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

Chapter 160 A Temporary Farewell to the Capital, Heading to Qinghe

The two walked and talked, greeted the maid, and entered the side room.

Master Ximen leaned back in his armchair, listened to Dai'an's detailed report, nodded, and patted Dai'an on the shoulder: "Good! You handled things efficiently. Let's wait and see tomorrow whether those filthy scoundrels dare to swallow my delicious bait!"

Before the words were finished, a high-pitched voice came from the backyard again; it was Li Shishi.

Dai'an shrank back as he was patted on the shoulder, overjoyed. But after listening for a while, he pursed his lips, leaned forward and whispered, "Uncle, listen to this. Li Xingshou is howling again, like a wild cat that can't find its den in the middle of the night. It's really creepy."

Upon hearing this, the high-ranking official raised his hand as if to strike, laughing and cursing, "What do you know!" While he cursed, his heart was secretly stirred by that sweet, melodious voice, and he thought to himself: This Li Shishi, she truly has a beautiful voice! When she's being charming, her voice is like a nightingale's song, with a breathy ending, clearly that of a captivating mature woman. But when she becomes clear and bright, it's like a phoenix chirping for the first time, a truly adorable little girl.

"In terms of appearance, she might be slightly inferior to Qin Keqing and Jin Lian'er, but her beauty lies in this: when she wears heavy makeup, her phoenix eyes are slightly raised, making her look like a peony with fine thorns, dazzlingly beautiful. When she wears no makeup, her eyebrows and eyes are curved, and her cheeks are like fresh lychees, making her look very charming and cute."

"Moreover, she has a voice that can switch between mature and cute at will. If she wore heavy makeup and styled her hair in a towering ponytail, paired with that mature voice, wouldn't she be both heroic and charming, captivating the heart? All that's missing is black stockings and high heels."

"If she wore no makeup, tied her hair in pigtails, and had that sweet, childlike voice... oh my! Just thinking about it makes my bones tingle, it's simply wonderful!"

After being scolded, Dai'an looked somewhat sullen, his neck stiff with resentment, and he said with a mix of stubbornness and smugness, "What you're saying, Uncle! All my skills in reading people and appreciating their expressions, which one of them wasn't learned from you? How could I not understand?"

Seeing his stubbornness, the official found it even more amusing and, wanting to embarrass him, pointed at his nose and laughed, "You glib-tongued, ignorant little monkey! Since you're so good at bragging, then tell me honestly, besides the women around our master, who in this Qinghe County has a body that can catch your thieving eyes?"

Dai'an was taken aback by the question. His thieving eyes darted around in their sockets, and he looked like a cat caught stealing fish, fidgeting nervously. He shuffled his feet along the ground, stammering for a long time before finally whispering in a low voice, "Well... in my humble... bold... and foolish opinion... it's naturally the Qian family... the Sun family... and that Li family..."

Upon hearing these three surnames, the official was first taken aback, then, as if stung by a scorpion, he sat up abruptly, his eyes wide open, staring intently at Dai An.

Sun? Which Sun? Could it be the magistrate's wife?

Madam Qian? Could it be the dignified and composed grandmother from Commander Zhou's residence?

Li? The widow Li across the street, the one whose husband died and who lives alone in her little courtyard?

The official's heart skipped a beat, as if a clear mirror had suddenly shattered, revealing everything in an instant.

These three women weren't exactly beautiful, but they had one thing in common: they were all incredibly voluptuous, with huge, fleshy bodies! Each of them had a defined bottom, a large chest, and a round waist. When they walked, the waves of flesh they created could probably drown a lean, skinny man!

What a thieving scoundrel! He's barely grown any hair, so he should be unable to look away from that pretty little maid. Why does he have such a heavy taste, staring at this ripe, fat melon?
The official felt a pang of self-reproach upon thinking about this. He looked up at the roof with a pout, wondering if he had been doing too much of the work of guarding the gate for his master.

Has it led us astray?

The official still didn't believe it and asked again, "Tell me what's so good about them?"

When Dai'an saw the official pressing him for answers, he was not intimidated at all; on the contrary, he became more energetic, as if he had been given a chance to test him.

He cleared his throat, counted on his fingers, and recited the list as if it were a treasure trove of knowledge, with a touch of youthful smugness and the excitement of discovering something secret. His eyes gleamed as he whispered:

"Please forgive me, my lord! Let me first talk about the county magistrate's wife, Madam Sun. Don't be fooled by her sitting upright in the back of the courtroom, looking like a dignified lady of high rank, with a stern face like a Bodhisattva."

But once, when I accompanied my master to the back hall of the county government to deliver a letter, I saw it from afar—good heavens!

She kept smiling at the little one, and the embroidered shoe tips peeking out from under her skirt kept hooking at the little one.

“And then there’s Granny Qian from the Zhou garrison,” Dai’an swallowed, his Adam’s apple bobbing, his voice carrying a strange longing:

"She always smiles at Xiao for no reason. Last year on the Lantern Festival, I happened to run into her at the Jade Emperor Temple. She was being helped by her maid as she passed by Xiao. When she saw Xiao, she lowered her head and her little hand brushed across Xiao's face and touched her."

"Finally, there's that young widow, Li, across the street," Dai'an said, his voice even lower, a blush rising on his face—a blush unique to young men, a mixture of curiosity and impulsiveness.

"Oh, poor thing, living alone in her little courtyard. But don't be fooled by her simple clothes and meek demeanor. One evening, I saw her sitting on a small stool by the door shelling soybeans, spitting melon seeds at me as she shelled them."

After hearing this, the official looked at Dai'an with a different expression, unsure whether what the fellow was saying was true or false.

"What a terrible thing... It's truly my fault..." the official sighed.

Dai An's "skills" were learned by following him around, by observing his actions and words.

They were supposed to be keeping watch at the gate, but now look what's happened—they've produced a "little expert." With such handsome features, those ravenous women would love to devour him whole.

Finding Dai'an still standing there dumbfounded, seemingly waiting for his "praise," he was furious and growled irritably:

"What are you still standing there like a corpse for? Waiting to collect your reward? Hurry up and get the master some hot soup for a bath."

Startled by the shout, Dai'an snapped out of his daze, shrank back, and quickly ran out.

Not a moment.

As soon as the curtain outside rustled, several maids dressed in red and green filed in, carrying hot water bottles, scented soap, bath powder, and towels.

The steam from the hot water, mixed with the warm fragrance of bath beans, instantly filled the entire room.

Ximen Qing glanced at Dai Anxin and thought to himself: No, I have to straighten out this little monkey's crooked thoughts!
He cleared his throat and pointed to the few slender, pretty maids:

"Dai'an! Go help these women, they can't possibly carry all this."

Dai'an responded loudly, "Yes, Uncle!" and ran over to the maids.

The maids smiled and, without refusing, stuffed all the empty and exchanged items into Dai'an's hands.

Surrounded by several young maids, Dai'an chattered away as he walked out. Just before leaving, he said in a clear, cheerful voice, "Thank you, Brother Dai'an! Thank you, Little Brother!"

Ximen Qing watched as Dai'an was enveloped in a sea of ​​red and green willows, and the chirping of orioles and swallows, before he began to undress himself.

Having been waited on hand and foot, he was really not used to not having Jinlian and Xiangling serving him.

Behind the screen, steam rose from a huge sandalwood bathtub, with a few freshly picked rose petals floating on the surface.

Ximen Qing stepped in naked, sighed comfortably, leaned his strong upper body against the tub wall, and closed his eyes to rest.

Just then, a light knock came from outside the door, followed by extremely light and rhythmic footsteps, like pearls falling on a jade plate, approaching from afar, exuding an indescribable allure.

The person who came was Li Shishi. She had just finished playing the string and wind instruments and practicing her skills. She was slightly sweaty and her delicate breathing had just evened out.

Upon hearing from the maid that Master Ximen had returned to the mansion, he felt as if he had a live rabbit in his hand. Without even changing his clothes, he went to find him.

She was wearing only a loosely draped light purple crepe blouse, the fabric of which was extremely thin and sheer. When she was steamed with sweat, the outline of her light green bodice was faintly visible underneath, which further accentuated her fair skin and jade-like neck, making them appear smooth and lustrous.

She wore a pair of silver-red, loose-fitting silk trousers with lotus vines embroidered in gold thread at the hem, tightly wrapping her two long, plump legs. As she walked, the flesh of her legs taut out a firm curve, and her buttocks were round and perky. With each light step, her body rippled gracefully, captivating all who saw her.

Her jet-black hair, as dark as clouds, was styled into a languid bun due to her martial arts practice, loosely held in place by a single white jade hairpin. A few strands of sweaty hair clung to her smooth, pink cheeks, adding to her alluring charm.

Her oval face was rosy, and a few tiny beads of sweat glistened on the tip of her nose in the candlelight.

Seeing that there was no one guarding the door, and even the official's trusted servant Dai'an was nowhere to be found, she was slightly surprised and thought something was amiss.

Without even calling out, she extended her slender, jade-like fingers and gently lifted the brocade curtain. With light, graceful steps and a swaying waist, she entered silently. Her captivating eyes casually swept over the scene before suddenly being fixed on the image on the screen, unable to look away for even a moment!

The screen was made of the finest plain silk, as thin as a cicada's wing, and was usually used as an elegant partition.

But at this moment, the room was brightly lit by candles, and the hot steam from the bathtub filled the air, vividly imprinting the scene behind the screen onto the plain silk!
On the smooth silk surface, the silhouette of a man lying face down in the water was clearly reflected. The water rippled gently, and the light and shadow swayed, making the reflection in the water sway slightly, float and sink, hazy and illusory.

He leaned back, his broad shoulders like steady mountains, casting a deep and powerful shadow on the silk, as if containing boundless energy. Water droplets slid down the reflected arms, leaving wet, glossy trails on the plain silk.

The most striking feature is the lines of those arms! Although separated by a layer of silk and distorted and twisted by the swaying water and light, the outline of the bulging and knotted muscles on those arms is clearly visible on the screen, pulsating and undulating, with veins bulging and distinct bulges, full of wild tension!

Li Shishi stood frozen in place as if under a spell, forgetting even to breathe! Her heart pounded wildly, causing her chest to tremble and heave.

She usually socialized with either white-haired, frail nobles and elderly men, or thin, frail so-called talented men who could only indulge in poetry and wine.

Most of them were thin and emaciated, never... never had they ever seen such... such a vibrant, muscular, explosively powerful and primal male body?
Even through the screen, through the silk, and through the misty water, the reflection still exuded a fierce and masculine energy that was almost domineering and piercing straight to the heart, as if a pot of boiling oil had been suddenly poured into her lukewarm heart.

In an instant, Li Shishi's stunningly beautiful face flushed crimson, even more vibrant and alluring than the most beautiful rose petals floating in the bathtub!
The delicate earlobes were tinged with rouge.

A snow-white, delicate goose neck, rising like a rosy cloud.

Even the delicate collarbone, faintly visible beneath her slightly open bodice, glowed with an alluring blush, as if coated with the finest rouge.

Just as Li Shishi was completely captivated, her heart tossed about by the reflection in the water, unsure whether to advance or retreat, the reflection on the screen suddenly moved! The scene behind the screen changed abruptly, as if struck by lightning! The figure on the white silk suddenly rose and stretched upwards! "Splash—!" The sound of water was like a celestial river pouring down, a waterfall cascading, shaking everyone's hearts!
Without the slightest warning, the man suddenly stood up naked from the bathtub! Water splashed everywhere, and steam billowed out!

Li Shishi felt a surge of scalding heat, carrying the scent of bath beans, suddenly choke her throat! She instantly lost her breath, saw stars before her eyes, and felt as if her soul was about to leave her body!

Her captivating eyes, which had been shrouded in a sense of loss and confusion, were now as if they were being tightly constricted by invisible iron clamps! Her pupils suddenly shrank to the size of needle points, fixed on the screen as if trying to pierce through the thin silk!
The reflection instantly became incredibly clear, enormous, and filled with a tyrannical sense of oppression!
A broad back, as wide as a door, with bulging muscles, casts a majestic, bronze-cast-iron-like shadow on the plain silk screen under the interplay of bright candlelight and misty steam!
Water droplets rushed down the deep, chiseled grooves of the spine and the hollows of the back muscles on both sides, leaving countless wet, glistening, and wildly pungent streaks on the silk surface.

The lines plunge downwards, their curves brimming with a raw and powerful elasticity and strength, exuding a masculine allure that leaves one dizzy and parched!
The reflection of that naked male torso, completely exposed, muscular, and bursting with explosive brute force, was even more visually striking than when he was lying on his side! Li Shishi felt a deafening roar in her mind, as if thousands of firecrackers had exploded on the top of her head, leaving her feeling utterly disoriented, her hands and feet icy cold, and her heart trembling like a withered leaf in the wind!
But this deadly scene isn't over yet!

In that deathly silence, that blood-pumping, suffocating moment, the massive, powerful reflection on the screen...

It was...it was...like a slow-motion horror film, slowly...with a suffocating sense of oppression...turned around!
That mountain-like body came straight at us!
A broad, thick chest, as solid as a door panel, and the shadows of well-defined, taut abdominal muscles, like armor...

Looking at this vibrant, breathtaking scene before me...

Li Shishi's captivating eyes were wide open, almost popping out of their sockets, staring intently at that deadly "reflection"!

That cherry-like mouth, which could captivate all with its melodies and exhale with the fragrance of orchids, was now wide open, wide enough to fit a peeled egg, yet it couldn't utter a sound. Only hot, broken breaths, tinged with sobs, moved in and out between its rapidly opening and closing lips.

Overwhelmed by shame and helplessness, she felt her burning blood rush to her head with a "buzz," making her dizzy and deafened. Then, in the next second, the icy coldness receded, and her legs went weak, as if all the muscles and bones in her body had been pulled out. With a "plop," she staggered backward, limp and covered in sweat!
"Clang! Crash!"

Her body, which had lost its strength, crashed solidly into a small plum blossom table next to her!

"Who?!" A deep, alert voice boomed from behind the screen!
This shout was like a bucket of ice water poured over Li Shishi's head in the dead of winter, instantly waking her from the dizzying abyss of disorientation and infatuation!
It's over! It's over! Damn it!
He...he must have found out I was peeping at him while he was showering!

Li Shishi, oh Li Shishi! You shameless hussy! You always pretend to be pure and innocent, keeping your distance from all nobles, how could you do such a shameless thing today? You actually hid behind the screen to peep at naked men taking a bath!
The thought was like a red-hot iron, sizzling and burning her heart, making her so ashamed that she wished she could find a crack in the ground to crawl into immediately!

How could she dare to answer? How could she dare to linger even for a moment? She was so ashamed and frightened that her soul seemed to fly out of her body and her spirit scattered to the heavens. Only one thought remained in her mind, screaming wildly: Run! Run!
She didn't even care about the pain of falling, and scrambled to her feet! With her face burning hot enough to fry pancakes, she used all the strength she had left to stumble and stagger, almost using both hands and feet, and ran desperately towards the door!

Through the thin, gossamer-thin silk screen, Ximen Da Guanren could only see a petite figure stumbling and staggering out of the door like a startled rabbit, her skirt fluttering as she rushed out. He could also faintly hear soft sobs.

The official was taken aback. "You peeked at me while I was taking a bath! Why are you crying?"

Meanwhile, deep within the palace walls, in the east pavilion of the Funing Hall, candlelight blazed brightly.

Empress Hyunsu, née Zheng, sat upright behind the imperial desk, her plump figure still outlined in full curves beneath the loose-fitting empress's everyday robes.

She intently reviewed the memorials, her slender, white hands, like jade, holding a vermilion brush. In the candlelight, her mature and beautiful profile was rounded and graceful, and the pearl tassels hanging from her phoenix hairpin swayed gently, adding a touch of languid majesty.

In recent years, the emperor has become engrossed in calligraphy, painting, and Taoist practices, neglecting state affairs, while she has long been handling his affairs, reviewing memorials and assisting with important matters.

Suddenly, from the inner chamber came the imperial physician's trembling voice, filled with joy: "He's awake! His Majesty is awake!"

The Empress's heart skipped a beat! Her vermilion brush fell onto the memorial with a "thud," leaving a glaring red stain, and she abruptly stood up!
Her voluptuous waist moved her body, and even the wide sleeves of her robe could not conceal the rounded figure unique to a mature woman. She strode towards the dragon bed, her hips swaying with each step, and her rapid breathing brought a faint blush to her mature and beautiful face.

Inside the bright yellow dragon tent, Emperor Huizong's eyes remained tightly closed, his face as pale as paper, but intermittent, extremely weak groans were emanating from his throat.

The Empress rushed to the bedside and called out urgently, "Your Majesty? Your Majesty?" Seeing that the Emperor still hadn't opened his eyes, she immediately turned her phoenix eyes sharp and fierce, sweeping them over the several imperial physicians kneeling before the bed. Her voice carried an undeniable air of authority: "Your Majesty, what's wrong...?"

The head imperial physician, drenched in sweat, prostrated himself and reported in a trembling voice, "Your Majesty is indeed showing signs of regaining consciousness! This is an auspicious sign that the phlegm in your throat has loosened and your mind is about to return! However, Your Majesty's body is too weak and you still need to rest for some time before you can fully regain consciousness!"

Upon hearing this, the Empress's heart, which had been hanging in suspense, eased slightly, and the worry on her face lessened. She nodded demurely, "Yes. You must all do your best and serve him carefully." Her gaze remained fixed on the Emperor's face, not shifting even for a moment.

Just then, Liang Shicheng approached silently and whispered, "Your Majesty, Consort Wei and several ladies are outside requesting an audience. They are concerned about Your Majesty's health and have come to inquire after your well-being."

The Empress did not turn her head, but said coldly, "His Majesty's health is just beginning to improve, and he should not be disturbed. Tell him that the imperial physician said His Majesty needs to rest quietly and should not be disturbed. Once His Majesty is fully recovered, he will be summoned."

"besides!"

"His Majesty is blessed with boundless fortune, and his health is gradually improving, which is truly a blessing for the nation. Effective immediately, the martial law at the Nine Gates is lifted! Tomorrow at dawn, the Nine Gates will open as usual. Merchants and common people may go about their business in peace and without obstruction!"

"However! In the capital, petty scoundrels and ruffians take advantage of the situation to cause chaos and harm innocent people; they are a malignant tumor! Tell Gao Qiu! Strictly arrest and clean up their ranks, and make sure to eradicate them completely! Otherwise, when the Emperor wakes up, you will have to answer to him with your head!"

Liang Shicheng bowed and replied, "Yes." He then quietly withdrew to deliver the imperial decree.

A heavy silence fell over the hall once again, broken only by the emperor's faint breathing and the crackling of the burning candlelight.

The Empress sat down again on the brocade stool beside the dragon bed, her posture dignified, her gaze fixed on the Emperor's tightly closed eyes.

The corners of her full lips curved upwards in an extremely subtle way, unnoticed by anyone.

It's good that you're awake... It's good that you're awake... This Song Dynasty, this Emperor's heart... When the Emperor awakens, the first thing he must see is me!
The next day, outside Li Shishi's villa.

Dressed in brocade robes and adorned with a jade pendant, Ximen Qing, accompanied by his clever servant Dai'an, arrived at Li Shishi's elegant and refined backyard to bid her farewell.

Standing at the door of Li Shishi's boudoir was Xiao Taohong, her personal maid. The young girl's eyes darted around, and upon seeing this menacing-looking official, her heart skipped a beat. She forced a troubled smile and curtsied.
“My lord! It’s really unfortunate. My young lady is not feeling well today. She has a terrible headache and is resting in bed. She really cannot receive guests. There’s no need for formalities or farewells. You may leave.”

Ximen Da Guanren raised a thick eyebrow: "Oh? Not feeling well? That's quite a coincidence."

"I have some knowledge of traditional Chinese medicine. Would you like me to come in and examine your young lady's body?"

Little Peach Blossom thought to herself: What would happen if you went in!
He shook his head vigorously, blocking the doorway with his body: "Oh dear! No! Absolutely not! Sir, please have mercy! Miss said she wouldn't see anyone, not even the Heavenly King himself! Just let her rest for a day."

The official sighed, "Very well, very well! In that case, please tell your young lady to take good care of herself. Thank you for your hospitality these past few days. I will come to the capital to visit her again another day and express my gratitude in person!" With that, he turned and left with Dai'an.

Just as Ximen Qing and his servant disappeared around the corner.

With a soft creak, the carved door to Li Shishi's boudoir opened a crack!

Li Shishi peeked out, wearing only a jade-colored and light red bodice with two thin straps tied behind her neck, revealing a large expanse of her snow-white, plump, and rounded shoulders. She wore a pair of silk trousers as thin as cicada wings, and her bare, exquisite feet stepped on the cold floor.

Her hair was loose and untied, her pretty face still flushed, and her eyes and brows still held a hint of languor and trepidation from just waking up.

"Little Peach Blossom...that...that jinx...is really gone?" she asked in a low, hoarse voice, her eyes hesitant as she peered towards the door.

When Xiao Taohong saw her mistress come out looking like this, she was terrified. "Oh my goodness!"

She stamped her foot as if to answer, the words still stuck in her throat—

"Li Hangshou, you haven't left yet? Are you looking for me?"

Ximen Qing, the nobleman, stood innocently at the corner, his tall and imposing figure leaning against the screen wall.

The two locked eyes, and Li Shishi was shocked, as was he.

I was just thinking of telling Xiaotao later, I didn't expect to see this scene of spring blossoms being exposed.

Time seems to have stopped!
Li Shishi felt all the blood rush to her head! Her almond-shaped eyes widened, her cherry lips slightly parted, and she stared incredulously at the man in the doorway, then looked down at herself… “Ah—!!!”

A deafening, humiliating scream nearly ripped the roof off!

As if splashed with boiling oil, Li Shishi clutched her chest with both hands, ignoring the coldness on her feet. She turned around sharply and slammed back into the room with all her might, then slammed the door bolt shut behind her!
Immediately afterwards, a suppressed, tearful sob came from inside the door, followed by the crashing sound of something being knocked over.

Outside the door, Xiao Taohong, looking utterly dejected, stood with her hands on her hips and rolled her eyes at the still-shocked Ximen Da Guanren.
"My dear sir! Look! Look closely! Well done! Your 'surprise attack' was quite something... tsk tsk tsk!"

She pouted and said resentfully, "Now look what's happened! Even though Miss wasn't sick, I've made you sick!"

Sigrún has taught at the Iceland University of the Arts as a part-time lecturer since and was Dean of the Department of Fine Art from -. In – she held a research position at Reykjavík Art Museum focusing on the role of women in Icelandic art. She studied fine art at the Icelandic College of Arts and Crafts and at Pratt Institute, New York, and holds BA and MA degrees in art history and philosophy from the University of Iceland. Sigrún lives and works in Iceland.

The official and Dai'an, both wearing high-brimmed felt hats from Fanyang, hunched their shoulders and slipped into the smoky, crooked, dilapidated teahouse at the entrance of Bianzi Alley.

The teahouse was filled with choking smoke, but the bald man was sitting in the middle of a crippled bench with one foot on the bench.

Behind him stood three or four scoundrels with fierce expressions, arms crossed, glaring at people.

Seeing the high-ranking official enter, the bald-headed man snorted a foul breath from his nostrils, didn't even lift his eyelids, and cracked two shiny walnuts in his hand with a "crack":
"We brothers will take the blame for this dangerous job!" He suddenly looked up, his gaze like a poisoned knife, piercing straight at us. "But you'd better give me a straight answer on when this 'meat' will be ready!"

The official bowed repeatedly in delight: "There are our moles lying in wait in the merchant caravan!" He lowered his voice, but every word pierced the ears: "Three days from now, at the first quarter of the hour of Mao (5-7 AM), the Ximen official's caravan will set off precisely on time!"

Upon hearing this, the bald-headed man grinned, revealing his yellow teeth, and sized up Ximen Da Guanren before letting out a strange laugh like that of a night owl: "Good! That's satisfying!"

"Remember! Prepare enough silver. Three days later, at the beginning of the Mao hour (5:00 AM), send someone with the reward to follow my brother's lantern at the south gate of the capital!"

(End of this chapter)