The Splendor of the Red Chamber

Rongguo Mansion.

It's a secluded courtyard located slightly off-center from the central axis and core area.

Wang Xifeng was pacing around in circles, clutching her handkerchief, glancing outside every now and then, her anxious gaze seeming to want to poke two holes in the painted screen wall.

Suddenly, she stopped and gritted her teeth, asking Ping'er beside her, "Are you sure Second Master went to the East Mansion?"

This was the third time she had asked Ping'er to confirm.

But Ping'er still obediently nodded and said, "The old woman guarding the gate saw it with her own eyes."

Wang Xifeng's face darkened further, and she paced around frantically like an ant on a hot pan.

Jia Lian must have overheard her conversation with Jia Rong yesterday, otherwise he wouldn't have rushed to Ningguo Mansion to settle accounts as soon as he woke up.

Wang Xifeng wasn't worried about what Jia Lian would do to Jia Rong; after all, it wasn't a big deal for an uncle to beat his nephew.

I'm afraid that my son Lian'er, who has just recovered from a serious illness, might suffer a great loss if he gets into a fight.

If something bad were to happen again...

However, Wang Xifeng dared not send anyone to stop them, otherwise if Jia Lian suspected that she was protecting Jia Rong, the misunderstanding would be even more difficult to explain.

"How could things have turned out so wrong?!"

Recalling the misunderstanding from yesterday, Wang Xifeng couldn't help but feel angry and aggrieved.

At the time, she was indeed moved by Jia Rong's words, but she did not want to have an affair with Jia Rong. Instead, she was thinking about how she and Qiao Jie should deal with each other in the future.

Thinking that she might need Jia Rong in the future, she unconsciously softened her tone, intending to appease Jia Rong first.

But Jia Lian woke up at that very moment!

This is truly like mud falling into your crotch...

Wang Xifeng was currently worried that Jia Lian had suffered a loss at Ningguo Mansion, and she was also troubled about how to explain this to him. She was extremely distressed.

Just then, a dashing and handsome young man suddenly emerged from behind the large, pink-painted screen wall—none other than the Second Master Lian, whom she had been longing for.

"Lian'er!"

Wang Xifeng rushed over and checked Jia Lian from head to toe, making sure he was alright before she was relieved.

She then became somewhat annoyed.

She was furious that Jia Lian had gone to Ningguo Mansion without telling her, clearly showing that he didn't trust his wife.

However, since the misunderstanding had not yet been resolved, Wang Xifeng could not make a scene.

As she helped Jia Lian inside, she asked with concern, "Second Master, are you all better now? Did you encounter any trouble at the East Mansion? Are you hungry now...?"

At this point, she turned to Ping'er and instructed, "Quickly tell the kitchen to prepare some food, something light and nourishing—and don't forget to inform the old lady and madam of the good news, and also invite the doctor to come and check the second master's pulse again."

After Ping'er left to carry out her orders, Wang Xifeng helped Jia Lian into the main hall. Although she saw that his complexion was better than before, she was secretly worried that it was a deathbed resurgence.

So he insisted that Jia Lian go to bed and rest, and then knelt down to help him take off his boots.

Although Wang Xifeng was strong-willed, jealous, and prone to anger, she earned the nickname "Spicy Phoenix" in the Rong and Ning mansions.

But she truly loved Jia Lian, and would occasionally serve him with such tenderness and attentiveness in private.

But now Jia Lian has a thorn in his side, and seeing her so attentive, he always feels that she is acting out of guilt.

So the foot came out of the boot, but instead of obediently putting it on the bed, it climbed up Wang Xifeng's lower abdomen, as if trying to measure the towering mound with every step.

In truth, although Qin Keqing's territory was strategically important and impregnable, in terms of sheer grandeur, this fiery Phoenix was indeed superior.

Wang Xifeng appears to be straightforward and uninhibited, but she is extremely conservative when it comes to matters of the heart, not even allowing herself to change positions or try different things.

Normally, she would never have allowed Jia Lian to treat her so disrespectfully.

But Jia Lian had just come back from the brink of death, and the misunderstanding had not yet been cleared up. She hesitated for a moment and did not stop him. She just scolded him, "You've only just recovered, and you're already behaving like this."

"What kind of humiliation am I doing?"

As Jia Lian continued to push his luck, he sneered, "The East Mansion is where things really get exciting and lively."

He intended to use these words to bring up the matter of Jia Zhen coercing Qin Keqing, but Wang Xifeng thought that these words were directed at herself and Jia Rong.

He immediately slapped away the stinky foot that had climbed onto his heart, stood up and said angrily, "Stop being sarcastic. Let's just talk things out. Whether you believe it or not, I have absolutely no ulterior motives towards Rong-ge!"

At the time, I was only awakened by Rong-ge'er's words. I was worried that I and Qiao-jie would have no one to rely on in the future, and I was also thinking that I might need his help in the future, so I planned to pretend to be polite and deceive him a few times.

Who knew it would be such a coincidence that you overheard it and started having all sorts of wicked thoughts!

After hearing her words, he was so excited that he was panting heavily, his body trembling, and tears welled up in his eyes.

Considering Wang Xifeng's usual behavior and the affection between the two, Jia Lian believed about 70-80% of what she said.

But if there is even the slightest suspicion in such a matter, a man will inevitably feel uneasy, let alone if there is a 20% or 30% degree of doubt.

Furthermore, Jia Lian was determined to restore his husbandly authority, so he simply said, "Look at you, what's the rush? I wasn't talking about you, I was talking about Brother Zhen's humiliation."

As she spoke, she recounted how Jia Zhen coerced Qin Keqing, and how Jia Rong, fearing his father like a tiger, dared not stop him. Instead, he came to the Rongguo Mansion to seek an advantage, wanting to use Feng Jie as a substitute.

Wang Xifeng was already furious with Jia Rong for putting her in such a predicament. Now, hearing that he had come to flirt with her and was only using her as a substitute for Qin Keqing, she was so angry that she was practically jumping out of her skin.

"What a pair of heartless beasts!"

She angrily cursed, "What a pair of despicable bastards, father and son, both of them are beasts!"

Especially that little beast Rong-ge'er, that spineless coward, how dare he make a move on me?!

What does he take me for?! Does he think I'm some lowly piece of trash he can treat with such disrespect and contempt?!

No, I'll make him pay!

Seeing Wang Xifeng roll up her sleeves, she wished she could rush to Ningguo Mansion and beat Jia Rong to death.

Jia Lian was secretly pleased, and said, "Don't be in a hurry, I have something else to tell you - that little beast, because I caught him red-handed, tried to use Qin Shi to pay off his debt in a moment of desperation."

I didn't want to agree at first, but Qin's situation was truly pitiful, and besides, that little beast was so insolent; if I didn't retaliate...

Jia Lian could certainly secretly take Qin Keqing as his concubine, but he wanted to expose Jia Rong's true colors in front of Wang Xifeng, and also wanted to restore his authority as a husband in a dignified manner.

Therefore, there was no deception, and they were prepared to tell the truth.

"Pah!"

Before he could finish speaking, Wang Xifeng spat at him, then put her hands on her hips and sneered, "Well, well, I thought you had a kind heart, but it turns out you were lustful!"

What do you mean by "an eye for an eye"... isn't it just that he's after that little whore's filthy body?!

Don't think that you can manipulate me and make me obediently admit to your dirty deeds just because you've caught me on a trumped-up charge!

Even if the matter from yesterday were brought to the old lady's face and the ancestral hall, I would still tell the whole story!

"Let me tell you the truth, as long as I, Wang Xifeng, am in this mansion, you can forget about touching that vixen's entire finger!"

Wang Xifeng and Qin Keqing were originally very close, but at this moment she couldn't care less about their past friendship.

Seeing that Feng Lazi was so confident and uncompromising, Jia Lian believed her words a little more.

But the arrow was already on the bowstring and had to be released.

Besides, Jia Lian is currently full of ambition and cannot afford to back down so easily.

So he slowly stood up, looking down at Wang Xifeng and confronting her: "Then I'll tell you the truth. This matter has been a thorn in my side. If you obediently let me take over Qin Shi, fine. But if you dare to stop me..."

"What, are you going to stop me?!"

Before Jia Lian could finish speaking, Wang Xifeng showed off her long, fair neck: "If you think a fabricated charge is enough, then I might as well play the role of your father-in-law!"

"Come, come, pretend this is the Fengbo Pavilion. As long as you cut off my head, no one will stop you from having your fun with that 'Qin Hui'!"

As she spoke, she nudged herself against Jia Lian's chest like a bull in a fight.

"you!"

Hearing her compare herself to Yue Fei and label herself as a member of Qin Hui's faction, Jia Lian subconsciously raised his hand, then quickly lowered it again.

His strength is no joke now; he can't really kill Wang Xifeng, can he?

After a brief standoff, Jia Lian sat back on the bed, putting on his boots as he said in a deep voice, "Given what happened yesterday, which man wouldn't be furious? I've been holding this grudge for a while now, and I'm going to let it out, either on her or on you!"

With that, he left Wang Xifeng behind and strode out the door.

"Who are you trying to scare?! Let me tell you, don't think you can get away with just a few harsh words... Hey, hey, where are you going?!"

Wang Xifeng chased after him all the way to the courtyard gate, but when she saw Jia Lian walk away without paying any attention to her, she couldn't help but feel uneasy.

Although she felt she hadn't done anything to wrong Jia Lian, anyone in that situation would have become suspicious.

Moreover, this is unlike any other situation.

If this thorn stays in your heart, you might not even be able to stay married in the long run.

No, absolutely not!

However, given Jia Lian's philandering nature, appearance, and family background, if she softens her stance this time and allows Jia Lian to take Qin Keqing as his concubine, she will be even less able to control him if he wants to go out and have fun in the future.

They might even go further and bring all sorts of dirty and smelly things into their homes!

No, this is even more unacceptable!

After much deliberation, Wang Xifeng decided to first make things difficult for Jia Rong.

Ultimately, it was all Jia Rong's fault. He decided to find a way to teach Jia Rong a lesson, which would also be a way to vent Lian'er's anger and give the couple a way out.

Anyway, she was furious with Jia Rong. If that little beast doesn't suffer, who will?!