The Splendor of the Red Chamber

It was late November of that year.

Lin Daiyu, who had been fostered by her maternal uncle's family in the Rongguo Mansion since childhood, was shocked to hear that her father, Lin Ruhai, was seriously ill in Yangzhou and was eager to go south to take care of him.

Grandmother Shi then appointed her cousin Jia Lian to accompany her and take care of her. She also instructed Jia Lian not to rush back, but to wait until things in the south were settled before bringing Lin back to the Duke's mansion as before.

These days, it's not easy to go on a long trip. Jia Lian spent several days making preparations inside and out before everything was ready.

He was about to inform his grandmother, Old Madam Shi, so that he could set off with Lin Daiyu immediately.

Unexpectedly, in his haste, he tripped and fell against the door frame, instantly losing consciousness.

Jia Lian's soul left his body, but instead of going to the underworld, it wandered to the year 2000 and was reborn as a post-00s generation in a daze.

Although she lost her memories of her past life while in the womb, she no longer remembered anything about being Jia Lian.

But in this life, he still doesn't like reading or making progress, and he doesn't have the good family background or good looks he had in his previous life.

After graduating from vocational school, he couldn't endure hardship or fatigue, so he became a security guard. He entertained himself by watching videos and, when lonely, he would take his five-sex toys as his wife.

That day, he was engrossed in the large, white dance moves of "Shangyan Pavilion" and "Huanyinfang" when suddenly a clip from a TV series popped up on his screen.

In the scene, two constables are seen dragging a corpse wrapped in straw mats through a vast, white snow forest.

Jia Lian had never been interested in these things, and was about to switch videos when a mournful song was poured over him like cold water, chilling him to the bone:

[Too clever by half, she outsmarted herself and lost her life; heartbroken in life, and now empty of spirit in death...]

Dead! Dead! That fiery Feng is dead?!

In a daze, memories of his past life flooded back, along with the memories of those born in the 00s, and drifted back into the world of Dream of the Red Chamber, entering Jia Lian's original body.

Although Jia Lian's soul returned to its place, his limbs were completely unresponsive. He lay stiffly on the bed for an unknown amount of time when suddenly a familiar voice rang in his ears: "Why are you here?"

It's Wang Xifeng, she's not dead!

No, it's not time for her to die yet.

Just as I was lost in thought, I heard a man's voice say, "When I came over at noon, I saw that my aunt hadn't touched the food, so I went back and had someone make some nourishing dishes—look, they're still warm in my pocket."

Jia Lian recognized the voice; it belonged to Jia Rong, the legitimate son of the Ningguo Mansion next door.

The Rong and Ning families were originally brothers, and Jia Rong was Jia Lian's cousin by seniority, so he had to address Wang Xifeng as "Auntie".

"It's kind of you to think of that."

Then Wang Xifeng sighed, "Alas, your uncle has been lying here for five or six days, how can I possibly have the appetite to eat anything?"

Upon hearing this, Jia Lian thought to himself that he had only been unconscious for five or six days. He guessed that no one would have imagined that his soul had gone to another world and that he had wasted twenty-six years of his life.

But Jia Rong chuckled and said, "I don't eat what others send me, but I always eat some of what I send."

"Hehe~"

Upon hearing this, Wang Xifeng scoffed, "What do you mean? Do you think the food you send is more valuable than what the kitchen sends?"

"Auntie is right!"

Jia Rong, seizing the opportunity, chuckled and said, "This contains my true feelings for my aunt, heaven and earth can bear witness!"

Isn't that incredibly heartless?!

Hearing this, Jia Lian was furious. Where was the proper decorum between a nephew and his aunt?!

"Pah!"

Wang Xifeng's voice suddenly turned fierce, and she spat viciously, "What kind of place is this where you dare to spout nonsense? If anyone hears this, your uncle will break your legs!"

"Don't worry, Auntie."

Jia Rong's voice was noticeably closer, filled with tension and anticipation: "Only heaven, earth, you, and I know my thoughts. As for Uncle Lian... he hasn't eaten or drunk anything for five or six days. According to the doctor, he's already exhausted and his body can't hold on any longer."

They're just hoping I'll die!

Good, good, this is truly my good nephew!

Jia Lian wished he could jump up and kick Jia Rong to death, but unfortunately, he was completely paralyzed and unable to move.

"Shut up!"

Wang Xifeng scolded, "Have you forgotten how Jia Rui died? If you dare to spout nonsense again, see how I deal with you!"

Jia Rui was a distant relative of the Rongguo Mansion. He coveted Wang Xifeng's beauty and was tricked and killed by Wang Xifeng and Jia Rong.

Hearing Wang Xifeng's words, Jia Lian felt a little more at ease, thinking to himself that this fiery Feng usually didn't shy away from her younger brother-in-law and nephew, but at crucial moments she did understand the meaning of chastity.

"Auntie!"

Jia Rong's voice drew closer to the bed, filled with deep emotion, as he said, "How can Jia Rui compare to me?! Besides, times have changed. Uncle is about to pass away, how can I bear to see Aunt all alone and helpless?"

"If you agree to marry me, I will protect you and Qiaojie even if it means my own death. I will serve you both like a slave for the rest of my life without a single complaint!"

Fork out!

Throw this little beast out of here!

Jia Lian roared inwardly, wishing he could make Wang Xifeng drown this inhuman dog in excrement just like she had done to Jia Rui!

However, Wang Xifeng's voice rang out after a long pause, and it was not as firm as before: "You, you mustn't talk nonsense anymore, your uncle is still here."

"What if Uncle is no longer here?!"

Hearing this, it was clear that a loophole had been left, and Jia Rong was overjoyed, reaching out to grab Wang Xifeng's soft hand.

"Cough, cough!"

Just then, several violent coughs suddenly came from the bed. It was because Jia Lian was so angry that his soul was connected with his lungs.

Both Wang Xifeng and Jia Rong were startled. Jia Rong, who had one leg dangling over the edge of the bed, was so frightened that he immediately scrambled away and ran far away.

Wang Xifeng instinctively took two steps back, then realized what had happened. She rushed forward and hugged Jia Lian, shouting, "Second Master, Second Master? You're awake?!"

Jia Lian kept his eyes closed, and after a long while, he coughed again.

"Second Master?!"

Wang Xifeng was overjoyed upon seeing this and immediately called out, "Ping'er, go and invite her quickly..."

Halfway through her sentence, she suddenly noticed Jia Rong, who had just gotten up from the ground. Her expression changed, and she quickly lowered her voice and scolded, "What are you still doing here? Get out of here!"

Jia Rong, his face ashen, stammered, "Auntie, what if...Uncle Lian heard us?"

Upon hearing this, Wang Xifeng's face flashed with fear and regret, which then transformed into a surge of anger directed at Jia Rong: "Isn't it all your fault, you little beast, for your heart is rotten? Get out! Get out of here right now!"

Seeing that Wang Xifeng was clearly angry with her sharp words and stern expression, Jia Rong dared not say another word and could only slink away.

Wang Xifeng turned and stared at Jia Lian on the bed for a long time, guessing that Jia Rong had already gone far away, before gritting her teeth and going out to shout, "Where is he? Where has everyone gone?!"

After shouting several times, Ping'er, the head maidservant, finally rushed over in a panic. From a distance, she hurriedly explained, "Please don't be angry, Madam. Someone from the East Mansion [Ningguo Mansion] sent over some tonics, and they were just helping us count them, so..."

"snort!"

Wang Xifeng knew this must have been secretly instructed by Jia Rong, so she immediately snorted and ordered, "Second Master coughed a few times just now, as if he's about to wake up. Go quickly and fetch a doctor to take a look!"

With that, he went back inside.

She walked back to the bedside, staring at Jia Lian with a complicated expression, and whispered, "Did you hear me, or not?"

Of course I heard it, I heard it clearly!

Jia Lian gritted his teeth in hatred. If he hadn't managed to contact the sworn brother in time, that bastard would probably have attacked him directly!

Qin Keqing, Jia Rong's wife, was even more beautiful and had a better figure than Wang Xifeng. Out of consideration for their kinship, Jia Rong never had any designs on her, but who knew that he would set his sights on his aunt.

Great, that's wonderful!

Since the nephew has done the first thing, the uncle will do the fifteenth. Let's wait until the second master wakes up and let him know what it means to retaliate in kind!