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

Chapter 155 Li Shishi's Thoughts, and the Even More Lively Qinghe
After listening to Lin Ruhai's heartfelt analysis of the court, Jia Zheng felt a chill run from the soles of his feet to the top of his head, and his mouth tasted bitter.

He stroked his beard, forcing a bitter smile that was more like a grimace, and said self-deprecatingly:
"Alas, as Brother Hai said, every word is truly piercing to the heart and chilling to the bone! To be honest, I am but a nominal official, receiving a salary without real power. On weekdays, I merely go through the motions, read the official gazette, and manage some trivial clan sacrifices and miscellaneous affairs within the household."

"Though I've heard tales of the turbulent power struggles within the court, I'm still somewhat detached from them, and my personal experience is rather shallow. But Brother Lin, you..." Jia Zheng's tone shifted, and he looked at Lin Ruhai with genuine concern:

"Your position as Salt Commissioner of Lianghuai is truly the most lucrative post in the land, and also the most dangerous one! Now..."

"Salt administration?" Upon hearing these two words, Lin Ruhai seemed to be pricked by a needle, and his already exhausted face was instantly covered with a thick layer of gloom.

He sighed heavily and deeply again, picked up the already cold leftover tea, and gulped down a large mouthful, regardless of the taste, as if trying to extinguish the anxiety in his heart. His Adam's apple bobbed a few times before he said in a hoarse voice, "I'm stuck, unable to move forward or backward, like sitting on pins and needles! These eight words are the most accurate description of my current state!"

"Retreat? I, Lin Ruhai, have nowhere to retreat! The Emperor has entrusted me with this important task, which is both a favor and a shackle. Now that I'm caught in this whirlpool, I can only grit my teeth, brace myself, and move forward! Whether it's a blessing or a curse, life or death... I can only leave it to fate!"

The last few words were spoken very softly, yet they carried a sense of despair, as if sinking into an abyss.

Jia Zheng was shocked to hear this, and looking at his old friend's haggard yet resolute expression, he couldn't utter a single word of comfort.

Inside the courtyard, a warm breeze blew, and the fragrance of flowers filled the air—a perfect time for young women to experience the stirrings of their emotions. But the two tender poems by "Master Ximen" had captivated their hearts, and the ladies, each with a rosy blush and a hint of unspoken longing in their eyes, were all deeply moved.

Whether under the shade of flowers or beside a swing, though unspoken, when their eyes meet, the secret thoughts shared by young women, stirred by the words, flow between silent smiles and slightly flushed cheeks.

Baoyu, who was once the phoenix surrounded by beauties in the garden, now felt like a forgotten object. He looked at one, but she ignored him; he looked at another, but she didn't turn back; he saw his sisters huddled together, laughing and chatting softly, as if they were in their own little world, and none of them paid him any attention as usual. Baoyu suddenly felt an unprecedented sense of desolation and bitterness well up in his heart, as if he had been abandoned.

He looked down at the "spiritual jade" hanging on his chest.

But now? All the sisters in the garden are captivated by that "Master Ximen" who appeared out of nowhere, each one of them completely mesmerized, leaving him, the "Phoenix," standing idly by! What kind of spirit does this broken stone possess? It can't even see through or control the thoughts of these young women right before its eyes; what use is it?
A nameless fire suddenly surged into his heart, mixed with the resentment of being ignored and childlike jealousy. Baoyu snatched the warm, slightly cool jade from his neck, not caring whether it was precious or not, turned around, and in a fit of pique, smashed it hard again!
The jade landed with a dull thud on the blue bricks paving the ground, rolled a few times, and got covered in dust.

Just then, Lady Wang, supported by her maid, came in from the other end of the garden. She was already in a bad mood and was about to come in to find Wang Xifeng.

Who knew that she would witness such a terrifying scene at a glance—her precious jade, which was like her lifeblood and the eyeball of her eyes, was being violently smashed to the ground by the "spiritual jade"!
"You wretched child!!" Madam Wang's shriek, filled with terror, anger, and heartache, pierced the air, startling the birds in the corridor into flight. She rushed forward, abandoning all decorum, pointing at Baoyu, her finger trembling:
"You wretched child! You...you...you threw it again! This is your lifeline! It's an auspicious symbol you were born with! It's the apple of your parents' eye! How dare you...how dare you take your anger out on it again!"

"Is he bothering you or is he keeping an eye on you? Why do you take your anger out on him all the time!"

Madam Wang was so angry that she was trembling all over. Looking at the jade covered in dust on the ground, her heart ached as if the jade was her heart that had been smashed to the ground.

She pushed aside the maid who was helping her, bent down herself, and picked up the jade with trembling hands. She carefully wiped it with her sleeve, muttering to herself:

"Are you trying to kill me?! This thing can't be dropped! What if it breaks?! You...you...you're getting more and more ungrateful as you get older! The other day you went crazy because your father said a few words to you, and now you're taking it out on this jade! If the master finds out, he'll skin you alive!"

Baoyu was stunned by his mother's angry scolding. Then, all the grievances in his heart surged up like a flood.

His eyes reddened, tears welling up. He didn't explain why he smashed the jade, but instead, with a sob in his voice, pointed at his sisters in the garden, all lost in their own thoughts, and stamped his foot, shouting:
"All you do is curse me! My heart... my heart is being torn apart! This jade... what kind of spirit does this jade possess? If it has a spirit, then what do I need this inanimate object for! I might as well smash it!"

Just as Madam Wang was about to launch into another tirade, a series of heavy, urgent clapper sounds suddenly echoed from afar outside the garden! Immediately following were the night watchman's hoarse, panicked shouts that pierced the high walls and deep courtyard: "Curfew—! Immediate curfew—!! Lock all nine gates—all unauthorized persons return immediately—!!!"

The shout was like a thunderclap from a clear sky, startling everyone in the park.

A curfew? What time is it? Why the sudden curfew? And why close all nine gates? This is definitely not normal!
Before anyone could recover from their astonishment, Jin Chuan'er, the head maidservant of Madam Wang, rushed in from the garden gate, her skirt billowing. Forgetting all decorum, she ran straight to Madam Wang, panting heavily, and hurriedly reported:
"A message just came in from my uncle's trusted confidant! It says that a strict imperial decree has suddenly been issued from the palace. Gao Qiu, the Grand Commandant and Commander of the Palace Guard, is leading his military patrols to thoroughly crack down on underground money pits, gambling dens, loan sharks, and those scoundrels who roam the streets of Tokyo! It's a huge operation!"

"My uncle sent word that everyone in our household, especially the gentlemen, must keep the doors and windows tightly closed these next few days and not go out, lest they run into trouble and fall into the hands of Grand Commandant Gao."

Madam Wang frowned, her heart filled with doubt and unease.

However, even more shocked and frightened than Madam Wang was Wang Xifeng, who was standing to the side!
"Sweep away... casinos... underground banks..." These eight words were like eight red-hot irons, branding her heart! She felt her head buzz, stars flashed before her eyes, and a layer of cold sweat instantly soaked her back, her hands and feet turned ice cold!

Others might not know, but Wang Xifeng knew it all! Relying on her audacity and connections, she secretly embezzled several sums of public funds and lent them out privately!

Part of it was put into those few well-connected, seemingly safe underground banks to earn high interest! And an even bigger sum was used to directly invest in a very secretive casino in the west of the city under the guise of a few trusted servants! The interest there grew much faster than the dead money in the public treasury!

Normally, relying on the power of the Jia family and her own skills, as well as her connection with Prince Teng, she always felt that she was invincible.

But now... Grand Commandant Gao Qiu is personally leading the sweep? And Prince Teng has even sent word to stay indoors? This is clearly an outrageous act!
"It's over...it's over..." Wang Xifeng's heart was pounding wildly, almost jumping out of her throat. She tried to maintain her composure, but all the color had already drained from her face, and her hands, clutching the handkerchief, were trembling uncontrollably inside her sleeves.

She subconsciously picked up a half-warm teacup from the small table next to her, wanting to take a sip to calm her nerves, but the teacup trembled slightly in her hand, the lid tapping against the rim, making a soft and rapid "clucking" sound.

Only one thought was screaming in her mind: whatever you do, don't let them find out about the casino and money exchange where she put the money.

The flower hall of Gao Qiu's mansion.

The hall was filled with the fragrance of sandalwood and lavishly furnished.

Grand Commandant Gao Qiu, dressed in a brand-new brocade robe, sat on a grand chair, his face ashen, his fingers unconsciously tapping the rosewood armrests.

Below the hall stood a dozen or so powerful figures who had once dominated Tokyo, their mere presence causing the ground to tremble—including the heads of underground gambling dens, loan sharks, and underground money lenders.

At this moment, they were like wilted eggplants, huddled up like quails, not daring to breathe. Sweat beaded on their foreheads, and their faces were forced into obsequious smiles, which looked worse than crying.

The steward stood by the door with his hands at his sides, not daring to breathe loudly. These were all familiar faces who frequently visited Gao Qiu's mansion. In exchange, the Grand Commandant snorted and gave him the honor of being seen.

"Grand Commandant Gao... Your Excellency is above all..." One of them, relying on his usual filial piety, gritted his teeth and took half a step forward, his back bent like a shrimp, his voice trembling and tinged with sobs:
“We…we were so desperate to urinate that we dared to offend Your Excellency’s eyes…both thunder and rain are acts of divine grace, but…but this commotion is too frightening. Our meager livelihood is about to be wiped out…we beg Your Excellency to consider that we have been somewhat sensible in the past and show mercy, give us a chance to catch our breath…”

"Alive?!" Gao Qiu's eyelids rolled down in a flash, and two cold, electric-like glints shot down at him, as if he were looking at a few bedbugs in a puddle of mud.

He grabbed the fine Ding ware porcelain teacup beside him and smashed it hard on the ground with a "crack!" Broken porcelain shards flew everywhere, and scalding tea mixed with tea leaves splashed all over the faces of several people who were nearby.

The heat made them shudder and grimace, but they didn't dare utter a sound, much less lift a hand to wipe it!
"I'll give you a way out, but who will give me one? You dog-like murderers! A whole bunch of brainless, stupid pigs!" Gao Qiu's voice wasn't loud, but every word was like shards of ice, piercing the heart and causing it to bleed.

"I am acting on the Empress's decree! I am here to sweep away all evil and cleanse this filthy place in the capital! You despicable scoundrels, you keep a bunch of hooligans around, exploiting the good and swindling people out of their fortunes, lending out those debts that will leave you childless and extinct!"

"That black hole that eats people without spitting out bones and sucks out their marrow! Every single one of these acts deserves to be torn to pieces, burned alive, or boiled in oil! And now you shamelessly come to my office with your donkey faces, begging for 'life'? I think you're tired of living and want to taste the newly ground dog-head guillotine of Kaifeng Prefecture to see how sharp it is!"

This barrage of veiled insults, like hailstones, sent the dozen or so men's souls flying to their heads, their knees buckling, and they all tumbled to the ground with a thud.

They kowtowed repeatedly, their foreheads slamming against the cold gold brick floor with a loud thud, their mouths spewing nothing but wailing: "Grand Commandant, please calm your anger! Grand Commandant, spare our lives! We deserve to die! We were blinded by greed! We were out of our minds!"

Only the muffled sounds of kowtowing and heavy, panting breaths filled the hall. Gao Qiu glanced sideways at the group of men at his feet, who were trembling like leaves, sweating and urinating profusely. The grievance he felt from being scolded by the Empress in the palace subsided somewhat.

As his gaze inadvertently swept over the thick gift lists that the butler had quietly placed on the side table, the tension in his heart caused by the "order" suddenly eased considerably.

After all, the "tribute" from these "stupid pigs" was very lucrative, filling his own pockets and covering most of his shady expenses.

He picked up the newly served teacup, slowly skimming off the foam. His previous thunderous rage seemed to vanish instantly, replaced by an inscrutable tone: "Hmph! A bunch of clueless fools! The Emperor's will is overwhelming, his power like thunder, and at this critical juncture, you're still clinging to your old hideout in Tokyo, waiting for me to lead my men to raid it clean, to wipe it out completely? Hmm?"

He dragged out the last syllable of his voice, his eyes like hooks, sweeping across the faces of the group.

These people suddenly raised their heads, their faces still wet with snot and tears, but their eyes shone with hope, like drowning people grasping at straws, all begging the Grand Commandant to show them a way out.

Seeing the dozen or so men bowing their heads and pleading incessantly, Gao Qiu put down his teacup. These scoundrels, after all, were a source of his wealth. He lowered his voice and said:

"Let me tell you something: keep your word and take it back to your masters. No matter who it is, unless they are superior to the Empress and have the ability to propose a plan to make the Empress change her mind!"

"Otherwise, with the winds blowing so fiercely in the capital for months on end, it's unlikely they'll open a crack. The Emperor's will is overwhelming, his power is immense, are they really going to stubbornly resist? Can they even withstand it? Shouldn't they at least move those shady places to a safe haven before this storm hits?"

"Can't you find a quiet place in these counties, which are only half a day's journey by fast horse, to accommodate your 'distinguished guests'? Those 'regular customers' who are drowning in debt, or have blood on their hands, or are kept in check by their shrewish wives, would love to stay far away from this capital city to avoid trouble and have some peace and quiet! Instead, you're keeping them tied up in the city, waiting to be wiped out in one fell swoop? Stupid! Utterly stupid! So stupid that they don't even know to look for a latrine when they're taking a dump!"

These words were truly enlightening! The ashen faces of the dozen or so tigers instantly transformed into ecstatic joy and sudden enlightenment! So this was the way out! The Grand Commandant was pointing out the path to survival!
"Grand Commandant, your wisdom is boundless! Your kindness is like that of parents!" The leader's voice trembled with excitement. "We are foolish and stupid as pigs! Thank you, Grand Commandant, for your guidance! We will rush back to inform our master and pack up overnight to move all the important 'businesses' and 'distinguished guests' to Qinghe County! We will make sure everything is spotless and won't cause you any trouble! The 'tribute' will be more than enough! More than enough! We guarantee you will be satisfied!"

"Hmph!" Gao Qiu put down his teacup, letting out a cold, unreadable snort. His eyelids drooped again, as if his earlier "guidance" had never been uttered, leaving only his imposing official demeanor.
"Get out! Keep your tails between your legs these next few days! If I hear you making any noise in the capital again, or involving anyone you shouldn't be involved with... don't blame me for turning on you without mercy. Know that the law is merciless!"

"Yes, yes, yes! Thank you for your grace, Grand Commandant! We'll get out of here right now! Get out of here as fast as we can!" The men were as if they had been granted a pardon, and they crawled out of the flower hall in a panic. The cold sweat on their backs had already soaked through several layers of clothing, sticking stickily to their skin.

Having found out the truth, the huge weight on their hearts was finally lifted, and they rushed back to their master with the urgency to move their "nest".

Watching the men flee in a disheveled state, Gao Qiu's lips curled into a sinister smile. The steward drifted over like a ghost and collected the heavy "tribute" notes from the table.

Gao Qiu closed his eyes to rest, then tapped his fingers on the slippery armrest again: those who should have powerful backers know to come looking for connections, and those who haven't arrived yet probably don't have any significant background.

He added slowly, his voice low, but loud enough for the butler, who had just reached the door, to hear clearly:
"Tell the gatekeepers to close the doors to visitors for the next few days. If any of these filthy scoundrels dare to cause trouble again, throw them out with big sticks! I'll take responsibility if they break any bones! As a pillar of the court, I hate nothing more than such lawless acts that disrupt the capital! Deal with every single one of them!"

As the saying goes: If the waiter sneezes, the wife catches a cold, and the master misses out on a promotion.

That night, Dai An, the number one man in the world, struck the emperor with a single pebble, causing him to fall to the ground, enraging the empress, and terrifying all the civil and military officials.

The city is in chaos now, and even the once illustrious noble families are each facing their own troubles, keeping their doors and windows closed, hiding some unspeakable sordid stories.

Meanwhile, the official, with his thick eyebrows furrowed, was lost in thought in his warm boudoir.

Hearing the announcement that the nine gates had been closed for a day and a night, I was truly anxious and worried, as so many important matters had been delayed!

Fortunately, this time, his scheming trip to the capital finally brought him the most important matter to fruition—the priceless treasure, the "Shu Su Tie," was now firmly in his possession.

A huge weight was lifted from my heart, and I felt much lighter.

They were planning to prepare a few more impressive gifts so that they could at least appease the powerful Grand Tutor Cai on his birthday.

He looked up and saw Li Shishi, her face flushed with spring, staring at him with her big, watery almond-shaped eyes.

Seeing that the official was staring at her intently for a long time, she misunderstood him, and two red blushes suddenly appeared on her face, more beautiful than peach blossoms in March.

She swayed her serpentine waist, her slender fingers twisting a handkerchief, her voice sweet as honey, yet tinged with a hint of shyness: "My lord... it's so embarrassing to look at me like this... how about... how about I put on another layer of gauze... and let my lord... trace my body?"

These words were spoken softly and gently, yet they were like tiny hooks, scratching right at the heart.

Ximen Da Guanren chuckled dryly, with a hint of helplessness: "With such a beautiful body as Miss Shishi, she would surely look like a celestial being in a painting! However... even if we had one more day, I'm afraid it wouldn't be enough time."

Upon hearing this, Li Shishi felt a mixture of sweetness and emptiness in her heart. She was sweet because he had ultimately agreed.

The beautiful moment before her was wasted, and she had to abruptly cut it off. She added:
"Then next time you come to the capital, you must... you must stay a little longer, and paint that painting for me... make it as realistic as possible, stroke by stroke, you can't renege on your promise!"

After hearing Master Ximen say "definitely, definitely,"

She lowered her head slightly and gave a soft "hmm," and the disappointment vanished like smoke from her brows and eyes, replaced by a glimmer of hope.

Just then, she sneezed, "Achoo!" A delicate sneeze escaped her lips. She hurriedly covered her mouth, her eyes sparkling, and said with a touch of languor, "Oh dear, I must have been chilled by the cold... My lord, please forgive me, I need to go wash up and get rid of the chill."

Seeing that she had given him the order to leave, the official quickly bowed and said, "Miss Shishi, please make yourself at home. I'll take my leave now." With that, he turned and left the warm and fragrant boudoir.

Li Shishi leaned against the newly closed carved door, as if all her strength had been drained, and slid softly against it.

The cool, vermilion-lacquered wooden door pressed against her burning back, but it couldn't suppress the pounding of her heart.

"Puff... puff..."

The composure and feigned shyness she had just maintained had completely crumbled.

She closed her eyes, but what flashed before her eyes was not the faces of those extravagant nobles, but the painting that made her heart tremble!

Countless wealthy young men, with mountains of gold and seas of silver, and piles of silk and satin, shamelessly coveted her, this "most beautiful courtesan," and wanted to build her a golden cage!

Which one wasn't deflected by her refined charm and perfectly timed aloofness, like a soft knife?
Li Shishi had no shortage of headbands and brocade, nor of gold and silver treasures; over the years, she had amassed a considerable fortune.

She knew that if she married into a wealthy family, she would either be abandoned when she grew old and lost her beauty, or be tormented by the eldest mistress.

In her own courtyard, she was Li Shishi, the head of the Li family.

Once she entered the wealthy family compound, she was nothing more than a concubine whom everyone could bully.

Those fools only know how to fawn over her skin and applaud her singing, but when... when will anyone be like that Ximen Qing just now, with a charcoal pencil and a few strokes of ink, as if skinning her alive, piercing straight into her heart?

That painting…the figure in the painting, with the languid elegance in her brows and eyes, the alluring yet arrogant air emanating from her very bones…it was clearly Li Shishi herself! Yet, compared to when she looked at herself in the mirror, she possessed an even more indescribable charm!

Looking at this incredible painting, the feeling... the feeling is exactly the same as when she plucks the strings of her instrument and sings aloud!
Ximen's words seemed to have opened a door for him.

Behind the door, this was the scene: one Li Shishi was smiling charmingly on the stage, while another Li Shishi was looking at her clearly from within the painting!
She opened her eyes abruptly, her chest heaving violently. The brocade jacket, still warm from Ximen Da Guan's body, now felt scorching hot against her skin. Instinctively, she gripped the front of the jacket tightly, her fingertips trembling slightly.

"You rascal..." A soft, hoarse sigh escaped from her cherry lips and dissipated in the now empty warm room. What was she angry about with that "rascal"?

Please vote for me! My lords! Here comes the fourth installment in history, and another big update!

(End of this chapter)