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

Just as Ruizhu was secretly wondering, Jia Can suddenly stopped, turned around, looked at her calmly, and said indifferently:

"Alright, Ruizhu, that's enough for now. You can go back now. If your grandmother asks, just say you delivered it safely."

Ruizhu snapped out of her daze, a hint of surprise flashing in her eyes.

This Second Master Can usually doesn't even dare to speak to her, let alone give her orders so calmly.

Before he could respond, Jia Can had already turned around, lifted his foot and left, his steps unhurried, quickly disappearing into the night.

Ruizhu stood there with her lantern, watching Jia Can's figure gradually disappear into the distance, and she felt more and more that this Second Master Can was different.

Jia Can's back was as straight as a pine tree, and his steps were steady, showing a bit of the demeanor of a leader.

Only after Jia Can's figure disappeared around the corner did she shake her head slightly, stop thinking about it, and turn around to walk back with her lantern.

Just as Jia Can had predicted, after Ruizhu returned to Tianxiang Tower, Qin Keqing indeed asked about it:

"Have you safely returned Uncle Can to his residence?"

Ruizhu was slightly startled, secretly marveling at Jia Can's precognitive abilities, but dared not show it on her face, only bowing her head respectfully in response:

"Grandma, we have safely delivered Second Master Can."

After hearing this, Qin Keqing nodded slightly, a look of satisfaction on her face, but then asked a few more questions:

"Did you encounter anyone on the way? What was the scene like in Uncle Can's courtyard? Did anyone see anything?"

Ruizhu's heart tightened. She had only escorted him halfway before Jia Can sent him back, so she had no idea about these things.

But if she told the truth, Grandma would probably blame her for not doing her job properly, so she could only make up an excuse:

"Grandma, we didn't encounter anyone on the way. Second Master Can's courtyard was quiet and there was nothing unusual."

Qin Keqing looked at her with suspicion, her eyes lingering on Ruizhu's face for a moment, as if trying to discern the truth in her words.

Ruizhu lowered her head, not daring to meet her gaze, her heart pounding like a drum.

Fortunately, Qin Keqing did not press further, but simply hummed in response and looked away.

Ruizhu secretly breathed a sigh of relief, but then realized that her grandmother was acting strangely tonight.

In the past, Qin Keqing always had a worried look on her face, with an unyielding gloom between her brows. But tonight, that gloom seemed to have faded a lot, and there was even a hint of joy and excitement in her eyes.

Ruizhu couldn't help but wonder if her grandmother's change was related to Jia Can's visit.

Then she remembered that when she returned, she happened to see Jia Can and Qin Keqing walking out of the inner room one after the other. A man and a woman alone in a room late at night, Ruizhu couldn't help but have some impure thoughts.

After hesitating for a moment, he finally couldn't help himself, lowered his voice, and carefully reminded her:

"Grandma... After all, there's a generational gap between you and Second Master Can, and there's a difference between men and women. You should keep your distance from Second Master Can to avoid gossip."

Upon hearing this, Qin Keqing's face immediately darkened, the gentleness between her brows vanished, replaced by a layer of frost, and she coldly snorted:

"I don't need you to remind me, I know what to do."

As he spoke, he stared directly at Ruizhu, forcing her to keep her eyes closed, and then coldly added:

"Don't tell me you didn't know the master had been to my room?"

Ruizhu's expression changed slightly, and she immediately fell silent, lowering her head even further.

As Qin Keqing's personal maid, she could naturally see Jia Zhen's covetousness towards Qin Keqing.

That old beast would always find an excuse to send everyone away and sneak into Tianxiang Tower by himself, where he would stay for half an hour, the time it takes to drink a cup of tea. How could Ruizhu not know this?

But Jia Zhen was the king of Ningguo Mansion. He had absolute power in the mansion. Who dared to disobey him? And who could disobey him?

Jia Can, on the other hand, was different. He was only a son born out of wedlock, and his birth mother died early. In the mansion, he was not even as respectable as a servant and had no status whatsoever.

In Ruizhu's view, her reminder to Qin Keqing to stay away from Jia Can was also for Qin Keqing's own good.

There are many people and many eyes in this mansion. If rumors spread, it will ultimately be Grandma herself who suffers.

But Qin Keqing actually got angry, and Ruizhu couldn't help but feel a little wronged and confused. She really couldn't understand what Qin Keqing was thinking.

Most importantly, because Qin Keqing seemed to take special care of her brother-in-law Jia Can, some rumors had already begun to circulate quietly in the mansion.

Ruizhu was also worried that if these rumors reached Jia Zhen's ears, given his narrow-minded, ruthless, and vicious nature, they might be detrimental to both Qin Keqing and Jia Can.

He wanted to say a few more words of advice, but seeing Qin Keqing's cold and stern expression, he swallowed back the words that were on the tip of his tongue.

Seeing that she remained silent, Qin Keqing's expression softened slightly, but it still carried a hint of coldness. She gave the order in a deep voice:

"From this point on, nothing shall be mentioned again concerning Uncle Can."

Ruizhu lowered her head and respectfully replied, "Yes, Grandmother, this servant understands."

Qin Keqing glanced at her, her tone softening and no longer so sharp:

"Alright, get me dressed and get ready for bed."

Ruizhu respectfully agreed, stepped forward to untie Qin Keqing's sash, removed the jade hairpin from her hair, and let her long black hair fall loose.

Qin Keqing closed her eyes and remained silent, and Ruizhu dared not say anything more, only silently serving her, while her heart was filled with all sorts of thoughts that she could not calm down for a long time.

……

Jia Can returned to his residence alone.

It was a rather large courtyard, with blue bricks and gray tiles. Although it could not be described as magnificent, it was spacious and clean.

After all, he was the second master of the Ningguo Mansion. Even though he was born out of wedlock, he was still one of the few masters in the mansion, so his residence was quite large, with a main house and side rooms.

There was an old woman on night duty at the gate of the courtyard, leaning against the gatepost and dozing off, her head drooping and her snores faint.

As Jia Can approached, the old woman groggily opened her eyes and glanced at him, her gaze indifferent and unresponsive, as if she were seeing not the master of the mansion, but an insignificant passerby. She quickly closed her eyes again and continued to doze off.

Jia Can was already used to this situation and was not surprised.

Having lived in this mansion for so many years, even the servants never paid him any attention, let alone a night watchwoman.

He didn't scold him, because he had no authority or status in the mansion, and would only invite the old woman's sarcastic remarks.

With a calm expression, he stepped directly into the courtyard and followed the corridor to the main house.

The door was ajar, and a dim candlelight shone through. As soon as the door was pushed open, a beautifully dressed maid came out to greet them.

She wore a silk flower in her hair, her face was covered in thick makeup, she wore a peach-colored vest, and a bright green handkerchief was tied around her waist. Her whole being exuded a gaudy and vulgar air.

Upon seeing Jia Can, instead of bowing, he slightly raised his chin and asked stiffly:

"Where did you go, Second Master? Why are you only coming back now? We couldn't find you and were about to tell the Master."

These words didn't sound like something a maid would say to her master; they sounded more like a head maid scolding a disobedient servant.