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

Chapter 178 Wu Song's Fist Emerges from Qinghe, Hu Sanniang Arrives for a Visit
Upon hearing the master's words, Lai Bao was terrified. He knelt down in the mud again, kowtowing repeatedly, and hurriedly explained, "Master, please understand! I... I would never dare to lie to you! That Wang Liu'er's husband, Han Daoguo, is a spineless scoundrel!"

"He...he already knew and tacitly approved! Every time I went there, Han Daoguo would find an excuse, such as buying wine or visiting friends, to slip away early and leave the house to me!"

"He... he's secretly pleased that his wife has managed to hook up with the respected steward of the Ximen household!"

"Wang Liu'er's family was so poor that even a rat would leave with tears in its eyes if it entered the house. Her husband, Han Daoguo, was a good-for-nothing who only knew how to loaf around on the street. I gave them a little money to rent this dilapidated house and often provided them with some rice and grain. The two of them were as if they had received a life-saving talisman! Han Daoguo felt proud that his wife had benefited from this and couldn't wait for me to visit him often!"

Upon hearing this, Master Ximen merely tapped the kneeling Lai Bao with his toe and said indifferently, "If that's the case, then you dog can't really be considered to have forcibly taken a woman. Get up, the ground is filthy."

Lai Bao felt as if he had been granted a pardon. He scrambled to his feet, stood with his hands at his sides, and dared not utter a sound.

Ximen Qing pondered for a moment, then remembered his business and said, "Now that you're up, I have something for you to do. Listen, you don't need to do anything else these days. Go and find some children with clean backgrounds and pure origins, preferably orphans without parents or ties. They don't have to be young or middle-aged, but they should be physically strong."

"Once you find them, there's no need to bring them back to the manor. Just send them directly to Lord Shi's camp in Qinghe. Lord Shi will naturally understand their purpose and will ask them if they are willing. You don't need to ask any more questions."

Upon hearing that it was a legitimate task, Lai Bao immediately bowed and replied, "I understand! Don't worry, Father, I'm very familiar with this kind of thing and will handle it perfectly!"

Seeing that he understood, Ximen Qing said no more, only saying, "Okay, go ahead and do it carefully!" After saying that, he turned to Dai'an and said, "Bring the horse here and go to the shop to take a look."

The master and servant mounted their horses and left the filthy, dilapidated alley.

Meanwhile, at the corner of the alley, Han Daoguo, like a turtle hiding its head, peeked out with half of his sallow face, watching as Master Ximen, Dai'an, and Laibao rode away in a cloud of dust. Only then did he let out a long sigh of relief, as if a thousand-pound millstone had been lifted from his shoulders, and his spine seemed to soften a little.

He tiptoed back to the gate of the rent-paying courtyard like a thief, pushed open the creaking, half-closed broken door, slipped inside like an eel, and hurriedly shoved the rotten wooden bolt tightly shut.

Wang Liu'er was leaning on the edge of the kang (a heated brick bed), facing the dim bronze mirror that reflected her face so poorly that she couldn't even see her own reflection clearly. She used saliva to clean her disheveled sideburns.

Seeing Han Daoguo sneak in like a thief, she glared at him irritably and snorted.

Han Daoguo rubbed his greasy hands together, grinned, and leaned forward, bowing low as he asked in a hoarse voice, "My dear mother! Just now... just now, that deity, the great master... didn't... didn't disturb our daughter, did he?" He was referring to his daughter, Han Aijie.

Wang Liu'er looked in the mirror, not turning her head, and said with a sneer, "Look at your spineless cowardly appearance! I sent her to the inner room to draw flowers and embroider on the kang, and told her not to peek out. This daughter has always been obedient and listens to us, which is a blessing from God!"

As she spoke, she frowned, pressed one hand hard against her lower back, and exclaimed, "Ouch! My back... it aches so much, it feels like it's going to break!"

Upon hearing this, Han Daoguo was overjoyed, as if he had received a royal decree. He plastered a fawning smile on his face, and eagerly moved behind her. His rough hands began to rub and pound on Wang Liu'er's waist with practiced ease, clearly the result of years of training.
"My goodness! My wife has suffered so much! Sit tight, let me give you a good rest!"

Wang Liu'er let him exert himself, leaning back limply, humming and enjoying herself for a moment with her eyes closed, before slowly and deliberately saying, "Just now when I saw the head steward off, I specifically mentioned that his body wasn't up to par, his back and waist were aching..."

Han Daoguo, his hands and feet moving incessantly, asked, "What did he say?"

Wang Liu'er smiled slightly, opened her eyes, and glanced sideways at her husband's pathetic face in the mirror: "He patted his chest and said, 'Don't worry, I'll buy a clever little maid tomorrow to massage your back and legs and serve you tea and water!'"

"My dearest ancestor!" Han Daoguo was overjoyed and his hands seemed to have gained divine strength, kneading even more vigorously. "My dearest wife! We've finally seen the light at the end of the tunnel! You've been with me, this legless crab, and it's truly like playing the zither under the cypress tree—finding joy in suffering! You've endured so much hardship and haven't enjoyed a single bit of happiness."

"Over the years, you've given birth to Ai-jie and raised her with love and care. I'm such a useless blockhead; I can barely afford to let you and your daughter have a comfortable life even if I have to break every penny in half... Now that I have a girl to serve you, I feel... I feel a little more at ease!"

Wang Liu'er listened and gave a soft "hmm" through her nose, acknowledging his gesture. Suddenly, she recalled the scene in the alley earlier, and looked at her still somewhat charming face in the mirror from left to right. She raised her hand to adjust the half-worn velvet flower at her temple, and said sourly and resentfully:

"Just now... Master Ximen was standing in the alley, you didn't see it, his whole demeanor was so imposing! I deliberately puffed out my chest and even glanced at him a few times, but alas... he didn't even bother to lift his eyelids, he probably thinks I'm just some mud on the roadside, he wouldn't even give me a second look!"

Upon hearing this, Han Daoguo tightened his grip slightly, speaking in a tone that was both resigned and ingratiating:
"Oh dear, my goodness! Don't you even know what kind of person that Master Ximen is? He's the kind of man who makes the whole city and surrounding villages tremble if he coughs!"

"His house is piled high with gold and silver, and his granaries are overflowing with silk and brocade. I heard he's even descended from the heavens as the God of Literature! In his inner quarters, there's a whole swarm of delicate beauties and rosy-cheeked young ladies, each one a vision of a painting. Meanwhile, our poor, run-down hut, where even mice can't breed... would he deign to even glance at it? Wouldn't that be beneath his dignity?"

Hearing this, Wang Liu'er's resentment flared up again. She abruptly turned around, glared with her slanted eyes, spat, and cursed, "What utter nonsense! According to you, I'm so ugly I can't be seen by anyone? Unable to catch the eye of that great Master Ximen?"

Han Daoguo, startled, forced a forced smile and, realizing his slip of the tongue, hurriedly used all his strength to knead and pound her back and waist, while frantically trying to make amends:

"Oh, my dear wife, my dear grandmother! Please don't be angry! I mean... I mean that Master Ximen... his eyes are blinded by donkey dung! He... he's blind from birth! He doesn't even look at a woman as charming, beautiful, and captivating as you, so it's no wonder he's blind! In my heart, you are... you're someone I wouldn't trade even for a celestial being descended to earth!"

Wang Liu'er felt slightly calmed by his shameless flattery. Although she knew it was just empty words, it still felt comforting.

She lazily turned back to the mirror, still facing it, dipped her finger in saliva, and carefully smoothed her temples, letting out a long, soft sigh.
"Forget it! Even a toad can't eat swan meat. It's our good fortune to be able to hold onto this 'money tree'. Hurry up and massage it, put some more pressure on your hands, my back... is still really sore."

Meanwhile, Dai'an and Ximen Qing sat upright on their horses, the hooves clattering as they slowly made their way to the middle of Lion Street.

I saw a pancake stall ahead, surrounded by seven or eight customers, much more lively than usual.

The stall owner was still the same short, skinny, and stocky Wu Dalang, nicknamed "Three-Inch Dwarf Tree Bark," who was burying his head in his hands, kneading the dough on the cutting board with great effort.

What's striking is that several crooked, rough wooden tables and benches have been newly erected next to the stall, and a woman is busily preparing food on a small charcoal stove nearby.

Looking closely at the woman, she appeared to be about twenty-seven or twenty-eight years old. She had a neat figure and a clean and efficient look in her eyes. She was wearing a coarse cloth dress that had been starched until it was faded, and a greasy apron was tightly tied around her waist.

She moved with surprising speed and agility, stirring a small iron pot of bubbling corn porridge on the stove, steam rising in plumes of white vapor.

This "Jade Porridge" has an elegant name, and upon closer inspection, it does indeed have a rather tempting appearance.

The coarse white radish was scraped until smooth and glistening, then cut into neat, dice-like cubes. It was then mixed with golden broken millet and various plump mixed beans, and thrown into the bubbling water to cook.

Simmer until the diced radish is soft and melts in your mouth, and the millet and beans burst open, releasing a thick, glutinous rice paste. The soup is then simmered until it becomes a thick, milky white, viscous, and trembling soup. The steam carrying the sweetness of the radish and the aroma of the roasted grains goes straight into your nostrils.

Just before taking it off the heat, Wu Dalang's wife quickly sprinkled in a few fresh, vibrant green vegetable leaves, then sparingly and precisely drizzled in a few drops of boiling sesame oil from a small pot—the oil droplets sizzled and dissolved upon contact with water, spreading like gold leaf on the surface of the thick soup, instantly elevating the simple aroma and making one's stomach rumble.

A bowl of this warms the stomach and body, providing the most comforting warmth and comfort to the poor in the winter.

Scholar Su praised it in a poem: "Its fragrance is like ambergris, yet still rich and white; its taste is like milk, yet even more pure."

The woman then deftly used her chopsticks to pick out dark pickled radishes, golden pickled cucumbers, and wilted salted vegetable stalks from several rough earthenware jars at her feet, arranging them neatly into small, chipped dishes.

Those laborers and peddlers who went from street to street bought Wu Da's flatbread, which looked like a lump of dough, and then sat down on the shiny, oily bench.

People would spend a few copper coins to get a bowl of piping hot vegetarian soup to eat with, or buy a few chopsticks of pickled vegetables to accompany their meal. This little stall was doing much better business than Wu Da's solo stall.

Dai'an, with his sharp eyes and quick tongue, turned to the side and lowered his voice: "Uncle, did you see that? Isn't that Wu Da, the pancake seller? The woman working right next to him is the wife you asked Granny Wang and Aunt Xue to find for him some time ago."

"Hey! This young lady is quite shrewd and capable of making a fortune! She's only been here for three or five days, and she's already figured out a way to make money. She sells hot vegetarian soups and extremely salty pickled vegetables as a side dish. Look, she's turned Wu Da's half-dead stall into a thriving business!"

Just then, a loud yet extremely respectful call rang out from behind: "Master!"

Upon hearing the sound, Ximen Qing and Dai'an reined in their horses and looked back, only to see a towering, imposing man standing with his arms crossed behind their horses—it was Wu Song.

His thick eyebrows were furrowed, his tiger-like eyes shone brightly, and his gaze seemed to weigh a thousand pounds, passing over Ximen Qing's shoulder and fixing on Wu Dalang, who was hunched over like a shrimp in front of the pancake stall, struggling with the dough. His eyes were filled with the comfort of a blood relative.

Wu Song took a deep breath, clasped his hands in front of his chest, and bowed deeply to Ximen Qing. His voice was low but each word was clear: "My lord! Wu Song... on behalf of my elder brother and the Wu family, thanks you for your kindness! If it weren't for your intervention, my elder brother... and I..."

Ximen Qing sat upright on his horse, his face calm and composed. He merely waved his hand slightly, his gaze sweeping across the bustling streets, passing over the peddlers and laborers engrossed in eating and drinking at Wu Da's stall:
"Enough, don't mention thanks. Qinghe County, and indeed the entire Song Dynasty, has no shortage of diligent people. Just look at them,"

He pointed at the diners with his riding whip, saying, "They get up before dawn and work until midnight, just to earn a few coins to make ends meet and seek a comfortable life. As long as the world is peaceful, with fewer exorbitant taxes and fewer wars and bandits, as long as you give them a way to survive, they will naturally repay you with a prosperous and thriving business."

Wu Song listened intently, his usually stern face softening slightly, and he sighed with sincere admiration:
"That's it! Master has the world in his heart! Only today does Wu Song understand why his master had such discerning eyes, taking you, sir, as his disciple and teaching you everything he knew, yet... yet he didn't take me, Wu Er, this roughneck! Your master has a heart full of wisdom and a deep understanding of the world, far beyond the reach of a brute like Wu Song!"

Upon hearing this, Ximen Qing coughed and thought to himself: Who told you not to seize that old fellow's weakness of valuing the face of a martial arts master!
Wu Song, completely unaware of Ximen Qing's thoughts, continued, "Since you've moved here, why not do me the honor of trying a bowl of my sister-in-law's newly cooked vegetarian soup? The broth is piping hot, the millet is soft and sticky, the radish cubes melt in your mouth, and paired with my elder brother's steamed buns, the crisp pickled cucumbers, and the salty pickled vegetables, it's truly a heavenly soup for a poor man's stomach!"

He pointed to the steaming stall, and on this fierce and burly man's dark face, there was a hint of the simple and honest pride of a farmer praising his own land!
Even after capturing the peerless horseman Shi Wengong, Wu Song had never felt such glory.

Ximen Qing shook his head, his gaze sweeping over the guests and the Wu couple who had not yet spotted him, and said casually, "Forget it. If I sit down, these people will lose their appetite. The couple will have to put aside their livelihood and serve me with trepidation, needlessly blocking and disturbing their day. What's the point?"

Just then, a messenger dressed in a short blue cloth shirt, wearing a Fanyang hat, and carrying a letter bag rushed to the front of the horse, bowed, and panted as he sang a long farewell:
"Master Ximen! I've been searching high and low for your residence, and by sheer coincidence, I've stumbled upon you here! What a stroke of luck! Here is a very urgent letter from your steward, Laiwang, sent from the south. Please examine it immediately, sir, for any delay may lead to unforeseen circumstances!"

Ximen Qing frowned slightly and gave a wink; Dai'an quickly stepped forward and took the letter bag.

He tore off the seal, pulled out the letter, and skimmed through it. At first, his expression was normal, but as he read, his fair face gradually darkened, becoming so gloomy it seemed like it could be wrung out of water.

The letter was jointly written by Laiwang and Laixin, stating that on their way back from purchasing a batch of high-quality silks in the south, they had encountered two groups of highway robbers!

Fortunately, the guards had trained and cooperated well these past few days, and with their skillful techniques, they managed to drive them back, but several guards were injured, and their injuries were not light.

The world is far from peaceful these days, and there are more and more bandits on the streets. On the way back, this large quantity of rare silks is parading through the market, and the bandits along the way are already green with envy and fearful, worried that another terrible disaster might occur!

The letter was filled with anxiety, earnestly requesting the employer to quickly send reinforcements, as delays could lead to further complications.

Ximen Qing gently folded the letter, tapped his knuckles twice on the saddle, looked up at Wu Song standing solemnly beside him, and said in a low but resolute voice: "Erlang, this dangerous mission can only be accomplished with your help!"

He handed over the letter, saying, "With the year drawing to a close, it's the time when those ruthless scoundrels are 'fighting famine' and 'scrambling for food and clothing'! If the silk caravan encounters bandits again, the losses will be far more than just money."

"In that case, you will have to make the trip quickly and go to meet them! Make sure to protect the convoy and escort the silk back to Qinghe safely!"

As Wu Song held the letter, his tiger-like eyes flashed, and a chilling aura, like a sudden gust of white wind in the dead of winter, shot up with a "whoosh"!

He tucked the letter into his robes, clasped his hands in a fist salute, and bowed deeply, his voice booming like a bell: "Rest assured, sir! As long as I, Wu Song, am here, the goods from the Ximen mansion will surely be there! I'll inform my elder brother and set off immediately!"

Having said that, he straightened the broadsword at his waist and walked towards the pancake stall. His back was as imposing as a mountain, carrying an aura of inviolable killing intent.

Inside the Jia family mansion at this time.

It was Jia Zheng's birthday, and both the Ning and Rong mansions were decorated with lanterns and colorful streamers, with music and drums filling the air.

On the stage in the front hall, a lively performance was underway, while below, delicacies were laid out on the table, and the aroma of wine filled the air.

The women at the back were surrounded by jewels and perfumes, their laughter and chatter filling the air. It was truly a scene of extravagant wealth and luxury.

Suddenly, a young servant boy at the gate, his hat askew in a panic, stumbled and scrambled into the hall, disregarding all decorum, and shouted at the top of his lungs, "Master! Master! Something terrible has happened! The Grand Eunuch Xia... Grand Eunuch Xia has arrived at the door with an imperial edict!"

That shout was like a bucket of ice water poured over someone's head! The clamor in the hall came to an abrupt halt.

The golden cup in Jia She's hand clattered onto the table, spilling wine all over him.

The piece of venison that Jia Zheng had just picked up fell onto the plate with a "thud," and the color drained from his face instantly. The gongs and drums on the stage fell silent, and the actors stood frozen in place.

Everyone in the room was terrified, their hearts pounding like drums—was this imperial edict a blessing or a curse?

Forget about decorum, Jia She and Jia Zheng frantically shouted, "Quick! Clear the banquet! Stop the music! Open the incense table! Open the middle gate!"

In an instant, cups and plates were scattered everywhere, tables and chairs clattered, and maids and servants stumbled about, some moving incense tables, others clearing away the banquet, creating utter chaos.

The men of the Jia family, along with their servants of any standing, knelt in a dense mass in the central passageway, holding their breath and not daring to utter a sound.

Then, Xia Shouzhong, the chief eunuch of the six palaces, swaggered in, surrounded by several junior eunuchs.

He walked straight to the incense table, stood facing south, cleared his hoarse voice, and drawled out, "By special decree! Summon Jia Zheng to court immediately! To the Linjing Hall for an audience!"

As soon as he finished speaking, without waiting for Jia Zheng's reply or taking the hot tea offered, he glanced at the opulent atmosphere of the mansion out of the corner of his eye, gave a half-smile, turned around and left, mounted his horse, and disappeared in the blink of an eye with the clatter of hooves.

Jia Zheng and his men remained behind, their hearts pounding in their throats, exchanging bewildered glances, unsure of what the outcome would be.

Jia Zheng could only hastily wipe away his cold sweat, change into his court robes, and hurriedly ride off to the palace.

When Grandmother Jia received the news in the back room, she became even more restless.

Madam Xing, Madam Wang, Madam You, Li Wan, and Sister Feng, along with Aunt Xue and the three sisters, were all like ants on a hot pan. The only sounds in the room were sighs and the constant clatter of horses' hooves sent out to gather information.

After waiting for more than two hours, with the sun already setting, Lai Da finally appeared with several trusted stewards. He had run so fast that his hat had fallen off, he was covered in sweat, and he was panting heavily. He burst into the ceremonial gate, not even bothering to catch his breath, and shouted at the top of his lungs, "Old Madam! Madam! Great joy! A joyous occasion!"

Grandmother Jia was standing under the eaves, supporting Yuanyang's hand, when she heard the sound and suddenly jumped.

Lai Da rushed forward, kowtowed, his face covered in sweat and a gleaming smile: "Reporting to the old lady! Our eldest daughter, Yuan Chun, has been granted... granted the title of Virtuous Consort! Master just came out of the palace and ordered us to rush back to report the news, asking the old lady to quickly dress up according to her rank and lead the ladies to the palace to express their gratitude! Master... he has been summoned to the Eastern Palace again!"

Like dark clouds dispersing and golden light shining down! Grandmother Jia's heart, which had been hanging in suspense, finally settled back into her stomach. She exclaimed repeatedly, "Good! Good! Our ancestors have blessed us! The Bodhisattva has shown us their power!"

Madam Xing, Madam Wang, Madam You, and others were so overjoyed that they trembled all over. Although Madam Wang was her own mother, she was so happy that her heart was about to jump out of her chest, but she still held back. She just clenched the handkerchief in her hand tightly, and although tears welled up in her eyes, she did not dare to let them fall. She kept chanting Buddhist prayers.

Madam Xing and Madam You had already surrounded her, showering her with compliments like "Grandma's good fortune" and "Young lady's good luck," while their eyes betrayed a hint of undisguised jealousy.

Aunt Xue smiled and offered her congratulations repeatedly, but her heart was filled with mixed feelings. She thought about her good-for-nothing son and her unmarried daughter, and her emotions were hard to describe.

Only Sister Feng had mixed feelings. She had been tricked by her own aunt, and now she had to rely on her own efforts to become the eldest daughter of an empress.

But after all, this was a tremendous good thing for her, so she immediately suppressed her resentment, her face glowing, and her voice rising high and clear, like a silver bottle suddenly shattering:

"Oh my god! This is an immense imperial favor! Our ancestral graves are emitting auspicious smoke! Quick! Quickly help the old lady and ladies to dress and do their makeup! Not a single mistake can be made!"

"Amber! Pearl! Where have you gone? Bring out the old lady's elaborate makeup set, arranged according to rank!"

"Lai Sheng's family! Prepare the carriages and sedan chairs ahead, the best of the best! Make sure the horses are well-fed and the carriages smell wonderful! All of you, keep your spirits up, or anyone who messes up today will be in big trouble!"

She gestured east and west, ordering the servants around. Her skirts billowed in the wind as she moved, and the golden phoenix hairpin on her head trembled wildly. Her imposing and fierce aura as the mistress of the house was even stronger than usual!
On Ningrong Street, servants were already running around like their backsides were on fire, rushing to various mansions to report the good news.

Various luxurious sedan chairs and carriages blocked Ningrong Street, creating a chaotic scene of horses neighing and people shouting.

Butlers Lai Da and Lin Zhixiao greeted the guests at the door, their voices hoarse from shouting.

The guests, their faces beaming with obsequious smiles and their mouths spouting flattery, seemed to want to wear down the threshold of the Jia family mansion.

The entire Jia mansion, inside and out, was immersed in the blazing fire and splendid prosperity, and the noisy joy was almost enough to lift the roof off!
Everyone's face was glowing, as if this immense wealth would last for thousands of generations and never end.

Wang Xifeng was in the inner courtyard, directing everything with composure. She managed the welcoming and sending off of guests, the registration of gift lists, and the arrangement of banquets in an orderly manner. She was so busy that she barely had time to breathe, but her face was always beaming with excitement.

Having finally found an opening, she hurried towards the Tianxiang Tower in the Ning Mansion.

Pushing open the door to the warm chamber, one could indeed see Qin Keqing leaning alone against the large kang (heated brick bed) by the window. Although the fire in the stove was burning brightly, making the room warm and cozy, she was wrapped in a mink coat, her body slightly curled up, like a sparrow afraid of the cold.

Her stunningly beautiful face was now pale, her brows furrowed, shrouded in a faint melancholy that clashed with the bustling joy of the mansion, making her appear even more pitiful, like a sickly beauty.

Especially those exaggerated divine objects, which rose and fell slightly with her absent-minded sigh, as if the worries she was suppressing were particularly heavy.

Sister Feng rushed in like a gust of wind, her voice preceding her arrival: "My dear Ke'er!"

Before she could finish speaking, a soft hand wearing a gold and jade ring grasped Qin Keqing's slightly cool wrist without warning.

When Sister Feng walks, she sways gracefully like a large millstone, exuding both the shrewishness of a matriarch and a voluptuous, sensual charm.

With a smile on her face and a clear, bright voice, she said, "Such a wonderful thing has happened to you, and you're hiding here all alone? Don't stay cooped up! It's so lively outside, with drums and gongs, it's like they're going to lift the roof off. You should go out and enjoy it, and share in this incredible good fortune!"

Qin Keqing said softly, "Auntie is here. This is naturally a great joy, and I... I am happy too." As she spoke, her chest rose and fell slightly, and the scenery under her silver fur coat was even more enchanting, yet it carried a kind of powerless languor.

Sister Feng was a sharp-eyed and discerning person. She immediately noticed the forced smile and the lingering worry between her brows.

Feng Jie's smile faded slightly as she sat down next to Qin Keqing on the edge of the kang (a heated brick bed), her plump body pressed close to hers.

Her almond-shaped eyes scrutinized Qin Keqing's face, her gaze sharp as hooks:

"Joy? I don't think so. My son, your soul has wandered off somewhere!"

She reached out, her fingertips warm, and gently brushed Qin Keqing's slightly cool temples. "What's wrong? Everyone in this household is overjoyed, like they've eaten honey, even their chanting is off-key! But you, you seem to be carrying a block of ice, with a huge worry on your mind. Tell your aunt, are you feeling unwell? Or is it some blind, heartless scoundrel who dares to upset you?"

As she spoke, her round, firm buttocks pressed against the edge of the kang (a heated brick bed), the flesh spilling out and revealing her strength.

Qin Keqing shook her head gently, her eyes flickering and shifting like a startled fawn, avoiding Sister Feng's piercing gaze: "Nothing's wrong, Auntie, you're overthinking it. I just... I just feel something's a little... strange."

"Strange?" Sister Feng raised an eyebrow, her voice suddenly rising to a high pitch, carrying a metallic tone, "What's so strange about this windfall of wealth? Tell me, what's so strange about it?"

Instead of loosening her grip on Qin Keqing's hand, she tightened it even more, with an undeniable force, while her other hand rested on her voluptuous waist.

Pressed by her questioning, Qin Keqing became even more uneasy. She bit her lower lip tightly, shook her head, and said in a voice barely audible, "Nothing... Maybe I was just a little delusional, thinking too much... Auntie, please don't ask..."

When Sister Feng saw her hesitant, stammering, and preoccupied look, her eyes glistening with tears, her sense of exhilaration was completely stifled!

She abruptly shook off Qin Keqing's wrist, stood up abruptly, her eyebrows furrowed, her almond eyes widened, and even her round buttocks below the waist tensed. Her voice was filled with annoyance and gritted teeth.

"You good-for-nothing Rong-ge's daughter-in-law! How have I treated you all this time? I've been completely honest with you. How many shady and dirty things have happened in this mansion that can't be seen in public? Have I ever hidden a single one from you? Even... even the things you want to see..."

At this point, Sister Feng abruptly stopped speaking, glanced warily at the tightly closed doors and windows, leaned down, and lowered her voice even further:

"I even went to great lengths to ensure you could see that Master Ximen, risking everything for you! And now look what's happened! You won't even utter a single word about what's on your mind? All my burning sincerity has truly been wasted... wasted on you, you ungrateful, heartless wretch..."

Qin Keqing blushed deeply, her face turning bright red, as if she had been smeared with the most vibrant rouge, when Feng Jie bombarded her with questions, especially when "that kind of thing" was mentioned.

She hurriedly stood up, feeling both anxious and embarrassed. She couldn't help but clench her little fist and lightly punch Sister Feng's arm twice, scolding, "Auntie! What nonsense are you talking about! Who doesn't know what's good for them!"

Looking at Sister Feng's still sullen face, which clearly showed grievance and concern, she knew that although this aunt was shrewish, she was genuinely good to her.

She bit her lip, her eyes darting around in a struggle for a long time, before finally seeming to make up her mind. She leaned close to Fengjie's ear, her voice barely a whisper, filled with unprecedented solemnity: "Auntie... if I tell, you... you swear! Keep it buried deep inside, no matter who it is, even if the King of Heaven himself comes, you absolutely cannot tell! Otherwise... otherwise..."

Seeing her so serious, Fengjie said solemnly, "Fine! I swear! If I, Wang Xifeng, reveal even a single word of what Rongge's daughter-in-law said to me today, may I..." She paused, then made a fierce vow, "may my tongue rot! May I die a horrible death! Speak quickly!"

Qin Keqing seemed to have a great weight lifted off her shoulders, but with deep worry, she leaned close to Fengjie's ear again, her breath slightly unsteady:

“Auntie… I always feel… this title… is actually something that people might find strange, but… they just don’t dare to say it, or… they don’t want to think about it too much.”

"A title? What happened to the Virtuous Consort?" Sister Feng's heart skipped a beat, and she pressed for an answer.

Qin Keqing's voice was even lower: "Virtuous Consort... this word 'virtuous'... Auntie, think about it carefully, throughout history... it's either 'Virtuous Consort' or 'Virtuous Consort'... the two words 'virtuous' combined into one title... it's like... it's like..."

As she finished speaking, she seemed to have exhausted all her courage and could no longer continue. She simply raised her beautiful eyes, filled with sorrow and fear, and stared intently at Sister Feng.

At first, Sister Feng was a little confused, but the words "throughout dynasties", "virtuous concubine", and "virtuous concubine" pierced her mind like ice picks.

She quickly went through all the titles she had ever seen and heard in her mind—yes! Single-character titles are the norm! Two-character titles… “Virtuous”…that sounds…that sounds…like it.
Posthumous title!

This extremely ominous thought, like a cold snake, instantly coiled around Sister Feng's heart!

The color drained from her face in an instant, leaving it deathly pale. She grabbed Qin Keqing's hand suddenly; it was icy cold, and both of them trembled slightly.

Feng Jie's lips moved a few times, but she couldn't utter a single word. She felt a chill run from the soles of her feet to the top of her head. The smugness and joy she had just felt were instantly frozen into ice, weighing heavily on her chest.

Meanwhile, Master Ximen, accompanied by Dai'an, rode through Lion Street, heading towards his silk shop.

When they arrived at Meng Yulou's cloth shop, who had long legs, Meng Keli suddenly pulled on the reins—the shop, which used to be bustling with customers and filled with laughter, was now closed!
The two black lacquered doors were closed tightly, and the latches were bolted shut.

As Ximen Qing rode on his horse, he couldn't help but squint his eyes.

Upon arriving at his silk shop, the shopkeeper, Xu Zhi, jogged to the front of the horse.

The official lightly tapped the tightly closed cloth shop with his whip: "Why is Madam Meng's shop closing so early?"

Xu Zhi hurriedly replied, bowing even lower: "To the master, something is amiss! Yesterday afternoon, around 3 PM, I personally saw the shop assistants at Madam Meng's shop quickly and efficiently take down the shop sign, put the door up, and bolt it very securely!"

"Madam Meng herself also showed up. Her expression... wasn't bad, but she didn't seem to be smiling. She directed the closing of the gate and hurriedly got into her sedan chair and went home."

Ximen Qing frowned even more, about to ask Meng Yulou a few more questions about what happened when she closed the door yesterday, when he heard a clear, melodious voice behind him, like a new nightingale singing:
"Shopkeeper! Do you have any ordinary silk here? Not the finest, the most precious kind, just the kind that ordinary people use, something durable and washable!"

(End of this chapter)