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

Chapter 187 The High-Ranking Official Knocks on the Door of the Cai Grand Tutor's Mansion

Ximen Da Guanren spoke lazily: "It seems you've figured it out."

He paused, his gaze both scrutinizing and subtly alluring, almost condescending:
“Since you understand, listen carefully: that quiet room in the west courtyard is yours to command. If you want silks and satins, needles and thread, gold thread and silver shuttles, the storeroom is full of silks and satins for you to choose from, just ask. Your personal maid will also be yours to command.”

Meng Yulou suddenly looked up, her almond-shaped eyes shimmering with tears, filled with surprise and uncertainty, her heart pounding wildly.

The official said calmly, "You, just follow this pattern and make these two 'things'—" He casually pointed his finger at the pattern, "make them exactly as they are, without the slightest error!"

He paused, then drew out his words, as if tossing down a piece of poison laced with honey: "If it's done well, it will suit my taste when worn out..."

"Those two shops that you cherish so much, I'll return them to you, and you can continue to manage them!"

Meng Yulou felt as if her heart had been gripped tightly by a scorching iron claw! A breath caught in her throat, unable to come up or down, and stars flashed before her eyes!
What Ximen Qing said next left her completely bewildered, unsure whether to be happy or cry!
“Not only that,” the official said casually, tapping his fingers idly on the armrest of the rosewood chair, “the household is… considering opening a very respectable tailor shop. If you truly have the ingenuity and the ability to make what I want…”

"This clothing shop will also be handed over to you for management in the future. If you have the ability, you can open a branch of this shop in Bianliang, the capital city of Tokyo, and even manage the business there!"

Meng Yulou felt a surge of scalding heat rushing out from the soles of her feet, making her bones feel weak all over!

Her almond-shaped eyes were fixed on Ximen Qing's face, and her expression was turbulent!

This man... he burst in like a demon when she was in dire straits and pulled her out of the woods...

At this moment, the future he casually uttered perfectly matched her wishful thinking of opening a shop in the capital!
In a daze, I felt as if I had returned to the years when love first blossomed and I had beautiful dreams every night.

But the desires awakened by this man at this moment were nothing like the tender feelings of young lovers back then. This fire burned wilder, more venomous, and more agonizing, threatening to incinerate her entire being!

"Master...Master..." Meng Yulou's voice trembled, the tremor carrying a resigned softness, a burning ambition, and a ruthless determination to risk everything.

She straightened her back, shaking off all the shyness and timidity she had shown earlier. Meeting Ximen Qing's piercing gaze, she gritted her teeth and spat out each word from her throat: "This servant... will do it for you even if it costs me my life!"

The next morning, Master Ximen simply stood still in the passageway.

It was the coldest time of winter, when even a drop of water would freeze instantly.

Although there were several large copper basins filled with glowing red charcoal in the front hall, with flames licking the rims and underground heating running beneath the bricks, the air was warm and stuffy, making one's face burn.

Outside the window, the north wind howled and howled, and the icicles hanging from the eaves were as thick as a child's arm, gleaming with a cold, knife-like light that pierced straight to the heart.

The official wore a dark black sable fur coat, the fur of which was glossy and smooth. The inner lining was made of royal blue satin, but he deliberately left it unbuttoned, revealing a snow-white silver fox fur coat underneath.

His imposing figure stood in the center of the hall, like an iron tower, exuding a heavy sense of authority.

He clasped his hands behind his back, his gaze calm, slowly sweeping over the bustling scene amidst the brocade below.

That unyielding and authoritative aura had been fully cultivated.

Below the hall, the pot had already boiled over in a chaotic mess, turning into an glaringly obvious hole!

Wu Yueniang was wrapped in a sable fur coat with a rabbit pattern, the fur of which was shiny and glossy. She wore a sandalwood-colored jacket with gold embroidery, the gold thread of which shimmered in the charcoal fire.

She personally oversaw the event, her expression as dignified as a clay statue in a temple. In her hands, she held a heavy, bright red gift list, and was exchanging greetings with her trusted family members, Lai Bao and Dai An.

Lai Bao and Dai An, both wrapped in thick, blue cotton robes, stood at their sides, not daring to breathe. Lai Bao mumbled numbers in a low voice, almost like a mosquito's buzz. Dai An, meanwhile, busily helped arrange the valuable items.

Pan Jinlian, Li Guijie, Xiangling, and the others also put away their usual playful smiles today, each wearing a bright white fox fur collar, the fur at the collar brushing against their pink cheeks.

Together with Xiaoyu and several other prominent maids who served the older woman, they were carefully and holding their breath as they examined and wrapped the rare and precious birthday gifts one by one.

Jinlian held up the silver figure of "Four Yangs Holding Longevity" in her hands, with four children holding longevity peaches. The silver light was dazzling and made people dizzy.

She flicked her scarlet fingernail at the boy's smooth, shiny forehead, then glanced at Xiangling with a sidelong look and said, "Look at this little guy, his eyes are all smiles, as if he knows he's going to the Prime Minister's mansion to enjoy that immense wealth!"

Xiangling was holding a pair of mutton fat jade peach cups. The jade was warm and smooth like solidified fat, white and plump, carved into the shape of longevity peaches, and even the stems and handles were translucent.

She just grinned sheepishly, the atmosphere in the hall was tense, and no one dared to respond to Jinlian's teasing remark.

Sister Gui and Xiao Yu unfolded the two sets of "bright red and colorful silk python robes"—good heavens!

The python was awe-inspiring, with golden threads coiling around it, its scales gleaming, and its colorful clouds dazzlingly bright. Its imposing presence was terrifying! When the python's robe was unfurled, it illuminated the entire room, even suppressing the smell of the charcoal fire.

Moon Lady raised her eyelids and glanced at them, her voice not loud, but carrying an undeniable weight: "Be careful! Handle them gently, don't get even a speck of dust on them! This is the most important place, not a single mistake can be made!"

He then pointed to the twenty bolts of plain white ramie silk from Songjiang and twenty bolts of Han brocade from Nanjing piled up like a small mountain beside him, and instructed Dai'an:

"Then, Laibao, take your palms and run them over the fabric inch by inch. There can't be a single skipped thread or a single stain! This is a presentable item to be sent to the Prime Minister's residence!"

Lai Bao hurriedly replied, "Yes, yes, yes," and squatted down with Dai An. They then unfolded the twenty bolts of fine Western cloth one by one and examined them again in the light.

This cloth is thick and dense, with a foreign, slick sheen, and it's so slippery that it's clearly no ordinary item.

Several large chests were stacked in the corner of the hall, their lids open, and they were stuffed full of all sorts of fashionable local items:

Freshly picked monkey head mushrooms, glistening pheasants, and bright red dried venison; hazelnuts and pine nuts gathered from the forest floor;

Delicate desserts made from freshly picked plump peaches, crisp pears, and candied dates from the farm.
There are also top-quality dried goose, smoked rabbit, and other delicacies that are glistening with oil and exude a wonderful aroma. The mixed fragrances waft straight into your nostrils.

Moon Lady pointed and said, "These local delicacies have all been prepared neatly in two portions, just as Master instructed. One portion is to offer to the Grand Tutor so he can enjoy the rustic pleasures."

"The other portion is a special allowance for Steward Zhai, and I've also added two jin of top-quality bird's nest that can be stretched into golden threads! Be extra careful with the steward."

Ximen Qing stood on the steps, watching coldly without saying a word, his chin slightly raised.

Lai Bao, hunched over like a shrimp, leaned close, lowered his voice, and gasped for breath:
"Reporting to my master, as you instructed, all the gleaming silver has been exchanged for solid, heavy gold! It's the right weight and the right color! I weighed it with a scale, and it's exactly five hundred taels, not a penny less."

"Three hundred taels of it was 'birthday money' for the Grand Tutor, packed in a large red gift box and tied with a gold and red silk ribbon!"

"Those two hundred taels were a gift from Shan Xiao to Steward Zhai. They were kept in a dark, patterned box, sealed so tightly that even a fly couldn't get in!"

Ximen Qing grunted through his nostrils and nodded almost imperceptibly, indicating that he understood.

Dai'an was quick and agile, like a monkey. He carefully wrapped the gold-plated longevity pot and the jade peach cup in a bright red velvet cloth like rice dumplings, and then stuffed them into a brocade box filled with silk floss, afraid of damaging them even slightly.

The Moon Maiden closed the booklet, walked up to Ximen Qing, and spoke in a soft and gentle voice:
"My lord, the gift list has been checked and is exactly as you instructed yesterday. Double portions of all kinds of local specialties have also been prepared. For Steward Zhai's portion, we specially added two catties of the finest bird's nest."

The official nodded, then slowly spoke: "Lai Bao, Dai An, you two keep your eyes peeled! Under no circumstances can this gift be compromised in the slightest during the transport!"

“I will go with you, but once we reach the Grand Tutor’s mansion, you will be in charge of everything! The Grand Tutor’s dignity and Steward Zhai’s face cannot be slighted in the slightest! Do you understand?”

"Father, rest assured! We would do anything, even risk our lives, to ensure this important matter is not ruined!" Lai Bao and Dai An replied in unison, bending over so low they were almost touching the ground.

The official nodded slightly: "All done! Be quick and load them all onto the cart properly!"

Dai'an glanced at the official's expression and asked in a low, apologetic voice, "Uncle, there's still more than half a month until the Grand Tutor's birthday. Is it alright if we... we send it over so early?"

Upon hearing this, the official's lips curled into a knowing smirk as he pointed and said, "What do you know, you little monkey! When the birthday banquet approaches, high-ranking officials and regional governors from all directions will flock here like madmen. On the day of the birthday banquet, even the stone lions in the mansion will be overwhelmed with work!"

"Back then, the stewards were so busy that they wouldn't even bother to glance at us, a small family, let alone the head steward! Let alone make a lasting impression on the Grand Tutor!"

"It's important to know your own limitations. For such a big birthday, it's crucial to send the gift a month in advance. Only by sending the gift a month early can we show our sincerity and get through the door! Learn this well; there are many intricacies involved!"

Dai'an's heart skipped a beat upon hearing this, and he thought to himself how shrewd it was. He hurriedly responded with "Hey! Hey!" and firmly engraved this profound truth of scheming into his heart.

Lai Bao stood to the side, nodding silently, feeling a cold sweat seep into his back.

Lai Bao and Dai An, accompanied by several strong servants, held their breath as they carefully carried the heavy brocade boxes, rolls of gleaming fabric, and chests of fragrant local gifts out of the mansion as if they were carrying ancestral tablets. They loaded them onto the Taiping carts that had been prepared outside and covered with thick felt.

It was already freezing cold; your breath turned to frost.

The official road was bustling with activity, filled with all sorts of carriages and horses, carrying mountain-like boxes and baskets, crunching and creaking as they rolled over the newly pressed snow, all heading towards the dazzling city of Tokyo.

Lai Bao and Dai An, bundled in thick fur coats and accompanied by a group of servants shivering from the cold, escorted several heavy carts, their axles groaning, as they wound their way through the icy snow. The wheels creaked and groaned as they ground the frozen earth. Finally, they arrived at the gleaming vermilion gate with its beast-head carvings at the Cai Grand Tutor's residence.

The moment they looked up, they both felt a tightness in their chests!
The gate tower was so tall it seemed to pierce the sky, and the stone lions in front of it bared their teeth and claws, looking as if they wanted to devour people.

Inside the gate were several screen walls, their depths unfathomable. From within, one could faintly hear the sounds of string and wind instruments, and the gentle laughter of children, like celestial music from the clouds.

The overwhelming wealth and grandeur of the Prime Minister's residence made the usual pomp and circumstance of the Ximen residence seem like a dilapidated cave dwelling!

Lai Bao and Dai An exchanged a furtive glance, both extremely cautious. They hurriedly pulled their fur coat collars up even higher, feeling that the north wind under the imperial city was like a knife, even more biting than in Qinghe County!

They approached the vermilion gate with its beast-head design.

Lai Bao looked up and his heart sank – the few blue-clad gatekeepers standing in front of the door were all unfamiliar faces!
They stood tall and proud, their faces as stern as if they'd just been pulled from an ice cave. Their eyes swept over the vehicles of these people from out of town as if they were shoving dog poop in the way of the roadside!
Those familiar patrons who had been thoroughly patronized and had received hefty sums of money last time have vanished without a trace!
Dai'an also sensed something was wrong. He leaned close to Lai Bao's ear, his voice cracking and trembling with tears, "Uncle Bao! Something's wrong! The person has been switched! What... what are we going to do?"

Lai Bao's heart was pounding like a drum, and cold sweat poured down his back, but he still had to put on a brave face.

He jumped off the cart shaft, forced a fawning smile that was more unsightly than a grimace, and rushed forward, bowing so low to the head gatekeeper that his back almost touched the ground.

"Thank you for your help, gentlemen! We are from the residence of Master Ximen of Qinghe County, Shandong Province. We have come a long way to present these gifts to the Grand Tutor on his birthday and to the gentlemen in charge of the household."

"Please, esteemed Master Guan, open your mouth and inform us. We will be eternally grateful and will certainly offer our thanks!" The words were clearly aimed at getting money.

The gatekeeper didn't even bother to lift his eyelids, only hissing out a cloud of cold, white breath from his nostrils, looking just like a mule pulling a millstone.
"Master Ximen? Which nouveau riche from some backwater? Never heard of him! The manor has been so busy these past few days, how could the Grand Tutor have time to see outsiders like you? Look at this? The carriages of officials from all over the country who have come to offer their birthday greetings are almost lined up at the city gate! Hurry up, go back to where you came from! Don't stand here and get in the way!"

The words were cold and harsh, like frozen stones, chilling one to the bone, leaving no cracks in one's heart.

Lai Bao's heart was pounding wildly. He was as anxious as an ant on a hot pan, scratching his head and feeling completely lost. Suddenly, he heard a small door on the side creak open. The shift change was coming!

The first one to emerge was short and stocky, with a greasy, chubby face that exuded a habitual shrewdness—none other than Wang San, the familiar doorman who had received a hefty sum of money last time and whom Lai Bao had specially invited to a private brothel in the alley for a whole night of pleasure before leaving!

Wang San glanced at Lai Bao with his beady green eyes, and his chubby face, which had been blue from the cold, instantly filled with a warm, scalding smile, like lard melting in June!
He rushed over, his large, fan-like hand slapping Lai Bao hard on the shoulder with a resounding "smack!" as he whispered:
"Oh my goodness! My dear mother and great-grandmother! Isn't this the official's brother Lai Bao? We've been waiting for you! If you had come a few days later, the procession of gifts arriving at the gate would have stretched from the main street to the capital! At that time, let alone announcing your arrival, you wouldn't even have been able to squeeze your shadow through the crack in the door!"

Lai Bao felt as if he were a drowning man grasping at a straw; the enormous weight in his heart lifted with a thud, and his face immediately broke into a wide smile. He hurriedly clasped his hands in a gesture of respect.
"Brother Wang! My dear brother! I've missed you terribly! My master has been busy preparing the ceremony for the family, which has delayed our arrival. I've rushed here as fast as I can! Please, brother, make sure you're there! I will repay you handsomely!"

Wang San thumped his chest so hard it shook, his fat jiggling: "Don't worry! You can rest assured! I've got your back!"

He slyly gestured towards the cold-faced new gatekeepers, lowered his voice, and said disdainfully, "Newbies, don't know the rules, and look down on people! Don't pay them any attention. Just wait a moment, I'll go in and report to Manager Li for you!"

Having said that, he twisted his plump body and darted into the unfathomable doorway.

Before long, a middle-aged man dressed in a dark brown silk sheepskin coat and with two shiny mustaches, who looked like a steward, strolled out. He was none other than Li Xin, the steward of the house, whom we had dealt with before.

The moment Li Xin's beady green eyes met Lai Bao's, they immediately narrowed into two slits, and the wrinkles on his face were all squeezed into chrysanthemum petals—he was deeply impressed by this steward who was quick to act and extremely knowledgeable about "thresholds"!

"Oh my! My dear brother Laibao! You must have had a tough journey through wind and snow!" Li Xin greeted him warmly, as if he were seeing a brother, his voice sweet as honey. "Quick! Give me the invitation cards and gift list to warm my hands! I'll go report to Steward Zhai right away!"

Lai Bao dared not be negligent. On one hand, he flattered him with "I dare not accept such praise" and "It is all thanks to the manager's kindness" while on the other hand, he hurriedly took out the bright red name card from his warm bosom, held it with both hands, and respectfully handed it over.

Just as Li Xin turned to leave, Lai Bao, with eyes as sharp as lightning, grabbed Li Xin's sleeve! At the junction of the sleeves, a ten-tael snowflake silver ingot slid into the depths of Li Xin's sleeve pouch like a live fish entering water.

"It's freezing cold, this little bit of 'tea money' will warm Manager Li's stomach. We'll rely on you for running errands!" Lai Bao's voice was lower than a mosquito's hum, but his face was beaming like a blooming flower.

Li Xin flicked and gathered his sleeves, and the smile instantly spread from the corners of his eyes to his chin, as if he had drunk a bowl of scalding hot mutton soup on a freezing winter's day, and even the biting north wind felt like a warm breeze in a sedan chair:

"Tsk! Brother, you're always so considerate! Wait here! I'm going to be back in no time!" With that, he took the invitation card and gift list, and disappeared in a flash.

Lai Bao felt a slight sense of relief, but he didn't dare to truly let go.

He winked at Dai'an. That clever little monkey Dai'an had already pulled out a heavy, stiff blue cloth bundle from his pocket.

Lai Bao took the bundle, his face beaming with a familiar smile, and walked up to the gatekeepers who had previously been expressionless.

With a deft flick of his sleeve, each person magically produced a small, cold, hard silver ingot weighing exactly one ounce: "My esteemed sirs! Standing at this critical juncture must be tough! This little bit of 'firewood money' is enough to buy a pot of strong liquor to warm your stomach and drive away this biting chill!"

Those men flicked their fingers, secretly weighing the object in their hands, and the icy shell on their faces cracked with a "crack".

Although he wasn't as hot and sweaty as Wang San, he still managed to squeeze out a few dry smile lines and let out two "hmm" and "ah" sounds from his nose, as if to acknowledge the favor.

When it was Wang San's turn, Lai Bao, the secret agent, deliberately slid out an extra five-tael silver ingot and stuffed it directly into Wang San's thick palm: "Brother Wang San! Today we're all relying on your face! Please don't think this 'wine money' is too meager! When we have some free time later, let's set up a table at Chunxiang Courtyard and have a good time!"

Wang San grinned so hard his back teeth gleamed, and he shoved the silver into his pocket, feeling as light as two ounces: "Hahaha! Good brother! That's great! I love dealing with straightforward people like you!"

Just as the silver had warmed people's hearts, Dai'an was not idle either. He darted like a monkey to a cart, ripped open the tarpaulin with a "rip," and pulled out several long packages wrapped tightly in thick oiled paper, still smelling of the muddy soil of the countryside—these were the dried, shiny, and fragrant wild rabbits!

He grinned and forced one into each of the gatekeepers' arms, one for each of them:
"Brothers! It's freezing cold! We just caught some wild game in Ximen Village, Qinghe County, Shandong. It's rough stuff and not worth much. We'll have it as a midnight snack, tearing it apart with some strong liquor, and at least get a taste of the wild flavor!"

He insisted on pronouncing the words "West Gate of Qinghe County, Shandong" in his mouth.

The oil paper package felt heavy and hard to the touch, exuding the salty aroma of cured meat and the wildness of the mountain wind. It was far more warm and humane than cold, hard silver.
Several gatekeepers, along with the newcomers, stroked the greasy rabbits in their arms, inhaling their irresistible salty aroma. Their faces finally broke into a genuine, heartfelt shine of oil, and as they weighed the rabbits, they began to chatter amongst themselves:
"Oh my! This...this is too much to say! This is far too extravagant!"

"The steward from Master Ximen's mansion is truly honest and reliable! He's shrewd and understanding!"

"Absolutely! These past two days, those who came to deliver gifts, no matter their rank or how many gilded chests they carried, all of them had their eyes on the top of their heads! Who remembers whether we gatekeepers are living on the northwest wind or the southeast wind?"

"Bah! They're all heartless! Unlike you two managers, whose hearts are as warm as charcoal braziers! They even think about us for a bite of wild game!"

"Exactly! The kindness of these two stewards is more heartwarming than anything else!"

In an instant, the area in front of the Grand Tutor's mansion, which had been tense and freezing cold, suddenly became bustling with activity, as if it had become the gate of the Ximen Mansion.

Lai Bao, Dai An, and the other gatekeepers huddled under the sheltered gatehouse, rubbing their frostbitten hands and stamping their numb feet, their breath steaming in the air. They chatted idly about this and that, as if they were old friends who shared the same pants.

The razor-sharp north wind howled through the towering archway, but it seemed to have softened somewhat and lost some of its biting chill, thanks to the gleaming silver, the glistening wild rabbits, and the flattering words.

Now everything is ready. All that's left is for Steward Li to make a sound when he comes out of the deep mansion. That will be the crucial blow to open the door to this immense wealth and power!

(End of this chapter)