Lian Erye in the Red Mansion

Jia Lian hadn't expected that Grandmother Jia would invite him over. Apart from holidays, he couldn't remember the last time he had eaten at Rongqing Hall.

After tidying up, they took Ping'er and Xiangling to Rongqing Hall.

Rongqing Hall was rather quiet. When Jia Lian saw that Jia Baoyu had returned, Grandmother Jia was patting his back and saying something. Daiyu was sitting alone on the other side, her little mouth pouting pitifully, her face still wet with tears.

Jia Lian guessed that Jia Baoyu must have smashed the jade just now.

This plot fit is incredible!

He stepped forward and saluted Grandmother Jia. Seeing Daiyu, who had already stood up and was silently looking at him, Jia Lian smiled and said, "Why are you crying again? Did someone bully you?"

While comforting Jia Baoyu, Grandmother Jia realized that she had neglected Daiyu, so she sighed and said, "No one is bullying you. It's just that your brother Baoyu acted up again just now and smashed his jade without asking any questions. Your sister Lin must have been frightened."

As she spoke, Grandmother Jia turned around and embraced Daiyu, comforting her as well.

The hall became even quieter, with only the sound of Grandmother Jia coaxing her grandson and granddaughter.

Jia Lian glanced at the people around him again. For some reason, Wang Xifeng, who was usually good at warming up the crowd, was standing at the back of the crowd today and did not show her face.

Jia Lian gave her a malicious smile before saying, "In my opinion, Brother Bao might not be having an episode. Perhaps he was just happy to see Sister Lin come to our house, but didn't know how to express it, so he smashed the jade to show it."

Upon hearing this, Jia Baoyu, who was initially embarrassed, nodded frantically as he looked at Daiyu.

Jia Lian then said to Jia Baoyu, "But Brother Bao, I'm not trying to criticize you, but Sister Lin is a guest from afar, and you are her cousin. You should be more polite and mindful of your actions. Just as the Old Madam and Madam dote on you and can't bear to see you in any way unwell, if you frighten Sister Lin, wouldn't her Uncle Lin, who is far away in Yangzhou, be very distressed?"

Uncle Lin only agreed to send Lin's younger sister to our house because of the old lady. Before she left, he repeatedly told me to take good care of her. So, if you offend her, not only will the old lady be unhappy, but I'm afraid you won't be able to explain yourself to me either.

Jia Baoyu hated being lectured the most, but Jia Lian, being his elder brother, pressed him with grand principles, making him feel very uncomfortable. He couldn't talk back and could only remain silent.

Lady Wang was somewhat displeased to see that Jia Lian seemed to be trying to suppress Jia Baoyu, but she didn't say anything.

Grandmother Jia, however, seemed a little distressed and said, "Alright, it's really been a while. You used to be the kind of person who didn't care about anything, but after going to the south, you've become quite talkative."

They're just kids playing; there's no need for you to scare them with those kinds of things.

Jia Lian smiled and cupped his hands in greeting, "What the old lady says is true. I was just giving her a few words of advice for nothing. I think with the old lady's love and care, Lin Daiyu won't suffer any more grievances."

Jia Lian should respect Grandmother Jia, but he doesn't need to be so afraid that he dares not say a word that might displease her. As for Lady Wang, she should go somewhere cool and stay there. After enslaving his wife for so many years, the person who finally kicked her out is the most despicable.

Of course, this couldn't be said to their faces, since there was a relationship between the two elders.

Jia Lian didn't take Grandmother Jia's words to heart, but Daiyu, who was standing nearby, looked on with tears welling up in her eyes.

Even Lian's second brother got scolded by the old lady because of her...

This was the most sensitive time for Daiyu, who had just entered the Jia family mansion.

Just now, Jia Baoyu kept talking to her, but she didn't say a word. Without saying a word, Jia Baoyu tore off the jade pendant he was wearing and smashed it on the ground.

That's fine, she could tell that Jia Baoyu wasn't angry at her; he seemed to have some kind of problem. However, everyone else reacted as if something earth-shattering had happened, and they all panicked, which frightened her a little.

What hurt her most was that Grandmother Jia, who had clearly doted on her before, suddenly forgot everything else the moment Jia Baoyu "fell ill," only caring about comforting him and completely abandoning her. Could it be that she was blaming me for offending Brother Bao?

Thus, Daiyu finally understood what it meant to say that the old lady's favorite person was Baoyu, and she understood even more clearly that no matter how much the old lady loved her, she was ultimately ranked below Baoyu.

This was her most direct feeling just now, and she knew that reactions in that situation were the least likely to lie.

In contrast, when Jia Lian first appeared, he noticed her displeasure and criticized Jia Baoyu's actions in front of the old lady and the madam, which deeply moved her.

Jia Lian had no intention of making a fuss. In any case, once Daiyu arrived at the Jia family, she would definitely be raised by Grandmother Jia's side. He couldn't very well take Daiyu away and raise her in his own courtyard, could he?

Given this, it was inevitable that Daiyu and Jia Baoyu would meet every day.

Fortunately, Jia Baoyu is just a simple-minded little kid, so he shouldn't pose much of a threat for the time being...

So he had Ping'er bring up the gifts he had prepared for Yingchun and the others, intending to have the three maids liven things up after Wang Xifeng had been silenced by him.

Of course, there are also Jia Baoyu types, but not many.

When Grandmother Jia saw that Yingchun and the others had received the gifts they liked, they were all very happy and kept thanking Jia Lian. The siblings were unusually harmonious, which made Grandmother Jia happy again.

Upon hearing Wang Xifeng say that the meal had been set out in the dining room, he waved his hand and said to Yingchun and the others, "Alright, look how happy you are. Put everything away and take a good look after you've eaten."

Grandmother Jia was not a petty person, and she wouldn't hold a grudge just because Jia Lian was a little impolite to Jia Baoyu.

Once at the banquet, she still took good care of Jia Lian, after all, she herself said that this was a welcome banquet for Jia Lian and Daiyu.

Thanks to the two of them, Madam Wang, Li Wan, and Wang Xifeng were also able to sit at a separate table next to them and have a meal together.

After a quiet meal, it was time for tea and conversation.

Jia Lian turned his head and said to Ping'er, "Take Xiangling downstairs for dinner."

He then instructed Xiangling separately: "From now on, spend more time with your sister Ping'er. If there's anything you don't understand, feel free to ask her. After you've eaten, you don't need to come back. Just go back and rest. If you can't find your way, have your sister Ping'er take you. Understand?"

Xiangling nodded like a chick pecking at rice.

Jia Lian sighed. Xiangling was too obedient and too weak-willed. He felt uneasy if she was out of his sight. It was best to entrust her to Ping'er.

Everyone sat drinking tea in the brightly lit room. Apart from the maids and servants standing around, everyone else's every move was being observed.

Jia Lian's subtle actions, and even what he said to Xiang Ling, were overheard.

Some people had their own thoughts, but Jia Erbao seemed to only then notice that Jia Lian had another outstanding girl by his side, and he stared blankly at her.

After Xiangling left with Ping'er, she hurriedly inquired with Wang Xifeng, Yingchun, and others.

There was nothing to hide about this, and people were happy to tell it as a news story.

Upon hearing this, Jia Baoyu clapped his hands and exclaimed, "Excellent! Excellent! It's fortunate that Brother Lian Er met such a good person. Otherwise, how could he have come to our family? If he had been left outside and seen by those filthy-hearted people, wouldn't he have been utterly ruined?"

Jia Lian chuckled. He was being praised by the arrogant Bao Yu. At least, in his eyes, he wasn't such a filthy and rotten person. After Jia Baoyu finished speaking, he glanced at Jia Lian, stood up, walked to Grandmother Jia's ear, and whispered something in her ear like a twisted candy. It was too far away for her to hear.

After hearing this, Grandmother Jia glanced at Jia Baoyu, asked him to sit down, and remained silent for a moment.

After everyone had drunk some more tea, Grandmother Jia turned to Jia Lian and said with a smile, "Lian'er, judging from your expression just now, you seemed quite satisfied with the maid you brought back?"

Jia Lian raised an eyebrow. Could it be that Jia Erbao really wanted to steal his person, so he urged Grandmother Jia to act as a mediator?

If he really dares to do that, I'll knock a few of his ribs out!

"Look what the old lady is saying. Who wouldn't like such a good girl? When we were on the ship, Lin Daiyu wanted one too, but I refused to give it to her."

Daiyu glanced at Jia Lian, hummed, and said nothing. She hadn't said anything; her second brother Lian loved to make up lies.

"Hehe, aren't you afraid Feng'er will get jealous?"

Grandmother Jia glanced at Wang Xifeng with a smile; without saying a word, the meaning in her eyes was clear to everyone.

Wang Xifeng wished she could disappear into a crack in the ground. It was all because of that heartless man; he had made her suffer so many strange looks...

Jia Lian glanced at Wang Xifeng and shook his head, saying, "Don't worry, if she dares to get jealous, I'll break her arm."

"Hehehe..."

Jia Lian's words immediately made everyone laugh. Even Madam Wang, who was always expressionless, shook her head, finding Jia Lian's confidence amusing.

Wang Xifeng looked over with a dark expression, unsure of what to say.

If you dare to touch my arm, I'll bite a piece off your flesh!

Grandmother Jia smiled and said, "Although you can subdue her, I don't want to see your courtyard in chaos all day long."

I was thinking, since you've already got such a good girl, why not give that little girl named Qingwen to your brother Bao?

They're moving out of my house next year, and I was just thinking of picking out some capable servants for them. I didn't expect your brother Bao to also take a fancy to that girl. You just said that as the elder brother, you should defer to the younger one. Could you perhaps give in to your brother Bao too?

Grandmother Jia's words gave everyone a jolt of energy.

I'd only ever heard of brothers in the same family fighting over a maid before; I'd never actually witnessed it myself.

However, he didn't take it to heart. He figured that what Grandmother Jia said made sense, and given Second Master Lian's personality, he probably wouldn't really care about such a little girl. He would definitely agree.

Many people think this way, after all, in their hearts, Grandmother Jia's words are like imperial edicts, and who would dare to disobey them?