Red Mansion: Holding Space and Marrying Like the Sea

When Jia Zhen heard this, he couldn't help but feel touched. He thought of the various entanglements between him and Third Sister You, and a hint of guilt flashed through his heart. So, in the dead of night, he quietly went to the small courtyard, wanting to secretly find out what Third Sister You was doing. He was curious, but also had an inexplicable worry in his heart. Third Sister You was born with a beautiful face and graceful figure. She was also a bold and straightforward person. She was a person who always said what she meant. When she saw Jia Zhen coming today, her former boldness was completely gone, as if she had become a different person. She hugged Jia Zhen tightly, tears rolling down like pearls from a broken string, and she cried, "Brother-in-law, have you really forgotten me? Why didn't you come to see me for a long time? Before my sister left, she kept muttering your name. That longing for you makes me heartbroken."

Jia Zhen was initially apprehensive, thinking he would be scolded by Third Sister You. He had never expected to find himself in such a tender and beautiful embrace. He looked at Third Sister You, crying pitifully, and suddenly felt an inexplicable surge of pity. He gently patted Third Sister You on the back and said softly, "Third Sister, I'm sorry for you. I've been so busy these days and neglected you. But don't worry, from now on, I will treat you well and will never let you suffer any injustice again."

From then on, Jia Zhen felt like a fish in water, as if he had found a world of his own. From then on, he often came sneakily like a ghost in the middle of the night and secretly met with Sister You San in a secret place to make love.

As time went by, the secret gradually became harder to conceal. Yu Shi and the servants gradually learned about the matter as if they had eyes in their hearts. Jia Zhen saw that he could no longer hide it, so he simply stopped trying to hide it. He openly arranged for several maids and old women to serve Yu Sanjie, and let them serve Yu Sanjie exclusively, to show his love and attention to her.

On weekdays, gold, silver, and jewelry flowed into the place like water, their dazzling brilliance gleaming alluringly in the darkness. Silks and satins piled up like mountains, seemingly filling the entire room. Jia Zhen even specially dispatched skilled chefs to meticulously prepare a variety of delicious dishes daily, just to let Third Sister You taste the most luxurious flavors in the world.

Jia Zhen even vowed before Youshi that once the mourning period was over, he would formally take the third sister as his second wife, giving her a legitimate status and allowing her to live a life of wealth and luxury from then on. Upon hearing this, Youshi was filled with endless resentment, blaming herself for being too kind and not decisively getting rid of the third sister when Jia Zhen and his son left home. Now she was in this predicament.

Third Sister You, originally a fiery and unyielding woman, now seemed to have changed her temperament, becoming gentle and graceful. Jia Zhen simply assumed that Third Sister You had changed her temper over the past two years, having been deeply traumatized by the deaths of her elder sister and mother. Or perhaps, because she had always been disliked by Mrs. You and had suffered so much hardship in the mansion, she had become submissive and had no choice but to change her temper. However, he never considered that Third Sister You's inner stubbornness and persistence had not truly disappeared, but had simply been temporarily hidden...

Therefore, the allure of sex is like a steel knife scraping at the bones, so sharp that it can easily erode the human soul, leaving it trapped and unable to extricate itself. And the blade of gentleness, seemingly gentle and harmless, is like a sharp blade hidden in the dark, each blow reaching the most vulnerable part of the human heart, deadly and impossible to defend against.

Third Sister You was a person of unyielding character, unwilling to be humiliated. Now that she had suffered so much injustice in the Ning Mansion, her heart was naturally filled with resentment. How could she easily accept this? She was like a trapped animal in a cage, constantly searching for a glimmer of hope to break free, a chance to completely destroy the Jia family, so that she could hold her head high and wash away the humiliation.

Finally, this golden opportunity finally came to You Sanjie. Because she had been flattering Jia Zhen all day long, Jia Zhen was moved by her cleverness and allowed her to move freely in the Ning Mansion without being restricted.

As soon as the mourning period was over, Third Sister You immediately started to act coquettishly towards Jia Zhen, with a cunning glint in her eyes, and whispered softly: "Brother-in-law, you promised me before that you would take me as your second wife as soon as the mourning period was over, so that I could stay with you openly. Do you still keep your promise? You must not lie to me again!" As she spoke, she pretended to be about to cry, and her appearance was pitiful and sympathetic. Jia Zhen saw this and felt a surge of guilt in his heart. He hurriedly coaxed her: "Of course not, I will definitely keep my promise and make you my second wife."

Everything else went smoothly, except for Third Sister You, who was incredibly picky about her clothes and jewelry, becoming a difficult servant. Sometimes she'd complain that a piece of clothing was too old-fashioned and didn't meet her aesthetic standards; sometimes she'd complain that a piece of jewelry wasn't ornate enough, unworthy of her status. She clamored for Jia Zhen to order all the shops in the city to bring her all the fine goods, as if the world revolved around her. Initially, Jia Zhen felt a little helpless, but seeing her stubbornness, he could only sigh inwardly and accede to her demands, letting her go to the shops and choose for herself.

Third Sister You seized the opportunity, broke away from the old women and maids who followed her, and rushed to the Jingzhao government office alone to report the Ning Mansion.

Unexpectedly, Third Sister You ultimately underestimated the Jia family's power in the capital. A yamen runner at the gate, noticing Third Sister You's beautiful appearance and elegant clothing, guessed she was from a prominent family and approached to inquire, "Young lady, what are you doing here?" Seeing someone asking, Third Sister You stepped forward and shouted, "I want to report Jia Zhen, the Third Class General of the Ningguo Mansion, for his crimes of killing people and taking a concubine during the mourning period."

Seeing Third Sister You's agitation and frantic speech, the yamen runners couldn't help but feel suspicious, wondering if there was something truly hidden, or if she was simply confused. Third Sister You, however, was determined and refused to give up. She argued with the runners in front of the door, her voice growing louder and louder, attracting the attention of passersby.

At that moment, Li Gui, the steward of the Eighth Prince's Mansion, was out on business and passing near the Jingzhao Yamen. Always cautious, he heard a commotion ahead and stopped to listen. Upon hearing that someone was about to denounce the renowned Ningguo Mansion, Li Gui's heart trembled, and a look of surprise crossed his face.