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

Chapter 176 Court intrigue, Li Ping'er enters the game
Cai Mansion
In the side hall, agarwood, ambergris, and freshly lit sandalwood burned, producing thick, fragrant smoke that almost solidified, swirling in the dim candlelight.

The candlesticks were all made of pure gold, with coiled dragons and wax dripping like grease, filling the room with a shimmering light, yet unable to warm the bone-chilling cold.

In the center of the offering table, a sandalwood memorial tablet, engraved with gold, stands solemnly, bearing the words "Memorial Tablet of the Late Madam Chen of the Cai Family," its golden gleam striking the eye.

Fresh fruits are offered in front of the sign.

The thin, wispy smoke from three sticks of top-grade ambergris incense curled upwards, but instead of dispelling the chill, it seemed to add a layer of extravagant veil to the otherwise opulent and cold atmosphere.

Cai Jing was wearing a black brocade robe, the material of which was exquisite silk tapestry, its subtle patterns shimmering like flowing water in the candlelight.

He leaned back in a rosewood armchair covered with thick purple lambskin, the armrests of which were carved with intricate cloud patterns, and the back of the chair was inlaid with a whole piece of warm, smooth white jade.

He seemed like a lump of soft mud stuck in his fur, his eyelids drooping as he fiddled with a string of oily, icy agarwood beads, each about the size of a thumbnail, with faint golden threads. The beads slid silently between his fingers, occasionally making a soft "click" sound, a crispness in the deathly silence that made one's heart skip a beat.

The dim candlelight spilled onto his old face, revealing deep wrinkles. Half of it was bright and half was dark, making him look exactly like a clay Buddha statue in a temple with its gold paint peeled off and cracked, exuding an indescribable sinister aura.

Cai You, dressed in plain white mourning clothes, had just risen from his kneeling before his birth mother's spirit tablet. His face was thin and gaunt, and his features resembled his father's by six or seven parts, but a faint, almost imperceptible, coldness always lingered at the corner of his mouth, like a thin layer of ice. He dusted off his knees—which were actually completely dry—and was about to step back.

"Stop." Cai Jing's voice wasn't loud, but it sounded like a dull knife cutting into cloth.

Cai You paused, not turning around, but only turning half his face to the side. The candlelight shone directly on his straight nose, casting a sharp shadow that seemed to slice half of his face.

"Today is the anniversary of your mother's death, and you have the leisure to do this!" Cai Jing slightly opened his eyelids a crack. "Going to cheer for that spineless eunuch Tong Guan? You certainly dared to endorse him so loudly in front of the Emperor!"

The air in the hall froze instantly. The servants and maids standing there shrank back in fear, not daring to breathe, wishing they could embed themselves into the cold cracks in the white wall.

Cai You slowly turned around, the feigned respect on his face vanishing instantly, leaving only a layer of icy mockery. A low, sharp laugh escaped his throat, piercingly cold and shrill, particularly jarring in the deathly silence of the mourning hall:
"Father, you are mistaken."

He took two steps forward, his gaze first sweeping over his mother's memorial tablet on the offering table before settling back on Cai Jing's old, bark-like face, and slowly said, "Son... is merely acting in accordance with Father's wishes."

"Tong Guan recommended Zheng You, but you, sir, made the final decision in the imperial court, rejecting it and strongly supporting Zheng Juzhong..." He paused, the coldness at the corner of his mouth deepening.
“Isn’t it the way of a son to follow his father’s lead and agree with him? Isn’t this the way of being filial and loyal? Isn’t this exactly what you, Father, have been teaching me day and night to be ‘pragmatic’ and ‘know when to advance and retreat’?” He enunciated the last few words heavily and slowly, each word like a poisoned needle.

Cai Jing's fingers tightened suddenly as he held the incense beads, the veins on the back of his withered hand bulging like earthworms. The string of cold agarwood beads made a piercing "crack" sound between his fingers.

His cloudy old eyes were fixed on Cai You's face, as if trying to pierce through his cold skin and see what kind of venomous snake was lurking inside!
"You...!" A hoarse sound rolled through Cai Jing's throat, his breath slightly unsteady. "Are you blaming me?"

"Your son wouldn't dare." Cai You bowed slightly, his posture seemingly respectful, but his eyes were sharp as a knife. "Your son is merely curious, Father, is your ability to manipulate events for the sake of the Cai family's century-old foundation, or... for something else?"

He paused, his voice lowering even further, carrying a chilling intimacy, "Some things, if held too tightly, may not be a blessing. What isn't yours, if you force yourself to keep it, may not even look right. Why not... return it to its rightful owner?"

"You worthless wretch!" A furious shout rang out. It came from Cai Tao, the fourth son standing beside Cai Jing. He pointed at Cai You and said sternly:
"Brother! How dare you be so disobedient! Speaking such arrogant words to Father before the spirits of our ancestors! Do you have no respect for our ancestors? Do you have no respect for moral principles and ethics?!"

Cai Tao, who was favored by Cai Jing, was now filled with righteous indignation and wanted nothing more than to pounce on his disobedient elder brother and tear him apart. His brocade robes trembled violently with excitement.

"Oh dear! Fourth brother! My good fourth brother!" Cai Xiao, the third son who was standing slightly behind Cai You, hurriedly stepped forward, his plump body nimbly inserting itself between the two. He used one well-maintained hand, adorned with a jade thumb ring, to lightly stop Cai Tao's excitedly waving arm, his face covered in sweat from his anxiety.

He was rather plump, with a shrewd, peacemaker-like look in his eyes. He quickly tried to smooth things over, saying, "Elder brother! Fourth brother! We're brothers, blood is thicker than water! Let's all keep quiet! Please, just keep quiet!"

"Father is getting on in years; even a dragon or horse can't withstand such anger!" He turned to Cai Jing, his voice softening yet urgent: "Father, please calm down! My elder brother... he must have been working tirelessly these past few days, his mind is elsewhere, that's why he spoke without thinking! Please calm down, sir, and don't harm your health!" He then winked at Cai You, "Elder brother, quickly apologize to Father!"

Cai You, however, seemed not to hear him, only coldly staring at Cai Jing, the sneer at the corner of his mouth becoming increasingly pronounced. To him, Cai Xiao's advice was nothing more than adding fuel to the fire.

Cai Jing's chest heaved violently a few times, his withered hands gripping the armrests of the armchair tightly, his knuckles turning white.

His murky gaze lingered for a moment on Cai You's face, which was filled with resentment and provocation, then swept over Cai Xiao's anxious face, and finally landed on Cai Tao's face, which was twisted with anger.

"Get out..." Cai Jing squeezed out the word through gritted teeth, his voice hoarse and low, "All of you get out! Don't stay here... disturbing the peace!"

He suddenly closed his eyes, as if he had exhausted all his strength, and sank even deeper into the round armchair covered with mink fur, leaving only his fingers, which were twirling the incense beads, trembling slightly and nervously.

Upon hearing this, Cai You's last trace of expression vanished, leaving only cold indifference. He bowed slightly in the direction of his mother's memorial tablet, then turned and left, the hem of his purple robe stirring up a chilling wind.

Cai Xiao opened his mouth, as if he wanted to say something, but in the end it turned into a silent sigh. He shook his head helplessly and bowed as he withdrew.

Only Cai Tao remained, still glaring angrily at Cai You's departing figure, then looking worriedly at his father who remained silent with his eyes closed, before finally retreating.

On the offering table, Madam Chen's memorial tablet appeared particularly lonely under the flickering candlelight.

Cai Jing remained nestled in the mink armchair, eyes closed, instantly regaining his composure as still as a deep well.

A series of very light footsteps approached from afar.

Zhai Qian, the head steward of the Cai family, bowed deeply and spoke in a very low voice:

"Master, the 'Crab Roe Stew' you ordered has been received by the kitchen. It uses live crabs delivered by express horse this morning, using only the golden, oily roe. It's wrapped in top-quality snowflake rice noodles, simmered in a clear broth made from old hen, and placed on a bed of hot Taihu pebbles in a silver stove to keep it warm. The heat is perfectly controlled. The freshness... not a trace of it has been lost. Would you like to enjoy it while it's still hot, or... wait a little while?"

Cai Jing's fingers, which were twirling prayer beads, suddenly stopped.

He slowly opened his eyes, his throat bobbed, as if the delicious aroma of crab roe had already filled his nostrils, and his voice returned to its usual languid tone:

"Hmm... Bring it here. After all this commotion, I'm actually quite hungry." He paused, slightly raising his eyelids, his gaze sharp as needles, piercing Zhai Qian. "Has my rebellious son left the manor? Or did he go to 'Luomei Pavilion' to see that woman?"

Zhai Qian lowered his head even further, his voice still steady and calm: "Reporting to Master, the eldest son came out of the hall with a livid face. Without stopping, he went straight out of the mansion, mounted his horse, and headed towards... the Privy Council. He did not... did not go there."

His words were devoid of any emotion, yet they conveyed the information precisely, capturing Cai You's whereabouts, demeanor, and resolute determination without missing a single detail.

Upon hearing this, Cai Jing's withered lips twitched upwards, forming an extremely complex and indescribable arc, a smile that was neither a smile nor a mockery, which ultimately turned into a low sigh: "Heh... he's not bad... at least he has some ambition."

There was a barely perceptible hint of "gratification" in those words, yet it was as cold as icicles hanging from the eaves in the twelfth lunar month, utterly devoid of warmth.

Zhai Qian remained silent, head bowed.

He served Cai Jing for decades, from his time as a prince to his rise to power, and knew well the old prime minister's ability to manipulate events at will. He also vaguely glimpsed the root of the unfathomable and bloody enmity between father and son.

He finally couldn't hold back any longer, lowering his voice even further, like a chilling wind crawling along the ground, carrying genuine confusion and a hint of barely perceptible worry:

"Master... this old servant dares to ask, but I truly have some... unresolved issues in my heart. Even if we are to pursue the foolproof plan of 'not putting all our eggs in one basket,' why don't you and the eldest son discuss it privately and put on a show of a strict father and a rebellious son for outsiders to see? Wouldn't that be safer and less damaging?"

"Why...why make such an irreconcilable feud? The eldest young master...is, after all, your own flesh and blood."

Zhai Qian's words carried genuine confusion and a hint of barely perceptible worry.

"Hmph!" Cai Jing let out a short, cold laugh, a flash of cold light appearing in his cloudy old eyes. He picked up a fragrant bead and pinched it hard between his fingertips:
"Discuss? Act?" His voice suddenly turned cold, carrying a chilling sarcasm.
"Those demons and monsters in the court, their eyes are all poisoned! Father-son affection? An act? Can they fool that old eunuch Tong Guan? Can they fool that smiling Yama Liang Shicheng? Or can they fool the emperor's ever-present spies?"

He leaned forward slightly, his gaunt body seemingly radiating immense pressure, speaking each word with deliberate force:
"To deceive everyone, we must make the charade real! We must use real weapons! We must make everyone believe without a doubt that Cai Jing and Cai You are sworn enemies, locked in a life-or-death struggle!"

A hint of almost cold admiration for his son flashed across his eyes. "Besides... do you think he's content to be just a pawn? My blood flows in his veins, and that ambition to be second to none can be hidden from anyone. He's so much like me... so much so that it frightens me!"

Cai Jing's voice lowered, his gaze fixed on the deep night outside the hall, seemingly piercing through the layers of the mansion:

“I now sit in this position above ten thousand people, enjoying the blazing fire and the brocade flowers... But Zhai Qian, don’t you know? Since ancient times, this high position has been the execution ground where heads are hung in the East Market! It is the soul-gathering banner for the confiscation of property and the extermination of clans! Countless eyes are waiting for my Cai family to fall from the clouds, to be smashed to pieces, so that they can pounce on us to devour our flesh and blood, even chewing up and swallowing the bone fragments!”

His withered fingers clenched the incense beads tightly, his knuckles turning white:

"As for that woman... Ha! What kind of man can be obsessed with a woman? It's nothing but a pathetic affair! Since that's the case... I'll just take her away! Let him be a 'lovestruck fool'! And let him stand opposite me! Let him fight! Fight! Hate! Let all his evil fire burn towards me!"

"If that day ever comes when the great building collapses, the entire family is wiped out, and not a single chicken or dog is left alive... Cai You's branch of the family is only a lucky spark that survived because of 'being irreconcilably opposed to the father'! The incense of the Cai family... the ancestral tablets in the ancestral hall... someone has to continue it, someone has to... kneel and kowtow!"

He paused, then the cold smile returned to his lips, carrying a sinister pleasure that seemed to manipulate everyone in the world, even his closest relatives, like a vulture perched on a pile of corpses.
"Besides... if only I, Cai Jing, stir up this stagnant pool of the court, wouldn't it be too boring? We must... add some fine whetstones and some oiled firewood for Tong Guan, Liang Shicheng, and those rats hiding in the shadows! Let the fire burn brighter and the water be stirred even more! The more lively the performance on this stage, the louder the drums and gongs, the more worthwhile it will be for this old man... to have performed on this stage all his life!"

Zhai Qian felt a chill run down his spine, and cold sweat poured down like icy earthworms, instantly soaking through his inner garment. He felt a chill travel from the soles of his feet straight to the top of his head, and his limbs and bones stiffened.

He finally understood the old prime minister's unfathomable and chilling scheme—using the feud between father and son as a smokescreen, using himself as a target to attract open and covert attacks, burying the coldest and most helpless sliver of hope for the survival of the family, and even using his own son's ambition and resentment as a pawn and fuel to stir up the court and wear down his opponents!
This ruthlessness and foresight are chilling to the bone.

"Master...you have a profound plan, this old servant...understands." Zhai Qian's voice trembled almost imperceptibly as he bowed deeply, not daring to utter another word.

He Mansion.

Inside the warm pavilion, the charcoal burned brightly in the gilded brazier, filling the room with a dry heat, but it could not dispel the gloom between Prime Minister He Zhizhong's brows or the bone-chilling pain in his legs.

He was wrapped in a thick sable fur coat, reclining on a chaise longue covered with a Persian velvet carpet. One leg was bent, with a brocade quilt covering his knees and the other leg stretched out, his trousers rolled up high, revealing his thin, bony calves with bulging veins and swollen, shiny ankles.

“Cai Yuanchang… Humph!” He Zhizhong took a sip of the scalding ginseng soup, his cloudy old eyes staring at the weary, weak-willed man. “They’re getting more and more arrogant! The Cai family’s reach in the Southeast’s Flower and Stone Tribute is longer than the Grand Canal! That eunuch Tong Guan now dares to point fingers in the Privy Council, treating us like we’re nothing… Cough cough…” A burst of coughing interrupted his complaints, his face turning red.

Wang Fu stood before the bed, and upon hearing this, immediately bowed, his face displaying just the right amount of sympathy and worry: "Your Excellency, please calm your anger! The likes of Cai and Tong are merely acting arrogantly because of the Emperor's favor; they are ultimately mere monkeys in crowns, utterly unworthy of respect! Your Excellency, you are the pillar of the court, the backbone of the nation! However…"

He changed the subject, his gaze falling on He Zhizhong's bare, trembling, cold leg, filled with deep sorrow, "But Your Excellency's old cold leg... alas, it's so torturous when the weather changes. It breaks my heart to see it!"

As he spoke, he naturally bent down and carefully lifted He Zhizhong's cold, swollen foot. A strong smell of ointment mixed with the stench of festering sores wafted over.

Wang Fu didn't even frown. Instead, he gently placed that foot on his knee and carefully wiped away the sticky ointment seeping from his ankle with a warm, fine cotton cloth soaked in liniment.

"Your Excellency has suffered." Wang Fu's voice was deep and magnetic, with a captivating tenderness. "I know about your leg ailment. Ordinary massage therapists don't know how to use their methods properly. They either apply too little or too much pressure, which only adds to the pain."

He placed his hands on He Zhizhong's cold ankles, his knuckles slightly protruding, and began to massage them slowly and gently, gradually increasing the pressure.

His technique was indeed exquisite. A warm, sore sensation slowly penetrated where his fingertips pressed, which made He Zhizhong's tightly furrowed brows relax slightly, and he let out a barely audible sigh of comfort.

Wang Fu, observing the expression, was secretly pleased. He softened the pressure in his hands and said casually, "I know your pain, Your Excellency, and I worry about you day and night. Fortunately... Heaven has mercy. A few days ago, I found someone who is a master of massage and guiding techniques, especially skilled in clearing the meridians of cold and numbness. The exquisiteness of his technique is beyond words. I have personally experienced it, and it is truly... wonderful beyond words, like drinking fine wine."

He Zhizhong squinted, enjoying the warm, tingling sensation on his knees, and said casually, "Oh? There are such people? It's rare that you have the heart... I'll call them over to try them out another day."

Wang Fu had been waiting for this very sentence. A very subtle smile, tinged with a sacrificial pain and excitement, curled at the corner of his lips, but his voice became even more respectful and earnest: "Your Excellency, please allow me to inform you that this person... is currently waiting outside the mansion. I have taken the liberty of bringing her here, and considering that Your Excellency is in need at this moment, perhaps... we could let her in to alleviate Your Excellency's suffering?"

He raised his head, his eyes clear, full of affection and concern.

He Zhizhong was slightly surprised, but his legs did feel a bit more comfortable, so he nodded indifferently: "...Alright, let's call them in."

Wang Fu rose, walked to the door of the warm pavilion, and whispered an instruction. A moment later, the beaded curtain rustled softly, and a woman entered.

The woman walked to the bedside, bowed gracefully, and said in a clear and melodious voice, like pearls falling on a jade plate: "This humble woman, Xue Niang, pays her respects to Master He."

He Zhizhong's gaze swept over Wang Fu, who simply stood by with his hands at his sides, eyes downcast, seemingly oblivious to his surroundings, as if he were offering up nothing more than an object.

"Hmm... Get up." He Zhizhong's voice softened, carrying a hint of barely perceptible inquiry. "I heard from Fu-ge'er that your technique is exquisite? Come, try it." "Yes." Xue Niang responded and rose, walking lightly to the bedside, gently kneeling in the spot where Wang Fu had just been. She didn't start immediately, but first very gently checked the temperature and swelling of He Zhizhong's ankle.

The moment the fingertips touched his skin, He Zhizhong felt that the stubborn cold pain in his legs seemed to lessen a little.

He felt the cold, pain, soreness and numbness that had tormented him for half his life melt away inch by inch under the woman's skillful hands, just like solid ice meeting the sun!

He let out a long, comfortable sigh, his whole body relaxing as he leaned against the soft pillows, closed his eyes, and even let out a satisfied hum.

Wang Fu stood by with his hands at his sides, his eyes fixed on Xue Niang's hands moving on He Zhizhong's lap. Looking at her lowered neck and submissive profile, his heart ached as if he were watching his treasured rare jade being played with.

His hands, hidden in his sleeves, had nails digging deeply into his palms, yet his face still wore a respectful and docile smile.

After about half an hour, Xue Niang stopped, her forehead beaded with sweat. She said softly, "Husband, are you feeling any better? It's my first time doing this, so I didn't dare to use too much force. I need to proceed slowly. If you can continue this treatment every day, your cold-induced numbness will surely be greatly relieved in time."

He Zhizhong slowly opened his eyes, feeling that his leg had never felt so light and warm before, and his gaze toward Xue Niang was completely different.

He stroked his beard and pondered for a moment, then turned his gaze to Wang Fu, revealing the most genuine smile he had shown since Wang Fu entered the mansion:
“Brother Fu… I appreciate your filial piety. Xue Niang… well, she is indeed a remarkable woman. It would be a waste to leave her with such skills.” He paused, his tone becoming casual yet undeniable, “With my leg ailment, I fear I will be unable to do without her from now on. Are you… willing to part with her?”

Wang Fu's heart bled, but his face immediately showed an expression of being flattered and grateful to the point of tears. He bowed deeply to the ground and said, "You flatter me, Your Excellency! It is a blessing that Xue Niang has accumulated over many lifetimes to be able to serve you! I... I am only happy, how dare I say I would give up? I only hope that Xue Niang can serve you wholeheartedly and relieve your worries and pain. That would be my great fortune!"

"Good! Good!" He Zhizhong nodded in satisfaction, looking at Xue Niang kneeling at his feet with her head bowed and eyes lowered. The more he looked at her, the more he loved her, and he was in a great mood.

He pondered for a moment, then seemed to recall something, and said to Wang Fu, "By the way, the position of Left Censor of the Secretariat was vacant the other day because Cai Yuanchang's student Zhao Ding was in mourning. You are quick-witted and eloquent, this position... I think it is perfect for you. Tomorrow I will petition the Emperor to promote you to Left Censor!"

"Ah!" Upon hearing this, Wang Fu trembled violently, abruptly raising his head, his eyes blazing with wild joy! Zuo Sijian!

This was not only a promotion in rank, but also a step into the ranks of important remonstrance officials, giving them the qualification to directly advise the emperor and participate in core court discussions!

This was the crucial step he had been dreaming of! All the effort, all the heart-wrenching pain, seemed to have been rewarded a hundredfold at this moment!

He knelt down with a thud, his voice trembling slightly with emotion and choked with sobs: "Your... Your Excellency's kindness in helping me and giving me a second chance! I... I could never repay even a fraction of your kindness, even if I were to die a thousand deaths! I will do anything, even give my life, and follow Your Excellency's lead!" He kowtowed heavily, his forehead hitting the ground with a resounding thud.

"Get up." He Zhizhong waved his hand. "Xue Niang, stay. You've worked hard too. Go back and wait for the imperial decree."

"Yes! Thank you, Your Excellency!" Wang Fu kowtowed again, and as he stood up, he quickly glanced at Xue Niang.

Xue Niang was also slightly raising her eyes to look at him. In her clear eyes, there seemed to be a thousand words, yet there seemed to be nothing at all.

Wang Fu felt a pang of pain in his heart and dared not look any longer. He forced a perfectly respectful smile and backed out of the warm pavilion.

Hearing He Zhizhong's satisfied laughter and Xue Niang's soft response faintly coming from inside the warm pavilion, he felt as if the charcoal fire in the warm pavilion was burning on his heart, scorching his internal organs until they were charred.

"You old beast! You coffin stuffer who scurries about the dead and chews on maggots!" Wang Fu cursed.

Now, when the wealthy official Ximen Qing returned home, the inner quarters were naturally filled with beautiful women, warm and fragrant.

The Hua family mansion next door, on the other hand, was shrouded in gloom and despair, making it hard to breathe.

“Fourth Master Hua,” Dai’an strolled in, hands clasped behind his back, a smile plastered on his face, “Uncle, what you said last time, are you perhaps too fond of important matters to remember? You said you’d give me seven days, and now a whole month has slipped by. The accountant in the manor is practically wearing holes in the ledgers, and we haven’t seen a single penny from your household. Those who know say you, Fourth Master Hua, are short of money; those who don’t might think you’re trying to renege on your debts!”

Hua Zixu's face turned pale and then red. His fragile "Fourth Master" dignity was as fragile as a broken lantern made of paper, easily pierced.

Facing Ximen Qing's trusted servant, he dared not curse as he had cursed Fu, the accountant. He could only rub his sweaty hands together, his back slumped, and force a dry laugh:
“Dai’an, look…we’re really…struck by cash right now. The coins are all strung on my ribs, and we have to break them off one by one, don’t we? Could you please put in a good word for me with your uncle? Just say…say that I, Hua Zixu, remember his kindness to the core! In a few days, I’ll definitely return the principal and interest with both hands! No hesitation!”

Dai'an's lips curled into a sneer, the fake smile vanishing instantly, replaced by a cold and sarcastic expression: "Second Master, your words are rather tasteless. Even brothers keep clear accounts! Uncle has spoken; if you really can't repay this money, then so be it..."

He deliberately dragged out his words: "My uncle said that if you don't treat this matter as a matter of utmost importance, then he... won't treat you as a brother anymore! You should weigh the weight of those four words 'not treating you as a brother' yourself."

"Not brothers!" These four words were like a bolt from the blue, making Hua Zixu see stars and his legs tremble!
He knew Ximen Qing's methods all too well! He was a ruthless man who would devour people without spitting out the bones! Instantly, cold sweat poured down his forehead like a fountain, and his clothes were soaked through, sticking stickily to his body. He repeatedly said, "Pay back! I'll definitely pay back! I'll sell everything I own to pay back! Dai'an-ge, please give me two more days! Just two days!"

Having finally seen off Dai'an, that harbinger of death, Hua Zixu, like a mangy dog ​​with its spine removed, slunk away and staggered towards the backyard.

Now, in this empty shell of a mansion, the only thing left to squeeze out any scraps is the little bit of private savings that the old lady in the backyard, Li Ping'er, has kept hidden away.

He crept up to the door of Li Ping'er's boudoir. The gilded and vermilion door was tightly shut, and he didn't even have the courage to push it open. He only dared to shout through the door, putting on an extremely obsequious tone:
"My dear grandma! Open the door and listen to me..."

Inside the room, Li Ping'er was leaning against the chaise longue covered with brocade under the window, slowly smoothing her temples in front of a mirror inlaid with seven-colored mother-of-pearl.

She was only wearing a simple apricot-red silk jacket with a double collar, loosely tied, and a pale white embroidered skirt underneath, which made her figure even more charming and voluptuous.

Her oval face, without any makeup, exuded a delicate and languid beauty, like a begonia in spring slumber, seemingly both angry and happy, naturally carrying a captivating and alluring languid charm.

Her skin was truly like that of a piece of mutton fat jade, or a pile of fresh snow, even more tender and smooth than the white of a peeled egg.

Li Ping'er looked at herself in the mirror and became more and more proud, wishing she could hug and kiss her reflection in the mirror.

What truly captivated her was not her alluring face and figure, but rather her remarkably well-maintained skin and flesh!

Trembling, white and tender, exuding a fresh and delicate charm.

Its smoothness is even more remarkable; under the light and candlelight, it looks as if it is coated with a layer of fine mutton fat, oily, shiny, and slippery to the touch!
That white was so white it was almost indistinguishable, so dazzling that even she felt dizzy and her heart raced when she looked in the mirror. It was as if she were facing the midday sun in the sweltering summer, so bright and dazzling that it seemed to pierce into one's heart.

She couldn't help but extend her slender, spring-on-green fingers and gently brush them across her smooth, supple cheeks, then down her jade-like neck. The warmth, softness, smoothness, and creaminess emanating from her fingertips were truly intoxicating.

She couldn't help but squint her eyes and let out a satisfied, honey-sweet sigh through her nose.

"Such skin..." Li Ping'er murmured softly to her stunning reflection in the mirror, her tone filled with undisguised pride and arrogance.
"Let alone this small Qinghe County, even back in Daming Prefecture, among those proper noble ladies, wrapped in silk and satin, piled high with pearls and perfumes, which one could cultivate such fair and lustrous skin, so smooth and supple? They probably wouldn't even be worthy of carrying my shoes! I wonder if anyone in the capital can compare!"

The beauty in the mirror had captivating eyes and a seductive charm. The self-satisfaction and pride that emanated from her very being were more alluring than the strongest aphrodisiac.

Hua Zixu stood at the door, hearing no reply for a long time. His throat felt dry, so he licked his lips, his voice rising even higher, tinged with a sob:

"My dear ancestors! Ximen Qing is pressuring me like crazy! He... he's turned on me! If I don't pay him back soon, I'm done for! Please have pity on me and lend me a few hundred taels to tide me over, and I'll..."

"No." Li Ping'er interrupted him crisply from inside the room, her voice soft and sweet. "Not a single penny. Are you trying to fill the hole in my room with all the debts you've accumulated from your affairs and gambling? My meager savings aren't even enough to cover the gold jewelry you lost at the gambling table the other day. Please go back, I need to rest."

Hua Zixu was met with a cold shoulder. Looking at the brocade curtain embroidered with lotus blossoms in front of him, he spat a mouthful of phlegm at the smooth floor tiles and staggered away!

Inside the brocade tent, Li Ping'er did not lie down. She leaned against the bedpost, listening to Hua Zixu's receding footsteps, her chest heaving violently.

"Ximen Qing...Master Ximen..." Her red lips moved silently, her pearly teeth almost grinding to powder.
"I, Li Ping'er, ask myself, in what way am I inferior to that Li Gui-jie! A prostitute ridden by a thousand men and ravaged by ten thousand! I heard that just a few days ago he actually promoted her to his mansion and made her his maid! How glamorous! He's willing to take even a courtesan, yet... yet he's only interested in me..."

She subconsciously touched her full, soft breasts: "I...I'm still a virgin, and I'm not even as good as a prostitute like Li Guijie? Is Ximen Qing blind?! Or...or does he think I'm...simply dirty?"

Hua Zixu walked back to the front hall, pacing around the empty hall like an ant on a hot pan, completely at a loss and feeling utterly helpless.

Just when things were getting really urgent, his two cousins, Hua Ziyou and Hua Ziguang, who were always scheming and taking advantage of others, came in like flies that had caught a whiff of meat, their faces smirking and swaying.

"Hey! Second Brother! What's wrong? Your face looks like wax residue and yellow!" Hua Ziyou, who had a weasel-like face and two green bean eyes that darted around, shouted first.

Hua Ziguang also pretended to step forward and said in a high-pitched voice, "That's right, Second Brother. What kind of ghost are you stuck in? Tell me quickly."

Hua Zixu, like a drowning ghost grasping at a straw, no longer cared about appearances, grabbed Hua Ziyou's arm, his throat trembling with tears:
"Brother You! Brother Guang! You've come at the perfect time! Quick! Quickly lend me a few hundred taels of silver to save my life! Any later, and your second brother's fortune... might be going to fill that bottomless pit!"

Hanako Yu and Hanako Hikaru exchanged a sly glance, and the feigned kindness on their faces vanished instantly, replaced by bitter expressions, as if the sky had collapsed and crushed their feet.

"Oh, my dear second brother!" Hua Ziyou slapped his thigh and cried out in protest, "Aren't you trying to rip out my heart? My family's resources are so meager, even a mouse would cry its way out if it crawled in, you know that!"

Hua Ziguang chimed in, shaking his head like a peddler's drum: "That's right, Second Brother! If even a tiny bit of our flesh leaked through our fingers, would we just stand by and watch you suffer? It's really... sigh, our crotches are shinier than our faces!"

The spark in Hua Zixu's eyes went out with a "poof," leaving only a deathly despair.

Hanako glanced at his distraught appearance, her beady eyes darting around, and leaned close to his ear, whispering:

"Second brother, don't get too hung up on the word 'borrow.' You can't take money with you when you die. If you want to make quick money, you have to know the right connections!"

He forced a shrewd, mercenary look onto his face, making him look like a swindler. "Do you know about that 'All-Eat Hall' in Qinghe County? It's incredibly grand! Now that it's reopened, it's swallowed up all the neighboring shops. The whole street is their business, booming! I heard that some lucky ones can make a fortune overnight! Just think about it, what's two hundred taels? When the time is right, it's just a matter of a dice roll!"

Hanako Hikaru was also fanning the flames and stirring up ghostly energy on the side:
"That's right! Second Brother, who are you? Our Hua family ancestors wore silk and satin! Can't you even handle this little bit of luck? Rather than sitting here waiting to die, why not go all out and gamble it out! If our ancestors show their power and our luck turns around, not only will we get back the debt to Ximen Qing, but we can even get back the money we lost in the past, with interest! Don't you think that makes sense?"

"Let's... let's take a gamble..." Hua Zixu was so aroused by the back-and-forth between the two that the dead ashes in his heart were rekindled with evil fire.

That despair found a way out and was instantly swallowed up by a ruthless, gambling spirit of giving up entirely.

Find wealth in danger!
"Fine! I'll gamble on this one!" Hua Zixu's eyes were bloodshot, and a sickly flush rose to his face, as if he had drunk too much yellow wine. He suddenly pulled a heavy object from his pocket—his last remaining fifty taels of silver!

Hua Ziyou and Hua Ziguang's eyes gleamed with greed when they saw the gleaming silver. Their faces lit up with fawning smiles as they hurriedly said, "That's more like the style of our second brother Hua! Come on, come on! Brothers will go with you! We'll give you some courage! I guarantee your luck will be so good it'll break the roof beams!"

This fifty taels of silver was like a spark that splashed into a pot of boiling oil, instantly turning Hua Zixu's path to survival into a raging inferno.

Inside the gambling den, the air was thick with smoke, and the sounds of people bobbing like boiling oil. Dice bounced and collided wildly in the rough porcelain bowl, making a clattering sound that seemed to kill.

Hua Zixu's face was distorted and deformed under the dim yellow oil lamp, and the stench of sweat permeated his collar.

His eyes were wide open like copper bells, and he bit down hard on the few white bones that determined his life or death, making strange "hoarse" sounds in his throat.

Fifty taels of silver were thrown out like water, turning into wisps of smoke in the blink of an eye amidst howls of "Big! Big! Big!" and savage laughter of "Open! Small! Kill them all!"

"Again!" Hua Zixu lost his human form, his eyes bloodshot, looking like a mad dog ready to devour anyone.

Hua Ziyou and Hua Ziguang egged him on from the side: "Second brother, what are you afraid of? Borrow that money to make up for your losses!"

Hanako, her hand trembling, pressed her fingerprint hard onto the ink-stained, exorbitantly priced "loan sharking" receipt, placing an even bigger bet!

His vision was filled with mountains of gold and seas of silver, and he fantasized about the world turning upside down so he could grab them all...

In less than two hours, Hua Zixu not only lost all fifty taels of silver, but also had an even thicker IOU in front of him, with his scarlet handprint printed on it—he owed the gambling house a full two hundred taels of silver!
Several fierce-looking debt collectors surrounded him, their figures as imposing as iron towers, their eyes cold as they looked at Hua Zixu as if he were a piece of rotten meat waiting to be slaughtered on a chopping board.

Hanako and Hanako Hikaru, the two slippery thieves, had already sensed that things were going wrong and vanished like eels. Hanako lay limp on the ground, like a rotten mud, exuding the stench of a walking corpse. The last trace of human color had faded from his face, leaving only ashen despair and bone-chilling coldness.

That chilling fear gripped him for only a moment before being replaced by a more sinister and insane thought.

He shakily got up, like a lost soul, and drifted back to his own house. He didn't go back to his bedroom, but instead went through the back garden and headed straight for the ancestral hall where the family property was kept!
(End of this chapter)