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

Chapter 193 The Turmoil in the Jia Family Mansion: The High-Ranking Official Meets Qin Keqing

Baoyu clutched the string of imperial incense prayer beads. Luckily, they didn't break, but even so, he broke out in a cold sweat.

He looked up and stared at Qingwen. The girl stood there stiffly, her face still showing shock, but her back was straight and her phoenix eyes were bright. She showed no sign of servility or fear, but rather as if she had suffered a great injustice!

She startled herself, but wasn't afraid at all.

This arrogant and reckless behavior instantly ignited all of Baoyu's pent-up anger.

"Fool, fool! How can you act so recklessly? When you are in charge of the household tomorrow, will you still be so short-sighted?" Baoyu's face was ashen, and his voice was squeezed out from between his teeth.

Qingwen stood there filled with regret and said softly, "I didn't know you two were behind the door; I just pushed the door open and came in."

"What a reckless and arrogant act! Don't you have any respect for your master? How can you behave so recklessly! This is an imperial gift, how dare you touch it? If it's really damaged, how am I supposed to explain it to the Prince? I've spoiled you all this time, and now you're getting even more arrogant!"

Qingwen's lingering regret was instantly crushed by the harsh reprimand. A surge of resentment mixed with pride welled up inside her, and she was determined to go all out. Her voice was crisp and clear, carrying a resolute air of utter desperation:
"If you want to hit or punish me, Second Master, I'll accept it! I was the one who knocked the things over, and I can't deny it! But you don't have to keep stabbing me in the heart with every word! 'Reckless'? 'Ignorant of the immensity of heaven and earth'?"

"When you were arguing with Sister Xiren about this thing earlier, why wasn't Second Master so careful and precious? If you hadn't been pulling and tugging and accidentally dropped it, would the bead have fallen? Instead, you've pinned all the blame on me!"

Seeing Baoyu's ashen face and Qingwen's unyielding stance, Xiren knew something was wrong. She hurriedly stepped forward, grabbed Qingwen's sleeve, and pleaded in a soft, urgent voice: Xiren:

"Good sister, please say less! We just didn't hold on properly and lost our grip. Second Master is in a bad mood, so it's understandable that his words are a bit harsh. Please bear with it and don't..."

The moment the word "we" left her lips, Xiren realized it was inappropriate, but it was too late to take it back!

As if stung by a poisonous bee, Qingwen abruptly shook off Xiren, took a step back, and a mocking sneer played on her lips as her gaze swept across Baoyu and Xiren's faces like knives.
"Ha! 'We'? What a fine 'we'! I'd like to ask, who are these 'we'? Don't make me blush for you! Who doesn't know? Even those shady dealings in bed can only be kept secret from the blind and deaf! And now you have the nerve to call yourselves 'we'?"

"To be fair, she hasn't even earned the title of a girl yet! She's just like me, serving in this house. Who's more noble than whom? How dare she call herself 'we'? It's a complete joke!"

These words were like stripping away the last veil of shame from Xiren!

Xiren immediately turned purple with shame, her lips trembling as she pointed at Qingwen: "You...you...you little hussy! What nonsense are you spouting! I...I gave my heart for..." The rest of her words caught in her throat, leaving only rapid breathing and tears of shame and indignation.

Baoyu was so embarrassed and angry by Qingwen's retort that his face turned red. His finger trembled as he pointed at Qingwen, but he couldn't utter a single word.

Seeing Xiren's shame and indignation and Baoyu's speechless state, Qingwen felt not only no relief from her anger, but also a greater sense of sorrow and indignation.

She hadn't done anything wrong, yet Lady Wang openly and secretly accused her of seducing Baoyu.

The real Xiren is right here, yet I'm being made to take the blame.

She decided to go all out, straightening her back with grief and indignation:

"Second Master's temper has gotten worse lately! His actions are utterly disrespectful! The other day, even Xiren, his 'close confidante,' was kicked in the stomach by you, and today you've come after us again! Hit us or scold us, do as you please!"

"Those precious glass jars and agate cups, how many of them have been accidentally smashed before, and Second Master never even frowned? Not even a whimper! Now, over such a trivial matter, he acts as if the sky has fallen? What a waste!"

"If you really find us clumsy and an eyesore, just report to the higher-ups and send us out! There are plenty of clever people in the manor. Second Master, go and choose the one you like! Wouldn't it be cleaner and more pleasant to part ways amicably? It's better than staying here, having to be judged by others, and suffering this filthy, meaningless atmosphere!"

As Xiren listened to Qingwen's words, each one like a needle piercing her most hidden sore spot, she was so ashamed and indignant that she almost fainted.

Baoyu was utterly enraged by the words "a clean break"! This was practically a servant rebelling! He trembled with rage, pointed at Qingwen, and his voice trembled: "Rebellion! Outrageous! You're not happy about it, are you? Fine! Tomorrow I'll promote her! I'll promote her! Let's see what you can do about it!"

Xiren was terrified when she heard this; what would happen if word got out?

Forgetting all shame, she clung tightly to Baoyu's arm, her voice trembling with tears: "My ancestor! Calm down! He's a muddle-headed man, spouting nonsense. You are of such high status, why argue with him? You've always been so magnanimous, tolerating so many important matters, how could you..."

Qingwen said in a shrill, cold voice, "Yes! I am a fool! A born lowly and muddle-headed person! Naturally, I am not worthy to speak with the wise and esteemed Second Master! I am even less worthy to listen to your golden words, you 'wise man'!"

Seeing that the situation was not good, Xiren could only suppress her humiliation and lower her posture, trying to shut the storm inside: "Good girl... if you... if you are angry with me, just come at me. All the faults are mine... why make a scene in front of Second Master? If you are angry with Second Master, you shouldn't have made such a scene... made it known to everyone!"

Qingwen was not about to back down. She raised her face, her expression one of desperate contempt: "I am not worthy to speak to him, and I am even less worthy to touch your things! But I want to ask, why should I bear the blame for what you have done? Aren't there enough people in this mansion who openly and secretly curse me? They say I seduced him when nothing happened?"

Baoyu's last shred of reason crumbled! He abruptly flung Xiren away, his face ashen, his eyes blazing with furious rage:

"Alright, alright! The old lady also said that once I live alone, she'll have Xiren and you come over. My place is too small to accommodate such a great person as you! I'll go tell the old lady right now!"

"Anyway, you're still the old lady's person, so I can't control you! I'll just say that you're unruly, disrespectful, and causing unrest in the household! I'll definitely tell the old lady, and she'll send you out in three quarters of an hour! You won't stay here anymore, and you won't stay in the Jia family either! Clean up!"

Having said that, he raised his foot to rush out, but Xiren was terrified. If this matter got out of hand, wouldn't she be beaten to death? She quickly grabbed Baoyu.

Qingwen, who had always held her head high and refused to yield an inch of ground, was struck dumb when she heard the words "send her away"!
All stubbornness and anger were instantly swallowed up by a chilling fear. Where could they find refuge if they left this mansion?

Qingwen cried out, "Get out? Why should I get out? I was assigned to this house by the old lady! If you dislike me, you'll find ways to kick me out? No way! I'll die... I'll die in this house!"

The room was dead silent.

Only Qingwen's suppressed sobs, Xiren's panicked choking, and Baoyu's heavy breathing could be heard.

Despite Qingwen's heart-wrenching cries, Baoyu's anger at being contradicted still burned fiercely within him.

He flung aside Xi Ren, who rushed to stop him, crying her eyes out, and without even glancing at the mess behind him, he stormed out of the house.

The biting winter wind, sharp as a knife, lashed his face, but it actually cleared his feverish mind a bit.

Baoyu slowed his pace: "That damned Qingwen! How dare she be so presumptuous! I must tell Madam and have her kicked out!"

He gritted his teeth, his feet barely touching the ground, and rushed straight to Madam Wang's main room.

But as I walked, the cold wind blew into my collar, which extinguished some of the fire in my heart.

Just now, when he was with Daiyu, he eagerly approached her, only to be shut down by a few lukewarm words.
He went to Sister Bao's place, but was scolded again.

Having been rebuffed twice, and with a belly full of nameless anger with nowhere to vent, he went back to the house to find Xiren, hoping to find some comfort in her soft body and gentle eyes, and steal a moment of marital bliss.

Who knew that as soon as he entered the door, he would see Qingwen break the beads, and he would turn all his unspeakable lust into a thunderous rage, which he would unleash on the ignorant and arrogant maid...

Thinking of this, Baoyu slowed down completely and stopped under the bare pomegranate tree outside the gate of Madam Wang's courtyard.

A vague sense of guilt, like a cold little snake, quietly crept into my heart.

Although Qingwen was arrogant, she was ultimately the one who had taken her anger out on others first. But this slight sense of guilt was immediately suppressed by another, more fervent and anxious thought—she hadn't even touched Xiren's warm and soft body, but had instead gotten herself into trouble!

If this matter blows up, he won't get away with it even if he and Xiren keep their affair a secret!
Baoyu's gaze drifted toward Madam Wang's room: "What is Madam doing right now? I might as well go in and pay my respects..."

Once that thought crossed my mind, my resolve to file a complaint vanished into thin air.

He tiptoed and lifted the heavy cotton curtain, and a warm, cozy wave of heat, carrying the sweet scent of benzoin, rushed towards him.

In the inner room, on the kang (heated brick bed), Madam Wang lay face inward, covered tightly with a brocade quilt, her breathing even, clearly fast asleep.

On a small stool under the edge of the kang (a heated brick bed), the maid Jin Chuan'er was dozing off, her hand loosely clenched into a fist. As she nodded, the fist drooped to her side. Her eyes were half-closed, and she was drowsy. Her pretty face was flushed from the warmth of the kang, and her lips were slightly pouting, exuding an indescribable languid allure.

Upon seeing Jin Chuan'er's drowsy, begonia-like appearance, Bao Yu instantly forgot all his guilt, anger, and unfulfilled desires!

He moved closer to Jin Chuan'er as if possessed, his movements as light as a cat stealing cream, and gently removed the pair of small, exquisite pearl pendants from her ears.

Jin Chuan'er suddenly woke up with a start, opened her eyes groggily, and saw that it was Bao Yu. She was startled at first, then smiled and waved her hand to signal him to leave quickly. She then closed her eyes again and pretended to sleep.

Baoyu was unwilling to leave. He peeked out furtively and carefully examined Madam Wang. Seeing that she was not moving at all and was sleeping soundly, he became even bolder.

He reached into his inner purse and pulled out a fragrant, moistening pill. The pill was no bigger than a mung bean, with a pleasant aroma and a hint of minty coolness.

With two fingers holding it, and taking advantage of Jin Chuan'er's closed eyes, Bao Yu grinned and pushed it into her slightly parted cherry lips.

Jin Chuan'er didn't open her eyes, but just let out a soft "hmm" in her throat. With a flick of her pink tongue, she held the pill in her mouth.

A sweet, cool sensation melted in her mouth, and a faint smile involuntarily curved her lips.

Baoyu's heart burned with desire as he looked at her. He leaned forward and lowered his voice, which was full of teasing: "Good sister, you are so lovely. I will ask Madam for you tomorrow and put you in my room. Wouldn't it be wonderful if we could be together day and night?"

Jin Chuan'er's eyelids twitched, but she still didn't answer. Only her cheeks, which were holding the pill, twitched slightly.

Seeing that she wasn't angry, Baoyu's desire only intensified, and he pressed his advantage, saying, "How about... I wait until Madam wakes up, and then I'll ask for it right now? Otherwise, things might get complicated..."

Before she could finish speaking, Jin Chuan suddenly opened her eyes and pushed Bao Yu away, saying, "Haven't you heard the saying, 'A golden hairpin falling into a well—what's yours is yours'? Don't you even understand this saying? Madam has just fallen asleep, so you should be quiet!"

Her eyes darted around, and she thought of a way to lure this troublemaker away. A sly smile played on her lips as she whispered, "...I'll tell you a clever trick. Go find some fun somewhere else right now! In the east courtyard... Huan-ge and Cai-yun are...hehe...who knows what they're up to! Wouldn't it be more interesting if you went and caught them?"

At this moment, Baoyu's heart and eyes were filled with the beautiful woman in front of him, and he didn't care about Jia Huan and Caiyun at all.
Baoyu, with a lecherous grin, leaned closer again: "What do I care about them! Let them do whatever they want! Today, my eyes and heart are only on you, sister..."

As he spoke, his hand began to wander, reaching out to touch Jin Chuan'er's hand.

Just then—a loud "whoosh" was heard!
Madam Wang suddenly sat up on the kang! Her face was deathly pale with anger, her temples were disheveled, and her eyes were like poisoned knives, fixed on Jin Chuan'er's face!
Madam Wang shrieked and slapped Jin Chuan'er hard across the face: "You shameless little whore!! You vixens have corrupted perfectly good men!! I'm not even dead yet, and you dare to seduce your master right under my nose, doing such shameless things!!"

*Slap!* A resounding slap landed squarely on Jin Chuan'er's delicate face! Half of her cheek instantly swelled up, and her pearl earring was knocked away, rolling off somewhere.

Baoyu was so frightened he nearly jumped out of his skin! His earlier romantic thoughts had completely vanished into thin air!

Seeing Madam Wang's murderous gaze sweep over him, how could he dare to linger?

Scrambling and tumbling like a frightened rabbit, she slipped through the curtain in a flash and ran away without looking back, leaving behind only Jin Chuan'er's pitiful cries and pleas for mercy:

Jin Chuan knelt down with a thud, hugged Madam Wang's leg, and cried her heart out: "Madam! Madam, spare me! I won't do it again! This servant knows she was wrong!" Madam Wang's chest heaved violently. Looking at Jin Chuan, who was crying her eyes out at her feet, there was no pity in her eyes, only overwhelming anger at being offended and cold disgust.

Thinking about what happened this morning made me even angrier.

The appearances of Lin Daiyu and Grandmother Jia seem to be combined in Jin Chuan'er.

Madam Wang's voice was cold and resolute as she shouted towards the door, "Someone! Go and fetch Jin Chuan'er's mother! Immediately! Take this shameless, filthy wretch who instigated her master away! The Duke's mansion will not tolerate such filth!!"

Jin Chuan'er kowtowed, weeping, "Please, Madam, have mercy! Beat me or scold me as you please, just please don't kick me out! Don't kick me out! If I leave this manor, I'll only have one way out: death, Madam..."

Outside, the cold wind howled, swirling up the withered leaves on the ground, then falling silent.

-

In the silk shop of Qinghe County.

Xu Zhi stroked his sparse yellow beard, his eyes fixed on the few plain white silk handkerchiefs that Shi Xiangyun had spread out, carefully caressing the lifelike mandarin ducks with intertwined necks on the corners of the handkerchiefs.

The stitches are as fine as hair, the colors are elegant and vibrant, and the edges of the petals look as if you could actually pinch out dew.

Having been immersed in the silk trade for decades, he has a keen eye; this level of embroidery skill is by no means the work of an ordinary embroiderer.

Xu Zhi clicked his tongue in admiration, his eyes sweeping over Xiangyun's slightly rough fingers with a hook-like gaze: "Excellent needlework! Such brilliant craftsmanship! It's a pity that such skill is buried in the boudoir, young lady. These mandarin ducks, tsk tsk, so lifelike, as if they were alive, their eyes are even moving."

Xiangyun's bright, spirited eyes shone with an astonishing light. She met Xu Zhi's scrutinizing gaze with composure, a subtle hint of shrewdness characteristic of a merchant playing at the corners of her lips.

Xiangyun's voice was crisp and clear, with a deliberately lowered, somewhat vulgar tone: "Mr. Xu knows his stuff. What's your price?"

Xu Zhi chuckled and held up three fingers, waving them: "How about this price for a handkerchief?" This price is almost double that of the best embroidered handkerchiefs on the market.

Xiangyun's mind raced, but on the surface she merely raised an eyebrow and deliberately dragged out her words: "Oh? Mr. Xu is indeed a straightforward person. But..." She paused deliberately, her fingers lightly tapping the surface of the handkerchief.

Xu Zhi, ever the smooth talker, immediately chimed in: "Don't worry, young lady! I, Xu Zhi, am honest and fair in business! This price is only worthy of your exceptional skill! I'll take whatever you have in the future!"

He patted his chest to assure her, but his eyes darted around Xiangyun's face and body, trying to discern more from this simply dressed but extraordinary girl.

Ordinary families' daughters wouldn't have such style and skill. But if she were a young lady from a wealthy family, why would she personally come to sell such a paltry embroidered handkerchief?

"Then thank you very much for your kindness, Mr. Xu." Xiangyun deftly pushed the handkerchief over, as if she had unloaded a burden. Xu Zhi immediately took out a heavy blue cloth bag from under the counter and pushed it in front of Xiangyun. The crisp sound of the silver coins clinking was particularly clear in the quiet shop.

With the silver in hand, Xiangyun weighed it in her hand, and the smile on her lips became more genuine.

Xu Zhi glanced at her expression, his doubts and curiosity growing stronger. He couldn't help but probe, leaning forward slightly and lowering his voice: "Miss, your skillful hands are only good for embroidering handkerchiefs, it's a waste of your talent! I wonder... I wonder if you can take on bigger projects? Like... like the 'Peacock Feather Fur Coat' woven from peacock feathers?"

The longer you work in this line of work, the more you realize the value of these embroiderers.

His voice trembled slightly when he mentioned the words "Quejinqiu".

If one could acquire one of these items, it would be a treasure to display in the shop, or it could be resold to those extravagant princes and nobles, bringing immense wealth!

Upon hearing this, Xiangyun's eyes flashed with a sharp light, and the inherent pride of a noble lady instantly overwhelmed her deliberately feigned commoner air.

She raised her chin slightly, with a disdainful confidence: "The Sparrow Gold Fur Coat? What's so difficult about it! This embroidery technique, look throughout the entire capital, go and ask around, except for Qing... cough,"

She stopped abruptly, coughing lightly to cover it up, "Besides me, who else can restore the lost 'Peacock Golden Feather Needle'? Even the Imperial Wardrobe in the palace might not have my skill!"

Upon hearing this, Xu Zhi was overjoyed and rubbed his hands together, saying repeatedly, "That's right! That's right! Miss, you have amazing skills! As long as you're willing to do it, the price is negotiable! Absolutely negotiable!"

Xiangyun: "Since Mr. Xu knows his stuff, the price of this Sparrow Gold Fur Coat... should naturally match its reputation and my skills. It should be several times more expensive than other fur coats on the market."

She stretched out a few slender fingers and waved them in front of Xu Zhi's eyes.

Xu Zhi's smile froze for a moment, his heart clenching with a sharp pain—not because it was expensive, but because it was ridiculously cheap. He immediately plastered on an even more fawning smile:

"Of course! Of course! The young lady's craftsmanship is worth the price! I've already paid a high price for handkerchiefs, let alone a rare treasure like the Sparrow Gold Fur Coat! As long as the item is good, money is no problem!"

Xiangyun nodded in satisfaction, put away her money pouch, and stood up briskly: "Good! Boss Xu is so generous! Next time I come to deliver the handkerchief, please prepare the finest peacock gold thread for making the peacock gold fur coat, the base material, and the size and style you need. Remember, the thread must be top-grade; if it's even slightly inferior, it won't show that golden and emerald brilliance!"

"Don't worry, miss! I've got it covered! The fabric is top-notch, not a single bit off!" Xu Zhi patted his chest and assured her, personally escorting Xiangyun to the door.

Just then, a clear bell rang outside the door, and a luxuriously decorated carriage with red wheels and a canopy came to a steady stop in front of the silk shop.

The two horses pulling the carriage were pure white and exceptionally fine. The carriage shaft was inlaid with a gold-plated emblem, which was not very clear, but its grandeur was something that no ordinary wealthy family could afford.

The carriage curtains were made of fine brocade with tassels, and even the coachman was dressed in a respectable silk vest.

Xu Zhi's eyes widened in amazement; such a grand display could only belong to a duke or prince!

He was about to peek out to see which important person it was when he noticed a slight change in Shi Xiangyun's expression. Her previous shrewdness and competence vanished instantly, replaced by a barely perceptible hint of panic.

Xiangyun swiftly stuffed the small blue cloth bag containing the silver into her bosom, her movements so fast they almost created a gust of wind.

She didn't even have time to say another polite word to Xu Zhi, only hurriedly whispering "We'll talk about it next time!" before rushing towards the luxurious carriage like a startled deer.

The coachman clearly recognized her and had already put down his footstool. Xiangyun nimbly lifted the carriage curtain, her slender figure quickly disappearing behind the heavy brocade curtain. Before the curtain fell, Xu Zhi seemed to glimpse a corner of the carriage, where a thick mink-fur cushion was laid out, and incense wafted gently.

Xu Zhi stood there dumbfounded, staring at the faint dust raised by the magnificent carriage as it sped away. After a long while, he muttered to himself, full of doubt and confusion:

"Hiss... Strange! Truly strange! Such a magnificent carriage of unparalleled wealth... and this girl... still has to sell a few handkerchiefs and take on some embroidery work to earn this meager sum of money? The money that slips through the fingers of noble families is probably ten or a hundred times more than this, isn't it? Why bother?"

He shook his head, completely baffled.

-

At the entrance of Rongguo Mansion in Beijing.

With the gold-flecked red name card tucked into his sleeve, Ximen Qing pondered: Qin Keqing is hidden deep within the inner quarters; how could he possibly see her so easily? He feared he would have to get through to the shrewish and ruthless Wang Xifeng, the second wife of Lian, to have even a sliver of hope…

Suddenly, a clatter of hooves thundered, and a carriage draped in blue cloth came to a screeching halt in front of the Jia family's main gate. The curtain was lifted, and out stepped Lin Ruhai!

This isn't like someone offering you a pillow when you're sleepy.

The official smiled and wanted to go forward to greet him.

But as soon as he finished speaking, he looked up and saw Lin Ruhai's appearance in the distance, and the rest of his words were stuck in his throat, making him gasp in shock!
The scene I caught a glimpse of this Salt Commissioner from afar at Qinghe Wharf a month ago: At that time, Lin Ruhai was wearing a brand-new robe with a mythical beast motif, a black gauze hat, and a jade belt around his waist. He walked with ease, and his demeanor was elegant and noble. His eyes were sharp as lightning. He was riding high on the spring breeze, and he had the air of a close minister of the emperor and a newly powerful official!

But the person before him... where was even a trace of his former high spirits? He looked exactly like a newly pasted paper doll in a temple, his face devoid of any color, deathly pale, more eerie than newly starched mourning cloth.

Beads of cold sweat the size of soybeans were dripping down his pale face, sticking his hair to his cheeks. His once sharp eyes were now filled with bewilderment, as if half of his soul had been taken away by the grim reaper, leaving only an empty shell barely holding on. He was a far cry from the spirited censor he had been a month ago!

Without even seeing Master Ximen, he stumbled headfirst into the Rong Mansion, leaving only a heavy thud as the door slammed shut.

The warmth on the official's face instantly froze, and he stood there, his outstretched hand still hanging in mid-air.

He stared at the tightly closed beast-head gate, then looked down and touched the hot name card in his sleeve, his two bushy eyebrows furrowing into a knot.

Lin Ruhai's appearance, as if he were seriously ill, was a world apart from his imposing and majestic demeanor a month ago.

The official had a good impression of Lin Ruhai, but thinking that he was not far from dying, a chill that was hard to describe suddenly crept up his spine.

Ximen Qing was still staring blankly at the tightly closed vermilion gate of the Jia family mansion, the chill in his heart still lingering, when suddenly he heard an even faster and louder sound of horses' hooves and carriage wheels, as if the wind was rushing closer and closer, hitting his ears directly.

Looking up, one could see several magnificent carriages with ornate saddles and embroidered canopies, accompanied by a group of robust servants, speeding to the front of the Jia mansion. The lead carriage was the most exquisite, with its vermilion wheels and ornate canopy, dazzling the eye.

As soon as the carriage came to a stop, a bright and lively maid dressed in red and green jumped down and deftly placed the footrests. Immediately afterward, the curtain was lifted with a "whoosh," and Wang Xifeng nimbly stepped out, exuding a fierce and shrewish air.

As soon as Sister Feng's feet touched the ground, she turned around and reached out a hand to help her up. A delicate, jade-like hand rested on Sister Feng's wrist, and then a graceful, ethereal figure appeared beside the carriage shaft—it was none other than Qin Keqing, the eldest mistress of the Ningguo Mansion!

Keqing, holding Fengjie's hand, moved gracefully, about to follow her into the gate.

But at that very moment, it was as if an invisible thread suddenly tugged hard at the tip of her heart! She felt a sudden jolt in her heart, and an inexplicable surge of heat rushed up from within, burning her whole body!
As if possessed, she suddenly turned her head, her misty, alluring eyes darting urgently toward the spot where Ximen Qing had parked his car at the street corner!
Just one glance!
Ke Qing'er felt as if she had been struck by lightning, her whole body went numb, and she froze there, unable to move! Her eyes, which had originally held seven parts languor and three parts sorrow, suddenly widened, and two wildfires seemed to burst into flames deep within her pupils, shining with a terrifying brightness!
She could see clearly that the man she longed for day and night, the man she couldn't shake off in her dreams—Master Ximen—was standing by the carriage in the distance! He had a smile on his lips that she knew all too well, a smile that was three parts playful and seven parts provocative, and his eyes were fixed on her hotly and directly!

"Boom—!" A surge of scalding blood rushed to the top of Ke Qing'er's head, burning her face and ears, and even staining her snow-white neck with a layer of rouge.

It felt like a lively rabbit was jumping around in her chest, making her feel flustered and short of breath, almost causing her to faint.

A mixture of sour, sweet, bitter, and spicy flavors surged up like a scalding wave, rushing straight to her eyes and instantly engulfing her watery pupils, leaving tiny teardrops clinging to her long eyelashes.

She felt her bones and joints go limp and weak, her legs trembled like a sieve, soft and mushy like freshly kneaded dough, how could she possibly stand up?
I wish I could immediately throw away all this dignity and rules, disregard everything, and rush headlong into that nemesis's arms!
However, what she could see was the majestic gate of the mansion and the servants standing solemnly. In broad daylight, under the watchful eyes of everyone, how could a noble and precious grandmother do such a thing?
That deep longing, that surging tide of emotion, was instantly drenched by the cold reality, pressed back into the chest, turning into a barely audible sob deep in the throat.

She could only bite her cherry-like lower lip hard, using all her strength to force back the tears that were about to spill out, and the turbulent emotions that threatened to break her heart!
My chest ached as if it were being stabbed, and my body trembled uncontrollably.

She hurriedly lowered her eyelids, her long eyelashes fluttering like startled butterfly wings, barely concealing the tears welling up in her eyes and the burning passion that could melt a person.

Qin Keqing's sudden loss of composure startled Wang Xifeng!
Following the direction of Ke Qing's fleeting glance, she darted away and, upon clearly seeing the smiling, dignified figure standing in the distance, her mind instantly became crystal clear! As clear as a mirror!
A knowing smile then appeared on his lips, a smile that was both ambiguous and meaningful.

Her face remained impassive, but she immediately raised her voice, sharp and barbed, and shouted at the servants who stood there like wooden stakes: "Are you all standing there?! Hurry up and move all the carriages and horses around to the back gate and settle them properly! What kind of decorum is this, blocking the street like this!"

The servants were jolted awake by the shout and immediately swarmed around like bees disturbed by a commotion. Horsemen and carriage drivers rushed around to the backyard in a flurry of activity, and the mansion gate was instantly empty.

Just as everyone was tumbling and dust was rising, Wang Xifeng quickly and subtly turned her head, her eyes flashing like blades as she gave Qin Keqing, who was still completely infatuated, a fierce look!
(End of this chapter)