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

Chapter 118 Cai Jing's Gift: The Shu Su Tie (Letter on Shu Silk)

Jin Lian'er carried a newly made red brocade chair cushion in her hands, swaying her hips as she walked towards the study with a joyful and lively air. Just as she reached the carved lattice door, before she could utter a sound, she heard some unusual noises from inside.

As soon as she lifted the curtain, she smelled a warm, familiar scent—the usual smell of her father's sweat and sandalwood, now mixed with the sweet, greasy scent of a young woman's skin.

The scene before her eyes made her widen her alluring gaze.

Behind the desk, on the armchair, the official was holding Xiangling.

Jin Lian'er felt a surge of anger rush to her head, and she almost crushed the soft cushion in her hand. When she saw the master looking over, she forced a smile onto her face.

Ximen Qing, who was squinting and gently caressing Xiangling's smooth waist with his large hand, looked up at the sound and saw Jinlian. He laughed and said, "You little hussy, you've come at the right time! Come here, serve me, and then serve her. I have important matters to attend to outside the mansion and cannot delay for a moment."

After saying that, his thieving eyes finally fell on the red brocade chair cushion in Jin Lian'er's hand: "Eh? What are you doing here with a new cushion?"

Pan Jinlian felt a surge of acid rise to her throat, but her smile grew even more alluring. Her eyes darted sideways, casting a piercing glance at Xiangling's pale body. Her voice was sweet and crisp, yet carried an indescribable chill:
“Oh, my dear father! I was just thinking that you and Xiangling might be uncomfortable reading and writing on these hard chairs, so I specially found some good material and quickly sewed a soft cushion to bring over, so that you and my sister can… sit more comfortably.”

Ximen Da Guanren's expression was strange. How could he not know what she was thinking? However, there were many things that should never be said or brought up in private. Pretending not to know was the right thing to do. "Good! You little hussy are the best at taking care of people! I'll remember that. I'll reward you with a fine piece of Hangzhou satin and velvet to make a bright dress for you to wear!" After saying that, he put the white, warm, and soft Xiangling in his arms on the chair for the time being and stood up.

Jinlian'er, though feeling sour and angry, knew she couldn't be careless in serving her master, so she quickly stepped forward to help her put on her outer robe.

After the official left the room.

Suddenly, only she and Xiangling were left in the study. The warm, sweet, and ambiguous atmosphere from before instantly turned cold, and the air became heavy and suffocating.

Pan Jinlian's smile vanished like the tide, her pretty face hardened like iron, and her gaze toward Xiangling was as cold as icicles in the dead of winter.

What's with all this talk of "older sister" and "younger sister"?
Bah! It's just a painted face and drawn eyebrows—a hypocrite put on for the devil!

Just moments ago, he was pretending to distance himself from me, saying things like, "I don't care about being favored by my master, I don't seek any title, I just want a quiet place to read some leisurely books and write some silly poems!"
Tsk tsk, that innocent and virtuous face! Only a few days have passed? Her true colors are showing! She dares to flirt so openly, even in a sacred place like the study! Truly… a slut! A shameless whore!”

She sneered, said nothing, grabbed Xiangling's plain white undergarment that was draped beside her, and roughly pulled it onto her body. The force was heavy and fast, making the thin, soft fabric rip and tear, and causing Xiangling's delicate skin to ache.

Xiangling was even more embarrassed by her actions, and her body was so weak that she could only let her sister do as she pleased. With great difficulty, she opened her watery almond eyes and said timidly and softly, "Thank you... thank you so much, sister..."

The words "Thank you, sister" reached Jinlian's ears, adding fuel to the fire! She was tying her sash when she suddenly stopped and bent down. Her rosy, pretty face was right up to Xiangling's burning ears, and a cool fragrance tinged with jealousy wafted into Xiangling's nostrils.

Jinlian'er let out a soft "ha," slowly squeezing out the words through clenched teeth, her voice both light and cold:

"Ha! Thank me? My dear sister! I can't accept your 'sister' title! From now on... all you need to do is sit firmly and warmly in this study with your delicate body! As for me... I'm just a lowly servant here to serve you, my little mistress!"

After saying that, she tightened the sash hard, making Xiangling's chest clench and let out a muffled groan before straightening up.

These past few days, Xiangling has come to regard Jinlian as the most intimate and caring relative in this deep mansion, apart from her master.

As the saying goes: A stranger's knife wounds the skin and flesh, but a relative's insults pierce the heart and soul.

Being stabbed by your own trusted confidant with words as sharp as a knife is more painful than a steel blade from an enemy, causing you excruciating pain, yet you can't utter a single cry of injustice, and can only swallow this foul insult.

Xiangling, a tender young girl, could hardly withstand such barbed and scathing words. She felt that every word Jinlian uttered was like a red-hot embroidery needle, piercing deep into her most delicate heart.

A surge of immense grievance and sorrow welled up within her, and her nose stung. The tears she had been holding back for so long could no longer be contained. They rolled down in large drops, landing on her smooth, soft legs and on Jinlian's cold hands.

"Sister Jinlian...my dear sister...!" Xiangling's voice trembled uncontrollably, filled with heavy sobs. She raised her tear-stained, pear-blossom-like face, looking like an abandoned kitten: "Sister...you...you've abandoned me? I...what did I do wrong? Tell me...I...I'll kowtow to you and apologize...please don't say such things...my...my heart is aching..."

She sobbed and pleaded, timidly reaching out her small hand to tug at Jinlian's sleeve, but her fingertips trembled and she withdrew.

When Pan Jinlian saw Xiangling's tearful, timid, weak, and pleading appearance, the fire in her heart not only did not go out, but instead suddenly flared up!

Isn't this vixen's feigned pitifulness exactly her signature skill for seducing men? Otherwise, how could she have started flirting right here at this table and chairs?

She abruptly pulled her hand away, as if it had been stained with some filth, her face revealing undisguised disgust and malice:

"Oh! You flatter me! My sister is now the apple of your eye, the 'confidante' by your inkstone, so precious! What kind of lowly thing am I to deserve your apology?"

"Quickly shut up those tears, or you'll make those foxy eyes swollen! When the master comes back and sees them, he'll think we've mistreated you! Hurry up and wrap your delicate skin up tightly, lest you catch a cold, and the master will be heartbroken and trembling with worry, making us servants look like we don't know how to serve you!"

Jinlian'er uttered these vile words, not even glancing at Xiangling's face, which had instantly lost all color and was streaked with tears. She grabbed the brand-new red brocade chair cushion she had brought and slammed it to the ground!
Not content with that, she lifted her embroidered shoes and deliberately stomped hard on the soft silk, leaving a conspicuous muddy footprint.

Seeing Jinlian turn to leave, Xiangling suddenly found a burst of strength and sprang up from the armchair as if her life depended on it! She didn't care about the plain white undergarment that Jinlian had just haphazardly wrapped around her and that was now mostly loose and slipped off, and she grabbed Jinlian's slender waist tightly!
"Sister! Don't go!" Xiangling's voice was trembling with tears. "You...you won't let you go until you've clearly explained yourself!"

She sniffed sharply, pressed her face firmly against Jinlian's spine, and said in a muffled voice:

"Sister! I'm hugging you so shamelessly... not because I want to get anything out of you! It's... it's because I really can't bear to part with you, my sister! From the bottom of my heart... I can't bear to part with you!"

"Our backgrounds are similar; we're both unfortunate souls who no one wants. The fact that we've managed to come together is a predestined fate from a past life. Even if you're tired of me, you should make it clear. I won't let you leave!"

These words, like a small pebble, unexpectedly struck the depths of Pan Jinlian's heart, which was burning with jealousy, stirring up barely perceptible ripples.

Jin Lian'er stiffened, turned her face slightly to the side, and glanced sideways out of the corner of her eye—she caught a glimpse of Xiang Ling, whose undergarment had slipped down to her arms due to her struggle, revealing most of her smooth, pink shoulders and back!
In the light of the study, the skin, as smooth as snow, was marked with many purplish-red bruises, some deep and some shallow, like crushed plum petals in the snow, quite glaring.

Her hand, which had been meant to push Xiangling away, inexplicably rose up, stiff and reluctant, yet with lightning speed, grabbing Xiangling's plain white undershirt that had slipped to her arm, pulling it up roughly to cover the glaring expanse of skin, while she said:

"Hurry up and wrap yourself up tighter! It's a small matter if you freeze to death, but if the master sees this and thinks I deliberately froze his 'precious darling,' then the family punishment will fall on me instead! I can't afford to suffer that!"

Xiangling keenly sensed the subtle shift in Jinlian's tone and also felt her action of covering her clothes.

Her heart warmed, and she loosened her grip on Jinlian's waist slightly, but didn't let go completely. Instead, she pressed her face closer to Jinlian's back, her voice soft and gentle, tinged with a sob:
"Good sister... believe me... I will never steal your master! I... I swear to heaven here!" She pointed to the sky with one finger, then quickly put it down and hugged Jinlian again, as if afraid she would run away.

"This grand mansion... I... I can't compete with anyone, and I wouldn't dare to even dream of it..." Xiangling's voice was as low as a mosquito's hum: "I only hope... to occupy... a tiny, pinpoint-sized place in my master's heart... that would be enough..."

She paused, then continued, "Like...like this little study...a small place where I can find peace is enough...all the storms and struggles outside...none of it concerns me..." "When Master remembers me, he comes to the study to find me and relieve his boredom...Master has forgotten me, Xiangling...I'll just stay here with these books of poetry...spending my life savoring the fragrance of ink..."

Hearing these words of nonchalance, Jin Lian'er remained silent for a long while. The sour apricot stuck in her throat seemed to melt away at that moment, and she whispered:
"I...I never envied you for receiving the master's favor," Jinlian'er's voice softened. "It's just...I only thought your heartfelt words were just empty words to fool me...I...I, Pan Jinlian, have lived all these years, and have I ever wholeheartedly trusted anyone..."

As she spoke, her eyes caught Xiangling's thin silk blouse slipping down one shoulder again. Jinlian pouted and reached out to pull the blouse up.

Her gaze shifted, and she noticed the cushion on the ground with a muddy footprint on it. She bent down to pick it up, dusting it off with annoyance: "Here! I sewed this for you! My eyes are sore from working so hard! And now you've gotten it dirty again. I'll make you a new one tomorrow!"

"No way! I want this one!" Xiangling snatched the cushion into her arms, hugging it tightly as if afraid of losing it again.
Jin Lian'er snorted coldly at her appearance, but a knowing and mischievous smile curled at the corner of her mouth: "You slut! You're so greedy and greedy!"

"Pah! You're courting death! You're so shameful!" Xiangling twisted her body, covering her face with the cushion, leaving only her watery almond eyes showing.

"Let you suffer as much as you want! Let's see if you'll still be so wanton then." Jin Lian'er spat, making a move to pinch her mouth.

The two of them, one dodging and the other chasing, rolled around together like candy, laughing and giggling. The slight misunderstanding from before had melted into warm, sticky honey, binding their hearts back together.

Meanwhile, the wealthy and powerful Ximen Qing swaggered into "Moyunxuan," the number one calligraphy and painting shop in Qinghe County. The old shopkeeper, who was bent over the counter fiddling with the abacus beads, glanced up and saw that it was the local tycoon, Ximen Qing. He hurriedly dropped the abacus, rushed out from behind the counter, hunched over, and with a wide, wrinkled smile, gave a curt nod.

"Oh my! Your esteemed presence graces my humble abode! It is an honor to have you grace our humble shop with your presence today! Please come inside and rest for a while, and I will have someone brew the finest pre-Qingming Longjing tea to serve you right away!"

Ximen Qing swaggered into the rosewood armchair in the hall, accepted the fragrant tea served by the waiter, and blew away the foam: "I've come today to find something of substance. Show me the most valuable treasures you have hidden away in your storeroom, whether it's calligraphy or painting."

Upon hearing the words "extremely valuable," the old shopkeeper's heart leaped with joy, his wrinkles deepening as he hurriedly replied, "Yes! Yes! Please wait a moment, sir, I'll fetch it right away. I guarantee it will meet your approval!"

Having said that, he personally unlocked the treasure room in the back hall and carefully took out a long sandalwood box. Inside the box lay a finely framed painting, "Visiting Friends in Autumn Mountains".

"Please look, sir," the old shopkeeper said, pointing to the painting with a spittle flying from his mouth. "This is the masterpiece of Li Yingqiu, a famous painter from the previous dynasty! Look at the majestic mountains, the desolate forests, the ancient brushstrokes, and the profound artistic conception. It is truly the treasure of our shop!" He glanced at Ximen Qing's face.

Ximen Da Guanren picked up his teacup, took a sip, but remained noncommittal. He put down the teacup, tapped his fingers lightly on the table, and as if suddenly remembering something, slowly said, "The painting is not bad."

The old shopkeeper was taken aback, and a strange look appeared on his face. "Take a look before you say that!"
The official let out a clear "click" in his throat and slowly said, "Old shopkeeper, you've been in this business for decades, your eyes have been tempered in oil. Today I'll test you! Tell me, whose calligraphy is the Emperor most proud of these days?"

The old shopkeeper immediately plastered a smile with wrinkles on his face, bent his waist even more, and said in a fawning tone, "Oh, my sir! You're just asking a question you already know the answer to, flattering me! His Majesty's favor is naturally due to the legitimate lineage of the 'Two Kings,' the aura of the imperial family, who in the whole of Bianjing doesn't know that?"

"Hmm, quite clever indeed!" The official's lips curled slightly as he took a sip of tea. "Let me ask you a tricky question. Do you know, in private, whose calligraphy does Grand Tutor Cai most admire?"

The old shopkeeper's eyes darted around, and after glancing left and right to make sure no one else was around, he leaned closer, his sleeve almost brushing against the hem of the official's robe. He lowered his voice, with a hint of showing off, and said, "Your Excellency is wise! I've heard that the Grand Tutor's most prized possession is the 'Shu Su Tie' written by Mi Fu!"

"The Grand Tutor once said: 'Mi Fu's "Shu Su" scroll is truly a rare treasure in the world of calligraphy, a divine object! His brushstrokes are like dragons and snakes, like celestial horses galloping through the sky, transcending all worldly concerns; its momentum is like collapsing clouds and falling rocks, or like a solitary peak rising from the ground, with ever-changing grandeur. To view it is like facing the vast ocean, instantly opening one's mind; to savor it is like drinking fine wine, intoxicating both spirit and soul. This is no ordinary work of the mortal world, but rather the playful brushwork of a banished immortal, leaving its mark on the mortal realm!'"

"This Mi Yuanzhang, nicknamed 'Madman Mi,' is absolutely insane in his actions and behavior! He doesn't even respect the Heavenly King himself, and just acts like a madman according to his own whims!"

"The Grand Tutor and he had an unbreakable bond, true confidants! Even though the Grand Tutor held immense power and influence, he was utterly helpless against this mad friend. Time and again, he humbled himself to try and get his precious copy of the 'Shu Su Tie,' but each time he was met with a rebuff!"

The official put down his teacup, stroked his chin, and glanced sideways at the old shopkeeper: "Alright! Let me test you again: What's so good about that madman Mi Yuanzhang?"

The old shopkeeper slumped his back, his face beaming with a fawning smile: "Oh, my lord! This Mi Fan is known as the 'Calligraphy and Painting Madman'! Brush, ink, and paint are his life! I heard that when he sees strange rocks and old trees, he can hug them and call them 'Brother Stone' or 'Old Stone Master,' and kowtow and bow!"

"He went mad in his pursuit of mastering the art of painting, especially fond of depicting misty clouds and strange rocks, using paints made from real gold and pearls! When he painted, he became ruthless, even daring to stick his brush into people's faces! He would lock himself in a room for three days and three nights without eating or drinking, talking to the landscapes in his paintings, calling it 'communicating with nature'! Wouldn't you say that's not being obsessed?"

"Hmm!!" The official nodded in satisfaction.

"Alright!" He stood up. "The shopkeeper is truly a leader in the calligraphy and painting business; his reputation is well-deserved!"

He patted the shopkeeper on the shoulder to show his satisfaction and walked out the door.

The shopkeeper, still bewildered, couldn't fathom what this esteemed Mr. Ximen was up to today. Staring blankly as the tall figure swayed into the street, the shopkeeper suddenly snapped out of his daze, bowing deeply and repeatedly stammering, "Please take care, sir... please have a safe journey, sir..."

The official didn't even turn his head. He casually waved his hand and strode along the bustling street, heading towards his own silk shop at a leisurely pace.

Silently pondering the questions he had just gleaned, he had finally uncovered one of Cai Jing's old fox's preferences, giving him a target for the birthday gift list. However… how could he possibly pry that crucial "Shu Su Tie" (a type of calligraphy scroll) from that madman Mi Yuanzhang's hands? That was a real thorny issue.
Just as he was pondering this, his eyes suddenly caught sight of a familiar face emerging from a narrow alleyway to the side—it was Wang Si'er, the shop assistant from the herbal medicine shop. He was panting heavily, his face as red as a pig's liver, looking around anxiously, just like a mouse that had lost its nest.

The moment Wang Si'er caught sight of Ximen Qing, his eyes lit up. He rushed over in three steps and gave a deep bow, bending over so low he almost broke.

"My lord! I've come to your residence to find you, saying you've come to the street!" Wang Si'er was panting heavily, beads of sweat rolling down his forehead.

Ximen Qing, his thoughts interrupted, grew impatient and glanced at him sideways: "What's the rush? Has something gone wrong at the shop?"

"No...it's not the shop!" Wang Si'er quickly waved his hand, leaned closer, and lowered his voice, "It's...it's a lady who just came to the shop and specifically asked to see you, sir!"

"Wife?" Ximen Qing frowned, puzzled. "Whose wife is she? What's her name?"

Upon hearing this, Wang Si'er stammered, "Replying to your question, sir... I... I really don't know. I didn't even see the lady's face."

"Hmm?" Ximen Qing snorted, his thick eyebrows slanting upwards, his eyes scrutinizing him.

Wang Si'er was startled by his "hmm" and hurriedly bowed, blurting out her explanation like spilled beans: "My lord, please calm down! That lady... she was wearing a veiled hat that reached her eyebrows, with a thick blue gauze hanging from the brim, completely covering her up. Not to mention her face, you couldn't even see a sliver of her chin! But... but I dare to swear, she... she must be a celestial maiden descended to earth!"

"Absurd!" Ximen Qing shouted upon hearing this nonsensical yet resolute nonsense. He tapped the man's greasy forehead with his fan and laughed, "You thieving monkey! You're getting more and more glib! You haven't even shown a shred of your skin, yet you dare to conclude that she's a fairy just because of a bird-patterned hat?"

Wang Si'er shrank back, the dazed and infatuated look on his face so intense it seemed impossible to ignore:

“My lord! I’ve been working in this herbal medicine shop, welcoming and seeing off all sorts of people. Even those ladies dressed in gold and silver, though they may have a smile on their face, you can smell their contempt from eight feet away! But this lady… she’s truly a living bodhisattva descended to earth!”

He smacked his lips, his eyes fixed, as if he were back in that moment: "Her voice, coming through that layer of green gauze, was light and soft, smooth and tender, going straight into one's ears, soothing one's entire being! When she asked where I was going, she was unhurried and spoke gently. I was clumsy and gave incoherent answers, but she just listened quietly, without the slightest impatience or disdain, and without a trace of condescension... I rushed out, and she even told me to slow down and watch out for carriages and horses."

Wang Si'er's voice had a hint of dreaminess:
"That feeling...that feeling...it's just like...like when I was a child, sick, lying on the warm kang (heated brick bed), drowsily listening to the buzzing of my mother spinning thread under the lamplight...so comforting, so warm, it makes you feel comfortable to the bone. Tell me, my lord, what else could such a divine being be but Chang'e descending from the moon?"

(End of this chapter)