his death. If it was murder, the coroner would definitely be able to find out. At that time, not only would Jia Zhen's death not be concealed, but the person who did it would also be hard to escape punishment."

Upon hearing this, Qin Keqing frowned even more deeply. After a moment of contemplation, she looked at him and pressed for an answer:

"Then what should we do according to Second Uncle's opinion?"