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

Chapter 148 Li Shishi Demands a Gift

The hall, which had been buzzing just moments before, was now so quiet that even the crisp sound of a needle falling onto the gold brick floor could be clearly heard—no, even the almost stopped heartbeats of everyone present were booming in their ears like drums!
All eyes were fixed on the throne, frozen in disbelief.

The smile on Prime Minister He Zhizhong's face shattered completely, turning into a deathly pale and bewildered expression. His mouth opened slightly involuntarily, like a fish out of water.

The assembled officials behind him seemed to be frozen in place, their eyes bulging out of their sockets, their faces turning red and blue in a blur, until finally they were left with only a deathly ashen look.

My heart and eyes were filled with bewilderment and confusion, so frightened that my soul was trembling and my spirit was wandering.

Even the usually composed and gentle, seemingly wise and unassuming Grand Tutor Cai Jing—who was always unfazed by the collapse of Mount Tai and always appeared to be in complete control of the situation—had his composure broken at this moment!

His ever-present, bodhisattva-like smile froze on his face in an instant. His eyelids twitched violently, a glint of light flashing in them, before he hurriedly lowered them again. Only the lines at the corners of his mouth remained frozen, clearly indicating that a monstrous storm was raging in his heart.

Liang Shicheng, the eunuch who was best at guessing the emperor's intentions and always kept his eyes down, suddenly raised his head. His old face, which was used to hiding his emotions, was filled with naked shock and bewilderment!

Xianmo Pavilion? What kind of place is that?

That was specially set up by the current emperor to demonstrate his civil administration and virtue, and to emulate the pavilions of previous dynasties!
The pavilion houses imperial writings, imperial edicts, and portraits of meritorious officials, serving as the highest symbol of the emperor's surpassing of his ancestors' civil and military achievements!

It is the most important aspect of an official's status, knowledge, and achievements!
Its noble and prestigious status far surpasses that of ordinary government offices!
The position of "Zhige" was the lowest rank, without even a grade, and its status was determined by the rank of the official position held by the person.

Those who could be touched were either learned scholars, renowned figures, or sons of meritorious officials!

This is the pinnacle of glory that everyone in Shihlin looks up to, the most dazzling badge of status and prestige!

That was the pinnacle of a scholar's dignity, the gleaming gold paint on his status badge!
During the reign of Emperor Renzong, Bao Zheng's reputation for integrity and uprightness shook the world, and the name "Bao Qingtian" became a popular folk legend!
However, he is respectfully called "Bao Longtu," a name that has been passed down through the ages. His reputation and prestige are all tied to the two characters "Longtu"!
The reason is that Bao Zheng was a scholar of the Dragon Pavilion!
The Longtu Pavilion was established by Emperor Renzong of the previous dynasty. Bao Zheng receiving this title was the highest recognition of his character and virtue by Emperor Renzong, and it was also a manifestation of Emperor Renzong's own saintly virtue!
And today!
The emperor so casually bestowed the title of "Xianmo Pavilion Chief"—a title that symbolized his own glory and was comparable to the status of the "Longtu Pavilion" in the past—on Ximen Qing, an unknown merchant from humble origins.

Although the "Zhige" is the lowest rank in the Xianmo Pavilion, it is not as high as Bao Longtu's top rank of "Zhixueshi"!

But who is Bao Zheng?

When he was granted the title of Academician of the Dragon Pavilion, he was already a powerful local official, holding the rank of Right Vice Minister of the Ministry of Personnel and the position of Transport Commissioner of Hebei.

But who is Ximen Qing?

He was nothing more than a lowly merchant from Qinghe County, a remote suburb of the capital!

One is a high-ranking official, the other an ant.

In this light, this... this is simply a horrifying act that overthrows the imperial court!
Your Majesty... Your Majesty's thoughts are as deep as the abyss and cannot be fathomed!
A chilling cold, accompanied by an extreme sense of absurdity, shot from the soles of everyone's feet straight to the top of their heads.

The emperor's figure on the throne, under the swaying palace lanterns, appeared more aloof and...unfathomable than ever before.

Ximen Qing?
Xianmo Pavilion, the main hall?
Ximen Xianmo?

at this point.

When the emperor acts, his ministers dare not question him.

As for who will be the top scholar? It's not even worth asking!

With his legs feeling like lead and filled with frustration and disbelief, Prime Minister He Zhizhong finally returned to his magnificent and imposing residence.

The gatekeeper came up and reported: "Your Excellency, Lord Wang Fu has been waiting for you in the study for a long time!"

As soon as He Zhizhong stepped into the study, a figure, like a ghost, knelt down with a "thud" on the cold, smooth gold brick floor, its forehead hitting the ground with a dull thud.

When He Zhizhong, with drooping eyelids, said, "The Emperor has spoken, elevating you to the position of Secretary of the Imperial Secretariat," Wang Fu's cheek twitched almost imperceptibly, a fleeting look of disappointment crossing his face.

He immediately cried out, "My esteemed teacher! Your student, Wang Fu, kowtows to thank you for your divine grace!"

Her voice was choked with sobs, filled with overwhelming gratitude.

He Zhizhong waved his hand wearily: "Get up... This is the Emperor's grace, you should cherish it and work hard in the Secretariat."

Wang Fu kept his head bowed low, his voice even more earnest: "Without your guidance, esteemed teacher, how could I have received such an honor? Your kindness to me is like giving me a second life! For the rest of my life, I will follow your lead!"

As he spoke, he cautiously raised his eyes and saw He Zhizhong sitting in a grand chair, gently patting his thigh.

A glint flashed in Wang Fu's eyes, and he crawled forward on his knees, saying, "Master! Your leg ailment... must be from overworking for the country! I... I know a little about massage techniques and wish to relieve your pain!"

Before he finished speaking, he had already reached out his hands and naturally reached out to hold He Zhizhong's foot, which was wearing a thick-soled boot!

Wang Fu carefully removed his heavy official boots, followed by his thick court socks, revealing a foot that was somewhat swollen from standing for long periods and from his age.

"Hmm...you're quite thoughtful..." He Zhizhong closed his eyes and hummed a few words through his nose, which could be considered as approval.

Upon hearing this, Wang Fu tightened his grip even more and showered him with flattery: "Being able to share my teacher's burdens is a blessing I've accumulated over many lifetimes! My teacher is a pillar of the nation, a person of immeasurable value, so please take good care of yourself!"

He Zhizhong sat up straighter, closed his eyes, and drew out his words:
“Wang Fu… Today in the palace, the painting ‘A Thousand Miles of Rivers and Mountains at Sunset’ that you presented, although His Majesty did not say it explicitly, I have served before the Emperor for many years and can see that… His Majesty has truly taken this painting to heart! Those four golden characters, ‘Only This Green,’ personally inscribed by His Majesty, are the very essence of His Majesty’s heart! The direction of the dragon’s will!”

Wang Fu's heart skipped a beat, and his breathing became rapid!
He Zhizhong slowly said, "If we could find a few more paintings that could catch the Emperor's eye, then they would truly be... Jian is in the Emperor's heart, and his future is limitless!"

"Yes! I understand!" Wang Fu said, "Master, you have shown me the way. I will risk my life to find such a painting! I will make you... perform another great service before His Majesty!"

He Zhizhong nodded in satisfaction: "Yes, that's good. Go ahead, and do your job well."

"Yes! I take my leave! May my esteemed teacher be well!" Wang Fu kowtowed again, then bowed and almost backed away from the study.

Meanwhile, the wealthy Master Ximen had no idea that his painting had recently caused such a stir in the imperial palace. He slept soundly amidst the brocade and embroidery, snoring loudly until the sun began to set and the windowpanes were tinged with a dim yellow light.

After a deep sleep, Ximen Qing opened his eyes in a daze. He saw that the room was exquisitely furnished with brocade curtains and tassels, but it was a completely unfamiliar place.

Turning his head, he saw the servant Dai'an curled up on the footstool, drooling and sleeping like a log.

"You dog!" Ximen Qing kicked out, the tip of his boot hitting Dai'an squarely in the waist.

"Ouch!" Dai'an tumbled off the footstool with a start, rubbing his sleepy eyes. When he saw that it was his master, he hurriedly got up: "Father... Father is awake! I deserve to die!"

Ximen Qing rubbed his heavy temples and asked in a muffled voice, "What kind of place is this? It smells so good, it's making my bones feel soft."

Dai'an hurriedly reported, "Father, this is the private villa of Li Shishi, the head of the Li family in Dongjing City! Yesterday, Father got drunk in the building, and it was too far from the inn. It was Li Shishi's confidante who led us here to rest! I am also here to serve you."

Upon hearing this, Ximen Qing grunted in acknowledgment. He shook his still-drowsy head and said, "Go, get some boiling water for your father to wash his face and sober up!"

Dai'an responded with a "Yes," and quickly darted out. A short while later, she returned with two maids dressed in bright red and green, as beautiful as spring onions. One of them said in a clear, crisp voice:

"Greetings to Master Ximen! The bathtubs and tubs in this room are all brand new. Since Miss bought this courtyard, no one has ever stayed overnight. Please feel free to enjoy them. Hot water and fragrant bath are prepared in the next room."

Ximen Qing glanced sideways at the gleaming bathtub and bowed in thanks.

The maid continued, "Miss also said that it is getting late and the air outside is cold. After you have finished bathing, sir, please do not rush to leave. The kitchen has prepared some light dishes and warmed some wine. Please have a little food and rest here for the night. It will be better to return to the manor when it is bright tomorrow."

These words sounded comforting and were true; Master Ximen had been starving all day, his stomach practically sticking to his back. He bowed and thanked her, saying, "Since your young lady is so hospitable, I'll be imposing on you! Dai'an, get my clothes from your luggage!"

Dai'an quickly rummaged through his bag and found Ximen Qing's clean inner robe. He then helped his master into the steamy cubicle and realized that he was covered in sweat and smelled sour and sticky.

He rubbed his hands together and slipped out of the room. He saw the pretty maidservant from before leaning against a pillar, eating melon seeds. He quickly put on a smile and went over to her.

"Good sister! Please have mercy and give me two buckets of boiling water so I can find a quiet corner and scrub myself clean."

The maid chuckled, spitting sunflower seed shells far away: "Oh, young man, you certainly know how to look good! Hot water is ready, I'll fetch you two jugs! The bucket is right by the well, you can draw some cold water and mix it yourself. It's well hidden in the banana grove behind the well, I guarantee no one will see you!"

Dai'an thanked her repeatedly, his eyes following the maid's willow-like waist as he asked with a fawning smile, "Where is your fairyland, sister? What is your name? Are you the most favored sister in Li Xingshou's service?"

The maidservant came over carrying two heavy copper kettles. Upon hearing this, the smile on her face faded, and she sighed, "What's this talk of saving face... My humble name is Jinse, and I used to be a singer in a brothel. It was my fate; two years ago, I caught a plague, and my voice fell off. I was almost thrown into a brothel by the madam to work as a servant for peddlers! Luckily, Miss was kind-hearted and took pity on me, taking me in as a servant... That's how I escaped that hellhole." She slammed the kettles on the ground, and as her sleeve slipped down, a faded, old whip mark was faintly visible on her wrist.

Dai An was pondering the name "Jinse" and thinking about how to flatter her when suddenly he heard a whoosh from the wall! A heavy object wrapped in red silk landed with a "thud" on the blue bricks at their feet and rolled a few times.

"Good heavens!" Dai'an jumped three feet high in fright, almost knocking over the kettle: "What...what is this thing? Could it be a fire pack thrown by a bandit?"

Jinse, however, seemed unfazed. She bent down to pick up the object and sneered, "Don't be alarmed, little brother! They're just some ignorant toads who somehow found out about Miss's villa. They don't dare show their faces during the day, so they wait until dark to throw these filthy things over the wall!"

She quickly tore open the red silk, revealing a pebble inside, with a roll of white silk tied to it.

Unfurling the white silk, one could see ink stains everywhere, with sentimental and vulgar phrases like "clouds and rain over Wushan" and "under the peony blossoms," and the signature read "Respectfully bowing, Tong Sanbian, the most affectionate man in Tokyo."

The handwriting was neat enough, but the words were so explicit that even Dai'an, a street urchin, blushed with embarrassment.

"Pah! These worthless scoundrels!" Jinse casually tossed the white silk and the stone into the swill bucket beside the well, splashing up a few drops of swill.

"You're always daydreaming! Don't you ever take a good look at your own face? How dare you even think of my young lady? You wouldn't even dare to carry her shoes if your fingers are too thick!"

Dai'an's face turned purple. In an attempt to salvage his reputation for being humiliated in front of the beauty, he pounded his chest loudly, spitting as he spoke:
"Damn it! These scoundrels have some nerve! How dare they disturb Miss's peace and quiet! Don't worry, sister, if I happen to see which bastard did this, I'll grab his head and give him a good beating! I'll break three of his legs and see if he dares to act like a lecher again!"

The maid, honed by her experience in the world of pleasure, immediately curled her lips into a slight smile, instantly adopting a pitiful, dependent expression. Her watery eyes gazed at Dai'an as she softly spoke:

"Oh my! Young man, you are so brave! With you protecting me like this, I feel much more at ease! From now on, I will rely entirely on you, young man, for everything, inside and outside the walls!"

With just a few words and a few glances, Dai'an felt a surge of heat rush from the soles of his feet to the top of his head, and his bones felt incredibly light, as if they had lost three or four ounces of weight.
Even his steps were powerful and vigorous, and he stood ramrod straight on the way to the well with a bucket of water in his arms.

After taking off his clothes, he stood naked by the well. The icy well water poured over his head, making him shiver, but the surging warmth in his heart had not subsided.

As he washed himself haphazardly, he couldn't help but tense his muscles, stiffening his neck and glancing warily at the shadows of the trees on the wall, as if he suspected some maids were secretly watching his "heroic" figure.
Dai'an hastily washed off the sweat and mud from his body by the well, and by the time he put on his dusty short jacket, the sun had already sunk far below the horizon, and twilight had spread across the courtyard like spilled ink.

He shrank back to the side room, where he saw that the delicate maid had already quickly set out the food on the octagonal table.

A plate of Jinhua ham, sliced ​​as thin as cicada wings and translucent with an amber sheen. A bowl of thick, milky-white crab roe tofu soup, topped with golden specks of crab roe. A plate of bright green, freshly stir-fried seasonal vegetables; a plate of braised pig's head meat. And a pot of perfectly warmed Yuhuchun wine.

The delicate porcelain bowls and plates, the ivory chopsticks—all of these made Dai'an's eyes pop out, and his stomach rumble with cravings.

Just as he was swallowing hard, Ximen Qing, dressed in clean clothes and still damp, strolled out of the cubicle.

He glanced at the table full of dishes, grunted an "hmm" in satisfaction, and casually sat down in the head seat, greeting everyone:
"Dai'an, what are you standing there for? Come here and have a bite to eat with your father!"

Dai'an shuddered in fright, waving his hands repeatedly and shrinking back: "Oh my dear father! You're too kind! How can I sit at the same table with you and eat with you? Please enjoy your meal, I... I'll just wait here!" He stared longingly at the squirrel fish, his Adam's apple bobbing up and down.

Ximen Qing was too lazy to argue with him. He casually grabbed a large soup bowl from the table, and without saying a word, shoveled half a bowl of ham, fish, and tofu soup into it, then topped it with a large spoonful of white rice and pushed it to the corner of the table.
"Hey, go eat over there!!"

"Thank you, Uncle!" Dai'an felt as if he had been granted a pardon. Holding the heavy, fragrant bowl, he squatted down on the footstool by the door and, not caring that it was hot, began to wolf it down. His mouth was full of oil, and his cheeks were bulging like they were stuffed with two walnuts.

The master and servant had barely taken a few bites; the food and wine were still warm—

"Eee-ya-ya-ya!!!"

A shrill, piercing cry, like the wailing of an owl or the agonizing scream of a ghost, suddenly shattered the silence from the direction of the backyard, stabbing straight into people's eardrums!

"Cough! Cough cough cough—!" Dai'an, who was engrossed in eating, was caught off guard and choked on a mouthful of rice, making his face turn red and his eyes bulge!

He was terrified, scrambling to Ximen Qing's feet and clinging tightly to his leg, his voice trembling:

"Father! My dear father! Run...run! There's a ghost! There's a ghost! I...I told you! This kind of bewitching woman who lets men stay overnight is definitely up to no good! This house...this house must be a converted graveyard! There's a female ghost inside that sucks men's life essence! She transforms into a beautiful woman to harm people!"

Ximen Qing was also startled by the strange noise. When he heard Dai An's nonsensical ramblings, he was so angry that the veins on his forehead throbbed.

He swung the ivory chopsticks in his hand and smacked Dai'an hard on the forehead with a "smack": "What a wailing! This is Li Hangshou practicing his singing in the backyard! Do you understand? This is called 'Tearing Silk Through Clouds'! It's a valuable thing!"

Dai'an clutched his burning forehead, stunned by the scolding. Sure enough, the "female ghost's" shriek rang out a few more times, still high-pitched and piercing, but upon closer listening, it seemed... it seemed... there really was a certain intonation?
He scrambled to his feet, looking ashamed, muttering to himself, "Practicing...voice training? This noise...is more terrifying than slaughtering a pig..."

Ximen Qing kicked him irritably: "Go and clean up! Don't ruin my fun!"

Shortly after.

The clever maidservant responded and came in again, only to find that Master Ximen had already tidied himself up and was no longer the disheveled, drunk man he had been yesterday.

He wore a square, dark brocade headscarf with distinct edges, which made his angular face appear even more imposing.

She wore a sky-blue brocade robe, the fabric of which was delicate and smooth like spring water, and shimmered with light as she walked, exuding an air of nobility.

A white jade belt, made of mutton fat, was tied around his waist. The jade was warm and lustrous, perfectly accentuating his tall and strong figure, making him appear both wealthy and refined.

He was like a peach blossom, containing three parts spring water and seven parts evil, with a faint smile at the corner of his mouth. He was handsome and charming, with a seductive and alluring charm. He was the kind of man who could most easily seduce a woman's heart in the world of romance, and he was truly a heartbreaker!
Her eyes lit up, she smiled, and her gaze sparkled: "Did you enjoy your meal, Master Ximen?"

The official clasped his hands and bowed slightly, saying:

"Thank you for your hospitality. The wine is excellent and the food is delicious. You have made me feel at home. I am deeply grateful. I feel uneasy about disturbing your residence. I was just about to express my gratitude to Li Xingshou in person."

The maid's heart skipped a beat at his gaze, her smile widening as she stepped aside to make way, giving a curtsy.

"You're too kind, sir. Miss is waiting for you in the back garden. Please follow me—"

Ximen Qing followed his maid through the flowers and willows to the back garden.

Li Shishi, the head of the Li family, was practicing her dantian energy in a standing meditation posture, just like when she composes songs.

Despite the chill of late autumn, she still wore an apricot-red crepe gauze top to practice her martial arts, with a wide, open robe of jade-colored silk casually draped over it. The sash was loosely tied, revealing a glimpse of her snow-white breasts and her rounded, smooth shoulders.

Practicing her voice had exhausted her energy; her face was flushed, like a drunken begonia. Fine beads of sweat glistened on her forehead, the tip of her nose, and the hollow of her neck, shimmering like beeswax in the candlelight, and slowly trickled down her plump, smooth neck, disappearing into her clothes.

She was uttering an extremely high and long note, her delicate neck slightly raised, her chest high and firm, emanating a steaming heat and a strong, rich fragrance of her body mixed with precious cosmetics, which wafted towards the master from afar on the autumn wind.

She wore a pair of matching apricot-red crepe wide-leg pants!

The soft gauze was also soaked with sweat, tightly wrapping around her two plump and slender legs.

The stance of Zhan Zhuang—with feet slightly apart, firmly rooted to the ground without being too far apart—tightens the muscles at the base of the thighs.

On her feet were a pair of soft-soled flat-toed slippers embroidered with lotus scrolls. At this moment, due to the exertion of the standing posture, her round, pearl-like ankles were tense, her ten tender bamboo shoot-like toes were tightly curled and gripped the ground, the light blue veins on the instep were slightly raised, making her arches appear even more exquisite, and her soles were pink.

Ximen Qing stepped forward, clasped his hands in a fist and bowed, deliberately making his voice low and deep:
"I am deeply grateful for the hospitality and care I received from Master Li. Last night I was drunk and acted inappropriately, disturbing your peace and quiet. I have come today to thank you in person and will certainly repay you in the future!"

Upon hearing the sound, Li Shishi lazily raised her eyelids.

Qiu Bo glanced at Ximen Qing and saw that he had changed into this elegant and noble outfit, which really masked some of the mercenary and money-grubbing aura he had shown last night, making him look much more pleasing to the eye.

But his eyes... that gaze was so intense, it seemed to pierce through the thin veil covering her body and burn directly onto her naked flesh!
A surge of offended annoyance made the fine hairs on the back of her neck stand on end, and tiny goosebumps actually rose on her skin. She showed no sign of it on her face, only subtly tightening her open blouse to conceal the exposed skin, a half-smile playing on her lips:

"You're too kind, Master Ximen." Her voice was still slightly hoarse from practicing her voice, which only added to its alluring magnetism. "It's nothing, just a small matter."

A perfectly normal exchange of pleasantries
The official smiled and was about to say the next sentence when Li Shishi abruptly changed the subject. Her alluring eyes looked at him with a half-smile, and her red lips parted slightly as she uttered:
"However... is this 'thank you' from you, sir? What's with all this talk of 'later' and 'in the future'? When you return to Qinghe County in the future, you'll be far away. Who will I ask for my thanks from then on?"

She drew out the last syllable, "Thanking me now is enough!"

These words were like a thunderbolt, striking the very top of the official's head!
He was completely confused!
These words... these words sound so familiar!

So familiar!

(End of this chapter)