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Lin Hongyu just returned, and seeing Ping'er also coming in from outside, Sun Shaozong couldn't help but feel a sudden shock in his heart. 

She shouldn't be also…

This was really a big deal?!

One should know that Ping'er was not like Lin Hongyu, who had no name or title in the mansion. She was a standard butler in the backyard. Although she was not a serious concubine in terms of fame, she was even more stubborn than a serious concubine like Zhao, who has a son!

Jia Lian was on the rise for a while, and it was reasonable to take Lin Hongyu as a *”present”* to the banquet. Did he bring Ping’er to show his hospitality?

"Greetings to Second Master and Lord Sun."

"Greetings to Second Master, Greetings to Sun... Lord Sun."

Sun Shaozong's expression was strange as he was thinking about it. The two women had already stepped forward to pay their respects. The front line was plain, while the slightly stuttering voice at the back was Lin Hongyu's voice.

Actually, before entering, Lin Hongyu was still full of ambition.

After entering the door, she couldn't help but feel a little flustered at the thought of what to do next. When she saw Qingwen in the corner, her panic instantly increased several times.

She should know that when she was by Jia Baoyu's side, she was dedicated to singing red faces and earning favors, while Qingwen was responsible for managing the little maids below. Lin Hongyu was criticized by her, and now that she saw her here, she naturally couldn’t let go of her.

On the contrary, it was Ping’er, because she didn't know Jia Lian's thoughts. Although she was skeptical, she remained relatively calm.

After the two of them saluted, they heard Jia Lian saying, "Qingwen, having them serve here is enough. You can go and inquire where my Second Sister is, and see if there is anything else you need to take care of."

Just now, Jia Lian asked Qingwen to return to Jia Yingchun's side to be on duty. Qingwen could naturally refuse in good faith, but at the moment, she was only asked to visit Jia Yingchun, so Qingwen naturally couldn't refuse.

After a moment of hesitation, she bowed out of the hall.

Hearing Qingwen's footsteps gradually fade away, Jia Lian then said to the two Ladies, "As you know, I was confused a while ago and had a lot of unpleasantness with Erlang. Although he is generous, I really feel sorry for him."

"So today, you can make a good apology for me. If anyone can satisfy Erlang, I will come back and tell the Second Madam to designate her as a concubine!"

He used to promise to take a concubine to people, but it was just a casual joke when he was alone. But this was still the first time he had made such a promise.

However, as the words fell for a long time, Lin Hongyu hung her head and Ping’er's face was full of suspicion, but no one responded.

***Pa Pa~***

Jia Lian immediately lowered his face and slapped the teacup on the table, scolding, "What's wrong? I can't have a saying in this house, can I?"

Lin Hongyu's delicate body trembled as she didn’t dare to disobey his wishes. She arched her body and presented her loose collar to Sun Shaozong with a red face. She said in a coquettish voice, "The tea has cooled down, I'll help exchange a cup for Sun Shaozong."

As she dragged her footsteps, she picked up the teapot, and before she could pour the tea into the cup, her arm-supported body leaned heavily against Sun Shaozong's shoulder.

Watching this scene, Ping'er didn't even know what Jia Lian meant and was immediately stunned.

Although Sun Shaozong was also a lecherous person, he was never accustomed to getting close to women in front of others, let alone in front of Ping'er?

He quickly arched his arm outward, propping Lin Hongyu's body against his shoulder, and at the same time, smiled bitterly at Jia Lian, saying, "Second Brother, what are you doing? Didn’t I tell you that I don’t mean that way in the noon?"

"What meaning?"

Jia Lian pursed his lips and said boldly, "Instead of letting them stay alone in the empty chamber every day, it's better to accompany Erlang happily. Firstly, it's a way to apologize to you on behalf of me, and secondly, it's also a way to find comfort for them."

He then turned to Ping’er, who had never made any movement, and said, "Pinch your fingers and calculate. I haven't touched you for about two years now, have I? It's fortunate that you have a false reputation, but haven't you had enough of these days when that woman is guarding against thieves?"

"You know Erlang’s reputation, he is a person with talent and a bright future, and he is also a person who is used to doting on others. If you can make him happy today, I will take the initiative to send you to his mansion and become an authentic concubine. How about that?"

Not to mention, she had a private affair with Sun Shaozong. Even without this, Ping'er had already had enough of this kind of life. Therefore, upon hearing these words, she was truly willing!

But suddenly, she couldn't believe it to be true.

If all of this was just a trick played by Jia Lian to test herself and Lord Sun, wouldn't it be harmful to Lord Sun if she followed the tide and agreed to it?

But if she were to refuse…

How could she have the heart to refuse the opportunity to live a peaceful life with Sun Shaozong, despite the long-awaited hope?

Ping'er was deadlocked in her heart, but Lin Hongyu beside her became anxious. Although she couldn't make any progress, she was close to Sun Shaozong. Therefore, she soon realized that Sun Shaozong's gaze occasionally drifted toward Ping'er, but he ignored her.

How would she give up all her face and end up with nothing?!

No!

Never!

At that moment, Lin Hongyu stood on tiptoe and tried to place her chest on Sun Shaozong's biceps. She reached into half of Sun Shaozong's earlobe and let out a delicate moan like an orchid, saying, "I am also forced and helpless. I only hope that you can show mercy for me, and I will never dare to entangle you in the future."

With that nimble lilac tongue fluttering back and forth on Sun Shaozong's earlobe, the force was neither light nor heavy, as if teasing at the tip of his heart, causing Sun Shaozong to shiver twice in a row, and a burning sensation spread up and down his lower abdomen.

***Tch!***

No wonder Jia Lian boasted at noon that she had the means of being an old prostitute for many years. She was indeed a born fox seductive fairy!

If he were alone in a room, being teased by her like this, and making it clear that he didn't need to take any responsibility afterward, Sun Shaozong would probably follow.

Now…

Glancing at Ping'er on the side, Sun Shaozong firmly pushed Lin Hongyu away and said with a righteous tone, "I..."

"Second Master, Second Master!"

Before he could say something, he heard someone outside shouting, "Something bad has happened! Our family has attracted a bandit!"

The four people inside the room were all stunned, but they heard footsteps coming from outside. Sun Shaozong stood up first, and Jia Lian quickly followed suit.

As soon as the curtain of the door was lifted, two servants burst in from outside and shouted in unison, "Second Master, our Grand View Garden has thieves! Second Madam instructed to lead everyone to escort the Masters and Ladies out first, so as not to cause chaos in the war!"

Jia Lian finally took the opportunity to put on this situation, wanting to gradually progress. However, he was disturbed by someone, and his heart was naturally filled with anger. He scolded the few servants, saying, "What's the point of being flustered? Which unscrupulous bandit dares to steal from our house?! Is it because the lights are dark and you have taken the wrong look?"

The two servants quickly explained, "Second Master, it's not us who are careless. The Grand View Garden has really been robbed, and even Second Master Bao was almost kidnapped by them. I don't know what's going on now!"

It was not easy for Sun Shaozong to understand the cause and effect of their chaotic explanation.

It turned out that just now, Jia Baoyu was half drunk and half awake, and nobody knew what kind of madness he was going through. He rushed out in disheveled clothes, and in the pitch black, he didn't even bring a lantern. He was wandering in the Grand View Garden.

Afterward, Xiren and the others naturally pursued him closely.

Seeing a bamboo forest in front of him, Baoyu didn't hesitate to pass through the forest. A few maids behind him were worried that he might fall out again, but they heard Baoyu scold in the bamboo forest, "Who are you? What are you hiding here for?"

Xiren didn't think much about it, but thought it was a maid or nanny in the garden who was doing some shady business in the bamboo forest. So she quickly shouted from behind, asking the people in the forest to stop Jia Baoyu.

Unexpectedly, before she could finish speaking, Jia Baoyu fled back in a panic. It was because there were three black-clothed men hidden in the forest, each holding a single sword, who seemed like thieves.

At first, the maids thought he was talking nonsense, but to their surprise, two black-clothed men were chasing after him in the woods, causing everyone to panic and flee like hotcakes.

Fortunately, those people in black didn't catch up and commit the crime.

And two of the nannies directly escaped from the garden and went to report to Old Madam Wang. Old Madan Wang was so shocked that she almost fainted. She was about to personally go to the garden to see how Baoyu was doing.

Fortunately, Wang Xifeng also received the news and hurriedly came over to stop her. While ordering Zhou Rui to bring people into the yard to search for Baoyu, she also sent someone to come and ask Jia Lian to take charge of the overall situation.

Of course, it was Jia Lian who was invited to preside over the overall situation, but what she truly wanted to rely on was Sun Shaozong, a well-known *“Divine Judgement”* in the court and the public.

When Jia Lian heard that the situation was so serious, he naturally didn't care about his small plan and quickly invited Sun Shaozong to explore the Grand View Garden together!

The matter of apprehending the robbers was already within the scope of Sun Shaozong's responsibilities, let alone Jia Yingchun being invited to stay temporarily in the garden. Even if Sun Shaozong ignored others, he would always bring her out safely.

Therefore, without hesitation, he followed Jia Lian to the Grand View Garden behind him.

When they arrived at the five main doors, they saw dozens of servants gathered, each with their chests and bellies high, holding a whistle and a torch. They looked very sharp on the surface, but inside, there was mostly a hint of fear.

This was also normal. Although Rongguo Mansion started with military achievements, it has been forty or fifty years since they last saw a battle. The powerful slaves still bully others; how could they dare have the courage to go against the bandits?

That was to say, with these large numbers of people and the power of the masses, if more than ten thieves burst out inside, they were estimated to be able to be killed on the spot and flee.

Sun Shaozong stood still in front of the door and earnestly asked, "Who knows where the bamboo forest where Brother Bao met the bandits is located? Is there any convenient place nearby to enter and exit?"

With this shout, the dozens of strong men looked at each other but remained silent.

The two servants who came over quickly explained, "Lord Sun, those who are familiar with the garden have already followed Steward Zhou into the garden. These were all just called in from the outside courtyard. They haven’t had the opportunity to enter the garden and see them?"

"Then you two..."

"I only went in twice, I really don't know what's going on inside!"

"The same goes I!"

Sun Shaozong was helpless and was planning to bring people in. He first gathered Jia Yingchun and other women and then made other plans. Suddenly, he heard someone say in a crisp voice, "I know about the situation near that forest!"

Looking through the sound, who else could it be if it wasn’t Qingwen?