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

Chapter 163 The High-Ranking Official Returns to His Lovely Abode

The chill of late autumn, carrying fallen leaves, swirled and crept up people's necks.

Although Li Ping'er wore a luxurious cloak, she was only wearing a thin apricot-red silk jacket underneath, tied with a moon-white embroidered skirt, all to show off her slender figure.

A gust of cold wind made her nose slightly red, which accentuated her delicate, porcelain-like face, making it appear even more exquisite and fair. She wore a headdress adorned with golden and kingfisher feather ornaments, a trembling gold phoenix hairpin tucked behind her ear, and pearl earrings. In the crowd, she stood out like a crane among chickens, radiant and dazzling.

But his gaze was like a knife chilled to ice, fixed on the scene of receiving the imperial edict inside the gates of the Ximen mansion, especially on Wu Yueniang, who was holding the edict with a beaming smile.

Seeing the imperial edict on yellow silk being presented to the altar by Wu Yueniang as if it were a phoenix egg, seeing all the prominent officials and gentry in the city bowing and addressing Wu Yueniang as "Madam," and seeing Wu Yueniang's bright red and gold brocade jacket dazzling in the sunlight... Li Ping'er felt a surge of sour, astringent, and bitter turbidity rushing straight to the top of her head!
"Hmph!" She almost snorted through her nose, her voice not loud, but it carried a chilling coldness. "They're all girls from official families, so how come Wu Yueniang is so lucky to marry someone who has connections to the highest levels and get such immense prestige!"

Her mind was in turmoil, and the more she thought about it, the more uneasy she felt.

The image of Ximen Qing, with his bare, bronze-colored, muscular upper body, wielding a staff that reached his eyebrows, involuntarily appeared in his mind's eye!
Under the moonlight, his chestnut-colored flesh was clearly defined, taut and undulating, with beads of sweat rolling down his bulging muscles, hitting the ground with a sound like metal striking stone! That was a true man, upright and strong, vigorous and powerful.

The scene flashed by, then suddenly transformed into the present moment when Master Ximen, dressed in a brand-new scarlet official robe and wearing a black gauze hat, stood majestically before the incense table, receiving the imperial decree on behalf of Wu Yueniang! How awe-inspiring and heroic he must have been!

That handsome, slightly wicked smile—how many times had she flirted with him, openly and secretly, taking advantage of being neighbors? But that damned man seemed like a block of wood, completely oblivious to romance! Or perhaps… he looked down on her?

"Pah! You cowardly filthy bastard!" Li Ping'er spat at her master in her heart, her teeth itching with hatred. She couldn't help but slam her gold-threaded embroidered shoes down on the cold stone floor! The force made the small golden bells under her skirt jingle wildly.

Her eyes swept across the crowd and she caught sight of Hua Zixu not far away, cowering in the crowd, craning his neck to look ahead. His cowardly appearance, like a quail, resembled a rat stealing oil, only daring to peek out of its hole.

A surge of anger welled up in Li Ping'er's heart, and she couldn't help but say, "You're a blind fool too! Open your eyes and look! You and Master Ximen are sworn brothers!"

"Now that he's risen to the top, imperial edicts have even been delivered to his doorstep! Instead of taking advantage of this 'relationship,' you should stand tall and proud, walk into his mansion, stand by the gate and bask in his glory, and show off your status! Instead, you're like a legless crab crawling in a soup pot, cowering in this crowd, peeking out! You're getting your just desserts! You've disgraced your ancestors for eighteen generations!"

Hua Zixu flinched from her poke, shrinking back and forcing an embarrassed and fearful smile. His voice was barely audible: "...Keep your voice down! Inside... inside are all distinguished gentlemen and dignitaries! County magistrates, imperial envoys... what kind of pomp and circumstance is that? I... I'm just a..."

He paused, then changed the subject: "...If we were to squeeze through rashly and bump into someone important, how could that be allowed? Besides, that threshold... is not a place where just anyone can stand?" His eyes darted around, only daring to glance at the ground.

Following his timid gaze, Li Ping'er happened to see Ying Bojue, Xie Xida, and their gang of sycophantic scoundrels kneeling by the gate of the Ximen mansion. They were quite clever, having already knelt on the stone steps beside the gate. Although they couldn't enter, they had occupied a good position that they considered "honorable." Their faces were full of fawning smiles as they bowed and scraped to the noblemen inside, like dogs wagging their tails and begging for mercy.

As the saying goes, when one person attains enlightenment, even their chickens and dogs ascend to heaven; even rats and bedbugs can benefit from the afterglow.

And look at her nominal husband beside her! A man of stature, yet he can't let go of his long-lost pride, unwilling to grovel like Ying Bojue, and he lacks the ability to stand tall and proud as a brother!

He was truly a "great man" who could neither stretch nor shrink, a complete piece of rotten mud that couldn't be plastered on a wall! A piece of stinking pond ash that couldn't be used to plaster a wall!
My family is no worse than Wu Yueniang, so why do I always end up with people like her?

Li Ping'er was so angry that her vision blurred, and her chest felt like it was stuffed with a tattered cotton wad, making it hard for her to breathe. The lively scene at the Ximen mansion seemed incredibly irritating to her eyes.

She couldn't bear to watch this scene of raging inferno any longer; she felt that every second she stayed was torture! Every glance would shorten her lifespan by ten years!
"Go!" Li Ping'er suddenly flicked her sleeves, wrapped her cloak tighter, ignored Hua Zixu, and, with her personal maid Yingchun, turned and squeezed through the crowd, walking quickly towards her own mansion with light, quick steps and without looking back.

Upon entering her somewhat deserted courtyard, Li Ping'er's anger and resentment intensified. She didn't go into the main house, but stood under the covered walkway, where the cold wind swirled with withered leaves. She suddenly turned and grabbed the wrist of her personal maid, Yingchun, with such force that Yingchun cried out in pain.

Li Ping'er stared intently at Yingchun, her usually bright and sparkling almond-shaped eyes now filled with anxiety, resentment, and self-doubt: "Yingchun! Tell me the truth! Am I...am I ugly? Am I not as good as Wu Yueniang?" Her voice trembled slightly.

Yingchun was startled by her stance, her wrist throbbing with pain, but she dared not break free. She quickly apologized with utmost care, saying hastily, "Oh, my dear grandmother! You're making me feel so bad!"

"To be honest, without a single lie: with your looks, your figure, your bearing, let alone Wu Yueniang, in the entire Qinghe County, the only one who can compare to you is probably the maid next door named Pan Jinlian! And that's only because you didn't dress up properly today! If you dressed up properly, even the fairies in heaven would give you some respect! Who dares to say you're ugly? I'll be the first to tear their mouths apart!"

Li Ping'er slumped out of Yingchun's wrist, leaned against the cold pillar, and gazed at the faint sounds of commotion coming from the direction of the Ximen residence. She sighed softly, feeling a mix of grievance, resentment, and confusion, thinking to herself:
"If that's the case... I've already... I've already lowered myself to... to provoke him, that damned bastard... why... why won't he just say 'I'll eat you up'?" Thinking of that bastard's strong chestnut-like flesh, she felt her legs go weak, her heart ached and itched, and she was so angry that her teeth were churning with nausea.

Meanwhile, at the Ximen mansion, things were in full swing, with the imperial edict shining brightly.

The atmosphere was filled with joy, drums and music filled the air, and the voices of congratulatory people were deafening; the sounds could be clearly heard even from several streets away.

In contrast, there was the Rongguo Mansion's jade-canopied, pearl-embroidered, eight-treasure carriage that had driven away from Shuiyue Nunnery.

The carriage was lined with thick scarlet wool and filled with the finest lily incense. Wang Xifeng reclined on a pale yellow pillow, her fair face radiating authority, her phoenix eyes half-closed, her fingertips unconsciously twirling the round pearl embroidered on her cuff. The pearl was icy cold, yet it could not quell the wicked fire burning within her.

Qin Keqing sat opposite, wrapped in a silver-fox fur coat. Her delicate face still retained the rosy complexion she had when she was with the official, adding to her graceful and delicate charm. She carefully observed Feng Jie's expression with her affectionate eyes.

The man and woman from earlier had already been seized like wolves by the Jia family's cunning servants who had caught wind of the affair. Their mouths were gagged, and they were thrown like pigs onto the blue cloth mule cart that followed behind, and sent directly to the yamen. It was all done cleanly and efficiently, without even stirring up a speck of dust.

Wang Xifeng didn't bother to investigate the background of the siblings or find out which family they belonged to; it was completely unimportant to her.

The cloud of doubt in her heart grew ever larger, pressing down heavily. This was the real thorn in her side—that personal seal! What an important object was Wang Xifeng's personal seal?

If this seal were left lying around in the inner hall of the Jia family mansion, it would take a lot of people to search the entire mansion without anyone noticing. Even the most trusted maids needed instructions to bring certain items in, so they certainly wouldn't have the guts to forge a letter.

There were only two people: one was her own aunt, the esteemed and respectable Lady Wang; the other was her philandering and often unreliable husband, Jia Lian!

The two names rolled on her tongue, but she swallowed them back down. One was a close elder relative, the other was her husband with whom she shared a bed. If either of them were involved in this sordid affair of "stealing seals and forging letters," it would be enough to tear a hole in the Rongguo Mansion!

Even with her decisive and ruthless nature, Wang Xifeng felt as if her hands and feet were bound by invisible ropes, her heart aching with a suffocating pain.

She subconsciously looked up and met Qin Keqing's eyes, which seemed to hold unspoken words and were filled with endless unspoken thoughts.

Qin Keqing was incredibly clever and perceptive. How could she not have figured out the intricacies of the situation? However, both of them were Wang Xifeng's closest relatives. Between them, Qin Keqing was caught in the middle. How could she speak up? And it was not something she could do to rashly point it out.

A suffocating silence fell over the carriage once more. Only the monotonous rumble of the wheels rolling over the cobblestones echoed through the carriage.

After a long silence, Qin Keqing leaned forward slightly, her voice extremely soft and gentle, like a feather brushing against the ground, yet carrying a calmness that seemed to have seen through the ways of the world: "Auntie, in my opinion... there's no need to fixate on this loose thread within our own family."

Wang Xifeng's eyelids twitched, and her sharp gaze pierced her.

Qin Keqing paused, her slender fingers gently tracing the engraved patterns on the brazier, and continued, "That letter... wasn't it handed over by Abbess Jingxu? Since she was the one who handled it, how could she not know the details?"

"How about... we send a few capable and discreet people, without alerting anyone else, just saying we've invited her over to our residence to preach and inquire about cause and effect. Once she's 'invited,' we can close the door and 'ask' her carefully. Auntie, with your methods... are you afraid we can't pry open her thin lips?"

As Wang Xifeng listened, her tightly furrowed brows gradually relaxed, and a cold smile slowly curled at the corner of her mouth, like rouge dipped in poison: "Good! What a fine 'preaching about cause and effect'! Ke'er, your words have truly struck a chord with me!"

She sat bolt upright, her usual domineering aura instantly returning. She raised her voice and ordered, "Wang! You personally take two burly women, hitch up the carriage, and wait at Shuiyue Nunnery! When Abbess Jingxu returns, tell her I've invited her to the residence for important 'Buddhist matters' to discuss! Remember, be 'polite' in your invitation! If she makes excuses..."

Wang Xifeng's voice suddenly turned cold, like an icicle in the dead of winter: "...You know what to do!"

A loud reply came from outside the car.

Qin Keqing, watching Feng Jie'er's closed-eye concentration and hidden murderous intent, gently lowered her gaze, her long eyelashes concealing a complex and unfathomable emotion within. The water in this deep, secluded mansion has never been clear.

When Master Ximen returned to Qinghe County, the sun had already set, and the golden crow had fallen to the ground, burning the horizon with fiery red clouds, which blazed brightly on the vast mortal world.

It was just as the city lights were coming on and the streets were bustling with activity!

The main street of Qinghe County was truly a den of iniquity and a bewitching maze! Carriages and horses were packed together, sedan chairs were side by side, pedestrians were jostling each other, and the noise was deafening.

The restaurants and eateries on both sides were brightly lit, as if it were daytime. The shouts of people playing drinking games, the sweet voices of courtesans singing songs, and the decadent tunes of string and wind instruments mingled with the smoky and pungent smells of frying and cooking, the greasy and sweet fragrance of cosmetics, and the incense wafting from the brothels and theaters... all of this steamed up all at once, hot and sticky, enough to make your bones melt!

What's most eye-catching are the brothels and pleasure houses lined up along the street! There are embroidered pavilions and vermilion towers, with colorful lanterns hanging high; beaded curtains half-rolled up, and red sleeves swaying.

"Lichun Courtyard", "Cangchunwu", "Baihualou", "Xiaojinku"... one after another, their storefronts were even more impressive than those of legitimate shops!

There are no fewer than twenty or thirty well-known high-class brothels near South Street alone! Not to mention the hidden brothels and private establishments, it truly is "thirty-six lanes of pleasure and seventy-two pavilions of music and entertainment," where revelry never ceases day and night!

Ximen Qing rode a tall, fine horse, followed by his trusted servant Dai'an. The hooves clattered as they made their way along the gleaming bluestone path illuminated by the lamplight.

On both sides of the street, windows of the brothels creaked open, revealing countless heads adorned with powdered faces. Each head was covered in thick, white powder, with delicately drawn eyebrows, bright red lips, and fashionable flowers tucked into their hair.

Some of the bolder and more outspoken ones, recognizing the powerful and influential Master Ximen, would adopt a high-pitched, delicate, and trembling voice to greet him: "Oh my! Isn't this the newly appointed Master Ximen? You've finally returned!"

"My lord! My lord! When will you come to my humble abode for a cup of warm wine?"

Even more frivolous ones would hold handkerchiefs or towels soaked in fragrant sweat in their hands, and as Ximen Qing approached, they would grin and pretend to accidentally toss them toward his horse's head!
The red, green, and pink handkerchiefs, carrying an alluring fragrance of body odor and perfume, fluttered down like butterflies.

One was lost, which caused a burst of laughter. The girl behind her followed suit with giggles and laughter, and for a moment it was like a rain of fragrant handkerchiefs! This caused the idle men on the street to howl and scramble to pick up the items that smelled of beautiful women.

There is a poem that says:

The sweat-soaked handkerchief falls like rain, and the fragrant breeze carries ten miles across the river bridge.

As soon as the official turned around, a wave of coquettish laughter arose. Even the ladies in respectable shops, the women buying and selling oil and salt, the women strolling around the silk shops, and even the maids working in the kitchen at the alley entrance, couldn't help but peek through the cracks in the door and on tiptoe when they heard the commotion outside.

Seeing Ximen Qing's suave and smug appearance, some people pursed their lips and cursed him under their breath as a "killer," while others couldn't help but feel their hearts flutter and their faces flush, stealing glances at this number one womanizer in Qinghe County.

Strangely, the merchants, hangers-on, and even complete strangers who recognized him on the street, upon seeing this scene, all made way to the side of the road, their faces beaming with obsequious smiles, bowing and scraping repeatedly, and shouting incoherently:

"The master is back! Greetings to the lord!"

"Lord Ximen's imperial favor and grace have brought glory to our hometown!"

"We little ones are benefiting! We're benefiting greatly!"

"Please take care, sir! I will come to pay my respects another day!"

Astride his horse, Master Ximen frowned slightly, wondering to himself, "How strange! In the past, these scoundrels would cower and dodge me as if I were a living Yama. Why are they so obsequious today? The fear on their faces seems so genuine...respect?"

He glanced sideways and saw Dai'an following beside the horse. The little monkey was also staring wide-eyed, clearly having noticed the difference as well.

The scented handkerchiefs and handkerchiefs that enveloped Ximen Qing only deepened his doubts. He tightened his reins, slowed his pace, turned to Dai'an who was riding closely behind, and lowered his voice, which carried an unfathomable quality:

"Dai'an, you have the sharpest eyes. Tell me the truth, is it that my eyes are blurry and my ears are deaf today? Why does it feel like... something's off about the smells all over the street?"

Upon hearing this, Dai'an shrank back, and the smug look on his face immediately turned into extreme caution: "Oh my god, old man! Your eyes are like fire! You haven't been fooled at all! I've been wondering about this too, this matter... is strange!"

Ximen Qing raised an eyebrow and snorted coldly, "Oh? What's strange about it?"

Dai'an, feigning humility, chuckled awkwardly, "Uncle...you're so wise! This handkerchief...hehe, it's naturally for you...but..."

"What is it? Spit it out! Stop stammering like a woman!" Ximen Qing impatiently pointed at him with his riding whip.

Dai'an steeled his heart, forced a "simple-minded" smile that looked worse than crying, and whispered, "Uncle... I'll be bold and tell you the truth, please don't be angry... The strange thing is—today, all these fragrant handkerchiefs... they're all aimed at your head and body! Not a single one is going in my direction!"

Ximen Qing was taken aback: "What do you mean by that?"

Dai'an shrank his neck and chuckled dryly twice: "In the past, when I followed you, Uncle, through these red-light districts... although eight or nine out of ten of those prostitutes threw their handkerchiefs at me because of your dashing appearance, there were always a few who were blind enough to give me one. But today, it's all the same, all of them went for you, Uncle!"

Ximen Qing: "..."

Before long, they arrived at the gate of their own mansion on Lion Street. Good heavens! The lanterns in front of the gate were high and bright as day, and the area was packed with people.

Looking further inside, dozens of tables of sumptuous banquets had already been set up in front of the main hall and courtyard, filled with neighbors and acquaintances.

Ying Bojue, Xie Xida, Zhu Shinian, Sun Guazui and their sworn "brothers," along with Chang Shijie, Wu Dian'en and the like, were eating with greasy mouths, playing drinking games, shouting and making a ruckus.

The sharp-eyed Earl Ying was the first to spot Ximen Qing's arrival. As if springs had been inserted into his bottom, he jumped up with a "whoosh" and shouted in his hoarse voice, "Oh my goodness! Our Master Xianmo has returned to the manor!"

This shout was like a thunderclap. The entire feasting crowd in the courtyard, as if struck by a gust of wind, rose from their seats and knelt down in unison! They kowtowed repeatedly, shouting in a chaotic uproar:

"Kowtowing to Master Ximen Xianmo!" "Welcome back in glory, Master!" "Your Majesty's imperial favor and grace have brought honor to our hometown! We, your humble servants, are so fortunate to share in this glory!"

Ying Bojue, Xie Xida, and the others were as if they had seen a living Buddha. They scrambled to the front of the horse, wishing they could cling to Ximen Qing's leg, their faces beaming with honey.

"Big brother! My dearest big brother! You are now a top celebrity in Qinghe County! Even the county magistrate rides his horse to escort you with your imperial decree. We, your bunch of good-for-nothing brothers, are also shining with pride thanks to you, and we walk with a swagger!"

Wang Sanguan, dressed in a brand-new brocade robe and a fashionable square scarf, looking quite respectable, knelt down on the oil-stained ground with a thud and kowtowed three times to the Western Master.
"Godfather, I, your unfilial son, kowtow before you! Congratulations on your glorious return!"

Surrounded by this entourage, Ximen Qing was surrounded by deafening flattery and the stench of wine and meat. Though he wore a smile and responded politely, "Get up, all of you, get up."
But that gaze, as if drawn by some unseen force, had already pierced through the layers of people and the clamor, bringing together the three lovely girls watching him from afar.

Beneath the moon gate leading from the main hall to the inner courtyard!
There stood three beautiful women. The one in the lead was none other than his lawfully wedded wife, Wu Yueniang, dressed elegantly and dignifiedly. Behind her, on her left, was the charming and graceful Pan Jinlian, with eyes full of spring, and on her right, the delicate and endearing Xiangling.

These three women looked exactly alike!
Three pairs of beautiful eyes, shimmering with light, their rims red, filled with water that looked exactly like dewdrops rolling on the tips of lotus leaves, trembling, sparkling, heavy, and about to spill over!
However, they all bit their lower lips tightly, forcibly maintaining the dignity of the mistress of the house and the decorum of the inner maids, stubbornly refusing to let the tears fall in front of all the guests in the courtyard.

All that grievance, joy, anticipation, and endless longing was contained in those brimming tears!

When Master Ximen saw this, he felt as if something had struck his heart hard! All that talk of the illustrious lord, the imperial favor, and the flattery from the audience—it all became utter nonsense in an instant!

A surge of hot, rapid warmth rushed to the top of his head, and he could no longer care about the filthy, shameless people kowtowing, flattering, and taking advantage of him standing there!

He abruptly pushed aside Ying Bojue in front of him, strode through the crowd, and reached the moon gate in a few steps. Amidst the astonished gazes of the entire courtyard, he grabbed Wu Yueniang's slightly cool hand! Her hand was trembling slightly.

He remained silent, only giving Yue Niang a deep look. His eyes held no trace of his former power, only the weariness of a long journey and the eagerness to return home. Then, with a slight gesture of his other hand, he called out to Jin Lian and Xiang Ling in a low voice, "Come in with me!"

Having said that, he ignored the clamor and flattery that filled the courtyard behind him, took Yue Niang's hand with one hand, and led Jin Lian and Xiang Ling through the moon gate without looking back, heading straight for the brightly lit but relatively quiet inner hall.

All that remained was a mess of cups and plates in the front yard, and a group of guests who looked at each other blankly, kneeling there, too afraid to get up.

Lai Bao and Dai An, who were standing nearby, were very perceptive. They quickly called out to their servants to stop Ying Bojue and the others who wanted to follow them in and join in the fun: "Gentlemen, the master has had a long journey. Please rest first. We will definitely hold a banquet another day and drink with you all! Please! Please! Keep up the good fun! There will be plenty of wine and drinks! Don't be shy!"

Earl Ying and his brothers realized what was happening and decided to help their good brother greet the neighbors.

Wang Sanguan had already quietly gotten up.

He walked steadily and unhurriedly into the hall. Although the county magistrate had already returned to his residence, there were still many low-ranking officials present.

"My lords, my godfather has been ordered to return home today. He is carrying out the imperial decree and needs to prepare documents immediately. He has no time to accompany you for long. Please forgive him if there is any neglect."

His gaze swept across the table as he picked up the wine glass in front of him:

"On behalf of my adoptive father, I would like to offer you all a toast. You are all pillars of our region and have worked hard for the country. Let us drink to our hearts' content today. When my adoptive father has more free time, I will certainly invite you all again to reminisce about our friendship."

These days, with Ximen Qing keeping his temper in check, he has been trained by Madam Lin to have some of the airs of an official.

The heavy curtains inside the hall fell, shutting out the stench of alcohol and the noisy chatter from outside.

Ximen Qing had just released Wu Yueniang's hand, and hadn't even stopped in his tracks—

Wu Yueniang, the matriarch who always had "propriety" ingrained in her bones, completely forgot that Pan Jinlian and Xiangling were watching her from behind!

Suddenly, her voluptuous body leaned forward, her lotus-like steps quickening, completely disregarding etiquette, and she softly bumped into the master's arms.

That usually dignified and composed face was now tilted back, her beautiful eyes shimmering with tears, which rolled on her round, full cheeks, threatening to fall but not quite, making her skin appear even whiter and more radiant.

Her lips were slightly parted, releasing a warm, sweet fragrance.
"My lord... I've finally... welcomed you back..." Her voice trembled, carrying a seductive, tingling sensation.

"I miss...I miss my wife so much..." These words, which had been suppressed for too long, finally broke through her tightly clenched teeth, and with a resentful, hot breath, sprayed onto Ximen Qing's neck.

Ximen Qing took the opportunity to embrace the full, warm, and soft breasts and looked down at her.

Yue Niang struggled to hold back her tears, her willow-leaf eyebrows slightly furrowed, her full lips moving as if she wanted to speak but hesitated. Beneath her forced composure lay deep grievance and longing.

He raised his other hand, his fingertips carrying a hint of barely perceptible tenderness, and gently brushed across the damp mark on her fair cheek. Where his fingertips touched, the soft flesh slightly indented, then bounced back, leaving a delicate pink imprint.

With a mixture of pity and a hint of teasing, Ximen Qing said, "Moon Lady, why are you shedding tears today, just like these two crybabies behind you?"

Wu Yueniang shook her head in his arms, her fair neck slightly turned, revealing a rare girlish demeanor. She nestled her soft body even closer to him, and said coquettishly with a nasal tone, "I don't care... even if I were to die right now, it would be worth it!"

She tilted her head back, her tearful eyes gleaming with an unusual light, her cheeks flushed with emotion, and her voice choked with a triumphant fierceness:

"I, Wu Yueniang... have finally... have finally lived up to the expectations of the Ximen family's ancestors! Our Ximen family... has finally achieved this day! The imperial decree paves the way! Glorifying our family!"

"Under the netherworld... when Yue Niang... sees her parents-in-law, sees the ancestors of the Ximen family..." Her breath was rapid, her chest heaving violently, "I... can finally stand tall and have a clear conscience!"

In the end, the tears she had been holding back suddenly burst forth, her voice choked and broken, carrying a great sense of relief and heavy exhaustion after completing her mission. Her whole body seemed to have lost its strength, making her appear even more soft, plump, and delicate.

The two little figures behind them were even more pitiful, one with a wanton and lustful air, the other delicate and sentimental, gazing longingly at the official in front of them.

(End of this chapter)