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

Because Jia Zhen was still present, Jia Can and Qin Keqing quickly looked away, pretending it was just a chance glance. Although the rumors from the other day had subsided, Jia Zhen still wasn't completely at ease with Jia Can.

However, for Qin Keqing, just a glance at each other from afar was enough to ease the pain of longing and worry in her heart.

She saw composure and calmness in Jia Can's eyes, guessing that everything would go smoothly for him today, which put her at ease.

At this moment, Grandmother Jia waved her hand with a smile and said to Jia Can:

"Brother Can, please sit down. Your sister-in-law Zhen has prepared some delicacies. Please have some."

Jia Can thanked him and sat down in an empty seat at the lower end, which was directly opposite Jia Zhen.

After sitting down, Jia Can looked around the pavilion and suddenly realized that Jia Baoyu was not there.

In the past, Jia Baoyu would always be present at such a scene. He was the apple of Grandmother Jia's eye, and his presence always made Grandmother Jia laugh more.

But today was strange; among all the people in the pavilion, there was no sign of this lively fellow. Jia Can was a little puzzled, but he didn't think much of it.

When Jia Zhen saw that Jia Can had been allowed to sit down by Grandmother Jia, a sinister glint flashed in his eyes, and he stared intently at Jia Can.

Logically speaking, Jia Can, an illegitimate son, would never have the opportunity to appear on such occasions. If it weren't for Grandmother Jia's sudden whim, how could Jia Can have sat with her today?

I wanted to immediately ask Jia Can where he had just gone, why he hadn't been seen since early morning, and why things had changed so much today.

However, with Grandmother Jia and others present, Jia Zhen couldn't easily make a scene under everyone's watchful eyes, so he could only hold back for the time being.

Thinking that he would interrogate Jia Can slowly after the party ended.

His sinister gaze swept over Jia Can before disappearing.

Jia Can keenly noticed it, but didn't care and didn't react at all.

The laughter and chatter in the pavilion continued as everyone admired the flowers and chatted. Jia Can's sudden arrival and greetings were just a minor incident in this gathering, and few people paid any attention to it.

To everyone else, it was just that Grandmother Jia wanted to show her care and love for the illegitimate descendants of the family, and they forgot about it after the excitement subsided.

Only a handful of people silently remembered Jia Can.

Among them was Lin Daiyu, who had a very good first impression of Jia Can.

Or perhaps it's because she doesn't see many young gentlemen on a daily basis; the only ones she sees are Jia Baoyu, Jia Lian, and Jia Rong, whose manners and speech she's already familiar with, so it's rare to see a stranger.

Jia Can's calm and composed demeanor, unlike that of Jia Baoyu and the others, was refreshing to her.

Especially after Jia Can sat down, he appeared quite composed and dignified. Although no one spoke to him, he showed no sign of embarrassment. Instead, he maintained a faint smile, as if he had already blended into the gathering without appearing out of place or particularly lonely.

Lin Daiyu watched this with a sense of wonder. She had seen Jia Huan and Jia Cong, who were either timid and hesitant or forced to smile. She had never seen anyone as composed and self-assured as Jia Can.

For a time, Lin Daiyu became more curious about Jia Can, her nominal cousin, and would glance at him from time to time.

Jia Can was incredibly perceptive; he instantly noticed a gaze that kept falling on him. He glanced sideways and saw Lin Daiyu secretly watching him, her beautiful eyes filled with curiosity.

He then politely glanced back at Lin Daiyu with a smile, a mere courtesy, neither frivolous nor overly cold.

Lin Daiyu couldn't help but feel a little embarrassed, as if she had been caught red-handed. She quickly looked away, her pretty face flushed, and she lowered her head, pretending to look at the handkerchief in her hand.

He thought to himself, "He's really perceptive. I only glanced at him, and he noticed it. He's more perceptive than anyone I've ever met."

But the more this was the case, the more curious Lin Daiyu became about what kind of person Jia Can really was.

Occasionally, she would glance at Jia Can and see him sitting there quietly, yet not lonely. He stood out even more amidst the laughter and chatter, which surprised her and she made a mental note of it.

Before long it was noon, and Madam You got up to invite everyone to lunch, and asked Grandmother Jia, Madam Wang and others to go to the flower hall.

Jia Zhen, Jia Rong, and Jia Can, the three gentlemen, naturally could not stay any longer and had to take their leave to have lunch.

Jia Zhen finally had a chance to speak to Jia Can. The smile on his face vanished the moment he turned away, replaced by a gloomy expression. He looked at Jia Can and said:

"Come with me to the side room, I have something to ask you."

These words were spoken extremely bluntly, as if ordering a servant, leaving no room for discussion.

Jia Can slightly pursed his lips, not minding at all. His face remained calm as he softly responded and followed behind him.

The two entered the side room one after the other. Jia Zhen waved his hand and said to the maids who followed him in:

"Get out, everyone, and close the door."

The maids respectfully agreed and gently closed the door, leaving only Jia Zhen and Jia Can inside.

Jia Zhen turned around, staring intently at Jia Can, and questioned him sternly:

"Did you go to Rong's wife's place the night before last?"

Jia Can remained calm inside, showing no sign of panic on his face, and responded frankly:

"Brother Zhen, why do you ask such a question? How could I dare to go to Rong'er's wife's place at night?"

Seeing that he spoke so naturally, without his usual lewdness, Jia Zhen became even more suspicious. His face darkened, and he let out a cold snort.

"Hmph! Of course, it's because rumors are circulating in the manor that someone witnessed it firsthand, which is why I asked you. As the saying goes, there's no smoke without fire. If it weren't true, why would anyone spread such rumors?"

Jia Can remained rebuttal with remarkable composure:

"It's common knowledge that some of the maids and servants in our household love to gossip. What is originally a small matter can be turned into a sordid and unspeakable big deal when it reaches their mouths."

"If Brother Zhen believes this nonsense, then I have nothing to say."

Upon hearing this, Jia Zhen's face froze, his eyes widened as he stared at Jia Can, and he was speechless for a moment.

Jia Can was telling the truth. The Ningguo Mansion had many problems in managing its servants. It was commonplace for the servants to cheat, shirk their duties, and spread rumors.

It was also because Jia Zhen, as the master, had many problems, and the servants naturally followed suit.

The atmosphere in the mansion was extremely bad; people believed everything they heard and would create trouble even when there was nothing to do. Jia Zhen was well aware of this.

After a long pause, Jia Zhen finally suppressed the sharpness in his eyes and continued to press for answers in a deep voice:

"Where did you go this morning? I sent someone to look for you, and they said you left early this morning. When did you become so diligent? What were you doing out there?"

Jia Can's eyes flashed, and he lowered his head to reply:

"Yesterday I heard that Brother Zhen likes antiques, and because of this he beat Banmei, the maid who has served me for many years, to death."

"I was shocked and pondered all night. I decided to go and find another rare antique to present to Brother Zhen today. So I went to the Antique Treasure Shop early this morning and specially bought a rare treasure."

Upon hearing this, Jia Zhen's expression froze again, his gloomy face softening slightly. He stared at Jia Can with suspicion in his eyes, scrutinizing him from head to toe to determine the truth of his words.

After a moment, Jia Zhen hesitated and asked:

"Really? You're so kind? You really bought another rare treasure? Or are you lying to me?"