The Splendor of the Red Chamber

[PS: I'm asking for votes at the beginning of the month. This is the most important vote during the new book's run, so please support me.]

Outside the council chamber.

Wang Xifeng stared at the thickened window paper, hesitating whether she should try to poke a hole in it to get a glimpse of what was inside.

Suddenly, there was a creaking sound, and the window next to them was pushed open from the inside.

Wang Xifeng was startled and quickly scrambled into the bushes.

When she turned around in the flower bushes, she saw Jia Lian had already jumped out and was reaching out to help Qin Keqing.

How come it's over so quickly?!

Even before his complete transformation, my Lian'er wouldn't be this useless.

Just as Wang Xifeng was beginning to suspect something, she heard Jia Lian say to Qin Keqing, "Go back first. If you hear news of Jia Rong's death, pretend that your illness has worsened and you are bedridden."

As for what you mentioned, I'll discuss it with your aunt later and give you an answer by tomorrow night at the latest.

What is it?

I didn't even get a pledge of allegiance, and this little bitch is already making demands?!

Wang Xifeng couldn't help but want to stop Qin Keqing and ask her what was going on.

But considering that she had already pretended to leave, it would seem petty for her to suddenly appear now, so she forced herself to suppress the impulse.

Only after watching Qin Keqing leave did she emerge from the bushes, her voice a mixture of jealousy and anxiety as she demanded, "What happened? Why did you let her go?!"

Jia Lian had already seen her hiding in the bushes. Seeing her now emerging from the withered branches and leaves, looking both jealous and afraid that things had failed, he couldn't help but find it somewhat amusing.

But when he thought of how this woman had threatened Qin Keqing with scissors and how she had cleverly harmed Jia Rong, Jia Lian's smile vanished.

With a stern face, she said, "She said that no matter how unchaste she was, she would never have an affair with another man when her husband was dying."

"What a despicable woman!"

Wang Xifeng jumped up immediately, stomping her feet and shouting, "Who is she pointing at?! I, I, I..."

She stammered "I...I..." a few times, then suddenly her eyes reddened and tears streamed down her face: "I knew you wouldn't believe me, otherwise you wouldn't have listened to that bitch's nonsense and let her go!"

Seeing this, Jia Lian pulled her into his arms without saying a word: "Who says I don't believe you? Someone as jealous as you, upon hearing that I was involved in Rong'er's matter, took the initiative to push Qin Shi onto me. It's clear you love me to death, how could you possibly have any other intentions?"

Upon hearing this, Wang Xifeng burst into tears.

She nestled in Jia Lian's arms, punching his ribs with her little fists as she sobbed, "You heartless, cruel bastard, you have to force me to rip my heart out before you'll believe me, waaaah..."

From yesterday until now, she finally let out all the pent-up grievances in her heart, crying until Jia Lian's chest was soaked with tears.

When her eyes were swollen from crying, she remembered the important matter and hurriedly looked up to ask, "Since you knew she was trying to sow discord, why did you let her go?"

Jia Lian shrugged and said, "I can't just force myself on you, can I? Besides, she didn't say it was impossible. She's just afraid you'll break your promise, so she wants you to pledge your allegiance."

"She's gone too far!"

Unsurprisingly, Wang Xifeng jumped up in anger upon hearing this: "We kindly rescued her from that mansion, and she still has the nerve to make demands of us?!"

Jia Lian glared at her, annoyed. "If you don't threaten her with scissors, why would she worry that you'll go back on your word?"

Although her actions in the afternoon had been exposed, Wang Xifeng didn't feel she had done anything wrong. She puffed out her chest and said, "She wants to steal my man, am I supposed to talk to her gently and politely?!"

After saying that, he pressed further, "Tell me first, what exactly does that slut want?"

"She wanted a child born after her death."

Jia Lian told Wang Xifeng everything about Qin Keqing's schemes, but he didn't mention the love poem.

Aside from her final attempt to sow discord, Qin Keqing's scheming was mostly for self-preservation, and her writing of a love poem in advance also relieved Jia Lian of his worries.

Therefore, Jia Lian was still willing to grant Qin Keqing's wish.

Everyone thought Wang Xifeng would be furious after hearing this, but to their surprise, she only thought for a moment and then readily nodded and said, "Alright, I'll give her a written agreement."

Just as Jia Lian was about to rejoice, he heard Feng Jie say, "Since she only wants a posthumous child, and it doesn't matter whether it's her own or not, there's no need to drag Second Master into this. I'll just adopt one for her."

"ah?!"

Jia Lian was dumbfounded. How come he had ended up getting himself out of the mess after all that effort?

"What?!"

Wang Xifeng said matter-of-factly, "Rong-ge'er is useless now, and you no longer suspect me of having ulterior motives, so what's the point of provoking that vixen again?"

Then, she added fuel to the fire, saying, "Besides, you saw it yourself; she pretended to be pitiful, but she's actually more scheming than anyone else!"

These words were so difficult to refute.

But how could Jia Lian possibly agree to that?

His eyes darted around, and he feigned anger, saying, "Aren't you going to go back on your word again?! With your fickle and unpredictable nature, not only does she not trust you, but I don't dare trust you either!"

Then he went on to offer a profound statement: "This time, the ancestors' manifestation was not just a blessing, but also a warning of impending collapse, so we must prepare in advance."

My desire to gain experience in the military is so that I can turn the tide, restore my family's glory, and revive my ancestral business.

However, one must first secure the home before dealing with external threats. If you spend your days threatening this person and plotting against that person, causing unrest in the household, how can I be expected to perform my duties with peace of mind and serve as an official outside?

If disaster strikes, I fear I won't be able to protect you and Qiaojie; the whole family will be left to wait for their doom!

Jia Lian spoke from the bottom of his heart, but Wang Xifeng clearly did not believe that the great empire was about to collapse.

After all, the Rongguo Mansion was still in full bloom, and her uncle was a military leader.

Therefore, she still wouldn't let go of her personal feelings for her children, pouting her bright red lips and saying sarcastically, "Yes, yes, I'm fickle, but you, Second Master Lian, are so devoted, single-mindedly thinking about that slut's body!"

That woman!

It seemed that reasoning with her wouldn't work, so Jia Lian cupped her plump, jade-like buttocks with one hand and wrapped the two thunderbolt-like mounds with the other, then picked her up horizontally.

"Hey, what are you doing?"

"I'm really angry right now!"

Jia Lian gritted his teeth and said, "Didn't you blame me for thinking about other people? Well, from today onwards, I'll devote all my attention to you. I'll come three times when I get home, and five more times tomorrow when I'm fully rested. Anyway, Second Master is full of energy now, I guarantee I'll come every single day!"

Hearing that there were still three to five more times waiting for her, Wang Xifeng was immediately terrified.

That one time was like Sun Wukong storming the Heavenly Palace; the magic staff that stabilized the sea almost shattered her.

If things continue like this, she might not even be able to get through tonight, let alone every day. She might even die before Jia Rong.

Fengjie felt a chill run down her spine, and her words softened: "Good Second Master, please forgive me this time, and let Ping'er share the profits..."

"So what if we include her?!"

Jia Lian interrupted her, his voice filled with murderous intent: "How many times do you think she can shield you? Even if you give her one every day, she probably won't be able to handle it!"

As Jia Lian spoke, he walked home with the speed of the wind, carrying Wang Xifeng as if she were nothing.

Feeling Jia Lian's robust physique, Wang Xifeng felt a little apprehensive. Ping'er had never given birth and had rarely been intimate with Jia Lian, so she was probably even less capable in this regard.

Thinking of this, Wang Xifeng couldn't help but add, "Actually, we have more than one maid in our household..."

"The maidservants are a much greater threat than Qin Shi!"

Jia Lian interrupted her again: "After all, Qin is Rong's daughter-in-law. No matter what, they can only meet secretly. But what if a maid gives birth to the eldest son of the family..."

"dare!"

Upon hearing "eldest son in the family," Wang Xifeng immediately tried to struggle, but Jia Lian held her tightly.

She struggled several times but couldn't get through. Suddenly, she buried her head in Jia Lian's arms and said in a muffled voice, "You can lust after her body, but you can't actually get her pregnant."

Faced with an overwhelming force that was impossible to resist, and the choice between two evils, she ultimately gave in.

"It's not that easy to get pregnant."

Jia Lian, however, remained tight-lipped: "If it really only took a few tries to plant, then it can only be said to be the will of Heaven."

Seeing that the thief was stubborn and wouldn't budge an inch, Wang Xifeng got so angry that she punched his chest with her little fist again.

Thump, thump, thump, thump~~

Just then, four clapper sounds came from outside the second gate. This was the way the chariot was used to announce news in the mansion; three clapper sounds meant good news, and four meant bad news.

The fact that news of death was sent at this critical juncture clearly indicates that Jia Rong has died.

Jia Lian stopped instinctively, looked east and muttered, "That little beast died so quickly—you go back and rest first, I'll go to the East Mansion to inquire about it."

Once Wang Xifeng was put down, she immediately grabbed Jia Lian's arm and said anxiously, "You must be very careful, if anything goes wrong..."

"Don't worry, even if Brother Zhen finds out, I can still fight my way in and out seven times with my current strength."

As he spoke, he kissed Wang Xifeng on the forehead, then turned and walked toward Jia Zheng and Madam Wang's courtyard.

After walking quite a distance, he subconsciously looked back and saw Wang Xifeng still standing there, looking like a waiting-for-husband rock from afar.

Jia Lian felt a warmth in his heart, and the last bit of resentment vanished.