Lian Erye in the Red Mansion

Chapter 9 Easing

"Are you satisfied with having such a beautiful person?"

Following Jia Lian out of Rongqing Hall, Wang Xifeng said with some reluctance.

Jia Lian nodded, finally turning to face Wang Xifeng directly, and said with a smile, "It must have been difficult for Second Mistress Lian. How does it feel to have put in so much effort only to end up shooting yourself in the foot?"

"you?"

Wang Xifeng was immediately furious, but at the same time, she couldn't help but become wary.

Since when has he started speaking so harshly?

Moreover, judging from his tone, his certainty that he had framed that vixen He Xiang is somewhat puzzling...

Seeing that Wang Xifeng was speechless, Jia Lian did not intend to argue with her further.

Based on his current persona, even the servants and maids in his household probably don't think much of him, let alone Wang Xifeng, his bedmate who knows him best.

Changing Wang Xifeng's opinion of her, or even subduing her, is not something that can be done overnight.

Fortunately, he won his first encounter with Wang Xifeng, and now that woman is probably having some doubts.

He stepped onto the stairs, but was immediately stopped by Wang Xifeng: "Where are you going?"

"Having accepted the task from our ancestor, we naturally cannot delay. Go down and make some preparations."

Seeing that Jia Lian didn't stop walking, Wang Xifeng became a little anxious. She took two steps forward and finally asked, "Aren't you going home tonight either? Just to spite me, you're not even listening to the old lady?"

As soon as the words left her mouth, Wang Xifeng felt powerless, as if she were begging him to go back. She couldn't accept this, so after Jia Lian stopped, she deliberately tilted her head back and frowned.

Jia Lian had naturally heard the implication in Wang Xifeng's words that she was admitting defeat, so he smiled and said, "As long as Second Mistress Lian doesn't block the door like last time and not let me in, I wouldn't dare disobey the old lady."

After saying that, he turned and left.

Wang Xifeng opened her mouth, as if to say something, but stopped herself when she saw that Jia Lian had already walked away. Then, looking at Ping'er who had come looking for her, she asked very seriously, "Ping'er, don't you think he seems like a different person?"

Ping'er seemed to be deep in thought upon hearing this.

……

That evening, Wang Xifeng returned home early and specifically instructed the kitchen to prepare two extra dishes, which were then set out for her.

"Ping'er, go ahead and ask him yourself what he's doing and why he hasn't returned yet!"

After waiting for a long time, Wang Xifeng gradually became irritable.

Ping'er obeyed the order and went out. She had just lifted the floral curtain when she saw Jia Lian leisurely stepping in through the main gate.

"Second Master is back."

Ping'er was overjoyed. She informed the family and stood aside to greet them.

Jia Lian slowly walked up the steps, glanced at Ping'er beside him, and thought to himself that the life of an old landlord in ancient times was not bad.

Wouldn't you feel comfortable having such a young and beautiful maid obediently standing aside to welcome you home?

The thought that Ping'er would eventually become his concubine made him even happier.

However, seeing that Ping'er seemed uncomfortable under his gaze, in order not to be rude to the beauty, and also to avoid breaking the vinegar jar inside, Jia Lian went into the room through the curtain that Ping'er had opened.

Their courtyard itself wasn't large, and the three main rooms were also quite cramped.

Jia Lian entered the west side room, which was where Wang Xifeng usually received guests; further in was the bedroom.

At this moment, Wang Xifeng was sitting on the kang (a heated brick bed) in front of the room. She glanced at Jia Lian as he entered and said coldly, "I thought you weren't coming back for dinner tonight either."

As she spoke, she finally got up and came over to take off Jia Lian's coat.

Wang Xifeng took the initiative to make amends, and Jia Lian no longer hesitated. He cooperated by removing his outer robe, then went over and sat in the main seat, taking his bowl to eat.

His actions were so natural, as if the cold war of the past few days had never existed, and he simply came home for dinner as usual.

Wang Xifeng was itching to provoke him, but she didn't provoke him any further. She sat down, ate a couple of bites herself, and then, while Jia Lian was wiping his mouth, asked, "When will we set off?"

"I'll leave first thing tomorrow morning."

"So rushed..."

Wang Xifeng's displeasure was evident in her words.

"I don't know what's so great about Yangzhou, but you're so determined to go there. Even our ancestors couldn't dissuade you!"

At this moment, Wang Xifeng's tone was no longer arrogant, but rather that of a wife complaining to her husband.

She was already an extremely beautiful woman, and this only added to her image as a lovely wife.

Jia Lian laughed and said, "What? I've gone south, so I don't have to stay home and make you angry. Isn't that just what you wanted?"

Upon hearing this, Wang Xifeng realized that Jia Lian's insistence on going to Yangzhou was to avoid her. Feeling extremely wronged, she said, "You heartless wretch! You did such a thing, and I'm not even allowed to speak up? Besides, I didn't do anything to you, so why are you so angry with me?"

Fortunately, Jia Lian knew Wang Xifeng's character well, otherwise he might have been deceived by her feigned weakness!

"What did I do?"

"You still have the nerve to ask? The whole mansion is buzzing about your affair with that whore in the master's room. You think you can just cover it up?"

"That's not true!"

Jia Lian frowned and retorted sternly, "You actually believe the gossips in the manor?"

Wang Xifeng was surprised: "Really not?"

It wasn't that Wang Xifeng was so easily fooled; in fact, she was quite certain in her heart, but she had never seen Jia Lian so resolute before.

"You still say I have no conscience? You'd rather believe those people than me? I accidentally broke that broken bottle, and Aunt Mei happened to be there. She pleaded for me, but the master wouldn't let it go. In a fit of anger, he even hit Aunt Mei. Those heartless servants saw this and deliberately used it to make trouble!"

Don't you think about it? If it were really as you say, with that old man's temper, would I have made it out of there alive?

Jia Lian looked at Wang Xifeng, his eyes blazing with fury.

Now, Wang Xifeng was truly unsure, after all, she had only gleaned the information from the servants' stammering. Moreover, Jia Lian was right; given Jia She's temper, he would be punished for even the slightest mistake. If Jia Lian had truly done such a thing that day, he would have been severely punished, if not killed. How could he have returned alive and well that very day, even sulking with her?

"Whether it's a big deal or not, even if your family did something like that, who can do anything to you?"

You don't need to get angry with me. If what you're saying is true, then that's fine. From now on, if I hear others saying such nonsense, I can deal with them with a clear conscience."

As husband and wife, she also has the responsibility of managing the household. The previous rumors caused the most damage to her reputation.

So, although she was angry with Jia Lian, she secretly forbade anyone to gossip. She was known for her ruthless and decisive way of managing the household, so many of the servants in the mansion were afraid of her.

It could also be said that Wang Xifeng played a significant role in preventing the incident from spreading widely, as it only bounced among a limited number of individuals.

Having intimidated Wang Xifeng with his words, Jia Lian felt no guilt whatsoever; after all, he hadn't done it!

He put down his chopsticks and said, "I'm full, I'm going to take a shower."

Wang Xifeng nodded. She had always eaten little, so she quickly tidied up the dishes and chopsticks. She noticed that Jia Lian was looking at her, somewhat puzzled.

"Let's go, you go too, help me pass a towel or something," Jia Lian said seriously.

"Go~"

Wang Xifeng's face immediately turned crimson, and she spat at Jia Lian.

Jia Lian looked at her and said slowly, "What? You've chased away everyone around me, and you still won't come down to serve me?"

Wang Xifeng blushed even more, hesitated for a moment, and said, "I still need to go to the old lady's room later, so let Ping'er serve you."

Wang Xifeng didn't want other women to get close to Jia Lian, so apart from Ping'er, there were usually no other maids or wives in the house.

Jia Lian looked at Wang Xifeng, whose face was flushed and who was even more beautiful and charming, and shook his head with a smile.

Wang Xifeng appears outwardly energetic and somewhat flirtatious, but who would know that she is more reserved than anyone else when it comes to the bedroom? Look, even after being married for so long, she can still blush at a single word from him.

It seems the reason is a lack of proper training.

"You mustn't take advantage of this to bully her!" Wang Xifeng added.

Jia Lian shook his head: "Don't worry, I'm not like you. I won't touch her until you agree to give her to me."

These words made Ping'er, who had just come in to tidy the table, blush with embarrassment.

Wang Xifeng realized that Jia Lian was mocking her for sending He Xiang away without his permission. Just as she was about to retort, Jia Lian got up and left.

Wang Xifeng, finding herself at a loss, muttered to herself after a while, "They're just putting on an act in front of me, do they think I'd believe them!"

Then, turning to Ping'er who was still cleaning up the leftovers, he said, "Let someone else clean up these. Your second master needs to take a bath, so you go and serve him."

"Yes……"

Ping'er blushed and was about to leave when Wang Xifeng called her back: "You've been with me for so many years, I know you've always been the most sensible person, don't let me down."

The words, though spoken with a smile, contained a hidden warning, causing Ping'er's face to darken. She nodded and left without saying a word.