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

Chapter 152 The Imperial City is Desolate and Miserable, the Jia Family Mansion is Full of Vibrant Life

The candlelight inside the Kunning Hall was bright, but it could not dispel the heavy atmosphere of twilight.

The fragrance of pepper and orchid was so strong it seemed to linger, its delicate aroma swirling between the pillars and curtains of the palace. Empress Zheng leaned languidly against the gilded and jade-inlaid imperial couch, her palace dress, embroidered with gold and phoenixes, accentuating the curves of her mature and voluptuous figure.

The candlelight flowed across her high breasts and rounded waist, eventually disappearing beneath the curves of her voluptuous hips, rising and falling dramatically, yet exuding an aura of inviolable solemnity.

In the vast hall, all the servants had long been dismissed, leaving only her and the eunuch Liang Shicheng. The air was thick and sticky, with only the occasional soft sound of her nail polish brushing against the edge of the bed.

Empress Zheng's eyes flickered slightly, and her gaze, sharp as a knife tempered with ice, pierced directly at Liang Shicheng, who stood with his hands at his sides, wishing he could shrink into the shadows: "Liang, the Chief Administrator!"

His voice wasn't loud, carrying a hint of languid hoarseness as if he had just woken up, with a slight upward slant at the end, captivating and mesmerizing.

This tone was completely different from the coquettish and mournful calls she had made at the emperor's sickbed.

Her full, red lips parted slightly, but the words that came out were icy and chilling: "This 'unexpected calamity' on Your Majesty's forehead is quite strange. Tell me in detail what exactly happened. Swallow those words that you used to fool the outer court!"

Her beautiful face held a half-smile, yet there was no warmth in her eyes.

Liang Shicheng hunched his back slightly, and fine beads of sweat glistened on his forehead in the candlelight.

Liang Shicheng's back was bent even deeper, and the fine beads of sweat on his forehead glistened in the candlelight, as if he had just been pulled out of a frying pan.

His Adam's apple bobbed with difficulty as he swallowed his dry saliva before speaking in a trembling voice, "Reporting to Your Majesty the Empress... His Majesty is benevolent. Last night, he disguised himself and went to investigate the people's plight. When he arrived near the Imperial Street outside Nanxun Gate... who... who knew... that the weather could be so unpredictable!"

"A fist-sized, dark, flying stone actually appeared out of nowhere, and, without any deviation, it struck the emperor's precious body... right on his forehead..."

He spoke haltingly, realizing his words were utterly absurd, like rambling in a dream, and his voice grew even softer.

"Oh?" Empress Zheng snorted softly, her full breasts rising and falling slightly with the sound. She picked up a chilled grape, but instead of eating it, she slowly and meticulously peeled it with her nails, which were stained with henna. The purplish-red juice clung to her fair fingers, making her appear even more alluring.

Her eyes darted around, revealing undisguised sarcasm: "A stone from the sky? Liang Shicheng, your story is even more outlandish than the tales told by storytellers in the entertainment district. When has the heavens of Bianjing become so blind, deliberately hitting the emperor on the head? Could it be that the gods in heaven got drunk and were playing dice, and just happened to hit our romantic emperor?"

This sarcastic remark, dripping with venom, made Liang Shicheng tremble with unease.

Sweating profusely, Liang Shicheng knelt down with a thud, forced to lower his head even further and said, "Your Majesty, please calm your anger! This servant... this servant deserves to die! Everything I said just now is true!"

He paused, stealing a glance at the Empress's expression. Seeing that she was still leisurely peeling grapes, as if listening to some trivial matter, he gritted his teeth and continued:

"...Your Majesty was traveling incognito, and this servant suspects that the flying stones from the sky...perhaps some ruffians were drinking and recklessly throwing stones, accidentally injuring...accidentally injuring Your Majesty...The night was dark, and the source of the stones was unclear, and I was worried about Your Majesty's injury, so...so..."

"A rogue drinking heavily? Throwing stones around??" Empress Zheng stopped moving her fingers, and the half-peeled, crystal-clear grape rolled between her plump fingers.

She seemed to have heard the biggest joke in the world. She first chuckled softly, the laughter echoing in the empty hall. It had a magnetic charm unique to mature women, yet it was also chillingly cold.

Her voluptuous body, almost bursting out of her palace robes, trembled slightly with laughter. Every inch of flesh beneath the luxurious garments rippled with breathtaking waves of flesh. The phoenix embroidered in gold thread on her robes, in this vibrant and alluring trembling, seemed to truly draw in enough life force to flap its wings and fly out of its cage.

"What a 'collateral damage'! What a 'unwarranted disaster'!" The laughter stopped abruptly, and she threw the grapes to the ground, the juice splashing everywhere and staining the shiny gold bricks.

A layer of frost instantly settled on that mature and alluring face, whose skin was as well-maintained as a young girl's. Her phoenix eyes widened, and she shouted sharply:
"The mighty Emperor of the Great Song Dynasty actually had his head smashed by a few drunken scoundrels in his own capital? Where is Gao Qiu? What is Gao Qiu good for?! What is he in charge of maintaining order in the capital?! Does he spend his days playing football in the Grand Commandant's mansion and have turned his head into a ball?!"

"Summon Gao Qiu! Prince Teng!" Empress Zheng's ample bosom heaved violently. "Get inside here immediately!"

The palace doors opened in response, and Gao Qiu, the Commander-in-Chief of the Palace Guards, who had been waiting outside, and Wang Ziteng, the Commander of the Nine Gates and the Commander of the Five Cities Garrison, entered one after the other. The two men had very different expressions.

Gao Qiu's body trembled slightly, his forehead beneath his official hat was covered in sweat, and his eyes darted away, not daring to look directly at the Empress.

Wang Ziteng, on the other hand, stood tall and straight like a pine tree, with a calm face and steady steps. Although he also bowed his head, he exuded a calm and composed demeanor.

The Empress did not immediately retaliate; her sharp phoenix eyes first swept over Prince Teng.

Wang Ziteng understood, stepped forward, and spoke in a clear and steady voice that echoed in the silent hall: "Your Majesty, I, Wang Ziteng, have been ordered by Your Majesty to mobilize the Five City Garrison and a portion of the Imperial Guard to impose martial law on the nine gates of Bianjing and all the streets and wards. Anyone without official permission is strictly prohibited from traveling at night or gathering in crowds. Soldiers are stationed at all key intersections and gates to conduct checks. The city is currently at peace."

Empress Zheng's plump chin nodded almost imperceptibly, her tense expression easing slightly. Only then did she fix her gaze, like a cold iron clamp, firmly on Gao Qiu's body.

"Gao Qiu," the Empress's voice returned to its languid tone, yet it was even more chilling than her previous stern rebuke, each word like it was coated with ice, "The wound on His Majesty's forehead is a gift from your 'peaceful and prosperous era'! A rogue, throwing stones in the street, actually managed to hit the very head of the Son of Heaven!"

"You're in charge of the security of the palace and the order of the capital, yet you can't even control the street urchins right under your nose? Or have all your intelligence and spies been stuffed and suffocated by those football players?!"

Gao Qiu felt a chill rush from his tailbone to the top of his head, his knees buckled, and he fell to his knees with a thud. The icy coldness of the gold bricks penetrated his official robes and pierced his flesh.

He kowtowed repeatedly, his obese body trembling, his voice choked with sobs: "Your Majesty, please calm your anger! Your Majesty, please calm your anger! I...I deserve to die ten thousand times! I deserve to die ten thousand times! It was my dereliction of duty! It was my incompetence! I failed to restrain those lawless and unruly people, disturbing Your Majesty's presence. I...I deserve to die a hundred times to atone for it!"

Sweat streamed down his chubby face, dripping onto the gold brick and spreading out a small, dark stain.

"Ten thousand deaths? A hundred deaths?" Empress Zheng sneered, her laughter filled with contempt, but her gaze intentionally or unintentionally drifted to Prince Teng standing solemnly to the side. "Gao Qiu, I see you are living quite comfortably. It seems that the Palace Guard is very lucrative."

Her tone shifted abruptly, like a poisoned dagger being drawn:
"If you can't even manage the security of the capital right under your nose, you might as well quit your job as the Commander of the Palace Guard! Otherwise, one day some ruffian might storm the palace gates and you'll still be in the dark playing football! Why don't you... hand over the little power you have to Prince Teng to manage? I'm sure he can share the Emperor's burdens and truly bring peace to the capital!"

The five words "hand over to Wang Ziteng" struck Gao Qiu like a bolt from the blue!

He suddenly looked up, his eyes filled with terror as he stared at the Empress, then instinctively glanced quickly at Prince Teng, who stood beside him like a javelin.

Wang Ziteng kept his eyelids down and remained expressionless.

Gao Qiu felt a surge of hot, bloody spurt rush to his head, his vision blurred with stars and blackouts, and his obese body swayed as if he were about to collapse into a pile of mud on the spot!

He knew all too well that the military power of the Palace Guard was his lifeline! If this Prince Teng really took it away, Gao Qiu in Bianjing City would immediately become a mangy tiger with its teeth pulled out and claws chopped off. Even stray dogs on the street would probably dare to bare their teeth at him and spit a mouthful of phlegm!
"Your Majesty! Your Majesty, have mercy!" Gao Qiu no longer cared about his dignity. He practically crawled forward two steps, tears streaming down his face. His forehead pounded against the gold bricks with a loud thud, instantly turning them bruised and purple. "Your Majesty, I know I was wrong! I know I was wrong! I beg Your Majesty to give me another chance! I... I will do it right away! I will go and uproot those audacious ruffians and scoundrels who have been hiding places of filth in the capital! Sweep them clean! I will... I will never dare to trouble Your Majesty and the Emperor with such vile matters again!"

Empress Zheng coldly looked at the muddy mess at her feet, and waved her jade hand stained with nail polish. The wide sleeves stirred up a fragrant breeze, as if shooing away a fly: "Get out! His fate will be decided when the Emperor wakes up."

Gao Qiu felt as if he had been granted a pardon. He scrambled out of the Kunning Palace, practically crawling on his hands and feet. The palace doors slammed shut behind him, shutting out the suffocating solemnity and the Empress's thunderous rage that had gripped him.

As soon as he stepped out of the palace gates, the night wind blew with a chill, and Gao Qiu realized with a start that his several layers of official robes were completely soaked with cold sweat, clinging to his greasy flesh, icy cold. He leaned against the cold palace wall, panting heavily, his heart pounding so hard it felt like it would burst out of his chest.

The Empress's cold words, "Give it to Ziteng," and Prince Teng's silent, mountain-like profile were like two red-hot irons, deeply branding his heart.

Fear instantly transformed into a frenzied rage! Gao Qiu abruptly straightened up, roaring hoarsely at his trusted lieutenants who came to meet him, spittle flying everywhere: "Issue my order, Grand Commandant! All personnel under the Palace Guard, except those on duty in the palace, shall be mobilized immediately! The yamen runners of Kaifeng Prefecture and the patrolmen of the Imperial City, gather them all!"

"Gambling dens? Smash them all! Any signs of unrest or disturbances in taverns or brothels, arrest them first! Who cares whose background or which official's son they're associated with! Three days! Just three days! I'll turn this Bianjing city upside down! Anyone who dares to be lenient, I'll skin them alive! Go now—!!!"

Here, the nine gates are sealed off to crack down on gambling dens and hooligans; there, the Jia family mansion thrives with vibrant life. Inside the Tianxiang Tower, light and shadow flicker.

The widow Qin Keqing was dressed in plain white mourning clothes. The coarse linen clothes should have been stiff and rigid, but they looked somewhat unusual on her.

With her back to the door, she was bending over to arrange the incense burner on the table. Her slender waist was so thin that it could be encircled by one hand. The plain silk belt was tied a little tighter, which made her waist curves look like a willow swaying in the wind. Although she was wearing a loose mourning dress, the folds of the dress rippled like water as she walked, which could not hide her natural beauty and graceful charm.

Suddenly, a series of rapid thuds echoed from the floorboards, and the beaded curtain was flung open with a whoosh. A sweet, warm breeze swept in, carrying a figure swaying with large hips. Who else could it be but Wang Xifeng?

She walked quickly, her chest rising and falling slightly, her face displaying a half-smile, tinged with a hint of drunkenness and mischief.

"Oh, my dear Ke'er!" Sister Feng rushed to the bedside and grabbed Qin Keqing's arm. Her hand was soft and warm, carrying the scent of jasmine oil mixed with wine. "What time is it? Are you meditating like an old nun? Get up! Get up!"

Qin Keqing was pulled to the side by her, her brows furrowed, and she weakly struggled: "Auntie... what are you doing? I'm so tired, I want to sleep."

"Sleep? What sleep!" Sister Feng's eyes darted around, and she gestured towards the window with her chin. Her voice was crisp and clear, like spilled beans. "Look outside! The moon tonight is big, round, and bright, no less beautiful than the Mid-Autumn Festival moon a few days ago!"

"But those mischievous devils set up a scene in Huifang Garden behind your Tianxiang Tower, drinking, admiring the moon, and even clamoring to compose poems together! Chattering away, making quite a scene! I came all this way to pull you away, and you're putting on airs like this?"

Qin Keqing lazily raised her eyes, glanced at the bright moon outside the window, and then lowered them again: "The moon... isn't it the same every year? What's so interesting about it? It's cold and boring. I'm not going."

"Oh my!" Upon hearing this, Wang Xifeng's phoenix eyes widened, her gaze sweeping over Qin Keqing's mourning clothes as if hooked. She curled her lip and sneered:
"My dear girl! You're really good at talking nonsense! You have the big, round, vibrant moon in your arms, watching it day and night, so of course you look down on that cold, hard stone plate in the sky! Is it that only officials are allowed to set fires, while common people are not allowed to light lamps? You keep all the good things in your own house, but you won't let others see the 'plain moon' in the sky?"

These words were barbed and sarcastic, both blunt and mischievous, making Qin Keqing blush instantly. She spat and said, "Second Aunt's mouth! It's getting more and more unrestrained! She says all sorts of nonsense!"

After saying this, his expression turned somber: "Look at me... I'm still in mourning, so it's really inconvenient for me to go out and move around. Not only will it spoil everyone's mood, but it's also... against the rules, and it will cause gossip."

"Nonsense? The truth!" Sister Feng didn't care whether she was embarrassed or not. She pulled harder and dragged Qin Keqing over. "Today, there are only us lowly people in the back. There isn't a single elder or lady! We're all family. Who cares about these formalities?"

"Besides, I've seen you these past few days, locking yourself in this room, observing mourning, not daring to move an inch, crying until your eyes are swollen, and you've lost weight."

"If you keep going like this, you'll get sick even if you're not already! That's why I came all this way to make sure you get some fresh air and let your worries dissipate!"

"Come on, come on! It's not far, it's right in your backyard! Let's just have a quick bite! If you dawdle any longer, you'll have seen all the excitement!" With that, he half-pushed and half-shoved Qin Keqing and pulled her outside.

Wandering through corridors and paths, the night dew was slightly cool, dampening the hem of my skirt. A faint fragrance drifted by, I couldn't tell if it was the osmanthus blossoms in the garden or the warm scent of the person beside me. In the blink of an eye, we arrived at Huifang Garden.

Inside the open pavilion by the water, lights shone brightly, and laughter and chatter filled the air. A bright moon hung in the sky, its clear light bathing the garden and its beautiful women in a soft, moonlit glow, creating a vivid and enchanting scene: a painting of beauties under the moon.
In the late autumn night, a chill had crept into the garden. By the Lotus Fragrance Pavilion, lanterns hung high, their reflections shimmering like scattered gold on the water's surface.

Lin Daiyu leaned casually against the vermilion railing, her moon-white satin dress framing her slender waist like a willow branch. As the wind blew, her clothes fluttered, making one fear that she might instantly transform into an immortal.

Clutching a pale blue handkerchief to cover her mouth, she stared blankly at the swaying moon's reflection in the pond. Suddenly, she coughed a few times, her shoulders trembling slightly, and two sickly red blushes appeared on her cheeks, making her look even more pitiful.

Xue Baochai sat upright on the stone drum stool, wearing a honey-colored soft satin jacket and a silver fur vest that covered her rounded shoulders, revealing her full breasts and plump figure. Her eyes were calm, a slight smile played on her lips, and she slowly waved a gold-painted round fan in her hand, looking at everyone with the poised and dignified demeanor of a lady from a prominent family.

Shi Xiangyun was the most feisty and straightforward girl. She had already taken off her outer coat and was only wearing a light red silk tight-fitting jacket, which accentuated her bulging chest, and light green floral pants.

She rolled up her sleeves, revealing two sections of white arms like snow lotus roots, glistening with sweat. She squatted on the rocky bank by the water, stirring the water haphazardly with a twig, splashing water everywhere.

This drew laughter and curses from the crowd, but she didn't care at all. She laughed so hard that she almost fell over, her face flushed like a ripe fruit.

Jia Tanchun stood in front of the desk in the pavilion. She was tall and slender, wearing a pale yellow arrow-sleeved shirt, which made her waist and arms appear even more slender and her legs straight.

She picked up her pen, furrowed her brows, and, full of youthful vigor, pondered the verses.

Beside her, Yingchun was gentle and obedient, holding the inkstone for her with her head bowed and eyes lowered.

The eldest sister-in-law, Li Wan, sat on a stool a little further away, out of the lamplight. She wore a plain white jacket and a blue satin vest; although she was dressed as a widow, her natural beauty could not be concealed.

Her face was like a silver basin, delicate and fair, with gentle and pretty eyes. The jacket was a little too tight, covering a plump and soft figure. Her breasts were full, but her waist was still slender and her hips were round. Sitting there, she had the graceful demeanor of a mature young widow.

She wore a kind smile as she watched the group of young aunties and girls frolicking, her eyes revealing the gentle warmth of someone with experience and a hint of barely perceptible melancholy.

The maids were also a vibrant and lively group, each with their own unique charm.

It was truly a riot of colors, a tapestry of pearls and emeralds! The garden was filled with the chirping of orioles and the chatter of swallows.

The aromas of fat, powder, and the delicate fragrance of meat, mingled with the sweet scents of wine, dishes, and fruits, were enhanced by the cool moonlight. Instead of being diluted, they created a warm, sweet, and captivatingly enchanting atmosphere.

Suddenly, a burst of laughter and chatter came from afar. Before the person even arrived, that crisp and boisterous voice had already barged in: "Oh my! What a lively place! You bunch of little rascals, now that you have a good poem and a beautiful moon, you leave us to enjoy ourselves? Aren't you afraid of being struck by lightning!"

Before she could finish speaking, Wang Xifeng burst in.

Ping'er followed behind her, carrying some fresh fruit.

When everyone saw it was her, they all smiled and stood up to greet her, chattering, "Please come in, please come in! We've been missing your silver tongue!" "What good things have you brought?"

Sister Feng's eyes sparkled, and she laughed loudly, "The best stuff is yet to come! We've invited a special guest to be the 'grand finale'!" With that, she stepped aside to make way for the person behind her.

Qin Keqing walked in gracefully. Upon seeing her, everyone in the garden fell silent for a moment, even the boisterous laughter seemed to be strangled.

She was dressed in brand-new, snow-white mourning attire! A white velvet mourning crown adorned her head, and she wore a white silk mourning robe and skirt, her entire body devoid of any other color, as pure and pristine as the first snowfall of late autumn. Yet it was precisely this striking white, this deathly solemn mourning, that made her face appear all the more radiant and captivating, vibrant and alluring!
The mourning clothes were made of the finest white silk, light and soft, yet they wrapped tightly and snugly around her body. Instead of concealing her, they accentuated her naturally graceful figure and enormous breasts, making them even more obvious.

Her face was bare, without any makeup. Her brows and eyes held a natural sorrow and a languid sickness. Her complexion was a fragile paleness, but her lips, whether natural or tinged with sorrow, had a faint, alluring crimson hue, like a plum blossom petal fallen in the snow.

Even Li Wan, sitting in the lamplight, sighed inwardly, "What an absolute beauty! This mourning garment would be unlucky on others, but on her, it's like a soul-reaping banner... Rong-ge'er really doesn't have that kind of luck..."

Looking at Qin Keqing's delicate, pitiful yet alluring appearance, and comparing it to her own widowed and voluptuous figure, a complex feeling welled up in her heart.

Wang Xifeng took in everyone's reactions, raised her chin triumphantly, and laughed, "How about it? Did I tell you it was the 'grand finale'? Does it meet the standards of all you poets? Keqing, don't stand, sit down! The moon is bright tonight, and our poetic inspiration is high. We'll borrow your talent to add some sparks to everyone's minds!"

Qin Keqing blushed slightly under everyone's gaze, appearing even more delicate and shy. She lowered her head slightly, revealing a section of her snow-white neck, and said in a soft, sickly voice, "Auntie, girls, please stop making fun of me... I'm just doing my duty."

She sat down next to Sister Feng as instructed. Her pure white figure stood out like a white begonia covered in dew amidst the brocade garden, both pristine and stunning.

Happy Mid-Autumn Festival to all the gentlemen of Ximen!

(End of this chapter)