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

Chapter 108: Freed from Lowly Status, Third-Rank Adoptive Father

Mrs. Lin stole glances at Ximen Qing, her heart pounding in her chest like a drum. Her plump, white body seemed to yearn to escape and fly into the arms of her wealthy husband.

I increasingly felt that what Li Guijie said made sense. This house without a man is like a lantern without a candle—it looks bright on the outside, but it's a dark hole inside!

As the saying goes: A widow raises her child with bitter herbs and gall.
This matter, which seemed like the sky falling and his heart being ripped out, was handled by Master Ximen as easily as crushing a bug or squashing an ant!
With just a few words to the servants of the Ximen household, without even her own appearance, those filthy scoundrels were sent running for their lives, immediately falling silent. This not only spared her, a widow of the third rank, immense humiliation, but also saved her from a great disaster!
Seeing him sitting casually in the rosewood armchair opposite her, his massive frame like half an iron tower, completely filling the chair, Mrs. Lin's heart skipped a beat, and she couldn't help but glance at him.

First, her gaze swept over his captivating, alluring eyes, three parts smiling and seven parts brimming with spring-like charm, then, as if coated in honey, secretly slid over the broad chest sculpted by the colorful lion-embroidered collar of his jacket, before finally descending to his two pink-soled black boots. Oh my! Those strong, muscular legs! They were so thick, they made Mrs. Lin's heart leap with fear!

It was a familiar room where she had lived for over a decade, yet there was a strong, masculine scent that made all the difference. The smell was so pleasant that it seemed to be wafting into her nostrils, and the hot, dry air was even more pungent than a charcoal brazier in winter.

Mrs. Lin felt unbearably hot, as if the embers weren't burning in a stove, but rather rising from beneath her own skin. She secretly extended her slender fingers, feigning to tidy her hair, but actually unbuttoning two of the embroidered buttons on her coat collar, instantly revealing a smooth, white neck. She had carefully examined it yesterday: thank goodness, not a single wrinkle! Only then did she dare to expose it!
Thinking about how I've been a widow for so many years, guarding this empty, ice-cold mansion, which looks beautiful from the outside but is nothing more than a paper lantern or a legless crab inside.

A gust of wind could blow it apart! Those relatives and hangers-on, like dogs licking oil, which one of them is sincere? They're just after a few taels of silver, or they're eyeing this widow's doorstep, wanting to trample on her and take advantage of her.

This prestigious Wang Zhaoxuan Mansion, the residence of a third-rank imperial consort who commands respect, is like a house without a beam if it has no man to hold it up. No matter how ornate the beams and painted the rafters, a strong wind can blow it to pieces!
Even mountains of gold and silver cannot compare to a strong, resilient shoulder that can shoulder heavy responsibilities and a sturdy frame that can shield one from wind and rain. Such a person, if... if only he could reside here permanently.
Master Ximen hadn't expected that in just a few moments, Madam Lin's mind would be racing with a thousand thoughts. He slowly sipped his boiling tea, put down the Ding kiln white porcelain covered bowl, and explained his purpose: "Madam, you've truly been frightened today. This lawless scoundrel, with audacity beyond measure, dared to bully your noble family! He truly deserves to be torn to pieces! With me here, please rest assured!"

He then changed the subject: "Third Brother is still young. Without a proper male elder in the family to support and guide him, this is not a long-term solution. If such a pampered child is not properly disciplined by a strict father figure, I'm afraid that in the future... alas, he might go astray and ruin the family business!"

“My lord, your words have truly touched my heart! Speaking of San Guan’er, my heart… Alas! Ever since my late husband passed away, this child has been like a rudderless boat, a bridleless colt, constantly entangled by those dissolute young men outside, neglecting his studies, and almost bringing shame upon our ancestors!”

"Although I am favored by the Emperor and hold a nominal title, what knowledge and skills can a woman confined to the inner quarters have? I have beaten her, I have scolded her, I have given her a whole bunch of reasons, and I have shed countless tears, but... but in the end, I am just a woman. I cannot control the situation, I cannot manage the outside world. I only feel that I am powerless and it is like scratching an itch through a boot!"

As she spoke, her eyes reddened just the right amount of time. She picked up the gold-flecked handkerchief and lightly touched the corner of her eye, her gaze, like spring water, brimming and flowing, lingering on Ximen Qing's face:
"If it weren't for your timely intervention, my lord, this catastrophic disaster would have devastated my family, a widow and her orphan... Alas! If... if my lord didn't mind my son's foolishness and would have taken him in, even if it was just to teach him manners and social skills, considering his vulnerability and lack of support, giving him the status of a foster father would have given him someone to rely on..."

Her voice lowered, but each word was clear, carrying a sweet, sticky warmth, "That is his blessing, hoping he can get back on the right path and restore the glory of the Wang family! My heart... my heart can finally find its place!"

The official tapped his fingers lightly on the table: "This...adopting a son is no small matter; it is a matter of great importance in human relations. San Guan'er is also from an official family, and is of noble birth. I'm afraid this would be a disservice to him."

“I’m not aggrieved!” Mrs. Lin shook her head repeatedly. “With such a great man as my godfather to discipline me, I, as his mother, can finally sleep peacefully at night.”

As she spoke, she felt an even stronger surge of warmth in her heart. Looking at Ximen Qing's robust physique and thinking that he would be her frequent "godfather" in the future, she felt that the house now had a pillar of support. It was as if the old tree in her heart, which had been parched for a long time, had received sweet rain, and all its branches and leaves had stretched out, as if it wanted to bloom immediately.

Seeing her sincere expression and the affection and dependence in her words, Ximen Qing laughed heartily: "Since Madam says so, it would seem unreasonable for Ximen Qing to refuse again. Very well! I am honored by Madam's high regard, so I will accept Sanguan as my adopted son! I will do my best to teach him in the future and not disappoint Madam."

Mrs. Lin nodded charmingly: "It's all...it's all thanks to you, sir."

Seeing her shy and timid expression, Ximen Qing smiled and said, "Don't worry, Madam. Now that we're family, Ximen Qing will do his best."

Then, a hint of hesitation, as if reluctant to speak, appeared on his face, and he leaned forward slightly: "However... there's another step involved in this family reunion, and saying it... might be a bit abrupt."

Upon hearing "there's still one more step," Mrs. Lin felt a sudden surge of anger, which quickly ignited into a raging inferno. She thought the thin veil was finally about to be broken, and her face flushed crimson, even staining her exposed neck with an alluring rouge.

She dared not raise her head, clutching her handkerchief tightly until her knuckles turned white. Her voice was faint, trembling slightly: "My...my lord...please...please speak freely...I am all ears...as long as...if this matter can be accomplished, I...will agree to anything..."

The phrase "I'll listen attentively" was spoken softly yet urgently, and when it came to "I'll obey without question," it was almost squeezed out of the throat, carrying a hook-like allure.

Master Ximen, unaware of her thoughts, continued, "Madam, I am deeply honored that you entrust Sanguan'er to me. It is an immense honor. However..."

He paused, his gaze lingering on Mrs. Lin's face, which was even more radiant with anticipation, before continuing, "Recognizing a godfather is no small matter; it cannot be settled simply by calling him that in private. This is a matter of great importance concerning the reputation of both families and the honor of our ancestors! If it is handled hastily, not only will outsiders laugh at us, but even our third brother may not take it seriously. How will we discipline him properly in the future?"

A glint flashed in Ximen Qing's eyes, but his face grew even more solemn, and he sat up straighter. He said in a deep voice, "This matter must be handled in a grand and glorious manner, and announced to all! First of all, we must hold a grand banquet in our Qinghe County and invite all the prominent gentry and officials of the city to witness this in a respectable manner."

"The second, and more important, matter is that we must respectfully prepare a sacrificial offering of three animals, and lead San Guan'er to your esteemed Wang Clan Ancestral Hall to burn incense and pray, informing our ancestors that we have an adopted son who has been blessed and not abandoned, and we are willing to take charge of disciplining our grandson Wang San Guan, so that he may grow into a respectable adult. This document and deed must be clearly written, and we must have the elders of the clan sign and witness it. It would also be acceptable to have it engraved on a monument and recorded in our memory!"

He paused, glancing at Mrs. Lin's expression. Seeing that the spring in her eyes had faded slightly, replaced by a look of bewilderment, he emphasized again:

"This third matter is of utmost importance! Madam, you are a third-rank lady bestowed by imperial decree, a person of noble status, and your acquaintances are all nobles and high-ranking officials in the capital. How can we not inform these close family friends about this reunion? We must trouble you to personally write several letters, affix your imperial decree seal, and send them to the capital by reliable family members on horseback."

"There's no need to invite them specially. Just write this matter clearly in the letter, saying that we are grateful for Ximen Qing's help, and that he is 'honest' and 'reliable,' a role model for our children. Therefore, we are to establish a close family relationship, and have Sanguan'er become his adopted son, entrusting him to keep a close eye on him. Let all the noble and wealthy families we frequent know that the Wang family and the Ximen family have formed this kinship!"

"In this way, when Brother Sanguan travels outside, he will have the reputation of the Ximen and Wang families, and he will also be 'known' by those nobles in the capital. Who would dare to look down on him? Even if he is disciplined, it will be justified, and we will not be afraid of those dissolute young men trying to harass us again!"

As Mrs. Lin listened, the blush on her face quickly faded like the tide, and she finally understood! All along, she thought that this official had gone through all this trouble, setting up a scheme and wasting so much breath, and even recognizing her son as his godfather, all for the sake of convenience and to get her body.

So that's how it is! This Mr. Ximen is after the phoenix crown of a third-rank imperial consort on her head, and the waning but still faint reputation of her Wang family in the capital's noble circles!

He wanted to use her writings and seals as a noblewoman to elevate him, a wealthy merchant from Qinghe County, into the sight of nobles in the capital, and to clothe him in a golden robe of connections with "noble families"!
A profound sense of disappointment washed over her! However, this disappointment lasted only a moment before Mrs. Lin finally understood the true meaning of what Sister Li Gui had said before she left:
In this world, if a woman wants something, she has to be shameless and fight for it! She has to snatch it!
Embarrassment?

Pooh!
It's clearly just a pretense, a self-deceiving facade!
What did I guard? It was the long, dark nights spent embracing the cold brocade quilt, guarding a few faded old clothes at the bottom of the trunk, and even the gilded rouge box, which was now just a faint trace of red.

What have you gained by guarding this place? You've been despised at your doorstep, and even your own flesh and blood have become unruly, runaway horses!
What did she gain? She wore the golden crown of a third-rank noblewoman, yet stood guard in a hall filled with deathly silence, watching helplessly as her once-white body withered into a skeleton draped in a wedding robe!
Li Guijie's words implied this: She never imagined that a third-rank noblewoman like herself would need a courtesan to teach her. How ironic! Was she really less than a courtesan in a brothel? She, too, was once a beautiful and alluring woman!

What about the dignity of an imperial title, what about a woman's modesty? They're all meaningless! What matters is... the burning desire in her own heart! She's willing to risk everything, even her pride, to cling tightly to this sheltering tree before her!
Just as the cold reality had extinguished her anger, it flared up again. She looked up at Ximen Qing's seemingly sincere but unfathomable face and recalled how he had so easily defused the impending catastrophe.

Yes, what are the empty titles of a noblewoman and the faint connections of old relationships in the capital compared to real protection? Her son, Wang Sanguan, is an insatiable burden. Without him to keep her in check, he will squander the family fortune sooner or later, making it difficult for her to maintain her title.

It's not a good thing for a businessman to be a godfather, but a businessman godfather who can control everything and provide a life of luxury for his orphans and widows is better than being devoured by those wolves and wolves of the clan and their cronies!
Moreover… if Lin Shi uses her methods skillfully, employing that woman's subtle, persistent tactics to entangle and trap this man… his own son is his adopted son, so… couldn't she be the one he truly loves? The title, the benefits, the man…

She! Wants! All of them!
Thinking of this, Mrs. Lin felt a surge of heat rush from the soles of her feet to the top of her head! She took a deep breath, forcefully suppressing her pounding heart. The last trace of embarrassment on her face vanished like the tide, replaced by a dignified and proper smile befitting an imperial noblewoman. Even her voice was as steady as a piece of smooth, ironed silk:

"Your Excellency's considerations...are truly meticulous! This is the vision of a proper family, a wise plan for the long-term well-being of our son! Everything...will be done as Your Excellency wishes. As for this letter..." Her gaze swept lightly across Ximen Qing's face, carrying a hint of barely perceptible intimacy, "I will go to the study later to personally refine the wording." She paused, ultimately relinquishing the last vestige of dignity befitting a noblewoman, as if dusted with gold dust, her voice light and airy: "However...the families in the capital are far apart, and human relationships are as thin as paper...I dare not boast that my meager reputation, coupled with this letter, will be of any effect."

How could Master Ximen not hear the bitterness and the last vestige of his pride in her words? He laughed heartily and waved his hand dismissively, "Madam, you are too modest! With this third-rank imperial seal, you will have immense prestige! You can rest assured about the rest!"

When Mrs. Lin heard Ximen Qing's confident words, "Don't worry," her heart skipped a beat, and that warm feeling surged up again.

She forced herself to remain calm, her face bearing the poise of a noblewoman, but her voice carried a hint of barely perceptible sweetness: "Since you say so, sir, the first step in this family reunion is to comfort our ancestors. In that case, please come with me to the ancestral hall in the back to offer incense to the Wang family ancestors and inform them of this matter, so that we may receive their blessings."

After saying that, she gracefully stood up, her waist twisting away, completely losing the dignified demeanor she had when she came out to see Master Ximen.

It already resembles a tender willow swaying in the wind, leading the way ahead.

The dress was originally a loose and flowing style, but Mrs. Lin secretly tightened the waistband with a handkerchief, grabbing the front of the skirt and pulling it taut. This tightening and pulling revealed her voluptuous waistline beneath the thin gauze, swaying gracefully with her steps. With her deliberately slowed lotus-like steps, she swayed left and right, allowing Ximen Qing a clear view.

Ximen Da Guanren was already a master of seduction, able to see through every little movement. A knowing smirk played on his lips, but he didn't expose it, simply following along leisurely.

Upon entering the ancestral hall in the back, a solemn atmosphere filled with the scent of aged incense and candles wafted over. Madam Lin walked to the offering table, pointing to the layers upon layers of memorial tablets, her voice deliberately soft and gentle, but her eyes, like hooks, frequently glanced at Ximen Qing's face:

“My lord, please look,” she said, pointing to a large, gilded memorial tablet at the very top, her voice carrying a deliberate air of reverence. She turned slightly toward him, making her voluptuous curves even more alluring in the dim light. “This is the honored tablet of my husband’s ancestor, the late Prince Jingchong, who was granted the titles of Military Governor of Taiyuan and Prince of Binyang.”

She then pointed to a slightly smaller tablet next to her, “This is the memorial tablet of my ancestor, Wang Xiang, who rose to the rank of Defense Commissioner of Bingzhou… My ancestors were all loyal and righteous, and their virtues extended to their descendants, which is why I have such a humble title.”

Then someone pointed to the next one: "This is the memorial tablet of my deceased husband, King Zhao Xuan."

Each time she introduced a man, she would slightly turn her body or raise her hand in a gesturing manner, her waist twisting into an even more alluring arc, her chest rising and falling slightly, and the water in her eyes almost dripping out. She wasn't offering sacrifices to her ancestors at all; she was clearly seducing the living man in front of her!

After finally introducing the important ancestral tablets, Madam Lin's face was flushed and her breathing slightly rapid. She turned to face Ximen Qing, her eyes sparkling, her voice carrying a deliberate panting and a barely perceptible invitation: "Ancestors above, I have already informed them. Please, sir... offer incense. After you have finished offering incense, I... will invite you to the back room to examine those ancestral portraits more closely, so that... so that my son Sanguan may know of his adoptive father's kindness in the future..."

Ximen Qing followed the instructions, stepped forward, lit three incense sticks on the candle flame, bowed three times to the memorial tablet, and muttered some platitudes, nothing more than "protect the adopted son Wang family".

When Madam Lin saw him light the incense, her heart trembled violently: "My lord, please come with me to the inner room!" Just as she was about to lead him to the "back room," Ximen Qing smiled and said: "It's fine to watch from here. With all these sages as witnesses, it would be inappropriate for just the two of us, a lone man and a lone woman, to be inside."

Meanwhile, Wang Sanguan was locked in his room, as restless as an ant on a hot plate. Thinking of Ximen Qing's ferocious demeanor the day before, and the thugs outside banging on the door and shouting insults, he grew increasingly frightened. He paced the room all night without closing his eyes. By noon, utterly bored and agitated, he pulled two dice from his sleeve, squatted down, and began to tossing them by himself, muttering, "Heavenly spirits, earthly spirits, protect me and let me escape this calamity..."

Just as he was getting bored with the dice game, he suddenly heard a series of light and hurried footsteps coming from the porch outside the door! Wang Sanguan was startled, thinking that his mother was coming to scold him again. He hurriedly tucked the dice into his sleeve and jumped up to hide behind the bed curtains.

With a creak, the door was pushed open.

Wang Sanguan stood frozen in place. When he looked up, he saw that it was his mother, Mrs. Lin, who had walked in.

Upon seeing this, Wang Sanguan was taken aback. His mother, Madam Lin, had a flushed face, as if she had applied the finest rouge, or as if she had just drunk half a jin of liquor, the redness running from her forehead to the base of her snow-white neck. A few strands of her dark hair clung loosely to her sweaty cheeks, and although her skirt was cinched at the waist, it was wrinkled and not very smooth, with a few barely noticeable gray stains on the hem. The heavy, red-gold and kingfisher-feather phoenix hairpin in her hair was also slightly askew.

Although she tried her best to keep a straight face and maintain the dignified demeanor of a third-rank noblewoman, Wang Sanguan looked at his mother's watery eyes and swollen lips and felt that his mother was unusually different today. Although her aura was still there, it was very strange.

Mrs. Lin's heart skipped a beat at her son's gaze, and her face burned even hotter. Forcing herself to remain calm, she deliberately coughed loudly, clearing her throat, her voice carrying a barely perceptible hoarseness: "You wretched child! What are you standing there for!"

She walked to the middle of the room, trying to straighten her back and adopt a reprimanding posture, but the tingling, aching feeling deep in her waist made her unsteady on her feet. "Look at you, so spineless! Do you know the monstrous disaster you've caused? You've offended two groups: one runs a ruthless gambling den, their debt collection tactics capable of destroying your family; the other is the all-powerful Ximen official of Qinghe County! What will become of the Wang family? How will you protect your life?"

Wang Sanguan had been terrified since yesterday, his soul almost leaving his body. He knelt down with a thud, crying out, "Mother! Mother, save me! Your son knows he was wrong! He will never dare to do it again!" He kowtowed repeatedly, truly terrified.

Mrs. Lin was angry at her son's cowardly behavior, but her mindset changed once she climbed up the big tree.

She softened her tone, but her eyes darted around, as if she dared not look directly into her son's bewildered gaze: "Your mother... Your mother was so worried last night that she didn't sleep a wink. For you... for this wretched child of yours, I asked everyone for help and tried every possible method..." As she spoke, she subconsciously raised her hand to tidy her slightly disheveled hair. Her fingers touched her burning cheeks, and she felt another wave of panic and confusion.

"Now, finally... finally, we've found a way out!" Mrs. Lin composed herself, her voice deliberately steady, yet carrying a barely perceptible hint of lightness. "It can save you, and it can also save our Wang family from this dire situation!"

Upon hearing that there was hope, Wang Sanguan's eyes lit up. As if grasping at a straw, he asked anxiously, "Mother! What method is there? Tell your son quickly! As long as I can live, I will do anything!"

Mrs. Lin looked at his anxious expression, her heart filled with mixed emotions. She slightly turned her face away, avoiding her son's overly eager gaze, and lowered her voice even more:
"You shall come with me immediately to the residence of Master Ximen."

Wang Sanguan shuddered: "Huh? Go...go to his house? Isn't that like walking into a trap?"

"Fool!" Mrs. Lin scolded softly, then softened her voice, almost coaxingly: "It's not to apologize, it's to... acknowledge relatives!"

"Recognizing relatives?" Wang Sanguan was completely dumbfounded.

Mrs. Lin turned around, her back to her son: "I have persuaded Master Ximen, he... he is willing to take you as his adopted son! From now on, you will kneel before him and call him 'Father'! With him as your powerful figure, not only will yesterday's matter be wiped clean, but in the future, who will dare to lay a finger on you? Even if the King of Hell from the capital comes to collect your debt, someone will stand in front of you and settle it for you!"

When she uttered the word "father," her tongue unconsciously rolled around, carrying a strange intimacy and familiarity. Her face flushed again, and she forcefully suppressed the fluttering in her heart.
"There's no time to lose! Quickly change into decent clothes and come with me to the Ximen residence! Remember, when you see Master Ximen, you must perform a grand ceremony, kowtow deeply, and sincerely... call him 'Father'! If you call him 'Father' well, our future, and the Wang family's future, will all be... secure!"

Wang Sanguan was stunned, then overwhelmed with immense joy! What did it matter if he recognized a thief as his father? What did it matter if he had no face? None of that mattered as his own life and his future carefree life. He felt as if a golden road lay before him, and the fear of yesterday had long since vanished into thin air. All that remained was the ecstasy of surviving a disaster and boundless anticipation for his "Father Ximen"!

Wang Sanguan was so happy that he scratched his head and said, "Son, I'll go change my clothes right now! I'll go right now!" He got up and rushed into the inner room in a flurry, afraid that if he was a step too slow, this great opportunity would slip away.

Mrs. Lin watched her son's joyful figure disappear into the distance, let out a long sigh, straightened her still somewhat disheveled clothes, and murmured to herself, her voice so low that only she could hear, "Now... I've really... kept... Father tied down!" A complex, enigmatic smile played on her lips. But then, a questioning shout came from Wang Sanguan in the distance, making her legs go weak again: "Mother, why is the ancestral memorial archway in such a state of disarray?"

[Long chapter!! Requesting monthly votes! The Ximen family has finally shed their merchant identity and no longer needs to refer to themselves as "lowly men" when meeting officials.]

(End of this chapter)