The Splendor of the Red Chamber

Half an hour later.

Jia Lian pulled out a quilt covered with maps and showed it to the limp and helpless Feng Jie, saying, "I told you to take a break from your housekeeping duties and rest properly, but you never listened. After a year, you're even more useless than before. What makes you think you can have a son in the future?"

That fiery Feng was completely flushed and seemed utterly dazed; even her phoenix eyes were narrowed to slits.

Only after hearing the words "one sedation for a son" did she muster her strength and say angrily, "Isn't it all because of you, you heartless thief, that you did it on purpose!"

Although it was described as a voice of hatred, its hoarse and weary tone was actually quite alluring.

Jia Lian couldn't resist lifting the covers and crawling back in, which terrified Wang Xifeng so much that she scrambled to the corner, trembling as she said, "No, no, go find Ping'er!"

Jia Lian deliberately nudged her and teased, "What's wrong? Not jealous anymore?"

Wang Xifeng was pressed against the wall after being rebuffed, no longer daring to utter a single defiant word, and repeatedly shook her head: "I...I can't take it anymore."

Just then, they heard Ping'er talking to someone outside the door.

Wang Xifeng quickly nudged Jia Lian and asked loudly, "Who's outside?"

Before long, Ping'er came from outside the door and reported: "The concubine sent Xiangling to ask me a question, and I have already answered and sent her back."

Upon hearing the name "Xiangling," Jia Lian said, "Just now when I went to see my aunt, I unexpectedly bumped into a maid—tsk tsk, she looked so neat and tidy. Later, when I asked my aunt, I learned that she was the little maid Xue Pan bought before he went to the capital, named Xiangling."

Upon hearing this, Wang Xifeng couldn't help but feel a pang of jealousy, sneering, "I thought you'd seen some of the world after your trip to Su Yang, but I didn't expect you to still be so greedy and gluttonous—if you love her, she's nothing. How about I exchange her for Ping'er?"

Before she could finish speaking, Jia Lian pulled her into his arms.

"Eating with envy but feeling full?"

Jia Lian looked down at her and chuckled, "Let me show you whether I'm full or not!"

…………

Another quarter of an hour later.

Jia Lian embraced Feng Jie, who was drenched in sweat, and fed her tea while trying to comfort her, saying, "Your health is indeed not as good as before, especially since you're prone to night sweats. In my opinion, you should resign..."

"It's just that I've been busy lately."

Wang Xifeng retorted weakly, "Since Sister Yuanchun was made a Noble Consort, this mansion has been in complete chaos. People keep coming in from outside. If I hadn't been managing things, it would have been in complete disarray long ago!"

Because they sensed that Jia Lian still had plenty of courage to spare.

She was afraid that if she said something wrong, she would be tortured to death by this scoundrel again, so she urged him, "Go and comfort Ping'er first. That little hussy has been waiting for this day for so long."

"What's the rush?"

Jia Lian put down the teapot, then grabbed a towel to wipe her body, saying, "Let's talk things out first, and I'll take better care of her tonight."

"Hmph~"

Wang Xifeng enjoyed his service and habitually said in a sour tone, "I thought you were going to see that vixen's bastard child tonight."

I definitely have to go.

After all, he was Jia Lian's first son, and Qin Keqing's charm was beyond the reach of ordinary people.

However, Jia Lian did not want to provoke Wang Xifeng too much, nor did he want Qin Keqing to become spoiled and arrogant, so he planned to leave the mother and son out of the room for a few days before making any decisions.

"Second Master, Grandma."

Just then, Ping'er relayed a message from outside the door: "A message came in from outside the second gate saying that the eldest master is waiting for the second master in the east wing."

We've only just met, what business does Jia She have now?

Jia Lian got up impatiently and put on his trousers, then called Ping'er to bring in his outer coat.

When Ping'er came in, her face flushed, Jia Lian didn't bother to hide it from Feng Jie. He immediately pulled Ping'er onto his lap, kissed her several times, and said, "Make sure you warm up the bed early tonight. Your master has been ordered by your grandmother to reward you."

Ping'er first stole a glance at Wang Xifeng and saw that although there was resentment on her face, there was more helplessness and relief. Only then did she obediently nod in agreement.

Jia Lian had Ping'er help him get dressed, and then he took a sachet to cover up the smell on his body before he left with a brisk pace.

"Sigh~"

Wang Xifeng let out a sigh of relief, her mind filled with mixed emotions. Recalling what had just happened, she asked Ping'er, "What did Auntie want that made her send Xiangling away so hastily?"

Ping'er laughed and said, "Xiangling didn't come from here. I used her to tell a lie—it was Sister Wang'er who came to deliver the interest money. You know, she's not very calculating. She didn't bring the interest money for Grandma earlier or later, but now that Second Master is home, she brings it to us."

Wang Xifeng became somewhat nervous upon hearing this, and forced herself to sit up, saying, "Tell her to be more careful from now on! The Second Master is no longer greedy for money, but his pride has grown; he won't tolerate such things!"

Then, he hesitated and asked, "Do you think we should stop this lending business? The honeycomb briquette business is making quite a bit of money..."

"If you ask me, it should have stopped a long time ago."

Ping'er seized the opportunity to advise, "Last time we were a few days late in recovering our investment, which delayed the distribution of the monthly allowance. Many people are gossiping about it behind our backs!"

"Pah! It's not like we didn't give them to them. What's wrong with delaying it for a few days?!" Wang Xifeng said defiantly, but in her heart she was determined to give up this loan sharking business.

He lived in fear and anxiety, misappropriating the government's monthly allowance, and could only earn one or two thousand taels a year.

In the past, Wang Xifeng would definitely have been reluctant to give up this way of making money, but since the beginning of winter this year, honeycomb briquettes and coal stoves have been selling extremely well, and by next spring she should be able to earn six or seven thousand taels of silver.

In comparison, this kind of usury seems risky and low-yield, like a chicken rib—tasteless and unappetizing.

…………

After leaving the inner quarters, Jia Lian did not rush to see Jia She.

Instead, he first ordered Xing'er and Long'er to fetch the armor and weapons given to him by Grand Commandant Wang, and hung them up outside the ceremonial gate. Then, he mounted his horse, brandishing his spear, and charged straight towards the east courtyard with murderous intent.

The servants and maids they encountered along the way were all dumbfounded.

When they arrived at the east courtyard, Jia Lian did not dismount, but instead wandered around the courtyard, inspecting it.

Not long after, Jia She also came out from inside after hearing the news.

Seeing Jia Lian riding a tall horse, his armor gleaming coldly, his figure dashing and agile, he exuded the vigorous and majestic air of a son of a military family.

For a moment, Jia She was in a daze, as if he saw his father, Jia Daishan, who was full of vigor and spirit in his younger days.

No, I am the father!

Jia She snapped out of his daze and pointed at Jia Lian on horseback, yelling, "You scoundrel, what are you doing showing off here? Get down here right now!"

Jia Lian, spear in hand, bowed respectfully and said neither servilely nor arrogantly, "I will soon be going to the army for training, and I'm eager to show you my skills, sir!"

With that, he spurred his horse on, and before Jia She could react, he and his horse became one, charging down the steps, his eighteen-foot-long spear swirling out like a black dragon.

As Jia She staggered backward in fright, suddenly his vision blurred, and a figure screamed as he was lifted into the air by a spear shaft.

At the same time, Jia Lian turned his horse around, his long spear flying freely in all directions, trapping the man in mid-air with impenetrable defenses.

All the people could hear were screams, and every time they saw a person fall, they would be lifted high by a long spear. For a moment, they couldn't even see who the person was.

After several ups and downs, Jia Lian suddenly reined in his horse, and the steed raised its head and neighed loudly.

Everyone looked closely and saw a disheveled person standing in the courtyard, none other than Wang Zhu'er, Jia She's personal steward.

Wang Zhu'er, relying on Jia She's power, was used to being arrogant and domineering in the east wing. Every time Jia She threatened to kill Jia Lian, he was always the first to make a move.

At that moment, he was so frightened that his soul almost left his body. His face turned pale and he trembled all over. When he came to his senses, he realized that he was still alive. So his knees buckled and he collapsed to the ground, soaking a large area of ​​the bluestone slab.

"Wang Zhu'er".

Jia Lian slung his long spear across his back and looked down at him, asking, "Are you injured anywhere?"

Upon hearing this, Wang Zhu'er subconsciously touched himself from head to toe, and apart from his disheveled hair, he did not notice anything amiss.

Just as he was feeling incredulous, someone suddenly pointed behind him and said, "Look at Steward Wang's back! Did the Second Master carve a word on it?"

Upon hearing this, Wang Zhu'er hurriedly tilted his head and tugged at his clothes to try and see, but he couldn't see anything clearly.

Jia She, on the steps, could see it clearly; it was obviously the character "Lian" carved with the blade of a spear!

Jia She was secretly shocked. Even his father probably didn't have such exquisite martial arts skills back then, let alone that terrifying strength.

"Father."

At this moment, Jia Lian raised his voice and said, "Please lend me your calling card. I plan to send someone to the Tiger Guard and Eagle Guard to issue challenges to Zheng Xiao and Liang Xuan, saying that I want to have a match with each of them tomorrow, whether on horseback or on foot, with long weapons or short weapons, it's up to them!"

As he spoke, he bowed again from his horse, holding his spear horizontally: "Your son needs to go back and conserve his energy, so I won't bother you any longer, Father."

Without waiting for Jia She's reply, he turned his horse around and rode away.