A stew of the Red Chamber

Chapter 47 Pretending

The front courtyard of Rong Mansion.

Wang Xifeng had a cold face, exuding both power and menacing aura.

Jia Lian looked dejected, like a wronged little wife.

The journey south is long, and I had hoped that before leaving, we could relive our old memories and have a good meal together.

Unexpectedly, Wang Xifeng didn't let him go back to his room at all.

Wang Xifeng was always concerned about her reputation, and Jia Lian's self-disclosure of his philandering made her feel both ashamed and indignant.

He thought that Jia Lian knew he was looking for him and would rush back in a hurry to reconcile with his old relationship.

Unexpectedly, it was Wang Qing who sent him back.

Unfortunately, Jia Lian still harbored resentment, and Wang Xifeng naturally assumed that he was having too much fun outside to think about home, and that he would never have planned to go back if Wang Qing hadn't interfered.

With both of these things combined, and having to hold her breath and pack Jia Lian's belongings, she was busy all night long. How could she possibly have a good face?

However, the two had been quarreling for more than a month, and with their separation imminent and no return date in sight, Wang Xifeng felt a little regretful that she hadn't taken the opportunity to back down last night.

However, she has always been strong-willed and unwilling to show weakness in front of others, and she did not utter a single soft word until Jia Lian got into the carriage.

Watching the convoy drive away, she let out a heavy sigh, and without saying a word, led Ping'er to the three-room annex.

After finishing the household chores and having a simple lunch, Wang Xifeng felt utterly exhausted. She simply took Ping'er home, changed into some casual clothes, and lay down on the bed.

In my dazed state, I vaguely heard a few voices calling, "Grandpa!"

Wang Xifeng quickly threw off the covers, got out of bed, and rushed to Ping'er, who had come to report, saying, "Please come in quickly!"

Ping'er glanced at Wang Xifeng, who looked languid, and was momentarily stunned. Wang Xifeng, however, said irritably, "What are you still standing there for?"

Ping'er dared not ask any more questions, and left with a suspicious look on her face.

Wang Xifeng then raised her eyebrows, revealing a hint of murderous intent. She tidied her makeup slightly in front of the mirror, and then, as if changing her expression, she put on a face full of charm. When she heard footsteps outside, she turned around, lay down on the rattan chair, pinched her orchid fingers, smoothed her sideburns, and glanced at the door.

Upon seeing who it was, Wang Xifeng's fingers, which were tucked behind her temple, paused, her face stiffened, and her lips twitched as she stammered, "Brother Qing... Brother Qing?"

Ever since Jia Jing's birthday, when he had a chance encounter with Jia Rui at the Ning Mansion, Wang Xifeng has been entangled with him.

In her daze, she vaguely heard the old man's voice and assumed that Jia Rui knew Jia Lian had left home and was coming to harass her again.

She was looking for a way to vent her anger, so she decided to use a little trick to teach Jia Rui a lesson.

Unexpectedly, it was Wang Qing who arrived.

Wang Qing was initially puzzled by her alluring appearance, wondering if the news had leaked out and Wang Xifeng was planning to use her beauty to lure him into a trap.

Only when I heard the doubt in her voice did I realize what she meant.

He deliberately glanced behind him, then looked at Wang Xifeng, who was dressed casually in home clothes and half-sitting, and asked with a puzzled expression, "What? Did you make an appointment with someone else, sister-in-law? Did I come at the wrong time?"

These words were clearly ambiguous, and Wang Xifeng quickly retorted, "How could that be?"

She reacted very quickly, stretching out her long, well-proportioned legs and sitting up slightly.

He laughed and said, "I heard that the master invited you over for drinks. I was thinking of asking Brother Qing to apologize to you on behalf of the second master tomorrow, but I didn't expect that Brother Qing would have time to come over now. I was so happy that I forgot to tidy up, and I'm sorry to have made you laugh."

Wang Qing looked enlightened and said, "I see. I apologize for disturbing you, sister-in-law."

"Don't mention it! Brother Qing, please sit down and let's talk."

Wang Xifeng invited Wang Qing to sit down and instructed Ping'er to make tea.

Without any hesitation, Wang Qing lifted his robe and sat down in the chair opposite Wang Xifeng.

After some pleasantries, as Ping'er served him tea, he looked embarrassed and said, "I didn't know where I offended Brother Lian before, but I only realized today that I really ruined Brother Lian and Sister-in-law's good time..."

Wang Xifeng assumed he was upset because he felt bad for interfering with Jia Lian's plans, and laughed, "We're all family, it's just a misunderstanding. Let him be angry, I should thank Brother Qing!"

Wang Qing shook his head and said, "Although it's not my place to overstep my bounds in managing the household affairs, catching thieves and recovering stolen goods are my duties. I hope my sister-in-law will understand..."

At this point, he stopped talking, slowly took out the gold shop owner's confession from his pocket, threw it on the coffee table, pushed it towards Wang Xifeng, and gave her a look that was hard to describe.

"Hmm?" Wang Xifeng didn't bother to pick up the documents on the coffee table, but expressed her doubt with a melodious nasal tone.

Knowing that she wasn't very literate, Wang Qing stopped hiding it and explained understandingly, "The news came down today that the stolen gold ingots from the mansion have been found. I found out after questioning them that it was actually taken by Second Brother Lian to make jewelry for his sister-in-law."

He pushed the confession forward again and said, "This is the confession of the gold shop owner. Please take a look, sister-in-law."

Even with Wang Xifeng's composure, she couldn't help but lose some color and hurriedly probed, "Brother Qing, what do you mean by this?"

Wang Qing looked troubled: "This is, after all, only the shop owner's version of events. We still need to get a definite answer from my sister-in-law. If the shop owner is making baseless accusations, we will naturally follow the clues and track down the thief's whereabouts."

In addition, we must inform the old lady and the second wife to return the recovered gold ingots to their rightful owners, and investigate the servants in the mansion to see if anyone is dishonest.

If it really was Lian Er-ge who sent it, we'll find a way to make amends, so it doesn't get out and cause a mess.”

If Wang Qing only wanted to follow the clues, Wang Xifeng could have ignored the fate of the gold shop owner.

But he also had to report to Grandmother Jia and Lady Wang, and thoroughly investigate the servants in the mansion, thus seizing Wang Xifeng's Achilles' heel.

After considering for a while, Fang Qiang calmly said, "I know nothing about this matter. Second Master is not here right now. Brother Qing, could you please put this aside for now and wait for Second Master to return..."

Wang Qing resolutely refused, saying, "Opportunities are fleeting; how can we afford to delay?"

He paused, then said in a show of retreat, "It must be a lie made up by the gold shop owner to exonerate himself. I'll just go and report it to the Second Master and Second Madam."

Sister-in-law, you don't want people to think that you and Jia Lian lied about the deficit, do you?

Wang Qing mentally added a flirtatious remark, but his body suddenly stood up.

"Wait!" Wang Xifeng suddenly jolted, quickly stood up, and called out, "Brother Qing, don't be hasty. What if it really was Second Master's doing? Wouldn't the misunderstanding just get worse?"

The two were sitting facing each other, not far apart, when they suddenly stood up and their faces were now directly facing each other.

As we all know, when a person gets anxious, their body heats up.

Wang Xifeng was already extremely anxious, and then Wang Qing's burly body pressed against her. She was caught in a dilemma, feeling a tightness in her chest and her breathing becoming somewhat labored.

The fragrance of that mature woman, mixed with her bursting breath, followed Wang Qing's nostrils and instantly penetrated his heart.

He took a deep breath, feigning helplessness, and said condescendingly, "Didn't Second Brother Lian misunderstand before this incident?"

With one sentence, Wang Xifeng was rendered speechless. Although she knew that Wang Qing had mistaken Jia Lian's jealousy for the loss of his source of income from falsely reporting deficits, she was unable to explain herself.

"It seems my sister-in-law doesn't trust me!"

Wang Qing deliberately sighed, then glanced at the sky outside the window and said, "I can't keep Second Master waiting. If you've changed your mind, you can come find me later. However, catching the thief is urgent, and we won't wait any longer. I hope you'll understand!"

Having said that, he gave a slight bow, turned and left.

……