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

Chapter 175 The Official's Team
Having obtained the information he wanted, Wu Tang led Ximen Qing through a dark passageway to another, slightly "cleaner" cell.

This cell was noticeably more spacious than the one for Lazi San. The floor was covered with relatively dry straw, and there was even a simple wooden bed in the corner. There was also a small window in the wall that let in a sliver of light.

A strong, stern-faced man, dressed in prison clothes but with his back straight, sat cross-legged on a haystack, eyes closed, resting. It was Shi Wengong.

Hearing the door open, Shi Wengong slowly opened his eyes. His gaze, sharp as an eagle's, bypassed Wu Tang and landed on Ximen Qing. There was no fear or obsequiousness in his eyes, only an almost cold calm and scrutiny.

He sized up the official, a slight twitch appearing at the corner of his mouth, his voice low and hoarse, yet exceptionally clear:

"If I'm not mistaken, you must be the powerful and influential Master Ximen of Qinghe County, who can turn the world upside down with a flick of his wrist?"

Ximen Qing put on a friendly smile and cupped his hands in greeting: "Lord Shi has a good eye! It is indeed Ximen Qing."

He stopped beating around the bush and took out a folded document from his sleeve. He then unfolded it in front of Shi Wengong with a whoosh. It was an arrest warrant with a bright red official seal and a portrait of Shi Wengong on it!

"Lord Shi is a wise man," the official's voice carried an air of complete control, though the smile didn't reach his eyes. "I won't beat around the bush either. I already know the whereabouts of your wife and that one-year-old child."

Shi Wengong's face remained cold and hard, but the official keenly noticed that the knuckles of his clenched fist turned white instantly, and the veins on his temples throbbed slightly.

The official abruptly changed the subject: "To be frank, I want you to serve me, and I'll guarantee you won't suffer the torment of being wanted by the police, and I'll ensure the safety of your wife and children, and that you'll have no worries about food or clothing. Not only that, I'll provide you with thirty taels of silver every month, clothes for all four seasons, and a house—I will treat you without fail! What do you say?"

To everyone's surprise, Shi Wengong didn't hesitate at all, and without even thinking, he uttered a heavy, iron-like word: "Alright! I agree!"

This time it was the official's turn to be stunned. The smile on his face faded, and his eyes became sharp and scrutinizing: "Oh? You agreed so readily? It makes me a little... uneasy. Instructor Shi, give me a reason to put your mind at ease!"

Shi Wengong looked directly at Ximen Qing, his gaze open and honest, even carrying a hint of weariness and resolute acceptance of worldly affairs:
"Firstly, with this arrest warrant issued, there is nowhere left for me, Shi, to hide in this vast world! Apart from becoming an outlaw, there is only one path: death. If you, sir, are willing to give me a way out, how could I, Shi, be so ungrateful?"

"Secondly," his voice carried a barely perceptible bitterness, "I stayed in the capital, holding a nominal position in the local militia, receiving a meager salary, swallowing my pride and enduring the exploitation of my superiors. What was I after? Nothing more than not wanting to leave my wife and children at home, and just wanting a peaceful life! If it weren't for them, with my abilities, how difficult would it be for me to go to the western border and earn a good reputation!"

"Thirdly," Shi Wengong's gaze became unusually deep as he stared intently at Ximen Qing, saying each word clearly, "Even Wu Song, who captured me, is now willing to submit to your command, Master... This military yamen is considered a powerful local force, yet it is so subservient to you, Master!"

He paused, then said with unwavering resolve, "This clearly shows that you, sir, are far more than just a simple 'merchant' on the surface! I, Shi, am willing to follow you as wealth and fortune rise, to ensure the safety and prosperity of my entire family, so that we will not suffer any losses!"

Upon hearing this, the official's astonishment slowly faded, finally transforming into a deep and satisfied smile. He clapped his hands and laughed, "Good! Good! Good! From now on, you will be the instructor of my Ximen household. You are indeed a wise man!"

"I will make arrangements immediately to bring Instructor Shi's family to Qinghe County and settle them properly!"

Upon hearing this, Shi Wengong finally let down his guard and solemnly clasped his hands in a salute to Ximen Qing, saying, "Shi Wengong greets Master!"

The official said to Wu Tang beside him, "I'm sorry to trouble you, brother-in-law! Let him out!"

Shi Wengong was then "invited" out of the relatively clean cell by two jailers.

Shi Wengong never expected that he had underestimated his new "master"!
He had just been in the gloomy, terrifying, and strictly disciplined military prison.

His back foot had already stepped onto the bluestone road outside the yamen!
The heavy wooden shackles were nowhere to be seen, and he was even wearing a worn but thick cotton robe to keep warm.

The whole process was so fast it was like a dream. Everyone in the military and guard yamen treated Master Ximen with more respect and obedience than they would their own ancestors, as if this den of dragons and tigers was truly Master Ximen's own backyard!
Shi Wengong followed behind Ximen Qing, watching Wu Qianhu personally escort him to the door with an excessively warm smile on his face. Even though he was a man of many talents, Shi Wengong was still shocked: "This master... his connections are so extensive?!"

However, what surprised him even more was yet to come. Ximen Qing did not take him back to his mansion, nor did he go to a restaurant. Instead, the carriage took a roundabout route and stopped in front of the dilapidated gate of the Qinghe County Militia Office!
Shi Wengong looked up and saw that the walls of the government office were mottled, the gate tower was low, and there was not even a decent stone lion at the entrance. There were only two old soldiers wearing faded and patched uniforms, dozing in the doorway with their worn-out spears, a scene of desolation.

Before Ximen Qing could even get out of the carriage, the militia headquarters erupted in chaos. A flurry of hurried footsteps approached, and with a loud crash, the two battered, peeling doors were flung open!

A short, stout middle-aged man, dressed in a wrinkled militia officer's uniform, with only one boot shod and the other barefoot on the cold ground, rushed out as if his backside was on fire. This man was Zhang Mengfang, the militia commander of Qinghe County.

Zhang Tuanlian's chubby face beamed with a smile, and he clasped his hands in a fist salute from afar, his voice so loud it could shake the dust off the gate tower: "Oh my! I knew those crows in the yamen this morning were cawing so loudly! It was so annoying! Turns out it was all for the sake of our distinguished guest arriving today!"

"I knew it! The cold wind in the twelfth lunar month feels like a young lady's hand on my face, soft and warm with the scent of spring! I figured it must be that you, Master Ximen, are about to descend upon my humble abode! Quick, quick! Come in! It's warm inside!"

As he spoke, he frantically tried to pick up the boot that wasn't properly on, looking both comical and incredibly eager.

Ximen Qing, carrying a hand warmer, slowly got out of the carriage, his face bearing his usual warm smile, having long been accustomed to Zhang Tuanlian's "enthusiasm." With a slight gesture, his personal servant Dai'an, who was following behind him, immediately stepped forward with a tightly wrapped, still slightly chilly, vermilion lacquered food box.

"Lord Zhang is too kind. How could a common man like me dare to call myself a god?" Ximen Qing laughed, pointing to the food box. "Well, with the winter solstice approaching, here's a simple gift for Lord Zhang, to add a dish to the menu and mark the occasion."

Upon hearing this, Zhang Tuanlian immediately adopted a serious expression, waving his hands repeatedly and raising his voice several decibels: "Oh my sir! You're embarrassing me! We're like brothers, what are you doing here? Why did you bring anything when you came to sit in my humble place? You're being too polite! Too polite!" As he spoke, his eyes were glued to the food box as if drawn by a magnet.

Dai'an cleverly lifted the lid of the food box. A blast of cold air rushed out, and in the middle of the thick ice, lay a huge, furry bear paw, as big as a palm-leaf fan! The paw was thick and plump, clearly a top-quality item, and looked even more precious against the ice.

Zhang Tuanlian's eyes widened instantly, his mouth stretched to his ears, and he unconsciously swallowed.

He hurriedly reached out and pressed the lid back down, as if afraid the treasure would escape. His chubby face broke into a wide grin, and he lowered his voice, his joy barely concealed.
"Oh my! My lord! You...you're a real lifesaver! To tell you the truth, I've been so worried about what to serve for the Winter Solstice feast that I've lost clumps of hair! My wife and her arrogant brothers always think I'm shabby! But now, with this treasure you've given me, my lord, I can just put it on the table! Hehe, let's see if they still dare to look down on me, Old Zhang! Let them see! They must see!"

Ximen Qing smiled slightly, as if he had only presented a cabbage. He stepped aside to make way for Shi Wengong behind him: "Lord Zhang, the gift is a small matter and not worth mentioning. The main purpose of my visit today is to introduce you to a hero."

He pointed to Shi Wengong, "This Instructor Shi Wengong is a master of martial arts. He once served in the Imperial Guards in the capital and is a true hero! Now that I have invited him, he will serve in the Militia Office and assist Lord Zhang."

Zhang Tuanlian had already discussed this matter with the high-ranking official; it was merely a matter of using his vacant position to raise a pack of fierce guards. Upon hearing this, he understood immediately.

His smile grew even more enthusiastic, and he repeatedly cupped his hands to Shi Wengong, adopting an extremely humble posture: "Oh! So it's Instructor Shi! My apologies for not recognizing you! How could someone recommended by your esteemed sir be wrong? No doubt about it! From now on, Instructor Shi will be the deputy commander of our Qinghe County militia! We've been missing a hero like him who can keep things in order!"

He leaned closer to Ximen Qing, lowering his voice even further, filled with warmth and gratitude: "My lord, rest assured! Our militia headquarters, though called a headquarters, is really just an empty shell, a figurehead drawing a salary from the emperor!"

"Roll call? To be honest, apart from those two old coffin-stuffed men at the gate, the rest of the rosters... hehe, they're all fake! From now on, everything in this yamen, from the number of soldiers to the equipment, will be entirely at your disposal, sir. You can do whatever you want! Just give Instructor Shi orders!"

Ximen Qing nodded in satisfaction: "Lord Zhang is so kind! Then I'll have to trouble you with this."

The horse-drawn carriage rolled through the rather deserted streets of Qinghe County, its rumbling sound breaking the winter's desolation.

The heater in the carriage was burning brightly, the charcoal sticks out dark red flames, and the warm air, mixed with incense, made people feel weak and drowsy.

Shi Wengong sat upright like a bell, his eyes fixed on his nose, his nose reflecting his heart.

"Instructor Shi," Ximen Qing suddenly spoke up. His voice was not loud, but it was like the clash of metal and jade, forcefully piercing through the warm and dull atmosphere.

"Here!" Shi Wengong straightened his spine, clasped his hands in response, and replied, like a taut bowstring.

"Before long, I will find you several hundred strong young men! And I will also buy several hundred fine horses!" Ximen Qing raised his eyelids slightly, his two eyes like awls nailing into Shi Wengong's face, and his tone suddenly changed, becoming heavy and imposing, "These people will be your soldiers in the future!"

A faint smile played on his lips as he tore away the veil of pretense, revealing his naked scheme: "You, Shi Wengong, are the chief instructor of their spear, staff, and cavalry!"

Ximen Qing leaned forward slightly, the firelight reflecting off his face, making his skin flush red. His tone grew increasingly ardent and intimidating: "Show me all your hidden skills, the true techniques you've honed on the frontier battlefields, your ruthless killing prowess—don't hold back a single bit! Bring it all out!"

"What I need isn't those fancy, showy bodyguards! What I need is... you... do you understand?"

Although he didn't say these words aloud, Shi Wengong felt a "buzz" in his mind, as if a thunderbolt had exploded! The mastermind's scheme was truly terrifying! It was far from being as simple as that of an ordinary wealthy household!
A chill shot up from his tailbone, rushing straight to the top of his head, only to be immediately overwhelmed by an inexplicable burning heat, making his heart pound like a drum!
Deeper still, there was an almost trembling ecstasy of being suddenly promoted and entrusted with important responsibilities—with such skills, long dormant, how could one bear to rot in the dust?
"Hoo—" Shi Wengong took a deep breath of the scalding furnace air, forcefully suppressing the turbulent emotions churning in his chest.

He suddenly clenched his fists, his knuckles cracking from the force of his grip:
"Rest assured, Master! I will serve you with my life and live up to your trust!"

"Yes, that would be best." The official waved his hand lightly, his eyelids drooping again, as if his thunderous words were nothing more than casual conversation.

He leaned back against the brocade cushion, closed his eyes to rest, and only a light yet weighty sentence floated in the warm fragrance: "Do your best... a future of wealth and honor will surely be yours."

Shi Wengong felt a turmoil in his stomach, a mix of emotions swirling within him.

The master before him was clearly much younger than himself, yet his words of ruthless decisiveness, the maintenance of a private army, and even the casual promises of wealth and future prospects flowed from his mouth as easily as spitting out saliva, as naturally as eating and drinking. What was even stranger was that, far from feeling any unease, he felt a jolt of relief, as if a weight had been dropped into a well—a feeling that it was all perfectly natural!
That's really weird!

He couldn't help but steal another glance at his new employer, who was resting with his eyes closed.

The firelight illuminated Ximen Qing's youthful face, giving it a smooth glow and an air of inexplicable good fortune.

Shi Wengong's throat tightened, a bitter and astringent feeling rising within him, turning into a long sigh: "So be it! So be it! It's only fitting that someone like me, Shi Wengong, should fall into the hands of such a person today!"

At this time, in the capital city.

The official lay stiffly on the gilded dragon bed, his face as yellow as wax, covered with a layer of cold sweat. His head was wrapped in layers of white cloth, making him look like a glutinous rice dumpling that had gone bad and was about to burst open.

Only his two eyes were visible, cloudy and lifeless, staring at Cheng Chen like a dead fish.

A dense mass of officials, dressed in purple robes and jade belts, knelt on the ground. Cai Jing, Tong Guan, Cai You, He Zhizhong, and other ministers held their breath and bowed their heads. In the vast palace, only the hissing sound of the emperor's throat, like a bellows being pulled, could be heard, mixed with the muffled gurgling of medicine dripping from the corner.

Liang Shicheng, the old eunuch, stood like a clay figure beside the dragon bed, eyes downcast, nose upcast, completely still.

"I am unwell this time," the Emperor said, his voice hoarse and straining, "all thanks to... Empress Zheng's prudence and the stability of the palace."

He paused laboriously, his cloudy eyes seeming to pierce through the bandage to find the kneeling figure below. "Her...cousins, they all seem quite diligent? You...discuss this, see who's capable...promote...promote them..."

The kneeling officials all looked towards Cai Jing.

Tong Guan knelt beside Cai Jing and said in a high-pitched voice, "Your Majesty is wise! Empress Zheng is virtuous and her blessings extend to her relatives. I have observed that her cousin, Zheng You, the military commissioner of Yongzhou, is a kind, mature, and reliable man. He is the best choice!"

His beardless white face was all smiles, but his eyes quickly swept over Cai You and He Zhizhong beside him.

Cai You nodded and said, "What Privy Councilor Tong said is absolutely right. Duke Zheng You is loyal to the country and deserves to be promoted!"

He Zhizhong stroked his sparse yellow beard and echoed, "This old minister seconds the motion; Zheng You is acceptable."

The courtiers below quickly joined in with a cacophony of "Seconded!" and "Zheng You is capable!" The noise transformed the otherwise lifeless palace into a bustling marketplace.

After the buzzing subsided, dozens of gazes, as if hooked, all cautiously and simultaneously focused on the old minister kneeling ramrod straight at the front—Cai Jing.

Grand Tutor Cai closed his eyes, like an old monk in deep meditation.

As soon as the noise in the hall subsided, he slowly opened his eyelids. His cloudy old eyes were devoid of any glint of light. He simply shook his head slowly, his withered hand gently stroking his brocade robe. His voice was not loud, but it was like ice shards falling into a pot of boiling oil.

“Zheng You?” A faint, almost imperceptible sneer appeared on his lips. “This man… is nothing more than a military man. His sudden rise to prominence has drawn much criticism in the court. I fear he might misbehave and become a laughingstock, which would only damage the Empress’s reputation.”

Upon hearing this, the hall fell silent once more.

Tong Guan's face, which resembled a white dough ball, froze. The smile he had put on was now frozen on his face, making him look like a crumpled, powdery skin.

A cold, mocking glint flashed across Cai You's eyes.

He Zhizhong's hand, which was stroking his beard, froze in mid-air. He held a few strands of yellow beard between his fingers, unsure whether to hold them or let them go.

In the vast hall, only the bubbling of the medicine stove and the hissing of the official's voice could be heard. In the corner, the shadow of the old eunuch Liang Shicheng was cast on the beaded curtain, motionless.

Cai Jing let out a muffled spitting sound in his throat, and continued unhurriedly, "In my observation of the Zheng family, only Hanlin Academician Zheng Juzhong possesses far-sighted vision and is well-versed in the art of advancement and retreat."

He slightly raised his eyelids, his gaze sweeping over the astonished and uncertain faces of the crowd, finally settling on the "zongzi"-like human figure on the dragon bed. "This person is calm, intelligent, and capable. It is the right thing to do to guide him, so as not to fail the Emperor's favor and the Empress's virtue."

He Zhizhong was filled with trepidation. His eyes darted around, glancing at Cai Jing's calm face, then stealing a glance at the dragon bed. He let out a soft "uh" and quickly said:

"Grand Tutor...Grand Tutor is wise and experienced in governing the country, and has a keen understanding of the subtle and profound! It was this old minister who failed to think things through...Zheng Juzhong...is indeed a better choice!"

With his defection, he lowered his body considerably.

Cai You's expression shifted, a series of emotions flashing across his face. He glanced at his father's unyielding profile, then at the expressions of the assembled officials and the sudden change in their gazes. His Adam's apple bobbed, and finally he lowered his head, muttering, "Father... your insight is brilliant. I second that."

In an instant, the flattering voices praising Zheng Juzhong's great talent and strategy and the Grand Tutor's discerning eye for talent rang out again, louder and more effusive than when they had just praised Zheng You, as if the scene from just now had never happened.

"Enough... enough noise..." A weak, impatient groan escaped from the "dumpling" on the dragon bed, the head wrapped in white cloth laboriously turning inward. "It's giving me... a headache... Since it's decided... draft the decree... go..."

As if granted a pardon, the crowd kowtowed in gratitude, bowing low as their purple robes and jade belts rustled, and they retreated like a tide.

The hall fell silent again, with only the smells of medicine, sweat, and the old incense from Liang Shicheng mingling into a heavy, murky fog that pressed down on the dragon bed.

Liang Shicheng then quietly moved to the bedside, his withered hands picked up the warm ginseng soup, and the silver spoon lightly touched the rim of the bowl, making a very faint crisp sound.

His old face was expressionless, but the corner of his eye seemed to brush against the layers of wounded "zongzi" with a cold wind sweeping across the withered leaves in autumn.

The official's tightly wrapped "zongzi" head rubbed against the embroidered dragon pillow, his throat gurgling. His cloudy eyes strained to turn to the shadow where Liang Shicheng stood, his voice hoarse like a broken bellows:

“Tong Guan… that lackey Tong Guan… the memorial he submitted the other day… who did he recommend for a position in the Privy Council?” He gasped for breath, and one of his legs twitched involuntarily under the brocade quilt on the dragon bed.

Liang Shicheng leaned forward slightly, his body as stiff as clay or wood, and said softly, "Your Majesty, the one recommended by Privy Councilor Tong is Prince Teng, Lord Wang." His eyelids were lowered, as if he were only staring at a speck of dust on the tip of his black boot.

“Prince Teng…” The Emperor’s head, wrapped in white cloth, seemed to nod slightly: “His family…you mentioned your niece to me last month?”

Liang Shicheng's withered face remained completely still, except for his drooping eyelashes, which trembled very slightly, like spider silk fluttering in the wind.
"Your Majesty is wise and has a good memory. Her name is Jia Yuanchun, and she is currently on duty at Fengzao Palace, holding the title of Minister."

"Jia...Yuan...Chun..." The Emperor murmured the name to himself: "Issue an imperial decree...promote Prince Teng...to serve in the Privy Council! And his niece...Jia Yuan Chun...to be...selected to enter the palace! To be granted the title of Virtuous Consort!"

"Yes!" Liang Shicheng answered crisply, bowing even deeper until he was almost at a right angle.

He straightened up, still maintaining that respectful, statue-like demeanor, his voice steady and calm:
"This old servant will go and draft an imperial edict to summon Lady Jia to the palace." After saying this, he quietly took two steps back and disappeared into the deeper darkness of the corner of the palace.

Liang Shicheng continued walking briskly along the long, peeling red palace road without stopping. He stopped in front of a secluded palace room, which was a side room of the Inner Study, used exclusively by the eunuchs in charge of drafting imperial edicts.

Pushing open the door, a pungent smell of stale ink and dust wafted out. Liang Shicheng went straight to the desk, spread out the bright yellow imperial silk, and picked up the purple brush that was specially used by the eunuchs who were in charge of writing.

His brushstrokes were extremely steady, the ink was thick and black, yet his handwriting exuded a strange spirit, just like that of an official.

"Prince Teng is specially promoted to Associate Administrator of the Privy Council... Lady Yuan Chun, daughter of the Jia family, is renowned for her virtuous character and is specially selected to serve in the inner palace..."

With the final stroke, Liang Shicheng blew on the still-wet ink and put the brush down.

He picked up the heavy bronze seal that read "Imperial Decree of the Inner Secretariat," dipped it in vermilion ink, and hung it at the end of the decree.

The bright red ink, glaringly red under the dim light, resembled congealed blood. He pressed it down heavily, expressionless.

"Crack!"
A soft sound rang out, unusually clear in the deathly silent palace.

The seal is placed, the name is set.

(End of this chapter)