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

Chapter 191 The Women's Thoughts Gather in Qinghe
Here, the Ximen family soared to great heights, and then some fools came to collect their debts.

Two days before Master Ximen arrived in the capital.

The north wind was biting, and the window paper shivered.

In the cramped side room of the rear building of the residence of Marquis Baoling, Shi Nai, the charcoal fire had long since gone out, and the cold air seeped through the curtains like insects.

Shi Xiangyun remained curled up deep within the cold, hard kang mattress, wrapped in a worn-out thin quilt, still fast asleep.

Yesterday, her aunt pressured her to embroider that handkerchief to make a living for the household. She stayed up until the third watch of the night, when her eyes were sore and felt like they were covered in pepper, before she finally fell asleep in a daze.

Unfortunately, at this unfortunate time, Lady Shi Nai, wife of the Marquis of Baoling, burst in, wearing a shiny mink fur coat and thick-soled cotton shoes.

A gust of cold wind, carrying the pungent smell of hair oil and face powder, rushed straight onto the kang (heated brick bed).

Seeing that Xiangyun was still buried in the blanket, she immediately raised her eyebrows, her triangular eyes flashed with a cold light, and she began to curse in a shrill voice:

"What a lazybones! The sun's already high in the sky, how many handkerchiefs have you embroidered yet? Are you just slacking off and sleeping in, trying to get through another day? Get up now!"

The stern rebuke startled Xiangyun, who jolted awake and abruptly threw off the covers, sitting up abruptly.

She was only wearing a thin, apricot-red silk bodice that clung to her skin and a pair of pine-green silk trousers with floral patterns. It was clearly a thin garment worn in the autumn to keep cool, and it was hardly enough to keep out the cold of winter. Ironically, the thin fabric only accentuated her plump and fleshy figure.

She was tall and slender with a narrow waist and broad shoulders. Her bustier revealed a rounded, fair waist and abdomen. Although she wasn't as slender as a willow, her waist was firm and full, smooth as jade, without a trace of excess fat or sagging. She exuded youthful vitality.

Two smooth arms, with rounded and plump shoulders, exposed to the cold air, were slightly covered with tiny bumps, adding to their smooth, healthy, and plump appearance.

Her oval face was flushed from sleep, like a drunken begonia, and the pillow marks on her cheeks made her look even more adorable.

Her almond-shaped eyes were half-closed and watery, her jet-black hair was disheveled like clouds, with a few strands clinging to her sweaty collarbone, which was also deeply recessed, exuding a languid charm.

She hurriedly tried to pull the blanket away, but the thin blanket slipped off, making her buttocks, which were tightly wrapped in trousers, appear even more full and perky. She had a naturally good figure, full of flesh but not fat, and looked plump and pleasing, exuding youthful energy.

"Auntie..." Xiangyun's teeth chattered from the cold. She hurriedly grabbed an old, faded coat from the edge of the kang (a heated brick bed) and wrapped it haphazardly around herself, trying to cover up the inappropriate spring sunshine.

"What are you dawdling for! Hurry up and wash your face and get to work! Do you think you're some rich young lady who needs to be urged three times?" Shi Nai's eyes swept over Xiangyun's curves, which were still barely concealed under her old coat, like a dagger. She snorted coldly, "Dressed like this, you have a pretty face! It's a pity you're unlucky, what a waste!"

Just as the cursing was getting heated, the sound of boots clattering outside came from outside. Marquis Baoling, Shi Nai, lifted the curtain and came in, clearing his throat:

"Alright, stop making a fuss. The old lady sent someone to say that the winter solstice is approaching and she wants to invite Yun'er to the mansion for a few days of celebration. You should quickly tell her to get ready."

These words are like celestial music!

Xiangyun's hazy almond eyes suddenly brightened dramatically, and two rosy blushes instantly rose on her pale face. Forgetting all about etiquette, she crisply replied, "Thank you, Uncle and Aunt!" and darted like a rabbit towards her even smaller side room.

No sooner had she left than Shi Nai's wife spat at the door curtain: "Pah! Hearing that you went to that mansion, your soul flew away! All you do all day is drink, act crazy, and write poetry, and you always make excuses for not doing proper needlework! What a waste of money we've been supporting! Everything you eat, wear, and use costs money!"

Shi Nai brushed the snow off his sleeves, his eyelids drooping: "Alright, alright, it's better to leave in peace. It saves me from having to wander around in front of you, wasting my food and energy, and it saves you from getting angry every day."

At this moment, Xiangyun paid no heed to the gossip behind her!

She rushed to her pitifully small old wooden cabinet, her heart pounding like a rabbit.

The cabinet door creaked open, the smell of camphor mixed with the dusty scent of old clothes. She hurriedly rummaged through a few worn-out dresses, reaching to the bottom to pull out a package. Inside were dozens of exquisite handkerchiefs she had secretly embroidered while staying up all night these past few days—the corners of the handkerchiefs were decorated with men, women, and mandarin ducks, clearly handkerchiefs expressing the deep affection between lovers.

Xiangyun grinned.

She pressed the handkerchief tightly against her still-rising, warm chest for a moment before carefully tucking it into the small bundle she had just rolled up.

Outside the gate, the strong woman from the Jia family who had come to fetch them was already impatient, stamping her feet in the wind.

Xiangyun hastily wrapped herself in a thick old cloak, clutched her small bundle, and followed the old woman into the small blue silk sedan chair parked outside the side gate, its thick cotton curtains hanging down.

The sedan curtain fell, shutting out the harshness and coldness of the deep, vermilion gates of the Marquis of Baoling's mansion behind them. The sedan chair creaked and groaned as it rolled over the snow, heading towards the warm, fragrant, and bustling Rongguo Mansion.

The small sedan chair, made of blue silk, creaked and groaned as it passed through the west corner gate, around the screen wall, and was carried straight to the front of Grandmother Jia's courtyard.

Xiangyun lifted the curtain and emerged, a warm, fragrant aroma mixed with the smells of charcoal fire, hair oil, and cosmetics, along with the clamor of voices, rushed over her.

This warm and fragrant place is worlds apart from the Shi family's icy back room!
She took several deep breaths of the warm fragrance, and the exhaustion from days and nights of embroidery, as well as the unpleasantness she had endured from her aunt, seemed to be mostly washed away by the heat. Her steps suddenly became lighter, and she darted along the covered corridor, familiar with the way, and headed straight for Grandmother Jia's main room.

Grandmother Jia was reclining on a daybed in the warm pavilion, chatting and laughing with Sister Feng and several old nannies.

Upon seeing Xiangyun enter, she smiled before even speaking: "Yun'er! We've been waiting for you!" After Xiangyun stepped forward to greet her, Grandmother Jia's sharp old eyes immediately fell on the old jacket she was wearing, which was faded from washing and had gray cotton wadding showing through the shoulders.

"Oh dear, my child!" Grandmother Jia pulled Xiangyun to her side, her icy hands grasping Xiangyun's equally icy fingertips, and pinching the thin sleeve of her coat. She clicked her tongue in distress, "How could you dress so lightly in this freezing weather? Your aunt is so careless! Look how cold our Yun'er is, her little face is all blue!"

Then he turned to Yuanyang and ordered, "Go, bring me that 'sable-head-patterned coat' that I just put on! Quickly put it on Yun'er! Be careful she doesn't catch a cold! It's no joke!"

Yuanyang responded and hurried away. Before long, she returned with a brand-new, thick, and glossy coat.

The outer lining is made of the finest mink head fur, with glossy black tips and each hair clearly defined. The lining is even thicker and softer gray squirrel fur, both inside and out, so warm and airtight that it will make you sweat!
Xiangyun was helped to change by several maids, and immediately felt a warmth coming from all directions, dispelling the chill and warming her heart.

She stroked the smooth, thick fur and smiled shyly as she thanked the old lady, "Thank you for the gift! It's so warm now, it's more useful than ten braziers!"

When Grandmother Jia saw that she was wearing a new jacket and her face was rosy, she was satisfied and then pulled her aside to ask some questions about everyday matters.

Xiangyun had been itching to leave for a while. She made a few perfunctory remarks, waited for a moment, and then excused herself and slipped out. She moved with lightning speed, rushing straight to the back courtyard's side rooms—one of which was where Qingwen was staying.

She found her way to Qingwen's room, which was completely silent inside.

Without knocking, Xiangyun cheerfully lifted the heavy cotton curtain and slipped inside like an eel.

Qingwen was sitting cross-legged on the warm kang (heated brick bed) by the window, her head buried in her work, needle and thread flying across her embroidery frame, using the daylight streaming through the window. Her pretty face was taut and she didn't even lift her eyelids.

"Qingwen! What kind of work are you doing?" Xiangyun suddenly raised her voice, startling Qingwen so much that she trembled all over!

Qingwen looked up with a start and saw that it was Xiangyun. The slight joy that had just appeared on her face vanished in an instant! Her eyes were filled with panic, as if she had seen a ghost.

She didn't even bother with the needle and thread, throwing them aside with a "thud," and without even bothering to slip on her shoes, she jumped off the kang (a heated brick bed) with her bare white feet! She rushed to the door, grabbed Xiangyun and dragged her into the room, then poked half her head out, looking around like a thief, before slamming the door shut with a "bang" and frantically bolting it shut!
"My good girl! You're such a shrew!" Qingwen patted her wildly beating heart, her throat tight and urgent, her voice trembling, "Why did you sneak in like a ghost? You scared the soul out of my body!"

She pressed Xiangyun down onto the edge of the kang (a heated brick bed), pointed at the embroidery frame on the kang table, and said in a voice so low it was barely audible, her breath coming in gasps: "Take a look! That batch of handkerchiefs you asked me to take on last time... it really ripped me off!"

Xiangyun leaned closer for a look, and what she saw on the snow-white, glossy Hangzhou silk handkerchief was not ordinary flowers and birds, but pairs of naked, intertwined wild mandarin ducks! And twin lotus flowers were wrapped around the four corners!

"This...this..." Qingwen's eyes were red with anxiety, and her finger pointing at the handkerchief trembled like a leaf in the wind. "You only said the pattern had to be 'novel and ingenious,' but who knew it would be such a shameless thing! When I was embroidering it, my heart was pounding like a drum, and my palms were covered in cold sweat! If I had run into Master Bao, or if those two sharp-eyed girls, Xiren and Sheyue, had seen it..."

She dared not think further, and a chill ran down her spine. "I'm afraid I could drink the Yellow River dry and still not clear my name! A good beating and being kicked out would be the least of my worries!"

Xiangyun stared at the handkerchief. She was open-minded by nature and often mingled in the streets, so her knowledge was naturally much broader than that of Qingwen, who was confined to the inner chambers of the mansion.

His eyes darted around, and instead of being afraid, he burst out laughing.

"Don't be afraid, Qingwen!" Xiangyun's voice was low, but it carried a sly excitement. "Well done! This is really valuable work! How many pieces did you embroider in total? Quick! Give them all to me!"

Xiangyun proudly raised her delicate chin, her eyes gleaming like two small oil lamps: "I came here specifically to collect your batch of 'treasures'! When I get back, I'll find a chance to sneak out with the carriage from the manor to the farm, and go to the silk shop in Qinghe County. I guarantee I'll sell it for a great price!"

She paused, then nudged Qingwen with her elbow with a grin: "While I'm at it, I'll look around for you and see if there are any more 'eye-catching' and 'lucrative' jobs you can get!"

"Your skill in mending that peacock-feather cloak last time really impressed that old fox shopkeeper at the silk store. His eyes almost popped out! He kept insisting that you embroider the whole peacock-feather cloak! If we could land a few big deals like that, the profits would be far greater than these 'mandarin duck handkerchiefs'! Let's secretly save up these savings so we can stand taller in the future, right?"

Qingwen was stunned by her audacious and rapid-fire scheme, her heart pounding wildly in her chest like a live rabbit trapped inside.

Looking at Xiangyun's face flushed with excitement and her bright, almost burning eyes, the fear in her heart seemed to be forced open by Xiangyun's shameless and reckless nature, letting out a little bit of it, and instead giving rise to a kind of fearful yet itchy, reckless, and wicked energy.

Xiangyun had already started to pack up the embroidered "spring handkerchiefs" with ease, carefully folding them and stuffing them into the bottom of the bundle she had brought.

Watching her busy figure, Qingwen bit her lower lip, but ultimately didn't stop her. She only sighed softly, "You're incredibly bold! Be careful, whatever you do, don't let anyone find out..."

In Qingwen's room, Xiangyun carefully stuffed the "shameful" handkerchief into the bottom of her bundle, then haphazardly stuffed a few changes of clothes on top to cover it up before holding it securely in her arms.

She bid farewell to Qingwen and walked along the covered corridor toward Grandmother Jia's courtyard, thinking she would first go and talk to Baoyu.

Just as they reached the vicinity of the passageway, a commotion arose. There stood Wang Xifeng, dressed in a bright red crepe de chine coat with silver fur trim, over which was a dark blue embroidered grey fur jacket, a Zhaojun headband, and a large sable fur collar. She stood at the entrance, her pretty face radiating authority, gesturing and giving orders to several steward wives and servants:
"...Those accounts have been outstanding for a full six months, and the interest alone is enough to buy two more estates! Do they really think I'm some kind of vegetarian saint? Tell Lai Sheng's family to bring their account books and IOUs, and also to call all their guards to come with them!! Is the car ready? Hurry up!"

Clutching her small bundle, she skipped and hopped forward, exclaiming, "Sister Feng! What a grand entourage! Where are you headed to make your fortune?"

Wang Xifeng was busy and furious when she suddenly saw Shi Xiangyun appear with a smile. Her brows furrowed subconsciously, but she quickly put on her usual cheerful smile: "Oh, who do we have here? It's Yun'er! Instead of being in front of the old lady, what are you doing here in the cold wind? Well, what a miserable life I have. I'm going to Qinghe County to collect some bad debts. It's like a debt collector's job!"

"Qinghe County?" Xiangyun was taken aback, her face lighting up with delight. "That's so lively! I heard that all sorts of novelties are available at the market at the end of the year! Sister Feng, dear sister, take me for a stroll to cheer me up! I'm so bored at home; my aunt makes me embroider handkerchiefs all day long, and my eyes are getting tired!"

She grabbed Wang Xifeng's arm and shook it, the small bundle swaying in her arms.

Wang Xifeng's arm went numb from being shaken so much, and she was extremely unwilling. Taking this girl along? What a hassle! She was like a horse without a bridle; who knew what trouble she'd cause outside? Besides, her trip was ostensibly to collect a debt, but secretly she also needed to take Ke Qing to see that nemesis. What kind of image would it have to project with a noblewoman?

She was about to refuse with a stern face, but swallowed the words back. Her almond-shaped eyes darted around Xiangyun's excited, flushed face, and her mind raced, calculating:

This girl is incredibly stubborn, and she's also the best at charming and flattering the old lady. If I don't agree, she'll turn around and pester the old lady a few times, and the old lady might soften her heart and let me take her with her.

"At that time, wouldn't my trip to 'collect debts' become known to the whole household? If it gets to Madam Xing or Madam Wang's ears, and they ask why I insisted on going to Qinghe County, a place where 'all sorts of people mingle,' to collect debts, it would be difficult to explain myself."

"Enough!" Wang Xifeng muttered under her breath, but a wider smile bloomed on her face as she lightly tapped Xiangyun's forehead with her fingertip.
"You little monkey! All you do is play! Fine, fine, I see you're bored at home, so I'll take pity on you and give you a ride! But let me make this clear: once we're out there, you have to do whatever I say! No running around, no looking around, and definitely no talking nonsense! Just think of it as coming with me to broaden your horizons, and we'll be right back! Got it?"

"I heard it! I heard it! Sister Feng is the best!" Xiangyun was so happy she almost jumped up, nodding hurriedly like a chick pecking at rice.

"Hmm," Wang Xifeng nodded in satisfaction, gesturing with her chin towards a newly fitted carriage with a blue silk cloak. "Go, ride in the same carriage as Ping'er. She's steady and reliable; I'll feel more at ease knowing she's giving you advice. Hurry up and get in the carriage, don't dawdle!"

"Yes!" Xiangyun responded crisply, clutching her heavy little bundle, and like a happy little deer, she darted to the blue silk carriage in a few steps. A maid had already lifted the thick cotton curtain, and the warm, cozy smell of charcoal wafted out.

Ping'er, wearing a light purple satin cotton-padded jacket, was sitting inside with a hand warmer. When she saw Xiangyun come in, she quickly smiled and invited her in, saying, "Miss Shi, come in quickly, be careful not to get cold."

Xiangyun climbed into the carriage, sat down next to Ping'er, and immediately hugged the small bundle containing the "secret" tightly to her chest, placed it on her lap, and pressed it down slightly with her elbow.

The carriage was covered with thick brocade rugs, and a copper foot warmer was burning brightly in the corner, creating a warm and cozy atmosphere, a world apart from the biting cold wind outside.

Wang Xifeng boarded an even more imposing carriage with red wheels and a canopy. With a crisp command, she said, "Lai Sheng's wife, lead the way! Let's go!" The driver shouted, and the clear sound of his whip whistle broke the winter silence.

Several horse-drawn carriages rumbled to life, rolling over the snow swept from the front of the government office, heading towards Qinghe County, a place teeming with bustling city life and brimming with endless possibilities.

The carriage swayed slightly. Xiangyun clutched the small bundle in her arms, feeling the outlines of those "hot potatoes," and watched the withered branches and snow rushing past the window. She couldn't help but smile.

Seeing her strange smile, Ping'er assumed it was just a child being playful and happy, and handed her a hand warmer, saying gently, "Miss, hold this to warm your hands; the journey is still long." Xiangyun took the hand warmer, and the warmth spread from her fingertips, but the tension and excitement in her heart burned brighter and brighter like a small flame.

The carriage with vermilion wheels and an ornate canopy in which Wang Xifeng rode was decorated with incense burners and brocade rugs, making it even more luxurious than Ping'er's carriage.

The carriage was spacious, but only she and Qin Keqing were seated there. Qin Keqing was wearing a lotus-blue satin jacket embroidered with gold butterflies and clouds, paired with a matching floral crepe skirt, and a silver fur vest over it.

Her figure was already graceful and elegant. Now, as she leaned against the thick brocade cushions, her chest, even under the thick winter clothes, was outlined with a stunningly rounded shape as the carriage bounced. The heavy weight stretched the hem of her clothes so full it seemed about to burst, exuding a lazy, silent allure.

She was holding a square gift box wrapped tightly in the finest brocade.

Wang Xifeng leaned against the other side, her phoenix eyes glancing at the gift box in Qin Keqing's arms with a half-smile. The carriage jolted, and Wang Xifeng's body swayed with it. Although her waist, wrapped in a peach-red silk jacket, was slender, her buttocks were full and round, trembling slightly with the sway, exuding the voluptuousness of a mature woman.

"Ke'er," Wang Xifeng's voice carried her usual honeyed, sarcastic intimacy, her gaze lingering like a hook on the box in Qin Keqing's arms, "Your precious little darling, you've been carrying it all the way here, what rare thing is it? Hiding it away like this is making me itchy."

Two blushes rose on Qin Keqing's face, making her even more beautiful. She subconsciously tightened the gift box in her arms and said softly, "Auntie is joking. It's just... just some ordinary things."

"Oh, is something so ordinary worth protecting like this?" Wang Xifeng's smile grew even more alluring, her eyes darting around as she suddenly leaned forward! Her movements were incredibly swift, carrying an undeniable air of fierceness. Her ample hips pressed and bounced on the brocade quilt, propelling her forward as one hand flashed towards the gift box like lightning!

Qin Keqing exclaimed in surprise, trying to protect it, but how could she be faster than Wang Xifeng? She only felt her arms suddenly empty as the gift box wrapped in brocade was snatched away by Sister Feng!

"Auntie! Give it back to me!" Qin Keqing hurriedly got up to snatch it.

Wang Xifeng nimbly twisted her body, cleverly avoiding Qin Keqing's hand, and then placed the gift box on her lap.

Her fingers flew, and in a few swift movements, she untied the delicately tied brocade wrapping, revealing an exquisite sandalwood box inlaid with mother-of-pearl. Without even glancing at Qin Keqing's near-tearful expression, she swiftly lifted the lid with a "snap."

The box was lined with soft plain silk.

On one side were several small and exquisite pastries, which were clearly made with great care: plum blossom-shaped red bean paste pastries, milk white cakes shaped like little rabbits, and several crystal cakes that were crystal clear and exuded a sweet fragrance.

On the other side lay a quiet apricot-red sachet, embroidered with twin lotus flowers in extremely fine gold and silver thread. The stitches were dense and lifelike, exuding a tender and enchanting atmosphere.

Wang Xifeng extended two slender fingers painted with bright red nail polish, picked up the sachet, and gently sniffed it. A delicate, cool fragrance filled her nostrils. She then used her fingertips to open the sachet and peeked inside. She saw that it was stuffed with some dried flower petals, and in the middle was a triangular amulet made of yellow paper and cinnabar.

"Tsk tsk tsk..." Wang Xifeng put down the sachet, picked up a plum blossom pastry, and waved it at Qin Keqing. Her phoenix eyes were full of mischievous and teasing smiles. "This pastry... is so exquisitely made. It's so sweet that it touches people's hearts, isn't it? I'm afraid it will make people suck their fingers clean before they're satisfied?"

She deliberately drew out her words, her gaze sweeping meaningfully over Qin Keqing's chest, which was heaving even more violently with embarrassment.

Qin Keqing's face turned as red as if it were about to bleed. She was both ashamed and anxious, but dared not raise her voice: "Auntie! You...you must stop talking!"

Wang Xifeng wasn't about to stop. She picked up the sachet again, her fingertips caressing the intertwined lotus blossoms on it. Her voice was lowered, yet it carried an even more ambiguous tone: "And this... such exquisite craftsmanship! These lotus blossoms are embroidered so beautifully... tsk tsk, so tender and affectionate, the love is practically overflowing from the eye of the needle!"

"So that's why you insisted on dragging me to the temple to burn incense the other day! You got this amulet hoping someone would wear it close to their body to ensure their safety and invincibility." She deliberately emphasized the words "safe travels" and "invincibility," her eyes almost overflowing with mockery.

Qin Keqing was so embarrassed by her extremely blatant teasing that she wanted to disappear into the ground, her face buried in her hands. Even her snow-white neck and ears were tinged with an alluring pink. After a long while, she finally managed to utter a soft, almost inaudible voice through her fingers, filled with deep shyness and a hint of sweetness:
“Auntie…please don’t make fun of him. He…he’s a man who’s destined for great things, always working hard outside…I…I can’t help him with anything, and…I don’t ask for anything else.”

Her voice grew softer and softer, with an almost devout tenderness, “I only hope… that he is safe and sound, free from illness and disaster, and that all the dangers and hardships of this world stay far away from him… This is my greatest wish.”

By the end, his voice carried a barely perceptible sob and a deep-seated worry.

The carriage fell silent for a moment, with only the rumbling of the wheels on the road. Wang Xifeng's mocking smile slowly faded.

She looked at Qin Keqing with her head down, revealing the delicate, white nape of her neck, at her shoulders trembling slightly from suppressing her emotions, and at her full and alluring figure, which remained even amidst her embarrassment and sorrow.

A complex emotion flashed in Sister Feng's eyes, a knowing understanding of the world, a hint of barely perceptible pity, and perhaps a silent sigh of sympathy for this moth-to-a-flame kind of love, as a fellow woman.

She didn't say anything more teasing. She simply put the pastries back into the box, arranged the sachet, gently closed the lid of the sandalwood box, and pushed it back to Qin Keqing's side.

"Alright, put it away." Wang Xifeng's voice returned to calm, even carrying a rare gentleness. "Keep it safe, and don't let anyone see it."

Qin Keqing raised her head, her eyes slightly red, and looked at Wang Xifeng with gratitude and shyness. Silently, she hugged the box that held all her secret thoughts tightly to her chest again, as if she were holding a fragile, burning dream.

Inside the carriage, only the faint sound of the heater and the monotonous rolling of the wheels remained. The previous flirtation and banter had transformed into a heavy silence, tinged with desire and melancholy.

Wang Xifeng leaned back against the brocade cushion, her gaze fixed on the swaying carriage curtain, lost in thought. Her rounded hips pressed a deep, soft imprint onto the brocade mattress.

Meanwhile, Wang Xifeng's gilded and jeweled carriage rolled along the stone-paved road of Qinghe County.

Our first stop was in front of Ximen Da Guanren's lavish herbal medicine shop. The shop stood facing the street, its signboard fluttering in the wind, the aroma of herbs mixed with some indescribable, precious spices, wafting straight into people's noses.

Sister Feng gave her a wink, and the clever girl Ruizhu jumped off the carriage, swaying her slender waist as she stepped forward and asked the shop assistant behind the counter who was setting up the abacus, "May I ask if Master Ximen is here? The ladies of the manor want to speak with him."

The waiter glanced at the procession and, seeing that it was a noblewoman's carriage from the capital, dared not be negligent. He quickly put on a smile and said, "Oh dear, young lady, you've come at an inopportune time! My master just left for the capital the day before yesterday to handle some important business. I don't know when he will return."

These words were conveyed through the carriage curtain, and the carriage fell silent for a moment.

The two beautiful women, Wang Xifeng and Qin Keqing, were lying side by side on the brocade quilt. Upon hearing this, they looked at each other and were both taken aback.

The eager anticipation on Qin Keqing's face vanished instantly, leaving only a sense of bewilderment and loss. Like a delicate flower on a branch struck by frost, it drooped its head listlessly, unconsciously twisting the silk handkerchief in its hand.

Sister Feng glanced at him, her mind clear, and thought to herself: What a small world! This Ximen Qing is such a slippery devil.

She showed no emotion on her face, but instead reached out her slender hand, adorned with gold and kingfisher feather nail guards, and gently patted Qin Keqing's knee. Even through the silk, one could smell the fragrance of flesh emanating from that soft spot.

Sister Feng smiled knowingly, her words carrying a hint of reassurance and a touch of ambiguity she herself couldn't quite define: "What's the rush? We'll run into each other eventually. Come with me to Tongchifang for some fun and a bit of relaxation."

Qin Keqing forced a smile, but a hint of resentment flickered in her eyes as she responded softly. The caravan then continued on its way.

Arriving at a bustling silk shop, the storefront was dazzling with colorful silks and satins piled up like a small mountain.

Shi Xiangyun, who had been eyeing the new Suzhou and Hangzhou fabrics for a while, couldn't contain herself and said to Ping'er, "Good sister, I'm going down to take a look at the new Suzhou and Hangzhou fabrics and pick out a couple of bright ones. You two go to Tongchifang first and send a little boy to pick me up later."

Ping'er knew her temperament, so she smiled and agreed, then whispered a reminder: "Be careful, don't let those glib-tongued waiters fool you."

Xiangyun smiled and agreed, wrapped her cloak tighter, jumped off the carriage, and disappeared into the brocade-covered pile like a sparrow.

Without delay, Sister Feng and her entourage headed straight for Tongchifang in a bustling carriage.

That Tongchifang was the top-tier den of iniquity in Qinghe County, encompassing gambling, banquets, and private establishments.

The carriage had barely stopped in front of the gate when the sharp-eyed steward, who had already gotten wind of it, came out in a flustered rush, his fat face beaming like a chrysanthemum. He bowed and scraped, saying, "Oh my! What wind has blown this great lady, Second Mistress Lian, to our humble temple today! Please come inside and sit in the warm pavilion, and have some of the finest Longjing tea served to you!"

Sister Feng, supported by Ping'er's hand, gracefully stepped out of the carriage. Her air of wealth and elegance completely overshadowed the surrounding hustle and bustle of the city.

She didn't enter the warm pavilion, but stood under the dripping eaves, her phoenix eyes casting a half-smile at the steward, her red lips slightly parted, but the words she uttered were icy:
"There's no need for a seat. I've come today with only one question: When will those loans I made to your neighborhood before the New Year, including principal and interest, be settled? When will you be able to return them to me completely?"

The manager's smile froze instantly, and beads of sweat appeared on his forehead. He stammered, "This... Madam, please forgive me, things are really tense in the capital! Lord Wang has closed the nine gates, and Lord Gao has shut down several gambling dens, causing significant business disruptions. We're really... running out of money these days..."

Sister Feng raised an eyebrow, her smile deepening and growing colder: "Oh? Short on cash? That's fine too. My uncle, Lord Wang, is surely very interested in the local customs and livelihoods of Qinghe County. Tomorrow I'll send someone to his residence to deliver a letter, inviting him to Tongchifang to 'observe the people's conditions' when he has some free time."

"While you're at it, take a look at my little accounts. Ask him to issue a warrant to arrest the man, lock the entire Tongchifang account book, along with the man and the dog, in a cage and leave it to dry in the sun for three days and three nights! Tell me, can this 'root' be reconnected?"

These words, spoken lightly, struck the steward's heart like a thousand-pound hammer. Prince Teng's current status as a figure of immense imperial favor—what power and influence that represented!

The steward was terrified, his knees buckled, and he almost knelt down on the spot, repeatedly saying, "Grandma, please calm down! Grandma, please calm down! I'll report to the master immediately and raise the money! I'll raise it right away! Half a month! I'll definitely raise the money and send it to your residence within half a month!"

(End of this chapter)