The splendor of the Red Chamber, the power that reigns supreme.

Chapter 100 Bargaining
But now... Meng Yulou's fingertips, resting on her knees, gently rubbed against the fine Hangzhou silk skirt. She was no longer the young woman blinded by love and romance.

Having been widowed for years, she has experienced the coldness and warmth of human relationships and has come to see through the ways of the world. She has come to realize that a man's love is more fleeting than the thin clouds in the sweltering summer. Only the material possessions she holds in her hands are like charcoal for winter or roof tiles to shelter her from the rain.

She still harbored a deep longing in her heart: that the bustling areas of the capital, the East Market, the West Market, and in front of the Drum Tower, would all be adorned with the signboard of her "Meng's Silks".

Aunt Xue, observing the two men's expressions, was secretly pleased and hurriedly praised Yu Lou's virtues.

After exchanging a few pleasantries, Meng Yulou got straight to the point.

She raised her eyes and stared intently at Ximen Qing, her voice gentle yet each word clear and distinct: "I am deeply grateful that you have taken me in, sir. However, I have a matter on my mind that I must speak frankly with you. Once I enter the household, I must be a proper wife, standing shoulder to shoulder with Sister Wu, without distinction of rank. Furthermore, the meager assets left by my deceased husband are the foundation of my livelihood, and they must be managed by me personally; that is the only reasonable course of action."

Upon hearing this, Master Ximen smiled slightly.

It's true that he likes this long-legged woman, but he only wants her dowry from Meng Yulou. How could he possibly give her a single penny?
With a whoosh, he opened the gold-flecked fan, his voice deepening slightly: "My lady, you're mistaken! Now that you've entered the Ximen family, you belong to me, Ximen Qing. You've given yourself to me, so what's a little money? My lady, just enjoy it. I'll take care of everything in the household. The gold and silver are locked in the storeroom. Whether you keep them or not, they're all part of the same 'family,' so what's the difference? They're all the Ximen family's private property!"

Upon hearing this, Meng Yulou's face fell slightly. Her slender fingers, resting on her knees, unconsciously clenched.

The leg that had been lying at an angle suddenly snapped shut, toes pointed, pressed firmly against the ground. The two plump mounds of thighs beneath the skirt were stretched like bowstrings by this subtle force, their lines becoming even more distinct, exuding a supple yet stubborn strength.

She met Ximen Qing's gaze without yielding an inch, her voice still gentle: "My lord, I would never dare to obey your words! The position of the principal wife is my face and status; the wealth and power of my own household are the foundation of my life. If I cannot make decisions on these two important matters, I would rather guard this property, live an honest and upright life, than enter this household and be controlled by others!"

The official chuckled again, his voice softening: "Why speak so harshly? When have I, Ximen Qing, ever mistreated my wives? Since you're willing to submit, it means you respect the Ximen family. How could I let you lose face? As for the position of principal wife..."

He deliberately dragged out his words, glancing at Meng Yulou's body, which was taut like a fully drawn bowstring, "Once you're married, things will be settled. I will never let you be inferior to anyone!"

These words were cryptic and ambiguous, neither confirming equality nor denying it, yet leaving the listener with a lingering sense of unease, making them slippery and unpredictable.

Meng Yulou sneered inwardly, but showed no sign of it on his face.

Her eyes flickered slightly, her tongue rolled around on her lips, and then she looked up at Ximen Qing, her voice tinged with feigned submissiveness:

“My lord’s kindness warms my heart. But these trunks and boxes of family belongings are tied to my late husband’s dying wish, and I dare not part with them. So be it…”

She paused, as if her heart was being torn apart, "I would gladly give up half of the 3000 taels of silver currently stored in my home, along with all my fine jewelry, and the four gilded and ivory-inlaid canopy beds that came with my dowry. I would take them all and put them in the storeroom of the Ximen Mansion as my dowry to show my sincerity. I only beg you, sir, to have mercy and allow me to keep my cloth shop where I can make a living, so that I can have something to look forward to and supplement my daily expenses for cosmetics."

Sister Xue listened intently, her eyes darting around like coins jumping in a hot oil pan. Seeing Ximen Qing's furrowed brows and his face so dark it seemed about to drip water, she felt a surge of anxiety, fearing Xie Yi might suddenly intervene.

As expected, Master Ximen snorted, "My lady, your words are so distant! 'Half'? 'Applying cosmetics'? That makes no sense! Now that you've stepped across the threshold of my Ximen family, you're mine. Husband and wife are of one mind and one life!" "As long as you're in the Ximen mansion, I, Ximen Qing, will have to bear the burden of social obligations and the scrutiny of all sides at your cloth shop! Besides, now that you've joined my family, my lady, you can just enjoy yourself, wearing gold and silver. This business of showing your face and getting covered in money will be handled by the capable stewards and servants in the mansion. Why should your delicate body have to endure that hardship? That's the right thing to do!"

Meng Yulou's face drained of color instantly, and the muscles in her thighs and buttocks, which had just begun to loosen, clenched tightly again. She stood up abruptly, her voice trembling like leaves falling in the autumn wind:
"My lord! That cloth shop was built with my life's blood and sweat! It was also a keepsake brought from my late husband's coffin! I..."

Just as tensions were about to rise, Aunt Xue suddenly cried out "Ouch!" as if she had lost her footing. The bowl of fragrant tea she was holding "accidentally" spilled onto Meng Yulou's legs, which were standing together, interrupting her hand movement.

"Watch out!" Aunt Xue exclaimed, feigning alarm.

Most of the tea spilled onto the hem of Meng Yulou's emerald green Xiang skirt, precisely covering the front of her thighs up to her knees! The thin, soft silk was instantly soaked with water, clinging tightly to her skin!
"Ouch!" Meng Yulou shuddered as the scalding tea was poured over his head, and his soul nearly flew out of his body.

Aunt Xue rushed forward in a panic, pulled out a handkerchief, and pretended to wipe her face haphazardly: "She deserves to die! She deserves to die! I'm so senile and blinded by greed! Please forgive me, Madam! Please forgive me!"

She begged for mercy, but her hands were restless. Under the guise of wiping, she rubbed and pressed her wet, taut thighs. Secretly pleased, she glanced furtively at Ximen Qing.

She thought to herself: "Master Ximen, Master Ximen! I've done all this for you, and you still don't want this treasure?"

Meng Yulou was both ashamed and angry. She pushed away Aunt Xue's hand abruptly, disregarding the discomfort of her wet, cold, and sticky legs and the feeling of being almost naked.

She quickly pulled up the unaffected part of her skirt to barely cover her soaked and alluring parts, but the wet marks were still there, making her look utterly disheveled.

Her face was ashen, her expression cold and resolute: "Master Ximen! I understand your intentions completely today! The matter of the cloth shop is no longer worth mentioning! I am not worthy of your esteemed family, and I take my leave now!"

Having said that, she forced herself to endure the humiliation of the cold, sticky feeling on her legs and the greedy gaze that felt like thorns in her back, straightened her back, and walked quickly outside with a disheveled yet resolute air.

As Yu Lou's wet and resolute figure disappeared around the corner of Lion Street, Xue Sao stared at Ximen Qing's gloomy face, which looked as if it could drip water, and her heart pounded.

Seeing that this lucrative job was about to fall through and the matchmaker's money was about to fly away, how could she be willing to accept it? She quickly put on an extremely obsequious smile, swayed her waist and hurried a few steps, following Ximen Qing out of the threshold of the silk shop.

"My lord! Calm down, calm down!" Aunt Xue said, glancing at Ximen Qing's profile as she walked. "Look at this Lady Meng, she's beautiful, but her temperament is too stubborn and she doesn't know how to be pleasing to the eye! But... as the saying goes, a wild horse is a good steed, it's only when it's tamed that it's truly powerful!"

She changed the subject abruptly: "My lord, who are you? What kind of beauties haven't you seen? But you just saw it with your own eyes, putting everything else aside, just look at Lady Yulou's legs... tsk tsk tsk!"

"This old woman has been a matchmaker in Qinghe County for decades, and I've seen at least eight hundred or a thousand women, but a treasure like Lady Yulou is truly one of a kind!"

(End of this chapter)