Who is spreading rumors that my filial piety towards them has changed?

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P.S.: Spend a few chapters going through the storyline of the You sisters. (The following content is free.)

In the initial plan, the You sisters were supposed to have a lot of screen time, but we were worried that having too many people from the Cui family would drag things out, so we chose the main characters instead.

It's a bit of a pity, because the You sisters in the original novel were also high-value characters. Even in the TV series (87 version), the two sisters were quite good-looking. Personally, I think the second sister You is more to my liking, mainly because her eyes are so expressive!

However, I still have a prejudice against You Sanjie. It seems strange to me that this character is called the first chaste and virtuous woman.

There are two storylines involving You Sanjie. The first involves You Sanjie drinking with the clan chief and his son, getting quite drunk (initially). The second involves her lover questioning her innocence, leading her to commit suicide to prove her innocence, after which she is praised by many authors as a chaste and virtuous woman.

It conveys a sense of "Although I attract people to perms, tattoos, bars, and nightclubs, I'm still a well-mannered girl from a strict family."

Moreover, you can't freely criticize the character of You Sanjie in the current climate, otherwise you're accused of objectifying women, Guo Nan, and suppressing the good intentions of women who have gone astray—that's quite outrageous.

Even a character portrayed as promiscuous is understandable and acceptable, after all, it's necessary for the plot; men are lustful, so why can't women? But to be promiscuous and then pretend to be virtuous is going too far—trying to have it all.

Of course, it's also possible that I misunderstood the details in the original work and misunderstood the character. However, the thought that the original character was You Sanjie makes it difficult for me to remain calm.

Therefore, my attitude towards these two sisters will differ from that of other Dream of the Red Chamber fanfiction works (many Dream of the Red Chamber fanfiction works beautify the third sister, while the second sister is left to her own devices with Jia Lian, and is even cursed to death when she is treated badly). I am giving you a long warning in advance.

If any readers have different understandings of these two sisters, feel free to share them in the comments section, and I'll see what's going on.

Chapter Sixty: Should we go in?

Judging from Cui Lian's subtle glances and expressions, Chu Mingkong could tell that he was probably after someone from the East Mansion—either the You sisters or the widowed Ke Qing.

At times like this, it's still necessary to bring Sister-in-law Huang over to join in the fun. Like the method Yongzhen mentioned during the day, Zhong Feihuang would inevitably be involved. Chu Mingkong immediately ran to Keqing's side.

He had assumed that Zhong Feihuang was sleeping in the same bed as Keqing, but it turned out that they were in the next room. Keqing seemed to have already retired for the night; the room was quiet with the lights off and only the sound of even breathing could be heard.

"I'll come visit Keqing again later."

Chu Mingkong turned and went to the next room. The candles in the room were also being extinguished, but the faint sound of water being poured for tea could be heard.

In the darkness of night, Zhong Feihuang finished her meditation and got up to drink tea. Suddenly, she heard the window inexplicably open, which startled her.

The young woman, her arms exposed, swiftly took a garment from the bedside and draped it over her shoulders. She then slowly walked towards the window, the moonlight shining on her arms, enhancing the beauty of her fair and delicate arms.

She whispered, "Who!"

Chu Mingkong suddenly appeared in front of her. Even with her great courage, Zhong Feihuang couldn't help but scream when someone suddenly appeared in front of her in the middle of the night. Fortunately, Chu Mingkong covered her mouth in time.

"It's me, Sister-in-law Huang, don't be afraid~"

"Are you trying to kill me?!" Zhong Feihuang gritted her teeth, staring at him with wide phoenix eyes, wishing she could tear a piece of flesh off him.

But the anger came and went quickly. The commotion outside the city yesterday must have been related to this guy. The fact that he's still so lively and clueless means that everything is fine.

After comforting her, Chu Mingkong said:

"Don't be angry right away, Sister-in-law Huang. Please come with me. No matter what you see later, don't get angry, okay?"

Zhong Feihuang was a perceptive woman. After hearing Chu Mingkong's words, she immediately guessed most of the situation. She turned away.

"You're not talking about that bastard Cui Lian, are you? Whatever he does is none of my business, where he dies is none of my concern, just don't get me smeared!"

"Just treat it as entertainment. I only saw them coming to see the You sisters when I came in. They seemed to have something to discuss. Shouldn't we be a little wary of what tricks they're planning to play?"

Zhong Feihuang thought for a moment and decided to treat it as a street performance and see what kind of tricks this guy was going to pull and continue to squander the family fortune of the Cui family!

"Alright, lead the way!"

Chu Mingkong gave Zhong Feihuang some instructions, such as not to get angry or make a sound. After confirming that Zhong Feihuang had listened, he quickly pulled her outside.

Stepping out of the room, Chu Mingkong noticed that Zhong Feihuang's attire was somewhat inappropriate. Underneath her inner garment was a sheer gauze dress, and beneath that, a purple cotton bodice was faintly visible. At first glance, the young woman's fair and tender skin was the most captivating feature, smooth and delicate, like translucent jade, with occasional blue veins visible beneath.

Chu Mingkong remembered that this thin gauze dress seemed to be the kind that aided in cultivation. He didn't know if it was one of the gifts he had randomly given away as filial piety blind boxes before, or if she and Aunt Gu were exchanging clothes or something.

Having arrived silently outside the You sisters' room, Zhong Feihuang felt a strange unease for some reason.

She was a strong-willed woman, always insisting on being right, even if it meant being right. She felt she should be assertive about something like spying on her ex-husband's misbehavior, but with her brother-in-law Chu Mingkong by her side, and her indecent attire, she felt...

It felt like she was deliberately running up to her ex-husband to retaliate by cheating on him. There was a sense of taboo unease, but also a strange thrill. Her heart was pounding, and she was worried that her breasts would shake from the impact.

Was it because of this strange thrill that Cui Lian, that scoundrel, went to the bridal chamber to cheat on his wife?

Zhong Feihuang, who had only been on leave for a few days, forced herself to shift her focus. Why should she feel guilty in front of Cui Lian? He was so inhuman. Now that she was free, she could do whatever she wanted with more confidence.

However, once a thought comes to mind, it's hard to shake it off in a short time. Even the feeling Chu Mingkong had in her mouth a few days ago is still vivid on her tongue.

Before long, dewdrops quietly welled up on the delicate petals of the night-blooming cereus. (This refers to the appearance of dew on the petals due to the temperature difference.)

Chu Mingkong didn't notice Zhong Feihuang's situation; his attention was all in the room. Because he was worried that his cultivation technique might suddenly become ineffective, he held his sister-in-law tightly in his arms, so that he could run away at any time.

Given Cui Lian and the You sisters' skill level, even if Chu Mingkong had failed before running away, they wouldn't have been able to figure out who it was.

Inside the room, Cui Lian indeed resorted to his usual seductive tactics, first describing how good his situation and status were, then mentioning the old lady's strong support for him, and how the Cui family would be his absolute domain from now on, with no one to dictate who he took as a concubine.

Of course, perhaps having learned from Ping'er's previous resistance, his attitude was much gentler, playing the role of a considerate and reliable husband who cared about the future of the sisters, and he didn't start by making any physical advances.

He probably wanted to first create an image to attract the hearts of both of them.

Cui Lian had come to understand one thing: good looks were useless; money and power were the key to attracting women. Now he had money and was no longer under Zhong Feihuang's control. As for power, who dared to contradict Cui Lian? The old lady would be the first to stand up and give him a thorough dressing-down.

"Second Mistress, Third Mistress, I know that the clan chief and that cowardly Cui Rong coveted you and were greedy for your beauty, but I am different. I just want to take good care of you."

Here's what we'll do: you two go and ask around at Sister-in-law Gu's place to see which of her shops has the best revenue, and which shops Zhong Feihuang used to handle. If you find out all this for me, it'll be considered doing me a favor and pledging your loyalty. From now on, I'll treat you as one of my own. How about that?

You don't need to rush to answer, just take your time thinking. I'll have some tea here.

As if afraid the two sisters wouldn't notice, Cui Lian showed off the large jade thumb ring on his finger while drinking tea; he had gotten it from the old lady.

As he sipped his tea, his gaze fell directly on the You sisters, admiring their striking beauty.

You Erniang was gentle, compliant, and virtuous. She was a girl who dared not vent her anger. Cui Lian had been oppressed by Zhong Feihuang in their marital relationship for so long, and he immediately took a liking to You Erniang, a charming and flattering woman who dared not get angry.

As for You San Niang... her personality is a bit too strong. I've seen her serving drinks in the East Mansion before. She's straightforward and bold, unbuttoning her clothes and massaging shoulders while pouring wine. She's really intense!

Suddenly, Cui Lian sniffed and faintly smelled the scent of a woman's private parts, a light and moist fragrance, the purest and cleanest scent, the kind that can only be cultivated by good food and drink.

Hey!

Cui Lian stared at the You sisters in disbelief. He hadn't said anything, yet they were already moved?

Outside the window, Chu Mingkong leaned close to Zhong Feihuang's ear, pressed against his fiery sister-in-law, and whispered:

"Should I come in?"

Chapter Sixty-One: Sharp Tongue, Soft Heart

Outside, by the window.

A fair-skinned young woman bent over, her hands gripping the edge of the windowsill. She pursed her lips, trying to keep quiet, but inside she was so angry that she wished she could tear a piece of flesh off her brother-in-law behind her.

This guy was deliberately trying to fool and harass her!

Zhong Feihuang's strong will prevented her from responding to Chu Mingkong's words. Although she wanted to shut him out, the rooster that had opened the door made her legs tremble and go weak with the lingering romantic thoughts she had harbored.

She didn't want Chu Mingkong, that little rascal, to continue being so arrogant. She thought to herself: "I'll just treat this as something I need for cultivation. I'll quench my thirst first, and when he gets impatient, I won't give it to him. I'll make this shameless brat who's trying to seduce people anxious to death!"

Silently, Zhong Feihuang released one hand from the windowsill and reached behind her to grab the snake's vital spot. Since Chu Mingkong wouldn't give it to her, she took it herself!

In an instant, a blush spread across the face of the fiery and assertive young woman, her expression one of blissful intoxication, as if she were deeply immersed in the aftertaste of fine wine.

Her gaze fell upon her ex-husband, Cui Lian, in the room, and she felt an immense sense of satisfaction and catharsis. In the past, she had worked tirelessly for the sake of their family, earnestly advising him to cultivate diligently and leave a good foundation for their future children. However, all her good intentions had led to their enmity, as Cui Lian had been out and about, causing a series of scandals within the family.

Zhong Feihuang had been wondering if she was really that bad, but now it seemed it wasn't her fault. Even a man as outstanding as Mingkong was completely infatuated with her.

Inside the room, Cui Lian, who was lost in thought, finally heard a strange noise. The sizzling sound of water coming from outside the room didn't sound like koi splashing around!

He was about to get up to see what was going on when a pebble suddenly shot in through the window, hitting him on the forehead and knocking him unconscious in his chair.

The You sisters were startled and didn't understand what was going on.

"What's wrong with Master Lian? Is he drunk?" You Erniang didn't dare to get close. She remembered hearing about a man who got drunk and was woken up, then went on a rampage and beat people.

"He was drinking tea, how could he be drunk? But he might have been drinking outside before coming here."

Just as Cui Lian collapsed, You San Niang pulled You Er Niang aside to discuss the promise Cui Lian had made. However, the glances she kept giving Cui Lian revealed her inclination, perhaps thinking that Cui Lian was faking unconsciousness to give them a chance to discuss and express their opinions.

“You Erniang, you’ve seen how you plan to handle this matter. These days, Master Lian has been so arrogant. Today, I even saw him drinking with the son of a high-ranking official in the yamen. He has excellent connections around him. From now on, the Cui family will only have him to rely on.”

You San Niang's words were meant to convey her message to Cui Lian, who was pretending to be unconscious, and also to genuinely advise You Er Niang to make a wise choice. Back then, she had sought refuge with the Cui family, but now the Cui family had a new master, and the old master was gone. Even a fool could see how to make a choice.

However, You Erniang had some hesitation. She naturally agreed with her sister's words, but she had been held in the arms of the young prince on the night the clan chief died. She still had some lingering feelings about it. Although Cui Lian was now in power, he was far inferior to the young prince in many ways.

"Third Sister You, Madam Gu of the West Mansion has been authorized by Master Cui to leave a personal letter requesting her to become the current clan head. Moreover, Madam Gu also has the Little Prince backing her up..."

"Are you stupid? How long has it been since we heard from the young prince? Haven't you seen Grandma Gu, the acting clan leader? She suffered a loss in front of Master Lian the other day, losing all her shop money."

"but......"

You Erniang kept her guesses to herself. Despite all the things that had happened these past few days, Grandma Gu remained calm. She certainly didn't react like this when the young prince had just disappeared!

Even Grandma Keqing has calmed down a lot recently, which is unusual.

She always felt that her grandmothers had already made contact with the young prince and even intended to leave, which was why she didn't care about these things at the Cui family and let the Second Master Lian benefit.

It's not uncommon for sons of wealthy families to be dissolute and squander their fortunes. How many descendants of kings and nobles have acted recklessly and yet remained wealthy and powerful? But the Cui family seems to be declining now, and hoping to follow Cui Lian's lead seems unrealistic.

You Erniang didn't dare voice this conjecture, because the topic of the young prince was now taboo in the capital. She had no intention of following her sister's lead, but she only offered a tactful reassurance:

"Let me think about it some more."

Outside, after knocking Cui Lian unconscious with a pebble, Chu Mingkong quickly set up a soundproof barrier so that his sister-in-law could circulate her inner energy without having to muffle her voice. Just as Chu Mingkong was about to infuse his inner energy into his sister-in-law, she suddenly escaped, stood up with her lips bitten and cheeks flushed, and stared at Chu Mingkong with a seemingly angry look in her dazed eyes.

She was retaliating against Chu Mingkong's earlier flirtatious remarks.

"Do you want to go in?" Zhong Feihuang's cheeks turned even redder after she said those words.

Chu Mingkong pondered whether to go along with Sister-in-law Huang's wishes or continue teasing her and making a scene. He could say something like, "If I don't want to, I'm going to get Keqing drunk." These words would probably infuriate Sister-in-law Huang, but at this moment, she had only recently broken up with Cui Lian.

If I make jokes like that, it might make her feel insecure, so let's do it later.

Chu Mingkong, showing both flexibility and humbly admitting his mistake, first bowed his head and apologized.

"I'm so anxious and worried! Sister-in-law Huang, please don't be angry~"

Hearing his simple coaxing words, Zhong Feihuang's heart melted instantly. She was all bark and no bite, and now that Chu Mingkong had apologized first, she was afraid he would feel upset and angry.