The Splendor of the Red Chamber

I didn't walk far after leaving Zhiwei Pavilion.

Wang Xifeng took the lantern from Ping'er's hand and instructed, "Take Baozhu and Ruizhu to the duty room to warm up by the fire. We'll come find you there after we've finished the ritual."

"this……"

Ruizhu looked at Qin Keqing hesitantly.

Wang Xifeng laughed and said, "What, are you afraid I'll eat your grandmother?"

Qin Keqing was still considering whether she should take the opportunity to refuse when Baozhu quickly tugged at Ruizhu and said with a smile, "Second Madam is joking. Everyone knows that Second Madam loves our Madam the most."

These are the words that Qin Keqing hates most right now.

If I hadn't been so close to that fiery Feng in the past, it wouldn't have been so easy for her to control me!

Back in Ningguo Mansion, these two maids were at least her trusted confidantes, but in front of Wang Xifeng, they were of little use at all.

Seeing Ping'er lead Ruizhu and Baozhu away, Qin Keqing grew increasingly nervous and couldn't help but probe, "Auntie, what did you want to see me about? It couldn't really be about warding off disaster and praying for blessings, could it?"

"At least the disaster relief is real."

Wang Xifeng's emotions were no less calm than Qin Keqing's, so she didn't want to say anything more to Keqing, only coldly saying, "You'll know when we get there."

Qin Keqing cursed Feng Jie a thousand times in her heart, but she still obediently followed Feng Jie to the council hall in the northwest corner.

This is a small hall with three rooms facing backwards, where Wang Xifeng usually handled household affairs in the Rongguo Mansion.

From a distance, the council chamber appeared dark and gloomy, but as you got closer, you could see faint lights shining through it.

Wang Xifeng awkwardly stepped up the stairs, pushed open the half-closed door, and gritted her teeth as she gestured for Qin Keqing to enter.

Qin Keqing hesitated before walking to the door and peeking inside. She saw a basin of silver frost charcoal in the center of the hall, with a dark figure sitting by the fire.

Perhaps hearing the noise, the man turned his head and looked over, revealing a handsome and dashing face. Qin Keqing then recognized him as Jia Lian.

Jia Lian was already exceptionally handsome, and now, wrapped in a black silk fox fur cloak, his fair and handsome face was half-reddened by the charcoal fire, adding to his majestic and heroic appearance.

This scene would amaze any woman, but Qin Keqing only felt fear.

In her eyes, the black one in front and the white one behind were clearly a pair of black and white ghosts who would steal souls and names!

Ke Qing took a deep breath standing outside the door, then suddenly said seriously, "Second Uncle Lian, I only said a few insincere words to you this morning in order to get away. In truth, I have never had the slightest goodwill towards you!"

After she finished speaking, she was very satisfied with her quick reaction, because this scene was obviously a trap set by Feng Lazi to test whether she could keep her word.

No sooner had he finished speaking than Wang Xifeng burst out laughing beside him, saying into the room, "My lord, did you hear that clearly? From now on, be very careful when you're out. It's one thing to be fooled by Rong-ge's wife, but if you run into Sun Erniang, you might end up being chopped into mincemeat without even knowing it!"

Hearing Feng Jie tease him, Jia Lian feigned embarrassment, but in reality, he didn't take it seriously at all.

I thought to myself that I was just lusting after her body, as for love or anything like that... how many people in this world fall in love at first sight? It's all about love growing over time!

He brushed the charcoal ash off his legs, stood up, and said, "How about I stay outside and you two come in to talk?"

"snort!"

Wang Xifeng snorted coldly, gave Qin Keqing a shove from behind, and said, "What are you still standing there for? Go inside and find your 'good husband'!"

Qin Keqing stumbled and staggered into the hall after being pushed, completely bewildered.

Was Wang Xifeng still not satisfied with her performance?!

Is there a second test to overcome in this damned ordeal?!

bang~

Just then, Qin Keqing heard the sound of the door closing behind her. She hurriedly turned around and saw that Wang Xifeng had not followed her in, but had closed the door from the outside.

What does this mean?!

Click~

Before Qin Keqing could even process what was happening, there was another crisp sound outside; it turned out that Feng Lazi had locked the door from the outside.

Jia Lian also heard the noise and came over to ask, "Why did you lock the door?"

"Hmph~"

Wang Xifeng snorted coldly again, gritting her teeth as she said, "If you don't lock the door, do you expect me to stay outside and eavesdrop on you?!"

Jia Lian checked the windows and, seeing that they weren't sealed, stopped arguing with Wang Xifeng and turned to look at Qin Keqing.

Qin Keqing was also looking at Jia Lian with a blank and nervous expression.

She was completely dumbfounded. This man and woman, alone and locked in a room, had clearly gone beyond the scope of testing and probing.

What on earth is that spicy phoenix thinking?!

In the afternoon, she threatened me with scissors, telling me not to touch Uncle Lian, but in the evening, she took the initiative to push herself towards Uncle Lian.

She...she must have gone mad!

Seeing the look of surprise and uncertainty on Ke Qing's face, Jia Lian asked curiously, "What did she do to you earlier? Why are you suddenly so afraid of her?"

"I...I..."

Qin Keqing, unaware of the situation, dared not speak carelessly.

Seeing her hesitate, Jia Lian pointed to the charcoal fire and said, "Why don't we sit down and talk while we warm ourselves by the fire?"

After saying that, he sat back down in his original seat without waiting for Qin Keqing's reaction.

Qin Keqing hesitated for a moment, thinking that since she couldn't get away for the time being, she might as well find out what had happened first.

So he carefully sat down on the embroidered stool opposite him.

"Rong-ge'er is about to die."

She had barely settled down when Jia Lian's words startled her so much she almost jumped up.

How is this possible?!

Jia Rong was fine this morning...

and many more!

Qin Keqing suddenly realized something, her beautiful eyes widened and she blurted out, "It's you! It was you this morning..."

"I did injure him this morning. Later, because you were taken to the West Mansion to recuperate, Brother Zhen took his anger out on him and gave him another beating. As a result, the internal poison aggravated the external poison, and his injury became uncontrollable. I guess he won't make it through tonight."

Jia Lian didn't intend to hide it from her, after all, once the news of Jia Rong's death spread, Qin Keqing would eventually think of this.

After hearing this, Qin Keqing was stunned and speechless for a long time.

Although she wished Jia Rong were dead, she never expected that Jia Rong would actually die.

Does that mean I'll become a widow?!

Qin Keqing suddenly felt inexplicably apprehensive, for Li Wan's example was right before her eyes.

A once-respected woman, praised by the entire household, ended up like this after losing her husband...

So Qin Keqing subconsciously asked, "Could he also turn misfortune into good fortune like Uncle?"

"Haha~"

Jia Lian couldn't help but laugh: "Do you think ancestral blessings are as common as cabbage, something everyone gets the chance to receive? Besides, with Rong-ge'er's spinelessness, do you really think he can pass the test of the Nine Heavens of Ice and Fire?"

He paused, then added, "Besides, the two old dukes have already exhausted all their magical treasures and powers to help me escape this predicament."

Qin Keqing fell silent upon hearing this.

Jia Lian continued, "Now, besides your aunt and me, the only people who know that I injured Rong-ge'er this morning are you—you should be able to understand what this means."

Qin Keqing was just thinking about how to conduct herself in the future when she heard these words and immediately shivered.

"Uncle, spare me!"

She knelt down with a thud, tears welling in her eyes, and said, "You know me, I hate that father and son to the core, how could I possibly inform Master Zhen?!"

"Of course I trust you."

Jia Lian poked the charcoal brazier with fire tongs and said calmly, "But your aunt doesn't believe me. She says that words alone are not enough, and we need to give her a certificate of loyalty."

Upon hearing this, Qin Keqing breathed a sigh of relief, and she finally understood why Wang Xifeng had been so inconsistent.

After all, she was the young mistress of the Ningguo Mansion. If Jia Rong had just left and she had lost her life in the Rongguo Mansion, Jia Zhen would certainly not let it go.

Aside from the option of murder to silence witnesses, the simplest and most direct pledge of allegiance is to confirm one's affair with Uncle Lian.

That spicy phoenix is ​​really good at scheming!

So how should one deal with this crisis in order to protect oneself and gain some leverage?

Qin Keqing's mind raced, and in order to buy time, she added, "But Uncle, many people in the East Mansion know about your visit to Jia Rong this morning..."

"It's alright."

Jia Lian shook his head firmly: "Brother Zhen shouldn't suspect me for the time being."

Although Wang Xifeng's plan backfired, it made Jia Zhen mistakenly believe that he and his wife were in cahoots with Jia Rong, and that he wouldn't suspect Jia Zhen for a while.

Jia Lian stared at Qin Keqing and continued to press her, saying, "So the key now is still with you; it all depends on your choice."

Do I really have a choice?

Qin Keqing clenched her fists secretly; she always seemed to be the passive one, the one being oppressed.

This was true in Ningguo Mansion, and it was also true in Rongguo Mansion.

She treated Jia Zhen this way, and she treated Wang Xifeng and Jia Lian the same way.

But just because it's always been this way, does that mean it's right?!