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

Chapter 195 One Night in the Capital, Visiting Qinghe
As dusk settled, it painted the city of Bianliang with its colors.

The high-ranking official rode a tall, fine horse, with Jin Chuan in his arms, as he trod across the bluestone pavement of the Imperial Street.

Jin Chuan'er's body was so limp that it felt like her bones had been pulled out. She leaned against the broad chest of the man, still shaken from her near-death experience. Her face was deathly pale, with tear stains still visible. Her eyes stared blankly ahead, as if her soul had not yet returned to her body.

As dusk settles, the streetlights illuminate both sides, creating a breathtaking spectacle of stars reflected in the sky and fireworks illuminating the streets.

The various shops were still open, their lights on but not yet off.

The horn lanterns emitted a warm yellow glow, the glass lanterns reflected the colorful sunset, and the gauze lanterns illuminated the hazy spring atmosphere, all vying for beauty.

The sunlight made the silks and satins piled up in the shop look soft, smooth, and shiny;
The glittering gold and silver utensils were so dazzling they made one's eyes dizzy;
The freshly picked seasonal fruits, with their red and yellow hues, are so juicy and tempting that they make your mouth water.

The taverns and teahouses were even more bustling!
The sounds of string and wind instruments, drinking games, dice games, and boisterous laughter drifted out from the carved window lattices.

Street vendors carrying cooked food on shoulder poles called out their wares along the street, the aroma of roasted mutton and the rich, fatty scent of quail dumplings forcefully wafting into people's nostrils!
Jin Chuan'er's empty eye sockets were gradually filled with the dazzling lights and the pungent aroma of fireworks that filled the street.

That heavy heart, which had been contemplating suicide and was like a stubborn rock that had fallen into a deep pool, was now being lifted up little by little by the bustling, lively, and vibrant scene of the marketplace.

There was also a warm and powerful masculine aura, with the base of agarwood fragrance, mixed with the slight smell of sweat on his body, which wafted through the thin spring shirt from the official's iron-like chest.

The official noticed the subtle change in the woman in his arms.

A barely perceptible smile appeared at the corner of his lips. Without saying a word, he simply flicked the whip in his hand and shouted, "Giddy up!" He urged the tall steed to part the crowd and pass through the bustling world and the dazzling river of lights.

Before long, a magnificent building suddenly appeared before them, the famous "Thirteen Rooms Building" that was known throughout the capital and was a place of nightly revelry!
The building is four stories high, with flying eaves and brackets, resembling dragons and phoenixes, and is exceptionally magnificent.

Even more remarkably, several intricately carved and jade-paved bridges connect the four main buildings, resembling celestial rainbow bridges, specifically for those seeking pleasure to reach that land of tenderness.

At this moment, thousands of bright lights have already been lit up upstairs and downstairs!

The carved eaves and embroidered doors, illuminated by candlelight, were truly a dazzling display of gold and jade, their brilliance making half the sky appear as bright and clear as daytime.

The decadent sounds of silk and bamboo instruments, mixed with the frivolous laughter and clamor of men and women, emanated from the layers of red and embroidered pavilions, continuing all night long, blatantly proclaiming this place as a den of extravagance and a place that never sleeps!

As the official reined in his horse downstairs, a quick-witted shop assistant, whose eyes seemed to speak volumes, rushed forward and grabbed the horse's bridle.

With a light stretch of his long arms, he dismounted, carrying Jin Chuan'er, and without caring about the sidelong glances of others, strode into the brightly lit, fragrant lobby on the first floor.

In a corner of the hall, several slick, oily square tables were pushed together, around which sat a dozen or so muscular young men with bare chests, wolfing down their dinner in a whirlwind.

The two leading figures were none other than his trusted family members, Lai Bao and Dai An.

Upon seeing the esteemed official enter, everyone hurriedly dropped their bowls and chopsticks, stood up abruptly, and bowed in unison, saying, "Master!"

Lai Bao and Dai An's gazes fell simultaneously on the unfamiliar woman in the arms of the high official, who looked haggard but whose beauty was undeniable.

Jin Chuan'er was stung by everyone's gazes and felt extremely embarrassed, so she hurriedly lowered her head.

The official didn't seem to care, only humming in response. He looked down at Jin Chuan'er, his voice casual: "Hungry?"

Jin Chuan'er dared not say she was hungry, and replied in a voice as soft as a mosquito's buzz, "Reply...Reply to Master, this servant...this servant is not hungry."

"Heh," the official chuckled lightly, with a hint of mockery, "Little hussy, you've only just acknowledged your master and you've already learned to lie? What time is it? I'm a grown man and I'm starving, aren't you hungry?"

His words were half true and half false, but they struck Jin Chuan'er like a thunderbolt.

"This servant deserves to die!" Jin Chuan'er was so frightened that she thought the master was blaming her, and her legs went weak and she was about to kneel down.

The official reacted swiftly, grabbing her slender arm and supporting her firmly. His brow furrowed slightly, but his tone softened: "Kneeling all the time? What's with all these rules? Come and protect me!"

"I'm here!" Lai Bao hurriedly stepped forward.

"Go and have the shopkeeper prepare some delicate dishes and a pot of fine wine, and send them to my room."

"Yes, sir!" Lai Bao responded and left, his eyes quickly sweeping over the still-shaken Jin Chuan'er.

The high-ranking official, with Jin Chuan in his arms, was led by the shop assistant through the noisy lobby and up the carved staircase.

The room was of the highest quality, luxuriously furnished, and filled with warm fragrance. Before long, steaming hot and fragrant dishes were served and placed on the central octagonal table.

The official sat comfortably in the main seat, picked up his chopsticks, and gestured to Jin Chuan'er, who was standing to the side, unsure of what to do with her hands and feet: "Sit down and eat with us."

Jin Chuan'er was so shocked that she waved her hands and backed away repeatedly: "This servant wouldn't dare! Absolutely not! Master, please eat, this servant... this servant will serve you."

"Just eat when I tell you to, stop with all this nonsense," the official said, feigning impatience.

Jin Chuan'er, however, would never dare to eat at the same table as her master, shaking her head like a rattle drum and shrinking her body even tighter.

Seeing her pitiful yet stubborn appearance, the official couldn't bear to force her any further.

He sighed, picked up a plate of glistening, flavorful roasted mutton, and filled a bowl with snow-white, fragrant rice, handing it to her: "Here, take this and eat."

Jin Chuan'er felt as if she had been granted a pardon. She hurriedly took the bowls and plates with both hands. She noticed a low table with a vase in the corner by the window, so she moved over and carefully placed the bowls and plates on it. She then turned sideways, half-squatting and half-standing, picked up her chopsticks, and cautiously picked at the rice grains, not daring to lift her eyes even once.

Before long, the shop assistant brought in a large bucket of boiling water and poured it into a large boxwood bathtub behind the screen, where steam rose.

Upon seeing this, Jin Chuan'er immediately reacted as if she had been scalded. She hurriedly put down her bowl and chopsticks, not even caring that she still had half a mouthful of rice in her mouth. She rushed to the master, her voice trembling slightly: "Master, the hot water is here. This servant... this servant will serve you to wash your feet."

As she spoke, she knelt down and stretched out her slender hands to untie the cloud-patterned buckles on the official's thick-soled boots.

Although her movements were still somewhat clumsy and stiff, her submissive and devoted attitude clearly showed that she had accepted the rules of her new master.

The official leaned back comfortably in the boxwood armchair, closing his eyes to rest.

Jin Chuan'er first gently placed the copper basin on the thick white cloth in front of the official's feet.

She then picked up a small celadon jar next to her, scooped out a small amount of bright white powder with a silver spoon, and sprinkled it into the water—it was the finest bath powder, with a delicate fragrance of orchids and musk.

Only then did he pick up the kettle of cold water that was prepared to the side, and with the same steady wrist, pour in cold water to mix it.

The entire movement was fluid and silent, as if it had been rehearsed a thousand times, and it was completely different from how Jinlian'er and Li Guijie served her.

Jin Chuan'er knelt down. She didn't kneel directly on the hard ground, but first placed a small futon covered with brocade next to her, her knees together, her back straight as a ruler, and her skirt neatly spread out at her feet.

She first removed the gentleman's casual shoes, revealing a pair of fine white cotton socks. When untying the garter belt, she only held the ends of the belt with her fingertips, never touching the sock body, let alone his skin.

The movement of removing the socks was gentle and swift, the sock cuffs turned up neatly and cleanly, and those well-maintained feet fell into the warm water in the silver basin.

A misty haze hung in the air. Jin Chuan'er rolled up a section of her plain sleeve, revealing her fair wrist. She didn't act immediately, but instead used the back of her right hand to quickly skim the surface of the water near the rim of the basin, like a dragonfly skimming the water.

The water temperature was already in her heart.

Only then did he immerse his hands in the water like jade bamboo shoots.

Ten slender, onion-like fingers, with rounded fingertips and neatly trimmed nails that shone with a healthy pink hue.

The fingertips pressed against the skin with even pressure, as if measured with a ruler, taking care of everything from the instep to the arch, then to the sole, and finally to the gaps between each toe.

Her fingerwork flowed in a repetitive, calm rhythm, like a silent soothing touch. The water rippled obediently under her touch, and not a single drop of water remained on the blanket outside the basin.

Her head was bowed, her gaze fixed intently on the water or on her own moving fingers, her long eyelashes casting faint shadows on her cheeks. Her breathing was barely audible, as if afraid to disturb the tranquility of the water.

With his eyes closed, the man felt a pair of soft, boneless hands moving over his feet with just the right amount of strength. The water temperature was constant, the pressure was even, and he felt completely relaxed, even more so than those deliberately showy kneading techniques.

This is truly the demeanor cultivated by a prestigious family!

Rules are ingrained in one's bones, and dignity is reflected in one's demeanor; even when serving others, one can exude a calm and composed demeanor that is neither servile nor arrogant.

After washing, Jin Chuan'er held the warm and soft cotton cloth in both hands and gently and efficiently dried the water droplets on her feet, paying special attention to the spaces between her toes.

The cloth flew and folded in her hands, always keeping the cleanest side in contact with her skin. Finally, she neatly folded the cloth and placed it aside.

She then took a pair of brand-new, fine silk stockings and helped the master put them on. The entire process, from preparing the water to finishing, was completely silent except for the necessary sounds of water and the slight rustling of the cloth.

Sigrún has taught at the Iceland University of the Arts as a part-time lecturer since and was Dean of the Department of Fine Art from -. In – she held a research position at Reykjavík Art Museum focusing on the role of women in Icelandic art. She studied fine art at the Icelandic College of Arts and Crafts and at Pratt Institute, New York, and holds BA and MA degrees in art history and philosophy from the University of Iceland. Sigrún lives and works in Iceland.

The Grand Tutor's Residence.

Although the birthday celebration was not a grand affair and there were still some days to go, its magnificent atmosphere had already wafted through the walls.

In the study, the fragrance of aloeswood wafted through the air, mingling with the ink of newly mounted calligraphy and paintings, filling the room with an air of opulent wealth.

Grand Tutor Cai leaned against a warm couch inlaid with mother-of-pearl and made of rosewood, wearing a simple silk Taoist robe. His eyelids were slightly drooping, as if he were half asleep.

Wang Fu, the Left Censor of the Secretariat, was kneeling on the cold, slippery blue brick floor.

Today, he specially changed into a brand-new fifth-rank official robe with quail-patterned insignia and a jade belt around his waist, but he completely concealed his official demeanor, kneeling on the ground with his waist bent extremely low, his forehead almost touching the gleaming brick surface.

He held a long, narrow object wrapped in brocade high in both hands, presenting it as if offering a treasure, and said in a respectful tone: "Wang Fu, the Left Censor of the Imperial Secretariat, congratulates the Grand Tutor on his birthday! This is a small gift, nothing more than a token of my respect, but I humbly request that the Grand Tutor accept it with a smile!"

Cai Jing slowly raised his eyelids, a faint smile playing on his lips: "Oh? It's Wang Sijian. Stand up and speak. We're officials in the same court, why such a grand ceremony?" Though he said this, he didn't move an inch.

Wang Fu did not rise; instead, he bent even lower, his forehead almost touching the brocade cloth, and said in a voice filled with obsequiousness and urgency:

"Grand Tutor is a pillar of the court and a vital asset to the nation. My kneeling here is not a mere formality, but a true expression of reverence for Heaven and ancestors, as if I were worshipping Mount Tai or the Big Dipper! Though this gesture is meager, it reflects my sincere heart and courage. I only wish Grand Tutor long life and everlasting blessings!"

He deliberately emphasized the words "liver and gallbladder".

Cai Jing let out a soft "hmm" sound, as if he had caught a whiff of something interesting. His gaze swept over Wang Fu's hunched back, as if he were looking at an amusing toy.

He slowly sipped the warm ginseng tea beside him before casually asking, "Wang Sijian, I remember... you are a distinguished student of Prime Minister He?"

Wang Fu felt a chill run down his spine. He suddenly raised his head, his smile almost overflowing.

"Grand Tutor's insight is unparalleled! My mentor, He Zhizhong, did indeed point out my dullness. However—!" His tone suddenly shifted, his voice rising.
"My revered teacher is also bathed in your grace every day, receiving your nurturing teachings, which is why he is where he is today. I am only able to look up at your towering mountain by clinging to your great tree!"

Cai Jing noticed that He Zhizhong had cleverly included him under his "disciples," implying that he was merely a vine that had climbed up the trunk of a large tree.

The smile deepened, tinged with a knowing, playful amusement: "Oh? Is that so?"

He drew out his words, his gaze sharpening as if it could pierce through people's hearts. "However, I've recently heard whispers that your mentor, He Zhizhong, seems to be rather 'restless' lately?"

"Yes!" Wang Fu replied quickly and decisively, as if he had been waiting for this question.

A fierce glint flashed in his eyes. He quickly lowered his head, no longer looking at Cai Jing, and instead solemnly took out a plain white scroll carefully tied with a ribbon from his bosom.

The note was thin, yet it exuded a chilling aura.

"My revered teacher... has indeed acted in ways that cause me great anxiety and apprehension. I fear he may have gone astray, failing the Grand Tutor's kindness in guiding me, and even more so... jeopardizing my own future." As he spoke, he raised the scroll of notes high again with both hands, his voice carrying a sacrificial reverence:
"This is the culmination of my painstaking efforts, and I dare not conceal anything. I present it to the Grand Tutor as... as a humble birthday gift! I only hope that the Grand Tutor will see through my ignorance, secure the nation, and save me from this predicament!"

Cai Jing didn't even lift his eyelids, but merely nodded very slightly with his chin towards Steward Qu, who was standing to the side.

With a smile in his eyes and palm facing upward, Steward Qu steadily accepted the scroll that seemed to carry poison, then silently turned and placed it on the small table in front of Cai Jing's bed.

Cai Jing then put down his teacup, casually picked up the scroll, and slowly untied the ribbon. He unfolded the paper, his gaze sweeping over it like that of a hawk. The paper was covered in tiny, densely packed characters, all startlingly written:

"He Zhizhong secretly met with the Vice Minister of Works in the elegant pavilion of the 'Drunken Immortal Pavilion' in the west of the city, dismissing all attendants, and they talked privately for more than two hours..." "After the court session, He said to his confidant in his office: 'Grand Tutor Cai is old and his energy may not be up to par. We should consider ways to change the course of events in the court...'"

"Recently, He Zhizhong has frequently summoned several newly appointed officials from the Censorate to discuss matters concerning key issues such as salt and iron, and the Grand Canal transport..."

"Recently, a wealthy merchant from Jiangnan has been visiting the He residence, carrying a very generous gift list..."

Lin Ruhai visits He Zhizhong.

Every word and sentence is a detailed record of He Zhizhong's private words, deeds, and social interactions, including the time, place, and people involved.

The place was eerily quiet, with only the soft rustling of Cai Jing turning the pages and the faint crackling of burning agarwood.

Wang Fu held his breath, kneeling on the ground. He felt the bone-chilling cold of the blue bricks beneath his knees, yet fine beads of sweat appeared on his forehead. His heart pounded wildly in his chest, almost bursting out of his throat. He stared intently at Cai Jing's expressionless face, awaiting the thunder or rain that would decide his fate.

After a long while, Cai Jing finally finished reading the last page. He showed neither surprise nor anger, nor joy; his face remained as calm and composed as ever.

He slowly rolled up the manuscript again and placed it on the small table, as if it were just an unimportant book.

Then, he raised his eyes, his gaze sweeping lightly over Wang Fu's face, which was slightly distorted by tension and anticipation. A familiar, enigmatic smile returned to his lips, and his voice was as calm as if he were discussing the weather:

"Hmm. Wang Sijian, thank you for your trouble. This 'birthday gift'... I will accept it. It's kind of you to have such a thought."

After speaking, he stopped looking at Wang Fu, lowered his eyelids, and started fiddling with the agarwood prayer beads again, as if everything that had just happened was nothing more than a gentle breeze across the water, leaving no trace.

Wang Fu's fawning smile froze instantly, like solidified lard.

The burning light in his eyes quickly faded, leaving only immense astonishment and disbelief.

There was no praise as expected, no hint of promotion, not even a simple "I understand"! There was only a perfunctory "Thank you for your trouble," "I accept it," and "It's kind of you to have this thought!"
The immense disappointment was like ice water poured over his head, chilling him to the bone; the coldness of the blue bricks beneath his knees instantly seeped into his marrow.

He opened his mouth, but his throat felt like it was stuffed with cotton, and he couldn't utter a single word. He could only force his almost numb legs to support himself and kowtow deeply, his voice dry and trembling: "Yes...yes...Fu...takes his leave."

He practically scrambled to his feet, his movements clumsy and awkward, oblivious to the dust that clung to the hem of his official robe.

He lowered his head, not daring to look at the unpredictable Grand Tutor on the couch, and with his back bent, he slowly and deliberately backed away towards the study door.

Cai Jing slightly raised his eyelids, gazing at the empty doorway, a smile playing on his lips that was hard to decipher—it was a smile that was neither praise nor mockery: "Wang Fu, you little brat, you really are... quite a character!"

Steward Qu bowed: "Is the Grand Tutor right? I am foolish, but I feel that this person... is too scheming."

Cai Jing chuckled and put down the scroll: "Scheming? That's a despicable tactic! As for Wang Fu, tsk... he's turned despicable tactics into a ladder to heaven!"

"I have been in the officialdom for decades and have seen countless demons and monsters. But none are like him. He can engrave the word 'despicable' into his very bones and turn it into the ability to flatter superiors and bully inferiors. He can lick sores and hemorrhoids without showing the slightest shame, and turn his back on you ruthlessly while still having a hint of a smile. Such a unique person is hard to find in the world!"

Steward Qu said in a low voice, "So utterly incompetent, why would the Grand Tutor..."

Cai Jing's voice grew increasingly languid: "Unbearable? Hahaha! You're still too shallow! Precisely because he is so utterly despicable and unrestrained, how could this magnificent court not have a throne for him?"

"Just you wait and see. With his shameless scheming, his silver tongue that can turn black into white and the dead into the living, and his quick wit that allows him to change his tune with the wind and betray his enemies... Heh heh, who knows, one day, this very scoundrel will climb up the social ladder by stepping on my shoulders and then turn the tables on me and throw me off the stage!"

Steward Qu was startled, sweat beading on his forehead: "Since the Grand Tutor sees through everything, why not... hurry!"

He made a downward cutting gesture.
Cai Jing's cloudy old eyes gazed at the deep twilight outside the window, and suddenly a deep, cold smile appeared on his face: "Strangle? How many more years can this old man sit in this position? I'm tired of seeing all the ups and downs in officialdom."

"Keeping such a 'remarkable person' around, watching him use all his tricks, seeing how he can turn this officialdom into such a filthy mess... wouldn't that be three times more interesting than watching a monkey show in the park?"

Sigrún has taught at the Iceland University of the Arts as a part-time lecturer since and was Dean of the Department of Fine Art from -. In – she held a research position at Reykjavík Art Museum focusing on the role of women in Icelandic art. She studied fine art at the Icelandic College of Arts and Crafts and at Pratt Institute, New York, and holds BA and MA degrees in art history and philosophy from the University of Iceland. Sigrún lives and works in Iceland.

As the first rays of sunlight pierced through the window, the official stirred in his brocade quilt.

Almost simultaneously, Jin Chuan'er, who was curled up on the outside of the bed, woke up with a start. Her thick, raven-feather-like eyelashes trembled a few times before she managed to open them.

She subconsciously took a breath, her delicate eyebrows furrowing involuntarily, and gently bit her lower lip to swallow back a muffled groan.

The deeply ingrained rules of the Duke's mansion allowed her no room for slackness. Enduring the agonizing discomfort, she supported her aching back and quickly and silently sat up.

As dawn broke, the light shone through the window lattice, perfectly outlining her silhouette in profile.

She was only wearing a light red soft silk tube top, with thin straps loosely hanging on her rounded shoulders, half-concealing her ample breasts.

Her bare, jade-white feet moved with a slight sluggishness than usual, yet she still tried her best to maintain that deliberate lightness, not daring to make the slightest sound.

She tiptoed to the outer room, took the copper kettle from the warm charcoal stove, prepared a basin of water at the perfect temperature for washing her face, and wrung out a hot towel. Only then did she return to the inner room, stand respectfully by the bedside with her head bowed, and whisper, "Master, the water is ready."

Ximen Da Guanren grunted and sat up. Jin Chuan'er immediately stepped forward and presented him with a warm towel with both hands.

Just as Jin Chuan'er bent down to straighten the last wrinkle on the master's waist, after she was dressed, there was a careful knock on the door. It was Dai An's voice: "Uncle, are you up yet? We've come to serve you."

"Come in," the official called out.

Upon hearing the sound, Jin Chuan'er immediately took two steps back obediently, and stood sideways with her head bowed in the shadows between the bed and the dressing table.

The official was taken aback, turned around and looked back, and sure enough, the rules of this Duke's mansion were different from those of his own.

This is where a personal maid should retreat to a position that is inconspicuous yet can step forward promptly when the master needs her, showing humility without getting in the way.

The door opened, and Dai'an and Laibao bowed as they entered. They glanced at Jin Chuan'er, who stood with her hands at her sides in the shadows of the corner, her cheeks still flushed with a barely perceptible blush. They then quickly glanced at the well-dressed and refreshed official, understanding the situation perfectly, but daring not to show it on their faces.

"Uncle, it's all done!" Lai Bao stepped forward, his voice filled with barely suppressed excitement and respect. "The paperwork from the Ministry of Personnel and the Ministry of War is all complete! I went to keep watch before dawn, and as soon as they saw the Grand Tutor's decree, they were incredibly quick to act! It was like a death warrant; they rushed it out and finished it without a single hiccup!"

The official was also taken aback when he heard this: "So fast?" He originally thought it would take at least another day or two.

“That’s right, Uncle!” Dai’an chimed in, his face beaming with a smile.
"You didn't see the faces of those clerks. When they saw the Grand Tutor's note, they practically bowed to the ground! They were so quick and efficient when they got things done, tsk tsk, as if they were afraid of getting into trouble if they were a step too slow!"

The official's lips curled into a knowing yet slightly mocking smile: "Good, well done. We shouldn't stay here any longer. Pack up, have breakfast, and set off for Qinghe immediately. Now that the official position is settled, the official robes need to be sewn up as soon as possible."

He paused, glanced at his two trusted confidants, and smiled, "Don't worry, you two will get your share. I'll sew a few well-fitting official robes for each of you, so you'll look presentable when you go out."

Upon hearing this, Dai'an and Laibao were overjoyed and immediately knelt down, kowtowing repeatedly: "Thank you for your kindness, Uncle! Thank you for your kindness, Uncle!"

Lai Bao said excitedly, "Father, you're so kind! We...we've saved up some spare change, and we wouldn't dare let you spend all of it..."

The official laughed heartily, his voice booming: "What nonsense are you spouting! Do you think your master can't afford a few sets of official robes? Get up, get up! After all these years with me, shouldn't you be given this much dignity?"

"Yes, yes, yes! Uncle is right!" The two quickly got up, their faces beaming with smiles.

However, this conversation exploded like a thunderclap in Jin Chuan'er's ears, who was hiding in the shadows in the corner! She had been keeping her head down, trying to blend into the background. But the words "Ministry of Personnel," "Ministry of War," "the paperwork is complete," "official status," "official robes," "sewing"... one after another, drilled into her ears.

A fifth-rank official?

Jin Chuan'er's heart skipped a beat! The high-ranking official she was serving was actually a government official, a fifth-rank military officer!
With such status, even in the Duke's mansion, one would need to perform proper etiquette!
What shocked her even more was that these two men, Dai'an and Laibao, who had just been kneeling on the ground kowtowing and expressing their gratitude, looking as humble and submissive as ordinary servants, were actually being told by the master that he would also sew official robes for them?!
They...are they also officials?!

Jin Chuan'er felt a rush of hot blood to her cheeks.

Which servant doesn't hope that their master's family will prosper and become wealthy?

Last night, I actually served a fifth-rank official!

These two "servants" whom she hadn't paid much attention to subconsciously turned out to be officials!

Jin Chuan'er's glimmer of hope shot up, making her feel hot all over.

He secretly thought: One day, if I could take advantage of the new master's influence and save enough money, I could ride in a sedan chair and make a grand entrance back to the Jia family mansion...

The official led a group of people and hurriedly headed towards Qinghe County.

At this moment, the atmosphere in the Ximen residence was already somewhat subdued due to the departure of the high-ranking official.

Suddenly, a voice came from the door: "Wang, the clerk under Magistrate Li, and Lord Sun, the clerk of the Shandong Provincial Judicial Office, have arrived!"

Wu Yueniang was sorting out the accounts in the main room when she heard the report and her heart tightened.

The officials who arrived were Li County Magistrate's trusted clerk and Xia, the Chief Censor's subordinate, who were in charge of specific case documents and criminal matters, and were all important figures with real power.

She dared not delay, so she hurriedly ordered Xiaoyu to tidy up the table, straightened her clothes and hair, and mustered her spirits to go to the front hall to greet the guests.

Before long, the servant led the two in.

The man in the lead was around forty years old, wearing a slightly worn blue round-necked official robe and a clerk's cap.

Behind him followed a man in his early thirties, with a wiry build, dressed in the dark-colored tight-fitting clothes commonly worn by the officers of the prison.

Moon Lady stepped forward and curtsied: "I was unaware that you two gentlemen would grace my humble abode with your presence. Please forgive my lack of hospitality."

He then ordered Jinlian'er to serve tea.

Wang, the clerk, was quite polite, returning the gesture with a half-bow: "Madam, there's no need for such formalities. We are merely following orders and have troubled you."

Sun, the official in charge, merely clasped his hands in a slight gesture, then scanned the hall with a sharp gaze, carrying the scrutinizing air characteristic of someone in the government.

After the guests and hosts were seated, Jinlian served tea.

The two men, however, had no interest in sipping tea. After a moment's hesitation, they cut to the chase: "Madam, we have come here today with urgent business. Your household... seems to have some accounts that are a little overdue?"

Moon Lady's heart sank, but she forced a smile and said, "Is that what you're referring to, Clerk Wang? May I ask which accounts you're referring to?"

Wang, the clerk, put down his teacup, took out a neatly folded piece of mulberry paper from his sleeve, unfolded it, but did not hand it to Yue Niang. Instead, he laid it flat on the tea table in front of him, and tapped his finger on the vermilion official seal and the lines of ink characters:

"Madam, please take a look. This is a note from above, sent directly to our County Magistrate's office. It's written in black and white, clearly stating that your household has a sum of money, a considerable amount, that is overdue. The County Magistrate is deeply troubled and has specially sent me to inform you."

He paused, then looked up at Yue Niang: "Logically speaking, when someone is forced to pay a debt by higher authorities, it would be common sense to send officials to collect the debt directly, or even seal off the door and arrest the person."

"However... your residence is, after all, the residence of Master Ximen, who also holds the title of Academician of the Imperial Academy and is on good terms with the County Magistrate. It would be too abrupt and undignified for you to bring people with you. That's why I sent this humble official to inform you first."

As soon as he finished speaking, Sun, who had been silent all along, spoke up, his voice hard and unyielding, like a block of iron: "That's exactly right. Our Chief Censor Xia from the Shandong Provincial Criminal Investigation Bureau also received the same note regarding this matter."

His gaze was sharp as lightning, fixed on Yue Niang. "Lord Xia has also spoken. After all, Master Ximen is a scholar of great learning. Sending soldiers directly to his door to arrest his family members would not sound good and would damage the harmony."

"Therefore, Lord Xia specifically ordered me to come and remind Madam."

He forced a cold smile: "But a reminder is a reminder, and rules are rules. Paying back debts is a matter of course. If someone has a written debt note with their fingerprint on it, they're in the right no matter where they are."

"If Madam insists on not returning it, I'm afraid it will be difficult to explain."

Yue Niang smiled gently, "My lords... this matter of debt, I am but a woman and truly know nothing of the details. Could... could you grant me some more time? My husband will surely have a resolution when he returns from Tokyo..."

Wang, the clerk, slowly shook his head and sighed, "Madam, it's not that we're unreasonable. It's just that the pressure from above is immense; this 'signature' is a death warrant! Magistrate Li and Chief Clerk Xia, despite the pressure, allowed us to come without anyone else, which is already out of respect for Master Ximen. This leniency..." He dragged out his words.

Sun, the officer in charge, was even more direct and decisive, saying, "One day! One day at most! Madam, by this time tomorrow, you'll either see cash or a warrant from our prison office before you leave!"

After saying that, he turned around and left.

Wang Yashi also stood up, speaking in a gentle and low voice: "Madam, make plans early. Even if the county magistrate can delay for a few more days, it won't be easy to deal with Chief Judge Xia. I'll take my leave now."

(End of this chapter)