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

Chapter 190 The Debt Collection Turmoil at the Ximen Mansion

Upon hearing this, Yue Niang's heart sank, but she didn't show it on her face. Instead, she lowered her voice and asked, "What debt are you collecting? Is it just empty talk? Do you have any written agreement or proof?"

Lai Lu's voice was even lower, almost squeezed out from his throat, and his head drooped so low it almost touched his knees:
"Replying to...madam, those people are sticking to their story...they keep saying it was a debt owed by the Third Mistress of the Meng family before she entered our household. The amount...is quite substantial, a full six hundred taels of silver! And with interest compounding, it should have ballooned to nine hundred taels by now!"

"Another matter... another matter is the gambling debt of five hundred taels owed by Wang Zhaoxuan's family. With interest on interest, it has ballooned to more than a thousand taels! The creditor said that Master Ximen himself took on this burden. However... considering Master Ximen's illustrious reputation in our Qinghe County, and respecting your wise and capable management of the household, Madam, I dare not ask for more. I only ask to recover the principal of one thousand one hundred taels for the two debts, plus two hundred taels of interest, for a total of... a total of one thousand three hundred taels."

He stole a glance at Wu Yueniang's face, his goatee twitching.

“Thirteen hundred taels?!” Wu Yueniang pondered silently, her face expressionless.

One thousand three hundred taels!

Humph.

Curry only had a measly three thousand dollars left in cash!
The official has gone to the capital to secure his future; who knows how much more he'll need afterward!
This sum of 1,300 taels has effectively taken away 40% of the cash that the mansion can use!

What if my master urgently needs money in the capital, and the treasury is short-handed?
With income uncertain at the moment and countless other expenses, how can we just throw away such a huge sum of money based on his empty promises?
Meng Yulou has been locked in her small room these past few days, doing something I don't know. Various kinds of silks and satins have been delivered to her at a constant rate, but her husband hasn't said a word...

Perhaps she's just getting some new clothes made? Since the master allows her to do this, he must have his reasons. Besides, now that she's entered the Ximen mansion, she's one of their people. If she can't even handle a little trouble now, wouldn't the servants laugh their heads off?
She took a deep breath, suppressing the anger surging within her, and raised her voice slightly, revealing a cold hardness: "Let him in! Whether he's real or fake, a person or a ghost, we need to see the written agreement, signed and stamped, before we can talk! In broad daylight, do you think he can just deny it?"

A flicker of panic crossed Lai Lu's face. He leaned closer, his voice trembling, "Great...Great Madam, please forgive me! I just...I took a closer look, and that red-wheeled carriage parked outside was so extravagantly decorated! The banner of 'Tongchi Fang' was blatantly displayed on the carriage shaft! A dozen or so burly men stood in a row beside the carriage, each with broad shoulders and thick waists, their eyes gleaming with ferocity, and their waists...their waists were bulging, clearly concealing daggers and short knives!"

Wu Yueniang's fingers, which were holding the Buddhist prayer beads, suddenly stopped, and her heart skipped a beat.

She knew she couldn't panic at this moment; if she showed even the slightest sign of panic, the servants would be thrown into complete chaos.

She took another breath to steady herself, but a cold, icy sneer slowly crept onto her lips: "Ha! What a grand display! These scoundrels from Tongchifang, leading their bunch of thugs wielding spears and clubs... They think they can intimidate a woman like me right after my husband left Qinghe County? Bah! They're blind as bastards! Tell their leader, that damned scoundrel, to come in and answer me!"

Lai Lu shuddered at the cold laugh and hurriedly bowed and retreated to lead the others away.

A moment later, the sound of boots clattering could be heard, and a burly man with a fierce face, wearing a dark-patterned silk robe with python patterns, a rhinoceros horn belt around his waist, strode in.

The fat, bulging on his cheeks, jiggled as he walked.

Although he clasped his hands in a respectful bow, his gaze carried three parts arrogance and seven parts scrutiny, like a steel knife scraping bone, relentlessly carving a circle around Wu Yueniang's body and face before he spoke in a rough, muffled voice:
"Qian Bao, manager of Tongchifang, pays his respects to the eldest mistress of the Ximen family! My subordinates have already conveyed our intentions. This sum of 1,300 taels of silver is in black and white, and it's a done deal! I would appreciate it if the eldest mistress would do me a favor and settle the transaction today so that I can return to report to my master and everyone can have peace of mind!"

Wu Yueniang sat upright, not even bothering to lift her eyelids. She slowly and methodically twirled the oily Buddhist prayer beads on her wrist, the sandalwood beads clinking together and making a soft "clunking" sound.

The voice was so flat, as if asking about today's rice price:
"Oh? Tongchifang? Money Manager?" Her lips seemed to twitch slightly, or perhaps not. "I am just a housewife, never stepping out of the inner courtyard. I only care about the needlework and thread in this small space of the inner courtyard. I know nothing about, nor can I manage, the money dealings outside."

"Paying back debts is a matter of course, that's true. But this concerns the reputation of your household, it's no small matter. It's best to wait for my master to return in glory from the capital and personally oversee the matter, to avoid future disputes. Steward Qian, please go back and wait patiently. When my master returns home, he will have a clear answer!"

Her words were perfectly measured and watertight, deftly pushing this hot potato far away and making it clear: once the master returns, there will be no room for discussion!
The fat on Qian Bao's face twitched suddenly, his eyes flashed with ferocity, and he clenched his jaw so hard it made a cracking sound.

He forced a smile that looked more like a grimace, saying insincerely, "Heh heh, Madam, you make it sound so easy! But... I can wait, but those rough brothers outside who follow me, risking their lives and begging for food, might not have that kind of patience!"

He took a half-step forward, his voice low but carrying a hint of bloodlust:

"If they get impatient and, in a fit of anger, do something disgraceful like storming the gates or disturbing the women of the household... like smashing a plaque, or some fool climbing over the wall and seeing something he shouldn't... hehe, I... I can't control that!"

"At that time, the eldest mistress will lose face, the mansion will be disgraced, and I... I will be heartbroken!" This was a blatant threat, a knife pointed at his throat!
Wu Yueniang suddenly raised her eyelids! Her gaze was like a sharp blade tempered with ice, carrying a chilling aura, and stared straight at Qian Bao's face, which was covered in oil and sweat.

Far from showing the slightest fear, she let out an even clearer and more chilling laugh from her nose, a laugh like shards of ice falling into a copper basin: "Hmph! What a fine 'unable to be suppressed'! Manager Qian's meaning, I—understand—it—clearly!"

Without turning her head, her voice suddenly rose, sharp as tearing silk, carrying a stern command:

"Golden Lotus!"

Pan Jinlian, who had been standing behind Wu Yueniang, immediately stepped forward upon hearing the voice, her slender waist swaying like a water snake. Her waist was so soft it seemed boneless, and she replied in a delicate, crisp voice, "Oh! Madam, this servant has sharp ears! What are your orders?"

Wu Yueniang's voice was as cold as icicles hanging from the eaves in the twelfth lunar month, each word striking the ground with deliberate force: "You go yourself! Tell those lazy, good-for-nothing guards in the backyard to grab their sticks and cudgels and thoroughly 'clean up' that area in front of the mansion, inside and out!"

"If any ignorant, filthy scoundrels or rogues dare to linger in front of my Ximen mansion, defiling this auspicious place, and refuse to leave..."

She paused, each word like a blast of ice, sending chills down one's spine. "Don't waste words with them! Every single one of them, give them all a good beating! Break their legs, tie them up like dumplings! Immediately escort them to the county yamen and hand them over to Magistrate Li!"

“Say it is my original words, Wu Yueniang: This gang of thieving convicts, gathering in large numbers and armed, besieged the residences of officials and gentry in broad daylight, intending to commit violence and chaos! I beg Your Excellency to conduct a thorough interrogation and find out which bandits from which mountain have the audacity to come and cause trouble in front of the west gate of my Qinghe County!”

Pan Jinlian's eyes flashed with excitement, her waist swayed even more enthusiastically, and her voice was sweet and crisp, yet with a hint of fierceness: "Yes! Auntie, please do as you say! I'll go right away! I'll make sure the doorway is spotless, not a single hair will be left! Let's see who dares to dirty our property!"

Having said that, she swayed her hips and walked out quickly, like a willow branch in the wind.

Wu Yueniang didn't even glance at Qian Bao's instantly ashen face, and called out again:

"Sister Gui!"

Li Guijie, who was standing nearby, also hurriedly stepped forward: "What are your instructions, Auntie?"

Wu Yueniang took out a gilded name card from her sleeve and handed it to Li Guijie. Her voice returned to its calm tone, but carried a greater weight: "Take my name card and give it to Lailu. Tell him to immediately ride a fast horse to my mother's house and invite my brother, Commander Wu!"

"Go to the Southern Camp Guard and ask Commander He for help! Tell him that some unidentified bandits have come to the manor, claiming to be from the Tongchifang brothel. They've surrounded the gate with knives, spears, and clubs, demanding repayment of debts and threatening me, a mere woman!"

"Please, both commanders, bring some of your personal guards over here! I want to know, who on earth is this in Qinghe County who has the audacity to block the gates of my Ximen Mansion!"

Li Guijie accepted the name card with both hands, her heart skipping a beat. She quickly replied, "Yes! This servant will go right away!" She didn't dare to delay and hurriedly went to find the steward, Lai Lu, with the name card in her arms.

Qian Bao listened intently, catching every word Wu Yueniang instructed Gui Jie. The words "Wu Qianhu," "He Qianhu," and "with personal guards" struck him like red-hot iron caltrops, pounding into his heart.

His face instantly changed from ashen to deathly pale, and the veins on his forehead throbbed wildly, looking like earthworms crawling around.

His stomach was churning; he never expected that the grandmother in this secluded mansion would be such a fiery and ruthless character!
Seeing that this woman was not only unafraid of being intimidated, but had also managed to provoke the powerful military garrison of Qinghe County with a single move! They even wanted to accuse them of "gathering a crowd with weapons" and "besieging the residences of officials and gentry"! If these charges were proven true, even if the Buddha were behind Tongchifang, it would be difficult to guarantee that these little devils would not be cast into the eighteenth level of hell!
He forced down the pounding of his heart, gritted his teeth, and fought like a cornered beast. His voice, though still rough and forceful, had already become somewhat dry and hoarse:

"Great...Great Madam! Why are you doing this? Are you really going to tear off my mask? My words just now may have been offensive, but they were all the truth! Tongchifang is not like those lowly street vendors!"

“We have powerful figures behind us…we have connections to the highest levels of government, including the Provincial Judicial Commissioner, the Provincial Surveillance Commissioner, and even the capital! If you insist on pushing things to the extreme and causing a huge mess, not only will your Ximen family be unable to bear the consequences, but even Commander He and Magistrate Li of Qinghe County might not be able to cover up this enormous mess! Wouldn't it be better for us to leave room for maneuver so we can meet again in the future, rather than tearing off all pretenses?”

His words came out like beans spilling from a bamboo tube, fast and urgent. It was ostensibly a threat, but secretly it revealed a hint of fear. He threw out all the intimidating names of government offices, such as "the Provincial Judicial Commissioner's Office," "the Provincial Surveillance Commissioner's Office," and "the capital," hoping to force Wu Yueniang to submit.

Upon hearing this, Wu Yueniang showed no fear whatsoever; instead, she seemed to have heard the biggest joke in the world.

She gave a soft "tsk" sound, a crisp, cold laugh like ice beads falling onto a jade plate. Slowly and deliberately, she picked up the Ding ware sweet white porcelain covered cup beside her and used the lid to skim off the foam, her movements as graceful as if she were drawing a pattern.

She took a sip of warm tea before lifting her eyelids, her gaze coolly settling on Qian Bao's face, which was twitching slightly with fear. Her voice remained unhurried, yet each word was like an iron spike, piercing his heart:
"What Manager Qian said makes me, Wu Yueniang, seem ungrateful. I am just a woman who never leaves the house, with long hair and short brains. How would I know anything about the important matters of the Provincial Judicial Commissioner, the Provincial Surveillance Commissioner, or the capital? I don't understand anything about 'immense matters' either."

She paused, then put down her teacup.

"All I know is that it's only right to pay back debts, and I've said that before. But the repayment will have to wait until my master comes back, investigates the reasons, and clarifies everything. What's owed will be paid in full, and what's wrong will be paid in full!"

"As for which powerful figure or 'true Buddha' is behind your Tongchifang... hehe, the imperial court has its own laws, and my husband will handle that! I'm just a woman, it's none of my business, and I don't want to!"

She leaned forward slightly, her gaze sharp as lightning, piercing Qian Bao: "You keep saying you're 'giving the Ximen family face,' yet you block my gate with knives, spears, and clubs, threatening a woman like me. Is this the face your Tongchifang is giving us? The Ximen family can't accept this kind of face!"

"Everything will wait until my master returns!" she repeated firmly, each word ringing with conviction. "If your Tongchifang truly respects the rules and gives the Ximen family face, then please leave! Wait patiently for a few days. If you insist on not giving them face..."

A faint, chilling smile curled at the corner of Wu Yueniang's lips:
“I, Wu Yueniang, am just a woman, so naturally I can’t afford to concern myself with the ‘immense entanglement’ behind your Tongchifang. However, the prison food in Qinghe County is plentiful, Magistrate Li’s rod is tough enough, and my brother, Commander Wu, and Commander He’s personal guards… their knives are sharp enough! In the end, who will not care about the consequences is still unknown!”

These words, though seemingly gentle, were actually firm and contained hidden barbs. They firmly established the stance of "waiting for the master to return," and finally threw back the threats of "jail food," "beating," and "a sharp knife" in a blatant manner!

Qian Bao finally understood that this seemingly gentle woman chanting Buddhist prayers was not someone who could be intimidated! If the stalemate continued, and those two commanders really arrived with their troops, his dozen or so men would likely be in deep trouble!
"Good! Good! Good!" Qian Bao said "good" three times in a row, his face ashen and his voice trembling slightly. It was a desperate and helpless act of bluster.
"The eldest mistress of the Ximen household is indeed skilled and eloquent! I... I have truly learned my lesson today! Since the eldest mistress insists on waiting for Master Ximen to return to the mansion, then... then I will go back and report to her, and wait for a few more days!"

He hastily cupped his hands in greeting, unable to even utter proper pleasantries, "Farewell... farewell!" With that, he dared not look at Wu Yueniang's icy gaze any longer, and almost staggered as he turned and rushed out of the main hall as if fleeing.

Qian Bao rushed out of the Ximen mansion gate in a disheveled state, passed through the group of Tongchifang thugs who were still in a tense standoff with the Ximen mansion's guards, and went straight to the luxurious red-wheeled carriage with its canopy. The heavy blue satin curtain embroidered with gold pythons on the carriage window was slightly lifted a crack.

Qian Bao bent down, facing the gap in the curtain, and spoke in a very low voice:
"Master... I'm incompetent! That woman... that Wu Yueniang, she's impervious to reason, soft words, and hard tactics! Even mentioning the names of the Provincial Judicial Commissioner, the Provincial Surveillance Commissioner, or even the capital can't intimidate her!"

"She insisted on waiting for Ximen Qing to return, and then she brought up her brother, Commander Wu, and Commander He from the Southern Camp, saying that we had gathered a crowd of armed men to besiege the residences of officials and gentry, and were going to arrest people and hand them over to the authorities! We... we really dared not confront them directly, for fear that we would really attract the soldiers..."

A moment of silence followed behind the curtain, then a deep, sinister voice, devoid of any discernible emotion, slowly emerged, carrying a hint of surprise and gravity: "It seems this woman is no pushover; she can't be easily intimidated..."

Qian Bao nodded repeatedly: "Yes, sir! She's not afraid at all! We... we're afraid we really have to wait for Ximen Qing to come back."

The voice behind the curtain hesitated for a moment, then tinged with annoyance: "Hmph! I was thinking of taking advantage of Ximen Qing's absence to pick on an easy target and avoid trouble... Never mind! Let's go back and report to the master. It seems we have no choice but to teach this Ximen household a lesson."

"Yes! Yes!" Qian Bao felt as if he had been granted a pardon and quickly waved to his men, "Withdraw! Withdraw everyone!"

Having received the order, the members of Tongchifang, though unwilling, had no choice but to suppress their fierce expressions and climb onto the carriage or follow behind it.

The luxurious carriage turned around and, under the wary and disdainful gazes of the guards and servants of the Ximen family, slunk away from Lion Street, leaving behind only a few deep ruts and a mess of dust.

As the ostentatious carriage and the group of thugs disappeared around the street corner, the mansion gate slammed shut with a loud bang, shutting out the noise and malice from the outside world.

Wu Yueniang, who was sitting upright at the head of the main hall, finally relaxed her back, which was as tense as a bowstring.

"Sure enough, no sooner had the gentleman left Qinghe County than someone came knocking on the door! It's truly a case of 'when the house is without its master, the broom stands upside down'! Without this pillar of support, all sorts of demons and monsters dare to come and trample on us!"

Her earlier standoff, though seemingly imposing, had actually taken a heavy toll on her mental strength. As a woman who usually managed the household, she had never experienced such a fierce and dangerous situation.

She composed herself, her gaze sweeping over the maids and servants standing silently in the hall, then over Lai Lu and the other stewards standing at the door with their hands at their sides. Her voice was not loud, but it carried an undeniable authority:
"Keep today's events to yourself! If anyone asks, just say it was a simple misunderstanding, and we've already cleared it up. Everyone in the household should mind their own business and keep their mouths shut! Anyone who dares to gossip behind our backs or spread baseless rumors will face the ruthlessness of our family rules!"

She deliberately emphasized the phrase "family discipline is ruthless," and her cold gaze sent a chill down everyone's spine, causing them to bow their heads and reply, "Yes."

Wu Yueniang waved her hand, and everyone quietly withdrew.

She stroked the cool prayer beads, her heart heavy, hoping only that her husband would have a smooth journey in the capital and return home soon.

Meanwhile, in the capital city.

Ximen Da Guanren carefully reviewed all the events and conversations at the Prime Minister's residence.

"Come and take care of me," the official said in a steady voice, wiping his face with a warm, damp towel to dispel some of the smell of alcohol.

"First thing tomorrow morning, take the documents issued by Grand Tutor Cai's residence and my calling card, go first to the Ministry of War, then to the Ministry of Personnel, and complete all the formalities for our appointment as Deputy Commander of the Judicial Bureau! This is of utmost importance, so make sure it is handled properly and efficiently, without the slightest mistake!"

"Yes! I understand! I'll be there before dawn to guard the yamen when it opens!" Lai Bao bowed and replied solemnly.

The official nodded in satisfaction, then paced back and forth, seemingly deep in thought, before continuing, "After finishing the official business, I have an important personal matter for you to handle. When you have some free time, go and find a concubine for Steward Qu of the Grand Tutor's mansion."

Lai Bao was taken aback for a moment, then replied, "Yes. I wonder if Your Excellency has any criteria? Such as age, appearance, background..."

The official waved his hand, interrupting him: "One should naturally have a presentable appearance and a gentle temperament. As for one's background..."

He pondered for a moment, a glint of shrewdness flashing in his eyes. "There's no need to look for those shady dealings outside. You should go back to Qinghe County and ask around among families you know well. See if there are any honest and upright daughters there. They must have a clean background, with parents and siblings under our watchful eyes, someone we can control and keep in our grasp!"

He specifically emphasized the words "knowing the inside and out" and "innocent".

Upon hearing this, Lai Bao'er looked somewhat troubled. Glancing at the official's expression, he cautiously replied, "Your Excellency is wise. I have a rough idea of ​​the families in the manor that are useful to me."

"But it's just that it's hard to find someone who is well-known, honest, and upright... I'm afraid... I'm afraid it's hard to find someone with a good appearance and a charming figure. Besides... if she were to be a concubine for Steward Qu, it would probably not suit his taste."

"Why not...why not go to the slave market outside and buy one with a good color and a soft texture?"

"Foolish!" The official frowned, glared at Lai Bao, and said in a deep voice, "Who is Steward Qu? He is the top confidant of Grand Tutor Cai's mansion, the real chief steward! To put it bluntly, even those third or fourth-rank regional officials outside have to treat him with respect!"

"If Steward Qu wants to buy a virgin woman as a concubine, isn't that easy? Just spread the word, and countless families will be scrambling to send their daughters in! The line of people vying to enter the Qu family could stretch from the Grand Tutor's mansion to the city gate!"

He picked up his teacup, took a sip, his eyes deep, and slowly revealed the key to it:
“He’s asking us to find someone for him, but he’s not looking for just any pretty woman. He wants someone we send over, someone he knows well, and ideally, someone who’s deeply connected to our household!”

"If this woman's family is useful to our Ximen family, or even if she comes from our own household, wouldn't the two families be able to establish a marriage alliance? With this relationship in place, the relationship and interactions between us and the Grand Tutor's Mansion, and between us and Steward Qu, will be completely different! This is what Steward Qu truly wants!"

Lai Bao suddenly understood, broke out in a cold sweat, and quickly bowed, saying:
"I am foolish! Your wisdom is brilliant, sir! I understand! When I get back, I will carefully search among the households of the farmers and shopkeepers we are close to, and make sure to find a good daughter who comes from a respectable family, is decent in appearance and temperament, and whose parents and brothers are honest, reliable and trustworthy!"

"Hmm." The official nodded in satisfaction, a knowing smile playing on his lips. "Make sure it's handled flawlessly. Remember, the family background must be impeccable, and the connections must be close. This isn't just a woman being sent over; it's a link between the Ximen family and the Grand Tutor's mansion! Understand?"

"Yes! I understand!" Lai Bao replied solemnly.

(End of this chapter)