The Splendor of the Red Chamber

Having just arrived and having endured a long journey, Jia Lian temporarily suspended his daily studies of literature and martial arts.

Having rested for a whole day and drunk a few more cups at the wedding banquet, he was in high spirits and asked where he could practice his martial arts.

Upon hearing the news, Sheng Changwu immediately abandoned his bride and personally led Jia Lian to the east wing.

It turns out that the Sheng family had specially built a small training ground in the east courtyard for him to practice martial arts. It covered an area of ​​four or five acres and was even large enough to practice riding and archery.

Unfortunately, it's really not a good time for horseback riding and archery at night.

Seeing that Sheng Changwu looked eager to try, Jia Lian first assessed his martial arts skills.

Sheng Changwu's strength was roughly equivalent to that of the family retainers who blocked Jia Lian's path at the Nine Provinces Commander's Office.

Back then, Jia Lian could take on two opponents with just his physical abilities. Now that he has mastered martial arts, suppressing Sheng Changwu is a piece of cake.

After several rounds, Sheng Changwu was completely convinced.

The subsequent weapons drill left Sheng Changwu speechless.

That hundred-refined steel saber, weighing nearly twenty pounds, would leave an ordinary martial artist with aching arms and heavy wrists after a short while, making it difficult to continue. But in Jia Lian's hands, it was as light as picking up a blade of grass.

His sweeping and slashing movements are as powerful as thunder, while his rising and falling movements are as graceful as willow catkins. He blends strength and agility into one, creating a perfectly natural and masterful style.

Then look at that heavy, long, and extremely difficult-to-control lance, which he wielded with such ease and skill, creating layers upon layers of spear shadows that were truly impenetrable to water and wind.

As expected of a son of a general, he truly possesses the courage to fight ten thousand men!

"Brother Changwu".

Just as Sheng Changwu was sighing to himself, he suddenly heard his younger sister Pinlan's voice from behind.

Sheng Changwu thought his younger sister had secretly come to the east courtyard again. He turned around, ready to scold her and tell her not to show her face in front of men.

It turned out that not only Pinlan had come, but also her older sister Shulan and cousin Minglan, and Lin Daiyu was standing next to them.

Sheng Changwu was speechless, unsure of what to say.

However, no one paid attention to what he was saying. The girls' attention was all on the training ground, on that figure who was as swift as a shooting star and as agile as a swimming dragon.

Especially the sisters Shulan and Pinlan.

The two sisters had initially thought Jia Lian was a gentle and refined young nobleman because of his handsome and dashing appearance, but they never expected him to have such a powerful and domineering side.

At this moment, Jia Lian also noticed the girls on the sidelines and immediately stopped his stance and walked towards the sidelines.

He carried the fifteen-foot-long lance diagonally behind him, and his leisurely stroll exuded a majestic and awe-inspiring air.

Sheng Shulan felt her heart pounding wildly, and even the naturally forthright Sheng Pinlan stared in disbelief.

Jia Lian approached, his gaze lingering on Sheng Shulan before turning to Lin Daiyu: "Sister, are you here to inquire about tomorrow morning's itinerary?"

Now that the Sheng family wedding was over, Jia Lian and Lin Daiyu naturally had to return to Yangzhou as soon as possible.

Lin Daiyu shook her head slightly, signaling Jia Lian to come to the side with her, and quietly told him about the Sun family's actions and the Sheng family's decision to sever ties with the family.

He added, "Sun Zhigao most likely won't agree to a divorce. I wonder if you have any way to deal with him?"

"Since my sister has spoken, I'll take care of this."

Jia Lian agreed without hesitation. Not to mention that he had already secretly obtained evidence against Sun Zhigao, even without the "private release of government slaves and corruption of official duties" incident, it would be easy for him to control Sun Zhigao given his status.

With that, he turned and walked toward the Sheng sisters.

Seeing Jia Lian heading straight this way, Pinlan was somewhat excited, while Minglan was somewhat nervous.

Sheng Shulan's emotions were the most complex. She was both uneasy due to the constraints of etiquette and anxious, and unable to hide the pounding excitement and anticipation in her heart.

Upon approaching, Jia Lian went straight to the point: "Since my sister has spoken, besides divorcing Sun Zhigao, please feel free to make any other requests."

"Is divorce really possible?!"

Sheng Shulan initially disbelieved him, but then, remembering the identity of the person before her, she was overjoyed and wept as she knelt down, saying, "As long as I can divorce him, I have no other wish!"

She didn't dare to retaliate even though someone offered to be her backer; no wonder Sun Zhigao bullied her so badly.

However, this submissive nature makes her easy to manage and worry-free.

Jia Lian had always admired her for her beauty and elegance, and her charming, gentle nature. Now, seeing how soft-hearted she was, he couldn't help but have wicked thoughts.

So he said, "Fine, since you only want a divorce, come early tomorrow morning to see me and my sister off, and I'll have a way to make your wish come true."

In fact, he had both witnesses and physical evidence in his hands, but bringing them out now would make it seem like he was secretly plotting something, rather than standing up for Sheng Shulan.

Seeing that the immense burden on her shoulders had been resolved so easily, Shulan was overcome with emotion.

She took half a step forward and bowed deeply again: "Thank you for your help, young master. This humble woman... ah~"

Because of her fluctuating emotions and exaggerated movements, halfway through her speech, the handkerchief that Shulan had tucked into the seam of her bodice suddenly fell out and fluttered away into the distance.

Fortunately, Jia Lian reacted quickly, and with a swift movement, he used the shaft of his spear to stop the fluttering handkerchief.

Then he reversed the gun and slung it behind his back, calmly took out the handkerchief with his other hand, shook it a few times in his palm, and handed it back to Shulan, saying, "Keep it safe, don't lose it again."

Sheng Shulan's heart pounded with embarrassment. She awkwardly took the handkerchief and tucked it into her bosom. She then bowed deeply and thanked him in a whisper, "Thank you, sir."

"alright."

Jia Lian tossed the lance to Xing'er to catch, then said to Lin Daiyu, "We're setting off back to Yangzhou tomorrow, so you should get some rest, sister."

Lin Daiyu gave him a slight curtsy before leaving the east courtyard, surrounded by the women of the Sheng family.

They had just returned to the inner courtyard of the Sheng family.

Sheng Pinlan couldn't help but exclaim repeatedly, "Not only is the young master both scholarly and martial, but he is also so elegant and handsome. I really don't know which family's daughter could be worthy of him!"

Minglan, worried that Pinlan might develop unrealistic ambitions to curry favor with the powerful, quickly reminded her, "Sister Pinlan, you're confused. Didn't my grandmother say long ago that Second Master Lian is the nephew-in-law of Grand Commandant Wang, the Commander-in-Chief of Nine Provinces?"

"That's right."

Pinlan nodded in realization, but there wasn't much disappointment on her face.

On the contrary, Sheng Shulan, a married woman, felt a sudden tightness in her heart and unconsciously raised her hand to touch the handkerchief on her chest.

The handkerchief seemed to still carry the warmth of Jia Lian, and even its texture and feel were different from before.

and many more!

Shulan touched it carefully again, and her heart suddenly started pounding.

Suppressing her panic and anticipation, she bowed to Lin Daiyu and said, "Thank you for your kind help, Miss Lin. I will go and inform my father and mother first, so as not to make things difficult for them any further."

Then, he couldn't wait to part ways with his sisters and headed alone to Shengwei's place.

Once she was out of everyone's sight, Shulan took off the handkerchief with trembling hands and examined it carefully.

Her handkerchief was plain white with a few orchids embroidered on it as a mark, but the handkerchief in front of her was light blue and had no mark at all.

This...this is the young master's handkerchief?!

Given the circumstances at the time, it would have been impossible to mix them up; he must have secretly switched them.

Why did he do that?

How dare he do such a thing?!

He actually agreed to do that?!

Sheng Shulan's heart was instantly thrown into turmoil. If it were at another time or with another person, she would definitely think that the other person was a lecherous scoundrel with ulterior motives.

But now she is about to get a divorce, and the other party is a wealthy young man who promised to help her. Most importantly, he is so handsome, dashing and extraordinary.

Aside from the fear and unease brought about by breaking through feudal ethics, her biggest feeling was actually one of being flattered.

She had been so crushed by Sun Zhigao that she lost all her spirit, but now she suddenly received the favor of a benefactor...

"Young lady, what are you doing here?"

Just then, a maid passed by and, seeing her standing there blankly under the lamp, couldn't help but ask her what was wrong.

"N-nothing!"

Shulan was startled and instinctively wanted to hang the handkerchief back on her chest, but then she thought about it and was afraid that someone would notice. In her panic, she simply stuffed it into her bodice.

Then she tried her best to act as if nothing had happened and continued forward.

But the handkerchief seemed to be on fire, burning her heart and making it both hard and soft.