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

Chapter 165 Everything is ready, amusing incidents in the wives' and concubines' bedroom

After the official finished explaining the important matter to Wu Song,

Wu Song clasped his hands in acceptance of the order, his face solemn, and uttered the words "I will not fail in my mission" with unwavering resolve. The solemnity on his purplish-red face had not faded, but it seemed that there were other words stuck in his throat.

Ximen Qing was about to turn around when he saw that Wu Song's tall figure had not moved. Instead, he clasped his hands in a fist salute again, bowing even deeper, his voice low and carrying a barely perceptible earnestness:

"Master, there is one more thing. I, Wu Er, humbly request your permission."

Ximen Qing paused, turned to the side, and glanced at Wu Song's face: "Oh? What else is there? Speak."

Wu Song raised his head, his eyes gleaming, and stared directly at Ximen Qing: "Master, tomorrow afternoon, that Sun Erniang will be executed at the vegetable market outside the east gate of Qinghe County!"

"Thinking of the incense offerings, Wu Er boldly begs the master to allow him to take a short leave in the afternoon to go to the execution ground... to collect her remains and find a secluded place to bury her with her husband Zhang Qing. That way... that their love as husband and wife will be fulfilled, and they won't become lonely ghosts."

Upon hearing this, the high-ranking official casually waved his hand:

“It’s only natural to consider our past relationship! Go ahead! This is such a small matter, why ask for leave? You can go this afternoon! But…” His tone changed, and his eyes sharpened again, “Don’t let us miss that ‘important matter’ we just agreed on!”

Upon hearing Ximen Qing's agreement, Wu Song felt a weight lifted from his heart, and his tense, purplish-red face relaxed somewhat. He clasped his hands tightly again, his voice booming, "Thank you for your kindness, Master! Wu Er understands! I will certainly not delay your important matter!"

The official said no more, leaving the mournful-faced Dai'an behind, patted Wu Song's iron-like arm, and swayed out of the courtyard.

He then rode his horse to other parts of Qinghe County, seeking help from several groups of people and drinking several rounds of tea before finally settling down. Everything was ready except for the final push.

The official then turned back home and went straight to his own lavish and thriving silk shop.

Before anyone even stepped across the threshold, the place was already bustling with noise. All sorts of people crowded the shop: women pulling at fabrics, wealthy families with servants selecting brocades, and even a few self-righteous, arrogant scholars from Qinghe County.

In the past, these people would avoid Ximen Qing at all costs, fearing it would tarnish their "pure reputation." But today is completely different!

The scholars who had achieved academic success saw Ximen Qing's tall figure appear at the door from afar, and the pitiful scholarly composure on their faces instantly vanished.

They rushed forward as if they had seen a living Buddha, their faces beaming with obsequious smiles, vying to get ahead, bowing lower than shrimp, and calling out in high and low voices:

"Master Xianmo has arrived! Your student greets you!" "Oh my, Master Xianmo looks radiant; there must be more good news to celebrate!"

"I have long admired the dignified presence of Master Xianmo, and it is my great honor to meet you today!"

These literati, who usually spout classical phrases and flaunt their "integrity," are now fawning over this newly appointed "master." They have no "literary integrity" whatsoever, only eagerly currying favor with him. Their faces are even more enthusiastic than the slickest hangers-on on the street.

Ximen Da Guanren wore his usual smile and greeted him with a respectful bow, but he knew perfectly well what was going on: these scholars, though they pretended to be aloof and arrogant, were not as straightforward and honest as those sycophants!

There's a saying among the common people: "I'd rather take a punch from a brute than bow to a scholar."

These pretentious scholars, when they turn their hearts black, can turn ink into arsenic. They are the most hypocritical, vicious, and ruthless. If they can't get a smile from you today, they will find a reason to slander you and ruin you beyond recognition tomorrow!

The shopkeeper, Xu Zhi, came out from the back and, seeing the esteemed gentleman arrive, quickly stepped forward to bow.

"My lord! You've finally arrived! I have urgent business to attend to, and I'm waiting for your instructions with my eyebrows in the wind!"

Ximen Qing lifted his robe and sat down on the armchair in the back room of the shop, where a clever servant had already served him fragrant tea.

He picked up his teacup, slowly blew away the foam, and without even lifting his eyelids, said, "What's the panic? Is the sky falling? Speak!"

Xu Zhi quickly took a half step closer, lowered his voice, and forced a half-joyful, half-sorrowful expression on his face, like an actor: "Replying to your question, sir, these days at the shop have been a mix of joy and sorrow!"

"Oh? What brings joy? And what brings sorrow?" Ximen Qing sipped his tea, his tone indifferent.

"That's wonderful!" Xu Zhi's voice rose slightly, tinged with excitement:
"Thanks to your good fortune, the batch of 'common satin' and 'clear silk' that you ordered before the New Year, as well as those brightly dyed 'lake silk', has been almost completely sold out! Money is flowing in like water, and the warehouse is much lighter. Isn't this a great joy?"

Ximen Qing's lips twitched almost imperceptibly, which could be considered as approval.

This high-volume business was based on his understanding of the trend of ordinary people and middle-class families needing to make new clothes during the New Year. He aimed for small profits but quick turnover, accumulating wealth gradually until he filled the market, leaving Meng Yulou's cloth shop across the street with nothing to sell.

"Hmm. What's wrong?" Ximen Qing put down his teacup, his gaze sharp as lightning, and shot towards Xu Zhi.

Xu Zhi's joy was immediately replaced by worry. He rubbed his hands together and lowered his voice again: "My worry is this 'joy'! It's good that the goods are selling fast, but... the inventory in the warehouse is about to run out!"

"At this rate, I'm afraid we won't be able to keep up for more than half a month before we run out of supplies! This... this pile of silver, won't we just have to watch it slip through our fingers? I'm afraid it will end up benefiting the cloth shop across the street."

He paused, glanced at Ximen Qing's expression, and cautiously asked, "I dare to ask for your instructions, sir: Our shop's 'group of ten' promotion... the stock is almost gone. Should we continue this promotion? Or... stop it? If we continue, I'm afraid we won't have enough stock to pay for it later."

After Xu Zhi finished speaking, he stood aside with his hands at his sides, looking expectantly at Master Ximen, waiting for a decision.

The official knew in his heart that if the payment of eight hundred taels of silver had not been intercepted by bandits on the way, the silk caravan that followed would have already entered Qinghe County by now, instead of ending up in this field where food was scarce and the crops were about to run out.

But this cannot be said to Xu Zhi. There is no point in talking about such things; it would only cause trouble. The fewer people who know about it, the better.

Besides, once the group of thieves in the capital is dealt with, the second group might be able to catch up while we're on our way.

His eyelids drooped slightly, and after a moment's thought, he made a decision:

"No need to stop! Keep driving!"

Upon hearing this, Xu Zhi finally felt relieved. He had personally witnessed how the "group of ten" amassed wealth and was already deeply impressed. He knew that this boss was far more shrewd and ruthless than that miser Zhang.

He immediately nodded and bowed repeatedly, replying like a chicken pecking at rice, "Yes, yes, yes! Your insight is brilliant, sir! I understand! I understand!"

He bent even lower, his face plastered with an extremely obsequious smile, but then his tone shifted, revealing an barely suppressed excitement:

"But... sir, I stumbled upon a lucrative deal yesterday! It's truly a rare find!"

"Oh?" Ximen Qing raised an eyebrow, intrigued, and leaned forward slightly. "How difficult is it to find? Tell me!"

As if presenting a treasure, Xu Zhi carefully took out a small object from his sleeve, about half the size of his palm, and respectfully presented it to Ximen Qing with both hands: "My lord, please take a look at this!"

Ximen Qing reached out and took it. He immediately sensed its extraordinary quality! The material was as light as a feather, yet it subtly exuded a resilient strength.

Although he was not skilled in needlework or embroidery, he could tell that the fabric was as dark as black jade, with intricate patterns woven with extremely fine and dense gold threads.

Upon closer inspection, the gold thread was not ordinary gold foil wrapped in silk; it seemed to have been tucked with the feathers of some kind of bird, shimmering with a strange and beautiful blue, green and gold hue under the light, changing with the angle as if it were alive!
What's even more remarkable is the embroidery technique, with its intricate interweaving of warp and weft threads as fine as hair, and the natural patterns of the stitches, exuding an air of nobility and exquisite craftsmanship reminiscent of imperial palaces.

"What...what is this?" The official's fingertips caressed the smooth, satin-like fabric, and the more he looked at it, the more he felt that the embroidery was intricate and the materials were luxurious.

Xu Zhi glanced at Ximen Qing's expression, then took another half step forward, his throat tight with suppressed breath, his voice as low as a mosquito's whisper, yet his tone carried an irrepressible heat and mystery:

"My lord! This item is called the 'Peacock Gold Fur Robe'! It's truly extraordinary! Look—"

He pointed at the fabric with his finger, his eyes shining. "It's truly peacock feather eye stitch, woven into red gold thread, stitch by stitch, inch by inch, all embroidered by the painstaking efforts of top-notch embroiderers! It's no ordinary skill!"

He swallowed hard, and his words became increasingly uncontrollable: "Back when I was learning my craft in Jiangnan, I heard my master mention that this was an imperial item! A rare treasure sent from overseas vassal states thousands of miles away! Even the inner court has very few of these, and the ladies of the palace have to use them sparingly, so they don't see them often!"

"Outside? Heh heh, even the old embroidery craftsmen in Suzhou and Hangzhou, who have been making this kind of exquisite and ethereal style for years, can't even dream of imitating it!

The official nodded slightly, grunted, and asked, "How did you manage to get your hands on such a rare piece of material?"

Xu Zhi's face immediately lit up with smugness, his wrinkles spreading wide with a smile, and he hurriedly bowed, saying:
"I was just about to inform you, sir! A young lady came to the shop yesterday, and she was..."

He squinted, smacked his lips, as if savoring the memory, "...tall and slender, she walks with the grace of a willow in the wind, and has a certain air of heroism and shrewdness, but her hairpins and earrings are rather simple. Although her clothes are not particularly rich, the air about her is, tsk, not like the kind of daughter raised in a poor family."

"She was carrying a bundle of exquisitely embroidered handkerchiefs in her arms. The stitches were so fine that they rivaled those of the Heavenly Weavers. The patterns were novel and ingenious, and the materials were of the highest quality! The craftsmanship was amazing; it was on par with the top masters in Suzhou and Hangzhou! She asked if our shop would accept them."

Xu Zhi glanced furtively at Ximen Qing's expression, and seeing that he was listening attentively and showed no impatience, he continued, "I took note of it at the time. Although those handkerchiefs were nice, they were still just small items, not worth a fortune. What's strange is that in this rough northern land, there are embroiderers whose skills are no less than those of the skillful women in the south! So I tried to get information out of her, asking if she had any hidden treasures or rare items?"

"Who knew that the woman was so straightforward? In the course of our conversation, she actually pulled out this material, saying that as long as we could find good material, she could commission such a rare treasure!"

"When I saw this material, I was terrified! My goodness! It's a tribute item that even the imperial palace treasures! I immediately tried to negotiate with her, pleading and begging, and she reluctantly agreed to leave this small piece of 'Peacock Gold Fur' material here, as if cutting off a piece of her own flesh!"

"Upon seeing it, I took it upon myself, audacious as a dog, and went straight to the counter to withdraw silver, taking all of it, including that batch of finely crafted handkerchiefs and this precious piece of material! It was all done in haste, without informing the sir first, and I had no choice but to do it. I deserve to die!"

As he spoke, his knees buckled, and with a thud, he was about to kneel down in the dust and kowtow to beg for mercy.

The official waved his hand dismissively and laughed, "Manager Xu! Since I've entrusted this shop to you, I naturally trust you completely! When it's time to use your keen insight, you should act decisively! You've done a good job on this small matter! What's wrong with that? In the future, if you encounter such a good opportunity, just go for it!"

Upon hearing this, Xu Zhi felt as if he had been granted a pardon. He was so grateful that he bowed repeatedly, saying, "Thank you for your kindness, sir! Thank you for your trust, sir!" He straightened up, his eyes gleaming with the shrewdness typical of a merchant, and his voice trembled slightly with excitement.

The official spoke lightly, but Xu Zhi had worked in several silk shops for many years and knew that it was a major taboo for the shopkeeper to tamper with the money in the store.

Which business owner would be willing to delegate so much power? Not to mention that he was even given a share of the silk shop! This trust and kindness warmed his heart, and he secretly gritted his teeth and swore that he would spend the rest of his life working even harder for the silk shop.

He quickly stepped forward, lowering his voice even further, revealing an intense sense of secrecy and eagerness:
"My lord! You are wise! That gold-embroidered cloak... hehe, this is truly the golden lotus seat beneath the Buddha's feet! An incredible path to wealth! If we could get hold of that girl and get involved with the embroiderer behind her... just imagine, we could embroider a few large pieces of fabric that are as rare as tribute items in the imperial palace, and put them in this shop!"

"Good heavens! Let alone Qinghe County, even those old, arrogant brands in the capital and Suzhou and Hangzhou will be crushed into the mud by us! The sight of them, wow..."

The official nodded repeatedly, his face remaining expressionless, but his heart was in turmoil.

While Xu Zhi's description of the "treasure of the shop" was certainly good, it was not what he was thinking about at the moment.

He had a deeper calculation in his mind: if he could get his hands on such a precious and rare item, even in the inner court, and send it discreetly to the residences of those important figures... he could use it as a ladder to make connections and advance his career, a stepping stone to get things done...

Its value is far beyond that of a mere "treasure of the store" displayed in the shop. That is truly making the most of everything. Thinking of this, a glint flashed in his eyes, and a smile appeared on his lips.

After hearing this, Ximen Qing snorted and tapped his fingers lightly on the smooth rosewood tabletop twice. He said slowly, "Hmm, it's good that you understand. Since you want to win over that girl, you can raise the price a bit when you buy her embroidery in the future. There's a place for that money."

Upon hearing this, Xu Zhi hurriedly bowed, his face beaming with a fawning smile: "Your insight is brilliant, sir! I understand, I understand!"

Ximen Qing nodded in satisfaction, took a sip of tea, then suddenly remembered something, changed the subject, and lowered his voice:

"There's one more thing. The silk ordered by that 'ten-person group' is due for delivery on the due date. Remember, on the surface, you should still agree, but secretly delay each batch of goods by a few days. Don't say it outright, just say that there were delays on the way or that the new goods need time to be inspected."

A barely perceptible glint flashed in his eyes. "Once the rest of the silk arrives in the warehouse, we'll deliver it all 'on time.' Understand?"

Xu Zhi knew what the master was thinking. He understood immediately, bowed even lower, and said in a voice full of understanding and obedience, "Don't worry, master! I understand!"

Ximen Qing then got up to leave, and Xu Zhi escorted him to the door with great courtesy.

Leaving the silk shop, Ximen Qing mounted his tall, fine horse, flicking the whip lightly, but not in a hurry to go home. He rolled his eyes, pulled on the reins, and deliberately took a detour, passing by Meng Yulou's cloth shop.

The cloth shop was quite large, and there were a few women and maids going in and out. Ximen Qing reined in his horse and stopped across the street. He saw that the shop was mostly filled with coarse linen and fine hemp, ordinary cloth, and several women and maids were picking and choosing, rummaging through the cheap goods.

Then look at the shop next door that stands out on its own, with a gold signboard that reads "Superior Silks from Suzhou and Hangzhou"—it's so deserted you can hear mice squeaking!
Inside were two young men, one slumped against the counter, drool practically dripping onto the rolled-up silk, clearly fast asleep. The other, holding a bald feather duster, listlessly brushed it across the thin layer of dust on the silk, like dusting a corpse.
Meng Yulou's long legs and beautiful figure were nowhere to be seen.

Is the silk business something anyone can just start and thrive in? Without connections and resources, it's all just a mirage.

After observing the desolate state of the Meng family's cloth shop, Ximen Qing turned his horse around and went to his own herbal medicine shop. This herbal medicine shop was the Ximen family's main business, and from the manager to the clerks, they were all trusted old men who had followed him for many years and were used to being ordered around.

Moreover, with Wu Yueniang, the head wife, personally overseeing the accounts and finances, it's ten times more reliable than a silk shop.

Ximen Qing went in and sat for a while, flipping through the account books. Seeing that the transaction details were clear and the income was stable without any problems, he felt relieved.

This inspection trip delayed him, and by the time he left the herbal medicine shop, the sun had already rolled below the western hills, leaving only a dark, old-gold-leaf-like afterglow on the horizon.

On the street, the shops on both sides lit up their dim lanterns, and only then did the official realize that his stomach was rumbling.

Without further thought, he spurred the horse on, and the sturdy steed carried him along the cobblestone path, trotting all the way to the brightly lit and fragrant West Gate mansion.

The moment Ximen Qing stepped across the high threshold of the mansion, Ying Bojue, like a skinny dog ​​smelling meat, darted out from behind the screen wall.

He had been waiting there, rubbing his hands together and grinning obsequiously. Now, with a fawning smile plastered on his face, his wrinkles so deep they could trap a fly, he rushed forward, bowed deeply, and exclaimed, "Oh, my dear brother! You've finally returned home! I've been waiting for you for so long!"

He followed behind the adults, walking into the hall and speaking in a low voice:

"My dear brother! You have now climbed the ladder to heaven and gained immense prestige from the government! We brothers are eagerly waiting to congratulate you and share in your heavenly blessings, aren't we?"

He glanced at Ximen Qing's expression and shamelessly continued:
"Look, the brothers have unanimously elected me to invite you to the altar! Tonight, you absolutely must do me the honor of joining us! We're going to that newly opened 'Drunken Spring Pavilion' on Lion Street! Hey! The courtesans there are all fresh as green onions!"

"I've heard there are also foreign girls from overseas, tsk tsk, their skin is so white it's dazzling, better than freshly squeezed milk! We brothers must keep our brother company and have a good time all night! Let's also help you relax your muscles and bones!"

Seeing the half-smile on Ximen Qing's face, Ying Bojue's heart tightened, and he hurriedly patted his chest and added, "This time, you don't need to pay, brother! This time, it's a sincere tribute from your brothers! We've already pooled our money to prepare a lavish feast for you, the best in Qinghe County! There will be plenty of delicacies! You can just wait to be a god and enjoy it!"

After listening to his rambling, the official laughed and patted him lightly on the shoulder twice: "Good brothers, it's rare to find someone with such a kind heart. But..."

He then dragged out his words, revealing a hint of languid weariness, "I just returned from the capital, and spent the whole day running around outside. I'm exhausted, my bones feel like they're falling apart. There's still a lot of things to take care of at home."

The fawning smile on Earl Ying's face froze instantly, but his eyes darted around. In a flash, the smile spread across his face like oil, and he slapped his thigh, his voice rising several octaves:

"Oh dear! Yes, yes, yes! Look at your pig brain, brother! You deserve a beating! You deserve a beating! What is your status now, brother? In the manor, Sister-in-law Yue Niang is a virtuous and benevolent mistress, like a bodhisattva! And the beautiful maids in the house, aren't they all celestial beings descended to earth, as beautiful as Chang'e in the moon?"

He winked and deliberately lowered his voice, making it sound soft and sultry: "With such a golden nest, such a brothel, living a life of pleasure and decadence in this gentle land, who would bother to glance at those withered flowers and filthy goods outside?"

He leaned closer, a wicked grin spreading across his face: "Hehe, that top courtesan in Li Jiao'er's courtyard, in your eyes, brother, she's probably not even worth mentioning. In my humble opinion, only her own niece, Li Guijie, is barely worthy of your attention!"

The official chuckled twice but didn't reply. The smile on his face vanished completely, and he said in a serious voice, "You've come at the perfect time. I have two extremely important matters to attend to, and you absolutely must handle them."

Seeing Ximen Qing's change of expression, Ying Bojue immediately dropped his lewd and smug demeanor, straightened his back, thumped his sunken chest loudly, and swore an oath:
“Dear Father! My living ancestor! Just give the order! I’ll go through fire and water, I’d be inhuman if I even blinked! If I even flinched in water or fire, you can break my legs!”

Ximen Qing nodded slightly: "Yes. These two matters are increasingly important, especially the latter one... it involves enormous risks! Not a single whisper or mishap can be tolerated! Do you understand?"

He raised his chin and beckoned with his finger, "Ear, come closer!"

Ying Bojue's shiny, slick head, so smooth that even a fly could split it, was immediately drawn to Ximen Qing's mouth as if by a magnet.

He held his breath, his ears perked up like a rabbit's, not daring to utter a single sound.

At times, Earl Ying would nod like a chicken pecking at rice, his chin almost poking into his chest; at other times, his brows would furrow into a deep knot, and his eyelids would twitch.

Finally, a look of sudden realization mixed with a hint of ferocity and ruthlessness flashed across his thin face, and he forced out a series of rapid responses from deep within his throat:
"I understand! I understand perfectly! Good brother, you can rest assured! I guarantee I'll handle it flawlessly, not even a god could find a single flaw!"

After giving his instructions, Ximen Qing straightened up and called out loudly, "Yue Niang!"

Upon hearing the sound, Wu Yueniang came out from the inner room. Her face was as gentle as ever, but there was still a blush from last night on her cheeks and neck, giving her a lazy and slightly tired spring feeling.

"Moon Lady, bring me fifty taels of silver," Ximen Qing ordered.

Wu Yueniang paused almost imperceptibly, her lips moved slightly, but she lowered her eyes and humbly squeezed out a whisper from her throat: "Yes, sir."

She turned and went into the inner room. After a short while, she came out carrying a heavy silver envelope with snowflake patterns and handed it to Ximen Qing.

Ximen Qing didn't even glance at it, casually tossing the silver to Ying Bojue: "Here, this is your fee for doing the job. Be clean-cut. After it's done, you'll get another fifty taels!"

Upon receiving the heavy silver envelope, Earl Ying's face instantly creased into a blooming chrysanthemum, his eyes crinkling with laughter. He hurriedly tucked it into his robes, clutching it tightly as if afraid it would fly away.

He bowed and scraped to Ximen Qing and Wu Yueniang, saying, "Thank you for the generous gift, Uncle! Thank you, Sister-in-law! Don't worry! I'll get it done right away! I'll make sure it's done perfectly!"

Having said that, like a mouse that had stolen some fat, he scurried away like the wind, his departing figure radiating an irrepressible elation.

Wu Yueniang gave a knowing look, and Xiaoyu understood, quietly slipping out.

The room was now empty except for the couple. Only then did Yue Niang move her golden lotus feet closer, lowering her voice, a cloud of sorrow clouding her brow.
“My lord,” she said, her throat tightening slightly, “yesterday, the messenger who delivered the imperial decree, along with all the officials and servants who offered congratulations and made arrangements, spent a staggering sum of silver… a total of thirteen hundred taels. And now the treasury…”

She paused, her voice growing even lower and more timid, "Even if we include all the loose silver and copper coins, we still can't scrape together three hundred taels. With festival gifts, social obligations, household expenses, and monthly allowances for each household all needing to be covered, how... how are we going to manage this?"

She raised her eyes, quickly glancing at Ximen Qing, her silver teeth biting her cherry lips: "How about... you listen to me... take out the few pieces of gold and kingfisher feather jewelry, and the white jade hairpins and ornaments that came with my dowry and were kept at the bottom of my trunk, and find a knowledgeable old pawnshop, or sell them to the Zhou family's jewelry shop on the front street, at least for now..."

"Oh?" Before she could finish speaking, Ximen Qing reached out and lightly patted her smooth cheek twice. "You're willing to do that? My good wife! Do you think I don't know? Your precious little thing, hidden in a gilded box, you take it out every few days to examine it in the sunlight, to wipe it left and right with soft silk, treating it like your own eyeballs! Are you really willing to cut off your flesh?"

When he exposed Wu Yueniang's secret, two fiery red blushes suddenly rose on her cheeks, burning all the way to her ears and the back of her neck. She was so ashamed that she couldn't lift her head and could only twist the handkerchief in her hand tightly.

After a long pause, she finally managed to whimper like a mosquito: "My lord, please don't tease me... Even if I'm your darling, I'm still a member of the Ximen family! As a member of the Ximen family, there's no such thing as 'personal property.' My body and belongings all belong to you, my lord, they all belong to the Ximen household! When it's time to be used, let alone these few pieces of trash, even..."

Although her voice was soft, it carried a resolute force.

"Hahaha!" Seeing her shy, anxious, and swearing oaths of loyalty, Ximen Qing felt a surge of joy, as if he had drunk fine wine.

He stretched out his arm and pulled the soft, fragrant woman into his embrace. With his other hand, he pinched her plump cheek and said affectionately, "It's my fault! When I came back yesterday, I was only concerned with quenching my longing for you three. I kept you up all night, and after getting up, I was busy with several important matters. I forgot to tell you about this important matter."

He paused deliberately, glancing at Yue Niang's puzzled almond-shaped eyes, a smug smile playing on his lips, and slowly said:

"Do you think your husband only brought back a scroll of imperial edict on yellow silk from this trip to Tokyo?" With that, he released Yue Niang and calmly pulled out a thick stack of things from the inner pocket of the Hangzhou silk close to his skin!
The items were all brand-new official banknotes, with crisp paper, bright red seals, and the distinctive scent of fresh ink and silver.

Ximen Qing held the thick stack of paper between two fingers, and with a light and skillful flick of his wrist, he imitated the opening and closing motion of a gold-flecked fan, producing a series of crisp "whoosh" sounds!
The silver note unfolded suddenly from his fingertips like a peacock spreading its tail, shiny and dazzling, carrying a heavy air of wealth, almost as if it were being flung onto Yue Niang's face!

"Well--!"

Wu Yueniang's usually gentle and affectionate almond-shaped eyes suddenly widened like copper bells!
His pupils clearly reflected the layers upon layers of densely packed vermilion characters for "Five Hundred Taels" and "One Hundred Taels"! The sheer amount was like a mountain of gold and silver crashing down on him with a deafening roar!

Her lips were slightly open, but like a goldfish out of water, she couldn't take in a single breath for a long time. Her throat made a gurgling sound, and she couldn't utter a single word.

He froze on the spot, like a clay or wooden sculpture, as if he had been frozen in place.

That usually sharp mind, which was in charge of the household affairs and meticulously managed every penny of money, was now a complete mess, a blank blank, with only the dazzling golden light of the stack of silver notes shimmering before his eyes.

She instinctively tried to raise her hand to cover her mouth, but her fingertips trembled so badly that even the kingfisher feather and pearl tassel hairpin at her temple shook violently, the pearls clinking and jingling.

Just then, Pan Jinlian and Xiangling entered one after the other, one carrying a Ding kiln white porcelain covered bowl and the other carrying a red lacquered tray filled with two cups of freshly brewed, piping hot, fragrant tea, which were for the master and Yue Niang.

"Clang! Crack!"

Pan Jinlian slammed the delicate white porcelain covered bowl in her hand to the ground, shattering it into pieces! The scalding tea spilled out, wetting the hem of her pomegranate-red skirt, but she was completely unaware!

Xiangling was so frightened that she lost her mind. The tray in her hand tilted, and half of the other cup of tea was spilled. The embroidered handkerchief with lotus flowers slipped from her hand and fell into the water stains!

The two men's four eyes were fixed on the thick stack of silver notes in Ximen Qing's hand, which was almost blinding, like iron filings attracted by a magnet.

The densely packed vermilion ink characters on it looked like a red-hot branding iron, sizzling and burning their hearts!

"Oh my goodness!" Pan Jinlian gasped, her voice trembling and shrill.

Xiangling was so frightened that she lost her mind, and her fair face instantly turned pale.

The two of them, without prior arrangement, looked like two raccoons with their tails singed, and with a "whoosh," they pounced towards the door!
Jinlian hurriedly and clumsily inserted the brass latch and pushed it hard.

Xiangling used her petite body to brace herself against the door, her chest heaving, and she kept looking back, her eyes filled with fear that a burly man who could scale walls and leap over the eaves would break down the door and steal the silver at any moment!
No wonder those two little girls were so flustered and out of their minds.

They had only been in the Ximen household for a short time, and the only money they had left over was a few taels of loose silver that they had managed to save by squeezing it out from between their teeth and fingers when they were maids in their old house.

Normally, it's hidden in an embroidered purse close to the skin, but only when sleeping can it be placed under the pillow for peace of mind.

Silver notes? Such precious items were a rare sight back in the old master's house. Just seeing the steward holding one or two notes from afar was considered a great privilege!
I've never seen such a thick stack of paper before. It could probably buy up half of the silk shops on Lion Street in Qinghe County, including the hidden doors in the back alleys!

Seeing the two women's flustered and helpless appearance, Ximen Qing was first taken aback, then burst into a deafening laugh:
"Hahaha! Look at you two, so pathetic! A few scraps of paper and you're scared out of your wits? What are you doing locking the door? I'm in Qinghe County, do you think I'm afraid of being targeted?"

I felt that the two lovely girls' current foolishness was even more alluring than their seductive charm.

After laughing, he casually stuffed the heavy stack of silver notes into Wu Yueniang's arms as if it were a handkerchief to be tossed aside: "Here, my good wife, keep it safe. This is how your husband operates!"

The moment the silver note was inside her bosom, Wu Yueniang felt as if a red-hot iron weight had been suddenly shoved into her arms! It was so heavy and hot that it almost burned through her heart and soul!
She felt her heart pounding wildly, as if she were holding a startled rabbit, so much so that her fingertips went numb and even the silver notes in her arms were trembling!

"I...I..." Yue Niang opened her mouth, her voice dry and tight, unable to utter a single coherent sentence.

She took a deep breath, forcing down her heart which was pounding in her throat, and looked up at the two "door gods" still firmly blocking the door. Her voice trembled without her even realizing it: "Jin... Jinlian! Xiangling! Quick! Come here! Help... help me count! My heart is pounding, and my hands are shaking. I'm afraid... afraid I'll miscount!"

Pan Jinlian and Xiangling were jolted awake by their mistress's summons. They hurriedly released the door panel they were holding up, ignoring the mess on the ground, and ran over, stepping over the broken porcelain and water stains.

The two approached Yue Niang, but their gazes were drawn to the stack of silver notes as if by a magnet.

With trembling hands, Yue Niang pulled out two bills from the thick stack and handed them to the two women. Jinlian and Xiangling instinctively reached out to take them—and what they received were two large "Five Hundred Taels of Silver" bills!
"hiss--!"

Both of them gasped simultaneously! The light piece of paper suddenly felt heavier than a thousand pounds! The moment Pan Jinlian's fingers touched the cold paper, she recoiled as if stung by a scorpion!
Xiangling's wrist went limp, and the five-hundred-tael silver note slipped from her hand and was about to fall to the ground!
"Ouch!" Xiangling and Jinlian were terrified when they saw the fluttering silver notes and hurriedly rushed down to grab them!

How could they possibly have time to help count the money?

The two of them were sold back and forth, and in total, they were worth no more than a few dozen taels of silver.

This light, flimsy piece of paper is enough to buy twenty fresh-faced young women like them, which they can roll and shape!
The two of them finally managed to snatch the "lifeline" back from the ground in a flurry of activity. They carefully held it in their hands, wrapping it again and again with a silk handkerchief. They didn't dare to count it or even hold it too tightly for fear of wrinkling it.

(End of this chapter)